•Nico Di Angelo •

The bouquet of flowers ended up at the bottom of the canoe lake. Not out of anger. Just because they no longer made sense. Nico had canceled the date an hour earlier. Why was he with Will? Again. You sat in the shade of Thalia's pine tree, leaning your back against the rough trunk. The wind rustled the branches, as if your sister could hear you. Nico loved you. You knew it. When you were alone, he was affectionate, held your hand, talked nonsense, even smiled with a tranquility few had ever known. But when Will appeared... Nico seemed light. He trusted him in a way he still couldn't trust you.

And that made you feel small. —I can't even hate you, Solace. You didn't blame Will. On the contrary. If Nico hadn't chosen to be with you, you would have sworn they were the perfect couple. Your friends varied. No one really looked out for you when you disappeared for a few days. Then you remembered Luke. That conversation weeks ago. Second son of Zeus. Second in the Great Prophecy. Second in camp. "Help me poison the tree."

You hesitated. Percy arrived first. The opportunity vanished.

Now, for the first time, the idea returned. Not because you hated Camp Half-Blood. You hated it less than you hated yourself. What if you disappeared? What if you betrayed the camp? You'd stop being "Zeus's other son." You'd be the threat. The priority. The first choice. A shadow fell across the ground.

—I was looking for you. Will told me I shouldn't leave you alone.

What an innocent phrase. What a devastating phrase. He hadn't come because he'd chosen you. He'd come because Will had convinced him.

-No problem.

Nico took your hand without suspecting a thing. And as you walked back to camp, hand in hand, your gaze remained fixed on the distant, dark sea where the Princess Andromeda sailed. For the first time, the idea of ​​abandoning everything didn't sound like betrayal. It sounded like the only way to be first.