Young and Old, Back and Bold

Chapter 12

"The British demigods were right." Annabeth relayed to Will Solace over the IM. "There's something weird going on over here. They were right to come to New York for safety."

"Any idea what's causing it?" Will asked, his hands fully wrapped in ace bandages. He was busy wrapping his arm, the old habit having turned into something more when Nico disappeared.

Annabeth shook her head. "But we saw... We've seen some strange things. People disappearing, things levitating. No one else seems to notice. It usually happens when mortals aren't around."

"There can't be more gods...right?"

"Hopefully." Annabeth glanced over at something off view from Will. "Look, I have to go. I just thought I could update you while I have the chance."

"Yeah, thanks..." Will cleared his throat. "Annabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"Just...look out for some signs of him...please?"

Annabeth's gaze turned sad as she looked Will over. "Yeah... Okay. I've got to go, now."

Will nodded as he waved his hand through the connection, leaving himself alone in the room where his boyfriend once slept.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Allyson stepped out of the bathroom with her robes wrapped tightly around herself. The IM had simply been a progress report, a report that everything might turn out okay. Soon, Camp Half-Blood would be notified.

The son of Hades had been found. She was sure of it, now. And the culprit for taking him... Hecate herself. Everything matched up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nico glanced over as Dominic entered the room, his hair and robes windblown from the morning's events.

"Did you hear what happened?" Dominic asked, going over and sitting on his own bed. "Apparently Malfoy threw Neville's thing and Harry had to dive to get it. Apparently, he's a natural Seeker."

Nico scowled. "What the hell is that?"

"Some kind of player in that game on the broomsticks." Dominic frowned. "What's got you so upset? Regret not going?"

Nico rolled his raw eyes as he got up and stretched his sore limbs. "Stupid wizards on their stupid broomsticks. I can't just ever have a normal life, can I?"

"We're wizards, so no." Dominic chuckled to himself before a faint blush spread over his cheeks. "Guess what."

"What?" Nico muttered, running his fingers over the scars he had gotten down...it whatever that place was. He didn't know the name nor did he want to learn it.

"So I was talking to Allyson..." Dominic held out a piece of parchment. "I got her phone number for during summer break."

Nico snatched it out of Dominic's hand and read it over before tossing it aside. "It's fake." Those fake shadows, those fake voices.

"What do you mean?" Dominic dove for the parchment before holding it to his chest. "I read it back to her and she said it was right."

"The area code she gave you is from New York," Nico replied, though he wasn't sure where his information was coming from. "She doesn't live in New York. She's British."

"She could be staying there for the summer." Dominic offered, his voice having quieted down.

"Did she say it was her phone number?"

Dominic nodded glumly. "Yeah..."

"Then it's fake." Nico leaned against the wall, feeling the way it pressed into his back, feeling every scar it lit up in his mind. "Sorry, kid."

"Why are you calling me kid? You're like twelve." Dominic ripped the paper into shreds. "You're not much older than me at all."

Nico went to roll his eyes at the statement but stopped. "Oh...right..." How old am I? Do I have a birthday? Why do I feel as if I've lived a hundred years?

"Why do you think she gave me a fake one?" Dominic asked, his eyes landing on his pile of homework distastefully. "I said just to keep in touch."

"She probably doesn't want to keep in touch with you." Nico's leg started to bounce as he thought about the memories, as he started to get anxious when he saw the shadows around the room. Would they listen to him now? Would they hurt him? What could come out of them? "You probably came off too strong."

"Was I that obvious?" Dominic laid on his bed and flung an arm over his eyes.

"Yeah..." Could they transport him again? Would that Percy be there waiting for his arrival? "You really were. Try a different way for the next girl." Different ways, different tactics. He stared at those shadows in a new sense, a sense full of hope and of the possible. "If I could get them to listen to me..."

"Hm?"

"Nothing," Nico glanced over at his dormmate before grabbing his jacket. "I'll be back. I'm going to go on a walk."

"Okay..."

Nico took off from the dormitories with a sudden burst of energy. He could feel the shadows around him, could feel how each one had its own power. If they could listen to him...if they could transport him again where he most wanted to go...