I am Persephone” she said, her voice thin and papery. “Welcome, demigods.Nico squashed a pomegranate under his boot. “Welcome? After last time, you’ve got the nerve to welcome me?”I shifted uneasily, because talking that way...

He looked at the silver pocketknife in his hand. An idea came to him – possibly the stupidest, craziest idea he’d had since he thought, Hey, I’ll get Percy to swim in the River Styx!...

It’s more than that.’ Reyna rested her hand on Nico’s. ‘While you were asleep, I did a lot ofthinking. What I told you about my father … I’d never shared that with anyone. I guess...

As for my brothers,” Zeus said, “we are thankful”-he cleared his throat like the words were hard to get out-“erm, thankful for the aid of Hades.”The lord of the dead nodded. He had a smug...

Please tell me your master isn’t Aeolus.””That airhead?” Favonius snorted. “No, of course not.””He means Eros.” Nico’s voice turned edgy. “Cupid, in Latin.”Favonius smiled. “Very good, Nico di Angelo. I’m glad to see you again,...

I don’t feel that way anymore,” Nico muttered. “I mean… I gave up on Percy. I was young and impressionable, and I- I don’t…”His voice cracked, and Jason could tell the guy was about to...

Jason’s fingers itched to draw his sword. He’d met plenty of scary demigods, but he was starting to realize that Nico di Angelo–as pale and gaunt as he looked–might be more than he could handle.

He remembered Apollo, smiling and tanned and completely cool in his shades. Thalia had said, He’s hot. He’s the sun god, Percy replied. That’s not what I meant. Why was Nico thinking about that now?...

Think long and hard about how you proceed, Nico di Angelo. You cannot lie to Cupid. If you let your anger rule you… well, your fate will be even sadder then mine.

Images flashed through his mind. He saw Nico and his sister on a snowy cliff in Maine, Percy Jackson protecting them from a manticore. Percy’s sword gleamed in the dark. He’d been the first demigod...

We need music,” Nico said. “How’s your singing?””Um, no. Can’t you just, like, tell it to open? You’re the son of Hades and all.””It’s not so easy. We need music.”I was pretty sure if I...

Don’t talk to my sister that way.” Nico said. His voice quivered, but I was impressed that he had the guts to say anything at all. — Percy

It’s not mind-reading,’ she said. ‘Not even an empathy link. Just … a temporary wave of exhaustion. Primal emotions. Your pain washes over me. I take on some of your burden.’Nico’s expression became guarded. He...

Frank heard a laugh behind him. He glanced back and couldn’t believe what he saw. Nico di Angelo was actually smiling.”That’s more like it,” Nico said. “Let’s turn this tide!

Nico drew his sword. His smile was even more unsettling than his scowl.”Underground,” he said. “My favorite place.”Underground was not Jason’s favorite place.

Nico studied his face – his sea-green eyes, his grin, his ruffled black hair. Somehow Percy Jackson seemed like a regular guy now, not a mythical figure. Not someone to idolize or crush on.

Percy scowled. “I-I know you.”Nico raised his eyebrows. “Do you?

I (Percy) set Nico on guard duty with Beckendorf and the Stoll brothers, figuring he’d be safely out of the way….”What’s happening?” Nico demanded, trying to climb up next to me.

Nico drank from the chalice, then offered it to Jason. “You asked me about trust, and taking a risk? Well, here you go, son of Jupiter. How much do you trust me?”Frank wasn’t sure what...

With great power… comes need to take a nap. Wake me up later

Please!’ That word didn’t make sense to Nico. The Underworld had no mercy. It only had justice. ‘You’re already dead,’ Nico said. ‘You’re a ghost with no tongue, no memory. You won’t be sharing any...

Poor Nico di Angelo. The god’s voice was tinged with disappointment. Do you know what you want, much less what I want? My beloved Psyche risked everything in the name of Love. It was the...

Then she did something so unexpected Nico would later think he dreamed it. She walked up to Nico, who was standing to one side in the shadows, as usual. She grabbed his hand and pulled...

I had a crush on Percy,” Nico spat. “That’s the truth. That’s the big secret.

