Page 125 of The Court of the Dead
Nico followed her gaze.
At first, he thought a fog bank was moving in. White wisps of vapor had started to drift across the plaza, brushing against the magical barrier and parting like waves against the prow of a ship. But this stuff wasn’t fog. It moved in multiple directions at once. It shimmered as it swirled, coiling around the monsters guarding the plaza. Some of the white tendrils snaked across the barrier, branching and zigzagging as if following a path of unseen cracks. Nico thought the stuff almost looked angry. It seemed to be exploring this massive crowd of mythics, the barrier, the whole scene, and it didn’t like what it saw.
“It’s the Mist,” Semele said.
Naomi tugged nervously on her earring. “Is it supposed to be acting so…active?”
“Definitely not,” said Johan. “We shouldn’t even be able to see it. I’m afraid—”
“Pirithous’s plan is starting to work,” Nico realized. “The Mist is breaking.”
Frank shouldered his quiver. “Hazel needs our help. Let’s go!”
They piled out of the van. Naomi came around from the driver’s side and wrapped Will in a hug. “Take care of yourself, and each other.”
Will nodded. “I’ll make sure to touch base once we’re safe, okay?”
“I trust you, Will,” she said. “You’ve kept yourself alive and thriving all this time. I’m proud of you.”
Then she turned to Nico. “You get one of these, too.”
As Naomi Solace embraced him, Nico was a jumble of emotions. On the one hand, his anxiety waned. He felt protected and grateful. On the other hand, Nico felt a spike of jealousy and sadness, even though he wasn’t holding those Puffs. He wished his own mother were here, comforting him before a big mission and/or battle.
But she was not.
He reminded himself that his mother’s spirit was at peace. Like Bianca, she had moved beyond the world of mortals. They were both okay. And they were proud of him too.
He did his best to embrace that knowledge and enjoy this moment for what it was: his boyfriend’s mother showing him love.
“Thank you,” Nico told her.
Then, before he could start crying, he faced the rest of his group. It was time to step up. Time to lead, like Mr. D had been telling him.
“All right, team,” he said.
“We’re ready,” said Will, and he grabbed an arrow from his quiver.
Nico smiled at him. “Let’s go help our friends.”
Hazel glared at Pirithous. “I don’t believe you,” she said. “There’s no reason you’d just set us all free.”
Unfortunately, upon hearing the wordfree, the imprisoned mythics became agitated. A terrible surge slammed her up against the barrier, knocking the breath out of her lungs.
“Let us out!” someone cried.
“He’s freeing us!” shouted another, which only made the crush of bodies worse.
“Back up!” Asterion bellowed. “All of you, BACK UP!”
He planted his feet firmly, pushing against the crowd, which gave Hazel a pocket of space. She gasped for air. Slowly, thanks to the iron will of Asterion, the crowd of captives began to shuffle backward. Otherwise, Hazel would’ve ended up flattened against the force field and looking like a demigod drape.
Pirithous watched with obvious pleasure.
“Degenerates.” He chuckled. “I’ll admit, part of me wants to leave all you in there. I do love watching you suffer.”
“You’rethe degenerate!” said Arielle, doing her best to cradle Quinoa and protect him from the crowd.
“You don’t get to be the judge of that,” Pirithous said. “Unlike me, you have neither the experiencenorthe moral fortitude.”
