This Dark Night ― Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase¹

―xxi. an open wound

ANNABETH AND GROVER HELPED Percy and Naomi search the woods for hours, but there was no sign of Nico di Angelo.

"We have to tell Chiron," Annabeth said, out of breath.

"No," Naomi said.

Annabeth and Grover stared at her.

"Um," Grover said nervously, "what do you mean... no?"

"We can't let anyone know," she said, the words spilling out of her. "I don't think anyone realizes that Nico is a—"

"A son of Hades," Annabeth said. "Naomi, do you have any idea how serious this is? Even Hades broke the oath! This is horrible."

Percy shook his head. "I don't think so," he said. "I don't think Hades broke the oath."

"What?"

"He's their dad," Percy said, "but Bianca and Nico have been out of commission for a long time, since even before World War II."

"The Lotus Casino!" Grover said, and he told Annabeth about the conversations they'd had with Bianca on the quest. "She and Nico were stuck there for decades. They were born before the oath was made."

Percy nodded.

"But how did they get out?" Annabeth protested.

"I don't know," Percy admitted. "Bianca said a lawyer came and got them and drove them to Westover Hall. I don't know who that could've been, or why. Maybe its part of this Great Stirring thing. I don't think Nico understands who he is. But we can't go telling anyone. Not even Chiron. If the Olympians find out—"

"It might start them fighting among each other again," Annabeth said. "That's the last thing we need."

Grover looked worried. "But you can't hide things from the gods. Not forever."

"I don't need forever," Percy said. "Just two years. Until I'm seventeen."

Annabeth paled. "But, Percy, this means the prophecy might not be about you. It might be about Nico. We have to—"

"No," Percy said. "I choose the prophecy. It will be about me."

"Why are you saying that?" Annabeth cried. "You want to be responsible for the whole world?"

"I can't let Nico be in any more danger," Percy said. "I owe that much to his sister. I... I let them both down."

"We'll find him," Naomi said, her tone unwavering. "I'll find him. He—" She swallowed. "He's family. I promised Bianca I'd look out for him—that's what I'm going to do."

"We can hide him somewhere safe until the war is over," Percy suggested.

Annabeth shivered. "If Luke gets hold of him..."

"Luke won't," Percy said, squaring his shoulders. "I'll make sure he's got other things to worry about. Namely, me."

❊

Naomi wasn't sure Chiron believed the story they told him. He could probably tell they were holding something back about Nico's disappearance, but in the end, he accepted it. Unfortunately, Nico wasn't the first half-blood to disappear.

(There was still no sign of Ethan, and Naomi tried not to assume the worst.)

"So young," Chiron sighed, his hands on the rail of the front porch. "Alas, I hope he was eaten by monsters. Much better than being recruited into the Titans' army."

Just the idea made Naomi feel sick.

"You really think the first attack will be here?" Percy asked.