Apollo was riding in his white carriage to the music concert. He looked around but he didn't recognize this part of the woods. The horse, Blackjack, whined.

"Hey, it's okay. It would be nice if I recognized this area but let's just-" suddenly a flash of lightning hit a tree in front of them. The tree fell down, revealing a dark and mysterious path. Apollo looked at the path. It seemed normal.

"Here Blackjack. Let's go this way huh?" Blackjack whined but he started to trot down the newly found path. Suddenly the path had snow on it.

That's weird, Apollo thought. It's summer. Why is there snow?

"Alright. Let's go this way. Just move slow."

He heard something move in the bushes. Apollo started to get nervous but it was too late to go back. Suddenly he heard a growl. Then a figure leaped out from behind a tree. It looked like a normal dog, only bigger and more ferocious. It had black fur and red eyes. It started to circle Apollo. Then more started to appear. One had an ugly scar running down its left eye. It growled at Apollo. He knew what people called them. Hellhounds. The name explains it all. They suddenly attacked.

"Come on Blackjack, let's get out of here." Blackjack didn't hesitate to get away. He ran away from the Hellhounds but they were too fast. They cut off the carriage, throwing Apollo off his seat. Apollo crashed into the snow covered ground. He tried to claw his way out. He was hanging off a tree root, Hellhounds surrounding him. Apollo felt himself slip.

"Blackjack!" Suddenly his horse rand under him, catching him and started running down the Path. They saw gates and went in there.

"Blackjack, you saved my life. Thank you. Look! Here's hay and water. Let me thank our...host. Whoever that is

Apollo dropped Blackjack in the stable. He walked up to the ominous castle. He was about to knock when the door slowly opened. Apollo looked inside. It was empty and everything was covered in dust, like no one has lived here for a long time.

"Um hello? Is anyone there?" No one answered. Apollo's voice just echoed through the castle. "Do you mind if I quickly warm myself up. It's really cold out." he waited for an answer but it never came. So Apollo made his way into the castle. The doors opened slowly.

"Thank you. I'm just a traveler seeking shelter from the storm." He put his coat on the rack. He made his way to the fireplace which was, strangely, already lit. Apollo looked around to see who could have lit it but no one showed up. He walked over to a clock and candelabra. He looked at their designs. "Extraordinary." He walked into another room to hear a piano playing. Suddenly it stopped.

Strange

"Well if you don't mind, I'll just warm myself up." Whoever the owner is, they are a little odd. But very nice. Apollo went by the fire and warmed his hands. It was nice to feel the warmth of the fire rather than the cold. Apollo decided to explore a little more of the castle. He walked into what seemed like the dining room. A seat was already set up with food. Apollo looked around to see who could have done this.

"Oh, why thank you." He sat down and put the napkin around his neck. There was chicken and many different types of barriers. There was a soup container and a pot of tea ready for him. He took some bread. Suddenly something slid across the table. Apollo saw a tea cup slide across the table. It had blue wave designs on the rim and saucer.

"Annabeth said I shouldn't move, that it would scare you. Sorry." Apollo didn't know what to do. He smiled kindly.

"It's fine." Then Apollo threw off the napkin and sprinted out to the door. He grabbed his coat. He turned around.

"Thank you for your kind hospitality but I must be going." He ran out. He jumped on Blackjack and started to ride out. Suddenly he saw a rose bush. "A rose," he whispered. He stopped Blackjack. He figured that at least he would bring back a rose for Will. It was a white rose. He looked around until he found a perfect one. He picked it from it's stem. Suddenly Apollo heard a growl. He thought it was the Hellhounds again but then he saw a huge figure in the shadows. Apollo fell backwards. He felt his body shaking in fear.

"W-who are you?" The figure growled. Apollo saw Blackjack running away. Apollo tried to run but the figure grabbed him and everything went black.

A/N- Sorry for the lack of updates. I am currently writing (And actually not abandoning) three stories at once so this will be the only story I won't update as much so please bare with me. Have a great day