{ What do you guys think about the new cover? I tried really hard so I hope you guys like it :) }

No, it's better to face these kinds of things,
With a sense of poise and rationality.

- I Write Sins Not Tragedies, Panic! At the Disco

c h a p t e r 7 : n i c o

The only thing Nico now desired was clarification. Will Solace was no longer the main topic lingering across his mind all jumbled with various questions. Aphrodite continued to intervene with his attempt at a love life. She was summoning dreams just to ascend his hopes then shatter them in an instant. Nico wasn't going to allow it, not this time. That's why he had to keep running, chasing a lost hope.

It was decided. Nico would depart from Hades Palace the next day with Jules-Albert and venture across the country. Racing, dashing, bolting from his predicaments. The boy was already broken, he didn't need more junk to add to his pile. Possibly he would visit Hazel and Reyna. They'd persuade him to attend Camp Half-Blood once more, but he knew it was destined. His life wasn't meant for love. Nico didn't even love Will, he just..... missed him.

Nico was stashing an assortment of clothes from his chamber into a duffle bag when Persephone intruded. Her hair was pinned in a neat bun while a cream dress lined with a brown braided belt secured her dress. She was toying with small lily, her small quirk she tends to do when she's nervous or simply off. Nico glimpsed at his stepmother but ignored her twiddling and zipped the duffle bag. He draped the handle around his shoulder. A sudden weak feeling possessed him, yet he stiffened for his stance to remain upright.

"Nico," Persephone started, "have safe travels. Perhaps I can't change your mind about leaving for Camp Half-Blood but I can bless your adventure. I hope you find what you're looking for. Whether it be here, New Rome, Camp Half-Blood/Jupiter. I'll miss you." she embraced the young child of Hades and forced a small grin.

Nico didn't respond but waved his hands in numerous gestures. Within seconds dark clouds gathered around his feet, but sweat beads of sweat progressed down his brow promptly. Worry laced his stepmother's eyes ,yet he was committed to continue. After several failed attempts at morphing the shadows around him he managed to only increase his weakness. Nothing like this had ever been conjured from his mysterious powers before, especially with Reyna and Coach Hedge. Clearly he always pressed his limits, but this was nothing compared to what he's ever summoned.

Despite his bickering with he darkness, Persephone suggested he simply "walk". Nico grudgingly agreed, then released himself from the shadows. The son of Hades shuffled from his chambers to stumble into his father. Hades eyes furrowed as he witnessed Persephone scurry from the Prince chambers into the throne room. "Nico, before you depart. I'd like a word." instead of pausing for Nico's deny, he steered the young boy towards Persephone's private gardens. The only place that could receive life in the Underworld. Hades had created it just for her.

"If this is about Aphrodite, I'm sorry for declining her request. I'm not positive what you may have sacrificed to earn me happiness, but I swear I don't need it. I'll be fine." the words of encouragement dissolved in Hades mind.

"That's not what I was going to say." Hades grumbled as father and son strolled through the assortment of flowers.

"Oh... what then?" Nico caught himself nibbling the bottom of his lip between his teeth. Never did his father confront him about many things, especially personal incidents. Hades always favored Nico's sister causing the only connection between the two. Otherwise they always kept aloof from one another. His father never beckoned for him for just a visit, Nico simply showed up with desired.

"It's about Will, Will Solace." Nico could sense the presence of his heart pound by the second. The young boy never admitted is feelings, let alone to his father. Hades wasn't like Poseidon to Percy. He was more like Zeus to Percy. Nothing was ever spoken through words between the father and son. "Apollo visited me the other day, informing me of your... event, during "Truth or Dare."--Hades gestured the quotation marks with his finger with quite bewilderment--"Despite the effect that an Apollo son may have on a Hades boy, I'd like to give you my blessing. My kids are often never happy of comfortable their whole lives. I'd like to be able to provide that for you and Hazel."

Nico couldn't rasp words, instead he obliterated the perfectly humane conversation by sputtering, "Erm, Will.... is just- I mean- erm..... is, sorta- a... Um. Fr.-Fr.....iend." Hades snickered a bit but didn't reveal a smile.

"I understand-"

"Your majesty! We have intruders at the palace! Three demigods banging on the palace doors demanding to see Nico. The names are: Logan Harrison, Alice Mason, and Will Solace. One Athena son, one daughter of Hermes, and a son of Apollo." a skeleton guard recalled before Hades causing disturbance between the former conversation. Nico signed at the sound of Will's name, he missed him.

"Of course, we'll send Nico immediately. Serve them milk and cookies if desired. Please give us a moment." Hades replied before shooing away the dead soldier in the direction of the palace. Leaving Hades and Nico in complete silence.

