Hey guys, having fun reading. Quite an interesting story, right? I would also like to tell everyone to check out my other stories especially the 'Quest for Calypso.' In this story, sad to say, we won't be meeting the seven demigods on the Argo II. This is the story of the sun child, Atalanta. So we would only be around the area where she is. Her story ends before she meets anyone on the Argo II. The 'Quest for Calypso' is the story of what happens when she meets them. I think you all will like it.

Anyhow, don't forget to review, okay. I love getting reviews, which sadly I haven't been getting lately. I mean seriously, if you hate it, please tell me so. I won't mind. I just want to know what you guys think of it. I'm open to all kinds of suggestions. Even if you just wanna talk and discuss our favorite characters, leave a review or PM me. Please guys, I really need your support. Atleast just spread the story around. I'll appreciate it.

Somehow, I don't feel this chapter is as good as the rest. That's why I took so long posting it. Tell me what you think? Not upto standards? Brilliant?

Let's move on to the chapter, shall we?

-Alexandra June

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NICO:

I just left Reyna at the Roman camp and I'm really worried. After travelling around half the world with her, I'm just really used to taking care of her. She might say differently, she doesn't know. She thinks she can take care of herself. Well, she is right. I've seen her fight loads of monsters single handedly when even three demigods would find it difficult. I know she's really strong and brave. I just don't want her getting hurt.

Besides, I had a bad feeling about that Octavian. He wouldn't let things go so lightly. I know what sort of a person Octavian is and I know exactly when he is going to try to take his revenge. If he had to do something really evil and cruel, he would do it in the night, when everyone else is asleep. I only hope Reyna won't be asleep when he comes, if he comes. Actually, I'm quite sure of it. He will come. There is only one way to settle matters. I'm going to have to come back later, to check on her and make sure she is okay.

I guess I am some sort of an over-protective younger brother. But I've made a mistake before and I won't let it happen ever again.

On the way back to camp half blood, I noticed the Stoll brothers leaning over the end of the stream. They seemed busy, most probably setting up a trap for one of their pranks. I just hoped it wasn't poor Katie Gardner again. Those two loved playing pranks on her, and the poor thing never retaliated. Only sometimes she would chase them with a stick. On other days, she would silently go back to her cabin and try to clean herself up. I knew she could really beat them up if she wanted. She could grow roots that could trip them when they run and branches that tie them up, but she never does. Many people kept telling her to do something, but she wouldn't listen. Personally, I think she liked them. But if she had no problem, why should I? I ignored them and let them continue.

It was late in the night, when most people are expected to be asleep. I lay in my cabin bed, ready to sneak out at any moment. Okay, I was lying here long enough. Time to go check on Reyna. I stood up facing a really dark wall in my cabin. I slowly walked through it concentrating on the shadows and where I wanted them to take me. I arrived right on the spot, and by right on the spot, I mean I soundlessly emerged right next to Reyna's bed. Her head was just around 2 feet away from me. I stopped. Was she awake? I kneeled down next to her and looked at her eyes. There was no movement and her expression was quite peaceful so I concluded she was asleep. Her face looked so calm when she was sleeping and so beautiful. I had never seen this side of Reyna before.

When I first saw her, I thought she was strong, fearless and proud- the type of person that accepts no nonsense from anyone. Then when I had helped her bring the Athena Parthenos back, I knew she had a more caring side, a side that fears and endures pain. Pain was one of the few things I could understand and I knew she was suffering, but I could never ask her about it. Right now, she was looking beautiful. Her lips had a slight smile on them and I realized I was smiling too. Why am I thinking of all this? Was someone playing tricks on me? Cupid? Aphrodite? This wasn't funny.

Reyna suddenly knit her eyebrows and I could see her stirring from her sleep. I leaned as far away as possible with my hands cupped over my mouth. But she didn't open her eyes (I thank the gods for that). She just tossed her pleats to the other side and continued sleeping. What will she do if she finds me here? What was I even doing here? Why did I come here in the first place? I should just leave while I had the chance. I moved away from Reyna's bed and was about to walk into another shadow when I heard someone coming. I panicked and hid behind a chair. That someone was very bad at stealth mode, if you ask me. Every footstep was very loud and they even hit the side table.

