Nico's Grief

It had started out as a normal day at Camp Half-Blood.

Nico was staying at camp, so he was going around, trying different things to do, mainly because he was bored.

At first, he tried archery with Austin and Kayla, then he went to the infirmary with Will and another Apollo camper, then he went for a walk in the woods, then took a nap in his cabin.

Around evening, Nico couldn't wipe the feeling that something was wrong. Something in his gut was screaming, "BE WORRIED!!!" but Nico couldn't figure out what it was.

After dinner, Nico decided to go for a walk around camp. He kept thinking about that worried feeling.

Suddenly, a tugging sensation grew rapidly in his stomach, and his soul, and his mind. His vision grew black and red, and he could hear the screams from souls trapped in the Underworld.

Someone had died.

Nico suddenly had a vision of Jason, lying down, with a spear sticking out form between his shoulder blades, and Nico knew.

His cousin was dead.

Nico collapsed to his knees. He couldn't, no, he refused to believe that Jason was dead. Jason had been like an older brother to him. A close friend.

Now dead.

Nico cried. He ran through camp, ignoring the confused stares from the few campers that were still there. He headed for his cabin, shut the door, and fell to his knees in front of his bed.

He screamed at his dad to bring Jason back. He blamed Jupiter for letting his son die. He blamed himself for not seeing this coming.

Nico looked down towards the ground. "WHY DID YOU HAVE TO LET HIM DIE?!" He screamed.

The ground rumbled.

"ALL HE DID WAS HELP YOU STUPID OLYMPIANS SURVIVE!! AND THIS IS HOW YOU PAY HIM BACK?!?"

The ground stilled, as if Hades was considering what to reply.

"Nico? Are you alright?" Will stood at the door, with Kayla and Austin behind him.

The siblings noticed Nico's tear-stained face and began to rush over, then hesitated knowing the boys hatred of physical touch.

"Nico, what's wrong?" Will asked.

"Jason... he-he-I-I felt it... he d-... died..." Nico stuttered, a new flood of tears coming on. He leaned on the side of his bed for support, as the three Apollo siblings rushed to help him.

"Nico, I'm so sorry." Will said gently, hugging him.

Nico wept bitterly that night. Very few had ever seen him cry.

In the morning, Chiron gave the news out that Jason Grace, Praetor of the 5th Cohort, Son of Jupiter, Chosen One of Juno, was dead.