Ascension

Chapter One - Part One

🏕️Camp Half-Blood🏕️

☠️Cabin 13☠️

March 20th- 3:03 AM; Morning of the Spring Equinox.

The blanket of nightfall had wrapped

securely around Camp Half-Blood hours ago. The grounds that were lively and active throughout the day were currently resting almost as soundly as the year-round campers. The lake and streams gurgled back and forth. The leaves in the trees joined the grass on the earthy floor in a dance as the cool breeze blew. Crickets chirped, moths fluttered close to the nearest source of light, and every so often, you could catch the blinking butt of a firefly as it passed by. Inside the woods, the hushed chatter came from satyrs, dryads, and naiads as they caught up with one another.

From the outside, Cabin 13 seemed to be as restful as its surroundings. The cabin was nestled at the end of a row that held the places that children of the Big Three could call home during their stay at camp. The interior of Cabin 13 had shared the brief moment of peace until now.

In bed, Will's sleeping form spooned Nico's backside. Over the years, this had simply become the norm for them. Once they had figured out that Nico's sleep patterns were improving whenever they stayed the night together, Will refused to go to bed anywhere else. It wasn't too much longer before they discovered more often than not, they would wake up in this position. Tonight had been no different than almost every night before until a few moments ago.

Nico's body stiffened slightly, and his dark eyebrows pinched. There was nothing until there was. It started with a soft tug that he was able to resist. The feeling built until he was jerked forward harshly. Although his body had physically stayed in bed with Will, his subconscious alerted him that he was somewhere else entirely.

When his vision cleared, it took him seconds to figure out exactly where he was. Nico had only been in this room a handful of times in the last decade, but the flickering flames from the torches that mounted the walls made it easy to see he was in Hades' Underworld study. Nico took in the details of the room from his spot on the black silk couch. An onyx statue of Cerberus eyed him back, and bookshelves lined the walls, filled with ancient or cursed books and knick-knacks. The base of Hades' desk was made of ebony wood, while the top was created from Obsidian. Symbols of protection had been carved into it. Veins of lava cracked the ceiling and floor, warming but not damaging the room. The windows provided a view of the River Styx. None of that drew his attention so much as the god sitting behind the desk.

Hades' appearance hadn't changed since their previous encounter. His jet black hair was still shoulder-length, his skin still albino white, and his body still lithe, but when Nico's dark brown eyes met his father's black ones, he knew this wasn't just a friendly visit.

"Nico—" Hades broke the tense silence that started to build between the two.

"Why am I here?" Nico cut in. He wasn't sure if he was more dissatisfied with being summoned here in the middle of the night for most likely something that was going to alter his life or with this meeting ripping him away from a full night of sleeping next to Will.

"I need you to get your sister to Camp Half-Blood," Hades told Nico.

"My sister?" Nico questioned, confused as to why Hades would need him to bring Hazel to the camp. "Frank, Hazel, Reyna, and Thalia will be bringing some of the Roman demigods to Camp Half-Blood in a few days to start their stay at camp."

Hades shook his head, "I wasn't talking about Hazel."

"Bianca–" Nico started to say. What was Hades on, and who had supplied him with it?

"I did not mean her either."

Nico froze as the words hit him before he asked, "If you aren't talking about either of them, then who are you talking about?"

"Melinoë," Hades spoke the name in the softest tone Nico had ever heard come from his father. "Her mother, Lenore, passed away shortly after delivering her. I-I have–"

"Have what?" Nico bitterly laughed, "More secrets? More lies?"

"I under–" Hades began.

"Like Tartarus, you understand," Nico hissed. "Don't pretend you understand when you left us–left me–in the dark at the Lotus Casino for seventy years."

Hades hung his head, "I wanted to protect you. I was trying to protect Melinoë."

Nico closed his eyes and fisted his hands so tightly that his knuckles went completely white with the loss of blood flow. The dim light in the study flickered, nearly going out. Hades cursed internally, keeping his body language and face as neutral as possible as Apollo's prophecy recited itself in his head. This had not come from him. The carvings on his desk alone should have been enough to prevent the room from reacting in such a way. However, this moment was not the only one that surprised the Lord of the Underworld. There was resistance that had never been there before when he summoned Nico. If this was what his son was already capable of, and it was just his subconscious, then the gods could be in for a rude awakening when the ascension was completed if they did not play their cards right.

Nico sucked in a breath of air and held it for a few seconds or so before he released it, loosened his grip, and opened his eyes, missing what he had just done. "I know why you did what you did to me and Bianca. I'm not going to pretend your actions didn't alter everything or that they were acceptable, I have been working on letting go of the resentment that I let build. With that said, it isn't the time to hash out our past. Where have you kept Melinoë? Why is it now that she needs to come to Camp Half-Blood?"

Hades stood from his chair, turned, and walked to the windows. Looking out at the River Styx, he said, "The Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. She has been safe and cared for there since shortly after her birth. As for why she needs to get to Camp Half-Blood, I cannot explain what is happening as of yet. Please know that as soon as I can discuss this with you further, I will."

