Act I – Rising Action

Chapter 1

Molly gasped slightly as her knife slipped and cut her fingers through her gloves. "Fuck! Shit!" She yelped.

Hopping around her lab, she hurried over to the medical kit and started bandaging her hand.

"Damn, you've got a mouth."

She stiffened, inhaled sharply through her nose, and then exhaled with a sighed. "Yes?" Turning, she eyed the teen boy leaning against her door. He smirked and snapped the lock on her door. "What are you doing here?"

He smiled. "So you already know your lineage?"

She sighed and nodded. "A cy-"

"No names!" He interrupted. Molly nodded again, though she looked at him sharply for interrupting her. He tilted his head in an apologetic gesture.

She nodded her forgiveness. "A man with one eye almost killed me in primary school. Followed me home. Mum finally had to tell me what was different about me."

"And?"

"I'm closely related to Death it seems."

The boy frowned. "Death, the lesser known?"

She nodded slowly and only once. He sighed. "Good. I'm on the right track. You've never left UK?"

She shook her head. "Sorry, who are you?"

He frowned. "You know."

"I know your type. I just don't know who you are."

"Nico di'Angelo. I feel very at home here in the morgue." He smiled gently. Her eyes widened.

"That's…impossible."

He looked at her stunned. "Wait, just how estranged are you from your…distant relations overseas?"

She shrugged. "I only heard about my distant relations three years ago."

The boy sighed. "Who was your mentor?"

She hesitated and then whispered her answer to him. "…Daedalus…but he's gone now. Disappeared three years ago."

The boy, Nico, sighed again. "He's dead. I was there when he died. Murdered actually. Is there any replacement for him? Is everything under control here?"

She winced. "Me, and I certainly hope so, although I can't help but feel ill-suited for my tasks."

He blinked and then smiled. "Perfect. You'll do perfectly for the job. I hardly know you, but I know your type." He smiled at her, putting her at ease instantly. "My father sent me over to check on you guys. I was just told about our relatives over the Atlantic a few days ago." He shrugged. "Wasn't surprising, considering all the other revelations I've already been given. You know the real reason, I hope, behind these natural disasters that are becoming more common?"

She shuddered and nodded. "Hermes told me what's happening…the gods are nervous. They've closed themselves up." She shivered.

Nico nodded. "I understand. The other demigods still don't know completely what's going on. Well, I just wanted to check in and see what was up. Thank you."

He turned but stopped when she called out. "What was the revelation?"

He gave her a confused look. "You were never told?" She shook her head. He scoffed slightly at the gods, shooting a dark glance at the ceiling. "Rome never fell." He left the room without a trace that he had been there.

Molly frowned at his words and then…and then… Her eyes flew open wide. "Oh shit!" She knew. Her bleeding hand forgotten, she realized that she had to open a whole knew line of investigation. She needed to find out if there was a whole knew camp out there. She needed to create alliances, trade, bonds, and friendships, prepare for war too. She sighed in disappointment and pulled out her phone.

Sorry Jim. I have to cancel our date. Something came up, and I can't get out of it. : / ~Molly

She slipped her phone into her pocket quickly, finished wrapping her hand, and locked up. She was doing her damn best to keep Sherlock Holmes and his brother off her scent…literally. She chuckled. Pulling her phone out again, she rang up the Director of Camp Olympia.

Hermes.

"Hello, my dear co-Director! What brings you to call me?" The god's voice was faint, as if he was holding the phone away from his face. He sounded distracted.

She chuckled. "Juggling packages again, Errand Boy?"

He gave a slight laugh. "Working late again, Morbid Molly?"

She giggled and laughed, her voice echoing in the empty halls. "I can't help it if I find the dead to be great conversationalists!"

"You have issues."

She smirked and then her voice got serious. "Okay, why didn't you let me know about you family's…schizophrenic issues?"

He was quiet. "Nico's seen you then? He's the only other demigod who knows."

"Yes."

"Sorry about not telling you. You're Greek. I was sworn."

She growled. "Any other secrets?"

"None. You know it all."

"Good, because I can't really help train the demigods, unless I have all the answers variables. You know?"

Hermes snickered. "Yeah, I know. You coming in for Camp a week early, right?"

"Yep."

"Sweet! See ya then, luv!"

She chuckled. "See ya then, Sweets." Hanging up, Molly grabbed her bulky sweater and wrapped it around herself. She left the lonely building quietly.

Jim Moriarty watched her leave from his car. He frowned in thought. She broke off her date with him. Why?

She had been looking forward to having a night in with him and watching some sort of sports competition that she had recorded during the day, while she worked. He frowned deeper.

"She's hiding something, something not even Sherlock knows…but what?"

Jim smirked and started his car. He was going to find out.

Should I write more? Does this catch your interest? ; )

Ink…