A Tale of Gods and Magic

Hazel: The Return of Mythomagic and Sunny Boy

Hazel leaned against the doorway, not sure what to do. Nico was inside, probably snoozing in a pitch-black room.

She felt bad for him.

Yesterday had been Bianca’s birthday, and though Nico had tried to hide it, Hazel knew he was hurting. Especially after leaving Will at camp. She cracked a small grin. Maybe Nico did have something good waiting for him. After all this time, he deserved it.

Hazel wondered what Bianca had been like. She must’ve been pretty amazing for Nico to love her so much. She knew she could never replace Bianca, but she wanted to be a shoulder Nico could lean on.

Hazel finally took the plunge. She tried to doorknob first, and surprisingly, it opened. The momentum threw her forwards into Nico’s room.

“Well, hello!” said Will. Hazel blinked. Nico and Will were sitting on the floor, pretty close together. Their knees were practically touching. A whole bunch of cards were on the floor, and Nico’s mouth hung open.

“Um, sorry! Did I interrupt?” Hazel brushed a lock of hair back from her face.

“Not at all,” said Will, motioning for Hazel to sit down next to him. She did.

“What are you guys doing?” she asked. The cards in front of her depicted a man holding a large trident and a lady with an owl on her shoulder.

Nico’s face went red, red, red.

“Nothing… “ he mumbled. Will stifled a laugh.

“di Angelo here was showing me his old Mythomagic cards. For medical reasons, y’know? Looks pretty cool, huh?”

“Yeah… uh, pirates,” said Nico.

“What?” asked Hazel. “I just wanted to check that you were okay.”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” Nico asked a little too fast.

“Oh… “ Hazel bit her lip to keep from saying anything more. Nico looked mortified. He obviously didn’t want Hazel talking about his dead sister in front of Will. “Nothing,” she said curtly. “Just leaving.” Will looked mystified. Hazel imagined him holding Nico’s hand for “medical reasons,” and held in a smile. One good thing about the twenty-first century was people’s acceptance of other sexualities. Love was love, she reasoned.

“Okay, Jupiter. Seeya tomorrow,” said Will, saluting. “Your brother here’s got some good taste for games.” Will winked at Hazel.

“It’s Hazel, and he sure does.” Nico’s face somehow got redder.

“Hazel…” he said, fists clenched at his sides. She could practically hear his teeth grinding against each other. She left before a skeleton could pop out of the ground and strangle her.

The door closed softly behind her. She could hear guffawing.

It was still early in the morning and Hazel didn’t expect Frank to be up. She pulled the drawstrings on her hoodie tighter. She felt suffocated in the train without Frank awake. She needed some air.

She walked down the hallway. The floor was covered in a deep red rug and and each of the rooms lining the hallway had a buzzer on it. Fancy, she thought. They seemed to have popped up overnight.

Once she got to the end of the hallway, she opened a door. It led to the end of the train. Like in the black-and-white movies she’d watched when she was younger, there was a little porch sort of thing. She slid the door closed behind her.

Cool air rushed over her immediately. It definitely wasn’t summer anymore and it definitely wasn’t Kansas! She laughed. Frank had shown her The Wizard of OZ recently.

Fields whizzed past her vision and she realized they weren’t on the road; they were on a flying train! It skimmed a few feet above the ground. She guess it would’ve gone higher, but since the roads were empty, it didn’t matter. The sun blossomed across the sky, shading the clouds a light pink. It looks kind of like a jewel, she mused, then banished the thought. Didn’t want any random rubies popping up in a wheat field!

Suddenly, the door slid open and strong arms eclipsed her. She gasped.

“It’s just me, Hazel!” said Frank, backing away. He was awkward as ever, but less of a teddy bear and more of a… soldier, Hazel thought firmly. My soldier, she added.

“No, it’s fine,” she said.

“I can’t believe Hecate is giving us magical powers,” said Frank. “Leo said we’re getting them when we get to Hogwarts.” He stuffed his hands in his pajama pockets and joined her next to the railing.

“I know,” said Hazel. “everything’s about to change.” Frank looked out at the skyline.

“Yeah,” he said ruminatively. “it is.”