Death's Embrace (Nico Di Angelo x femOC)

4: Agent 007

The next morning before dawn, they hear voices outside of the cabin seeming to be from Bianca and Zoe and they decide to spy them. Nico and Mariana tiptoed through the sleeping cabin, careful not to get caught. They made their way to the door, pushing it open just a crack to peek outside. They follow them until the dining pavilion, we hunkered down behind a Greek column, trying to not be seen by them, the two girls were talking at one of the dining tables. Nico and Mariana shared a glance for a second.

"It cannot be cured," Zoe was saying. "Not quickly, at any rate."

"But how did it happen?" Bianca asked.

"A foolish prank," Zoe growled. "Those Stoll boys from the Hermes cabin. Centaur blood is like acid. Everyone knows that. They sprayed the inside of that Artemis Hunting Tour T-shirt with it." Ha! I knew it!

"That's terrible!"

"She will live," Zoe said. "But she'll be bedridden for weeks with horrible hives. There is no way she can go. It's up to me... and thee."

"But the prophecy," Bianca said. "If Phoebe can't go, we only have four. We'll have to pick another."

"There is no time," Zoe said. "We must leave at first light. That's immediately. Besides, the prophecy said we would lose one."

"In the land without rain," Bianca said, "but that can't be here."

"It might be," Zoe said, though she didn't sound convinced. "The camp has magic borders. Nothing, not even weather, is allowed in without permission. It could be a land without rain." "But—

"Bianca, hear me." Zoe's voice was strained. "I... I can't explain, but I have a sense that we should not pick someone else. It would be too dangerous. They would meet an end worse than Phoebe's. I don't want Chiron choosing a camper as our fifth companion. And... I don't want to risk another Hunter." But she wants to risk an untrained thirteen year old...the audacity.

Bianca was silent. "You should tell Thalia the rest of your dream."

"No. It would not help."

"But if your suspicions are correct, about the General—"

"I have thy word not to talk about that," Zoe said. She sounded really anguished. "We will find out soon enough. Now come. Dawn is breaking."

Nico and Mariana scooted out of their way quickly.

As the girls sprinted down the steps, Zoe seemed to ran into someone. She froze, her eyes narrowing. Her hand crept toward her bow, but then Bianca said, "The lights of the Big House are on. Hurry!" And Zoe followed her out of the pavilion.

Mariana and Nico took a deep breath and they were about to run after his sister, when suddenly they heard a familiar voice.

"Wait"

Nico almost slipped on the icy steps as he spun around to find Percy. "Where did you come from?" And Mariana swore she almost saw her father, with the way her heart skipped a beat. "Gods, you scared the hell out of me" .

"I've been here the whole time. Invisible." Percy said.

He mouthed the word invisible. "Wow. Cool." Show off

"How did you both know Zoe and your sister were here?"

Nico blushed. "I heard them walk by the Hermes cabin. I don't... I don't sleep too well at

camp. So I heard footsteps, and them whispering."

Mariana nodded "And I kind of followed."

"And now you're thinking about following them on the quest," Percy guessed.

"How did you know that?" Nico said surprised.

"Because if it was my sister, I'd probably be thinking the same thing. But you can't."

She looked defiant. "Because we are too young?"

"Because they won't let you. They'll catch you and send you back here. And... yeah, because you're too young. You remember the manticore Nico? There will be lots more like that. More dangerous. Some of the heroes will die."

Nico shoulders sagged. He shifted from foot to foot. "Maybe you're right."

Mariana cut him off looking at Percy, "But you can go" I mean he would probably go anyway.

"Say what?"

"You can turn invisible. You can go!" Nico seemed to pick up her idea.

"The Hunters don't like boys," Percy reminded him. "If they find out—"

"Don't let them find out. Follow them invisibly. Keep an eye on my sister! You have to.

Please?"

"Nico—"

"You're planning to go anyway, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Percy said. "I have to find Annabeth. I have to help, even if they don't want me to."

"I won't tell on you," he said. "But you have to promise to keep my sister safe." A part of me wanted to tell him that he shouldn't ask Percy something like that, but I also thought that Nico needed the reassurance that his sister is going to be alright

"I... that's a big thing to promise, Nico, on a trip like this. Besides, she's got Zoe, Grover, and Thalia—"

"Promise," he insisted.

"I'll do my best. I promise that."

"Get going, then!" Nico said. "Good luck!"

. "Tell Chiron—" Percy started to say

"I''ll make something up." Mariana smiled crookedly. "I'm good at that. Go on!"

Percy smiled, then he became invisible. He sprinted down the steps, and the invisible footsteps disappeared in the snow.

Nico and Mariana both slumped against the wall of the pavilion. After a moment, she could hear Nico sniffling and saw that his face was screwed up like he was trying to stop tears from falling. She put her arm around his shoulder, giving him a gentle squeeze.

"It'll be okay," she assured him. "We did the best we could. He'll keep her safe."

Nico nodded shakily, still blinking back tears. "I hope you're right," he whispered.

The two of them sat in silence for a while, listening to the wind howling through the trees. She knew there was nothing she could say that would make Nico feel better. He was scared and worried, and he had a right to be. They still had no idea what this prophecy meant or what the dangers were going to be.

Finally, she stood up, offering her hand to him. "Come on. We should probably get some breakfast."

Nico took her hand and slowly got to his feet. His face was still pale and miserable, but he seemed a little calmer now. They made their way back towards the dinning pavilion. The camp was starting to wake up, and a few early risers were heading towards the dining pavilion too. She got them both a plate of food, and did the usual offering before setting in the Hermes Cabin as usual, she started to eat but Nico just pushed his food around his plate, not really interested in eating.

"You should eat something," Mariana said, trying to sound encouraging. "It'll make you feel better."

Nico looked at her, his eyes full of worry. "How can I eat? My sister is out there, somewhere, in danger..."

"I know," Mariana said, feeling helpless. "But you need to eat, okay? For her. She wouldn't want you to worry yourself sick like this."

Nico looked like he was going to protest, but then he seemed to realize she was right. He sighed and took a small bite of his omelets. Mariana Seemed relieve that he at least was making an effort.