Nico started to crawl away, groaning. Percy wanted him to move faster and groan less. He considered throwing his wonder bread at him.

Yeah, okay. But, Nico, you do choose how to live your life. You want to trust somebody? Maybe take a risk that I’m really your friend and I’ll accept you. It’s better than hiding.

Nico, you can do this,” Jason said. “It might be embarrassing, but it’s for the scepter.”Nico didn’t look convinced. In fact he looked like he was going to be sick. But he squared his shoulders...

The Underworld had no mercy. It only had justice

Nico’s voice was like broken glass. “I- I wasn’t in love with Annabeth.””You were jealous of her,” Jason said. “That’s why you didn’t want to be around her. Especially why you don’t want to be...

No,’ Nico said. ‘Getting a second life is one thing. Making it a better life, that’s the trick.’ As soon as he said it, Nico realized he could’ve been talking about himself. He decided not...

For a long time,’ Nico said, ‘I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.’ Percy looked at Nico. Then at Annabeth, as if to check that he’d heard correctly. Then back...

Nico was devastatingly alone. He’d lost his big sister Bianca. He’d pushed away all other demigods who’d tried to get close to him. His experiences at Camp Half-Blood, in the Labyrinth and in Tartarus had...

She’d felt more pain from Nico in their brief connection than she had from her entire legion during the battle against the giant Polybotes.

Nico clenched his sword. Sharing his secret crush hadn’t been the worst of it. Eventually he might have done that, in his own time, in his own way. But being forced to talk about Percy,...

I am the son of Hades. I go where I wish. The darkness is my birthright.

About five meters ahead, Nico was swinging his black sword with one hand, holding the scepter of Diocletian aloft with the other. He kept shouting orders at the legionnaires, but they paid him no attention.Of...

You will suffer, son of Hades!’ What else is new? Nico thought.

Nico strode forward. The enemy army fell back before him like he radiated death, which of course he did.Through the face guard of his skull-shaped helmet, he smiled. “Got your message. Is it too late...

Hazel frowned. “Why that one?””You don’t see the ghost?” Frank asked.”Ghost?” Nico asked.Okay… if Frank was seeing a ghost that the Underworld kids couldn’t see, something was definitely wrong.

Nico’s anger turned as cold and dark as his blade. He’d been morphed into a few plants himself, and he didn’t appreciate it. He hated people like Bryce Lawrence, who inflicted pain just for fun.

The way to beat Luke,” he said. “If I’m right, it’s the only way you’ll stand a chance.”I took a deep breath. “Okay. I’m listening.”Nico glanced inside my room. His eyebrows furrowed.”Is that…is that blue...

No,” Frank said. “I’m only a centurion.”Jason cursed in Latin. “He means he can’t control a whole legion. He’s not of high enough rank.”Nico swung back his black sword at another gryphon. “Well, then, promote...

Still hiding, Cupid said, smashing another skeleton to pieces. You do not have the strength.”Nico,” Jason managed to say, “it’s okay. I get it.”Nico glanced over, pain and misery washing across his face.”No you don’t,”...

He remembered how nice the kids at Camp Half-Blood had been to him after the war with Kronos. Great job, Nico! Thanks for bringing the armies of the Underworld to save us! Everybody smiled. They...

I looked down at my clothes. They were slashed to pieces and full of bullet holes, but I was fine. Not a mark on me.Nico’s mouth hung open. “You just . . . with a...

Nico di Angelo came into Olympus to a hero’s welcome, his father right behind him, despite the fact that Hades was only supposed to visit Olympus in winter solstice. The God of the dead looked...

The two of them looked so comfortable together it made Nico glad. But it also it caused an ache in his heart – a ghostly pain, like an old war wound throbbing in bad weather.

You promised you would protect her Nico said. He might as well have stabbed me with a rusty dagger.It would’ve hurt less than reminding me of my promise.

Whoa,” said Nico as he climbed off the bus. “Is that a climbing wall?””Yeah,” I (Percy) said.”Why is there lava pouring down it?””Little extra challenge…” – Percy

Nothing?” Favonius cried. “The one you care for most… plunged into Tartarus, and you still will not allow the truth?”Suddenly Jason felt like he was eavedropping. The one you care for most.