A/N: Thank you, thank you to ViscountessAberowen for her meticulous eye and attention to detail.

And onward we go!

Leo felt as if he had stepped into a heavy bank of fog–cool, damp air permeated his bones all the way down to the marrow. An indecipherable whispering filled his ears like the rush of water going over falls. It smelled faintly of paperbacks and pencil shavings–musty but not altogether unpleasant.

The jump was over before Leo had truly begun to comprehend the complex reactions and experiences of slipping from one shadow to another. Unceremoniously, Leo and Nico fell onto the bottom bunk in Leo's room. The suitcase that was Festus crashed on top of the son of Hephaestus' legs.

"Oh my gods, that hurt!" Leo groaned and shifted from atop Nico so that Festus teetered off of Leo's legs and fell to the floor with a thud. He propped himself on his elbows, looking down at the boy beneath him. "You good, Ghost Boy?"

Wheezing, Nico said, "Can't breathe. Off."

Leo rolled to the side, laughing. "Sorry. Wasn't thinking."

Nico inhaled deeply several times before looking over to Leo. "That's better. So?"

Leo grinned. "So what?"

Rolling his eyes, Nico asked, "How was it?"

Leo's smirk widened. "It was good for me. Was it good for you?"

Nico groaned and covered his face as his skin turned a brilliant shade of crimson. "Gods, Leo."

Leo snorted with laughter and rolled onto his back. "Does shadow travel always feel like that?"

"Like what," Nico asked from under the cover of his arm.

Leo struggled, trying to find the right words. "Calming? I dunno, dude. It felt like...peace and quiet?"

The red starting to fade in his cheeks, Nico let his arm drop to his side and turned his head to look at Leo. "Not always. This is only the second time I've used the right shadows to travel. I don't really remember the first time–I wasn't paying attention."

"Oh?" Propping himself up on one elbow, Leo rested his head in one hand beside the son of Hades. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why not? What were you doing?"

Nico's eyes flitted over to Leo before the demigod glanced away, focusing on one of the planks of wood above their heads. "I was worried about you."

Leo felt the confusion spread across his face. "I don't understand."

Nico shrugged beside him. "I traveled back when I felt–when you were at the museum. With the lycanthropes."

Understanding hit Leo. "Wait, so...you were aware of what was happening? With me? It wasn't just a coincidence that you came back at that time?"

Nico shook his head but didn't offer any further details.

Frowning, Leo asked, "How does that work? Like, are you just attuned to everyone? You can sense anyone who's close to death or whatever?"

Nico sighed. "If they're right in front of me, I can tell if they're close to death. If there's a probability of impending death. But, no. I can't sense everyone when they're not by me."

And there's the confusion again.

"So how did you know about me then? Where were you even?"

Nico hesitated before answering, "I wound up making an unexpected visit to Camp Jupiter."

Leo nodded and waited for Nico to continue. He nudged the other boy when Nico lapsed into silence. "How did you know I was in trouble? If you were on the other side of the country?"

"There are just some people I can sense more than others. Hazel. Bianca, before I really understood it. I could feel Percy for a long time, and Will, although never as strong. Reyna. Jason. I can sense some of the gods, but it's not the same." Nico still didn't meet Leo's eyes.

A pleasant warmth filled Leo's chest as he made a mental list of the names Nico had mentioned. Each of them had one major thing in common: Nico cared for those people. Deeply.

Leo felt the smile blossom on his lips and, out of curiosity, asked. "Which gods can you sense?"

Nico breathed out heavily. "Only a handful. The strongest ones are Mr. D and my father. Bob, if you feel like counting titans."

Leo studied Nico before reaching over and flicking him on the nose. Nico gave a startled cry and batted at Leo's hand. "What was that for!?"

"You won't look at me."

Finally, Nico turned his gaze to the son of Hephaestus, who proceeded to stick his tongue out at the other demigod.

"You're so mature, Valdez."

"The epitome of sophistication. Thank you so much for noticing, monsieur di Angelo." Leo inclined his head in a slight bow. "So? How are you feeling after the jump?"

Nico stared at him for a moment. "Shadow traveling?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I–" Nico began, but a yawn broke through his words. He moved a hand to cover his mouth and said, somewhat in surprise, "I guess it took a bit more than I thought it would. Give me a minute."

