Rox Anne & the Demigod Wars: The Gods' Legacy

6: Home life threatening home

We walked into the graveyard. Normally when you walk through a cemetery at night, you get an eerie feeling that you're being watched. That wasn't the case here.

Instead it was nice and peaceful as Nico and I made our way through the many rows of gravestones new and old. I would often stop to look at the words inscribed on the stone tablets. Each one had a name , followed by their last words, and ended with a description of their death and previous life.

I understand how it must've been difficult for Nico to enter the graveyard, since he was usually the one one who carved the gravestones, with help from his sister Hazel of course.

"So, the weather's lovely tonight huh?" I said, trying to start a conversation.

All I got was a small nod in reply. If this was Nico's idea of 'Let's talk' I don't think he understands the concept that well.

"You do realize that talking actually involves you replying to what I say, right?" I ask.

"I know, I know..." Nico says and holds his hands up in defeat. "There's- there's just a lot going through my mind right now."

  "Like what?"

"Just... stuff." His eyes became distant once more and he turned away, avoiding my gaze.

'Stuff', I assumed, was a substitute word for guilt, regret, and maybe even sorrow. Or who knows, maybe Nico really does have random things on his mind right now, like a platypus in jeans. Yeah, as if.

"Y'know it's not your fault." My voice is calm and silky as I say these words.

"What's not my fault?" Nico asks automatically. He's probably been through these conversations many times in the past, but another one couldn't hurt.

"The deaths, the pain, everything really. I explain, slightly annoyed at the fact Nico rolled his eyes.

"Rox-Anne-" He started, I interrupted him.

"It's not your fault Jason died, it's not your fault Bianca's gone, and it's not your fault Octavian committed suicide." I said, barely whispering.

I waited for him to retort or talk back, but instead Nico's expression softened and he allowed me to continue.

"Yes, you are the son of the god of the dead, but don't let that define who you are. You are Nico di Angelo, you're your own person." I finish with confidence. "Don't let your guilt blind you. Open your eyes and you'll see a brighter future ahead."

"Did you think about that on the spot or did you write it all down on cue cards?" Was the first thing Nico said to me after my sappy monologue.

I playfully punched him in the shoulder. He winced and rubbed it mockingly. We came to a stop in front of a grave. The same grave that belonged to Bianca di Angelo. Nothing like ending a nice walk by standing in front of your sister's gravestone.

I waited for Nico to become stiff and his eyes to harden. It never came. His expression was still the same; neutral. I couldn't tell whether that was good or not.

Bianca's grave had a section all too itself. The tombstone was carved out of obsidian and polished to the point that you could see your reflection in it. Nico had engraved her name and story in a lovely cursive font outlined in white. On top of the grave was a small gold ring with a skeleton head design, a present from her father Hades.

Around the tombstone were candles that magically stayed lit no matter what and gifts that other campers had left. Many of them were silver arrows with a black and blue ribbon tied around them, courtesy of the Hunters of Artemis. Roses as black as night were also scattered around the grave. Somehow the kids from the Demeter and Hecate cabin found a way to grow roses that varied in color. Not just the usual red and white, but purple and green as well.

It was a beautiful sight, but also depressing in it's own way. Bianca's grave stands alone, just as she had once. She never got to see Nico grow up, or even meet her little sister Hazel.

"She deserved better." Nico muttered, I met him with silent agreement.

"Your sister would be proud of you." He nodded in response.

We stood in silence for a while. Thankfully Nico spoke before things could get awkward.

"Thanks, I needed that." He said, I raised an eyebrow out of confusion. "That pep talk. Sure, many people have given them to me already. Those people being Will, Piper, and Annabeth-" I held back my amusement. "But something about this one seemed different."

"Oh, different how?" I questioned.

"I don't know." He admitted. "Maybe it's the fact that it's not Piper using her charmspeak on me, or that there was no long lecture on the dangers of living in greif from Annabeth or Will. Or maybe it was the fact that it came from someone who was shorter than me for once-"

I socked him in the shoulder again, this time with more force.

"I am not short!" I complained, obviously denying that I was in fact two inches shorter than him. "The only reason why I came to talk to you was because someone had told me that you need emotional support, especially at a time when you start grieving over loss that wasn't even your fault!" Another lie, this time not so obvious.

"What?!" Nico asked out of shock. "Who? I will ki-"

"Will Solace, actually."

"-ss him and tell him thanks." He finished.
I chuckled softly at how fast saying Will's name could change Nico from wanting to go on a murder hunt to snuggling up with the head counselor of the Apollo Cabin.

His gaze returned to across the lake where the cabins were. The moon shone on them like a spotlight. It's fluorescent light glistening across the roofs as if it were dancing. Another wonderful sight at Camp Halfblood when our lives weren't constantly being put in danger.

"Home sweet home." Nico sighed, taking in the view.

"More like home life threatening home." I retort, remembering that I recently got attacked by harpies.

Nico laughed, a genuine one this time. His laugh was smooth and melodic, just as Will had described. No wonder he compared it to a song that was only heard once in a blue moon when I asked him. It was at these moments that I could tell he was truly happy.

"Goodnight Rox-Anne." He said, and headed to walk back to the cabins.

I watched as he made his way along the shore, picking up more shiny rocks that seemed to catch his eye. While I choose to stay behind in the graveyard a little longer. His movements were more loose and he didn't seem tense or worried any more. I smiled and headed in the opposite direction.

But something happened.

Pain suddenly rushed through my body, hitting me like a tidal wave. I knelt over, desperately holding on to a nearby gravestone for support. It was unbearable, my body felt like it was splitting in two, being forced apart from the inside.

I reached up and squeezed the clothing near my chest, in a measly attempt to hold myself together. My legs give out as a scream out in agony probably waking up the whole camp in the process.

Not now! I mentally scolded at myself, not that it would help. Next thing I knew similar thoughts were flooding through my mind.

Gods why?

It hurts... It hurts....

Please no, not now!

Help!

Help!

I can't see!

Everything going

B l a c k