"He won't die...will be?" I whispered to Nico.

Nico gave me a sharp side eye. "You told him he was fine."

"Pfft. Ya. I know. I said it...but what if he actually does. Then I've killed Percy Jackson."

"Then my dad'll be happy." Nico said bitterly.

I snorted. I whipped my head when I heard a cry and a slash. I saw Percy fall forward and become submerged in the Styx. I sucked in a sharp breath. I stood up and stepped to the edge of the river. I waited, arm arms crossed tight across my chest. I felt all my insides squirming. I bit my lip and kept my eyes on the spot he disappeared.

I tried to be patient, but the seconds ticket by. I knew people couldn't hold their breath for more than a minute and a half. Percy was closer to five minutes. But this was the Styx. I finally couldn't take it anymore. I stepped into the river.

I felt the burning almost immediately. But I shoved it back and stepped further in. I ground my teeth. Focused on the spot I saw Percy disappear, I kept wading slowly and determined. I was up to my knees, the pain was making my eyes water. I could feel all my doubts and fears bouncing around my head. All the possible broken dreams I couldn't bare to think of.

I swallowed them all down- Percy was my was goal. My foot connected with something. I plunged my hand down and grabbed it. With a wild cry, I yanked upwards. I stumbled backwards. Percy burst out of the river, with a wild cry of his own. We stumbled and landed with a thud on the sand. I pushed Percy off me and sat up. Nico was standing over us, a hand slapped over his mouth.

"Are you okay?" he stammered. "Your skin. Oh, gods. You're hurt!"

"I guess that's how I looked?" I asked, glancing at Nico, who just nodded, his eyes wide in shock.

Percy's skin was bright red, and he was smoking slightly. He groaned and lifted his arm and then let it flop. He lifted his head and looked around slightly confused. He closed his eyes for a brief second and then slowly and gingerly he sat up, like every muscle in his body was sore and tired. He groaned.

Mrs. O'Leary came up and sniffed Percy with concern. Apparently he smelled really interesting just as she did with me.

"Do you feel stronger?" Nico asked.

Percy scrunched his face and thought for a brief second. As soon as he opened his mouth a loud and triumphant "THERE!" Was yelled from behind us. In unison Percy and I spun around.

An army of the dead marched toward us. A hundred skeletal Roman legionnaires led the way with shields and spears. Behind them came an equal number of British redcoats with bayonets fixed. In the middle of the host, Hades himself rode a black-and-gold chariot pulled by nightmare horses, their eyes and manes smoldering with fire.

"You will not escape me this time, Percy Jackson! This is the last time Eleanora Blofis, you escape my jail!" Hades bellowed. "Destroy them!"

"Father, no!" Nico shouted, but it was too late. The front line of Roman zombies lowered their spears and advanced. I grabbed Nico and yanked him backwards and shoved him closer to Mrs. O'Leary.

Mrs. O'Leary growled and got ready to pounce.

"I'm tired of this big bully." Percy grumbled, pulling his sword out and uncapping Riptide. "If I was going to die, I might as well go down fighting."

"Except now...were invincible." I grinned wickedly at Percy.

Percy yelled, and the River Styx exploded. A black tidal wave smashed into the legionnaires. Spears and shields flew everywhere. Roman zombies began to dissolve, smoke coming off their bronze helmets.

The redcoats lowered their bayonets, but I didn't wait for them. Or Percy. I charged. It was the same move I tried last time, the same move Raph had done. I guess these skeleton Zombies didn't learn. I leapt up onto the shield of one zombie and leapt into their midst. Percy mirrored my actions, he was right by my side.

A hundred muskets fired at us, point blank. All of them missed the two of us. Percy had Riptide slashing and hacking. I had my two blades twirling and stabbing. Bayonets jabbed. Swords slashed. Guns reloaded and fired. Nothing touched us. Percy and I stayed back to back. Maybe the curse of Achilles enhanced both our fighting skills, but it also enhanced how we read eachother. I could anticipate his moves and he could mine. We didn't need to say anything.

I ducked under his arm as he sliced a skeleton Zombie head off behind me, as I twirled and stabbed my knife up and into the torso of another as it tried to slash into Percy's side. We twisted away from each other and continued fighting back to back.

We broke through the enemy line. Hades raised his staff. A bolt of dark energy shot toward us. I raised both my blades and leapt in front of Percy; my angry heat waves rippled- no one was going to curse my family. The curse of Hades ricocheted off my heat shield. Percy leapt out from behind the shield and jumped onto the chariot with Hades and slammed into him. The god and him both tumbled out of the chariot.