"Sure thing." Leo moved to the edge of the bed and swung his feet over, standing as they touched upon the ground. He retrieved Festus from where the dragon-suitcase had fallen and wheeled him over to a corner of the room. "So, do you think the jumping is going to work? Probably can't make it in one go, can we?"

There was no answer to Leo's question. He pushed the button on the handle to collapse it into the frame of the suitcase and asked, "Nico?"

When he didn't receive a response a second time, Leo turned, a concerned frown settling onto his features. "Ghost Boy–"

Leo let the words he was going to say fade from his lips. Nico lay on the bed, eyes closed and chest gently rising and falling. One hand lay across the boy's stomach and the other stretched across the spot Leo had vacated. The son of Hephaestus crossed the room and climbed partially up the ladder to the top bunk until he could reach a spare blanket. He pulled it toward him and let himself drop back down the ladder before moving toward NIco. Leo shook out the material before placing it gently over the son of Hades.

He stood for a second longer, watching the other demigod, a restless feeling in his stomach and his heart fluttering somewhere in the vicinity of his throat. Finally, Leo leaned down, brushing a stray strand of hair behind Nico's ear before pressing a soft kiss against the boy's temple. Leo straightened and turned, making his way to the door. As quietly as he could, the son of Hephaestus opened the door and stepped into the hallway. He let the door close behind him and made his way down the hall, fingers tapping against his thigh in his usual, if somewhat renewed, message.

Warm voices met Leo's ears as he moved down the stairs and into the Grand Hall. Emmie and Jo laughed from the kitchen, an empty plate on the counter in front of them. Jo pulled a spoon from her mouth and, moments later, Emmie reached out a hand to brush something from Jo's face. Leo made his way over to his two foster moms, smiling as they noticed him. Jo's eyes danced with mirth and Emmie returned Leo's smile before taking the spoon from Jo, moving toward the sink to rinse off a plate marred by chocolate.

"Leo! You just missed the taste test of Emmie's chocolate mousse!"

Grinning, Leo indicated a place right above his lips to Jo. "I think you missed a spot there. Looks like it was good."

Jo craned her neck back to look at Emmie. "Em! You didn't get it all."

Emmie shut off the water and, without drying her hands, crossed to the daughter of Hecate. Water dripped down Jo's cheeks as Emmie cupped her face in her hands. Then, standing on her tiptoes, she placed a kiss over the chocolate smear before swiping a wet palm over Jo's face. "There. All gone now." In a rare playful mood, Emmie's eyes sparkled with mischief.

Jo groaned and wiped at her face. "You're lucky I love you so much."

"I am lucky." Emmie winked at the taller woman and turned her attention back to Leo. "So? How did everything go? Was Jo approved to take over for the week?"

Nodding, Leo leaned on the counter. "Yeah. Mrs. Gugaitis is looking forward to meeting you." Leo directed the comment toward Jo but looked at both of them as he suggested, "Maybe you could bring Georgie and the boys with you next week? If they're interested? Get them out for a bit?"

Jo rubbed at her face thoughtfully. "It's an idea." She looked over at the other ex-Hunter and asked, "What do you think love?"

Hemithea frowned slightly. "Georgie still isn't taking her chores seriously. So rewarding her might send the wrong message."

"Ah," Jo crossed to her partner, pulling the woman into her arms and ducking her head to look into Emmie's eyes. "But maybe she'll be more willing to do her chores if she's given some freedom? Just a small chance to breathe outside these walls?"

"I don't know, Jo..." Emmie's voice filled with doubt. "It's a long way off, and it's not like we have an easy way of getting there. Things could happen–you guys could get separated–"

Leo cleared his throat, the two women startling as they looked over to him as if they had forgotten he was there. Sheepishly, he offered, "I think Nico and I are good to get to camp with all his shadow...stuff. If you want, I can talk to Festus. See if he'll be up to taking you? I think he'll do it if I ask, but I can whip up a batch of oil and tabasco for bribes?"

Jo beamed at him before turning back to look at Emmie, who still seemed unsure. "What do you say, Em? There's no way we'll get separated if we're on Festus. And if Stan and Deacon come with, Georgie will have three pairs of eyes to look out for her."

