My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Play the Hero

"How is Will doing?"

Nico frowns at the path ahead, stepping over a fallen tree to pace back into step beside Juliette. He sighs and shakes his head. "I have no idea."

Julie raises an eyebrow at him. "He hasn't talked to you?"

Nico snorts. "Yeah, right."

Groaning, Julie fiddles with the quiver strapped around her waist, counting the arrows she has with her. "And, I thought you were emotionally constipated."

Nico swats at the back of her head. She ducks to avoid it. She's learned to anticipate his revenge slaps by now.

They keep pushing ahead through the woods. They've been out here for hours now. Julie tried transforming earlier to look for the missing campers' auras. Unfortunately, all she was able to find was Nico right next to her and a fruity scented one in the far side of the woods across camp. She assumes that one was Meg based on the undertone of BO and the image she got of a peach demon in a diaper.

Plus the cluster of her siblings still sleeping in their cabin. They'd all been various fashion colors and smelling like expensive perfumes. It reminded Julie she needs to hit the mall to refill her stock of the lavender one Mitchell's bright purple blob smells like.

So, they've been searching on foot for a while instead so Julie can stop bonking her wings on every tree they pass. It must be well past lunchtime at this point, though, and Julie can feel them both starting to lose hope.

"Did you talk to Nyssa?" Nico asks.

Julie nods, fidgeting. "Yeah. The other day. She said to come see her again tonight."

"Good."

She nods again. The two of them keep walking in silence, occasionally holding back branches for one another. Well, mostly Julie holding them for Nico. She's pretty sure he's purposely holding them back long enough to let them go at just the right time to slap into her face. Her first question wasn't really answered. It's bugging her still.

"Do you know why Will hates me?" She blurts out.

Nico slows to a stop, turning to stare at her, a funny gleam in his eye. The look makes Juliette panic that her question might have crossed a line.

"I'm just curious!" She explains hastily, twisting the unbound front strands of her hair around her finger. "I just have been wanting to make up with him for a long time. But, I don't know what I did. It's probably obvious, and I'm just stupid, but I guess it feels important because he's important to you and you're my best friend and-"

"You're not stupid, Julie," Nico interrupts, dark eyes twinkling at her like he's finding her distress amusing. Hand on the pommel of his sword, he turns back to continue trecking through the woods. Julie follows him. "Remember how I was with Percy?"

"Was?" Julie asks bemusedly, remembering how last time her older brother visited, Nico laughed hysterically for the first time in years after watching the son of Poseidon eat shit tripping down the steps of the arena.

Nico might be remembering that as well. He's grinning. "Yeah. We're mostly fine now, but..." He shakes his head, his smile disappearing. "It took a long time for me to forgive him for Bianca. I'm not sure I even fully do now. Even though I know it wasn't his fault."

Juliette looks down at the ground as she steps through the moss and fallen leaves. She doesn't think Percy will ever forgive himself for that either.

Julie glances at Nico. "Are you saying Will blames me for Lee?"

Nico stops again. He turns around to look at her. He's still at least half a foot shorter than Julie is. It's almost funny how scary he can be when she could probably pick him up with one hand. He isn't being actively intimidating, but there's a slight tension in his shoulders as he studies her that makes Juliette feel uneasy.