The Sun Without Stars Solangelo

The Storyteller

Nico's POV

It was a half truth. The being hadn't died, but it had relinquished control of Nico's body for now, so technically it wasn't alive.

The relief on Will's face was well worth it.

Will urged him to go to Chiron with him with the news. Reluctantly, Nico got up, but one of the youngest campers who saw them get up to leave quickly grabbed Will's shirt.

"Please don't leave us alone," she begged, tears flowing down her rosy cheeks.

"I'll stay with them. You can convey the news to them. There's nothing out there, I swear," Nico promised.

In truth, he couldn't tell Chiron if Reyna was with him. Her dogs would sense his lies and it would be over. Will, on the other hand, completely believed it, so the dogs wouldn't smell anything.

"If you're sure," Will agreed reluctantly. "Thanks, Nico," he added before leaving abruptly, not giving Nico a second to say anything.

"Aren't you best friends with Will? Why don't you protect him." the young girl asked, a few other young ones crowding up near his bed, more terrified of the murderer in the woods than they were of Nico.

"Will is stronger than you think. There is nothing scary out there, so he'll be fine," Nico reassured.

"Liar. We heard it from Kayla," a young boy with two missing teeth said. Nico recognized him as the one who had shrieked when he'd first entered camp.

"Look. Will doesn't need me. He's saved me many times with his abilities. Want to hear a story?" Nico asked, slightly annoyed and wanting to shut them up. They nodded, even the older ones surrounding him now, their interests peaked.

"Once, Will and I met a goddess who was so terrifying that I froze and decided to give up. She was the stuff of your nightmares, and she had an army of monsters. Will was weakened because he wasn't in his element, and I thought he and I would die. You know what, though?" Nico gazed over his small crowd, seeing that each one was awaiting his answer.

"While I sabotaged him, he bravely fought with the last of his power and saved our friend. He was kind enough to save someone who is very dear to me whose suffering I ignored for a while," Nico recounted. A few kids grimaced at him accusingly. "So, if any monster ever comes after Camp Half-Blood, Will'll save everyone. Reyna will be there to kill the monster, too."

"And what about you?" the little girl asked, her fears seemingly alleviated.

Nico pondered the question, finally replying sorrowfully, "I'll be useless. Despite being one of the children of the big three, I'm better at getting people killed than I am at keeping them alive."

"Will told us you were a hero, but I don't think you're a very good person," the boy with the missing teeth said.

"Huh. I don't think so either," Nico responded, which kept the rest of them silent.

I hate kids.

A couple of them groaned when Nico got up, a few asking for new stories.

"Maybe next time," Nico replied, pulling out his clothes and placing them at the foot of his bed. The mythomagic figurine rolled out of his backpack, hitting the floor with a thud.

"WOAH. You have Hades!" yelled one of the oldest of the bunch.

"Uh huh," Nico muttered, placing it back in the bag.

Your sister died for a stupid toy.

Even away from you, she was cursed by her connection with you.

Crushed to death for your enjoyment.

"Shut up." Nico pulled at the necklace now, trying to yank it loose. He wasn't going to let it control him like it had in the forest. The more he pulled though, the tighter it got, nearly choking him.

When he gave up, he saw that many of the kids in the cabin were giving him weird looks, but quickly turned away when he made eye contact.

Thankfully, just then, the door swung open and wavy blond hair greeted them.