Page 9 of The Court of the Dead
“The day that happens, I’lleatone of your socks.”
Will tossed a rolled-up pair at him, but Nico dodged it. He lay there staring at the ceiling as Will finished packing.
Nico wondered if he was going to feel this on edge, this vigilant, for the rest of his life. There had to come a time when he could simply relax and learn toenjoyrelaxing, right?
He still wasn’t sure.
“Oh, absolutely not.”
The next morning, Nico and Will stood outside the Big House, watching the camp’s white Delphi Strawberry Service van pull up.
Nico crossed his arms over his chest. He frowned at Chiron, who was playing cards with Mr. D on the front porch.
“I know you don’t like me shadow-traveling so far,” Nico said, “but riding across the country withhimwould take way too long!”
Argus, the many-eyed giant who was the camp’s head of security, parked in front of them. He hopped out just in time to hear Nico’s complaint.
“No offense, Argus,” Will hastened to add, “your company is wonderful, but driving from here to California would take like a week.”
Argus’s shoulders slumped. He blinked his large blue eyes—the ones all over his head, the ones on his forearms, the ones on his shins between his safari shorts and his tennis shoes. Nico wished the giant would say something—just to confirm the rumor that he had an eye on his tongue—but as usual, Argus stayed silent. He glumly held up an index finger.
“It would only take one day,” Chiron translated. “The van is quite speedy, and Argus was looking forward to the adventure. Besides, Nico, you’re correct. I worry when you shadow-travel such long distances. One of these days, you may enter the shadow world and not be able to get back.”
The centaur looked at Will for support.
Will winced. “Usually, I’d be on your side, Chiron. But this time, Nico has a point. The sooner we get to Camp Jupiter, the sooner we can help.”
“Also, I’ve come prepared!” Nico reached into the pockets of his bomber jacket. He pulled out a bag of homemade granola bars—gifts from Juniper—and a turkey-and-cheese sandwich that he’d pilfered from the kitchen. “If I start feeling faint, I’ll eat!”
“Plus, we’ll have the Cocoa Puffs,” added Will. “They’ll watch out for Nico.”
Right on cue, the ragtag army of cacodemons bounced out from their hiding place under the porch. They swarmed Nico’s feet, yipping with excitement.
“Ah, but you haven’t shadow-traveled with them yet, have you?” Mr. D gave Nico a sinister smile. “How do you know they won’t slow you down? Or cause you to spontaneously combust mid-flight?”
“Dionysus…” Chiron chided.
Mr. D gave him an innocent look, likeWho, me?“I’m just saying it could happen.”
The wine god took a sip from a golden Capri Sun juice pouch. Nico didn’t even know Capri Suncamein gold pouches. Maybe they had a marketing deal with the makers of divine nectar.
“Well, if I combust, I combust,” Nico said. “I can think of worse ways to go.”
Mr. D laughed. “That’s the spirit!”
“It is most definitelynotthe spirit,” Chiron grumbled. “Let’s not jinx their trip before it begins.”
“Oh, grow up, Chi,” said Mr. D. “Live a little! Let the demigods make mistakes!”
“Hmph,” said Chiron. He looked at Argus. “Thank you, my friend, but it appears we will not need your chauffeur services today after all. You can continue with your normal strawberry-delivery schedule.”
Argus didn’t seem to like that idea, judging from the thirty or forty stink-eyes he gave Nico, but the giant nodded, got back in the van, and drove away.
“Well!” Mr. D. tossed the Capri Sun over his shoulder. “I do hope your trip to thatwretchedCamp Jupiter goes well, boys. Keep me updated. And as for you, little demons…” He leaned forward to study the Cocoa Puffs, who retreated behind Nico with a nervous chorus ofEep! Eep! Eep!
“Live your best life,” Mr. D told the cacodemons. “Follow your hearts. Sow chaos and discord. Bye, now!” He snapped his fingers and disappeared in a burst of glitter.
“He’s never going to change, is he?” asked Will.