Emmie massaged one of her hands, fingers rubbing in small circles over her skin. Finally, she said, "I suppose some fresh air can't hurt her." Jo grinned broadly, but Emmie held up a finger and added, "But you do not let her out of your sight, you hear me?"

Jo nodded and kissed Emmie on the corner of her mouth. "Of course, Em."

The daughter of Hecate turned back to Leo, one arm still snaking around Hemithea's middle. "So, Nico's alright getting you both there then? Where is he?" Her eyes flickered to the staircase and back to the son of Hephaestus.

Leo pointed upstairs. "Just taking a nap. I came downstairs to get some food. I'm starving."

Jo laughed again as Emmie crossed to the fridge. "When aren't you hungry, Leo?"

"Well, sometimes I'm sleeping, right?" Leo grinned and then, as he saw Emmie begin to pull cheese and veggies from the fridge, he protested, "You don't have to make me anything. I can handle it."

The ex-Hunter waved him off. "You'll both be gone for a while. Besides, if I don't make you something, you'll just eat more of those noodles again."

"It's called ramen, Emmie."

"Well, whatever it is," Emmie began, her voice taking on a slightly teasing tone. "It has enough sodium in it to kill you."

Leo shook his head, grinning, but several minutes later, accepted the plate handed to him. He picked up the sandwich and looked at it–tomato, cucumber, and red cream cheese. "Thanks, Emmie. Would you mind–"

Emmie slid another plate over to the son of Hephaestus. "Make sure Nico actually eats it when he wakes up. Are you boys leaving tomorrow?"

Leo took a big bite and nodded, opening his mouth to speak, but Jo playfully wagged her finger. "Ah! Don't talk with your mouth full!"

Leo rolled his eyes and made a show of chewing and swallowing his food. "Okay, okay, okay. See? No more food." Jo nodded in approval and Leo continued. "I think so? It really depends on Nico. But, if we're only able to travel so far then..." Leo shrugged. "I'll have to ask him when he wakes up."

"Well, we'll make sure you have some food packed–actual food," Emmie emphasized as Leo tried to interrupt. "You make sure you boys say goodbye before you leave and–"

"–don't get into too much trouble, alright," Jo finished for the both of them. Each of the women looked at Leo expectantly until he nodded. He grabbed both plates in hand and called his thanks over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs back to his room.

Balancing both plates on one arm, Leo very slowly turned the door handle, trying his best to be quiet. Leo entered the room and shut the door, wincing at the soft snick as the latch locked into place. Everything was still in the room. Leo breathed a sigh of relief and crossed to his desk, setting the plates down gently. He glanced over at the bed–Nico hadn't moved an inch in his sleep.

Leo took a seat at his desk, pulling a spare notebook toward him and uncapping a pen before setting it to the page. He scribbled the heading, "Ghost Boy and McShizzle: The Prophecy Edition," and underlined it before beginning to write beneath it. Leo filled line after line, occasionally taking a bite of the sandwich Emmie had prepared for him. He didn't know how much time had passed when he heard Nico mumble behind him. He froze and craned his neck to look over his shoulder at the boy. Nico had a slight scowl on his face, but his eyes were still closed as he muttered, "Stop with the lizards already."

Leo stared at the other demigod for a second before letting out a quiet laugh.

What the heck is he dreaming about?

He shook his head and went back to his notebook when he paused. He looked up from his notebook again and over to the bed. Abruptly he stood and, holding his notebook and pen in one hand, grabbed his chair with the other and moved toward the bed. Leo took a seat in his chair, kicking off his shoes before propping his feet on the edge of the mattress. He directed his gaze back to his notebook and continued to write notes.

He moved onto the second page and wrote:

*First Person:

Nico?- Tartarus 1/3. Two more times. 2nd–knowledge. 3rd–with the first fall of second person.

Percy? Annabeth?- Fell together 1/3. 2nd–see above. 3rd–see above.

*Second person:

- Not Percy. Not Annabeth. Has to be first time (it would be their second)

- Kool-Aid, Grapes and Raisins, Mr. D., Does Prometheus have any kids?, Apollo, Doc, Grey's Anatomy Cast, McShizzle

Leo stopped writing and set his pen down, cracking the knuckles on both hands. He shook his hands out and glanced back over at Nico. He frowned as he saw Nico shudder in his sleep and then softly, in a fearful voice, mumbled, "Jason."

