Carter was awakened very early the next morning when an icy cold hand was pressed against his mouth, muffling any exclamations he might have uttered upon waking. He blinked into darkness that seemed to be thickest just above him. That was what tipped him off, and even before Nico whispered in his ear, he guessed whose icy hand was covering his mouth.

"It's time to go, Carter," said Nico very softly.

Carter nodded and Nico removed his hand from Carter's mouth and grabbed his hand to pull him up. Sadie, Carter saw, was already hovering near the door. Around them, the sons and daughters of Hermes slept, as well as the two unclaimed girls who'd come in with Carter and Sadie the night before, Piper and Maya.

Carter followed when Nico led him and Sadie out into the gray of the pre-dawn morning.

"Stay close," whispered Nico. The shadows around the three of them began to grow darker and thicker. Not like they did when Nico shadow-traveled them and it felt like they'd been dropped into a black hole, but more like a veil of camouflage had been raised around them. "We have to hurry," said Nico as he began moving toward the woods. "My powers are weaker during the day."

"That sucks," said Sadie. "So does this camp, for the record. Making us sleep on the floor? What was up with that?"

"We provide better hospitality than the House of Life," pointed out Nico.

"What kind of welcome would we have gotten if they'd known who we really were?" asked Sadie.

"Well they wouldn't have put you in a cell," said Nico.

"Do you like it here?" asked Carter.

"Why? What's it to you?" Nico wanted to know.

"Well . . . it seems like most people don't treat you very well because of who your father is, but . . . the ones who aren't jerks treat you like a hero because of how you saved all their lives," said Carter.

Nico pulled a face.

"You never mentioned that," said Sadie. "Neither you nor Percy told us any of the good stories. Guess what we had the Hermes kids telling us about until lights out?"

Nico turned to scowl at the, then answered Carter's original question. "I like it here well enough, I guess. It's better than most of the places I've lived for any amount of time, but when Percy's not around I think I prefer being with you guys."

"Well next time the three of us are home, you're telling us all about the Battle of Mt. Olympus," said Sadie.

"And the Battle of the Labyrinth," said Carter. He'd been more interested in that one since his father had actually done research on the labyrinth at one time.

"Okay. Now be quiet," hissed Nico. "People may not be able to see us but they can still hear us."

Nico led them through the woods, away from the camp, until the forest gave way to the ocean, with a stretch of rugged beach between the two. "We're here," said Nico. "And none too soon."

At that very moment the top of the sun crested above the ocean in the distance, spilling golden light over them. The shadow veil that Nico had thrown up dissolved abruptly, leaving all three of them exposed, but thankfully, they were alone on the beach.

"Alright," said Carter. He walked toward the ocean quickly. "Let's get out of here."

The water was freezing, as Carter had known it would be. He took off his shoes, tied the laces together, and hung them around his neck then rolled up his pants legs before entering. Somehow he doubted that hypothermia was conducive to good spell-casting. He walked out onto the surf until it came up to his knees then, shivering, he glanced back at Sadie and Nico. Or rather just at Sadie, since Nico's magic wasn't advanced far enough for him to summon a boat, and even if it was, he wasn't leaving with them. But Sadie stood just out of the water's reach, looking smug.

"I'll let you handle the summoning," she told her brother.

"Brat," muttered Carter. His teeth chattered and he decided that rather than argue it would be easier just to summon the boat on his own. He reached into his reserves of magic and formed the hieroglyphics that he needed with his mind. Then he focused on pulling the boat to him, out of the ether or Duat or wherever it was when it wasn't in use, but almost immediately he realized that it wasn't going to work. The magic just didn't feel right.

Carter staggered and fell to his knees as the magic broke away from him. He got a mouthful of salt water before he felt himself being hauled up by both arms. Sadie was pulling him up on his right, and Nico on his left, and neither of them had taken the time to shed their shoes or roll up their pants before plunging in after him.

