Yeah I'm still sick, so sorry guys. I have a new chair so it's a bit easier to sit up and write so I typed something up fast. If there's any inconsistencies I'm sorry, It's been a while since I wrote or read anything for this fic.

Much love as always~

"Cazzo!"

Nico felt like every bone in his body was being crushed.

He could feel Jason and Annabeth nearby in the darkness, both of them struggling against the rubble that was so very close to crushing them.

At least they were all alive, but for how long he wasn't sure. He was already exhausted, and without them close enough to make contact he couldn't shadow travel.

But at the same time he couldn't let go of the surrounding rocks or they would die.

Painfully.

The stone floor under them was shifting and groaning, and Nico wondered how long it would take for the floor to give out and make his day even better.

He did have a plan though. He could tell there was some kind of tunnel system under the surface; he just needed to get them all to it alive. He wasn't good at digging tunnels like Hazel, he was better at collapsing them.

Very carefully he used his shadows to move whatever rubble he could into positions that would hopefully hold up when he collapsed the ground. The goal was to get them all to the tunnel and run, he didn't need the rocks to hold long.

Jason and Annabeth would have no idea what was happening until they were falling. He felt bad but there was nothing he could do.

Sweat was pouring down his face by the time he got the bigger pieces of stone in place. If he was right, they would make a tent shape when the floor fell; hopefully.

Nico prayed to his father one last time before he collapsed the floor of the museum and sent the three of them plummeting to the tunnel.

He hit the ground hard, but not hard enough to injure or stun him. "Get up and move! Follow my voice!"

He could see fine in the dark, but Annabeth and Jason would have to rely on his voice. Thankfully they were quick on their feet, and soon they were a very safe distance away from the cracking and breaking area.

Nico didn't let them stop until the museum was no longer above them. There was still the threat of a cave in, but Nico hopped he would be able to sense it before it happened.

"I never want to do that again," Jason voice was shaky and he was panting still. "In fact…I never want to see another tunnel or museum, or even a rock for that matter."

Annabeth laughed dryly. "Yeah, good luck with that."

The strength finally left Nico's legs and he hit the ground; he was so tired he couldn't think, he wasn't even sure why they were there anymore.

"Nico?"

He felt Jason's hand on his shoulder, warm and steady.

"I'm fine…I just need a minute."

He was vaguely aware of being force fed some more ambrosia. He didn't want it, he knew they must be low and both Jason and Annabeth were just as tired as he was.

His body felt hot, like he was burning up. The ambrosia was working but he knew if he took any more it would kill him.

"We need to get above ground," Annabeth said with determination in her voice. "The faster we regroup and get our bearings the sooner we can go after Percy."

"That's right, Percy." Nico's heart leapt, he still didn't know where he was. "He must be close; he could still be around here somewhere."

"I hate to be the pessimist," Jason said carefully. "But how exactly are we going to find Percy? We don't even know what happened up there."

"We'll think of something," Annabeth was talking fast. "We just need to get out of here."

Jason would never say it out loud since he didn't enjoy getting punched in the face, but Annabeth sounded panicked. "Okay, Nico do you sense any way out of here?"

But Nico had gone quiet.

"Neek?"

"There's someone else down here."

Annabeth and Jason tensed, as if expecting to see someone emerge out of the darkness.

"No, they're not here," Nico stood up with help from the wall he was leaning against. "They're further in, but they're…"

He started walking away from them, and Jason and Annabeth didn't hesitate to follow. There was no way they could get out without Nico, they couldn't even see in the darkness. The only thing they had to go by was the sound of Nico moving in front of them.

Jason was not expert, but it felt like they were moving further away from the water and into the city. He had to reach out and take Annabeth's hand to help steady her and also to keep her calm.

He knew it had something to do with Tartarus but he knew better than to bring it up.

They walked for what felt like forever, but it was probably more like twenty minutes.

Nico could see light ahead, maybe from a lit torch. He picked up the pace and it was only around the next corner that he saw what was there.

A small square room lit with two torches. It was empty, or at least he thought it was until he looked up. There was something swinging there; it almost looked like a bag or something.

Nico stepped forward to get a closer look and his boot slipped on something.

