Author's Note: If you haven't read the author's note in the previous chapter, I'd do so to avoid feeling greatly confused. And if you haven't read the first chapter, edited with the new OC, I'd read that as well. Thank you!

So you've done that? Great! Sorry for the inconvenience! Rick Riordan is just the king of plot twists haha. This chapter will be guest starring Ferdinand! Remember him? He was from The Lightning Thief. He was Grover's uncle who was turned into stone by Medusa. Sound familiar? Anyway, read on!

Rilo Ward

I thought mother would be sad. However, when I tiptoed into our tiny apartment that morning, she showed no emotion. She was silent. I was not. Everything came out of my mouth without control, without reason. "My dad is weird, and there was a mailman that could fly, and my best friend died, and ghosts, and help, and-"

"Calm down." Mother cut me off, her voice frozen over and strict. She did not ask what I could possibly mean. She did not ask where I'd been. She asked, "Does this mean that you know?"

I paused. "I do not know what I am supposed to know. I know there is a camp. I know I am not human. I know my dad's name is Morpheus. I know a friend of a friend is in trouble. I know I'm scared."

Her eyes narrowed. "Do you want your father to be right!? Do you want him to think I raised a coward!?"

I swallowed hard. "How did you-"

"You know enough. Obey your friend. You are part of Greek Mythology." Mother handed out a purse to me, taking my boney hand and forcefully closing my pale fingers around it. The carrier looked like a potato sack. "This has all that you need." She explained. "I knew that this day would come. Go now."

My mother was not one to display much warmth. There was no 'I love you' or 'stay safe'. There was no hug. Her expression was just like stone, like the stories she used to tell me of Medusa. I'd thought mother would be sad, but I was glad she wasn't. It hurt though too, that she seemed unconcerned. I was marching off to my death with a single note and a potato sack satchel, and she didn't seem to mind. I was not aware that once I was gone, she'd waited and waited and waited for my footsteps to fade. And then, finally, she had wept.

The note had said first to protect children of Hades. I would do what it said. I did not understand much, but I did not need to. I just needed to care.

I put on the glasses Bianca had given to me over my blue-grey eyes. I'd thought maybe it would clarify things, but in actuality, it just made me question my sanity more. Click-clomp, click-clomp, click-clomp. I met the brown eyes of a man with hooves. Unidentifiable noise drifted from my mouth. "Uh, eh, er, um, eep, ah," was all I could manage.

"Demigod!" he exclaimed and, erm, 'trotted' over to me. There was that word again. 'Demigod'.

I put a finger to my lips to silence him, my eyes like a deer's in headlights.

He chuckled. "No need to worry! They can't hear my words! I'm a ghost!" He 'comforted'. He said it so nonchalantly. "I'm Ferdinand, a satyr. My nephew saved the wild, for the record."

"…You must be very proud," I said softly, politely, though I had not the slightest idea what he was talking about. Was his nephew the Lorax? "I am Rilo. Is there anyway…you could help me?"

His expression turned to one of regret. " I failed last time to help those in need. I think I'm getting a second chance though! Let's do it!" I thought he seemed generous and wise. "Where do you need to go?" Ferdinand asked.

"It is more like…I need to find someone." I decided, fidgeting. "Their name…well, he or she would be a descendent of Hades. That's all I know." I was so desperately searching for someone, yet I didn't know who they were.

"You are not on your way to camp? You are looking for a mysterious child of Hades?" he mused. "I know one. He visits me sometimes. I'm afraid I have no way of getting you there to him. I can, however, help you get in touch with the boy." Ferdinand took out a golden coin, tossed it in a gutter, and said, "Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering. Show us Nico di Angelo." My eyes widened. How had I forgotten about Bianca's little brother?

I should have been planning for things to not go as planned. In the view of the mist, I oddly saw a throne, with theatrical writing on a sign. It read, 'God of The Underworld'. So, of course, I assumed to see none other than the God of the Underworld. Instead, there was a beautiful woman.

"That's Aphrodite!" Ferdinand hissed, clearly as confused as myself.

She was talking to someone, crying, and devouring a pint of ice cream. "I can't believe he did this to me!" she sobbed. "I was way out of his league! And he dumped me? They'll pay though! All those nasty cheaters!"

Then I could see a pale boy hiding, eavesdropping in the shadows. The iris message really had gone through after all. Was it possible? Could this boy that appeared so dark and detached be the same person that followed Bianca blindly and played mythomagic avidly? Yes. It was Nico di Angelo. He saw us first, a flash of recognition in his expression. Something seemed to click in his head. Frowning, he wrote in the grass that died at his touch, 'FIND FLINT.' He knew something of the situation.

But what did he mean? Flint? As in fire creating rocks? As in a person? Was the question: what is that, or who is that?