"W-w-w-what's w-w-w-wrong-g-g?" demanded Nico, but his teeth were chattering so badly that it was almost impossible to make out what he was trying to say. "Is-s-s-s it-t-t n-n-n-not work-k-k-king?"

Carter shook his head. "I don't know if it's because we can't call the boat in the ocean, or if it's because the camp's protections are blocking me, even here, but it's not working."

"Well isn't that peachy?" asked Sadie. "Can we get out of the bloody water then?"

"P-p-p-please!" agreed Nico.

"What in Hades are you three doing?" asked Annabeth, suddenly on the beach behind them right when they turned around.

"W-w-w-wah!" yowled Nico in surprise. "An-n-n-nab-b-beth! W-what-t-t-t are y-y-y-"

"Shut up, Nico. I asked you first," said Annabeth.

"Isn't it obvious?" asked Sadie as she trudged on up out of the surf. "We're practicing for a polar-bear swim. Why don't you join us?"

"You followed us?" asked Carter. He had to make an effort to keep from stuttering himself.

"Yes, I followed you. The Hunters have been keeping an eye on your cabin all night at my request. When they heard you leave, they got me and I came to find out what's going on," said Annabeth. "I want to know what you've gotten my boyfriend involved in because he's not talking."

"That's kind of because he's not involved," said Sadie.

"I don't believe you."

"I c-c-c-can't-t-t f-feel m-m-my f-f-feet-t-t-t!" cried Nico dropping to the ground and peeling off his boots and socks. "G-g-g-g-god-d-d-s-s-s!"

"You alright there, Death Boy?" asked Sadie.

"Sh-sh-shut-t-t-t -"

"Well excuse me for being concerned. Let's just hope we don't have to get someone to give you a piggy-back ride this time."

"You all met before you two came to camp, didn't you?" asked Annabeth. "How? And how did Percy get involved?"

"What, they're not allowed to have friends outside of camp?" asked Sadie.

"Sadie," said Carter. He wanted to diffuse the situation but didn't know how. "Look . . . Annabeth, isn't it? I'm sorry but . . . I think you've got the wrong idea about all this."

"Then set me straight." Annabeth crossed her arms and glared at him.

"Well . . ." Carter's voice was barely audible over the sound of Nico's chattering teeth. "There is a good explanation for everything . . . We just . . ."

"We should have this conversation later," said Sadie. "Now that our polar-bear swim practice is over we should dry off and warm up so that we don't get hypothermia. Nico's turning blue, in case you haven't noticed."

"Am n-n-not-t-t-t!"

Annabeth looked annoyed and Carter guessed this wasn't the first time she'd tried to get answers and been delayed. But she nodded. "Let's go. We have time for a nice long talk before breakfast."

"Oh n-n-n-n-no," chattered Nico, his face twisted oddly.

"Oh yes," said Annabeth. "You're not getting out of it this time, Corpse Breath."

"Don't call him that," said Sadie, immediately defensive.

"N-n-no. G-g-guys-s-s-s-"

"She has no right to talk to you that way," said Sadie angrily. "You shouldn't put up with that."

"You shouldn't have to," agreed Carter. He looked at Annabeth and tried to stand straighter. "You should apologize to him."

"G-g-g-guys!" yelped Nico. "Th-th-that's n-n-not-"

"It is important," said Sadie. "Don't say that it's not."

"L-l-l-listen!"

"If you two are in good enough shape to talk clearly then there's no reason we can't have this conversation right here," said Annabeth threateningly.

"S-someone j-just d-d-died!" shouted Nico. He clenched his fists to keep them from shaking. The cold water was obviously affecting him worse than it had Carter or Sadie. Carter wondered if their magic somehow protected them . . . or if being affected by the cold was another throw-back to Nico's powers. Being the son of a death god seemed to make it so that he had about as much body-heat as the average corpse.

