The Fence

The Invitation

“Hey Nico, did you get the mail for today?” I asked.

“No, I haven’t yet. I’m busy trying to figure out how this ability works,” Nico replied. “Alright, I’ll get it,” I said.

I walked out the front door of our cabin, letting it close behind me. The air was quiet. I made my way to the mailbox, grabbed the stack, and headed back. I sat down at the living room table and sorted through the mail. One envelope caught my eye—sealed with wax.

I broke the seal and read:

To Nyx and Nico Caruso,

Whose blood carries the echo of gods,

Whose hearts burn with rebellion or loyalty—

You are summoned.

The Ball of the Demigods awaits.

Beneath moonlight and firelight,

Among monsters and mortals,

Fate will dance, and secrets will bleed.

Come dressed in truth or illusion.

Come armed with memory or myth.

But come.

For the stars have begun to whisper,

And the gods are watching.

I called Nico over and handed him the letter. No return address. Just prophecy.

“What do you think? Should we go?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Well, it is addressed directly to us, so I don’t see why not,” Nico said. “Even though this might be for older demigods… I mean, I’m twelve and you’re ten, and we’re living on our own. Still—I don’t see why not.”

“I have that one dress Mom gave me before she… well, died,” I said.

“We can get it tailored to fit you. She was sixteen when she wore it to prom,” Nico added with a slight chuckle.

“So, should we walk over to Solon’s cabin and see if he got one too?” I asked, bouncing a little. “Yeah, let me get my shoes on and then we’ll go.”

I watched as Nico laced up his shoes with haste. We stepped outside, locked the door, and headed toward Solon’s.

As we walked, I kept wondering if this was a trap. I didn’t say anything—just let Nico yap on about how I’d need to be responsible. But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

This was the third cabin we’d moved to in the last year.

We never told anyone, but Solon was our emergency contact. If something happened… he’d be the one to come.

We got to Solon’s house and saw him sitting on the porch.

“I had a feeling y’all would come,” he said. “Anytime something strange or weird happens, y’all come straight here to see if it happened to me or if I know something.”

Solon chuckled and sipped his coffee.

“Hi, Solon,” we said.

“You’re twelve—you don’t need to be drinking coffee,” I added.

“I know, I was just being funny,” Solon replied, tossing the ceramic cup to the side. It landed on a bush, bounced up, and somehow settled perfectly on his windowsill. “I also got a letter with no return address, if that’s what y’all are wondering about,” he said. “That’s exactly why we came,” Nico said as we finally stepped onto the porch.

Solon started pushing us inside playfully.

We walked in—and his place was a wreck.

“What are you anxious about this time, Solon?” I asked sternly. “Your house is always spotlessly clean.”

Solon stammered. “W-Well… I kind of couldn’t find Chrissy’s jacket. She left it here when we all had game night, and she gave me 24 hours before she kills my plant. Fern. Christo-Fern.”

“Well, it’s hanging right here,” Nico said, disappointed that his best friend couldn’t find a jacket that was exactly where it should be.

“Ohhh, that’s where it went,” Solon replied.

“Welp, you better get cleaning—remember, it’s the 19th and your dad’s coming in about three hours,” I added smugly.

“Shoot, that’s today?” Solon panicked.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You’ve got plenty of time to clean.”

I started walking toward the door with Nico in front of me. We said bye and headed home. Now this has me wondering—was the invitation a trap? Or is it an actual thing for all demigods?

By the time we got home, it was around dinner time. I walked into the kitchen to see what we had left until our next paycheck from the neighborhood.

It’s $150 each month. In today’s economy, that’s not much—but it gets us by, and we don’t complain. We don’t pay rent, bills, or taxes because it’s not safe for us to go out. When we do, we leave and come back quickly so we don’t attract too many monsters.

Back to dinner—we decided on instant ramen.

As we ate, I started thinking about something. So I brought it up.

“Hey Nico,” I started. “What ability were you working on earlier this morning?”

Nico replied: it was his ability to play with death in a way. He could raise the dead and control how they looked.

Too bad that was the one ability we didn’t share.

It was around 11 p.m. when I decided I wanted to

go to bed.

I headed to our shared room—there were only two

bedrooms in the cabin, and one was a guest room.

We’d split the space with a fake wall down the

middle so we could each have some privacy. The

wall had a frosted window that slid open and shut.

It locked on my side—because sometimes I didn’t

want to talk, and Nico respected that.

My side of the room was scroll-coded for comfort.

The bed sat in the back right corner, tucked

between the window and the fake wall.

At the foot of my bed was a mirror and a caddy

stuffed with hair stuff, makeup, and shower

supplies.

