will solace

‘Akhlys,’ he whispered. ‘Gesundheit,’ Will said drowsily.

Will sighed. ‘I am so excited.’

Will Solace sighed. He was, of course, tied to Nico. He propped his elbow on Nico’s shoulder as if the son of Hades were a convenient shelf. ‘I miss Grover. He used to organize things like this so well.’

Will raised his hands in a placating gesture. ‘Octavian, get away from the onager. That isn’t safe.’

‘You can’t help out a friend? Maybe cut bandages? Bring me a soda or a snack? Or just a simple How’s it going, Will? You don’t think I could stand to see a friendly face?’

‘Hey.’ Will’s hand touched his face. ‘You’re worried. Upset. I get it. But I'll be fine.’ Nico frowned. ‘You’re not fine. Your cuts ... This shouldn’t be happening.’ Will sighed. ‘We knew it was a risk for me to come here.’

‘Did you already forget that I was once your — and I am quoting you here, Nico — ‘significant annoyance’?’ ‘Oh, you’re still that,’ said Nico, and then Will was chasing him down the hill, back into camp.

Will and Nico exchanged looks. ‘I guess he figured we won’t need a ride back,’ Will said.

‘Meow!’ Small Bob pawed at the air. ‘I think Small Bob just voted yes,’ said Will.

Ever since they’d passed through the Door of Orpheus, Will had felt like he was walking on thin ice with Nico. Will always seemed to be doing and saying the wrong thing, even if he was just trying to lighten the mood.

Will Solace trudged ahead. ‘Explosion. Beckendorf and Percy Jackson blew up a cruise ship full of monsters. Beckendorf didn’t make it out.’

Each new sight took Will’s breath away, like the velvety vines draped from the boughs of an amaranthine oak, or the veranda covered in moonflowers and surrounded by emerald prickly pears.

Will re-bandaged my forehead. He gave me some aspirin for my aching everything. I was starting to feel almost human again.

‘It’s just that ... well, in our world, you learn to tread carefully. You never know if someone’s feelings will change towards you once you tell them who you really are.’

‘Look at me, son of Apollo.’ Her voice ... Oh, gods, it was sweeter than the scent of the pomegranates. Will gulped and faced Persephone.

‘Do ghost cats count towards quest numbers?’ Will asked.

‘What have I told you about shadow-travel?’ Will chided him. ‘It’s not good for your health. You should only use it for emergencies, and this is not an emergency. Yet.’

In fact, Will was feeling strangely upbeat and excited. When Nico woke, Will could reveal that — ta-da! — he had brought Kit Kat bars.

Rachel groaned. ‘Me. Down.’ Will eased her to her feet. She swayed and blinked, trying to process the scene below us.

Will had done any number of ridiculous things since learning he was a son of Apollo.