Jiper's Child: Children of Olympus #2

Chapter Nine: I Doctor the Doctor

NICO

For a few days, Nico tried to forget about the prophecy. After him and Rachel had spent the night looking over it, he was feeling worse than ever. He had never known Thalia very personally, but she had always been a friend. She had known and trusted his sister, and Nico knew and trusted Jason. He knew she had horrors in her past, horrors that he didn't want to resurface. Horrors she didn't deserve, and yet, did he have a choice? Part of it was selfish; he didn't want to fade from existence. But Nico was sure that even if he were to sacrifice himself for the benefit of his friends, as Thalia had once done for hers, punishment would ensue anyways. Worse punishment, possibly than what Nico and Rachel would inflict.

It would be soon, he was sure, that the Olympians would start taking action.

* * *

At dinner that night, Nico quickly realized just how soon.

"Thalia told me the Hunters are coming into Camp tonight," Jason announced. Nico jumped at the name.

"Really," Leo said, a strange tone to his voice.

"The Hunters of Artemis?" Calypso asked. She hadn't been present yet for a visit from the Hunters.

"Yeah," Jason replied. "They come every so often, camp out here. Visit and play a game of Capture the Flag, usually."

"I'm not feeling very well," Leo said suddenly, putting down his cup of nectar. "I think I'll stay in for the night."

"You okay?" Calypso asked.

Nico studied him. Gods didn't get sick. Gods didn't have off-nights or not feel very well for no reason.

"I-yeah," Leo muttered, his usual humorous self replaced by a nervous demeanor. "I just-I mean... I have an idea for something in the workshop, and I don't want to be rude, but I need to go work on something... If you or Caleo needs anything, I'll be in my workshop," he muttered to Calypso, before bolting from the table.

"That was strange," Nico said, but rather than agreeing, the others looked at Nico like he was the strange one. Sure, he didn't usually talk, but that didn't mean everything he said was by default inaccurate.

Hazel shrugged. "I find it's better to never question Leo."

The others laughed in agreement, and changed the topic to that of Hazel and Frank's upcoming wedding.

But Nico didn't forget that quickly. If it had been anything else, he probably wouldn't have cared. But Leo's reaction forced Nico to wonder if he knew something about the prophecy. He wasn't going to address him about it directly as he didn't want to get anyone involved who didn't have to be, but he knew he'd have to keep an eye on him.

* * *

The game of Capture the Flag was that night. Nico stayed away from the Hunters while he decided what to do.

He'd always secretly enjoyed playing Capture the Flag. Everyone underestimated him, and although he wasn't generally on the front line waving around a sword, he waited in the background until his team needed him and unleashed the wrath of Hades on the opposing team.

However, since becoming a God, he wasn't allowed to play anymore. Chiron had specified that to all of them, as he was worried what their new, undiscovered powers would do if accidentally released on mortal demigods-in-training.

Nonetheless, Nico enjoyed watching the game in progress, and wanted to see how Thalia was doing without having to confront her himself.

He found a particularly dense group of trees near the river that divided the forest between the two teams, and melted into the shadows in the most literal sense. He could watch the game, asses Thalia, help if needed, all without being seen.