Page 116 of The Court of the Dead
“Thanks for coming,” the praetor said.
Nico wondered how Frank had gotten there so fast. As the eagle flew, it was a mile or more from the Field of Mars. Then Nico remembered Frank could literally turn into an eagle, so maybe he’d answered his own question.
Nico stepped onto the sentry platform, shielding his eyes. “Where are they?”
Frank pointed to the other side, where two guards—Claudia and Janice from the Fourth—faced a tall human woman with curly blond hair and a sort of glam country-singer outfit. Nico couldn’t help but admire her maroon leather jacket.
He’d expected to find the sentries holding the unknown visitor at spear-point. Instead, they were laughing at a story she’d just told.
“No way,” said Janice. “YoumetBeyoncé?”
The visitor grinned. “I mean, it was really brief, but she was so nice. ‘Texas Hold ’Em’—incredible, right?”
Will squeezed Nico’s hand.Hard.
The next word out of his mouth was the last thing Nico expected.“Mom?!”
Will rushed forward, plowing straight between Claudia and Janice and into his mother’s open arms.
“Oh my gods, Will!” the woman sobbed, holding him tight.
Nico’s jaw hit the ground. He wanted to say,That’s yourmom?But he had lost the ability to use words.
Will pulled back. “Mom, what are you doing here? I knew you had some Bay Area shows this week, but—”
The woman laughed, and Nico instantly heard how similar she sounded to Will. “I was just walking through Golden Gate Park, minding my own business. I had no idea you were even on the West Coast! And then I met your lovely friend Hazel.”
“Hazel?” Frank stepped forward urgently. “She’s all right? And she’s in Golden Gate Park?”
He looked so fervent, Nico was afraid he might turn into a ram and head-butt Will’s mom until she coughed up answers.
Will held up his hand for a pause. “I want to hear all about that. But first, introductions. Guys, this is Naomi Solace, my mom. Mom, you’ve met Claudia and Janice. This is Deion, and Orcus, and Frank.” He turned toward Nico and smiled. “And this grumpy ball of darkness is—”
She didn’t let Will finish. If Nico hadn’t known any better, he would’ve sworn Will’s mom had superhuman speed, because she ran toward him, squealing with delight, and pulled him into a warm hug.
“Nico!” she said. “I’m so excited to finally meet you. Thank you for loving my son.”
Nico had to force himself not to disintegrate into ugly-happy crying. First, a loving conversation with his father. Now the warmest greeting he’d ever received—from Will’s mom, no less. He realized this must be what Hades had meant about arranging a “happy coincidence,” and he decided he owed the lord of the Underworld an excellent Father’s Day card this year.
“It’s—it’s nice to meet you, too,” he said into Naomi’s shoulder. Her guitar-shaped dangle earring dug into the side of his face, but he didn’t mind.
Naomi released him and then looked down at the Puffs bouncing around his feet. “And who are these cuties?”
The Puffs all froze in shock and stared at her, as if wonderingWho is this woman and why does she have such excellent taste?
“Mom, priorities!” said Will.
But Naomi insisted on meeting and greeting everyone personally—including Orcus the griffin and each of Nico’s emotional demons.
Frank looked like he was about to cry. “I—I’m very glad you’re here, Mrs. Solace, but about Hazel—”
“Oh, you are all socute. I’m so happy to meet you!” She pulled Frank into a hug next. “But I’m Naomi. Please,pleasedon’t call me Mrs. Solace or Ms. Solace. Just Naomi will do. Now, about your brave friend Hazel…”
Naomi told them how she’d run into Hazel in the plaza outside the de Young Museum, where she was apparently being held inside a massive dodecahedron cage with several hundred mythic friends.
Nico had never felt such dramatic emotional whiplash. “So Asterion is alive, too? And Arielle and Quinoa?”
“This is amazing news!” Orcus cried. “I must go tell the others!” He launched himself from Deion’s shoulder and took off for Camp Jupiter.
