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was a dagger. He stopped so close that Nico could see <strong>the</strong> <strong>blood</strong>shot veins in his pale watery eyes.<br />
His face was gaunt. His hair was <strong>the</strong> colour <strong>of</strong> overcooked spaghetti.<br />
Nico knew Octavian was a legacy – a descendant <strong>of</strong> Apollo many generations removed. Now, he<br />
couldn’t help thinking that Octavian looked like a watered-down, unhealthy version <strong>of</strong> Will Solace –<br />
like a photo that had been copied too many times. Whatever made a child <strong>of</strong> Apollo special, Octavian<br />
didn’t have it.<br />
‘Tell me, son <strong>of</strong> Pluto,’ <strong>the</strong> augur hissed, ‘why are you helping <strong>the</strong> Greeks? What have <strong>the</strong>y ever<br />
done for you?’<br />
Nico was itching to stab Octavian in <strong>the</strong> chest. He’d been dreaming <strong>of</strong> that ever since Bryce<br />
Lawrence had attacked <strong>the</strong>m in South Carolina. But, now that <strong>the</strong>y were face to face, Nico hesitated.<br />
He had no doubt he could kill Octavian before <strong>the</strong> First Cohort intervened. Nor did Nico particularly<br />
care if he died for his actions. The trade-<strong>of</strong>f would be worth it.<br />
But, after what happened with Bryce, <strong>the</strong> idea <strong>of</strong> cutting down ano<strong>the</strong>r demigod in cold <strong>blood</strong> –<br />
even Octavian – didn’t sit well. Nor did it seem right to sentence Cecil, Lou Ellen and Will to die<br />
with him.<br />
It doesn’t seem right? Ano<strong>the</strong>r part <strong>of</strong> him wondered, Since when do I worry about what’s right?<br />
‘I’m helping <strong>the</strong> Greeks and <strong>the</strong> Romans,’ Nico said.<br />
Octavian laughed. ‘Don’t try to con me. What have <strong>the</strong>y <strong>of</strong>fered you – a place in <strong>the</strong>ir camp? They<br />
won’t honour <strong>the</strong>ir agreement.’<br />
‘I don’t want a place in <strong>the</strong>ir camp,’ Nico snarled. ‘Or in yours. When this war is over, I’m leaving<br />
both camps for good.’<br />
Will Solace made a sound like he’d been punched. ‘Why would you do that?’<br />
Nico scowled. ‘It’s none <strong>of</strong> your business, but I don’t belong. That’s obvious. No one wants me.<br />
I’m a child <strong>of</strong> –’<br />
‘Oh, please.’ Will sounded unusually angry. ‘Nobody at Camp Half-Blood ever pushed you away.<br />
You have friends – or at least people who would like to be your friend. You pushed yourself away. If<br />
you’d get your head out <strong>of</strong> that brooding cloud <strong>of</strong> yours for once –’<br />
‘Enough!’ Octavian snapped. ‘Di Angelo, I can beat any <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>the</strong> Greeks could make. I always<br />
thought you would make a powerful ally. I see <strong>the</strong> ruthlessness in you, and I appreciate that. I can<br />
assure you a place in New Rome. All you have to do is step aside and allow <strong>the</strong> Romans to win. The<br />
god Apollo has shown me <strong>the</strong> future –’<br />
‘No!’ Will Solace shoved Nico out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> way and got in Octavian’s face. ‘I am a son <strong>of</strong> Apollo,<br />
you anaemic loser. My fa<strong>the</strong>r hasn’t shown anyone <strong>the</strong> future, because <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> prophecy isn’t<br />
working. But this –’ He waved loosely at <strong>the</strong> assembled legion, <strong>the</strong> hordes <strong>of</strong> monstrous armies<br />
spread across <strong>the</strong> hillside. ‘This is not what Apollo would want!’<br />
Octavian’s lip curled. ‘You lie. The god told me personally that I would be remembered as <strong>the</strong><br />
saviour <strong>of</strong> Rome. I will lead <strong>the</strong> legion to victory, and I will start by –’<br />
Nico felt <strong>the</strong> sound before he heard it – thunk-thunk-thunk reverberating through <strong>the</strong> earth, like <strong>the</strong><br />
massive gears <strong>of</strong> a drawbridge. All <strong>the</strong> onagers fired at once, and six golden comets billowed into <strong>the</strong><br />
sky.