The Sun in the Shadow

Chapter 7

QUICK AUTHORS NOTE: I know this next chapter may seem poorly written. Very sorry about that. Sympathy for my commenters has led me to leave you on less of a cliff hanger. Oh well. Just by the way, I love all your comments. Thank you for responding to my writing! Okay, peace out! END

The quest was assigned the afternoon of the day Nico disappeared. After the initial shock had passed, everyone agreed they needed their son of Hades back. While Hazel (newly returned after the news on her brother) and Annabeth prepared for their assigned journey, Will stayed in the infirmary, a mindless figure going through the same steps.

Check wounds, clean wounds, move on to next patient, until every person reassured him that he had already checked them twice and they were fine.

"Will?" a female voice called out and the boy looked up, eyes bright as he waited for what the girl had to say. "There's news on the quest. They want me and Hazel because she knows Nico and I, well, I just know a lot. But they want you too." Annabeth said, striding into the infirmary and standing in front of Will, hands on hips.

Will wilted and said, "Next time you talk to me, bring me news I can actually tolerate. I told them once and I'll tell you again, I can never go near Nico."

Annabeth scowled and marched right up to Will. Her fist collided with his stomach and he doubled over groaning in pain. "Next time I talk to you we will be planning our quest. I hope that punch knocked the sense back into you. I was there this morning, remember?" she whispered harshly, glaring at him, "I know more than anyone that if there is someone willing to go through all the risks for Nico, it's you. Don't whimper around here like some puppy who lost their toy. This is Nico we are talking about, a camper, one of us. I don't care what your feelings are for him or what his feelings are about you, when you get a chance to save a fellow camper, you take it." Annabeth backed away from Will, who was now standing straighter and looked much more alive. "See you at Thalia's tree, 6 am sharp." She continued to walk away, but at the door, turned around and shouted, "For the love of the gods, Will, at least try fight for the ones you love!" Will was left blushing, glowering, and buzzing. Nico's life was on the line. As a doctor, it was Will's job to save him.

~0~

6 am sharp Will was at Thalia's tree. Hazel and Annabeth were already waiting, Hazel looking like she hadn't gotten any sleep and Annabeth facing the cool wind that was blowing into their faces.

"How's Percy letting you take this trip alone?" Will asked as he strode up next to her. She didn't even flinch.

"It took a lot of persuasion and explained logic. It also took a few death threats to promise him not to follow us," she replied with an airy laugh. Hazel looked past Annabeth and gazed at Will for a second, her gaze calculating.

"Will, I know very little of you and as Nico's sister I need to know you as a person before I can bestow any blessing between your relationship," she said and Will almost jumped out of his skin.

"You told her?" he asked accusingly at Annabeth, who just shrugged.

"She's a member of this team, I gave her all the information I knew about. Plus, she has a right to know as his sister."

Will gaped, "Know what? There is nothing she needs to know for there is nothing happening with me and Nico! No relationship!" Both girls watched him with unconvinced glares. He straightened his shirt and cleared his throat while their gazes bore into him.

​"Nice to meet you Hazel, I'm Will and um... Well, I might kind of beromanticallyattractedtoyourbrother," Will said shakily the words rushed out in the end. His eyes, which were squeezed shut, opened slightly to see both girls trying to contain their laughter.

​"Well, he's honest," Hazel said when she had finally controlled her laughter. Annabeth laughed again and Will tried not to look as embarrassed as he felt.

"Honestly sweetie," Hazel started, putting her hand on Will's arm, "I really just want Nico to be happy. If you make him happy, then you're fine by me." She watched him for a second, but at the mention of Nico, Annabeth snapped back onto the task.

​"Alright, enough. We need to find Nico, so no more slacking." Annabeth started down the hill and turned to look at Hazel. "Do you have any idea how to sense him?" she asked and Hazel shook her head.

​"It doesn't really work like that, but we need to get into the underworld for a quick check with Hades. It's more likely than not that he could be there." Hazel responded.

​Will sighed a bit, but then asked, "Wait, how are we going to get into the underworld?" Hazel grinned and then whistled a frequency so high it hurt Will's ears. A huge hell hound bounded over their heads a second later.

​"I got a deal with Percy. Get back Nico and we can borrow Mrs. O'Leary for as long as we need. Hop on! The easiest way to track someone is to follow their trail, right?" Hazel crawled up onto the huge dog, her brown curls whipping in the wind.

​"I sure hope I don't die on this trip," Will murmured and Annabeth laughed as she too swung onto the hounds back.

​"We're not going to the underworld as souls, sun boy. Now come on, it will be fun."

​Will didn't know yet, but it was not going to be fun.