"What do you mean someone just died?" demanded Annabeth, stepping forward so she was right in front of him. She looked like she was going to try pulling him off the ground by his collar and shaking him, but Sadie moved to stand between them.

"What do you think he meant?" shouted Sadie. "How many ways can you really interpret a statement like that?"

Carter knelt beside Nico who was rubbing his feet, trying to get blood circulation in them going again. "Someone was murdered again?" asked Carter. "Like last night?"

Nico nodded.

"You felt their soul leave, you mean?"

Another nod.

"Were they confused like Martina was? The kind of confusion that comes from suddenly being dead and not knowing why?"

"Y-y-y-"

"Yes, then," said Carter so Nico wouldn't have to. He glanced at Annabeth. "Should we go find the body? Or should we get someone else?"

"We should go," said Annabeth. "And Nico, this better not be a trick."

"Y-you th-th-think that-t-t of m-me?" asked Nico looking hurt.

Annabeth's face softened at that question. "No," she admitted. "I don't. I'm just frustrated, in large part because of you, and now that this has been sprung on me . . . I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"Can you stand?" asked Carter. He hoped that he wouldn't have to carry Nico. He remembered having to carry Nico through Central Park when they'd first met, after Nico had gotten knocked out fighting to help them. Something about Nico's aura seemed to drain the life out of anyone who touched him. Carter wondered for a second if maybe that was how the rumor that Nico had a death touch had started, but quickly realized it probably was not the case. Most people at camp hadn't seemed to want to get too close to him, and the ones who did had all refuted the death touch rumors.

Nico nodded and tried to get up. Carter grabbed one of his arms to help him. Sadie grabbed the other.

"You're going to walk barefooted?" asked Carter.

Nico nodded.

"Wet boots and socks won't help him get warm again," said Sadie. "You carry those for him, Carter. I'll give Nico a hand."

That was a surprisingly considerate thing for Sadie to offer. Carter watched her pull Nico close to her so that he could lean on her while walking and wondered, not for the first time, just what Sadie really thought about their demigodling friend.

"Th-this w-w-way," said Nico.

"Do you know who it was?" asked Annabeth, moving to walk ahead of them.

"N-n-no."

----------------------------------------------

This time the murder victim was one of the Hunters of Artemis. Nico groaned as they came to a stop before the body, then scowled as Annabeth went to check the dead girl's pulse, as though Nico might somehow be wrong about her being dead.

While Annabeth tried to find a heart-beat, Nico determined cause of death. It wasn't hard. Dark marks against the pale skin of her throat gave it away. Someone had come up from behind her, wrapped a cord around her neck, and jerked down. That was a mistake on the killer's part, and one that had made death painful for whatever this Hunter's name was. If they'd pulled the cords upward it would have cut off blood-flow to her brain, and she'd have lost consciousness faster, died easier. Pulling down had made everything more difficult. Nico could see where the string had dug into the girl's skin, where she'd clawed at her own neck trying to get her fingers beneath it, and where blood vessels beneath her skin had burst.

Nico struggled to get a couple coins out of his pocket. The girl's eyes were already closed, but he wanted to weigh them down with the drachmas to make sure they wouldn't pop open. The whites of her eyes, he knew, would be stained red. The blood vessels in them would all have burst, and it would not be pretty.

But his hands were shaking too badly, and he ended up spilling change all over the ground. Sadie quickly retrieved it for him, then placed two of the coins on the girl's eyelids herself before returning the rest of the money to Nico.

"I don't know her name," she said. "Or the words that I'm supposed to say. Sorry."

"It-t-t-t's f-fine," chattered Nico.

"It's actually not," said Annabeth. "Thalia is not going to be happy about this at all."

No one's going to be happy, thought Nico.

Another murder? asked Anubis, his consciousness stirring. This is bad. You and the Kanes should get out of here as quickly as you can.

If we go running off it's going to look suspicious and they might well send someone to track us down, said Nico to him. This is the second time the three of us have found a body together. Even though we're not involved in any way, people are going to start to wonder.

