27: worsening and visions.

Thalia sprang to her feet as soon as she heard her name, even though Damian's voice had only been a whisper.

"Damian!" she exclaimed, kneeling next to the bed. "I'm here, do you feel better?"

Damian gave a weak nod, but his gaze was still confused, and his voice fragile. "I thought... I thought I dreamed you..."

Thalia shook her head, holding back tears as she gently caressed his hand. "No, little one. I'm here. And I won't leave until you're better, I promise."

Zoe approached calmly, her face reassuring. "Damian, you're safe. We're all here for you."

Damian shifted his gaze to her and then back to Thalia. "Luke... was... here?"

Thalia lowered her gaze, biting her lip to hold back her emotions. "Yes, Damian. You were there with him. He was... brave. And so are you."

Damian closed his eyes for a moment, the pain in his heart evident even on his tired face. Then he slowly reopened them, looking at Thalia. "He'll protect me... right?"

Thalia nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Always. He will always protect you, Damian."

Damian seemed to calm at those words, and a small, uncertain smile appeared on his face. "I'm glad you're here... I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, little one," Thalia replied, gently squeezing his hand. "Now rest. Zoe and I will stay here with you."

Damian, still weak and lying in bed, squinted as he tried to focus on the voices coming from outside. The steady, authoritative voice of the goddess Artemis was unmistakable.

"Why do my hunters not answer my call?" she asked calmly but firmly.

Zoe was the first to respond, with a respectful and somewhat hesitant tone. "My lady, we apologize for not responding sooner, but... there is a situation that requires our attention."

Thalia intervened immediately. "It's about Damian, my lady. He's seriously weakened, and we both stayed here to make sure he wasn't alone in this moment."

There was a pause. Damian imagined the goddess's stern gaze as she assessed the response. Then Artemis spoke, her voice softer, almost understanding. "Damian, the little ward of Hermes... I've heard of his condition. I wonder what keeps him so bound to this world, despite his suffering."

Zoe replied solemnly. "He's strong, my lady. But he's suffered greatly. He's struggling with the loss of Luke and the weight of everything he's been through."

Thalia added with a more heartfelt tone. "Damian isn't just any demigod, my lady. He's... special. We can't leave him alone."

Damian felt overwhelmed. He struggled to move a little in the bed, but his body protested. Despite his weakness, he felt a sudden warmth in his chest. Knowing that Thalia and Zoe were standing up for him in front of a goddess filled him with gratitude.

Artemis was silent for a moment, then spoke decisively. "I understand your bond with him, but remember that a Hunter's duty is with her goddess. However... I will grant you some more time. Make sure Damian recovers, he is a powerful boy."

Damian felt almost overwhelmed by Artemis's words before sleep claimed him once again.

Damian sat up in bed, wrapped in blankets, with a tired but clearer look than usual. Chiron was beside him, arms crossed, his expression shifting between concern and severity.

"Damian," Chiron began in a firm yet gentle tone, "I know you have a brave heart, and you always want to do the right thing. But what you did... leaving the infirmary in that condition... was madness."

Damian lowered his gaze, nervously fiddling with a corner of the blanket. "I know, Chiron. I'm really sorry."

"Do you realize how weak you were? You could have put yourself in danger, or worse, been killed. We can't afford to lose anyone, especially not you."

Damian nodded slowly, then lifted his eyes to the centaur, clearly remorseful. "I don't know how to explain it, but it was like something was pushing me... dragging me. I couldn't ignore it. It was like a force guiding me, even though I knew I wasn't ready."

Chiron watched him carefully, his face softening slightly. "A force that was dragging you, you say? Did you feel something, or someone calling you?"

Damian thought for a moment, then shook his head. "It wasn't a voice, it was more... a feeling. Like there was something I had to do, a place I had to be. I don't know if it makes sense."

Chiron sighed, lowering his gaze. "Perhaps it was fate guiding you. Or perhaps something else. Whatever it was, Damian, you need to understand that your well-being is important. You're not alone in this fight, and there are people who care about your welfare. Promise me that next time, you'll listen to those around you."

Damian nodded quickly, feeling the weight of Chiron's words. "I promise. I don't want to worry anyone anymore."

Chiron placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone softening. "I know you want to help, Damian. And you will, when the time is right. But for now, focus on your recovery."

Damian gave a weak smile, grateful for the centaur's understanding. "Thank you, Chiron. I'll do my best to recover."

Chiron nodded in approval, then stood. "Good. Now rest a bit more. There's a whole team ready to help you."

Damian adjusted himself more comfortably in bed as Chiron left the room. Although the reprimand had been harsh, he felt a sense of relief. He still had much to learn, but he knew he wasn't alone. He was surrounded by his closest friends: Annabeth, Percy, Thalia, Simon, and even Will, who had insisted on staying. The looks he received ranged from concern to reproach, and Damian felt smaller under the weight of their words.

"Have you completely lost your mind, Damian?" Annabeth began, crossing her arms and looking at him sternly. "Do you realize the risk you took? You could have died! Not just from the fever, but from everything you faced out there!"