Concerned, Leo set his notebook and pen down on the floor beside the bed. He moved forward and knelt on the bed, reaching a hand out to shake Nico awake from whatever nightmare he was having. But, before he could even touch the other boy, Nico's eyes flew open.

Nico felt his eyes growing heavy as Leo left the bed to wheel Festus into a corner.

Just for a second, he said to himself. I'll just close my eyes for a second.

In his next discernable thought, Nico realized that he had left the waking world behind. He now stood on the precipice of twilight darkness. Spherical lights bobbed on some unseen breeze like flickering buoys in the dark borderlands between dreams and death, ensconcing their owners from the nightmares that lay beyond. Fragmented stills of memories–his memories, lined either side of a pathway directly preceding the baubles of light in the beyond.

They were never the memories in which he'd prefer to lose himself. Like the one of his mother sitting in the parlor. Or his grandfather, quill in hand as he sat behind his large wooden desk scratching away at yet another message to some dignitary or other as the smell of his pipe tobacco settled about the room like a warm blanket. Or even one of his earliest memories–standing in the dark and listening at his bedroom door as his father told his mother, "Ti amerò sempre, tesoro mio."

No, the memories lining the path to the borderlands were the same as always: him and Bianca standing on that cliff by Westover, his mother smiling down at him, Minos' cold smile. Newer ones too–the dark red landscape of Tartarus, Will's anguished face as Nico repeated, 'I don't love you,' and the feeling of the wet earth soaking through his jeans as he vomited onto the ground, the loss of Jason Grace sweeping over him.

Nico squared his shoulders and took a deep breath before striding forward, never once looking to either side until he reached the beginning of the beyond. He stepped several feet into the soft blackness of the greyscale world, avoiding looking directly into the circles of light. Everyone deserved privacy–even while dreaming.

You didn't give that courtesy to Leo. You're going to have to tell him, you know.

Nico shook his head, trying to rid himself of the intrusive thoughts. I will...eventually. Sooner rather than later, but not...not right now.

The son of Hades came to a slow halt and closed his eyes. He stood, waiting and listening until he heard the faintest trickle of backwater. When he opened his eyes again, he stood in the center of the Hypnos cabin. But each bed, unlike the last time he had visited, was empty. Although holding no occupant, a light shone from Clovis' bed. Nico sighed and walked toward it. Leaning over the bunk, he peered through the mattress–a window that opened onto a meadow.

Cupping a hand around his mouth, Nico called, "Clovis! Are you in there?"

No verbal response was given, but a beckoning came all the same. The pull of sweet grass and warmth billowed on the slight breeze that urged Nico forward. He grumbled and sat on the edge of the bed, swinging his legs over and letting them dangle into the window before dropping down.

The son of Hades landed in a circle of poppies on a soft blanket of wild grass surrounded by woods. A heady scent of pine hung in the air, sunlight dappled on the thick branches. Nico closed his eyes and relished the quiet stillness of the forest–the natural sounds of animals going about their business and the air crackling with life.

Why does Clovis always have the best dreams?

Nico opened his eyes once more and let himself be pulled to the epicenter of the dream where he knew Clovis would be. Eventually, he came to a small clearing in the glen. A large boulder sat right in the middle of the opening. Pine and Blue Spruce, Quaking Aspen and Douglas Fir–the trees stood sentry, ringed around the boulder. Nico approached the large rock and frowned as he got closer. He raised an eyebrow as he realized what covered the entire stone.

"Lizards? Really, Clovis."

Still, no words were said. But Nico had the undeniable urge to join the lizards. So, he sat upon the ground and leaned back against the rock, closing his eyes as he turned his face upwards toward the sun. Warmth spread across him like a slow and gentle fire–the glowing of embers in a fireplace. He sighed in content, basking in the feeling.

His mind wandered and he found himself replaying his day. While he knew that if he were awake, thinking would have him stumbling in a blind panic, he instead focused on the dark thoughts of the prophecy: the ash, Professor Blackburn, the apocalypse. Nico studied them, turning the thoughts this way and that. But they were of no importance–not here in this clearing, feeling like this.

Nico let the dark thoughts drift away as if they were leaves on a river and watched them until they flowed out of his sight.