I don't suppose you have any idea who is doing this?

Don't pretend you haven't been searching my thoughts looking to see what I thought about that, huffed Nico. You know I don't know.

True, said Anubis ruefully. Then he added, I didn't think you'd feel me searching those thoughts. I was trying to be discreet.

I didn't feel you searching them. I just knew that you would. I'm starting to get to know you pretty well. Nico would have smiled but his lips were kind of frozen in place.

Your temperature is dropping too low. You should dry off and warm up.

Yeah . . .

"Nico looks like he's about to turn into a corpsicle," said Sadie before Nico could make a request to leave. "We should take him back."

Annabeth looked at them, then at Carter and looked like she was sizing the Kane siblings up. "You take him back, Carter. Sadie, you stay with me."

"Wait, why are you sending Carter back with him?" demanded Sadie. "Is it because you think Carter is more capable of defending them if someone tries to jump them? Because let me tell you, just because he's a boy doesn't mean he's the better fighter!"

"Do you want to take him back then?" asked Annabeth.

"As a matter of fact, I do!"

"Then take him. Carter, you stay here with me. But from now on no one's going to be allowed to go anywhere alone."

Sadie was quiet on the walk back. Nico didn't have much to say and couldn't have said it without stuttering from the cold, so he kept quiet too. It wasn't until they reached the lane with all the cabins that they traded any words.

"So which cabin is Percy's?" asked Sadie. "Let me guess . . . The one with the trident symbol?"

Nico nodded. "M-m-mine's the one w-with the g-green fire -"

"That's nice, but we're not going to your cabin."

"Wh-what?"

"I'm no bloody candy-striper, Death Boy. The care and keeping of Nico is being turned over to your cousin. Besides, he's more likely to have stuff like towels and extra socks than you are."

Nico would have grumbled if he could have done it without his teeth chattering.

Percy woke up when Nico stumbled in and took a header toward the floor.

"What's going on?" he demanded, immediately alert. "Nico? Sadie? What happened? Where's Carter?"

"Carter's with Annabeth," said Sadie. "Death Boy here found us another body."

Percy paled. "Who?"

"A H-h-hunter," Nico told him.

"Was there a fight? Were any of you injured?"

"No," said Sadie. "Annabeth, and most likely the dead Hunter too, followed us when we tried to leave. We tried to summon the boat on the ocean but couldn't. Nico's shivering because Carter fell down in the water and we had to haul him out. But beings as he has about as much body heat as a corpse, he's not handling it so well."

"B-b-b-bite m-me!" said Nico.

Percy sighed and found a couple towels from somewhere. "Dry off," he said, tossing one to Sadie then one to Nico. "Both of you stay here. I need to go tell Chiron."

"Should you be going out alone?" asked Sadie as Percy went to leave. "I know you're a badass hero and all, but two demigods have been blind-sided now, and -"

"I'll be fine," promised Percy. "You of all people should have noticed how hard it is to hurt me."

Knowing that his cousin was remembering the incident in which Sadie had accidentally hit Percy in the head with a metal rod with all her might, Nico laughed, but the chattering of his teeth made it sound kind of like what he thought a skeleton laughing would sound like.

"Uh, yeah," said Sadie. "I actually heard some rumors about why you're so hard to hurt. And why you went to such great pains to get that way. Both you and Nico have been holding out on us."

"We can talk about that later," said Percy with a rueful smile. "Close the door after I'm gone. If you have to leave then both of you go out together."

"Yes, mom," said Sadie.

"This is serious," said Percy, frowning now.

"W-we know," Nico told him. "We'll b-be c-c-careful. But you be c-careful to. D-don't g-g-get c-careless."

"I won't," promised Percy. "We can't exactly afford it now, can we?"

Nico shook his head. "S-s-so much for hoping f-for a w-week without-t-t any em-m-mergencies."