I glanced behind me for a split second. There was nothing left of  the army but weapons in the sand and piles of smoking, empty uniforms. Percy and I had destroyed them all.

I looked back to Percy and Hades, I watched as I sheathed my blades slowly and then folded my arms watching as Percy blocked a wild hack and then he knocked Hades sword out of his hands, and swept the gods feet from under him. Percy followed the huge god and landed with a knee planted on Hades's chest. I walked forward and stood over him too, Percy was holding the collar of his royal robes in one fist, and the tip of his sword was poised right over his face. We both glowered down at the god.

Silence.

Percy glanced behind him too, and shock and surprise showed on his face before it twisted back into anger.

Hades swallowed. "Now, Jackson, listen here.... Eleanora Blofis..."

He was immortal. There was no way we could kill him, but gods can be wounded. I knew that firsthand, and I figured a sword in the face wouldn't feel too good. We clearly shocked him, and wounded his pride.

"Just because I'm a nice person," Percy snarled,

"I'm not."

Percy didn't acknowledge my comment and kept going. "I'll let you go. But first, tell me about that trap!"

Hades melted into nothing, leaving him holding empty black robes.

Percy cursed, he was hanging out with me too long, my bad words were rubbing off on him. I held a hand out for him and pulled him to his feet, breathing heavily. Now that the danger was over, I realized how tired I was, just like last time. Every muscle in my body ached. I looked down at my clothes. They were slashed to pieces and full of bullet holes, but I was fine. Not a mark on me. Percy was inspecting his body closely, clearly still shocked with what happened.

Nico's mouth hung open. "You two just . . . with a sword . . . you just-"

"I think the river thing worked," I said. "Again."

"Oh gee," he said sarcastically. "You think?" He was eye the two of us. "You two are kinda scary."

I grinned evilly at him.

Mrs. O'Leary barked happily and wagged her tail. She bounded around, sniffing empty uniforms and hunting for bones. I lifted Hades's robe. I could still see the tormented faces shimmering in the fabric. It made my stomach twist. I could feel the anguish in the fabric just by touching it. I couldn't understand how Hades could wear something like this. I shivered.

I walked to the edge of the river. "Be free."

I dropped the robe in the water and watched as it swirled away, dissolving in the current.

"Go back to your father," Percy told Nico. "Tell him he owes me for letting him go. Find out what's going to happen to Mount Olympus and convince him to help."

I turned around with a frown. Percy was standing over Nico, a frown on his face. Nico looked shocked and then his face flooded with heat and I saw it flame pink.

"I... I can't. He'll hate me now. I mean... even more." Nico said, I could hear the frustration and emotion in his voice. His face was pinched.

"You have to," Percy said. "You owe me too."

Nico's ears turned from pink to red. "Percy, I told you I was sorry. Please... let me come with you. I want to fight."

"You'll be more help down here."

"You mean you don't trust me anymore," he said miserably.

"Enough!" I snapped, stepping in. I gave Percy a harsh look and gave him a shove. "Go cool off." Percy tried to protest but I must have given him a sharp enough look, I felt the flames flicker through my body and in my eyes. He lowered his head and he walked away. I turned back to Nico, the fire in me died.

I looked at Nico. He looked absolutely miserable and defected. I gently lifted his chin so he was looking at me.

"Hey. You know I trust you with my life."

"Do you?" He asked harshly, ripping his chin from my hand.

"Yes Nico." I placed my hand on his shoulder. I opened my mind link: "My mortal spot is over my heart."

"What?" He whispered.

"I just told you where I can be killed. My mortal spot. My Achellies spot." I said quietly, my warm amber eyes held his dark stormy ones.

"Why...why would you tell me?"

"Because I trust you Nico. I trust you with my life. You're closer then a friend. You're family." I paused and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I haven't told anyone else. Just you."

He opened and closed his mouth a few times. I gave him a small smile. He deflated a little. I pulled him into a tight hug. He went stiff for a second and then I felt his arms wrap around my back, I squeezed a bit tighter.

"Give him a break. For me. It was unexpected and he's under a lot of pressure. I'm not making excuses for his behaviour, I just want you to try look at it from his perspective."

He just nodded. He pulled away and shoved his hands into his pockets and he kicked the rocked sand with his toe.