"You're getting good at that. Been practicing much?" Clovis' soft voice did little to break his concentration, the sleepy tones soothing on the edges. Nico shrugged and made a noise in the back of his throat but did not open his eyes. Clovis let him continue.

Nico pulled each intrusive memory, allowing him to study it for a moment before setting it down to pass him by until he came to a memory of two warm brown irises–dark as if they were wood wettened by an early spring rain. He breathed in deeply and held the thought, feeling the warmth and joy languidly stretch over him. He recalled the feeling of Leo's skin beneath his fingers, the touch of the boy's lips as they brushed against Nico's.

This one. This was a memory worth keeping.

Nico breathed in deeply and opened his eyes, more relaxed than he had been in ages–since before Apollo had fallen, before Nico and Will had received Rachel's prophecy.

"I mean it, Nico. You did great. Mr. D would be proud."

Nico glanced toward the rock, expecting to finally see Clovis perched atop it. Instead, he only saw a colony of lizards of all types. Several skinks lay atop the rock–striped, mottled, spotted–some with brown tongues, some with blue–all with short, stubby legs. Quick geckos darted from one spot to the next. Frilled lizards flicked their long tails backward and forward, soaking in the warmth of the sun. In the middle of them all, a large green iguana lay unmoving.

"Clovis." Nico stared at the green iguana, waiting for the boy to acknowledge him. The lizard didn't move. "Clovis. Stop with the lizards already. Geeze."

The green iguana slowly cracked an eye open. The eyeball swiveled to focus on Nico. Without opening its mouth, the iguana addressed Nico. "Sorry, Nico. It's just so warm."

The son of Hades blinked and heard the other demigod yawn. When Nico opened his eyes again, Clovis sat upon the rock, several lizards crouched on his legs. Clovis rubbed the sleep from his eyes and lazily smiled at Nico. "What's up, di Angelo? I haven't heard from you in a hot minute."

Nico leaned against the rock once more, relishing the feeling of warm stone upon his back. "Nothing much has happened since I last talked to you."

"Ah." Clovis closed his eyes and asked, "Did the trip go well? Last we talked, you were heading towards L.A. Right?"

"Yeah. And that's about as much as I'll tell you." Nico tried to force heat into his words–a warning. But, they came out just as lazy as Clovis' smile. Damn Clovis' dreams. "I'm back now, though. At the Waystation. I'll see you soon. Mr. D wants me to drop by camp for a day or two. I'll be bringing Leo with me."

Clovis nodded and smiled. "It'll be good seeing you. In the flesh, I mean. Not that I mind meeting this way–much less of a walk. Why do people insist on meeting in person when you can meet them in the comfort of your own bed?" Clovis shook his head in disappointment as if he couldn't believe the crazy notions of the majority of the world.

Shrugging, Nico offered, "Yeah, well. Sometimes things can only be accomplished if you face them head-on."

Clovis began to nod again but then frowned slightly and sniffed. He opened one eye slightly and looked at Nico. "Have you been in someone else's dream again? You don't smell like you. You smell like smoke."

Nico felt his cheeks burn–and it had nothing to do with the heat from the dream-sun. He felt shame stir in his gut. "I–I thought...yeah. I have been."

Clovis nodded and closed his eye again, asking sleepily, "What's one of the first rules I taught you about dream-walking?"

"'Get permission,'" Nico groused, his sulk apparent in his voice. "I didn't mean to intrude. I thought I was helping."

"Fair enough. But remember," Clovis said, pausing to yawn before continuing. "That brings you to rule number two."

"'Own your actions.' I'll tell him. I will. We've just been busy since then."

"Whose dream were you in that smelled like smoke?" The subtle curiosity in Clovis' voice was barely discernable beneath the pleasant exhaustion apparent in his tone.

"Leo's," Nico answered. It was difficult to lie in a place where so many truths and perceived realities blended one right into the other.

"Ah," Clovis replied and said nothing more on the subject, waiting for Nico to talk.

The two sat in companionable silence–Clovis drifting in and out of his dream within a dream, and Nico savoring each moment away from his own dreams. Eventually, Nico sighed and asked, "How's camp?"

Nico reached a hand up when there was no answer and prodded the other boy. "Clovis!"

The boy jerked awake with a startled, "42!"

Nico frowned. "What?"