Next to the bed was a side table with a cutout

hole—Skelly’s pet bed.

On the back of my door hung a coat rack, and on

it was the jacket Nico gave me.

(It still fit him, but it was way too baggy for me. But it was mine now. So…)

I changed into something more normal for bed and threw on the jacket. It was fall, and our heating was broken. The jacket was legacy warmth.

I left my room with Skelly in my arms and walked up to Nico.

“With the great power of Hades,” I said dramatically, “comes great tiredness. I’m going to bed.” Nico started laughing—then realized I’d stolen his jacket.

He laughed even harder.

It was the next day, and we decided we wanted to go meet Solon’s dad.

We got ready—still wearing the jacket, obviously—and started walking down to his house.

On the way, we talked about how we’re basically the opposite of Solon. We thought it was hilarious. We just hoped Apollo liked us and our humor. It had been a while… he might not even remember us.

We finally got to Solon’s house and heard his dad—Apollo, by the way—shout:

“Ah, my favorite mortals! Come bask in my brilliance!”

He was wearing sunglasses indoors and quoting his own poetry.

Solon was just trying to survive the day.

“Well, at least he remembers us,” Nico said to me.

Solon, however, looked like he was about to explode and light the room up like a firework.

“Nope. Out. You two are not about to say something weird in front of my dad,” he said, already pushing us toward the door.

“But we just got here—” Nico started.

“Exactly. Leave while you’re still mysterious.”

He slammed the door behind us.

“Well,” I said, adjusting the jacket, “at least he didn’t throw a lightning bolt.”

“Give him time,” Nico muttered.

As we walked back, it started to rain.

“Welp, I guess the god of the sun isn’t too happy right now,” I muttered, pulling Nico’s jacket tighter around me.

Nico snorted. “Maybe he’s just mad Solon kicked us out before he could monologue.” A crack of thunder rolled overhead.

“Or maybe he really wanted to give us a prophecy,” I said. “Too bad Solon’s allergic to drama.” We started laughing so hard, someone’s dog barked at us from across the street.

We got back to the cabin, and I went to my “room.”

I slid the frosted window shut and locked it from my side. Silence.

Then I began practicing my death song—the one that, when I sing it, summons my cat. Skelly always comes when I sing it right.

“Bones that rattle, shadows stir,

Come to me, my midnight purr.

Ash and silence, fang and flame,

Answer now—you know your name.

Through veil and dusk, through grave and gloom,

Return to me, from crypt to room.

My voice, your tether. My breath, your call.

Come, Skelley, come—before nightfall.”

Skelly comes running in and sits on my lap.

“NICO!!!” I yelled.

Nico came running in, out of breath.

“What happened?” he asked, eyes wide.

“My song worked!” I replied, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Oh—I thought Skelly died or something,” he said, half-panicked.

“Nah, I just got excited,” I said, still grinning.

“Okay then. I’m gonna make lunch. Want a grilled cheese?”

“Sure,” I responded, then added, “Thank you.”

Nico walked out of the room, and I put Skelly on my shoulder and followed.

I hopped up to the counter to watch him cook.

Ten minutes later, lunch was ready. Nico jumped up onto the counter, and we started eating. I gave a tiny piece to Skelly as a reward.

“Heyyy. I made that for you, not the cat,” Nico said.

“Well, Skelly came. I think she can have a small piece,” I replied.

“That’s fair,” Nico said back.

As we finished the grilled cheese, we heard a knock on the door.

Nico froze mid-bite.

“You expecting anyone?” he asked.

I shook my head slowly. Skelly perked up, ears twitching.

“Well,” I said, sliding off the counter, “either it’s a monster, a messenger, or someone selling solar panels.” Nico groaned. “Please let it be the monster. I’m not emotionally ready for salespeople.” We opened the door.

Standing there was a man in khakis, a bright orange polo, and sunglasses that looked like they were forged in Olympus. He held a clipboard with a pamphlet that read:

“SunSmart Solutions—Harness the Power of the Sun!”

“Hello, mortals!” he beamed. “Have you considered upgrading your cabin to solar energy? It’s clean, radiant, and—if I may say so—divinely efficient.

Behind him, Solon stands with his hood up, looking like he wants to melt into the porch. “Dad,” he mutters, “can you not?”

Apollo winks. “I’m just trying to connect with the youth.”

Nico leans toward me. “This is worse than the grilled cheese incident.”

I nod solemnly. “We’re witnessing a god-level dad joke in real time.”

“So, what do y’all need?” I ask, arms crossed. “It’s 3 p.m., and I’m officially overtime on visiting hours this week.”

