I'd never actually been inside the Plaza. The lobby was impressive, with the crystal chandeliers and the passed-out rich people, but I didn't pay much attention. A couple of Hunters gave us directions to the elevators, and we rode up to the penthouse suites.

Jake, the Hephaestus Counselor came running.

"Nora!" He signed. "We're getting reports everywhere..."

"Okay. Can you walk and talk? Where's Thalia and Percy?"

I followed Will into the big room that had been set up for the wounded, which looked to be just about every camper. Jake was signing, but I forgot to watch what he was saying as I saw all the kids laying bloody and bandaged. Will tapped my arm, I looked at him.

"I did what I could. But I need your help." 

I nodded, motioned for a second. I turned to Jake, "Sorry. Just a moment, grab the counselors and find a room to mee, I'll be half an hour." 

He just nodded and left. I pulled my chest armor off and discarded it by the door. I turned to Will, "Show me the worst ones first." 

As he led me through the room, he handed me a Nectar Aid juice box. I sighed in gratitude. I felt some energy come back. I knelt down beside one girl who looked white as a ghost, I placed my hand on her forehead, there was no response from her, she had been knocked out hard, and her internal organs were struggling.  

Apollo, father. Please give me strength. 

I closed my eyes and tapped into my healing side now, the anger was washing away, and now it was replaced with worry and a deep need for my fellow campers and siblings to be okay. I felt the tingle in my chest and the warmth spread down into my arm and into my hand and into the girl, she looked no older than 12. She shouldn't be fighting in this war. She should be playing tag and giggling at sleepovers with friends. A sadness hit my hard, like a punch in the gut. I saw her eyes flutter open and she gasped for a deep breath. 

I let go and smiled down at her. She blinked a few times and looked around. 

"Where am I?" She asked confused. 

Will leaned over, "How are you feeling?" He asked, his hands moving fluently, ASL a second nature for him. The girl blinked and pulled her eyebrows together. 

"I feel okay, tired." She finally confessed. 

"Drink this," He produced a juice box and handed it to the girl. "Drink it all and then sleep." Will directed. 

I got up and went to the next bed, a boy looked like he was stabbed right through. He was withering in pain, despite the ambrosia and nectar and the other mortal medicine and bandages. I didn't bother asking for permission just yanked the bandages off. Even in his pain, and disoriented state he looked at me in fear. He tried to shake his head and mumble something, I just ignored him. Will and someone else came running, clearly he was screaming and making a scene. 

"Oh shut up." I signed, my face clearly showed my annoyance. "I'm trying to save you from meeting Hades." I placed my hands on either side of the big ugly wound on his stomach. Will and the other camper, I glanced up, it was Austin, they were holding the kid down, trying to keep him still, and talk him into letting me heal him. I ground my teeth and I felt the internal organs struggling, and the internal bleeding. I closed my eyes and concentrated, I felt the warm tingling start and I forced it into his bloody and banged body. He slowly started to stop struggling, he I felt my energy depleting, but I kept going, feeling everything internally mending together, his vital signs became stable. I was shoved backwards, I stumbled and shook my head. I felt kind of dizzy. Will was looking at me in concern. 

"All good." I signed, and forced a thin lipped smile. He narrowed his eyes at me. I shrugged him off and went to the next kid. I spent the next half an hour fixing up the more worrisome cases, the kids who were close to Hades door. Kayla and Will kept shoving mouthfuls of Ambrosia into my mouth as I forced my powers into kids. Some where grateful, most were thankful, but still, a few kids freaked out. 

Just as I forced myself to my feet, Travis and Conner came bounding into the room, their arms full of more mortal medical supplies. 

"Oh thank the gods. And you paid?" 

"Uhhh ya." Travis said, avoiding Will's eye. 

I knew they were lying but I didn't care. I'm sure the mortals would be fine. If we fails, Manhattan would be no more anyways, so it wouldn't matter. Another Hermes girl came in carrying even more bags of supplies. Will and Kayla and a few Athena kids came running, and grabbed the supplies and started distributing it to the medics. 