Hades came into view, conversing with Aphrodite, oblivious of our presence. "Get off my throne. Or this is war. "

"Love beats death, Uncle! I just need to borrow your powers!" Aphrodite pleaded.

The god of the Underworld sighed. "Get up. Now. Or else you-" he froze. "We're being watched." For a terrifying moment, I thought he had spotted Nico. His sight landed directly on Ferdinand and I though, his eyes not really eyes, but Greek fire. He saw us through the message. "Hello satyr. Half mortal." His voice was measured and cold. "Did you hear anything?"

I stared. Maybe I'd turn invisible. Ferdinand piped up, "Just a little, but we don't know what's going on, and-"

"So to make a long story short, you heard something. In that case…I will have to kill you both."

Flint Shaden

I guess I should of known. I should of known something bad was going to happen. Things had been getting too peaceful lately. Just when everyone got comfortable was always when someone turned the world upside down. Not someone I guess, more like some Olympian. I didn't bother trying to control or change my fate. I just tried to predict it. I didn't even see this one coming though.

The day started out deceivingly normal. Ares kids were picking a fight with me. I was taller than them, and more powerful, but they were stronger physically, and it's not like I was going to use Hades 'gifts'. I ignored them. I wasn't a coward. I just picked my battles wisely. If it was for the world, or for someone I cared about, or obviously to beat Nixon's face in with skeletons, I'd battle. But to fight for my pride with people that didn't know anything about me? That's a waste.

Clarisse walked through the crowd of her cabin members. That was the only redeeming factor about Ares kids: they stuck together. "Back off of the freak!" she yelled. She was just about the only one they'd listen to. "Flint," Clarisse said in an unnecessarily loud voice. "'I've got a job for you. Your rookie friend is refusing to get up and train. Move her." She started walking off. I almost thought she was being unusually nice that day, but then she added, "Oh, and don't be alarmed by her black eye. She's lucky I didn't kill her."

Typical. I didn't necessarily get why I was the one that had to get her up, but whatever. I knew Regina hated me. She was hard to get along with too. A small part of me felt like I wanted to help her though. I was the only one who knew the actual situation. Just like how I was one of the few who knew Nico's reasons for hatred. And he didn't even mean to tell me that. I was failing to help him though. Maybe it'd be different with her.

I opened the door of the Ares cabin. I never thought I would walk in there willingly. The first thing she said in response to my courage: "Go away."

I'll admit, I wasn't around people very much. Just ghosts, and even with them, I wanted to be left alone. And I especially wasn't around girls. I was probably worse at talking to them than Percy Jackson. Is that sad or what? I just sat down on a bunk across from her.

"I mean it! Leave me alone!" she exclaimed. Well, this was going beautifully.

I shrugged indifferently. "Note to self: making friends isn't your forte. Got it." I sounded bored. I just didn't want her to know I cared or she'd run.

Regina looked like a train wreck. Not in a bad way, just…well, it was like she was about to self destruct, and you couldn't look away in morbid fascination, but you sort of felt like you should. She actually was a little eerie…in a different way than me. It was more in your face, like if you said the wrong thing, she'd probably kill you. No need to worry, because, you know, I'm such a smooth operator. I always say the perfect thing. Right.

She sighed, maybe not having the energy to kick me out. Lucky me. Not really. "Why didn't you send me to the hospital or something anyway?" she asked, her hazel eyes framed with dark make up in an artistic fashion.

"I've been there before. They thought I was schizophrenic for the ghost seeing thing." I laughed bitterly. All the things that piled up from yesterday that I thought I'd handled so well were just hitting me now. "You can't cure insanity when they are the ones that don't see everything."

"So you're insane." She concluded. "How fitting."

"…Thanks."

"You threw away those razors at the park, didn't you?"

I swung my legs. ADHD, remember? I was vague. "Maybe." I wanted her to get mad, that was better than apathetic. It didn't work. I continued. "…You knew you were a demigod before all this happened, right?"

"Maybe." Regina responded in a mocking mimic.

We stared each other down. Or it was more like she was wondering how stupid I was, and I was trying to distract myself by guessing what shade of red her hair matched so I wouldn't seem intimidated. I decided on cheery soda.

It was silent for a while because I didn't talk much, and she wasn't in the mood to say anything. There was nothing to interrupt when there were shrieks outside. I looked around first. I'd like to think I have a bit more experience being a demigod, being alert. It didn't matter though because all we needed was to hear. "The oracle! A quest! Everyone!"

I should of known. I should of known something bad was going to happen.

Regina Abelle

Nope. Na-ah. I would not leave the cabin. That Clarisse girl had already punched me in the face for it, and there was no way I would back down now. Maybe my fatal flaw was stubborn-ness. Or rebellion. Or general hatred of everything. Or selfish-ness. Or…okay, now I'm making myself even more depressed.

