Chapter 4: Nico's Monster Blood Hound

After the kids were filed off the bus, they began walking through New York City. Nico pointed out Mt. Olympus on the 600th floor of the Empire State Building. Kyana giggled about how they were basically floating on top the tall building. Nico informed her that it was mainly the Mist blocking it from being seen on the outside.

"I want a hot dog," said Kyana as they passed by a stand.

"You just had a bag of chips on the bus," Nico said.

"But a New York hot dog," Kyana argued back.

"Kyana really likes food," said Leva. "It's a good thing she runs a lot." Her friend playfully slapped Leva's arm.

After a deliberation, they all agreed to get hot dogs and a veggie burger for Grover. Kyana ate her's readily, covered in mustard, relish, and onions. They reminded her of her mother's, whose letter she had put in the school mailbox rather than give to her grandfather. All of the countries liked their children well enough, but they played favorites sometimes. Kyana wasn't exactly a model British citizen: she was loud mouthed, outspoken, hyper, and easily impressed. (Sarcasm she had, however, sarcasm in boat loads.) Quite easily, her grandfather was drawn away from her.

Korleva, meanwhile, was one of her grandfather's favorites. The scarf around her neck was proof of that. Sometimes, Kyana found herself jealous of that piece of her friend's life, but she scolded herself harshly when she did. Leva had a nowhere near perfect life and Kyana had the most awesome mom ever. Her mom easily made up for anything wrong with her grandfather.

As they finished their meals, they tossed the trash and began walking towards the subway. Grover bleated quietly and Kyana turned to him, "What's wrong?"

"I smell monsters," the satyr told her. "Far away. I think…I think the scarf's been keeping them away."

"Dude, enchanted scarf!" Kyana said, high-fiving her friend.

"But how are the monsters finding us?" asked Nico.

"What if…what if they're looking for you?" offered Grover. "I mean, Leva's the one wearing the scarf and Big Three smell is stronger than any other godly smell."

"Big Three?" echoed Kyana.

"We'll explain on the subway," said Nico as they walked down the steps to New York's favorite underground transportation. Without a problem, they got their tickets handed in and boarded the subway. They all sat and looked around. The monster smell was stronger now, but Grover didn't think they were in danger quite yet.

"Alright, spill, Nico," commanded Kyana.

"Yeah, what's the Big Three?" asked Leva.

"The Big Three are Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades," he explained. The girls nodded, understanding why.

"Are you…one of their children?" asked Kyana.

"Yeah," he replied. "Son of Hades."

"So, you can, like, talk to zombies and stuff?" asked Kyana, her face quirking up brightly. Nico's lips didn't upturn at Kyana's comment. His face remained straight.

"Are there more Big Three Children?" asked Leva. "I mean, Zeus had a lot of lovers."

"No," said Nico, "There are only three- Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus, Percy Jackson, Son of Poseidon and me."

"Nico DiAngelo, Son of Hades," said Kyana, who moved next to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "Color me impressed." Nico furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"Why are there so few though?" asked Leva, "At least, in children of Zeus."

"World War II happened," answered Nico. "It was a war between the children of the Big Three and it was decreed that they couldn't have demigod children anymore."

"We hear a lot about WWII in our school," said Leva. "That's actually the reason they opened the school to grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as to children of the Axis nations-it was a cultural unity move." Nico and Grover nodded.

"So they all broke the rules?" Kyana said.

"All except Lord Hades," hissed a voice. A sharp faced woman sat down next to them.

Her hair was tied up in a messy bun and she wore a skirted black suit with white pantyhose and black high heels. Her nose was pointed and beak-like and her teeth glistened when she smiled. Leva looked her right in the eye, but she gave Kyana the shudders. Whoever the woman was, she an air of commanding fright surrounding her.

"Alecto," hissed Nico, quietly, "What are you doing here?"

"You were supposed to return to the Underworld," said Alecto. "When you did not meet us, we began to search."

"I decided to help Grover pick up some demigods."

"Is she the monster?" Leva whispered to Grover.

"Yeah," he replied. "One of the Kindly Ones." Leva recognized the name her mythology teacher called The Furies.

"Are you a monster?" asked Kyana, bluntly. Leva looked at her friend with great aggravation.

"Yes, sweetie," replied Alecto, visibly annoyed.

"And you smelled out Nico?" she continued, with true innocence.

"Yes," the Fury replied, not knowing what the girl was getting at.

"So…are you like Nico's monster blood hound?"

Nico-with speed faster than light-pulled Kyana back, away from Alecto's wrath. The servant of Hades bared her fangs at the pigtailed girl, who clutched Nico's sleeves in fright. Alecto's skin was turning leathery and black and her suit was melting into her body. Thankfully, the monster calmed and settled herself down before anyone of the subway really noticed.

"No," she finally said, threateningly. Kyana gulped and apologized profusely for her mistake, still not letting go of Nico's sleeve out of pure fright.

"Um, Miss…Alecto?" asked Leva, with respect. "What did you mean Hades didn't break the rule?"

"Young Nico," she replied, "Is not of this time."

"You're older than you look?" asked Kyana.

"I'm from 1940," Nico told them, sadly. "Zeus killed my mother and my father had Alecto put my sister in I in a hotel that kept us young." Kyana gave Nico a hug.

"I'm sorry about your mom," she said. "And your sister. There are only three, you said." Nico was caught off-guard by the hug and only nodded. Leva laughed.

"Kyana's a touchy-feely person," explained the Russian. "She is always giving people hugs."

"Great," said Nico, curtly. "Let go now." Kyana released.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

"Like how you don't even care how he's from 1940," said Grover.

"Countries for grandparents," Leva reminded him. The subway reached their stop and the group got off. Nico stared at Alecto as they stood at the bus stop.

"I'm going to make sure that Kyana and Leva make it to Camp Half-Blood safely," he told her.

"Alright, then," she said, not at all pleased. Alecto walked away into a back alley and disappeared into the shadows. They heard her transform into her true form and as the bus pulled up, they saw her flying away against the sun.

"By the way, Kyana," said Nico.

"Yeah?" she asked as they loaded up onto the bus.

"You were right about the monster blood hound thing,' he said. Kyana erupted with laugher as they took their seats on the bus.

End of Chapter...

Kyana: What's this? I got a chapter out on time? WOOHOO! No translations this week!