"Sorry," Clovis said, covering another yawn. "Thought we were talking about the meaning of life. What did you ask?"

Nico resisted the urge to roll his eyes and asked again, "How's camp?"

"Oh. Well, some weird stuff happening. Weird for camp, anyway." Clovis shifted on the rock, dislodging several lizards who angrily flicked their tongues at him before finding new spots on the boulder. "The Myrmekes invaded camp."

Shaking his head as if he hadn't understood, Nico asked, "What?"

Clovis nodded. "Yeah. They just...came into camp. Marched right in. They wandered around but didn't attack anyone. They had this weird glow to them–almost like they were radioactive? But they were purple, not green. Eventually, they just laid down and, like, disintegrated. Like I said. Weird."

Nico's jaw clenched, and he tried to control his breathing. "Disintegrated. Did everyone see this? Mr. D? And Chiron?"

"Yeah. But, most of the campers were gone by that point. It's just a few of us left here right now."

"Oh, yeah?" Nico shifted his eyes away and down, clutching at several strands of grass. He focused on them as he too-casually asked, "Like who?"

"Oh, well," Clovis sighed and looked upward as he tried to recall the campers staying at Camp Half-Blood over the break. "I'm the only one from Hypnos. Austin and Kayla from Apollo. I think Kayla's dad is competing in some archery competition or something. Um, a couple campers from Hecate. Hermes has quite a few–don't know what's up with that. One or two from Ares. Malcolm. From Athena. That's about it, though."

Nico kept his eyes focused on the grass. Clovis didn't push or ask questions, waiting for Nico to speak first. Once Nico had processed the information and the small nagging worry that Mr. D had tried to soothe when he had implied that a certain someone might not be at camp, he relaxed. Instead, he zeroed in on the Myrmekes. "Clovis? Do you remember what I asked you to do for me?"

Clovis, whose chin had been dipping further and further to his chest, jerked his head up at his name. "What? Oh, yeah! I've only heard a few whispers. Nothing much. Just...a bunch of stuff that doesn't make sense. I prayed to my dad for clarity, but..." Clovis shrugged. "All I've heard is a bit here and there. Horses, falling stars, seven suns, earthquakes."

Nico rubbed a hand over his eyes, his frustration with the subject muted and smoothed by the edges of sleep. "Alright, well, thanks for keeping an eye. I appreciate it."

Clovis smiled. "Sure thing. I–" He cut himself short and sat up straight, appearing to listen to something. Nico strained his ears as well but heard nothing. Clovis stood abruptly, almost falling over in his hurry. "Schist. I gotta go, Nico. I promised Cecil I'd guide him out if that stupid clown was in his dreams again."

Nico gave a low chuckle and stood. "Thanks, Clovis. I'll see myself out."

The son of Hypnos began to stride away in the opposite direction from which Nico had come. He called over his shoulder, "Just remember to find the poppies," and disappeared into the woods. Nico felt more than saw Clovis exit the dream. The domain would remain as long as Clovis was asleep. Being a son of Hypnos, he could maintain the dream for as long as he wished. Nico sighed and looked around before trudging to the treeline. It had been a nice dream.

Crossing into the woods, the son of Hades did not look up, relying instead on his senses to pull him toward the edge of the dream. Eventually, he'd stumble upon a ring of poppies. Once he closed his eyes, the innocent circle of flowers would lead him to the dark borderlands outside of individual dreams.

But the poppies never came. Instead, Nico walked further and further into the forest, the warm feeling from before fading until it was gone completely. Already, he passed beyond where the exit should have lain, had traveled farther out than he had traveled in. The air grew cold and dead. No longer did Nico smell the fresh pine or hear the shivering whispers of the aspen as they quaked through a slight breeze.

Worry crept over Nico until its icy hand clenched at his spine. Nico ran, not caring where he went. He crashed through the underbrush, tree branches catching at his face, pulling at his hair and clothes.

The edge has to be here. It has to be!

Nico kept pressing forward, blind panic and fear descending over him. In desperation, Nico yelled out, "Clovis! Get me out of this damned dream!"

But there was no answering response–no indication that the other demigod was even aware of Nico's plight. He opened his mouth to call again, to force Clovis to hear him when he felt an exposed root catch at his feet and he went sprawling. Excruciating pain flared up his right arm, pulsating through him until a cry ripped itself free from his lips. He looked down at his arm. Through the haze of pain, a wave of confusion washed over him as he looked at his injured arm.

