Bronze Gold Shadow (Percy Jackson/Teen Wolf Crossover)

Nico's Friends

I didn't remember landing in a sewer. I remembered dreaming. I remember choking on the blood I had consummed. 

Then I woke up. I was clawing at my throat, trying to get the blood out. Someone's hands were on my wrists but I couldn't breathe. It was in there. There was so much. 

"LIZ!" 

My eyes shot open and I saw Will, holding my one wrist, watching me. His eyes were concerned and panicked. 

"It's okay," he soothed. "It was just a dream, okay?" 

I looked to see who had my other wrist and did a double take when I saw Apollo. I pulled both my hands free and sat up. I scooted away from both of them, trying to steady my breathing. I could feel Terrorem on my hip. I wish I couldn't. 

"Are you alright?" Apollo asked carefully. 

"I'm fine," I told him. "I just... Just give me a minute." 

I took a breath and raised my knees up. I placed my head on them and took another breath. It hurt. My shoulder ached, my stomach was sore. 

"Are you hurt?" Rachel asked. 

"I don't think it's that bad," I said. 

"Let me see," Will urged. 

I lowered my knees and lifted my shirt. The bruise was in the shape of a hoof, purple, blue and ugly. I heard Rachel suck in a breath. Will placed a hand on it and muttered something in Greek. I felt the pain recede enough to make it so breathing was easier. 

"Thanks," I told him.

"How's your shoulder?" Nico questioned. 

"Her shoulder?" Meg repeated. 

"It's fine," I said. "Just a little sore. I'll be fine." 

"That's not how this works and you know it," Will scolded. "Come on, show me." 

I rolled my eyes and took off my shirt. Apollo turned to look at the sewer wall. Rachel gasped out a breath at the sight of my bandages. Will unrolled them enough to look at the wound. It was still yellow and green around the edges, pink tissue and muscles visible in the opening. 

"What happened?" Meg asked. 

"Knife," I replied. Will pulled out his silver cream. I sighed. "I was hoping to avoid that this trip." 

"Sorry, Liz," he said. He applied the paste and hummed again. I winced at the cold and grit my teeth. He rolled up my shoulder and tightened the bandages. "You should be good for a bit." 

"Thanks," I said. I put my shirt back on. I looked around and found my bag and bow a few feet away. I put on my backpack and slung my bow over my shoulder. "Now what?" 

"Now I'm going to lead you into the troglodyte caverns," Nico stated. "Keep your hands away from your weapons at all times. Let me go first and do the talking. The troglodytes can be a little... jumpy." 

"By jumpy, Nico means likely to murder us with no provocation." 

"That's what I said," Nico told his boyfriend. "Ready? Let's do this." 

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To get to the trogs' caverns we had to go down. That's it. Down. Just down. Nico led us through pipes, tunnels, both brick and stone and a thousand other underground roadways. All of it on a downward curve. 

At one point, I was beside Apollo. I could feel him tense a little as we walked. I sighed. "You don't have to be so on edge," I told him. "I'm not gonna punch you."