"Work on Hades. You're the only person who might be able to get him to listen."

"That's a depressing thought." Nico sighed. "All right, Piccolo Demone del fuoco. I'll do my best." He sighed again and then he shrugged, "Besides, he's still hiding something from me about my mom. Maybe I can find out what."

"That's the spirit. And you know how to get a hold of me."

"Okay. You'll be okay, though? You tell me if he gives you another hard time. Let me know and I'll come busting in, in a blazing ball of fire."

"I know you will."

"Good." I nodded. "Now Mrs. O'Leary, Percy and I have to go."

"Where?" Nico said.

I looked at the cave entrance and thought about the long climb back to the world of the living. "To get this war started. It's time we found Luke."

"Good luck Nora."

"Nico? Is that a bit of emotion I hear in your voice?" I teased.

"Don't start spreading rumors." He scrunched his face in disgust. "I don't do emotions."

I smiled at him. I saw him trying hard to keep his look of horror and disgust.

"Oh come on Nico has some kind of warm fuzzy feelings deep down inside, just for me."

I saw a twitch of his lip, "fine. Just for you. And it's teeny tiny."

"I knew it."

"Ya ya, shut up." He rolled his eyes.

I turned to Percy who was staring off into the river Styx, his arms folded and a scowl on his broody wolf face.

"Come on pouty pants. We have a war to start." I called.

Percy turned and stomped over, he leapt up onto Mrs O'Leary and I climbed up behind him.

"Nico, you know what to do."

He nodded. And turned and walked away down the beach, head down and dejected. My heart hurt for him.

I smacked Percy. "Be nice to him. He's doing his best and it doesn't help that your a jerk. He looks up to you." I hissed.

"What?"

Mrs. O'Leary took off for the secret entrance. I wrapped my arms around Percy to keep from falling off.

"You heard me. If you had no memories and were trying to find out who you are and what you are you would be the same. You are at least accepted by others, you have a cabin, your father is hailed a hero. Now imagine it's not. The guy who swoops in saves the day, the guy who tells your your favorite game is real life and it's your actual life. Then the one constant thing in your life chooses some other people over you and then dies, leaving you alone and more confused. Now imagine you find out your parent isn't accepted by other gods and there's no place for you, no cabin, in the world you were told was real. And now the boy who swooped in all cool is angry with you for trying to find a few answers to your past."

Percy was quiet for a while. And then I felt his body sag, "Why? Why are you always right and logical and...it's really annoying Nora!"

"It's a sister thing. One of us has to be logical and right. Be nicer to him, give him a chance. He's a good kid! He's smart and ruthless when he wants to be- he'll always have my back."

"So you've told me..."

"Percy, if you don't trust him...trust me. You trust me, right?"

"Ya..." He sighed. "I do."

"Good. Now...what are we gonna do about Luke?"

🔆

I love New York. You can pop out of the Underworld in Central Park, hail a taxi, head down Fifth Avenue with a giant hellhound loping along behind you, and nobody even looks at you funny.

Of course, the Mist helped. People probably couldn't see Mrs. O'Leary, or maybe they thought she was a large, loud, very friendly truck.

We took the risk of using Percy's mom's cell phone to call Annabeth for the second time. We'd called her once from the tunnel but only reached her voice mail. We'd gotten surprisingly good reception, seeing as we were at the mythological center of the world and all. I didn't want to see what Sally's roaming charges were going to be, though.

This time, Annabeth picked up. Percy pressed the speaker and then placed the phone on his lap and he sighed what him and Annabeth were saying, I had lost my hearing again. Sadly.

"You get my message?" He sighed

"Percy, where have you been?" He sighed on behalf of Annabeth, and rolled his eyes. "Your message said almost nothing! We've been worried sick!"

"Who's we?" I asked with an eye roll. "Also how come she's worried about just you?"

"We'll fill you in later," Percy said, though how we were going to do that I had no idea. "Where are you?"

"We're on our way like you asked, almost to the Queens- Midtown Tunnel. But, Percy, what are you planning? We've left the camp virtually undefended, and there's no way the gods-"

"Trust us," he said and sighed.

"Us?"

"Nora and I. We'll see you there."

He hung up. And I saw him exhale deeply. He looked pale.

My hands were trembling. I wasn't sure if it was a left over from pulling Percy out of the Styx, or anticipation of what we were about to do. If this didn't work, being invulnerable wasn't going to save us from getting blasted to bits.

🔆