-

Uneasily, Nico eased open the palace door of his father's mansion. Behind the door was three demigods sipping milk and cookies, excluding Will Solace who was pacing the room mumbling an inaudible language beneath his breath. In one seat was a brown haired boy with many freckles, geek glasses, and green eyes- who happened to look quite adorable, Nico inwardly admitted. Across him was a girl with black hair accented by her startling blue orbs, possibly a Zeus child, but the skeleton soldier didn't mention one. Instead he comment about a Hermes daughter.

Will's whipped towards the door and immediately snatched the sight of Nico. Relief altered in his pupils accompanied by an adorable grin. His freckles ascended when his cheeks rounded causing his freckles to dazzle, much like the time Nico kissed his cheek. The light blazed for a minute, but was diminished when Will collapsed in Nico's arms. The embrace was quite a shock to the son of Hades ,yet he patted the son of Apollo's back abnormally. It seemed as though Will could have survived the rest of his life wrapped in Nico, but after a few passing minutes he realized the tension and swiveled aside.

"Gods, I missed you so much..." Will whispered only audible towards Nico. Butterflies resurrected in the son of Hades stomach but he quickly demolished the emotion. "We've come to take you back to Camp. Everyone's so worried-"

"I'm not going back." Nico blurted before Will could continue.

"W-what?" Will stammered advancing towards Nico who brushed past Will in the direction of a skeleton guard. He didn't need Will altering his mind or playing with his desperate emotions.

"This isn't about us ,Will. Whatever we are. IVE decided to hang out with Hazel and Frank for a while then continue to venture around the world. Aid in searching for lost demigods. Sending them towards the camps." Nico could barely process the words himself, yet his lips moved to spit out the phrase.

Will's eyes were abruptly laced with hurt and loss. The son of Hades desperately wished to collapse into Will's arms and admit everything. Perhaps they could stay friends, within distance, visit Camp Half-Blood often, check on his friends. Nico was settled with his decision but Will had other ideas, "No, Nico. You're coming with us. You have to. Soon your body is going to release into the shadows, possibly not being able to produce anymore. After that, you'll fade. Nothing will be left of you. There's no death after the shadows, you become one. No Elysium or Rebirth. That's why you must come."

"Last time I checked you don't get to make my decisions." Nico retorted as he ground his teeth together as Will was testing his willingness. Never had Nico witnessed Will being so obnoxious. When he was accompanying him while resting in the infirmary, Will often offered company, but his company was never irritating like Will's sudden response.

"Actually, I can. You need rest. You'll die Nico!" Will's voice was ascending by the minute and Nico wasn't about to cower in a corner. He was tired of hiding from his feelings.

"No, you can't! You're not my boyfriend!" Nico's statement collided into Will's heart like a stain. Nothing could have made Will more heartbroken. The son of Hades was too infuriated with the conversation that he wasn't aware of the true heart behind Will's heart. "Please... just...... g-go."

"Nico-"

"Leave, Will!"

Will's eyes erupted in tears as he swerved from the palace room into the souls of the Underworld. The girl and boy demigods followed his response reluctantly. Rage boiled beneath Nico's core. He was afraid of his true power, but he could allow people to jerk him around. That's all he's presented people his whole life. Standing up for himself was a new concept but he was willing to attempt.

Nico Di Angelo gathered his things and approached the portal from the World to the Underworld. Many souls screamed and hollered his name but he ignored their cries. Before Nico could return to the mortal world, he recollected Will's words: Soon your body is going to release into the shadows, possibly not being able to produce anymore.

Perhaps Will was referring to Nico's lack of shadow traveling. After all, Persephone and him couldn't recall a reason as to why he couldn't process more dust to glide him away from this retched hell. If Will was correct, he'd wither away in days.

Nico didn't contemplate any further. Concentrating by swirling his hands around his personal boundary, dust formed from the ground. Dark dust began enveloping him in various shadows. He channeled all his emotions and energy by focusing on his destination. Projecting himself towards New Rome his body yanked towards a forbidden part of the world. Nico couldn't contain enough power to teleport to the New Rome.

Instead, his body spit him out in the forgotten place, treated like no other. All around him was forms of several ways to disease. Maybe dying from morphing into a shadow didn't sound so bad anymore. Fire blazed against cracked walls, while glass was etched into the crumbled rock dirt. Sparks soared through the crust of the earth. Monsters and souls were scattering around while Nico avoided their presence. Death was now his destiny. Nico was in the land of no return...

Tartarus.

A/N

Guess who's the new Junior Rick Riordan? Because I just have you guys a freaking cliffhanger and you'll have to wait another week to find out what happens and Will won't even be with Nico. Sad face.

Anyways... all rights to Rick and his fantastic books!

-Ally