Flint went pale. Maybe I'd get lucky and he'd pass out? He was so infuriating, asking questions, as if he had the right to get to know me after what he did. I mean Flint was the one that was a mysterious freak. Not me. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a reaction. "C'mon." he urged, stern.

"No way. I don't want to, and you can't make-"

He literally dragged me out of the bunk. I still wasn't worried. Flint's behavior made it seem like even if someone dropped off a kitten named Snicker Doodle Streusel, he'd still treat it with the upmost caution. "No, no!" he'd yell. "Snicker Doodle Streusel could be plotting to destroy us! You can tell by the way it's playing with that daffodil. Pure evil." He was paranoid, and seemed about as carefree as a mourner at a funeral. He looked at everyone as if they could topple over and die at anytime.

I didn't get what was going on, protesting as he nearly pulled my shoulder out of its socket, dragging me along. This was so not appreciated. 'Quest' sounded like riding on unicorns (excuse me, pegasi) collecting fairy feathers (uh, harpy feathers maybe). It sounded like a simple adventure, happy and nauseatingly mushy.

I'm only going to say this once: I was wrong. I was way off. That became apparent as soon as I pushed through the crowd to see a girl with misty eyes. She looked possessed and such. "Uh…does she need help?" I questioned, clueless. Yes, I can occasionally be nice to people in the chaos of danger.

"Rookie, pipe down." Clarisse commanded. "Do you want another black eye?"

I raised an eyebrow. I could of brought up how she and Chris had been kissing half the night just to get back at her, but…nah.

The possessed redhead spoke.

"Three will answer the call.

A raven and a dove will brawl.

A girl electrifies the world.

Another sees behind the ghoul.

The quest number with turn to four,

But which is rotten to the core?

The only way that they will win,

Is if they face their ghosts again.

Stop the feud or dead will reap,

Nothing is what it now seems..."

The oracle fell to the ground in a heap as others surrounded her, fanning her face.

That did not sound like rainbows and butterflies to me. There was shocked silence, and then the far more annoying chatter of gossip.

A short old guy in a Hawaiian shirt walked up, sipping a Coca-Cola. "Quiet, brats! Now, let's sort this out, shall we? Which one of you fools want to die first, and be out of my life?" I'd gotten a tour yesterday by someone named Katie Gardner. She told me all about him, Mr. D. He got a firm look from Chiron. "What? I'm just saying the truth. Few come back from quests alive."

Astonishingly, the boy of few words spoke first. Flint seemed two parts scared, one part resigned. "They referenced a raven, ghosts, and the dead. I'm not stupid. They're talking about me. I'll go, it's not like I have any other option." I was starting to think about how I felt bad for whoever wound up going with him.

"The oracle also mentioned a girl that will 'electrify the world'." An Athena kid piped up. "Daughter of Zeus, maybe?" Well, that just burst my bubble.

I heard people talk of someone named Thalia, a huntress. So that was my half sister? How much do you want to bet that it's better than having Clarisse as your fake sibling? I stayed quiet, and so did Creepy Boy. We didn't get along, but we seemed to agree not to tell anyone about my real father. I felt bad though. If the wrong person was sent on the quest, everyone could end up dead. No matter what my grandma said, I was no killer, not with my words, and certainly not with my actions. I was about to speak up, but was interrupted.

"Shut up!… Okay, would you quit it with the puns!?" It was Flint. When he raised his voice, it filled the room, or in this case, the flowery scenery. He was talking to a freaking patch of grass. I told you he was insane. The idiot seemed to look around, realizing that everyone was looking at him, and not reacting to…whatever he saw or heard. "You don't…see him?" he questioned. Everyone gazed at Flint like he was crazy, and he sighed, as if he was used to that kind of stuff. "It's Nixon. He's standing right there?" he gestured to empty air. He seemed to question himself even more than the rest of camp did.

"Uh…I hate to break it to you, but there is no one there." I commented.

"No," the half-horse-half-man corrected, trotting forward. "Nixon might indeed be there. Let's think. What can a son of Hades see that we cannot?"

Flint turned pale, as if he saw a ghost. Because he did. "I can see…the dead."

Nixon Chadwick

I knew I was dreaming because I was in Olympus. Even though I'm awesome enough to be a god, it hadn't happened yet. Aphrodite was alone, on somehow solid clouds, her face constantly changing. She was standing, hands on her hips, because crossing her arms wasn't glamorous enough.

"Hey!" I grinned, sounding carefree, though a little annoyed, and a lot scared. She didn't visit for no reason. "Long time no see!"

