The Rogue Emperor (A Riordanverse Story)

Chapter 3: Nico Hears the Music

Will kept looking over at Nico like he wanted to give him a stern talking to for leaving without even a goodbye, but he knew better than to do it in their current company. Reyna and Nico had gone through a lot together while they were transporting the statue that now graces the top of the hill. He had developed a bond with Reyna after all that and she was someone that Nico could call a close friend; Will wouldn't dare to reprimand him in front of her.

The trail to the Grove of Dodona was overgrown now that most of the Demeter cabin had gone home for the school year. All summer, Cabin 4 had cultivated such a beautiful path to the mysterious oracle, but they'd become so protective over it; no other cabin wanted to volunteer to landscape while they were away. So, the group of four push through the dense leaves and branches, inching closer until Nico can hear the faint sound of the windchimes. 

He wasn't sure how successful Frank and Reyna would be in doing what they were attempting, but Nico was more than willing to try in assist them in finding the missing heroes. Nico was concerned about his sister and her fate. The fact that he couldn't sense her soul in their father's realm was a positive, but the fact that nearly ten people were missing without a trace didn't make anyone in the party feel better.

Will stops them as the edge of the grouping of trees, digging through the basket of noise cancelling headphones that the Demeter kids use when they landscape. "I'm not sure which of you is the quest leader, but I'll come in with you with these headphones on just in case you need help. We had an incident of a camper collapsing, so we like to take precaution and use a buddy system." He places them on his ears. "I don't claim to read lips, but hand gestures work well enough."

"Frank, I'm alright with you taking the lead. It was initially the Senate's idea to seek out any unknown emperors, so you should be the one to spearhead this."

The praetor looks a bit worried, but eventually nods. "Yeah, you're right."

Nico volunteers to keep guard in case anything comes along while Frank and Will are in the Grove; they were still in the monster infested woods so who knew what could stroll by. Reyna places the headphones over her ears, thinly veiling her curiosity to take a look in the Grove as extra backup for Will and Frank. Nico has no interest in joining, the potential of listening to the horrors that the Grove could place into the mind; Nico had seen enough horrors for a lifetime, and he wasn't even an adult yet. 

In fact, he was ready to take a break from any action after his most recent trip to Tartarus. Nico was kicking back relaxing when Reyna and Frank called. Of course, he wanted no part in any of this after the battle with Nero, but Hazel was in trouble and he couldn't just abandon his sister. Hazel was going to be fine, she had to be fine; Nico couldn't bear to lose anyone else in his life.

Frank, Will, and Reyna step into the Grove and Nico watches Frank intently to see how he reacts to receiving a prophecy in this manner. It could be unsettling, and Nico wished, for his sake, that Rachel was back. The Roman wanders around, tipping his right ear up with a confused look on his face every time he approached a tree. Will follows close behind in case Frank suddenly collapses, but Reyna was meandering off in the completely different direction, admiring the foliage.

"I can't hear anything!" yells Frank, waving his arms to gain the attention of Will and Reyna.

A confused look crosses Will's face. "WHAT?!"

Frank points to his ear and then shakes his head. "I can hear you, but the trees aren't giving me a prophecy."

Will nods and run off to redirect Reyna back towards her fellow Roman. Likely he had the same thought that crossed Nico's mind; maybe it was Reyna's quest.