The Blood of Olympus

Chapter Fifty-Six: Nico

HELLO! THE BLOOD OF OLYMPUS CAME OUT TODAY!

I'm already reading it haha I couldn't stop myself. I will not be giving ANY spoilers in this fanfiction and pleaaaase no spoilers in the comments, okay? We bros clear?

This chapter is dedicated to me, because without you, Rosa, I wouldn't be where I am today. 

Haha, no. Dedicated to AnnabethxGranger for commenting and getting the question correct first (the answer was: her own tears and/or poison!)

Nico

Camp Half-Blood was in turmoil.

As soon as Nico stepped out of the shadows, he was hit with the sounds of defiant yelling and blades clashing relentlessly, the noise almost like the rolling and crashing of thunder. The smell of smoke and sweat hung in the air like a cloud, although the sky above was a deep sapphire, the sun a yellow beacon in a sea of blue.

He stared down at the scene in the valley below, watching from atop the hill, near Thalia’s pine tree.

The place was a mess of colours; orange CHB and purple SPQR shirts, gold and bronze armour. Red and yellow flames licked up the structure of the Big House.

The Romans-whom Nico recognised with their violet shirts and their Imperial gold armour-backed away before gathering into an offensive formation and advancing towards the campers.

The Greek demigods held their ground as the Romans advanced, even though some of the younger ones trembled and looked on with fear. Nico watched as Chiron pushed through the campers and stood in front. He shouted something at the Romans, gesturing calmly around as if placating them, but then a scrawny-looking guy stumbled out of the lines of Romans and shrieked something back in an annoying, high-pitched voice and the Romans roared in agreement, advancing once more.

Nico cursed loudly. Octavian, that scumbag son of a pineapple.

“Nico!” He turned around to find Reyna jogging up to him, her expression urgent. Her ripped SPQR was bloody near the left shoulder and her nose and mouth were covered in a thin layer of crimson, most likely from Nessus’ hoof. Her breaths came out wheezy and shallow, which probably meant she had broken a few of her ribs. Apart from that, she was looking pretty intimidating for someone who had fought a whole army’s worth of monsters in one day.

“You okay?” The words spilled out of Nico’s mouth before he could stop them, and he realized he felt genuine concern for the daughter of Bellona.

Reyna didn’t seem to hear what he had said-or maybe she had, but was too absorbed by everything else to reply. “My soldiers.” She wheezed. “I must go and—"

“If you go down there now, you’ll be attacked.” Nico said firmly. “Let me bring the statue up first.”

He took off down the hill before she could reply and towards Paul’s blue Prius.

Sally and Paul were untying the ropes on the Athena Parthenos carefully so that it wouldn’t fall off, shooting each other concerned looks as they did.

Nico limped up to the statue, his head suddenly pounding. With the help of Percy’s parents, he secured the ropes to his waist and wrapped the ends around his hands for more support.

“Good luck.” Paul said, clapping him on the shoulder, noticing the way Nico shrank away but not commenting on it. Instead he gazed wistfully at the camp. “I just wish…”