"Okay, meeting time." Jake appeared at the door, waving me down. I nodded, feeling dead on my feet. As I followed him down the hall, he explained. "I'm using Annabeth's shield to keep an eye on things. The enemy withdrew at sunrise; not sure why. We've got a lookout at each bridge and tunnel." 

I nodded. 

"Where's Percy?" 

Jake sniggered, but pointed down the hall, "With Annabeth." He signed. "Want me to get him?" 

I shook my head. "No, it's fine. let them have a moment." 

The door opened and Selina stepped out, she looked like she had been crying.  She stopped when she saw us coming. Her lip quivered again. 

"Nora!" 

"Hey! How are you? Are you okay? Are you hurt?" I asked, hurrying over. 

She shook her head. "No. I'm...I'm not hurt." She looked at me hard for a second. Her multi coloured eyes looked so upset and broken. "I'm so sorry Nora." 

"What?" I glanced at Jake. He shrugged and motioned for the room opposite. 

"In a second." 

He nodded and went into the room, leaving me and Selina alone in the hall. 

"This is all my fault." She looked down at her shoes. She had been in combat, yet she still looked clean and perfectly put together. Her camo was pink, so she looked like Combat Barbie. I smiled slightly as I looked at her, even the smudge of dirt and a little scrap on her forehead looked intentional. But she looked so broken and dejected. 

 "Silena, how is it your fault?" I signed, the small smile slid off my face and I frowned. 

"I've never been any good at camp," she murmured. "Not like you or Percy. Or Annabeth...or Charlie or Raph. If I was a better fighter..."

Her mouth trembled. Ever since Beckendorf died she'd been getting worse, and every time I looked at her, it made me angry and feel incredibly guilty about his death all over again. Her expression reminded me of glass- like she might shatter any minute. I swore to myself that if I ever found the spy who'd cost her boyfriend his life, I would give him to Mrs. O'Leary as a chew toy.

"You're a great camper," I told Silena. "You're the best pegasus rider we have. And you get along with people. There is so much more then being a good fighter. My first day there, remember? You were my first friend at camp. And you can make friends with anyone! Believe me, anyone who can make friends with Clarisse has talent."

She stared at me, "You get along with Clary, too!" 

"No. Raph made her. It was a forced mutual begrudging respect. Now? I don't think that's going to repair." 

She looked at me like I'd just given her an idea. "That's it! We need the Ares cabin. I can talk to Clarisse. I can talk to Raph. I know you miss him, I can feel it, you still love him." 

"Selina-" 

She placed her delicate hands over mine. Shaking her head. "No. I'm the daughter of the love godess, remember? I know there is something else going on..I KNOW how much he loves you, let me talk to him, see if there is something I can do. If i can figure out his problem, maybe he can convince Clarisse. She'll listen to him. To me. I know I can convince them to help us."

"Whoa, Silena. Even if you could get off the island, Clarisse is pretty stubborn. Once she gets angry. And Selina...Raph chose his side. He chose to stay back. He chose pride over...over me."

She looked at me, like she didn't believe me at all. "Do you honestly believe that?" Her delicate hands signing fluently as her farcical expression scoffed. "You can tell me, remember? What is said in cabin 10 stays with cabin 10." 

"Maybe..." I sighed, I felt the hurt and anger and betrayal, but under all that there was a little bit of doubt, a small tiny spark, that maybe just maybe... "I don't know! It hurts so much. Watching him walk out  and he didn't even look back!" 

"Nora. Everyone could see how much he loves you. The few times you disappeared...he lost his mind. He was ready to rip the world apart. Trust me when I say he LOVES you. So I KNOW there is something else. I'm the daughter of the love goddess." 

"We aren't exactly on good terms, me and your mother." 

"No. I know. But we're friends. At least...I hope so." 

"Ya Selina. And I trust you." 

