Solangelo 1

Part 13

NICO

I stay with Will in the infirmary for another hour or so, helping out when he needed me; sitting to one side when he was busy.
But I left once it started to get more hectic, not wanting to get in his way.
It was raining, which meant that most people were inside their own cabins. I reluctantly went back to my own.
The beds were closer to coffins than anything else. The dark floorboards retracted any light that was let in by the single window on the far side of the hut. I hated this space.
Everything in this cabin was here from before the war; when I hated everyone and I was sure everyone hated me. I take the picture Hazel drew of us off the wall and put it in my pocket. I take my sword and leave my cabin.
I knock at Percy's door, but he doesn't answer. I make my way over to the Athena cabin.
I knock and I get an answer almost immediately.
'Heya Nico!' A girl says in a Polish accent. I think her name is Lena.
'Hi, is Percy in?' I ask, looking into the back.
'Yeah, sure! He's with Anna. Hold on!' She runs off into the cabin, the door shutting in my face. The girl was far more optimistic than anyone I'd ever met before. And I was still surprised by her addressing of Annabeth as Anna. She hated that, and I knew it for a fact.
'Hey, man. What's up?' Percy says as he opens the door. I'm distracted by the braid that has appeared in his hair. He catches me staring, 'Lena.' He says as explanation. I nod.
'It's raining.' I say, 'you can control the rain?'
He smiles, confused, 'I can't stop this if that's what you're getting at. Jason's more your man.'
'No, I mean, can you use the rain. To like, destroy something?' I ask, cryptic.
'I guess? Should I be worried?' He asks.
'I need your help.' I say, 'come with me.' He follows me over to my cabin and stops beside me.
'I don't understand...wait.' He says, looking to me, 'You want me to destroy your cabin?'
'Yep.' I say.
'Where will you sleep?' He asks.
'I don't sleep in there anyway.' I say. He looks to me and I know he understands. I need to get rid of this cabin. Whatever happens after I don't care.
'Alright. Here goes nothing.' He holds up his hands and the rain circles around my hut. It bursts through the windows and in seconds reduces it to the floor. I smile, staring at it.
'Thank the Gods.' I say, 'do you know if Annabeth would be interested in helping me rebuild?'
'I know for a fact, she'd love to.' He says, a similar look of satisfaction crossing his face.
'Alright. So, what now?' I say to myself. I didn't exactly think this through.