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‘Your mama’s crying’
The news came from Nico.
It was a Friday afternoon in September. Nearly a year since Sally had last seen her son, much less spoken to him. She had started to believe he was never coming home.
The knock at the door came around 1:30 PM. Paul was still at work.
She made her way to the door of her apartment, hoping that when she opened the door she’d see her son. She did not.
When she opened the door she was met with none other than Nico di Angelo standing on the other side. His hair was wild and full of dead ends and he was pale and bones and painfully skinny. His eyes held a great deal of sorrow in them.
“Ms. Jackson” he said politely, though his tone was tinged with sorrow
“Nico” she replied, her fingers wrapped around the doorknob so tight her knuckles had turned white, “Um, c-come in”
She stepped aside from the doorway so Nico could enter. He hesitated, but stepped inside as Sally closed the door behind him.
“Um, take a seat” she offered, motioning to the couch
Nico gave a hesitant nod and obeyed, though he’s body language was tense. He fidgeted with the skull ring on his middle finger. Probably a nervous habit.
“C-can I get you anything? I-I have some cookies in the oven”
Nico shook his head, “N-no thank you Ms. Jackson”
Sally nodded, riddled with nerves. “So…”
“So” Nico agreed
She took a seat across from Nico, waiting. The air was thick enough to cut.
“Um….about Percy”
Sally perked up slightly, but dread settled in her gut. She had a sinking feeling this news would be anything but good.
“Is he….okay?”
Nico paused, swallowing. Sally’s breath hitched.
“He’s….he’s g-gone….isn’t he?”
Nico bit his lip, “I-I’m really sorry Ms. Jackson”
’ Your mama’s crying for you’
Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. The first one escaped without a sound. Then the second and third.
“I’m s-“
“How did it happen?”
“P-pardon?”
“How..how did it happen?” She begged, “Please…I just…..I need to know”
There was a pause, a long pause. You could have heard a pin drop as tears silently dripped down her cheeks. Nico twisted the ring on his finger again.
“Do you…do you know what Tartarus is..m-ma’m?” He spoke into the silence
Sally’s blood ran cold. She wasn’t very familiar with it but she’d heard of Tartarus.
“I-it’s basically…the Greek equivalent of super hell, no?”
Nico paused. He seemed tense.
“I-in a manner of speaking” he twirled his ring again, “Um…I-it’s a place you can…can actually end up”
More silence.
“W-what-“
“W-we were in Italy” Nico blurts out, his own eyes stinging with tears, “A-Annabeth….s-she had gone to find the mark of Athena, this statue….uh, a-and when…when we…when the seven went to get her she fell. Fell into this…this pit that lead to…to you know where” Nico swallowed, wiping his own tears from his cheeks “H-he wouldn’t let her fall alone”