Ghost King's Torch

Nico Forgot Me

I woke up with faces above me. The first one I could figured out is Will Solace, a healing paramedic from the Apollo cabin. There is also Grover Underwood's face. I gasped, feeling Grover's goatee on my nose. "Nico," I whispered "Nico!". Will helped me got up. I glanced at the bed next to me. There was Nico diAngelo, lying without expressions. His face is really pale, without a hint of smile. "Is he still alive?" I asked Will with a little bit of hope. "Yes, he is. What happened exactly? We found you guys outside camp," Will explained "Your condition is worser than Nico, but Nico can't be woken,". "H-he... Guys, I need to talk to either Chiron or Mr.D," I mumbled "There is an emergency,". Grover and Will supported him. "Will, stay here to take care of Nico for me, please," I shrugged. Will nodded.

Grover shouldered my way to the Big House. Percy and Annabeth stopped me on our way. "What happened to Nico?" Percy persisted "Are you stupid leaving Nico fighting alone?". My eyes bulged. Annabeth tried to keep her voice calm but she errupted "You know Nico is not too strong! You supposed to protect him with your freaking fireballs!". I shouted back "So why don't you join his mission? You are his friend right? If you feel like a senior-and smart enough-save him by himself!". Percy and Annabeth blinked "Excuse us?". Grover mimicked Percy and Annabeth "Excuse us?". I released myself from Grover's grip and left to the Big House by myself.

Chiron is standing infront of the Big House. I propped my next to him "Chiron there is a terrible problem,". Chiron turns his back away and asked "What problem?". "N-Nico asked me to join his trip to New Rome. From New Rome we got to the Underworld. We met a servant of Gaea there. That servant pushed Nico diAngelo into the River Styx..." I mumbled. Chiron shouted "WHAT,". "I am really sorry, Chiron. I had killed that servant of Gaea, Probotis, son of Hephaestus, but I can't recover Nico. If you are angry to me, please just punish me or do something. I'm feeling really guilty," I whispered, helding back sobs. "I'm not going to punish you, Jose. It's not your fault," Chiron smiled "We are going to try our best,". I nodded. "Go back to the Apollo cabin. Check on Nico. He carries many important information," commanded Chiron. I bowed and went back to the Apollo cabin. This time, it was really crowded by curious campers. I don't think I can even pass the radius of demigods.

So I decided to burn my whole face to warn the demigods to stay away. It worked out well. They backed away. I went in the cabin. I sat at Nico's bed, hearing him groaning every few seconds. I shook his shoulders a few times "Nico? Nico? Hey, ghost king! Wake up,". Still no opening eyes like those ones in the dramas. I do that a few times. Still no hugging like in those soap operas. Then he did something. He punched me right on middle of my face.

I fall off the bed. Leo came over and helped me stand. "What happened?" Leo whispered. I shook my head. "Who are you?" Nico said coldly, standing up. I mumbled "Nico...". "YES. I know my name is NICO. Shut up and tell me where am I and who you are!" he shouted, moving closer. He reached for his Stygian sword, but no use. I had slipped it on my pockets instead. "Give me back my sword," he commanded. "I wouldn't," I answered, hiding my hands behind my back, producing fire on my palm in case something happened. Well, something did happen. Nico reached for a javelin laying on the floor and destroyed anything in the radius of two meters around him. The sharp edge of the javelin is made of Celestial bronze, and I'm not letting myself hurt. "Nico, stop," warned Percy "Or else the Ares kids are going here,". "Who do you think you are? I control my ownself!" Nico replied harshly. He left the Apollo cabin and dissapeared.

That night, Chiron held a campfire meeting about Nico's changes. I swear I heard some Aphrodite girls crying things like "He wouldn't remember me and my beauty for the rest of his life!" or "He would forgot how pretty I am!". Sick ladies. Even though Chiron had make sure everything is okay, I still couldn't sleep that night. I lay sleepless on my hammock, swinging and played fire. Nico must be somewhere in here. He wouldn't have gone anywhere if he still have common sense, why I doubted. Leo, below me, is fast asleep, hugging the silk pillow Calypso made for him a few days ago. I just wanted to rip those from his hands and burned it to shreds. Come on, bro! Look at your sister more! I felt a little bit thankful for his act this afternoon, but that doesn't help much.

I decided to go out secretly from the cabin and took a walk to the area behind the Big House. Usually it's only me and Nico there, but I knew starting from now on it would be just me. But I saw a dark figure below a tree. I pulled out Nico's sword and crept slowly so I don't make any noise. There was Nico, his knee folded below his chin, silent. "diAngelo?" I asked, still keeping distance. Nico spun his head and frowned "Who are you?". "I'm Jose Valdez from the Hephaestus cabin. I'm the sister of Leo Valdez," I tried to smile, although it hurts "I have a mechanic dragon named Horizon,". "Mm," he muttered. I'm starting to move closer to him. "Do you have any best friend?" I continued "My best friends are Thania Grace and Eliza diAngelo,". He shook his head "I don't know anyone,". "I'm going to show you the rest of the camp tommorow," I grinned. "Stop acting so cheerful," Nico muttered. "You are the one who is acting so melancholic," I replied. "No, I'm not," Nico denied. Carefully, I sat down next to him. He nudged me right on the ribs "What are you doing here? I wanted to be alone,". "Nobody ever said this was your area!" I protested "I had spend my nights here for months!". "Whatever," Nico sighed.

We sat down in the silence under a sky full of stars. Nico kept quiet, fiddling his jacket zipper. "Here," I said, handling him back his sword. "Where did you got my sword?" he asked. "You dropped it," I lied. He nodded, and put it back on it's place. We spend the rest of the night in silence, but it don't feel awkward, like the silence speaks.