His right forearm lay swollen and bruised–three times its average size. Mottled greys and blues, blacks and purples edged over his arm where a slight bulge appeared beneath his skin. Nico rolled onto his back and dragged his left arm toward it, gently running his fingers over the bump. The slight touch sent white-hot bolts of agony coursing through his arm. He cried out and ripped his left hand away from where it had touched his right arm. He lay there, panting and trying to fight down a rising sense of nausea.

But I only tripped. That's not...it can't be real.

He licked his lips and rolled back onto his side, crying out briefly as the movement jostled his arm. Then, without opening his eyes, he pushed himself to his knees. He took a deep, steadying breath and opened his eyes. Any air he held left his lungs in a sudden whoosh. The area around his eyes focused into a pinpoint and his face felt clammy and cold.

A pure black hole loomed before him. The trees around him were gone–vanished. He kneeled in a large underground cavern. Cold emanated from the pit, scraps of words and fragmented sentences whispering out from the prevailing darkness.

Before he could push himself to his feet, the frigid air seemed to sense his imminent flight. A harsh wind blew from within the pit, sucking in every morsel of oxygen around Nico. Pebbles began to skitter toward the hole, sand falling over the edge in thin lines.

And Nico followed. He twisted about as he fell, trying to maintain a grip on anything. But the empty blackness began to swallow him up. He watched as the circle of light from the opening of the pit shrank away until it, too, was no longer visible.

He fell.

And fell.

And fell.

Cradling his broken arm against his body, Nico didn't know for how long he fell into the darkness. The only warning he received about a change was a tension humming through the air.

"Nico."

Nico looked about but could see only black.

"Open your eyes, Nico."

When did I close them?

The son of Hades did as he was told. He was still falling. But Jason was beside him, holding Nico's injured arm in his grasp. His blue eyes showed in the darkness and Nico didn't give a thought as to how. Jason pulled Nico closer and held the boy in a tight embrace. Nico hissed in pain as his arms became crushed between their bodies, Jason with one hand still wrapped about Nico's right arm.

"I want to wake up now! Please let me wake up!" Nico begged his dead friend, regardless of the boy's lack of ability to help the son of Hades wake up. Jason cocked his head to the side and studied Nico.

"Are you listening yet?"

Nico sobbed. "I'm trying. I'm trying. I just don't understand, Jason. What am I supposed to be listening to?"

A sad smile crossed Jason's lips but did little to warm his eyes. "Sorry, Nico. But we need you to listen."

The hand around Nico's wrist tightened, fingers becoming icy hot. Nico screamed in pain, trying to rip his arm from Jason's grasp. "Let go, Jason! Let go!"

Jason's grip only tightened. The son of Zeus leaned toward Nico, his lips brushing over the son of Hades' ear. "You have to come to us. Find us."

Jason let go and Nico fell away into darkness.

Nico gasped, sitting straight up and knocking his head into a very solid and very real person. Leo fell back with a startled and pain-filled "Ow!"

Grabbing his own forehead, Nico tried to breathe through the pain that ricocheted through his skull. He looked through his fingers at Leo, who had fallen off the bed. The other boy sprawled across the floor, a chair knocked over beside him. He held one hand under his chin to catch droplets of blood as they fell from his mouth and splashed onto his palm.

Nico let his hand fall immediately from his face, kicking his feet free from a blanket he didn't remember covering himself with. He knelt on the ground beside Leo.

"Show me." Nico gazed at Leo's mouth as the demigod obediently turned toward him. A small gash appeared right at the boy's lower lip–Leo's tooth had gone clean through. Nico sighed and stood, crossing to Leo's desk. He grabbed a box of tissues and returned to the son of Hephaestus. Nico pulled several tissues from the box before moving Leo's hand away and holding the thin paper gently against Leo's lip. "I'm sorry."

Leo shrugged and tried to say, "Not your fault," but it came out muffled.

"Don't try to speak. Let it clot a bit first and then we'll go get you fixed up." Nico kept his hand pressed against Leo's lip, applying pressure. "What were you doing leaning over me like that anyway?"