"Annabeth is right," Percy added, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. "Do you have any idea how worried we all were? That wasn't a smart move."

Thalia was no different. "I've always told you to use your head, Damian. You knew you weren't in shape to fight, yet you went anyway. That doesn't help anyone, least of all yourself."

Damian lowered his gaze, unable to meet his friends' eyes. Shame tightened his throat, but he knew he had to explain. "I know. You're right, all of you. But I couldn't stop myself. It was like something was pulling me, a force... I don't know how to explain it. It wasn't a choice, it felt like a duty."

"A force?" Simon stepped closer, his tone softer but with palpable curiosity. "What kind of force, Damian? Did you hear something? See someone?"

Damian slowly shook his head. "Not a voice. Not an image. Just a feeling... like my body knew where I needed to go, even though I didn't understand. It was like I was being guided."

Will sighed, placing a hand on Damian's shoulder. "That explains why you acted the way you did, but it doesn't make what you did any less serious. Damian, we need to know when to trust those feelings and when to stop and ask for help."

"There are things we can't face alone," Annabeth said, her tone softening. "And that's okay. But you need to learn to trust us, to let us know when something's wrong."

Damian nodded, his voice trembling. "I promise. I don't want to make you worry anymore. I'm sorry, really. I don't want to be a burden to anyone."

Thalia approached, placing a hand on his head and affectionately messing up his hair. "You're not a burden, Damian. But next time you do something like this, I swear I'll drag you by your ear straight to the infirmary."

Percy chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "And I'll give you a hand."

Damian gave a small smile, feeling slightly relieved. The scolding had been tough but full of affection. He understood how important it was not to act alone and how much his friends meant to him.

Damian, still pale and visibly weak, gripped the pencil with trembling hands. With an absent and almost feverish expression, he began to draw. Will stayed by his side, watching carefully, ready to intervene if necessary.

The pencil strokes were uncertain at first but became more deliberate as Damian focused. He traced intricate and precise lines, almost without lifting his gaze. Will examined the drawing Damian had completed before collapsing on the pillows. The stylized figures were unsettling in their simplicity: eight people, four females and four males, arranged in a way that seemed almost ritualistic. No faces were clearly distinguishable, but there was something dark and oppressive about the composition.

Will felt a shiver down his spine as he tried to interpret the meaning of the drawing. "Damian... who are these people?" he murmured softly, though he knew he wouldn't get an answer.

Damian was completely exhausted, his breath slow and steady, but his face showed deep emotional weariness. Will turned to Simon, who had just entered the room, also visibly concerned.

"Look at this," Will said, showing Simon the sheet. "I don't know what it means, but I don't like it at all."

Simon examined it closely, his brows furrowed. "Do you think it's a vision? Or something he dreamed?" he asked, trying to find a rational explanation.

"I'm not sure," Will admitted. "But considering what Damian's been through and how he was guided to Olympus... I can't ignore it."

The two exchanged a tense glance. Will carefully folded the sheet and set it aside. "We need to show this to Chiron. And maybe Annabeth, when she's ready."

Meanwhile, Damian seemed peaceful in his sleep, but his face was marked by an expression of deep worry, as if even rest couldn't free him from the torments of his visions.

Will took the drawing carefully and headed toward the Big House, where he knew he'd find Chiron. Annabeth was there with him, discussing the next moves for Camp. When Will entered, they both immediately noticed his concerned expression.

"Will, what's wrong?" Chiron asked, noticing the folded paper in the boy's hands.

"It's Damian," Will began, placing the drawing on the table in front of them. "He had another... vision, I think. He drew this and then collapsed, exhausted."

Annabeth approached, studying the drawing carefully. The eight stylized figures, arranged enigmatically, sent a chill down her spine. "What does it mean?" she murmured, her mind already working to decipher the possible message.

Chiron leaned slightly forward to examine the sheet more closely. His face grew serious. "Damian has shown time and again that he's a channel for important visions. This isn't just a random drawing."

Annabeth pointed to the figures. "Eight people. Four males, four females. We can't know who they are, but this arrangement... it almost seems like a ritual or strategic formation."

"What if it's a warning?" Will suggested. "Damian looked so drained after finishing it, as if this was something big, something dangerous."

Chiron was silent for a moment, then turned to Annabeth. "We need to consider every possibility. It could involve the Camp, or something bigger. You could try talking to Damian when he's more lucid. He might give us more details."

Annabeth nodded, still focused on the drawing. "I'll do my best. But if this is an omen, we need to prepare for anything."

Chiron turned to Will. "Keep me updated on Damian's condition. Any further information he can give us could prove crucial."

Will nodded and took the drawing, ready to return to the infirmary. Annabeth, meanwhile, stayed at the table, her eyes fixed on the eight figures, trying to unravel the mystery they seemed to hide.

Damian was restless, his body trembling and his forehead burning despite Will and Simon's efforts to lower the fever. Both looked extremely worried, their hands moving quickly to change the cloth on his forehead and monitor his condition.

"This isn't good," Simon muttered, gritting his teeth. "He's getting worse."

