“What just happened?” Savannah asked.
Panic constricted Nico’s throat. “Hazel. Hazel’s in trouble!” He grabbed Will’s hand, summoned a hasty mental image of the mythics’ quarters, and pulled his boyfriend into the shadow world.
Nico had never seen a blemmyae cry before.
Johan’s large pectoral eyes were red and puffy as he staggered across the front porch. Tears streamed down his rib cage. In his arms, he held the limp form of Hazel.
Nico’s heart slammed on the emergency brake. He couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Will rushed forward and helped Johan lay Hazel on the porch.
“She’s breathing,” Will announced.
Nico’s muscles unfroze. He ran to his sister’s side. She lay motionless, her hair spilling across the whitewashed boards, her face set in a look of mild consternation, like she was having a stress dream.
“Good pulse,” Will said, then gently inspected her head. “No contusions. No visible wounds. She’s just…unconscious.”
“The others,” Johan sobbed. “The others are inside.”
“I should go check.” Will glanced at Nico. “Stay with her?”
He could only nod. Will and Johan disappeared into the mythics’ quarters.
Nico cradled Hazel’s head in his lap. His nerves felt like the tesserae—hot, overloaded, and fuming. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to sob or scream. His Cocoa Puffs, who had shadow-traveled with him, now circled Hazel warily, sniffing her clothes like she smelled of rival cacodemon pheromones.
Hazel’s eyes fluttered open. “Wh-what—?”
“I’ve got you,” Nico said in a broken voice. “You’re okay. You’re okay.”
Nico heard shouting and the clanking of armor coming from the direction of Camp Jupiter. Frank Zhang was running toward them at impressive speed, followed by two archers.
Hazel struggled to sit up. “What happened? I—”
“Take it easy,” Nico urged. “Do you remember anything?”
She rubbed the side of her head. “I—I was sitting on the sofa, waiting with Yazan and Maynard. I’d pulled the Mist around us to hide, and then…did I fall asleep?” She straightened. “Is everyone okay?”
Will emerged from the quarters, propping up Yazan, who limped along at his side. Orcus flapped around them, squawking with concern. “Will he be okay? Can I help? Yazan, don’t die!”
“Chill, little buddy,” Yazan said groggily. “I’ll be fine.”
Johan appeared next, with Maynard Thee Faun in his arms. Maynard looked perfectly fine, but he seemed to be enjoying the free ride. He was in the midst of regaling Johan with his adventure of falling asleep on the couch. “And then, dude! I, like, passed out or something! That couch is comfy!”
Last came Semele, her smoky gray form thicker and darker than usual.
Frank and his archers finally reached the porch.
“Hazel!” he gasped.
“I’m okay,” she assured him.
“What happened?” He glanced around at the motley group, like he would accept answers from anyone at this point. “You heard that voice?”
Hazel exchanged a confused look with Yazan and Maynard. “What voice?”
Then, because things weren’t confusing enough, Terminus decided to join the party. With aBANG!and a flash, the godly statue appeared in a column of smoke like a low-budget magician.
“NOBODY PANIC!” he announced. “I AM HERE!”
“A little late,” snapped Semele.
