Page 60 of The Court of the Dead
“Are we going to be safe?” asked Orcus.
“As safe as we can make you,” Hazel said, joining the group. “You already know Yazan. He’s a child of Vesper, the god of dusk.”
“Nighttime is the right time,” Yazan said with a grin. “Nobody is going to sneak past me in the dark.”
“And this is Maynard Thee Faun, who is…well, a faun, obviously,” Hazel continued. “He’s our best tracker.”
Maynard flashed the mythics a peace sign. He wore night-vision goggles and a tie-dye T-shirt in camouflage colors. “ ’Sup, dudes,” he said. “When it comes to tracking, I’m likethedude, dudes.”
“And of course Hazel,” Nico added, “who’s the best in camp when it comes to manipulating the Mist.”
“The three of us will be inside with you all night,” Hazel said. “Hidden, of course. Centurion Lavinia will be outside with three of her best people, hunkering down in covered foxholes.”
Orcus farted. “I am glad Yazan is here.”
“Me, too, little guy,” said the legionnaire. “Nobody’s going to steal my buddy.”
“We appreciate you all,” Asterion said. “I am just sorry it has come to this.”
“Ditto,” said Nico. “All of you belong here.”
“No, we don’t!” Semele cried out from inside.
Asterion rolled his eyes. “Whatever happens, I thank you, demigods.” He gathered Hazel and Nico into a tender hug. He smelled of wool and cowhide…not unpleasant odors at all. Sheltered in his massive arms, Nico felt safe and cared for, but also sad. If this huge and powerful mythic couldn’t protect his companions, what hope did Nico have?
“You have done everything you could for us,” the bull-man said. “I am honored to have you as friends.”
A lump formed in Nico’s throat. Asterion released him and led the others inside. From the threshold, Hazel glanced back at Nico one last time and mouthedGood luck. Then she closed the door behind her.
Will and Nico stood alone on the porch.
“I hate this,” said Nico. “The whole situation makes me feelbad.”
“I know,” said Will. “It’s bringing out the paranoia in everyone.”
“Yeah, that’s part of it.” Nico watched the sunset turn to dark purple over the western hills. “There’s more going on, though, and I can’t piece it together.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’re not doing this alone.” Will smiled, hefting his backpack of endless supplies. “And I’ve got Kit Kats.”
Nico’s heart fluttered. A couple of years ago, he could not have imagined having an actual boyfriend. It hadn’t even been adreamof his. He’d never dared to think that someone would stick with him through so many experiences like this. And yet here that someone was, ready to accompany him on every twist and turn of his journey.
It was going to be a long, nerve-racking night. But in that moment, Nico let Will be the balm to his scattered soul. The promise of Kit Kats didn’t hurt, either.
Around midnight, a terrible, chilly wind whipped through the Berkeley Hills. Nico was grateful for his thick wool beanie—a gift from Asterion. In an upsetting turn of events, Will had actually had to change intopants. They were cargo pants, of course, and Nico was sure they were stuffed to the gills with first aid supplies, snacks, hand warmers, and whatever else Will thought they might need in the next four hundred years. (That boy was prepared foranything.) Nevertheless, Will seemed uncomfortable in full-length trousers, as if he was worried the Surfer Boy Vibe Police might give him a citation for ruining his aesthetic.
When they’d stopped by the guest barracks for warmies, some of the Puffs had decided to join their adventure. Now, as Nico and Will stood with the forward sentries above the Caldecott Tunnel, the Puffs bounced around Will’s feet, looking up at him with their demonic puppy-dog eyes, probably hoping he’d drop some food they could gobble up. The Puffs were smart. They knew Will was the guy with the snacks. Nico wondered if he should train them not to beg, but he decided it would be way funnier if he didn’t.
Deion and Savannah were on duty at the tunnel entrance. It was a pretty miserable assignment on a blustery winter night, but both had volunteered. Nico doubted any intruder would march right up to the main entrance of camp, but he appreciated that the two demigods wanted to help.
Savannah in particular had been indispensable. She’d spent much of her watch talking over the Iris-network with teams who were having trouble, offering tessera tech support. “No, you don’t have to shout.” “Yes, just whisper the name.” “No, please don’t ‘reply all.’ ” “Have you tried taking the bracelet off and putting it back on again?”
“That’s gotta be overwhelming,” Nico observed when she finished a service call.
Savannah smirked. “It’s fine. Better once I figured out how to mute and hold messages so I’m not overhearing everyone’s conversations at once.”
“Smart,” said Will. He poured her more hot chocolate (with marshmallows, naturally) from his thermos. Nico knew he and Will should probably shadow-travel elsewhere and check on the other teams, but he’d been popping around the valley all night. He would have passed out hours ago if not for adrenaline, sugar, and caffeine. Besides, the Caldecott sentries were allowed to keep a fire going in their brazier. Fire was warm.
Deion took off his helmet and tied back his locs. He peered across the lights of the East Bay flats, glittering in the cold like diamonds on black velvet.
