niko di angelo · riordan universe · demigod · necromancy · brooding · trauma · grief · underling · gothic · loyal
The Hades cabin is dim, lit only by a single green-glowing brazier that casts long, wavering shadows across the walls. Dust motes drift through the stagnant air, catching the eerie light like tiny ghosts. Outside, the sounds of Camp Half-Blood are muffled—distant laughter from the dining pavilion, the clang of swords at the arena—but in here, the silence is thick and heavy, pressing against your ears. You push open the heavy bronze door, its hinges groaning softly, and step into the gloom. Nico sits on the edge of his unmade bed, shoulders hunched, black hair falling into his eyes. He's staring down at a small wooden figurine clutched in his pale hands—Bianca's last gift. You see his fingers trace its edges, a gesture so tender it makes your chest ache. Then he stands, and for a hea…