"I've got a surprise for you." She said with a sweet smile, but her jaw was clenched. She was so mad that she didn't even tilt her face for the perfect lighting. I was so going to be in trouble.

I laughed sheepishly. "What's that?"

Out of nowhere, Mom lunged at me. "You ungrateful, cheating, backstabbing, jerk! YOU WILL PAY! You've dated so many girls, so many. They fell in love! And you never felt a thing for them!"

I flailed backwards in order to get away. Yeah, I trampled on girl's hearts. She never had an issue with it before though. Apparently, a scorned Aphrodite was an insane Aphrodite.

"You will never be seen or heard ever again by people! You can never touch, hug, or kiss! You are nothing!" she screeched, charging.

I darted backwards, but my back ended up against a pillar. I thought she'd stab me, but instead, she reached out, saying, "Poke!" and tapped my forehead. Then she giggled maniacally. "My work is done. Wake up, my son! See what surprise I have in store!"

Light seeped into my vision. I sat up too fast, and my head hit the ceiling because I had a top bunk. Being 6'4 was totally worth it for the chick attention I got, but it had its disadvantages. The first thing I did was check my reflection, like any other morning. Most of the time, I enjoyed basking in my handsome-ness, but what if Mom turned me into some monster?

I looked normal though. I saw myself, an approachable guy, yet intimidating at the same time because I was out of everyone's league.

Then I finally realized something was off. There was no one in my cabin. Girls were always here at least until 12 in the afternoon, putting on make up and doing their hair. I poked my head outside, and there was a crowd. I cursed. I hated any attention that was not centered around me. What could possibly be more important than myself?

I rolled my eyes as I realized there was a quest again. When I learned they were looking for a daughter of Zeus, I yelled, "It's her! Um…what's her name again…? Oh, Regina! She's daughter of Zeus!"

"Be quiet!" Flint growled, his eyes the exact color of green Greek fire. Ha, as if I could shut up.

"At least it's out in the open now. On the bright side, Regina, you can use so many pick up lines now! 'When I saw you, sparks flied'. Oh, or 'Even through the storm, our love will prevail'! That one's sort of cheesy though. Or how about-"

"Okay, would you quit it with the puns!?" Flint exclaimed, and I just laughed. I took pride in getting a rise out of him. Most couldn't because he was so reserved. At least this took my mind off of Aphrodite cursing me somehow.

I realized no one could see me just about the same time as emo boy. See? I can access my surroundings just as quick as him! Why weren't people staring? They always stared, even if I was just standing there. For the first time in my life, I was speechless.

I was silent long enough for Flint to say, "I can see…the dead." in his annoyingly vague way.

"You mean to say Nixon is a ghost?" Regina said, skeptical.

"You mean to say I'm not alive!?" I exclaimed. My life was over. Literally over.

"Hm…I don't know whether to feel happy or annoyed about this." Flint said, darkly sarcastic.

"At least he's not here to be obnoxious." Punk girl agreed.

"HEY!"

"He's getting mad." Flint translated. Then he said to me, none too warmly, "Don't worry that much. Maybe you're just half dead or something. We'll look for your body."

"Yeah, that makes me feel so much better!" I said sarcastically. "And the dove in this quest is obviously referring to me. I should go on the quest."

Right after, an Athena camper who couldn't see me said, "I think the dove in this quest is referring to Nixon. He should go on the quest." Of course, I'm finally smart, and they don't hear it!

"Yeah," Regina seconded reluctantly. I could tell she didn't really want to be noticed in this moment, but she sort of naturally drew attention to herself. That sort of happened when you had bright red hair and freakish clothing. Everything about her was all or nothing. "And…I think I should go too."

"Why!?" Clarisse barked, along with some others. "You're an Ares camper! I would of volunteered, but I know my place. We don't belong in that mission."

"Yeah…about that…" She grabbed the cabin leader's arm and shocked her, hard enough for even the toughest girl in camp to wince. Barely, but still. "That's for giving me a black eye. And I'm daughter of Zeus. Sorry."

The camp instructor clapped his hands nervously, as surprised campers seemed relieved they wouldn't have to go. "Well…you three should get ready."

Great. I had to go on a quest consisting of crazy people. I'd be with my worst enemy, a girl with zero fashion sense, and later on, some other chick we'd meet that was hopefully cooler than them. And then there was me, the only normal one. Oh, except I was a ghost. What could possibly go wrong?

Question of the Day (optional):

What does your name mean, reviewers?

Rilo Ward's name (pronounced Rye-low) roughly means Dream Guard.

Flint Shaden's roughly means Light up the Dark.

Regina Abelle's roughly means Queen Bee.

Nixon Chadwick's means roughly Fearless Dairy Farm Belonging to Chad. He's random, so he got a random name.