Solangelo 1

Part 5

WILL

It's hard to not think about Nico. I keep forcing him out of my head as I talk to other patients about what they need to do to get better.
It feels like hours before my next nap break and I fall asleep before I've even hit the pillow, sprawled out, my mouth open and snoring away.
I'm awoken by a prod on the back. I wipe my face, trying to wake myself up.
'That did not feel like an hour.' I say, looking up to find Nico, staring at me.
'Hi.' He says. He has his hands in his pockets and struggles to meet my eyes.
'Hey.' I say, unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
'Sorry.' He says, biting his lip, 'I didn't mean to...you know. Sorry.'
I swing my legs over the bed and go to grab the glass of water that's usually sitting on the bedside table. I pick it up only to find it empty.
'Oh. Hold on.' Nico says and rushes off. He comes back a moment later with a jug of water, holding it steady to pour into my glass. I watch him intently as he carefully pours. His hands shake slightly.
'Thank you.' I say. He looks up and goes red as soon as he sees me staring at him. I down the glass quickly.
'I just wanted to...' He trails off. I think he's waiting for me to let him off, says it's okay before he has to say anything more. I stay silent though, watching him, 'I'm not good at this.' He concludes.
'Not good at what?' I ask, my tone relaxing a bit. I see the panic in his eyes.
'People.' He replies, simply. I can't help but smile slightly.
'Right.' I say. I look up at him and start to understand. I don't think there's been a moment in his life where he hasn't been running from something since the death of his sister.
I remember when the news got around - that the dark haired, olive skinned boy's sister had died in battle, and that the boy had raised the dead before making his exit.
I remember for the first week he went missing I used to burn two offerings - half for my dad, and the other half for Hades, Nico's father. I prayed to keep him safe, wherever he was.
'It's okay.' I say, my anger evaporating, 'I just hate seeing people so complacent with their health. It's like...I don't know. The amount of people I couldn't save is enough as it is.'
He stares at me intently, and his eyes glaze over. I can't tell what he's doing.
'It wasn't you.' He says, blinking and brushing his long black hair out of his eyes.
'What?' I ask, confused.
'The people you lost. You couldn't save them. And they all ended up okay. I mean...in the good place down there.' He says, gesturing to the floor. I sit next to him on the bed, suddenly intrigued.
'You know what happened to them?' I ask, hopeful.
'Not exactly, but I can sense restless souls. There are none surrounding you. That means you did your job. There was nothing more to do for them.'
'Right. Thank you.' I say, not sure how to let him know how much that fact means to me. I look away and keep myself from crying as I think of all the people I couldn't save.
When I turn back to him he seems agitated, tense. He tries to shake it off when he sees me looking but I notice it.
'Are you okay?' I ask, knowing he is not.
'Haven't you heard? I have a broken rib.' He says, trying to make a joke. I smile slightly but shake my head.
'Come on.' I say, pushing him a little to open up.
'It's nothing. It's just when I checked in around you for restless spirits I saw all the others.' He explains, 'the ones from the battle. They, uh, follow me round; they can sense that I'm their link between here and Hades.'
'Can't you just let them pass?' I ask. I watch him laugh slightly, a sad but knowing laugh.
'I wish. I'm going to have to do a proper burial right for each one. To give them the best chance of Elysian Fields. For a couple of them, this was their third life. Which means they can get in - if they died heroes. Which they all did.'
'So lets do burial rights?' I ask, not sure what the problem is.
'I will, don't worry. But for each one, it'll take about an hour of me speaking. Mostly Greek, some English. And neither of them are exactly my first language. On top of that, there'll be eulogies and a big audience and I...' His voice catches. I look up at him, see the panic building inside of him. He really doesn't like people.
'It's alright. I'll help. As much as I can.' I say, 'how many are there?'
'Twenty seven. For four of them it was their first life, for sixteen it was their seven, and the remaining seven it was their third.' He says. It fascinates me how he's just able to know all this.
'So you do one every other day, I'll let people know who's when. We'll have close friends and family only in the main burial rights, and others can come and pay their respect afterwards.' I say, working it out in my head, 'is there a certain order to do it in? How do you tell?'
'The new ones. The ones on their first life. This is new to them. They're scared. I'll do them first. Then the ones on their second life. The others are...aware. They know what happens by now.' He says. He looks off into the distance and I can only assume he's looking to one of the spirits.
'Is there any underworld magic involved?' I ask, the doctor in me hitting in.
'No. Not at all. It's just words and sacrifices.' He says, 'should be fun.'
'Do you think you're up to doing one today?' I ask, not wanting to push him, but aware that he must start sometime.
'Yeah. Yes. I'll be fine.' He says, his eyes glaze over again, 'Olivia. Is she your sibling?' He asks, looking up at me.
'Yes. She was fourteen.' I say, my voice catching. Nico's voice is calm and reassuring.
'She was the youngest. And this was her first life. If you'd like, I could start with her?'
'That would...Yes. Please.' I say, so grateful. He nods and looks away. I keep staring at him, unable to understand how people have labelled him as scary or harsh.
'So your cabin can come. Is there anyone else?' He asks, as if making mental check list in his head.
'She was friendly with two girls from the Aphrodite cabin. I'll sort out who'll come.' I say, not wanting to leave him with too much responsibility.
'And a place for her ashes? Is there a place she liked to go in camp?' He asks.
'The woods. Or just to the edge of them. By the lake.' I reply quickly.
'Okay. I'll go get started on the preparations.' He gets up to leave but I grab his wrist before he gets too far.
'No way.' I say, 'you're going back to that bed until then. I'll get anything you need. You can work from here.'
'I...but my stuff is in my cabin.' He says.
'Where abouts?' I ask. He hesitates before telling me, but explains it all. I leave him back in his bed, sitting crossed legged, head leaning back against the wall. He smiles as I hurry away to get all his stuff. I go quickly, not wanting to leave him for too long.