Rick Riordan The Battle of the Labyrinth - 04
With that , he faded into mist . Other spirits rushed forward , but Annabeth and I kept them back . “ Bianca , appear !” Nico intoned . He started chanting faster , and the spirits shifted restlessly . “ Any time now ,” Grover muttered . Then a silvery light flickered in the trees — a spirit that seemed brighter and stronger than the others . It came closer , and something told me to let it pass . It knelt to drink at the pit . When it arose , it was the ghostly form of Bianca di Angelo .
Nico ’ s chanting faltered . I lowered my sword . The other spirits started to crowd forward , but
Bianca raised her arms and they retreated into the woods . “ Hello , Percy ,” she said . She looked the same as she had in life : a green cap set sideways on her thick black hair , dark eyes and olive skin like her brother . She wore jeans and a silvery jacket , the outfit of a Hunter of Artemis . A bow was slung over her shoulder . She smiled faintly , and her whole form flickered .
“ Bianca ,” I said . My voice was thick . I ’ d felt guilty about her death for a long time , but seeing her in front of me was five times as bad , like her death was fresh and new . I remembered searching through the wreckage of the giant bronze warrior she ’ d sacrificed her life to defeat , and not finding any sign of her . “ I ’ m so sorry ,” I said . “ You have nothing to apologize for , Percy . I made my own choice . I don ’ t regret it .” “ Bianca !” Nico stumbled forward like he was just coming out of a daze . She turned toward her brother . Her expression was sad , as if she ’ d been dreading this moment . “ Hello , Nico . You ’ ve gotten so tall .” “ Why didn ’ t you answer me sooner ?” he cried . “ I ’ ve been trying for months !” “ I was hoping you would give up .” “ Give up ?” He sounded heartbroken . “ How can you say that ? I ’ m trying to save you !” “ You can ’ t , Nico . Don ’ t do this . Percy is right .” “ No ! He let you die ! He ’ s not your friend .” Bianca stretched out a hand as if to touch her brother ’ s face , but she was made of mist . Her hand evaporated as it got close to living skin . “ You must listen to me ,” she said . “ Holding a grudge is dangerous for a child of Hades . It is our fatal flaw . You have to forgive . You have to promise me this .” “ I can ’ t . Never .” “ Percy has been worried about you , Nico . He can help . I let him see what you were up to , hoping he would find you .” “ So it was you ,” I said . “ You sent those Iris-messages .” Bianca nodded . “ Why are you helping him and not me ?” Nico screamed . “ It ’ s not fair !” “ You are close to the truth now ,” Bianca told him . “ It ’ s not Percy you ’ re mad at , Nico . It ’ s me .” “ No .” “ You ’ re mad because I left you to become a Hunter of Artemis . You ’ re mad because I died and left you alone . I ’ m sorry for that , Nico . I truly am . But you must overcome the anger . And stop blaming Percy for my choices . It will be your doom .”
“ She ’ s right ,” Annabeth broke in . “ Kronos is rising , Nico . He ’ ll twist anyone he can to his cause .” “ I don ’ t care about Kronos ,” Nico said . “ I just want my sister back .” “ You can ’ t have that , Nico ,” Bianca told him gently . “ I ’ m the son of Hades ! I can .” “ Don ’ t try ,” she said . “ If you love me , don ’ t …” Her voice trailed off . Spirits had started to gather around us again , and they seemed agitated . Their shadows shifted . Their voices whispered , Danger ! “ Tartarus stirs ,” Bianca said . “ Your power draws the attention of Kronos . The dead must return to the Underworld . It is not safe for us to remain .” “ Wait ,” Nico said . “ Please —” “ Good-bye , Nico ,” Bianca said . “ I love you . Remember what I said .”
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