American Royalty III

Part 8: He's not Here

Nico drifted in the uneasy embrace of sleep, his body leaning against the side of the rattling carriage. The quiet murmur of conversation around him faded into the background, and soon he found himself pulled into a familiar memory.

He was back in the woods surrounding Camp Half-Blood, standing in the dappled shadows of trees swaying in the wind. The scent of pine filled his lungs, and for a moment, the comforting sound of waves crashing in the distance settled his mind. It was a peaceful scene, one from years ago when everything had seemed simpler. He could hear laughter nearby—Percy and Annabeth's voices blending with the familiar calls of campers in the distance.

Nico walked toward the sound, following the path that wound through the forest. His heart felt lighter, and he could almost taste the air of safety that Camp Half-Blood offered. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, the world around him darkened.

The trees twisted and distorted, their branches growing gnarled and skeletal. The comforting warmth was replaced by an oppressive cold. Nico stopped in his tracks, his eyes darting around, trying to make sense of the sudden shift.

A scream echoed through the forest. It was a sound of agony, sharp and raw. Nico's heart raced. His feet moved, but no matter how fast he ran, the source of the scream seemed to slip farther and farther away. Panic clawed at his chest as shadows stretched longer and darker, swallowing everything around him.

Suddenly, the forest vanished, and Nico was in a stone cell, cold and dank. The air was thick with the stench of blood. He looked down and saw a pool of it spreading across the floor. His breath caught in his throat.

In the corner of the room, illuminated by a faint, sickly light, a girl hung in chains. Her head was slumped forward, her long hair matted with blood. The shackles dug into her wrists, leaving deep, angry cuts. The sound of her ragged breathing filled the air.

Nico's stomach twisted in horror. He tried to move toward her, tried to call out, but his voice wouldn't come. His feet felt like lead, rooted to the ground. He wanted to see her face, to understand who she was, but a veil of darkness obscured her features.

Suddenly, her body jerked, a choked gasp escaping her lips. Nico's heart pounded painfully in his chest. He reached out, desperation clawing at his insides, but before he could get closer, the world tilted violently, and the cell dissolved into shadow.

He jolted awake, his heart racing and breath shallow. The sound of the carriage door slamming open pulled him fully back into the present.

Nico's eyes flew open, his hand instinctively gripping his sword, though it was still sheathed at his side. His vision adjusted to the dim light of the train carriage, and there, standing in the doorway, was a Death Eater. The figure was cloaked in black, their mask glinting in the faint light of the train. A wand was pointed directly at them.

Nico froze, his breath catching in his throat. He could feel the tension radiating off the others in the compartment—Thalia, Reyna, Will, Clarrise and Jamie—all of them sitting still, waiting, watching. The Death Eater's cold eyes scanned each of their faces, lingering on Nico for a moment longer than he liked.

Nico didn't move, his mind racing. He forced himself to stay calm, to breathe evenly, but the echoes of the dream—the girl in chains, the blood—still clung to him like a thick fog.

After what felt like an eternity, the Death Eater's gaze shifted away. Without a word, the figure backed out of the carriage, slamming the door shut with a loud, echoing thud.

Nico exhaled shakily, his fingers trembling as they unclenched from his sword hilt. He could still feel his heart pounding in his chest, his mind grappling with the remnants of the dream and the cold reality of their situation.

"What the hell was that?" Will muttered beside him, his voice low but filled with tension.

Nico didn't answer, his thoughts still caught between the dream and the present. The image of the girl in chains, her lifeless form in that dark cell, clung to his mind like a shadow, refusing to let go.

"Death Eaters," Jamie clarified leaning closer to the window to ensure they were gone, "If I had to guess, searching for Harry,"

He stared at the door, half-expecting the masked figure to return, but there was only silence. The tension in the compartment was palpable, and everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something—anything—to happen. But all remained still, save for the occasional rattle of the train on its tracks.

"Why now?" Thalia muttered, her electric-blue eyes darting between the group and the door. "They've never been this bold."

Reyna, sitting next to her, looked just as on edge. "They're getting desperate," she replied, her voice low but firm. "If they're searching train compartments, it means they've run out of leads."

Nico's mind was still swimming in a haze of confusion and dread. The girl in chains—he couldn't shake the image. The blood, the screams—it all felt too real. And what disturbed him most was that he couldn't place who she was or why he had dreamt of her. He had long ago learned to pay attention to his dreams, knowing they were more than just nightmares.

Will leaned closer, his face pale but determined. "Are you okay?" he asked, his hand hovering near Nico's arm as if ready to steady him.

Nico nodded slowly, though the weight of the dream still pressed against his chest. "I'm fine," he muttered, though his voice felt hollow. His gaze flicked toward the window where Jamie was keeping watch.

"They must be gone," Jamie whispered after a moment. "For now."

Clarisse, her arms crossed and face set in a scowl, grunted. "I don't like this. If they're hunting for Harry, we're in more danger than we thought."

Nico barely heard them. His thoughts were a tangled mess of shadow and dread, and the dream's haunting vision refused to leave him. Something was wrong, something deeper than just the Death Eaters. That girl... he couldn't help but feel she was important, but why?

"Stay alert," Reyna said, breaking through his thoughts. "If they're this close, we can't afford to let our guard down."

Nico nodded again, more for show than anything else. As the others resumed talking quietly among themselves, making plans and discussing their next steps, Nico's mind drifted back to the dream. The blood on the floor, the girl's body hanging limp in chains...

He clenched his fists, willing the dream to fade. But even as he sat in the safety of the train, surrounded by his friends, the darkness of Tartarus seemed to be creeping back into his thoughts.

Whatever that dream was, it wasn't just a nightmare. He knew it was a warning. He just didn't know what it meant yet.

And that terrified him.