3 Days to Fall in Love

27- Nico

I sliced the head of the clay giant off, his hand melting through Leo's body. Almost immediately, I hefted him up, dragging him to the side of the cave. I entered in a cloud of my own smoke, wearing my most unwavering stare.
She appeared to me slowly, her crooked frown first, like the Cheshire Cat. Then her shuddering body followed, and the sound of her screams pierced the air.
"I need an antidote." I said clearly, catching her off guard.
"An antidote? And why would I help you? There is no misery involved."
"But there is. The misery of the eidolons who tried to kill my boyfriend. The misery of my camp when they realized their best friend is dead. My misery, when I get home and see my boyfriend almost gone." She cracked a smile, and when I say cracked, I mean cracked. Her face was so dry and wrinkled that the crack formed when her lips tilted up. I almost shuddered. "What antidote do you need, now?"
"Centaurs blood."
"How easy!" She picked up a small vial and shook it vigorously. Then she dropped it in my palm. "Thank you." I pressed my lips together. I didn't think it would be so easy.
"No."
"What?"
"I want my payment now." She cackled. "I want to see your misery." She reached to me and grabbed my wrist, jolts of pain shooting up my arm where she touched it. I grimaced. "Speak." I squirmed. "Speak." She insisted.
"Fine. I hate my life."
"More." Her grip got tighter.
"I hate my life and everyone in it. Almost."
"More." The pain was almost unbearable. I shouted.
"I hate my life because nobody ever accepts me! It's bad enough that I'm the son of Hades, but I have to be gay, too? I get picked on all the time for being a creep, a fag, a loser and unwanted! I just lost one of my only friends, my sister died because of me, and I'm no doubt gonna screw up my relationship with Will, too. And honestly, I'd rather get him the antidote and die here than go on without him."  She cackled.  Visions of everything that ever happened flashed before my eyes.  My encounter with Cupid, Percy and Annabeth falling into Tartarus, Will being poisoned.  I crumpled to the ground.  "Will." I muttered. "Will, I'm sorry."

When I woke, Leo was standing over me, his brow creased in worry.  He grinned when I opened my eyes, fluttering my long lashes in an attempt to see clearly.  "Leo? How are you alive?"
"I met a guy." He beamed even more, and I caught sight of a silver haired Titan behind him.
"Bob." I sighed in relief. 
"Friend!" He bellowed, helping me up. His touch healed my pain and the shocks traveling up my spine faded into background pain.  I glanced down at the vial in my hand and sighed in relief.  
"You know, your heart almost stopped for a minute. It was terrifying." He frowned, then his face returned to his impish grin. "Now we've both died and come back! Except I've done it twice." I managed a chuckle and thanked Bob.
"You think I can shadow travel us out of here?" I asked Bob. He shrugged, twisting his broom in his fingers.
"I don't know. But I can take you. To the palace." My dad's palace. My second home. I could shadow travel from there.
"Okay." I confirmed. "But we have to be quick. Will's life depends on us."