Solangelo 2

NICO

I called Percy last night and explained the situation. He came down first thing in the morning. I wait just inside the entrance to camp half blood and meet him there. He hugs me briefly and we walk towards the lake.
'I couldn't believe it.' He says, 'Annabeth's known Grace for years. Whats everyone been like?'
'Everyone's upset. No one knows what happened. They're sort of counting on you to give them some idea.'
'What about you? Can't you tell how she died?' He asks.
'Tried. I couldn't. It only works sometimes.' I say. We reach the pier, and it's early enough that only the Apollo cabin are up - and they all keep their distance, even Will.
'You going to wait up here or do you want to come in?' He asks, taking off his shoes even though he can stay dry in water.
'I'll wait thanks.' I say, and he nods, understanding. He jumps in and I lose him underneath the water. He's down there for a long time.
I sit, my legs hanging over the pier, waiting. He finally comes to the surface and swims over to the pier. I help pull him out the water and he joins me sitting down.
'What'd you find?' I ask.
'Nothing. Absolutely nothing.' He says.
'Great.'
'No, I mean, that's something. She was there for a while, someone should have seen something. It's like the moment was wiped from there minds, or like it happened somewhere else. Like the event didn't actually take place here, she just...appeared dead.' He says, falling short in the last two words. He stares out across the lake.
'You okay?'
'I'm never going to be able to be here without thinking about her.'
'No one will.' I say, 'this was her first life. But I can't help her move on yet. I don't know if she died heroically, or how she died. She's not at peace yet, so she can't pass.'
'So we need to figure out what happened or she won't be able to be reborn?'
'Yeah.' I say, disheartened, 'listen, I know this is bad timing, but I need to go to the Roman camp. I think Hazel could be in trouble.'
'What? Hazel? Why? Is she okay?' He asks, suddenly panicked. I forget that he spent a quest alongside Frank and Hazel. He cares for her a lot.
'She's fine, I talked to her yesterday. I just need...I need to see her. I figured we could go by sea creatures.'
'We?'
'Me and Will.' I say.
'I'm coming too.' He says, 'if anything happened to Hazel I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I'm coming.'
'Percy, you have exams soon.'
'I can postpone. They'll understand. Annabeth will kill me but that's standard. Besides, you wouldn't make it a mile without me on the water.'
'That is true.' I say, 'are you sure?'
'I haven't seen Hazel in a long time. Best case scenario, it's a chance to see her and everyone else again.'
'Let's hope it's best case scenario.'
'Nico, you know by now it never is.' He says, turning to me and smiling, 'that's just the way it is.'