𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

꧁𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐜𝐡𝟑𝟕꧂

Nico

I had a bad feeling. As they jumped into the Pit, I wanted to manipulate the shadows to yank their backpacks back to relative safety. But that wasn't possible. As their feet left the floor, I stepped back and muttered a prayer.

I waited a few seconds before shadow travelling back to the ship.

_________

What I didn't know then, was that only one of them was leaving those Doors, just like the prophecy warned. And Thoon's alteration of Destiny? Let's just say that wasn't wrong either...

__________

When I arrived on the deck of the Argo, I faced anxious, pacing people who blurted stuff out all at once. I waved them off.

"As corny as it was, yes, they are down there. No more questions. Please," I sighed, sitting down on a crate. I began to fiddle with my skull ring, thinking of the depths of Tartarus. Maybe I should have followed them, done something worthwhile.

The atmosphere was moody, and everyone loitered around awkwardly for a couple minutes.

"They'll be fine. They are, like, the strongest demigods I know. With Annabeth there to set Percy's head on straight, they're good. I mean, the dude accidentally blew up a volcano three years ago," I assured them, getting up. I twirled my sword, heading below deck.

Also, no one had really pointed it out, but Percy was a lot stronger. He held a kind of aura, the same sorta thing as with the Olympians. His swordsmanship was so much better - whenever he was training, he had to slow down for the other person to keep up. But when he was training on his own.... he was powerful, and his powers flowed like talking - and he does not find it difficult to talk. At all.

"Hold up, what? Why do I get the feeling we know nothing still? What do you mean dude accidentally blew up a volcano?" Frank frowned.
I blinked. "You didn't know? Mount St Helens?"
Jason's eyes went as wide as saucers. "That was Percy? That was massive!! Didn't thousands of people have to be evacuated?? Camp Jupiter wondered what the hell that was about!!"
Everyone else looked pretty surprised too, but I caught Hazel whispering to Frank, probably asking what we were talking about.

"Yup. But he doesn't like using that power after that," I said, uncomfortable about all the eyes on me.
"He crashed his own funeral," Grover laughed and a small smile found my face.
"Yeah. Yeah he did."

___________

We decided to leave the ring in a box in Jason's room, to be safe. Grover parted with it sadly before we left the room. We finished packing our bags, and so I took one last look at the spare room. It had been Coach Hedge's, but after the war everything had been cleared out. On the way out, I accidentally caught my reflection and noticed the bags under my eyes. They made me look like the dead. Maybe I should've taken Will's advice and stop shadow travelling so much. With one last glance, I closed the door and stepped out into the corridor.

I nearly tripped over one of Calypso's suitcases on the way out - yes, one of them. There were four separate suitcases for two nights; Piper made the mistake of introducing her to skincare.

"You're hilarious," I said, rolling my eyes at Leo. He'd just shut the bathroom door and grinned, saying, 'I closed the door I seeked! The prophecy is fulfilled!' as we walked down the corridor.

"'Seeked' isn't even a word," Frank muttered.

We continued walking down the corridor, the others behind us. I'd grabbed my bag and had it slung over my shoulder, the others doing the same. I caught the inside of Annabeth's room through the door left ajar, and noticed all of the pictures on the walls. I was even in quite a few of them. I looked away.

"You're, like, really good at making sarcastic comments, Death kid. I mean seriously, you're following in your good Uncle Leo's footsteps!" the son of Hephaestus grinned, looking over his shoulder to me. He was pulling half of Calypso's suitcases, and Jason was making the other two float in the air. And people call me lazy for shadow travelling all the time.

I gave Leo a death stare. "I'm literally way older than you."
"You sure look it," he grinned. I gave him another look and he turned around, backing up slowly, his hands in mock surrender.

"I was joking! I'm sorry! Death! Gravestones! Black stuff! Skulls! Mcdonald's! Murder! Mass murder! The Underworld! Will Solace-" he started.
I frowned, "Hold up. Why is Will on that list?"
"It was a list of stuff you like!"
"What!?"

He realised his mistake and he began to run down the hallway to the deck awkwardly. Naturally, I chased him with my sword.

"You are so dead, Valdez!" I shouted threateningly. I heard him squeal as he ran.

We got to the deck and he stepped back in a surrendering position, chuckling.

"I'm gonna kill you," I threatened.

"NO!!" Calypso screamed out of nowhere. She had been standing to the side of the deck, but suddenly ran forwards, arms splayed.

"You know I wasn't actually going to kill him... Was that amount of sarcasm too overkill?" I frowned.
"You okay, Cal?" Leo said, running forwards. She just looked forwards furiously, fists balled.
"Calypso?!" he said, arm on her shoulder when she didn't answer. She suddenly shook out of whatever state she was in and turned to smile forcefully at Leo.

"I'm fine. Just going to go and get something, I forgot it," she said, and hurriedly walked below deck.

Me and Leo exchanged a look of concern, and that was disconcerting in itself.

"O-okay," I said, "I'll wait for her to get back and then we'll head off. The quest is supposed to be seven, but if you need any help, iris message me."

Soon Calypso came back and stood next to me. She looked nervous, but ran to Leo. She enveloped him in a hug before telling him to stay safe. He made a sarcastic remark I didn't hear but got the gist of, but resulted in Calypso flicking his cheek, accompanied with an eye roll. She then walked over and put a hand on my shoulder, ready to go.

"Thanks Piper!" Grover called, before heading over to us. I shot him a puzzled look and he grinned. "She was giving me advice for what to get Juniper for her birthday."

I shrugged and turned to Hazel. "Be careful," I said.
"You too," she responded determinedly, before I shadow travelled back to camp.