Nico POV

There was silence. My sister looked horrified, my father looked smug, and I… well, I'm pretty sure I looked confused. My sister and my father stared at each other. Finally, I just couldn't take the silence.

"What does Apollo have to do with anything?"

My sister didn't answer. My father frowned at me, probably for asking a question (he doesn't like questions), but then he smiled. It wasn't a 'oh-I-forgive-you-for-asking-me-a-question' smile, It was a 'this-will-make-Violet-suffer-even-more' kind of smile. He didn't answer my question though. Instead, he simply said,

"Nico, you will understand soon. Ask Violet as she is getting ready."

That snapped Violet out of her trance.

"Getting ready? For what?" Her voice seemed a bit shaky. I almost felt bad for her. In fact I would have if it wasn't for seven little words.

"Nico will take you to Camp Half Blood."

Violet POV

I took a step back.

"But that's for demigods! I'm a goddess!" Nico and I said at the same time (with the exception of Nico said she, not I'm).

"It's for punishment," Hades stared at me, causing me to shiver slightly. What does he have against Apollo? I didn't dare ask him that. I just nodded and began to walk (briskly) to my room.

I heard my father say something to Nico, but I wasn't paying attention. I was too angry and hurt and mostly confused. How did he figured it out?

I reached my room when I head the distant shout of "Violet, wait up!" I didn't of course. I just started packing. By the time my little brother reached my room I had already packed: a few skirts (2 black, 1 purple), shirts (5 purple, 5 black), one black dress (I figured my purple dress would be the flowered one I'm wearing), jeans (1 purple skinny, 1 black skinny, 1 blue boot cut), 1 pair of blue jean shorts, and shoes (1 pair of black tennis shoes, 1 pair of purple flats). I was sitting on my bed, my black suitcase sitting right beside me, when Nico came in.

"I suppose that you want to know what's going on." It wasn't a question.

But Nico didn't say anything about that. He surprised me by sitting on the other side of me and began talking to me, at first it was quietly, about Camp Half Blood; I admit it was interesting, but I had to cut him off.

"Did Father want you to tell me about this?" My tone was harsh, but Nico didn't flinch. In fact, his eyes softened. Actually, he looks pretty tired...

"No," he admitted. "He wanted me to interrogate you and get all the facts. But I didn't think I should." He paused, then asked, "Are you okay?"

I looked at him in shock. This is coming from a fourteen year old boy? One whose father is the god of the Underworld no less?

I smiled, "Anya's getting to you." Noticing his confused expression, I continued, "Most fourteen year old boys wouldn't care too much of their half-sister's feelings. Much less the sons of Hades."

Nico pondered that thought before nodding. "Let's go."

I sighed, I didn't want to leave. "Already?"

Nico blushed a little, "Well, I kinda want to see Anya before we leave."

I nodded, remembering the countless time Aphrodite had told me about how cute Anya and my brother were together. I agreed (not just to shut her up, I might add), but it got so annoying, honestly, hearing it all the time. Although if I had to hear about Percy's tragic love life one more time… I'm not a violent person, but I just might have to duct tape Aphrodite's mouth, tie her up, and super glue her butt to a chair while slowing ripping up all her designer outfits. It would have brought me great pleasure. But I'm usually nonviolent.

As I got up off my bed, I hesitated before going through the door. I really didn't want to leave, I mean, who wants to be punished for love? Who wants to be punished for anything for that matter? I glanced at my room one more time, the familiar light purple walls with black flower patterns seemed to be saying goodbye. I found myself wondering how long my punishment would be since Hades didn't specify. Maybe I'll be there only a few days. I knew that was a hopeless thought. It would more likely be months or years before I will be free.

Nico squeezed my hand. He's actually not a bad kid… Great, now my mom will kill me if she ever heard me say or think that. But I smiled back at my little brother and followed him to the River Styx where is girlfriend is. Did I mention she's not only Nico's girlfriend, but a naiad and the Guardian of the River Styx? Plus, she's pretty cool. I was the one to put the thought into Nico to go find her. She needed a friend and I was rarely in the Underworld.

We approached the river without talking. It wasn't an awkward silence, we were both thinking (though I'm sure his thoughts had to do with someone named Anya while I was still pondering, worrying, and fretting about my fate).

I smiled as Nico's face lit up when we reached the river. They talked a bit as I stood aside, I didn't want to bother them. That and I am a loner. I hate big crowds and being the center of attention, but I love being alone with only my thoughts and maybe a good book. However, today, I mostly wanted to mope around. I hated being punished. The last time I was I was forbidden to read anything for a decade. A WHOLE DECADE! My mother came to the rescue, but that was the worst year ever. I believe it was in 1978…

"Let's go," Nico's voice disrupted my thoughts. I could see he was curious as to why I was being punished. I decided to prolong telling him as long as I can.

"I'm ready," I lied; he knew it, I knew it. But saying, 'No! Take me to my mommy!' isn't really goddess-like of me.

I said goodbye to Anya and followed Nico to some patch of shadows. He had to shadow travel me, so no one would know I'm a goddess. My last thought before going into the void?

What if I can never leave Camp Half-Blood?