"New Mexico?" Nico scoffed, "You know what shadow traveling does to me. When does Melinoë need to get to camp?"

"Today. She needs to be collected and brought to camp as soon as possible." Hades told him, continuing before Nico could interject, "I am not asking you of this lightly, and I do not wish to cause strain upon you, but it is important to do this."

"Will is not going to like this," Nico grimaced.

"When was the last time you shadow traveled?" Hades asked.

Nico opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. His ability to shadow-travel had grown and become less straining on his body over the years but Will made sure he took the right precautions, and he didn't overdo it. A one-way trip to New Mexico might work out fine, but he wasn't certain about what a round-trip might do, and knew how Will would feel about this since it hadn't even been 24 hours since they arrived at camp. Nico shook his head, saying, "Yesterday, to get to camp."

Hades turned back to his son, leaning on the desk as if he needed it to keep him up, "You are Melinoë's safest option. I fear the repercussions if I aid further in getting her to Camp Half-Blood."

Nico's fingers twitched, his hand made its way to where his pocket should have been, so he could grab the golden drachma he kept there, but stopped when he realized he was wearing a pair of pajama pants instead of the ones he had traveled in the day before. Releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding, he said, "I'll go."

As much as Nico never wanted to do another task for the gods, this was his sister, and he refused to let anything happen to the rest of his family, even if he hadn't known of their existence before now. Relief washed over Hades' face. There was more information that he wanted to provide Nico with, but he couldn't risk keeping him much longer.

"I have kept you long enough. I need to send you back," Hades told Nico, "I will alert Melinoë's nanny to expect your arrival shortly."

"Nanny? How old–" Nico started to ask, but was cut off when his subconscious was dragged back to his body. Gasping, Nico jolted up in bed.

As he leveled his breathing, he glanced down at Will. With the amount of sunlight that was filtered in it had to be at least 8 AM. Nico was surprised to find Will still asleep but was glad he was getting some much deserved rest. His lips tipped upward as he took in the exquisite sight of his shirtless boyfriend. The sheet hung low on Will's hips, his blonde curls fell into his eyes, and a faint glow was coming off his sun-kissed skin. Every bone in Nico's body cried when he climbed silently out of bed. If he didn't get out now, he wouldn't be doing so. At least not until they were both satisfied. Nico shook his head and grumbled as his thoughts turned to yesterday.

☠️☠️☠️

"Sunshine," Nico called from the kitchen in their apartment in New Rome. They should have left at least five minutes ago to meet up with Percy and Annbeth for breakfast before they all left for New York. "We've got to go. What can I help you with?"

Like Annabeth and Percy, Will had gotten into New Rome University after graduating from high school. With his sister and boyfriend in one place, he didn't even flinch when Reyna–who had returned to Camp Jupiter with Thalia a year ago–approached him with the offer to take on the role of Ambassador of Pluto full-time. It had taken a while, but Nico and Will were able to find a balance that worked for them. Now that Will had graduated from New Rome University, they wanted to spend the summer at Camp Half-Blood and in New York. Although they had traveled back and forth over the last few years, they hadn't spent more than a week at a time at camp, and this would give Will the chance to pass along some of the training and techniques he had learned in his classes to campers who may have similar gifts as his.

"Relax, Death Boy," Will smiled from the end of the hallway, an extra-large suitcase at his side. Nico would have placed a bet that the bag was stuffed to the brim with medical supplies and equipment if anyone else were around. His suitcase, on the other hand, was packed with things they might need or want while at camp. "Annabeth ended our Iris Message right before you came in."

"And?" Nico questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"I could've sworn that she was glowing," Will chuckled.

"Still?"

"They just got engaged last week, and let's face it, they've never been able to stay away from each other."

"So what did Annabeth say?"

"Percy got asked to train for one of the morning sessions at the last minute. It went over a bit, so they're running behind, too. We should get going, though. You know how hard it can be to snag a table at the cafe," said Will, walking over to Nico. He pecked his lips and took a look at their apartment one last time. He was proud of what they had built here.

The black and white plaid couch was pushed against the same wall as the hallway with a fluffy blanket lying across its back, their black coffee table was placed in the middle of the living room, and the small kitchen was functional, with light wood cabinets that Will had painted a warm yellow. A small dining table made of dark cherry wood that fit snugly against the far wall was the first thing they had bought after they moved in together. Will grinned as he remembered how they had to get it from a group of college kids on the first floor who were moving out and bring it up the stairs to the fifth floor since the elevator needed repairs that weekend. The small, round tabletop was currently holding a single golden drachma, a silent reminder of their adventures and the life they were building together. The air was a mix of Will's citrus and sunshine scents and the earthy, slightly metallic smell that always seemed to follow Nico, a smell that had become a comforting sign of home. He glanced down the short hallway toward their bedroom, where the bed was messily made, sunlight streaming in and illuminating the worn, navy blue comforter. The room was a quiet sanctuary, the only place Nico truly seemed to relax, and Will felt a familiar pang of longing, knowing it would be a while before they were back.

