Fighting Darkness

Chapter 6

Nico would've gone to sleep or taken a nap in any other circumstance, but he was too worried about Will to properly relax. His body was still buzzing from the kiss, craving more contact with Will. Contact that he couldn't have, because he was currently behind bars, locked in a cold, dark cell.

He heard someone running down the stairs, and he immediately pressed against the bars, peering into the darkness. He tried to decipher who was running down the stairs, and if it was serious or not. He heard yells and several other sets of footsteps on the stairs. What was all of the commotion about?

"You can't keep him down there! He's just a kid!"

"No, let go of me!"

"He's dangerous!"

"He killed the praetor!"

"It was an accident!"

"She isn't actually dead!"

"Shut up and get out of my way!"

"We're breaking him out, and if you get in our way, you'll regret it."

The last voice was the only voice he could hear clearly. He was horrified to realize that he recognized the voice. It was the voice that had haunted his dreams for years. The voice that belonged to his first crush. The voice of Percy Jackson. He didn't know if he should've been relieved or worried. Maybe he was both, he didn't get a chance to decide as Percy burst into the room.

Percy looked good, but he didn't compare to Will. Percy was tanned; his hair had gotten longer and darker. His eyes were dark green in the light. He didn't have a camp T-shirt on; he must've just come from school.

Other people followed him. Romans and Greeks together, all shouting, yelling, and arguing. So that was what the scream was. The Romans were at camp. He hoped that it was an excited scream, coming from friends seeing each other again.

Percy, Annabeth, Hazel, Piper, and Jason crowded against the bars of his cell, asking several questions at once. Their voices blended together. Nico ignored them and peeked over their shoulders, trying to figure out who had the guts to go against five sevenths of the seven prophecy demigods. Coach Hedge, Clarisse, Ares and Athena siblings, and a few Roman campers he didn't know. They were all armed and ready for a fight, gripping their sword hilts. Coach Hedge wanted to keep Nico inside of the cell? Ouch, that hurt. After travelling, fighting, and moving a super-sized statue with someone, you'd think that you know a guy. Apparently not.

There was another set of footsteps down the stairs, and Will emerged, out of breath. He looked like he had been running for a while, his hair wind-blown. His cheeks were flushed, and Nico wanted, more than anything, to reach up and fix his hair, to press his lips against Will's. But, again, the cell he was trapped in didn't allow him to.

A high whistle pierced the air, and everyone stopped, turning to face Will. His lips curled into a charming smile as he leaned against the wall.

"Okay, guys. This is serious. Nico here, he has a deity stuck in him. Possessing him and shit." Will said. A few of the campers shot him a glare for swearing; others ignored it and openly gawked at Nico. Hazel fanned herself, her eyelashes fluttering. He would have to talk with Will after this situation, to tell him to watch his language around his half-sister. Percy didn't miss a beat.

"Yeah, so? How do we get it out?" Percy asked impatiently. Annabeth punched his arm, she was obviously refraining from rolling her eyes.

"We have to know which deity is possessing him first, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth said, actually rolling her eyes this time. She looked at Will expectantly for the answer.