-Nico-

I've decided that today is actually getting worse and worse.

Today had started with me returning from a week-long Underworld trip because Hades had needed me to help detain some restless spirits in the Fields of Punishment; where the screams there always made my blood curl, even if I knew they had done some seriously awful thing to deserve that kind of afterlife. So not my favourite task. Then I return to camp, only to have Percy demand I come with him to save a Muse who is imprisoned. Now I've been handed a quest by a Goddess herself, and from the sense I pulled from the orb, it wasn't going to be easy or pleasant.

I seriously cannot catch a break. After this, I'll be sleeping for a week. I don't even care that Will would say that's unhealthy.

At least you're not a plant, I muse to my disgruntled self.

A shiver runs down my back. I really don't like being a plant; I still get nightmares about popcorn. It's almost as bad as my hatred of flying.

Now, I sit on my bed in the Hades cabin, letting Percy go on ahead to yap about our quest outside; away from me. Though, I have a feeling he altered the story a bit, seeing as when we were fighting he so was not 'kicking my butt'. I know Jason and the others went off packing.

I groan, not something I'd do with people around, and flop backwards. My head landing on my worn, canvas bag, which is partially full of clothes and toiletries, and I wince. I remain laying down, staring at the dark ceiling; drifting into thought.

That orb had held what seemed like the essence death itself, which could only mean that death is a very real threat there. It overpowered the feelings of fear and, surprising present, hope. What kind of dimension could this possibly be? And how had the Titans arrived to be there?

Questions flooded my mind, yet I had no answers to satisfy them.

I was so immersed in wondering, that I didn't register the knock at my door. In fact, the only time I realized another presence was when Jason leaned over me and smiled.

Surprised, I sat up quickly; knocking our heads together with a painful smack.

"Ow, a little warning before you sneak up on me. Please." I mutter with a hand to my forehead. I shoot a glare his way, and by the look on his face he doesn't buy that I mean it. Despite all odds, we've struck up a good friendship; which I'm glad for. Not that I'd ever admit it to him.

"That defeats the purpose of 'sneaking'. Besides, I rarely get the chance to surprise you. Normally it's the other way around. I've considered getting you a bell." He laughed and readjusts a black backpack that must be holding his supplies on his shoulder. "I thought I'd swing by to get you, rather than letting Leo charge in. Hazel is already by the docks with Chiron and Lady Hecate."

With a final press to my forehead, I stand up and grab my bag. Beside my bed, I have my sword, a gift from my father that I also pick up and slide it into a sheath at my hip.

I give a weary sigh, and then nod at Jason and he leads the way out of my cabin.

Arriving to the docks, everyone is there already; plus Percy and Frank, who decided to see us off.

Leo and Hazel are deep into conversation with Frank standing at her side, nodding occasionally. Chiron had distanced himself away from Lady Hecate, looking rather grim. His usual default expression, I realize.

Lady Hecate is holding what seemed to be a lunch bag, swollen from what was inside. She opened it and pulled out 3 fist-sized rocks, which reflected light off in different colours. She laid them out in a triangle formation on the dock. I watch in fascination and unease.

When she was done, she looked up and smiled a solemn smile.

"I'll only give this explanation once, so listen carefully. I will transport you there, using these," Lady Hecate wove her hand towards the rocks on the dock, "Once you're there, you will have 7 days to find out information, and on the last day Hazel will set up the other three rocks in the same formation and together we will move you back. Hazel and I have already discussed her part."

Something in the Goddess voice causes a shiver to run down my spine, like she has a hidden meaning only they know about. I raise an eyebrow at Hazel, only to have her not look in my direction as she nodded.

"Now! Everyone into the rocks and keeps your hands to your sides," Hecate smiled again, "I'd hate for any of you to lose some fingers."

With that incentive, we slowly shuffle between the rocks. None of us are comfortable with the idea of any other dimension, I can tell by their faces.

Between the rocks, there's enough room so that we're not directly touching, but it's still far too close to other people for my own personal comfort.

"Uhh, I have a question." Leo says nervously, raising his hand as if in school. "What happens if Hazel is… unable to help?"

The Goddess ponders this for a moment, and we're all deathly quiet, which is unusual for Leo and Percy.

"Then you don't come back."

I do not like that answer.

"Like ever?" Percy demands sarcastically. His hand goes to his pocket I notice, but I doubt even he'd attack the Goddess.

"Yes. Now stand back, this has a little bit of a kick."

She moves her hands out in front of her and starts chanting; green glowing mist appears.

I look over at Jason, who seems just as unsure as I feel. He looks back and gives a weak, but leader-like, smile.

And that's when it felt like our very beings were being ripped apart for the second time that day.

The actual traveling felt like being wind, and I dreaded the heavy lead feeling that would happen at the end of this ride. I liked underground, not flying. This felt closer to flying then shadow traveling. I do not recommend traveling though dimensions.

I couldn't hear, or see, but I could feel. As we traveled, it was scorching. If I had been whole, I would have no doubt that I would be red with burns and blistered.

There was no perception of time but after what felt like hours, I felt like I had jumped off a five story building into a pool of water. The sense of death was like a punch in the gut, nearly knocking me unconscious.

Suddenly, I was whole again. I silently rejoiced until the realization hit that I was high above trees and started a free-fall. A sense of deja-vu hits me, but I disregard it due to my circumstances.

"WAAAHHHHHHH!" A scream ripped from my throat. This is it. Zeus really would get me in the end. I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for my end.

I panicked even more when a large mass hit me. I knew it wasn't the ground because it came from my side and I wasn't dead.

Arms wrapped around me, and I peeked open an eye to be met with a very scared looked Leo.

"Hold on, we're too heavy for me to completely stop us." I could hear Jason shout over the wind.

I hate flying. I hate falling. I want to earth, but not to die in the shape of a smear. I chanted in my mind.

Looking around I saw Jason's face red in effort to keep us from falling, but he was right. We're too heavy, we need to be lighter. If I fall into a shadow I could travel and be spat out horizontally. It's risky, but it could work.

But little to late I let go, for Jason yells in effort, causing thunder to boom from the clear sky and lightning to appear, engulfing him. We're all separated as we near the tree tops.

My head smacks against a top tree branch and everything goes dark.

Worse and worse.