Chapter 14: The Problem

Nico walked through Tartarus, unsure of how he would get out exactly. Last time, he and Will had the help of Gorgyra and her boat to travel through and exit Tartarus. This time, Nico was alone, with no one to help guide him, and no one coming to his rescue anytime soon. Which is why he needed to think of something. He couldn't just March through the Acheron, also known as the River of Pain. And if he walked alongside its bank, the state he was in now would be three times that, which is to say, very bad. He might not be able to walk anymore if he did that, even with his sword being used as a cane. He froze, a pit of dread rising in his stomach, and ducked behind the nearest thing, which happened to be a dead tree. He gripped his sword hilt, ready to fight, but knowing he would lose in his condition. "What is it?" A voice from further away snapped, annoyed. Silence. Then: "Nothing, my lord, I....I thought I saw something. Let's continue, shall we?" Nico stifled his gasp with a scowl. He knew that voice, and who it belonged to, but he couldn't have been reborn, could he? But Nico knew it was possible. There weren't really requirements to being able to choose rebirth. He waited for them to move along, then gave a small peek around the tree, scanning for any signs they were still there. But they weren't. The pair had moved on. So Nico stepped out from behind the tree, and continued on his way, huddled to the side in case he needed to hide again.

Luke Castellan had been reborn, and that was who had been talking, that was who Nico had recognized. And his guess was that he'd been escorting the human looking Kronos across Tartarus, not knowing who he really was, and not having any memories of his past life. If Nico could just get a message to Camp, somehow, and let them know...Wait! Annabeth had sent a message to Camp from Tartarus, during the time when both camps were on the verge of war, and he was pretty sure he knew how she did it. He headed to the ruins of the temple for Hermes, where the burnt offerings went, and hoped he had paper and a pen or something to write with.