hey so it's been awhile. sorry I've been ver busy. Anyway onwards with the story!

Chapter 10

"So she's who we're looking for? A little homeless girl. Why is she important enough for there to be a prophecy about her? There are millions of homeless kids and they don't get prophecies." Clarisse said.

We were in the alleyway behind some dentist place hoping to set up camp and figure something out. By camp I meant find the softest bag of garbage that didn't reek and sleep for a few hours. Oh, the perks of being a demigod. Dakota had taken Phoebe somewhere to get her cleaned up and hopefully find us some dinner. Percy, Clarrise and I had stayed behind to try and figure out the next step in this prophecy. So far we'd come up with nothing and been attacked by not a monster, but a poodle and it's stick thin, grumpy owner. Maybe if she ditched the yapping dog and ate something she's be less of a bitch.

"Well, Ella said that souls that followed the stars would be led home. We'll find her home, take her back and continue with the quest. Simple." Percy said rubbing his temple. We were all tired and hungry and very annoyed with each other.

"Percy!" We heard a scream not too far from us.

"That sounded like... Dakota!" Percy and I said at the same time.

The there of us took of running down the street following the sounds of Dakota's screaming. When we found her she was completely surrounded by several monsters. Phoebe was cowering in fear behind Dakota who was slashing her sword in front of her constantly turning around to keep an eye on all the monster. She was actually doing an ok job at keeping them at bay but she her leg was still injured from earlier so she kind of hobbled on one foot. The creatures were so focused on Dakota that they didn't notice us until three of them turned into clouds of yellow smoke from where Percy, Clarisse and I stabbed them.

The other two turned around and man were these things ugly. Ones face looked like it had constantly been hit by a brink, it's features mashed together into a gruesome expression, the other had its flesh peeling off and odd points and an eye missing from its socket.

"Talk about a face only a mother could love." Percy said.

"These things are almost as hideous as you Jackson. Not quite, but almost."

"How dare you! We are the most seeked of our clan!" Mashed face growled.

"Must be a blind clan." I said drily.

The things roared and came running towards us. Clarrise threw her spear at into the empty socket of one while I stabbed at the other eye. Apparently Stygian iron isn't good for whatever these things were because it howled in pain and it's skin began to bubble.

"Stygian iron is like acid for them. Stab the second fold in the neck!"Dakota screamed at me from where she clashed her sword against the other creatures double sided axe.

Percy was had been thrown into a wall and while the impact should have knocked him out there was only a bit of blood trickling from his forehead as he stood up and staggered to charge at the creature.

I returned my focus to my own monster that Clarrise had roundhouse kicked in the stomach as she pulled out her spear. "Anytime, time your ready to kill this thing Death breath. " she hissed out as she was hit in the side by its wooden club.

I charged slashing at the point Dakota told me about and my sword got stuck inside the monsters head. I forced my weight into the blade as was rewarded with a cloud of foul smelling green slime. My shoulder hurt, I was covered in monster guts and really wanted to just go home.

"I think it would be best if we don't sleep in the streets tonight. Less likelihood of monsters attacking." Dakota breathed out as she picked up Phoebe and placed her on her hip. The poor kid was shaking with fright.

"I second that." I said, wiping the slime off my face.

"Hear, hear." Percy said.

"Best plan I've heard all day, princess." Clarrise said picking up her spear.

Somehow Dakota was able to get us a penthouse sweet in a 5 star hotel with four bedrooms and a view, without having management question how 4 teens who looked like they'd never heard of plumbing and a 6 year old could afford all this. When everyone had showered, changed and eaten and Phoebe was put to bed we started planning again.

"I believe it would be best if we continue to the underworld with Phoebe." Dakota said.

"Umm... No offense to your judgement skills D but the underworld isn't really the best place for a 6 year old." Percy said twisting the straw of his slushy.

"Lost souls are no longer living Percy, she doesn't belong up hear. She's dead and as far as I can tell she's been dead for awhile." I told them.

"She looks pretty alive to me. So she's some sort of ghost or a perfectly preserved mummy?" Clarisse asked.

"I don't know what she is but she doesn't belong here and we need to take her back." I agreed with Dakota.

"A life will be the fatal cost. Does that mean her?" Clarisse sounded a bit hopeful in the way that yay I'm not gonna die!

"Hmm... Possibly. You all should get some rest, I'll take first watch." Dakota said as Percy yawned, trying to inhale the room. He and Clarrise stumbled to the their rooms leaving me alone with Dakota.

"You shouldn't give them false hope like that." I said looking down at my hands. "If the prophecy meant Phoebe then it would have been phrased differently. If your already dead it's not really a fatal cost. They deserve to know that there's a possibility one of us will die" I told Dakota.

"Yes, well it certainly won't be one of you three. They were after me. Have you ever seen a monster like that before Nico?"

"No" I admitted. "What were they?"

"I don't know. Strange things are attracted to my scent going as far as creating new monsters. That's why I was on the island, while I'm powerful enough to balance the gods and protect myself it's not very useful if new monster spring up every time I go out." She said sitting beside me. She placed her hand over mine and smiled shyly "Thank you. I believe this is the third time I owe you my life within the past 72 hours."

"It was uh no problem." I stuttered out.

She moved so quickly I didn't have time to question it, she could've been going to kill me and all I could do was sit there. Instead she placed a soft kiss on my cheek and sat back quickly looking down hiding behind her hair. Her face was tinted a slightly dusty pink, her blush was adorable. Meanwhile, I felt my face was red and I probably looked like a sunburnt lobster.

"Goodnight Nico." She said quietly picking up her bow and arrow and going unto the balcony.

I touched the spot where she kissed me too dazed to move.

hope you liked it! Pooh bear loves you!