Amaurosis

XXI: Return Of Morpheus

Something has been weird lately. Very weird.

Nico's still bleeding, or at least that's what I've gathered from the bloodied pile of towels outside his door, and without physically seeing him, I can't help. So, his ignoring charade isn't helping anyone, especially him.

Every now and then, loud banging and thumping comes from inside Nico's cabin as if he's throwing himself against the walls. Knowing him, it's probably just fits of rage from who knows what. The boy is pretty much always angry from something, and he holds it up inside. But I guess I have that problem, too.

"First stop, Delos!" Leo's voice echoed through the hallway, a shrill sound that made me cringe.

With the bronze from Talos, he added a dozen public announcement speakers and hid them around the Argo II. There's even one in one of the bathroom's toilets. I just hope there isn't a camera hidden inside each one.

Relieved that I successfully avoided Thalia in her time on the Argo II, I passed Nico's cabin, overhearing goodbyes from the main room. Suddenly, something grabbed my arm and pulled me backwards, sucking me into a room.

I yelped, but the figure's other hand covered my mouth. I licked it and turned around to see Nico's nose scrunched in disgust.

"Not the time, Alexandra." He said my name as if it alone repulsed him, as if it took everything inside him to call me that.

"What's wrong with you?" I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. First, he hates me. Next, he likes me as a friend. Then, he saves my life and swears never to let me fall into Morpheus' hands and I think he may more than like me. Now, he's angry and hates me again. This kid has more mood swings than Piper, and she's always PMSing.

He mimicked my stance. "What are you talking about?" He raised his eyebrow and stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth as if testing me. I shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. This wasn't him. This was beyond weird.

"Nico, are you okay?" I couldn't look at his face, so I averted my gaze to anywhere but.

"Of course, I'm okay, darling. Why wouldn't I be?" I cringed at his attempt to flirt. He was never like this before. He either called me Dusk or Alexandra, rarely ever Alex. The sound of his pet names made me sick. I choked back my urge to gag. He stalked closer.

"You look beautiful, my dear." He closed his eyes and inched closer. I couldn't fight my instincts anymore, so I lifted my hand and backhanded him, leaving a bright red print on his cheek. He shoved me against the cold metal door.

My eyes wandered to his slice; he was moving perfectly fine for a guy who has been in a constant state of bloodshed. And to my amazement, there was nothing there, yet a deep red ooze dripped down his side, soaking his shirt. I reached out to touch the wound, and sure enough, blood dripped down my palm, and the illusion wavered as if a hologram.

"No." My voice dropped to a whisper. Morpheus was locked in the ring, there's no way-

My eyes dropped to my hand. The ring was... Percy. Rage consumed me, and I flipped us around so that I held him by the neck against the wall instead. I'm done playing Morpheus' games.

"Ah, careful, my beloved," Morpheus' wicked laugh scorched the air, sucking out all oxygen from the room seemingly. "This is still the Son of Hades' body. Kill me and you kill him." My heartbeat quickened, and hundreds of years of fear resurfaced, washing over me like a tsunami crashing through a dam.

I slumped my shoulders in defeat, knowing there's no way I could defeat him without hurting Nico, too, and I couldn't do that to him. "What do you want?" I asked solemnly.