A Battle For Love

Nico//two

I was back in South Carolina. There was Bryce Lawrence, but it wasn't him. No, it was Will. I knew what was going to happen next but I couldn't stop myself. It's like I was outside of my body; a ghost of myself. I watched in horror as I made Will get swallowed up by the ground, along with the undead British warriors. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't tell the othe Nico to stop. He wouldn't listen; all my shouts went unheard.

"Nico! Wake up! I'm all right!" I heard Will's voice but it couldn't be him. I just watched him be a reverse plant and go down into the Earth.

I felt something slam across my face. My eyes shot open to see... Will? But- the ground just swallowed him! He couldn't be here. "Are you okay?" he asks. I could feel sweat dripping down my face. "Nico." Will said firmly, making me look at him. Concern was etched into his face. Was I doing that? Did Will care about me?

"I- I..." I couldn't finish. Will suddenly had three heads and so many eyes that could make Argus jealous. My lungs took in less and less air by the second

It was ragged and I sat up abruptly, pounding my chest. Was I having a heart attack? Could demigods even get those? "W-Will." I pleaded before falling to the side of my bed.

The last thing I saw was Will's shoes and tan legs.

The dreams passed by in a blur of colors. Mostly dark colors. I could feel the eyes of the dead on me all the time. Their presence was unsettling; always whispering in my ear to stop breathing. But there was always something brighter than them every time I wanted to give up. I knew that time was passing and I tried to wake myself up but I couldn't. My body had no energy.

I was floating in darkness when the persuading whispers stopped. Far away was a speck of light. It was gradually getting bigger and bigger. Was I finally dying? No, I wouldn't allow myself. I tried to move away from the light but it followed, so I just stopped. Even if I was alone in wherever I am, I still looked pretty stupid doing the doggy paddle in air.

"Nico, I don't know if you can here me or not, but don't give up. You can't. Think of Hazel and Reyna. Think of Frank, Percy, Annabeth, Piper. Just think of the Seven. Even Leo. He wouldn't want you to give up. He'd probably crack a joke of how I'm talking to you right now." It was Jason. Was I in a coma or something? How long have I been out. Gods, I hope it wasn't too long.

"I see the way Will looks at you. I think he may like you. I know you like him, too. Even if you don't know it yet." Jason stopped talking and took in a long, deep breath. "I'm trying to stay strong in front of the others. But after the first month, it just got hard. You're my friend and I don't think I could loose another one." He broke off and sobbed.

I wanted to reach out and tell Jason that I was perfectly fine. But I couldn't. I couldn't even get my hand to twitch for him.

"Jason? are you oka- Oh Jason." Piper's voice filled my head. I could hear her hurried footsteps get closer and stop. "Jason, Nico will be okay. You have to believe." Her charmspeak was so powerful it almost made me think that I was absolutley fine and wasn't in a coma. "Come on, let's go outside and wait for Hazel, Frank and Reyna. They should be here within the hour."

Jason stopped crying and sniffled. "Could you try one more time, Pipes?"

"Jason, I-"

"Just one more time. If you can bring Festus to life..." He trailed off.

"One more." Piper held my hand. It felt like my hand wasn't there though. I couldn't feel it, but yet I could. Or maybe that was just her warmth spreading onto my hand. "Nico, we need you. C'mon, wake up so you can see us. Hazel is dying to see you."