𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

I. WHY NOT TO TALK TO APOLLO KIDS

Nico

THE FIRST mistake Nico made was forgetting to contact Andy before visiting camp. The second was being found by Will Solace.

It had been five months since Nico last saw Andy face-to-face. He hadn't even said goodbye to her before he left camp on New Year's Eve. Nico would've been lying if he said he didn't feel bad about it.

He'd called her once, just to let her know he was alive. Since Andy couldn't IM him, they didn't get to talk again.

Despite what he'd told Andy, Nico knew exactly why Iris wouldn't let her through: Hades had forbidden it. And for good reason. Nico often spent his time at Camp Jupiter. It wouldn't do for Andy to IM him there.

As he stepped out of the shadows in the Hades cabin, Nico sighed. He really hoped Andy wouldn't be too mad at him. If his only friend at Camp Half-Blood was going to give him the cold shoulder, he didn't know what he'd do.

Dropping his backpack and jacket on his bunk, Nico left the cabin. The sunlight at camp was blinding after the comforting darkness of the Underworld.

Squinting, Nico marched towards the gleaming gold Apollo cabin, ignoring the campers who gasped or squirmed at his sight.

"She's not in there."

Nico turned towards the source of the voice; a golden-haired boy in an orange camp t-shirt and cargo shorts, his honey-colored skin gleaming in the sunlight. He was leaning against the infirmary's doorframe, all casual, as though he were the god of nonchalance.

Nico scowled at Prince Sunlight. He knew the healer, of course. Will Solace, Andy's half-brother.

"Andy," Solace repeated slowly, like Nico was a child, "is not in there."

"I heard you the first time," Nico grumbled.

He was about to return to the Hades cabin when Will spoke again: "She's real mad at you for missing her birthday."

Nico gaped at the son of Apollo. "Her birthday is on the 12th."

"Was on the 12th, yes."

Nico tried to think straight. Was Solace playing with him?

"Today is the 9th," he defended. "Andy would turn 16 in three days."

Will blinked. "I don't know what calendar you've been using, Prince Underworld, but today's the 16th. You're a week behind."

Nico could've punched himself. There was no way he'd lost his sense of time in the Underworld again. He was supposed to be over this!

"Is she really mad?" he asked the blond.

"Oh nah, nothing to be worried about." Solace waved a hand in dismissal. "You know Andy. She won't be mad for too long."

"So, um, where is she?" Nico asked.

"At the bunker," Solace replied. "Last minute touch ups on the ship and everything. They gotta sail in a month, you know."

Something twisted in Nico's gut. One month. One month before they sailed to the Roman camp. Nico wondered how his friend would react when she found out he had been frequenting the camp. She'd probably write him off as a liar.

Nico sighed. Why is it that he had to lose one sister figure when he found another? Within months of knowing Andy, Nico had lost Bianca. And now, nearly half a year after finding Hazel, it seemed like he would lose Andy too.

"Oi, Death Boy!" Solace's voice startled Nico out of his thoughts. "Earth to di Angelo!"

Nico stared at the boy who now stood right beside him, looking concerned. His eyes were the brightest blue, like the summer sky.