"Bianca, you must reach the Dead Sea by dusk tomorrow!" My father's voice boomed. I couldn't say anything. My dream shifted to where I was in... a town? Everything was falling apart. It was like one of those post-apocalyptic type cities you see in the movies. Another thing about the town, other than the moldy broken down buildings, was the color. Everything was black, grey, and white.

"She can stop us. If we're not careful." An old woman's voice came from... somewhere?

"She's just a little girl! She couldn't do anything, even if she wanted to. Besides we could kill her at an moment!" A man's voice echoed throughout the city.

"You underestimate the girl's abilities, Itzal. She is a daughter of Hades. Those children are dangerous. Especially this one." Were they talking about me?

"So you're saying we must eliminate her. Before she can... interfere." Itzal stated.

"Precisely. Send... the beasts after her." Old Lady ordered.

"The beasts!?" Itzal sounded shocked, "Waste them on a little girl?"

"It will not be a waste. Trust me." That was all I heard before my dream shifted once more.

This time I was, really I had no idea. There was a river and... was that?

"Nico?!" I tried to call, but to no avail.

"Useless." He mumbled.

My little brother was sitting in front of a fire across a river, tossing figures and cards from his Mytho-Magic game into the flames. I spent a lot of money on those, you dote!

"I can't believe I ever liked this stuff."

"A childish game, master." An older voice agreed. Perfect. Just what I had hoped! The weird invisible people were talking to my brother.

Nico turned his head so he was staring right at me, however, I knew he couldn't see or hear me.

"I've failed," He murmured. "There's no way to get her back."

Get her back? Oh boy.

The demon decided not to respond.

"Is there? Speak." He ordered, all high and mighty. Like he was a king or something. Then again, the demon was also referring to him as, master.

I noticed a shadowy and jagged figure appear straight out of the flames. It was misty almost invisible, definitely confirmed my suspicions of a demon.

"It has never been done, but there may be a way." The demon persuaded.

"Tell me," Nico demanded, a fire in his eyes.

He wasn't being serious, right? Besides, how are you supposed to bring back someone who isn't dead? But then again, he didn't know that. He wasn't even at camp Half-Blood either. Where in the world was he? I glanced around, the place looked gloomy and dark. What happened to my little fratello?

"An exchange," The demon said, "A soul for a soul."

Uh oh.

"I've offered!" My brother yelled.

"Not yours," Demon said something smart finally. "You cannot offer your father a soul that he will eventually collect anyway. Nor will he be anxious for the death of his son. I mean a soul that should have died already. Someone who has cheated death."

"Not that again. You're talking about murder." Nico spat distastefully.

Please don't murder anyone, Nico.

I knew it was my fault. My brother had teamed up with a demon to bring me back. I wasn't even dead, but now I couldn't go back. Not yet anyway.

"I'm talking about justice! Vengeance!" The demon argued.

"Those are not the same thing." Nico countered.

The demon gave a wry laugh. "You will learn differently as you get older."

He was corrupting my brother. I felt my blood boiling. Whoever this shadow demon was, if he didn't back off and stay away from Nico, he was going to get a sound beating when I saw him next.

"Why can't I at least summon her? I want to talk to her. She would...she would help me."

That was an excellent idea. Maybe I couldn't tell him that I was dead, but at least maybe then I could put him back on the right path.

The demon was saying something, but as soon as I tried to tune in to listen, my eyes darted open.

.

"Bianca! Bianca wake up!" Sara was shaking the living daylights out of me.

"Mmmm." I moaned.

"Oh come on! Give me a break! You have to get up right now!" She sounded worried.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Uh... Cyclops. Like five, I think. They must've smelled you." She was digging around in a black pack.

"Cyclops." I made sure I has heard her right.

Sara nodded, "They're heading towards the village, so you need to get out.

"What?"

Sara zipped up the pack and handed it to me, "Provisions, supplies, knives, tools, food, water, and some medicine and ambrosia from Lady Altha."

I grabbed it reluctantly, "Are you sure you want me to take this?"

Sara heaved a long sigh, "Just come on!"

She took my wrist and led me out of the Inn. We zigzagged through the streets. I won't even bother going into detail with the man who was carrying loads of spears that we bumped into, he almost impaled us after that. We finally arrived at the stables.

"Jeeza! Where in Jupiter's daylight have you two been?" Evanna scolded.

"Bianca is a heavy sleeper." Sara explained. Thanks.

"Can you ride a horse?" Evanna patted the beautiful black horse that I had seen at the stables the previous day, "This is Umbra, the fastest horse we've got. She'll be able to get you out of here in no time!"

I was in awe. Umbra's coat was the darkest shade of black I had ever seen. Her mane was in a perfect swoop bent over her eyes, which were a deep chocolate color. Her mane was a black even darker than the coat. The color of the void.

"I-I can't. I won't just leave you guys to fight the cyclops. I'm the one who brought them here. I need to stay." I wouldn't run away.

Evanna sighed, "Bianca, have you seen me fight?" She grinned, "I could kick your ass. I'm pretty sure I can kick some monster asses too."

She made a valid point. Besides, if I tested her any further, she might have actually beaten me up.

"Fair reason." I smiled.

"Good, now come on." Sara and Evanna both shoved me onto the horse's back.

"Just slap her with the reins when you're ready!" Sara described with a hand gesture.

I giggled.

"Here." Evanna handed me a silver bow with a quiver full of arrows, "I don't know if you know how to use it, but..."

"Thank you!" I beamed, strapping the quiver on and stretching the bow around me. It was the only weapon I knew how to use.

"Okay, now you're official!" Evanna laughed.

"Good luck." Sara whispered.

I nodded, taking the reins into my fists. I was ready. I heard a monstrous roar from the far end of the city. That was my cue. I smacked the reins, and Umbra took off. With that, I left behind the kind strangers who showed a daughter of Hades, mercy.