Stupid Cupid

~Stupid Cupid - Chapter 18

"Sky. Sky, please wake up. I need you, we all need you." I try to open my eyes but they stay shut like glue. "Please. Gods, this is all my fault. If I had just... just been there." Whoever was speaking's voice cracks and quiet sobs follow.

"Is she up?" My heart skips a beat at the sound of Nico's voice.

"You! This is your fault! If you had been more careful, Skylar wouldn't be in a coma in the camp infirmary! She wouldn't have had to use all her strength to lug you and Leo and that big metal dragon!" I instantly feel extreme anger towards whoever's talking.

"Hey! If you don't remember, I'm the one who saved you by taking the Athena Parthenos half way across the world. If it weren't for me, Sky wouldn't even have somewhere to be healed in. I almost died by doing that. The shadows tried to consume me, remember? I knew it would be life threatening but I took the job for you and Hazel!" Nico shouted at the mystery person.

"Whatever. You just need to leave."

"Fine." I hear heavy footsteps and my mind goes into overdrive.

Everything in me was trying to move. I just wanted Nico to stay. I tried until it hurt and I didn't have anything left. In one last burst of energy, my eyes snapped open and my broken voice said, "Neeks." Everything stopped in the room and two pairs of eyes are on my. The obsidian and brown ones I've grown to love and the sea green ones I've been used to hating.

"Sky." Percy tried to come and hug me but I flinched away from his touch. A flash of pain went through is eyes but he backed off. "I-I'll go tell the others you're up."

"Neeks?" Nico came over to me. He was slightly hunched over and his breathing was off but other than that he looked fine.

"Hey. You feeling better?"

I nod, "What about you? I swear I didn't mean to hit you."

"Calm down. One of Khione's nicer children removed the ice and Will Solace fixed the rest. I just need to take it easy."

"When did we get back? Have there been anymore incidences?" I wince in pain when I sit up and Nico eases me back down.

"You need to stay back. I'll get Willie-" Nico coughed. "Will. I'll get Will in here to check you out." Nico took his cold hand from my shoulder and left the room.

I sat in silence for a moment until someone spoke, "He's still getting used to it."

"What? Who are you? What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about Nico and him still getting used to who he is. As for who I am, ask the son of Hades. Just tell him you met an old friend from his days in Greece and Rome."

"Wait! Hello?" There was no answer.

"Who are you talking too?" Nico and Will came in.

"I'll tell you later, Neeks."

"Okay. This is Will." Nico turned to Will. "Take care of her. Come get me from my cabin when you've come up with a diagnosis, Doc." Nico started for the door.

"You got it, Shaggy!" Will called.

"I told you not to call me that!" Nico called but Will just laughed.

"What was that all about?" Will just shook his head and began my check up.

***

Will had check my pulse, eyes, breathing - anything and everything. Finally, after what seemed like days, he told me I was good to go and that he'd get Nico to get me around until tomorrow. Nico walked through the door and helped me off the cot. I was still in my jeans and shirt from the quest. I asked Nico to take me to my cabin so I could change and we begin the walk to Cabin Three.

When we get there, I tell Nico to wait outside and walk into my cabin. Waiting inside is the goddess Night herself. I stand frozen for a second and Night just studies me before coming and putting a cold hand on my shoulder.

"I can't stay long, my hero. I just wanted to congratulate you on your victory. I helped all I could but after my first contact with you, the others trapped me. They only let me go when the plan was stopped and the other events were counteracted. I hope to see you again. Hopefully soon."

"Why did you come here? You could have just come to me in a dream but you came in person."

"I thought what I will say next would be best in person. Bring in your friend, Nico." I turn and open the door to let the Ghost King in. Nico, alarmed, pulls out his Stygian iron sword.

"It's okay, Night won't hurt us." Nico hesitantly puts his sword away but his hand stays firmly planted on the hilt.

"Cupid? Are you there?"

"Yes, Shadow Worm, I am here."

"Can we just be civil for ten minutes, Lover Boy?"

"Fine. Nico, nice to make your acquaintance again." I still can't see the voice's form but Nico looks ready to lunge.

"The feelings are not returned. Why are you here?" Nico snarls.

"Close to the same reason as before. Confrontation."

"And I am here for Sky. She needs to know about your past, son of Hades."

There is a type of growl from Nico but he holds back an upcoming diatribe. "I used to like your brother, Sky. I had a crush on the Barnacle Breath. After the war, I started to fall for Will Solace, the Doc himself. We dated for a while. We broke up but stayed close. Then I started having feelings for you which is why I stayed so far away from you. You confused me but now? Now, I know who I am. I might not be completely okay with it but I'm working on it." Nico's gaze is cold and icy directed at the spot where the voice had just come from.

"You confessed it easier this time." Cupid's voice rang.

"I told Percy. He accepted me. Will showed me I was as normal as he was. And there was never any shame in liking a girl from my time, it just confused me. What was the point in this?"

"I just wanted to make sure you hadn't gotten worse. That I had made some difference. Plus, your life is like a soap - dramatic, saddening, vengeful, and anything in between. I best be off."

It's silent in the cabin for a few moments. Nico is hunched like he lost all the energy he's ever had. Night is frowning at nothing.

"I'll be leaving. I hope to see you again. Nico... I am sorry." Night hesitated like she wanted to say more but left instead.

"Why didn't you tell me? Do you even... Even like me?" I asked Nico.

He hung his head in shame. "I wanted to move on. But it's not possible. Not with Cupid coming around." Nico stormed out the door.

I sigh and fall onto my bed with a soft thud. The door opens and Percy, the Seven, the Stolls, and a girl with dark hair, light brown eyes, and tan skin come in.

"Hey, Sky. How ya feeling?" Piper comes over and sits next to me. I start to cry. One thing I've learned is that when someone asks how you are, you feel horrible. "Hush. It's okay. We're right here." Annabeth comes over and then Leo then the Stolls.

The girl who I don't know looks around and then whispers in Percy's ear. Percy frowns and tries to protest but the girl Is already out the door. Hazel sits on the bed across from me and Leo moves over there since my own bed was overflowing. Percy sat on his own bed.

A few minutes later the girl from before stormed into the cabin and hit Percy upside the head. I laughed lightly and so did the others.

"Why would you say that to Nico? What's wrong with you? After everything he's done! I should throw you to Lupa and her wolves!" The girl screamed some words in Spanish and Latin.

"Reyna! I didn't even know you used those types of words." Leo looked like he won the lottery as he said that.

"Reyna, maybe you should calm down." Annabeth put a gentle hand on Reyna's shoulder and led her over to us.

Reyna and I meet and she explains why she's so protective over Nico. Everyone tells me of the first time they all met. They're all pretty cool and we're all worried about Nico so we get up and make the short walk to Nico's all black cabin. We walk in.