"What is that?" Jason couldn't see as well as Nico, and he was glad he couldn't.

Nico knew exactly what was hanging from the ceiling.

The person his sensed in the tunnels, he thought they were further away but it wasn't that. Their life force was just barely there.

He came closer and his stomach twisted when he saw who it was. The Aphrodite kid that was on the quest with Percy, he was cut, burnt and bleeding; left to hang there like a sack of meat.

One blue eye barely managed to open and look at him. "Ty…"

"I'll cut him down," Annabeth pulled out her dagger and moved toward the rope that was keeping him suspended.

Nico held up a hand, "No, don't touch it!"

She froze and gave him a confused look.

Nico looked up further toward the kid's chest and Annabeth followed his gaze.

Riptide was there, impaled in an area close to his heart.

As all three of them stared at it, the sword glowed faintly before pulsing and disappearing in a flash.

The kid they now recognized was Azarias tried to talk again. "Ty..ph…" The blood from the now open wound was spilling toward the floor with some of it going in his mouth.

Annabeth was already moving toward him and pulling out the last of their ambrosia. "Hold on, just eat some of this," her hand was shaking.

She held the ambrosia to Azarias's lips, but he was still.

"Just eat a little," She waved it slightly. "It will help."

"Annabeth," Nico moved her hand away. "He's gone."

None of them spoke; there was no noise except for the patter of blood.

"Cut him down," Nico said to Jason finally. "Let's take him home."

Jason took Annabeth's dagger and cut the rope. Together they carefully eased Azarias down until he was lying comfortably on the ground.

Annabeth knelt next to the younger man and placed a hand on his arm. She said a few words, hoping to ease his soul to the underworld.

Nico bowed his head. "Dad, please."

He didn't have to ask his father what he wanted, he knew Hades would understand.

Nico didn't know if he had enough energy to shadow travel back to Camp Half-Blood, but he was going to try either way. He made sure his two friends were holding onto him and then took Azarias's hand in his own and summoned his shadows.

"Take me home."

The pyre burned very brightly that night at Camp Half-Blood.

Everyone was there to pay their respects, even all the Roman campers who had been visiting.

Nico couldn't look at Piper. She was heartbroken as she watched the flames consume her brother; she cried silently, holding on to Jason and their daughter.

Hazel had come to him at some point, trying to comfort him but he wasn't in the mood for pity. Not only had they failed in their quest, but a camper was dead.

And he wasn't sure if it was the man he loved who killed him.

Both Frank and Leo failed to get him to talk and even Jason had to walk away; they left him alone after that.

He briefly wondered where Annabeth was and if she was okay. The daughter of Athena had been very badly shaken by everything, probably due to the fact that it brought back bad memories.

Nico wanted to go check on her, but he couldn't get his legs to work.

So he stood there in the shadows of a nearby building and watched the fire burn.

He didn't move from his spot, not even after the flames died and the dawn came.

"I owe you a debt."

Nico didn't flinch; he didn't even turn to regard the woman who spoke. "I don't think you do, I had to bring him home; he deserved it."

A warm hand grasped his chin and he was forced to look away from the dissipating smoke.

Aphrodite was very beautiful, much like her son had been; the rising sun only made her more so. Her appearance changed from a pretty blonde into a woman with Percy's coloring; it made his heart ache.

"It doesn't matter; I still owe you a debt. Not many demigods would have had the ability to bring him home." She let go of his chin but Nico didn't look away.

"The only thing I could ever want right now is impossible for you to bring me." He looked away from her, his mind kept flashing to the sight of Riptide sticking out of Azarias's chest. He couldn't believe that Percy would do such a thing, there had to be a mistake.

"There are so many possibilities of the future right now," she said after a small moment of silence. "I offer you repayment, in the case that there is a future in which I should owe it."

And that was the end on their conversation.

The next time Nico looked, she was gone.

He to left soon afterward, once he was sure the fires had completely gone out.

There was still a question that hadn't been answered yet. Percy had two demigods beside him when he left for his quest. The child Tyler, where did he disappear to in all the mess?

Was he taken as a hostage? Was he dead?