"Are you okay?" Nico asked, feeling the same as Will did every time they had to leave this apartment for longer than a day or two.

"Yeah," Will said, "it's just..."

"I know. It's home," Nico agreed. "We'll be back, Will. Come on, let's go."

Will and Nico locked up their apartment and then made their way to a cafe that had quickly become a favorite place for their friend group to meet up at. It was owned and operated by a daughter of Ceres–the Roman goddess of agriculture, grain, and fertility–and her family. They made the best cinnamon rolls Nico had ever tasted. They were massive, golden-brown swirls of dough, with a cinnamon sugar filling that was rich but not overpowering, and a thick, creamy frosting that melted right into the warm pastry. It was a flavor Nico couldn't get over.

"Hey, guys, over here," Thalia waved Will and Nico over as soon as they came into view. Reyna, Thalia, Hazel, and Frank had pushed two outside tables together so that there would be enough room for the eight of them to share their last breakfast together in New Rome for a while. "We ordered your usual. Come sit down."

Nico sat with Hazel and Frank on one side and Will on his other when he heard, "Are you sick, Pinecone Face, or were you actually being nice to someone?"

"What's it to you, Kelp Head?" Thalia barked back, "Sit down already. Your food will be coming too."

As they got closer, Annabeth placed a hand on Percy's arm and shared a look with him before filling the chairs next to Reyna and Thalia. Annabeth wrapped an arm around Thalia's shoulders, gave her a quick hug from her side, and said, "What Percy meant to say is thank you."

"What I–" Percy started to say.

"Seaweed Brain," Annabeth cut him off quickly.

Before anything more could be said, their food arrived. The group of friends caught up on what had been going on with each other over the past day or two while they ate. They laughed when Frank told them about how he freaked out one of the newer kids when he transformed into a grizzly bear during war games.

Hazel and Frank shared a quick, loving kiss while no one was looking. Thalia, ever the dutiful former Huntress–even in retirement, subtly scanned the cafe, while Reyna, radiating calm authority, kept up a quiet conversation with her. Will and Nico recounted their latest trip to a small, isolated Roman shrine near Alaska, where they'd helped a group of struggling nature spirits.

"It was mostly just checking vital signs on a few grumpy dryads and making sure Nico didn't accidentally turn any of the local fauna into a ghost," Will teased, nudging Nico.

Nico just rolled his eyes, a faint, familiar blush creeping up his neck. "I only ghosted one squirrel, and it was mostly fine. It gave me directions."

Annabeth and Percy watched their friends with matching smiles—a picture of effortless contentment. A sense of peace settled over the eight demigods, a rare moment of quiet before the inevitable storm of their lives.

Finally, their plates were clean, their laughter had subsided, and it was time to leave. Frank and Hazel, with promises to see them in a few days at Camp Half-Blood for a Capture the Flag game, hugged the New York-bound group goodbye. Reyna and Thalia nodded farewell, their hands brushing for a fleeting moment—a silent, comfortable intimacy passing between the married pair.

"Ready to hit the road, Solace?" Nico asked, already gripping Will's hand.

"As ready as I'll ever be, Death Boy," Will replied, giving Annabeth and Percy a final smile.

Percy and Annabeth joined hands with Will and Nico, the familiar tingling of the Mist and shadow-travel already starting to build. They landed in an alleyway about a block from Sally and Paul's apartment in Manhattan, a trick they'd learned to keep their arrivals low-key.

"Are you doing alright?" Percy asked Nico, pulling Annabeth into a brief hug as he eyed the son of Hades. After a slight nod from him, Percy said "Try to keep the chaos level under a seven, okay? And don't exhaust yourself, Nico. We'll see you tomorrow."

"You two have fun. Sally's going to be ecstatic Annabeth said yes," Will countered, already pulling Nico away. "And try not to blow up the apartment. Or cause an international incident."

"No promises!" Percy grinned, holding his hand out to his fiancée.

As the newly engaged couple walked away, Nico pulled Will deeper into the shadows. The quick trip to Camp Half-Blood was uneventful, much to Will's relief, though Nico still looked a little pale, his brow furrowed with the concentration of the distance. They landed right outside Cabin 13.

"See? Perfectly fine," Nico grumbled, though he leaned heavily on the cabin wall for a moment.

"Perfectly fine is what a sun bath and a stack of ambrosia would look like, not this," Will countered, already pulling out a square of ambrosia from his small travel bag. "Eat it, death breath. And then let's go see what Leo and Calypso have managed to set on fire this time."

They had arrived to find the lava wall solidified and the canoe lake doing its best impression of a rapidly cooling, florally-decorated slushy. The scene had been bizarre but ultimately calm, and after a reunion with a flustered Leo, Calypso, Piper, and Elara, they had spent the rest of the day settling into Cabin 13 and camp. Nico had quickly fallen asleep in Will's arms, savoring the feeling of home that was no longer a palace of the dead but a small, sun-warmed space next to his boyfriend.