YOUNGER

Chapter 5

First Person: Helena

The sun cast it's early morning rays onto the camp, shining through the always perfect clear sky. Anyone looking towards the landmark known as 'Thalia's tree' — that's an entirely different story — would see three separate heads of hair, although the blond and dark brunet could be seen as one figure.

I stood a few metres away from my kinda-brother as he said goodbye to his boyfriend. Since I moved into the Hades cabin, the Italian boy had pretty much adopted me as his sister. I looked away when they started getting a bit too emotional...

"Eww! Keep down the PDA, lovebirds!" I called from behind my hand.

An airy, summery laugh replied, accompanied by a slightly more... 'dead' voice. "Lena, if you get annoyed now, then I'll tease even more when you-"

"Nico!" My eyes widened in mock-horror. "But I'm too young!" I lift my head to my forehead, falling backwards onto a particularly soft patch of grass. I totally hadn't planned where I stood.

Will laughed as my brother rolled his eyes. "You little drama queen." Nico held out his hand to me, pulling me up into a brotherly embrace. "Stay safe, okay?"

"Why wouldn't I? Bring Hazel and Frank back safely as well."

"Why wouldn't I?" Nico mocked with a small smirk as he stepped away.

He took a deep breath. "Well, I'll see you guys hopefully before dinner, but I don't know exactly how long it takes for an eighteen- and nineteen-year-old to pack for a quest, so... Bye."

Nico pushed two fingers away from his forehead as a salute before dissolving into the shadows. Will let out a sigh of annoyance.

"I still don't understand why-"

"Yes you do, Sunny. You're just in denial."

"Oh shut it tiny child."

I ducked away when the son of Apollo tried to ruffle my hair, laughing. We started walking back to the cabins.

"So... do you have your eye on anyone at the moment?"

"Will!"

"Sorry," he laughed.

•••

First Person: Nico

I stumbled out of the shadows in the small townhouse that my half-sister and her boyfriend rented, almost bumping into a familiar dark-skinned girl.

"Neeks! Hi!" My sister Hazel squealed in surprise, almost dropping a basket of dirty washing. She put it down before giving me a hug. "Frank! Nico's here!"

The tall son of Mars looked through the doorway, raising his eyebrows. "Nico? How did you..." He frowned. "Oh. Shadow travel."

"Frank, how do you think he got here? Walked through the... oh." Hazel chuckled. "That actually should make more sense then shadow travelling here but, oh well. Come sit down, Neeks. Do you want anything to eat? Drink?"

I sat on one of the couches in the living area, where I'd conveniently travelled to, as Hazel quickly grabbed one of iced coffees she usually had on hand. Frank sat down on the opposite sofa.

My sister gave me a bottle as she passed to sit in the arm of Frank's couch. "So, what brings you to New Rome?"

I opened my iced coffee, only then realizing how tired I was. "I wish I was here on a social call, but..." I took a drink of coffee. "There's a new prophecy."

Hazel pursed her lips. "Who does it include?"

"Well, there's five, possibly six demigods mentioned. There's me, possibly Will, you both and..." I trailed off, wincing as I saw the piecing suspicion Hazel was sending my way.

"And?" She prompted, visibly relaxing when Frank placed a hand on her knee.

"Helena."

I have a feeling Hazel would've strangled me if Frank wasn't beside her. As it was, her eyes filled with flames. "No. She can't go on a quest! She's only fourteen!"

"You were fourteen when you-"

"Frank. Not helping." She growled through gritted teeth. "Nico, you told us she hasn't been able to learn any combat skills! She doesn't even have a weapon!"

I involuntarily winced, the event of the battle a few days ago flashing through my mind. "About that..."

Frank furrowed his eyebrows. "She does have a weapon?"

"Not exactly."

Hazel sighed. "Then wh-"

"It's more like she is a weapon. We'll explain when we get back to Camp Half-Blood, but right now, you guys have to pack."