Nico And The Nymph

You're Forgiven

"Argh!" I slashed out at the tree behind my cabin. My anger was surfacing and I needed something to take my anger out on.

I slumped to the ground, tears leaking from my eyes. My frustration slowly drained away. "I'm sorry," I murmured.

I didn't know who I was talking to or why.

A shifting suddenly started beneath my body. I jumped back as the tree started to shift and change, morphing into a young girl.

A nature spirit. She had light green skin and bright yellow eyes. She was slim and covered in bruises and cuts.

She winced, but then smiled gently. "It's ok. You're forgiven."'

I scrambled to my feet as she stumbled, stretching out my arms to catch her. She was light and her eyes were closing fast.

"Hold on, just for a little while. Just tell me what I can do to help." I whispered.

The nymph shook her head. "My time is almost up, Son of Hades. There's nothing you can do to help." she murmured.

My powers could tell her life span was waning. "You're gonna be fine. Trust me." I assured her. "I can get an Apollo camper or maybe a satyr-"

The nymph shuddered in my arms. Her eyes shone. "You are a kind spirit, Son of Hades. Don't be scared to open up..."

Her eyes closed and she went limp in my arms. I froze.

I had done this. I had killed this nymph.

Suddenly, the nymph began to shake and glow. A bright light shone from her tree, illuminating the girl in my arms.

Then her eyes fluttered open and she coughed. Her eyes fluttered and opened again. "What happened?" she asked. "Was I asleep?"

I swallowed. She was completely healed. I didn't know what had happened, but I was glad the young nymph was alive.

"Yes," I whispered. "You were asleep."

The nature spirit rubbed her eyes. She slipped out of my arms as if she had never been injured.

"My name's Willow." she said.

I smiled. "My name is Nico. Nico Di Angelo."

Willow smiled back. She had a nice smile. I decided I liked it a lot.

Willow sat down on the ground, leaning against a tree. "Come sit with me." she said.

And with those words, a beautiful friendship began.

~TEN YEARS LATER

"Willow?" I peeked around the Hades cabin, searching for my old friend.

There she was! Willow sat at her tree, twiddling with a strange contraption in her hands. She had been hanging out with Leo lately and had been picking up on his fiddling.

It was a bad habit, in my opinion.

Willow looked up at me. "Hello, Nico. What can I help you with?"

Willow always had a way of knowing if I needed her advice. Since that strange night ten years ago, the two of us had been the best of friends. And when I ever needed help with Reyna or anything else, my old friend would always be there.

"Hey... I need help. Can you give me an idea of how to propose to Reyna?"