Tidal Queen

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Camp half blood was nearly empty, many of the demigods had already returned to their families. I turned to face the blonde daughter of Athena standing next to me. She stood tall, though leaning on a pair of brand new crutches, her left foot enveloped in a clunky green cast. 

"Be safe, okay?" I asked, hand squeezing hers tightly. 

She nodded, her princess curls bouncing as she smiled at me. 

"I will. You too, Seaweed Brain, don't do anything too stupid." Annabeth laughed, her grey eyes shining beautifully in the sun. 

"I'll let you go. Say hi to your brothers for me!" I said. I let go of her hand as she slowly started towards the van full of other demigods heading towards the train station. 

"Bye Percy!" Annabeth called back, her mind already moving on to the next challenge of her life. The challenge I caused. 

I sighed, my smile fading as I slowly turned around to head back down the hill. The trees were a vibrant green, dense with leaves and thick branches. They stood tall against the rows of strawberry bushes which lined the entrance to camp. 

I walked past the strawberry fields and the forest, heading straight to my cabin. Everywhere I looked I remembered fallen friends, heroes, soldiers who had died for the gods. 

For their grand cause, which was only being the lesser of two evils. 

I ran a hand through my hair, combing through the thick tangles of dark waves that cascaded down my shoulders. It was a habit I had copied from Silena. 

My hands stopped, my teeth immediately latching onto my skin to stop the tears that welled up in my eyes. 

My eyelids fluttered. My head dropped, hair falling over my teary eyes. 

"Hey Percy," Nico whispered, his arms hovering around me as though asking for permission to give me a hug.

I gladly accepted it. My arms wrapped around his smaller frame. I could feel the muscles on his bone, though it almost felt as if he had shrunk in height. I placed my chin above his head, sighing through my nose. 

"Are you okay?" He asked. He didn't move, he just let me hold onto him.

I laughed, a short bitter laugh.

"I haven't been 'okay' in years, death breath, but thanks for caring enough to ask." 

He pulled apart from me, his dark eyes glaring into mine. 

He looked awful, dark bags hung under his eyes, his hair was overgrown and shaggy, and his skin was as pale as a Brit's. Somehow this was an improvement since I had found him in the graveyard. 

"We never had a chance to discuss what happened at the estate," Nico said. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as he avoided my hard glare. 

"We don't need to, okay?" I turned on my heel, storming away. I could hear him walk behind me in silence. The only proof of his existence being his loud footsteps. 

"For someone so quiet, you are astonishingly loud!" I cried out, throwing my hands into the sky. 

Nico sighed, he sounded tired. I couldn't blame him, we had a long week. 

Ignoring my outburst, he kept sauntering on. He stopped in front of my cabin, gave me a tired look, and walked in. 

"Will told me to keep an eye on you," Nico explained, completely unbothered as he curled up like a cat on one of the unused bunks.