My heart beat was going faster. I peeped from behind the chair. I saw a shadow leaning over Reyna with a blade that shone in the moonlight. But before I had time to do anything, Reyna punched the assailant, disarmed him and held the knife at his throat. She gasped, "Octavian." I got up and came forward. Reyna noticed, "Pass some rope, Nico." I passed it to her. She stuffed some cloth in his mouth and tied him up with the ropes, but the whole time I could feel she had one eye on me too. When Octavian was handled, she looked at me, "How did you get here? Shadow travel?" I nodded. She continued, "When did you come here?" That was a question I did not want to answer. I could feel my cheeks turning red. Fortunately for me, that was the moment Octavian chose to try crawling out the door. Reyna pulled him back, "Oh no, you don't. You're not going anywhere yet?" Then she murmured to herself loud enough for me to make out, "What am I going to do with you, Octavian?"

I suggested, "Why don't I keep him in my cabin for now? It's empty and he can't harm anybody when he's all tied up." Reyna hesitated but then agreed. I told her I'll come back in the morning and she agreed. I grabbed one end of the rope in one hand calling the shadows toward me and within no time, we were back in my cabin. I left Octavian on the cold floor and climbed into my bed waiting for the rest of the time to pass.

I got up in the morning to see Octavian sleeping like a dog, all curled up on the cold floor. It didn't look like he would get up anytime soon. So I checked his bonds, and walked out of my cabin and freshened up. I saw Reyna and we started walking together discussing what we should do about Octavian. Then Atalanta came over to us waving, and we told her our problem.

Atalanta thought for a bit and said, "Give him to me. I'll take care of that. You guys have other more important work to do."

Reyna raised her eyebrows, "What are you going to do to him? He's a sly one."

"I'm going to make him do whatever I'm going to do. Don't worry, I can handle him. He won't cause any trouble to you again."

"Why don't I feel better about this?"

I tried convincing her, "Don't worry. I think you can trust her with this."

Atalanta acted offended, "You think?"

"Well… I trust you with this." She smiled as I said that and turned back to face Reyna.

Reyna said, "He's in Nico's cabin. Come on."

We walked to my cabin and saw him struggling to get back on his feet. You can say he looked like a dying cockroach. We untied him and Reyna commanded, "You tried to kill me, Octavian. As a punishment, you have to follow this girl around and do what she says."

"What! You want me to take orders from a Greek. Wait till the Romans hear of this. You don't deserve to be praetor."

"I have the right to punish you for trying to kill me. You're lucky you're still alive. I would have killed you."

Octavian stared at her in shock but before he could say anything Atalanta said, "Come on. We're going to the stables." Reyna showed him the way and Octavian followed Atalanta, making a face at everything in general. Then I walked with Reyna into the forest. Suddenly I noticed that we were walking towards that spot where the Stoll brothers were hanging out yesterday. I suspected a trap and started looking around. I stood still and Reyna stopped to ask me what was wrong. I unsheathed my sword and told her to be careful. I walked slowly, "This could be a prank. Here, hold my sword. Be very careful where you waaa..."

I wanted to say 'walk' but at the precise moment, I stepped on a false floor, that gave way with my weight and I fell straight into the stream. I sat straight in the flowing waters to see Reyna trying hard not to laugh. "When I see those two, I will.."

Reyna set my sword on the surface, leaning on it and stretching her hand out to me, "I'm sure it was just a joke." She started laughing. At first, I felt offended. If you fell, the story would have been different. I smirked and looked at her. She was confused. Then I dismissed my sword (It's sort of like summoning except that it goes to my cabin). With nothing left to support her weight, she fell into the stream. Actually correct that, she fell into the stream, directly on top of me. We screamed until the water surrounded us on all sides. When we surfaced, the water was making our hair stick to our skin. I moved the hair out of my forehead and got up. Reyna stood up slowly, "When I find them, there will be nothing left for you to see."

I smiled using her line against her, "I'm sure it was just a joke." She looked at me and then walked away, "I'll show them a joke." She stopped and turned to face me, "You coming, or what?"

I said, "Well, I do have a bone to pick with them. Okay, I'm coming. What are we going to do?"

Reyna smirked and I had never seen her look so evil before, "Oh, you'll see."