The bull-man’s laugh sounded like a revving truck engine. “Perhaps, Praetor. I watched the camp for many days before approaching. I admired their regimen of discipline. Their camaraderie. The legion exists to protect this valley and all who live in it. I wanted to be part of such a community. I felt that I could settle here safely.”
“Settle?”Nico stared at Hazel. “Asterion is going tolivehere?”
Hazel and Asterion exchanged a knowing look.
“It’s a little more complicated than that,” Hazel said. “I do want him to stay. I think Camp Jupiter would benefit greatly from his presence.”
“And I believe I would benefit from being around demigods every day,” said Asterion. “I could offer knitting lessons!”
Hazel fixed her gaze on Anger, who was still trying to chew off Nico’s sock. “Unfortunately, there’s been pushback from some in the legion.”
Nico remembered how on edge the sentries Yazan and Savannah had acted. He recalled the graffiti scrawled on a wall where everyone could see it:NON INIMICOS LICET.No enemies allowed.
“We’ve had over forty new demigods join us since you were here last,” Hazel added. “That’s a lot of new people to assimilate at once. A lot of instability, even before we asked our legionnaires to adjust to…” She gestured at Asterion.
“There has been friction,” the bull-man admitted. “Some demigods of Camp Jupiter are…” He tilted his head as he tried to summon the right words. “They are not as open-minded as Hazel or yourselves. They avoid us. Call us names. Pick fights. And I must admit that some of us are also quick to anger.”
“Hold on,” Will broke in.“Us?”
Hazel wore the same strained expression she’d had on yesterday’s Iris-message. “We’re not just talking about Asterion. Others followed him here.”
Nico scrunched his eyebrows together. “Others as in mon—mythics?”
“You will meet them later today,” said Asterion. “All we want is a chance to live in peace. To find a new purpose that we have chosen ourselves.”
Nico tried to process all this. It was a lot. There weren’t enough Kit Kat bars in the world to tame his headache. “So what do you need me and Will for?”
“Support,” said Hazel. “Your word means something here, Nico. You’re still the ambassador from Pluto, an honorary member of the New Roman senate. You and Will survived Tartarus. That’s…well, legendary.”
“You two changed the Underworld,” agreed Asterion. “Your defeat of Nyx and your rescue of Bob gave the rest of us hope. Many of us did not want the job of being monsters. We’ve had nowhere to go—until now.”
Asterion rose to one knee, bowing his head to Nico.
“Please help us,” he said. “I beseech you with humility. We understand why the mortals are suspicious and afraid. We too are nervous. We do not yet know how to live side by side. But you two inspire by example! A son of Apollo and a son of Hades. Two survivors of Tartarus. A bridge between worlds, if ever there was one. Hazel and I believe that no one could help transform minds better than the two of you.”
Hazel brushed away a tear, though Nico wasn’t sure if it was from love or sadness or worry. “It’s true,” she said. “I respect you both so much. And if there’s anything I’ve learned through our experiences together, it’s that sometimes you just need to ask for help!”
Nico’s vision started to blur from exhaustion. He looked at Will, but he knew what Will would be thinking. Will’s personality was composed of equal parts warmth, compassion, and optimism, with a sprinkling of humor and tasty baked goods. Of course he would want to help.
Nico wasn’t sure how he felt about being an example, much less a bridge between worlds. He was still getting used to handling the projector for the orientation film at Camp Half-Blood. But as he gazed at the bull-man kneeling next to his half sister, affection filled his heart. He knew he had to help. At least, he had to try.
“I’d be glad to,” he said. “But first, can I take a nap?”
Nico’s nap wasn’t terribly long, but it was deep.
He hadn’t been sure he could make it to the guest quarters without falling over, so he stayed in the Fifth Cohort while Hazel, Will, and Asterion left him in peace.
His dream was hypnotic—a repeating loop of him walking through the Caldecott Tunnel, seeing daylight just ahead, and then suddenly finding himself back at the metal doors. Every time, laughter echoed through the tunnel, freezing Nico’s blood. A voice called,You cannot escape your nature, son of Hades.
The dream reminded him of the way Epiales, the daimon of nightmares, had deceived him and Will when they were trying to enter the Underworld. But the voice was not that of Epiales. It was too cold, too spiteful even for a daimon. In Nico’s experience, only mortals were capable of that much malice.
When Nico woke, his hands trembled. He was alone except for the Cocoa Puffs, who were snoring softly underneath his bunk. Nico flexed his fingers, trying to shake off the remnants of his nightmare. He should’ve been used to vivid demigod dreams by now, but they never got easier.
He peered over the edge of the mattress and asked the Puffs, “Could you all stay here for me? Just so you don’t upset the Romans’ delicate sensibilities?”
Defiance rolled over and puffed up its spines, its eyes glowing.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Nico said. “Thanks.”
