So, it's another Will chapter. I can't move ahead with Nico's plot until I rewrite the first few chapters, which is what I'm focusing on next. Now, there's a choice to be made. I can either keep the old chapters at the end of the book, or I can just replace them. I'm leaning on leaving them, but I want to hear your opinion.

Will woke up with a start, tears running down his face. How could they treat him like that? He has only ever been helpful to the camp. He's tried so hard to help, to fight against a terrible power he's kept suppressed for so long. And for what? The second they would find out, they would turn against him. What was the point in hiding it? He doesn't want to hide it. He doesn't want to be so afraid of himself. But he couldn't just agree with this! Erebus was dangerous. But...the way they reacted. The cold stares, the whispers. Even if he managed to escape, he'd have to go back to lying to everyone again. And if...when they found out...they'd hate him anyway. What was the right choice? He wasn't supposed to. He wasn't supposed to use his power. He was supposed to be the healer. That's what everyone wants from him. Was that what he wanted? Did he want to go back to that? Being overlooked being weak, defenseless, unable to protect the ones he loved. Most importantly, he was tired of hiding it. Tired of doing what he was told. By the Gods, by his mother, by anyone. He took a shaky breath, he knew what he wanted. He wanted to be accepted. To not be in pain anymore. "Y-you can teach me?" He mumbled, "you'll...you'll teach me how to control it?"

Erebus smiled brightly, "Of course I can. There's so much about your gifts I can teach you. I can train you better than they ever could." He helped Will up, "I will admit, when you were first taken, it was to lure the prince here, but now...it seems like you need us more than we need you. Scorned and unwanted because of your gifts. Unwanted by the Olympians and their children. You are much like us. You belong here." He gently rests his hand on Will's shoulder, looking kindly at him.

Will smiled weakly in return, wiping the tears from his face. "I-i want it to s-stop hurting-" he whimpered, only briefly remembering the freedom from the crushing pain before it all came crashing back down on him. It was almost too much to bear. He had felt the bliss of relief and he wanted to feel it again. He didn't want to be held back. Screw what the campers would think. Screw what his mother wanted. He didn't deserve to hide this any longer. "I-I want t-to-need to-" he sobbed slightly, his breathing quick. If he didn't manage to calm his breath, he'd spiral into a panic attack.

"The Gods fear your power. You have a gift. You hold the power of life and death in your hand. So, they have cursed with this pain. To try to hold you back. You need to turn your back on the Olympians, much as they did to you once they deemed you 'unworthy' of them. You will be free of their hold and you will feel this pain no longer." Erebus promised softly.

Will nodded, pausing for a minute to calm his shaky breathing. "I-i don't need them. I've sacrificed too much for them, an-and they...they don't care. They don't want me." Will felt something start to shift inside him as his breathing began to steady, "I don't need them," he repeated, looking up at Erebus, "It'll be different here? I won't just be a pawn?" Erebus nodded, and Will smiled softly, "I have nothing to lose then. The Gods don't want me, and I don't need them."

Erebus beamed brightly, "You are no longer a child of the Olympians, my boy. You are one of us, and we take care of our own." Will made a small noise, blinking slowly as he started to feel dizzy. "Now you need to get some rest. You've had a...stressful time here until now. There's been a room prepared for you. I'll show you where it is." He guided Will though the now open door, leading him through a maze of halls to a well-lit room.

Will waited for Erebus to leave the room before closing the door and practically passing out on the bed.