"Azarias has said the kid's name I think, but why?"

Nico made it back to Percy's cabin before anyone was up. It was better that way; it meant he didn't have to talk to anyone.

He stripped out of his clothes and placed his sword next to him once he got on the bed. He didn't mean to fall asleep but his body gave him no choice as he eyes shut against his will.

He slept for two days, and those two days were filled of nightmares and visions. He kept seeing Percy chasing down demigod children and killing them with Riptide.

He watched in horror as Percy killed Piper and Indigo and laughed as he did it.

All the nightmares were the same, all of their friends dead, all killed by the son of Poseidon. And the whole time there was a voice in his head saying 'I won' over and over again.

He jolted awake and sat up, almost smashing Frank in the face with his forehead. His hand scrambled to grab the sea glass necklace, and he only took a breath when he felt it safe there.

"Nico?"

His eyes darted to meet Frank's.

The bigger man look scared, but not of Nico. He must have been worried about Nico being dead or something.

"What's up?" Nico's throat was raw, he looked to the bedside table for a bottle of water but there was none.

"Hold on," Frank put his hand on Nico's head like the move would keep him paralyzed until he returned.

Nico didn't have the strength to argue, he only moved enough so that his feet were on the floor and he was sitting up straighter.

Frank returned with a cold glass of water, and Nico drank it. He didn't know how really thirsty he was until he down the whole thing in seconds.

"Hazel was worried about you when we couldn't find you," Frank explained. "Jason found you here the day before yesterday and we all decided to let you sleep. But with all the shadow traveling you did I just want to make sure…"

"That I didn't disappear?" Nico finished for him. He handed the glass back to Frank, "I'm fine I just really needed to crash."

The news seemed to wipe some of the worry off Frank's expression. "Do you need anything?"

Nico shook his head and waved him away. "No, I'm going to take a shower and leave after that."

"Leave?"

"Yes, I have to find Percy." He stood up and stretched, cursing when his back cracked painfully. "Something is coming, Fai, something big; you need to rally the Romans."

Frank stood up a bit straighter, like he was ready to fend off an enemy right there. "Big like Gaia big?"

"Yes," Nico could still hear the voice in his head echoing from his dreams. "It may be even bigger than her."

Frank didn't say much after that. He left after double checking that Nico didn't need anything but Nico shooed him away.

Nico jumped in the shower, his brain working in overdrive, trying to come up with a plan. He didn't know where to start; he didn't know where to find Percy or if it was possible to find him.

He didn't stay in the shower long, it was only a matter of time before Frank told Jason that he was leaving and the blond rushed over to stop him.

He quickly got dressed and put on some light armor. Once his sword was strapped to his belt he walked into the shadows and traveled to a familiar place.

He didn't want to say goodbye, not to any of them.

If he did he knew he'd be carrying their sad faces to his grave, and he didn't think he could handle that.

Nico stepped out of the shadow of a tall willow tree and into the warm sun. He looked across the pond to the white villa resting alongside a hill not too far in the distance and started toward it.

He rarely came here; his father brought him once to show him what it was. It took Nico a long time to return after that first trip.

He didn't go to the villa but stopped under a brilliant Olive tree in the back garden. There were two headstones there, one for Bianca and one for his mother.

He sat down in between them and lowered his head.

"Hey."

There was no answer, which he was expecting.

Honestly he'd be more startled if there was an answer.

"I'm kind of lost and I need to clear my head; so I thought I would come visit."

There was no one around to hear him talking to the headstones. His father bought the villa not long after the war with Gaia; and it was so far in the country no one bothered it.

"Percy's in trouble again, not that that's surprising," Nico sighed and smirked. "I'm sure if you were both here you'd be rolling your eyes."

He didn't say anything after that. He couldn't stop himself; there was a part of him that wanted his mother and sister alive so they could be there. He would get Percy and bring him home and his mother would fuss over him and Bianca would call them both fools.

The thought were pleasant but they would never happen, not unless they were all reborn into the world at the same time.

He was so caught up in his thought he almost missed the gripping feeling in his stomach.

Nico's hands flew to his chest in alarm. He knew this feeling; it was something he never wanted to experience after the war with Gaia.