A garbled, "You were having a nightmare" somehow made its way out of Leo's mouth. "I was trying to wake you up."

Leo stopped talking and Nico hesitated before saying, "Thank you." The pair lapsed into silence–Leo's forced and Nico's contemplative. Eventually, Nico slowly removed the tissues to gauge the bleeding. When no droplets of blood fell, he asked, "What made you think I was having a nightmare?"

The son of Hephaestus brought a finger to his lips, gingerly feeling the damage. Once he was satisfied, he looked to Nico and said, "You were sort of talking in your sleep."

"Oh?" What all did he hear?

Leo shrugged nonchalantly. "Nothing major. I mean, you talked about lizards. And then..." Leo looked away from Nico and his words became a mumbled mess.

"What was that?"

Sighing, Leo's shoulders slumped and he looked at his hands resting in his lap. "You mentioned Jason."

Nico swallowed heavily. "Oh." Nico moved from his kneeling position to fully sit on the ground. He took a deep breath and looked at Leo, catching the demigod studying him. "What did I say about him?"

"Nothing much. Just his name. Was it...was it a nightmare? You sounded–sad."

Nico closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah. It didn't start off as a nightmare. I was just talking to Clovis. Letting him know that we're going to be coming to camp."

Leo's face scrunched in confusion. "So...how did the lizards figure into it?"

"Clovis was a lizard."

Leo's eyebrows shot up and he tried whistling but winced as it pulled at his injured lip. "Alright then. Clovis is a lizard. You know, I've seen some weird things in my life, and you wouldn't think that would be the weirdest thing, but...kinda takes the cake for me. Gotta be honest." Leo's eyes widened. "Were you a lizard too? Because I might have to retract my last statement about the weirdest thing."

A short laugh left Nico's mouth and he shook his head. "Nope. Just Nico."

"So," Leo began, looking away from Nico and picking at a loose strand of thread on his jeans. "How did Jason come up? If you don't mind me asking?"

Nico sighed heavily. "After I left Clovis, it just turned into a nightmare of Tartarus. I dreamt I was falling again."

"Like a memory? From before?"

Shaking his head, Nico said, "No. I didn't start off in the Underworld. And, somehow, I broke my arm or something–it looked crushed. And I didn't get hurt when I fell in last time." Nico shrugged. "I don't know. It's probably just stress about the prophecy."

"And Jason?"

Nico was silent a moment, biting his lip. "Jason just sort of appeared. As I was falling. He's been in my dreams before...nightmares, anyway. The ones about the prophecy."

Leo tugged at the loose thread until it pulled completely free. He twirled it in his fingers, clockwise and counterclockwise. "And you don't think that it has to do directly with the prophecy? Not just stress because of the prophecy?"

At Nico's silence, Leo looked up. His eyes narrowed. "What aren't you telling me, Ghost Boy?"

"I've...Jason's been in the nightmares. He's talked to me."

Leo's eyebrows rose again, threatening to meet his hairline. "What's he said?"

Nico growled in frustration. "That I need to listen. But I don't know what I'm supposed to be listening for! The last time I dreamed of him, he just told me I had to listen. Then I woke up and saw the energy on my hand and–it's nothing. I just, I don't understand if he has anything to do with the prophecy and…" Nico trailed off, looking more confused and frustrated than before.

Leo studied the other demigod carefully, a look of trepidation on his face. "You said Jason showed up in the dream right before you saw the energy on your hand?"

"Yeah, but–"

Leo cut Nico off, asking, "Which arm did he grab, Nico."

Nico recoiled at the look on Leo's face. "What? What does that have to do with anything?"

Leo's tone was low and brooked no argument as he asked again, "Which arm did he grab?"

"My right, but–"

Leo's hand snaked out and gently grabbed Nico's right arm, pulling it toward him and grasping the cuff of Nico's sleeve. Leo glanced up and his brown eyes met Nico's as if asking permission. Nico licked his lips and then gave one quick nod. Leo slowly pushed the sleeve of the shirt up.

The pale skin of Nico's forearm was free from bruises, free from the angry and mottled marks that had adorned it in Nico's nightmare. The bump was nowhere to be seen.

But the dark violet energy was unmistakable as it crackled beneath the surface of the son of Hades' skin.

"Change is not only likely, it's inevitable." ~Barbara Sher