The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

nineteen

CAMP HALFBLOOD

Nico woke up from his nap, when it happened - the ringing in his ears.

Nico's heart stopped. He instantly knew what it meant. Nico Di Angelo had experienced this numerous times before, it was all far too familiar with him.

Ariana Parker was dead.

Swarmed with emotions, Nico didn't remember how he got to Cabin Seven but he must have.

Nico didn't remember knocking on the door of Cabin Seven, where his boyfriend Will Solace sat in.

But he must've, there was no other logical explanation as to how Nico was stood there in front of the cabin.

Will opened the door, smiling warmly but his happiness soon deteriorated as he saw the pain within his other half, Nico Di Angelo.

The son or Apollo's stomach plummeted as his eyes instantly locked with Nico's, taking in the sight of his face completely void of happiness or joy, seeing the sheer terror and torment in his eyes.

"Nico?" was all he could think to say as he pushed the door opened wider to try and coax him inside, trying not to make more noise than necessary in an attempt to not overwhelm Nico anymore.

Will was terrified and panicked, wondering what could have possibly happened.

"Ariana-" Nico couldn't form the words properly, barely able to form a coherent sentence. "The ringing I-"

Nico had experienced this before and he knew what it meant.

His sister was dead. Why did his sisters have to always die?

His heart and stomach plummeted even lower, feeling like they were in the depths of Tartarus, the shock of what he was saying finally hit Will.

Will stepped forward, pressing Nico into a tight hug, not wanting to let him go.

"Nico-" His breath hitched as he closed his eyes and whispered, voice thick and hoarse.

Nico allowed himself to crumble in the arms of his boyfriends, his body was shaking violently.

His heart felt heavy as the ringing continued on for a few more minutes. Somehow, Will managed to get his Cabin empty and managed to get Nico to sit down.

Though the sobs of Nico filled the Cabin, and nothing could stop the boy from mourning his sister.

He didn't even try to stop him from crying, he didn't know what would be appropriate to say or do in that moment, just holding him as he let all of it out.

He didn't bother trying to ask what happened because he knew Nico was going through everything internally.

Will was also silently praying that Nico was mistaken but his mind kept repeating the same thought: She's gone.

After a few moments, Will spoke gently. "It might not be her."

That didn't help Nico, who only cried harder. "It is. I know it is."

"Nico, you're probably right but we don't know until for sure. We should wait until the official-" He was cut off by his stomach dropping yet again as he realized how selfish and tone deaf he sounded.

This wasn't his sister that was gone, it was Nico's.

Since the moment Ariana had met him, even before they knew they were siblings, she had looked after him.

It was Ariana. The girl had destroyed her own relationship with her father simply because he hadn't done Nico right.

Ariana had given so much to Nico, treated him with kindness when nobody else had.