Will nodded, furrowing his brows. "It's as if his body is fighting something deeper than just the fever. It's not just physical, but also... mental or spiritual."

Damian began to thrash around, gripping the sheets tightly. His breath became irregular, and soon a heart-wrenching scream pierced the air. "Percy!" he cried, his voice filled with terror and desperation.

Will and Simon tried to calm him, but it seemed like Damian was trapped in a nightmare from which he couldn't wake.

"Damian, we're here! You're safe!" Simon tried to reassure him, but the boy kept struggling, his body shaking and his mutterings turning into a confused language.

Will made a decision. "Simon, go call Annabeth and Chiron. This isn't normal, it might have to do with those visions."

Simon nodded and rushed out of the room, while Will knelt beside Damian, taking his hand. "Damian, listen to me," he said in a calm but firm voice. "If you can hear me, fight. Come back to us."

Damian thrashed again, his eyes closed and his face contorted in pure terror. Will stayed by his side, trying to transmit calm and assurance, while anxiously waiting for Chiron and Annabeth's arrival.

Annabeth and Chiron rushed into the infirmary, drenched from the torrential rain that had hit the Camp. Annabeth wrapped her soaked cloak around herself, her hair stuck to her face, while Chiron, despite his usual composure, showed visible signs of concern.

"What's happening?" Annabeth asked, her voice trembling with anxiety. Her gaze immediately landed on Damian, whose body was trembling under the blankets, his face flushed with fever.

Will quickly got up from the chair next to Damian. "He's getting worse," he explained urgently. "His fever spiked suddenly, and now he seems trapped in a nightmare. He keeps calling for Percy and mumbling incoherent words."

Chiron approached the bed, placing a reassuring hand on Damian's shoulder. "The storm... it might not be a coincidence," he said, observing the young boy with a serious expression. "There might be a connection to what he's going through."

Annabeth bent over the bed, her heart heavy. "Damian," she called gently, taking his trembling hand. "I'm here. Percy will be back. You need to hold on."

Damian thrashed at the sound of her voice, his eyes moving beneath his closed eyelids. "Don't let him go... don't let... him take Percy!" he mumbled between labored breaths.

Will ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. "I've done everything I can to lower the fever, but it seems like there's something bigger at play. It's not just sickness, Chiron."

Chiron nodded slowly, his gaze growing more serious. "It could be a manifestation of Damian's latent power. He might be involved in something much bigger than we thought."

"We can't leave him like this," Annabeth said with determination. "We need to figure out what's tormenting him and stop it."

Chiron sighed, looking out the window at the storm. "Someone has to face this storm, both literally and metaphorically. Annabeth, you might be right. We may need to search for answers beyond what's visible."

Damian, even on his most troubled nights, felt a familiar presence that brought him comfort: Nico di Angelo. Although he was a silent shadow, Damian could sense his distinctive aura, that mix of darkness and protection that only Nico could emanate.

One of those nights, Damian woke for a moment, still weak and feverish, and saw Nico sitting next to his bed. His dark eyes were fixed on him, filled with concern that Nico tried to hide behind his usual impassive expression.

"You're here again," Damian murmured in a hoarse voice.

Nico looked down, a slight flush coloring his cheeks. "I couldn't sleep," he replied simply. "And... I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Damian smiled faintly. "Thanks, Nico. I'm glad you're here."

Nico didn't respond but stayed there, his gaze somewhat distant. Every so often, he adjusted Damian's blanket or checked that the cool cloth on his forehead was in place. Even though he wouldn't admit it, Damian's condition deeply worried him.

On those silent nights, with only the two boys' breathing filling the infirmary, Damian found a certain peace. Even though they didn't speak much, Nico's presence was enough to make him feel less alone.

Nico looked at his father in disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. "Condemn him? But he's already condemned! He's alone, sick, and vulnerable! And you're hiding behind the fear of your brothers!"

Hades remained impassive, but a flicker of pain passed through his dark eyes. "You don't understand, Nico. It's not just about me. If I claimed Damian, it would be like a thunderbolt out of the blue for the entire Olympus. Zeus and Poseidon wouldn't tolerate such a violation of the oath. It's too soon. If we want to protect him, I must stay in the shadows."

"Damian doesn't need a shadow! He needs a father!" Nico retorted, his voice trembling with anger.

Hades moved closer, his dark cloak shifting as if moved by an invisible breeze. "I understand your frustration, Nico, but Damian can't know. Not yet. His very existence is already a danger. Until he is strong enough to defend himself, the secret must remain."

Nico clenched his fists, his heart torn between anger and understanding. "I can't leave him alone. He's my brother, whether you like it or not."

Hades sighed, his face serious. "If you want to protect him, be careful. Don't get discovered, and keep him away from the battles that will inevitably come."

"I can't promise anything," Nico replied, gazing at his father with determination. "I won't let Damian face all of this alone."

Hades looked at him in silence for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "If that's how it must go, be careful, Nico. You're too important to me to risk it for no reason."

Nico didn't reply, but his mind was already focused on Damian. He would do whatever it took to protect him, even if it meant going against his father's will.