Page 40 of The Court of the Dead
Nico couldn’t control it. He burst into tears.
Mr. D’s expression sobered. He said nothing, and just let Nico sob.
Nico felt so angry with himself, soashamed.
“I’m sorry.” His voice quavered. “I don’t know where that came from.”
“Nico, when have I ever asked you to apologize to me for expressing something?”
He wiped his cheeks furiously. “Never.”
“So why would I start now?”
Nico was always amazed how quickly Dionysus could change his demeanor. One moment, he was the flippant, apathetic camp director they all loved to hate and hated to love. The next moment, he wasthisguy—the former human being who understood the most fractured mortal emotions and was willing to listen as Nico talked about them.
“I just…I guess I didn’t realize how much Camp Jupiter was affecting me.”
“What’s happening over there? Does Bacchus need to make an appearance? Because I havenoproblem smiting Romans.”
The idea of Mr. D’s Roman alter ego appearing out of nowhere and turning all the misbehaving legionnaires into dolphins or grapevines did have a certain appeal, but Nico shook his head.
“No, it’s not like that.” He gave Mr. D a quick summary of their first full day with the legion. “These mythics, as they call themselves—they’re an interesting bunch. Asterion, an empousa, a karpos, an eidolon, a blemmyae, a griffin.”
Dionysus nodded thoughtfully. “I threw a dinner party like that once. And the reaction of the legion?”
“They’re either afraid of the mythics, or making fun of them, or both. I understand that this is a strange experience for everyone, but I don’t know what to do with it all!” He fell silent. “It’s reminding me of what it was like when I first came to Camp Half-Blood.”
Mr. D smiled. “I remember those days. I used to joke with Chiron that you were a feral child and we were the first civilized people you’d ever been around.”
“Are you saying I was like awolf?”
“No. More like…what’s that other territorial pack animal? Anerd. I know Bianca did her best looking after you, but you showed up here and quoted wildly erroneous card game stats to my face.” He sniffed disdainfully. “As if I wouldn’t have been the most powerful god in that deck.”
Nico laughed. It felt good, like the jagged pieces inside him were starting to mend. “You’re still bitter about that?”
“Bah. Aren’t we here to talk aboutyouremotions?”
“Fine.” Nico took a moment to refocus. “I think one of the things that bothered me most…There’s this new legionnaire Savannah. She reactedreallybadly to Arielle, the empousa.” Nico explained what had happened on the Field of Mars.
Mr. D frowned. “A panic attack.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“I’m curious why that in particular bothered you, though.” The god’s face loomed larger in the prismatic curtain of light. “As much as I tease you about that whole Misty Magic obsession—”
“Mythomagic.”
“I’ve already forgotten what you just said. My point is, you came to us primed to believe in the world of demigods, gods, and monsters, Nico. Whenever you were presented with mythical creatures, youalwaysaccepted them, no matter how terrifying they might have been. For some young demigods, however…it’s not so easy. They’re raised to believe the world is one way. Then they come to Camp Half-Blood and have to contend with a truth that doesn’t fit what they already know. Camp Jupiter is much the same, if not more difficult.”
“I guess I never considered that,” said Nico.
“That’s wherewecome in,” Mr. D continued. “It’s our job to help newcomers adjust—we counselors and directors and elder demigods.”
“Elder?” Nico grimaced. “I know I was born in the last century, but I’m technically still a teenager, remember?”
“But to someone like Savannah, youarean elder.”
Nico sat back on the bed. “That’s a good point.”
