Chapter XV

Nico di Angelo

I lay awake in bed. I had never been a good sleeper, but it was so much harder after what had happened just hours before.I kissed Will. Will, who was with someone else.I felt so stupid. I never should've done it.And the worst part of it all was the fear.That was half the reason I pulled away. I could not stop thinking about that Empusa in Tartarus—the way her lips felt, forced against mine, taking away my control.The kiss with Will was nothing like that, but I could not stop imagining that I was doing the same thing to him. What if I hurt him? What if I forced him? He had been making a joke, trying to wiggle out of the conversation when he asked to kiss me, and I just... could not stop myself.I rolled over, staring at the black wall.What is wrong with me?When I finally fell asleep, it was with that same awful weight in my chest—and when I woke up, it was still there.How was I supposed to get up and go outside? What if I saw Will? What if I could not stop myself from kissing him again?It was almost two in the afternoon. If I stayed in bed all day, maybe I would not have to see anyone.A knock at the door made me jump, and I sat up."Go away," I yelled."Nico?"I almost felt disappointed when it wasn't Will's voice. I dropped back into the bed and pulled the blanket over my entire body, sinking into the darkness."I'm coming in."The door creaked open, and light filtered in through the blanket.A moment later the blanket was ripped off. Daphne stood over me with her hands on her hips, staring at me like I was the biggest disgrace she had ever seen."Get up," she said, already chucking every pillow off my bed."No," I said into the mattress, my voice muffled. "Leave me alone.""Nope." Daphne sounded way too awake for this. Delilah hovered behind her, looking determined.Daphne crossed to the flower pots hanging on the walls of the Hades cabin. She held her hands over the shriveled plants, and the dead petals burst into bright red roses under her touch."Up," Daphne said, trying to flip my entire mattress.I yelped when something sharp pricked my finger.Delilah stood above me, a rose thorn pinched between her fingers like a weapon.I groaned and sat up, rubbing my eyes."What's going on with you?" Daphne asked. She looked around like she had just discovered a crime scene. The cabin was a disaster—garbage everywhere, clothes on the floor."Turn the lights off," I muttered, dropping my head."No can do." She plopped down on the couch, Delilah beside her, patting the cushion like she wanted me to sit too.I dragged myself to the armchair instead."Want to tell us what's going on?" Daphne asked.I shook my head.Daphne got up and walked to the door. "Fine. Calling backup."Me and Delilah sat in uncomfortable silence until she returned—with someone behind her.Long brown hair in a braid over her shoulder. Warm brown eyes that always seemed to glow with life."Piper!""Hey, Nico.""What are you doing here?!""Daphne said you weren't doing well, and that she needed help.""You know Daphne?" I blinked."I'm an Aphrodite kid," Piper said, like that explained everything. She took a seat on the couch too. "Tell us what happened.""I kissed Will."My hand slapped over my mouth instantly, why did I say that?! "WHAT—did you just charmspeak me?!""You kissed Will?!" all three girls shouted, leaning forward like I had just confessed to murdering a god.I shook my head and sank deeper into the chair. "I hate all of you.""What'd he do?" Piper asked gently. Something in me cracked. I realized how much I'd missed her—missed all of the Seven, honestly.So I told them. Everything.How Will had been teasing me, making a joke about kissing me, and how my brain completely shut down and I kissed him anyway even though he was with someone."Hmm." Daphne hugged a pillow to her chest. "We should jump him.""Daphne!""Forget about him," she said, waving her hand. "There are hotter Apollo kids to kiss.""Well..." Delilah squeaked, twisting her fingers, "there are more Apollo kids to kiss. Not hotter than Will.""DEL!" Daphne screeched."It's fine," I muttered, feeling small and stupid. "It's not a big deal."Piper shot me a knowing look.Delilah seemed to read the room and tugged Daphne toward the door. "Let's go see what Kai's doing."They left.Piper turned back to me."So... other than this, how have you been? Really?""Great," I lied.She caught it immediately. She always caught lies."I won't push you," she whispered. "But I'm here."She let the topic shift. "Jason's got a job teaching."I let out a sigh of relief. "That's cool."We talked about small things for a while—nothing heavy, nothing painful—and eventually she had to go meet Jason again. They were staying with her dad for now, and they sounded like they were doing well.When she left, I leaned back in my chair, feeling oddly... lighter.Not fixed. Not better.But talking to her helped.

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