He stormed out of the mess hall, hoping the eidolon was behind him.
He didn’t stop until he was outside the bathhouse. He paced back and forth, flexing his fingers to try squeezing out the anger.
At his side, a gray wisp of smoke coalesced and swirled, more visible in the evening shadows than she had been in the light.
“That was unfortunate,” said Semele. “I apologize. I’m still adjusting.”
“I know.” Nico tried to control his tone. He didn’t want to snap. “And I’m afraid I made it worse. I’m just wondering…can we actually figure out some way you could announce your presence so you don’t frighten the other campers?”
There was a cold silence.
“Well,” Semele said finally, “we should be honest with each other. I’m an eidolon. They’re all going to be afraid of me no matter what I do.”
Nico sighed. “I hope that isn’t true.”
The gray smoke twisted in the air. “I have existed for millennia, son of Hades. First as a human. Then as…this. Often, what we hope for is not reality. Apparently, even this place cannot protect us.”
The bitterness in her voice caught Nico by surprise. “You were human once?”
No reply.
“What happened to our being honest with each other?” he asked. “You’ve been with us all day, haven’t you? Watching, listening. What was Arielle talking about back at your quarters…someone finding you if you left Camp Jupiter? Is something hunting you all?”
“Perhaps you should ask Johan,” Semele said. “He enjoys ancient history.”
She disappeared, leaving Nico staring into empty shadows.
He stood there, his nerves jangling. It felt like a thousand bees were buzzing in his mind.
The evening was cool, the sun nearly gone. Over the last year, Nico had learned to enjoy sunlight, but he still preferred nighttime. He loved the shadows. The silence. The certainty that this was his world. In the darkness, Nico felt most certain of his parentage and his sense of self.
That was what he needed right now, because Camp Jupiter was unearthing thoughts he hadn’t had in a while. He was remembering small incidents from his childhood, his time at Westover Hall, and even at Camp Half-Blood, when he’d felt excluded, teased, or bullied. Nothing big. Strange looks. Laughter behind his back. People leaving a table when he sat at it. Once, some joker had left a dead bird on his bedroll.
He’d pushed these things down, trying to erase them from his memory. He’d told himself that he’d chosen to stand apart wherever he went. Now he wasn’t so sure.
He started down the Via Praetoria, hoping to get away from the bustle of demigods now exiting the mess hall. His Puffs trailed behind him, rambunctious and squirrelly after sleeping through the day. He hoped they wouldn’t spend all night terrorizing the camp.
In the road up ahead, he spotted Johan and Quinoa. They’d just left dinner and were ambling in his direction. Nico considered ducking into an alley. He wasn’t sure he could take any more social interaction today. Then he saw two demigods trailing behind the mythics, grinning like they had something malicious in mind.
Nico didn’t have to wait long. One of the Romans yelled, “Hey, monster! Heads up!”
He threw an apple that bounced off Johan’s hairy, headless shoulders.
Nico’s vision went red.
“Knock it off!” he yelled, marching toward the demigods. “Would you like me to tell your centurion what you’re doing?”
He must have looked pretty scary emerging from the shadows with his army of mini demons. The campers’ eyes widened. They turned and fled before Nico could get a good look at their faces.
Johan picked up the apple. A confused frown spread across his abdomen. “I do not understand. Why did they toss me a piece of fruit?”
“They threw it at you,” Quinoa said with a snarl. “Nasty kids. I should chase ’em down and shove that apple—”
“No, no,” Johan said. “Conflicts are to be expected. Besides, I quite like apple slices with my tea.”
“Why do you have to besopolite?” Quinoa complained.
“Blemmyae are always polite. I am sorry if it is a problem.” His frown deepened. “Oh, dear. That would mean my politeness is impolite. I am confused.”
