Light and Dark

chapter 15

Nico's PoV

Waking up next to Will Solace was the best thing ever.

Nico propped himself up and discovered they were lying on the beds of the camp's infirmary. He swept his gaze on the worn-out cupboards, vials of ambrosia and nectars, stacks of bandages and towels and he realized, he missed this place, even that he was away for 2 days.

Will mumbled and turned in his sleep and he couldn't help but grin, this was the first time he's ever seen Will sleeping. He looked so contented and sweet that people won't believe this guy can kill monsters and come up with badass tricks. 

He steps outside the infirmary, only to find it surprisingly empty. It's only late evening, shouldn't the campers be outside, celebrating campfire and whatnot? He strutted forwards, little lanterns were set here and there and Nico's never felt so disturbing, not when he first arrived when he was 10. That was weird considering the fact that it was the only safe place for him, for people like him.

He should turn right now, to the big house to find Chiron and others. Yep, that was his plan. But he stared at the forest and his feet pulled him towards it as if it had a mind of its own. He stopped until he saw a glowing aura right in front. 

"Mr. D?"
"Why if it's not our DiAngelo"

"What are you doing? Where is everyone?"
"They're....fine. How are you?" He asked while smiling in a "un Mr.D" way that ran shivers down his spine.
"What is wrong with you? You're behaving....unusually"

"You wanna know why? Follow me" Mr.D started walking to the deeper parts of the woods, already disappearing within the dark trees. Nico turned a bit to see the infirmary. Will's safe there. With that happy thought, he started following the god of wine and craziness, into a forest. Not the smartest move he'd say.

As he approached, the trees got closer and closer, narrowing the width and clawing at him but it didn't seem to bother Dionysus. He turned to Nico and the impossible happened.

 Mr.D giggled. 

It was a childish chuckle and yet held a horror Nico's never faced before. His body inched to run away, but Mr.D suddenly stated, "Follow me" with a series of grins. When he said "follow me" It sounded like a 12year old girl, it sounded like Bianca to be specific. As soon as the thought came into his mind in front of his stare, the god of wine shrank until he was staring at little Bianca, exactly as he remembered, right before she left with the hunters of Artemis. Even her clothes were the same with the green cap over her messy hair.

Where's the cap now? he thought subconsciously. I should've kept it. It was the only thing she left behind

For a long moment, nothing happened. Just Nico and Bianca staring at each other. Then she asked, "Do you miss me, Nico?" with amusement in her tone.

He shut his eyes tight, "Gods. What is happening?"
"Look at me" He couldn't help but oblige and suddenly everything else vanished. It was just the two of them, no other world existed. No other worlds can interfere.
"You wanna stay with me, Nico?" she extended her hand.

If it had been a month earlier, he would've agreed. She was his sister, his only family. He would've forgotten everything and take her hand and follow her till he'd died. He would've wanted nothing but to melt with her within the shadows. But shit's changed since the last few days. And he's not stupid enough to believe that the 'thing' standing in front of him was Bianca.
"Nico?" she called for her again. 

He extended his hands too, but not to touch her. He pointed to the ground she was standing on and it cracked. She stumbled forward but fell face-first on the soil. He willed and the ground split open, swallowing her whole, leaving nothing but a brutal cry. 
"My sister's dead!" He screamed to the uninhabited forest, "stop using that event to defeat me!"