Apollo gasps like I’ve wounded him. “You wound me, child of Hades! I bring radiant wisdom and limited time solar discounts!”

Solon groans. “Dad, please stop.”

Nico leans against the doorframe.” Can we just skip to the part where you tell us something cryptic and vanish in a beam of light?”

Apollo straightens his clipboard. “Fine. But you’re missing out on a very competitive energy plan.” I blink at Apollo, still holding his clipboard like it’s a holy relic.

“I think we’re good. Buh bye,” I say, then gently close the door—not a slam, because that’s rude. Nico snorts. “You just dismissed a god.”

“He was dressed like a solar panel salesperson. I think it’s fine.”

Skelley meows in agreement, which I take as divine validation.

After that, it was around 5 p.m.—Apollo had spent a good while trying to convince us to buy solar panels. It didn’t work.

For the rest of the day, I read about my abilities and rituals, flipping through scrolls and notes like they held prophecy. Nico cleaned his room.

It was almost as bad as Solon’s house when he was looking for Chrissy’s jacket.

We skipped dinner—budget constraints. Again.

I hung the jacket to dry. It would be ready by morning.

It was around 11 p.m., but I couldn’t sleep.

I sat up in bed, unlocked the frosted window, and slid it open. Then I stuck my arm through to see if I could slap Nico awake.

“Ow,” Nico mumbled from the other side. “Did you just slap me?”

“I was checking if you were still alive.”

“You could’ve just asked.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

“I also can’t sleep. I don’t know why but I just can’t.”

“Do you want me to come over there” Nico replies still half asleep.

“Yeah...I will pull down the second bed.”

So, I get up and move the side table to the corner and bring the second mattress in and set it down. We have it just for this purpose.

the mattress.

Then I stick my arm back out the window and slap Nico again.

“Ow! What now?” he groans.

“It’s ready. Come on.”

“You could’ve just said that.”

“I did. With my hand.”

He sighs, climbs through the window like it’s a portal to sibling chaos, and flops onto the mattress.

Skelley hops up beside him, tail flicking like she approves of the violence. For a couple of minutes, we just lay there then Nico rolls over to face me.

“So, what’s bothering you tonight?” He asks voice calm, quiet, and low.

I stared at the ceiling for a second.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I was reading about my powers earlier, and it’s like… they expect me to be this big, important thing. Like I’m supposed to know how to use all of it already. Like I’m supposed to be ready.”

Nico shifts beside me. “You don’t have to be ready yet.”

“Yeah, but what if something happens and I need to be?”

There’s a pause. Skelley lets out a soft rattle from the foot of the bed.

“Then I’ll be there,” Nico says. “We’ll figure it out. Like we always do.”

I nod, even though he can’t see it. “Okay.”

He reaches over grabs my hand

“Everything’s going to be alright” He then says quietly.

The silence after that feels a little lighter.

It’s the next morning, and we wake up to another knock on the door.

“Noses go,” I mumble, still half-asleep.

Nico groans. “I don’t care—I’m older, I’ll get it.”

He says it like he’s annoyed, but I know he’s just being Nico. Stern, but soft underneath. He gets up to see who is at the door.

“Are you coming or staying?” He speaks

“I guess coming” I say straight up.

As we walked up and out, I grab the now dry jacket and put it on (Its totally mine). We get to the door to see a fancy black car in the driveway that we know is ours. Nico opens the door and listens to what the person has to say.

“Hello, you two are Nyx and Nico Caruso, right?” The man askes.

“Yes, we are, what do you need?” Nico replied fast and sternly, already stepping between me and the door. The man smiles but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

“I’m here on behalf of the Ball. There’s been… a change.”

Nico doesn’t move. “What kind of change?”

“Your roles have been reassigned. The Moon and the Stars are no longer just guests. You’re participants.”

Nico then used the hand signal which means get away from the edges of the house. I then use the signal that means closet and Nico understands. I walked calmly to the closet out of sight and since I wasn’t there, I don’t know what he said but it felt like an eternity before I heard Nico shut the door and come to my spot.

“We are good?” I asked.

I think he could see the terrified look in my eyes, he didn’t answer for a few seconds

“Participants mean we must compete in different events to see what species the best at different things is. They chose us after careful evaluation of all the demigods. They saw our power and our now using it as entertainment. Every round the lowest scoring couple gets killed.” Nico said with a horrified look in his eyes.

“Then we could just not go” I added with Hope.

“If we don’t go, they will kill us.” Nico said.

“It’s in one week exactly.” He spoke.

I thought to myself” We won’t die we are too powerful. And maybe we can get dad to help us.”