Someone he knew was dying.

He locked onto the person's life force and disappeared into the shadow world, not stopping to say goodbye.

"They're in Italy, a demigod. Who would it be?"

He could remember Chiron telling them that Clarisse was Italy if they needed backup, but why would she be running into trouble?

"Unless it's Percy, please don't let it be Percy."

When he came out of the shadows he could hear Clarisse loud and clear.

"Come on, Pissy, show me what you got!"

His heart almost stopped in his chest.

Percy was there, Riptide was in his hand dripping and with crimson blood. He had a twisted smile on his face, it didn't look right; it looked sadistic and wrong.

This was not Percy.

Clarisse was holding her electric spear in front of her but she was half on her knees with a giant gash on the back of her leg. "I come back to do Chiron one favor and this is what happens!" She was struggling to get to her feet but she didn't seem scared. "Get over here you green eyed monster! Don't make me limp my ass over there!"

Nico moved to put himself in between them but Percy was fast. With a cackle he charged at Clarisse, sword raised, ready to take her head off.

Nico somehow made it in time to block Riptide with his own blade. The force from Percy's attack was almost strong enough to knock the teeth out of his mouth.

"Di Angelo?" Clarisse hissed from behind him.

Nico wasted no time; he covered her with shadows and held her there. He wanted Percy's attention to be on him.

"You're supposed to be dead," Percy said with no emotion in his voice.

"Surprise," Nico pushed him back and Percy had to backflip to stay on his feet.

"My master will have to try harder next time, that's disappointing." Percy didn't take up an offensive stance again; he stood there calmly picking the blood off his sword.

"Who's your master?" Nico asked him.

"Oh wouldn't you like to know."

It was obvious that Percy was under some kind of spell, he needed to get as much information as he could out of him.

"Who's controlling you, Perseus?"

Percy didn't act as though he heard the question; he continued to pick at his sword until he let out a sigh. "Look, I was only sent to kill the demigods in this area and she's the last out of three. If you let me slice her into pieces, I'll tell you who my master is."

Nico's eyes widened, he couldn't believe Percy was talking about Clarisse like that. The two had never been friends, but he would never kill her.

"He said he killed others? What is going on?"

When it became apparent that Nico wasn't going to move or say anything, Percy jumped into action again.

He came at Nico with full strength, knocking him back and trying to disarm him. Nico almost lost an eye before he managed to press back and Percy retreated to the other side of the street they were standing in.

"Okay, okay, fine keep her." Percy held up his hands like he was going to surrender. "She'll be dead sooner or later once my master is finished in Germany. Go and enjoy what time you have left." He capped Riptide and waved to Nico and started to walk away.

"Where are you going?" Nico demanded. He couldn't leave Clarisse, but he couldn't let Percy go. He would never find him.

Percy turned around and gave him that sadistic smile. "Haven't you heard? There's a party going on!" The green eyed man looked giddy at the thought. "I heard it attracts a lot of demigods so I thought I'd check it out. You know, kill two birds with one stone kind of thing."

Then he made a noise like he had just come to a brilliant conclusion. "You know, I have no one to go to the ball with." He was smiling again and Nico could feel the cold sweat run down his back. "You should take me, being my lover and all; we can dance in the shadow of the moon."

Nico was still too shocked to reply.

Percy sighed dramatically and continued walking away again. "If you're interested come find me tomorrow night, wear something appropriate!"

And then a portal of some kind opened up, and he was gone.

As soon as the portal closed it was like everything came back to life. His ears popped and color came back to the world. It was only then when he noticed the numerous dead bodies lying around, soaking the stone street with their blood.

He said nothing as he waved away the shadows holding Clarisse safe.

He half expected her to attack him as well, but she sat there quietly gripping her spear with so much force her knuckles were white.

Nico knew he had to get her back to Camp Half-blood to get her leg looked at, as well as take the dead back to their families so he willed his body to move.

"How many more bodies will I have to bring back to the camp?"

He caught Clarisse's gaze and was shocked to see real fear there.

"Clarisse?"

She jumped and looked at Nico, her face pale. "He's going to kill us all."