"Good. So please," Silena said. "I can take a pegasus. I know I can make it back to camp. Let me try at least, talk to Raph for you and Clarisse"

"Take Glitter." I signed. "She'll get you to camp safe." 

"No, I can't take her! You need her." 

"No. I'd feel better if Glitter took you back." I countered. 

"Glitter...can you take Selina back to camp? She's going to try convince the Areas cabin to come help." 

"Absolutely Lady. She is so sweet and kind. I will make sure no harm comes to her. I'll wait out front." 

"Thanks Glitter. " 

"She is waiting for you." 

"Thank you Nora. I'll make it right! I promise." 

I just nodded and watched her run back down the hall. I felt alone and empty again. I wasn't sure what she meant by something else was going on with Raph, but I didn't have a chance to think too much. Conner Stole came sprinting towards me. He skidded to a stop. 

"Miss O'Leary just got back with Grover. Where's Percy?" 

"I'll get him." I signed,  "Bring him to that room," I pointed to where the war meeting was going to take place. "I'll meet you there in a second." Conner nodded and disappeared again. I took a shuddering breath and knocked on the door Percy was in, I couldn't hear, so I slowly and hesitantly opened the door. I was too tired and distracted to tease them, being behind a closed door. I poked my head in, Percy was kneeling on the ground, and Annabeth was laying on a couch. She looked pale and sweaty, but her eyes were open. They both looked around when I slid in. 

"NORA!" Percy jumped to his feet and ran over. "Did you find-" 

I shook my head, looking away blinking tears back. No sign of Michael's body. He was swept away in the eruption of our powers. I took a deep breath and looked back at them. 

"Selina went back to camp to try convince Clarisse to come- She's on Glitter, she'll be fine." I added quickly before they protested. "Grover is here, and there is a war council waiting across the hall." 

Percy sighed heavily and turned to Annabeth. She gave him a weak smile and nodded. "Go, I'll be fine." 

"Let me heal you. At least a bit. You look like you're ready to meet Hades." I signed as I walked over. 

"You don't look any better." She signed wearily. Her grey eyes watched me like a hawk. Her eyebrows pulled together. "I'm fine. I'm not the one who took a knife for an invincible warrior." I shot back, my scowl was clear on my face as my hands did the talking. I knelt down and she stiffened. 

"I can bring Will and Jake in here to hold you." I threatened. I couldn't hear it, but I knew she had growled. She looked to Percy who had come over and sat down beside her. 

"Just let her. Please? Will's the best healer, but Nora has super powers."  His face was oddly gentle and pleading, after the fierce terrifying look he had in battle just a few hours ago. 

Annabeth sighed heavily and then reluctantly nodded. I took her arm and felt the last remaining remnants of poison trying to work its way through her body. I took a shaky breath and tapped into my gift as I asked Apollo for a last bit of strength. I encouraged the warm tingling healing to flow down into my arms and into Annabeth. I could feel her breath easier and then everything in her relaxed, all her tense muscles eased. Her heart slowed to a regular steady rhythm. I felt her exhale. I glanced up and her eyes slowly fluttered shut with a small smile on her face, and she was asleep. I let go and  fell back onto my butt, and then I just collapsed onto my back. I felt my head spinning and my own eyes fluttering. I just wanted to sleep and never wake up. 

"Until this evening, Jackson. Sleep well...My Dear." 

Kronos words bounced inside my skull and my eyes snapped open. What did he mean by that? Sleep well? What was he planning on doing while I slept? I blinked a few times, trying to blink the black spots away. A fuzzy face of Percy appeared. 

"You are going to kill yourself one day." 

"One day. But it is not this day." I signed back. 

"Didn't Aragon...or Strider or whatever his name was say that line in Lord of the Rings?" 

"Yep." I nodded. 

Percy rolled his eyes. He held a hand out for me and he hefted me to my feet and together we left the room, letting Annabeth sleep. We had a war meeting to attend to.