When Flames Go Dark [A Leo Valdez Fanfiction]

Chapter 4

Nico's eyes flew open. Hazel was gone. He could feel it.

Why did those he loved always have to go? First Bianca, then Hazel. Subconsciously, he thought of Will, then shook his head.

Nico's thoughts went back to Hazel. His purple ore older sister who had been nothing but kind and loving to him. Gone. His throat was constricted, and for the first time in years since he learnt Bianca was dead, he cried.

Creak.

The door of his cabin was pushed open, and Will peeked in. Nico narrowed his swollen eyes.

"What the Hades are you doing here at twelve midnight, William Solace?"

"Why the Hades are you crying at twelve midnight, Nicholas di Angelo?"

"That's not even my name! And I asked first!"

Will shoved his hands into his pyjama pockets."I couldn't sleep. And may or may not have decided to check on you while I was walking around camp trying to get some fresh air."

Nico was glad it was dark enough to cover the redness in his cheeks.

"Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Will stepped in and Nico shifted over as Will sat beside him, crossing his legs.

Nico looked at his feet, took a deep breath, and then said, "Hazel is gone. She took her own life. I can feel it." Nico told Will about Leo joining Minos.

Will was surprised that Nico was talking unprompted, but gently wrapped his arms around Nico's shoulders in a show of sympathy and comfort. Nico slumped against Will, weary.

"I'm so sorry, Neeks," Will murmured. He didn't know what he was expecting Nico to tell him, but it definitely wasn't this.

Will had met Hazel after she got injured and he helped to tend to her injuries, and she had seemed like the purest kind of human that you could find. To think that she would take her own life... "I know you love Hazel. She was your sister."

Nico felt like he was ten again, relearning that Bianca sacrificed her life to save her friends. "I feel... like I've failed her. I wasn't there for Hazel, just like I wasn't for Bianca. I didn't learn from past experiences. I wasn't enough and it's partially my fault that she took her life. I'm not good enough," Nico mumbled.

"Hey." Will ran his fingers through the raven hair. "Don't be so hard on yourself. People come and go, and you of all people should know that. What matters is that you did your best. You did everything you could. You tried. It's really not your fault. You can't control what anyone does, no matter how hard you try. Please don't blame yourself, Neeks."

Rubbing circles into Nico's back, he continued, "If Leo's joining Minos, and they're going to get a powerful army to invade camp, then camp needs you to fight. That means you need your energy. Now get some sleep, okay? You need it. Doctor's orders."

Nico smiled against Will's shirt. He lay down, and Will started singing a Greek hymn to get him to sleep. The charmspeak-like magic in Will's voice worked, and soon Nico was asleep, his entire body relaxing. Will took a (long) last look at his significant other, then rose slowly. Making sure not to disturb Nico, Will slipped out of the cabin.

It was yet another battle - another day of a life of a demigod. The only difference now was that the enemy was their friend, and Will knew that this time, the losses would be even greater than before.

~.~

Leo was in Minos' lair, watching as Minos muttered to himself, floating about back and forth. Minos' lair was a large and spacious cave hidden underground. It was surprisingly near camp.