WILL
Nico and I move to his cabin. It's easier for him to rationalise and calm down in a familiar, secure place. He sits on his bed, clutching his sword. I sit beside him, his head on my shoulder.
'It's real.' He says, 'I can tell. And that's not it. My dad too. He's...I don't know. I just can't sense him at all.'
'What does that mean?' I ask, gently.
'I don't know. The underworld is unguarded? My dad and Thanatos are missing? I don't know.' He says. I can hear his heart beating faster.
'We'll figure it out.' I say, 'but I need you to look at me.' He turns to me, 'you're not going back. I won't let you.'
He nods. Only slightly.
'When you're up for it, we need to talk to the others about this. Or if you want, you can stay and I can talk to them-'
'I'm fine.' He says, 'I can do it.'
'Nico-'
'I'm okay, Will. I am.' He says again. I don't believe him, but he stands up with purpose, and helps me stand too, 'we need to figure out what this means.'
'What does it mean?' I ask, 'I mean, if you can't sense your dad...does that mean no one can die? People can come back?'
'I'd need to go into Hades to figure that out. But maybe. I don't know.' He says, 'all I know is that the last time I did anything like that, I got Hazel back, and accidentally ended up in Tartarus so...' he trails off, 'it's kind of the best and worst thing ever.'
'Are you sure you're okay to talk to them?' I ask, moving his hair back, behind his ears.
'I'll be okay.' He says, 'but...just stay close to me. You keep me calm.'
'It's probably the Apollo genes.' I say.
'No, it's just you.' He insists, 'because I've met your dad. And he doesn't make me calm.'
