Fate Withstands

Chapter 25

AN: I don't speak Italian and everything of the language is coming from Google translate, so it's probably wrong tbh

When Nico woke up, he was told about everything that had happened. Dwarfs in Bologna, the fact that everything had been handled. But he didn't dare lay down to sleep, nor did he plan to in the future. He already wasted too many hours staying still when monsters could be on him, tearing his flesh and breaking his bones and setting fire to the remains and-

No. He wasn't going to let one war, what he had seen to humans, mix with what happened down there. He didn't need anymore torture in his life, especially if it wasn't even real.

But the thoughts continued all night, the war seemed like yesterday. He wasn't sure the mentality behind it until the ship docked at a city he knew all too well.

"Venesia..." Nico whispered. "Siamo qui."

"English, di Angelo." Leo came up beside him and also leaned on the rail. "Or Spanish. But I don't know how the others would feel about that."

Nico shook his head in disbelief. "I'm back home. I never believed it...never thought we'd actually make it..." He climbed onto the rail and kept himself balanced as he looked across the now peaceful city. No more smoke, no more riots and bomb sirens and soldiers going off to war.

"You were born here?" Jason Grace came up to them, eyes blurred from the second half of the night watch.

Nico nodded. His legs itched to run into the city, to grab one of the gondole and ride it through the canal. But there were barely any left, and those that were there were packed with noticeable tourists.

What had become of his city? The lions of St. Mark still decorated the area, but nothing was as grand as it used to be. The waters were polluted, modern industry had taken over. He couldn't help but wonder if his old home was still here, or if even that had been destroyed, turned around, made into something he wouldn't recognize.

The rest of the demigods came up one by one, taking a place beside them at the railing. Last to do so was Frank, who took a spot by his girlfriend.

"What are they?" Hazel asked. Nico turned to see what she was looking at, finally understanding their uncertainty when he realized that they probably hadn't seen katobleps before.

"Mamma! Mamma!" Nico tugged on his mother's hand as he pointed to one of the animals tottering around. "Can I pet it?"

Maria looked down at her son, a familiar smile on her lips. "I've told you before, my son. No petting stray cani. It's dangerous."

As they walked passed, Nico looked at what everyone called cani. They weren't like other cani he had seen, with wagging tails and different colors and sizes that made every one unique. These were different. They were always the same color, same size and shape, same everything. And that same everything was what made him so curious.

"Dogs?" he asked for confirmation. "That's what they're called in America! Dogs!"

She nodded. "No petting stray dogs, Nico. Not even in America."

He was pulled back into the present violently by Leo's butchering of the Italian language.

"The Black House," Nico translated. "Calle Frezzeria is the street."

Nobody questioned his second language, mostly because his accent was still so thick.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, causing Jason's eyes to flicker upwards. "Maybe I should stay on board," he said. "Lots if venti in the storm last night. If they decide to attack the ship again..."