Tidal Queen

Chapter Seven

Chapter Seven

Nico Di Angelo took a walk after the campfire. Despite his normal damp attitude he had found himself singing along to some of the songs, Will dragged him along to dance, and he told stories about his days as the Ghost King to some of the younger kids.

He felt like he belonged, even though he knew he would have to continue his work as ambassador of Hades. For once he was dreading his departure.

He had been deep in thought when he heard soft footsteps chasing after him.

He turned around, his black eyes staring murderously into the green eyes of Rachel Dare.

"Nico!" Red grinned, her dark curls bounced with her steps.

"Rachel," Nico nodded, acknowledging her.

"I saw you singing today!" Rachel teased, elbowing the younger boy in his ribs.

Nico sighed, brushing his shaggy hair out of his eyes. He didn't reply, silently suffering as Rachel kept teasing him about a certain blond haired son of Apollo when his stomach dropped.

He could feel someone dying, which, while a very normal occurrence for the son of Hades, it was the person who was dying that alarmed him. His mind blanked, his mouth felt dry, a bitter taste haunting him.

"Percy." He said, cutting off the oracle's jokes.

Rachel stopped, her big green eyes getting big with worry. Her eyebrows knit together.

"She was acting off during dinner, do–"

Nico ran off, not waiting for the mortal to finish her sentence.

Rachel ran after him, her longer legs easily keeping up with his enhanced demigod speed.

They broke through the door, Nico slamming his hand against the light switch.

Light revealed a horrifying scene, Percy Jackson lay on the floor, a pool of crimson red blood surrounding her head like a halo, foam was pouring out of her mouth, sudden convulsions lurching her chest towards the air as her head violently slammed against the ground.

Rachel screamed, yelling for help, 911, anything to save her dear friend.

"No-no! Not again! Percy!" Nico yelled, he ran to her side. He ran his hands through his hair as he tried to clear his mind to help the daughter of Poseidon.

He reached beside her, grabbed a t-shirt that was lying on the floor, and gently lifted her head to put it underneath so that she wouldn't hurt her head anymore.

A girl around Nico's age with golden blonde hair rushed into the cabin, a first aid kit in hand.

Behind her, more blond heads popped through the door, carrying a stretcher. They took her away, panic evident on their faces.

Nico sat still, his eyes unblinking as he stared at the empty spot his cousin had been moments before.

Rachel kneeled next to him, her eyes were red, tears streaming down her freckled cheeks.

She placed a hand on the Ghost King's back, leaning his head onto her shoulder.

"Are you okay?" She whispered, rubbing circles around his back.

Nico stared blankly, his face unmoving, his hands sitting on his knees as blood dripped off of his pale fingers.

Outside the cabin was chaos, all of the campers screaming at the pale face of their friend, her lips blue as foam spilt out onto them. Her long curly black hair was matted down with blood and sweat, it was a sight to cause even the most hardened war veteran, Clarisse, to blanch.