Something Wicked This Way Comes

Chapter 60

Will watched, admittedly anxious, as Chiron and Jim's step-dad pulled Nico away to talk to him in private about his theory. Nico looked determined, so Will tried not to worry too much. But still... he hated seeing Nico get wrapped in stuff that, if Will was being honest, had nothing to do with them. He liked the Trollhunters, he liked Jim's people—but that was it, wasn't it? They were Jim's people. And he'd heard enough warnings about mixing pantheons before... he wasn't sure he wanted to see what would happen to the people he cared about if they kept crossing lines like this.

All of this? The trolls, and the wizards, and the magic that wasn't theirs, scared him. It scared him even more knowing that whoever was behind this attack on Arcadia, wasn't just attacking Arcadia. They were trying to go after everyone. For all he knew... Camp could be next.

"Will," Kayla called, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Come on, we need to settle in. Get ready for battle."

Will took a deep breath, following his siblings and what few campers had come too. They all followed Dr. Lake and Aanya outside. Will tried to breathe. They'd missed the action, but more would come. This was the calm before the storm. He knew that. He'd seen it enough times.

"Will," Aanya called, looking at him over her shoulder. "Could you..." she pursed her lips, looking anxious. "I hate to stereotype you, but..."

Will sighed. "Where do you need me?"

"The hospital," she said immediately. "We don't have enough healers, just mortal doctors. And as good as they are..." she trailed off, eyes glassy.

Barbara put a hand on her shoulder. "Honey, she'll be okay."

Aanya shook her head. "I don't know... I'm sorry Dr. Lake, but I can't... they don't know how to treat magic exhaustion. Not the way a wizard does. Or a son of Apollo."

Will looked between them, then locked his eyes on his tentative friend. "Aanya, who got hurt?"

"Laura," Leo spoke for her, when she turned away—swallowing a sob. He looked at Will, expression pinched. "You know how close they are, man. This... it shook her up."

Will nodded, stomach churning at the thought. Aanya reminded him of Thalia. And anything that could shake up demigods as powerful as them made him nervous.

"We've been losing fighters left and right," Aanya continued when she'd acquired her composure. "I can't lose her too... she's... she's my best friend, Will. She's like my sister."

Will surged forward, planting his hand on her arm comfortingly. "I'll make sure you won't."

Aanya gave him a grateful, albeit pained, smile. "Thank you."

"What about the rest of us?" Sherman asked.

"We'll go to Trollmarket," Aanya decided. "Regroup, get you all prepared for the battle."

"You know we've fought before?" Lou Ellen retorted. "The Battle of Manhattan, Gaia for Hecate's sake!"

"I know," Aanya said calmly. "But... this one is different. I don't know why, but it is."

"Maybe because we're all being targeted?" Austin suggested. "I mean... even weeks beforehand Nico could barely shadow travel without getting attacked while doing it. That's not normal."

"I'd put money on that," Leo muttered.

"All we know," Barbara cut back in. "Is that whoever is doing this isn't interested in stopping at destroying... whatever it is here they want gone."