Cressida always found a sense of comfort in the darkness. It enclosed her like a dome – the dark, filling her with content and relaxtion. And as she spiralled and transcended into the depths of pitched shadows and whispers, and the speed that followed her and caused her dark hair to blow, made her feel liberated although she never forget the heavy burden that stuck there. She knew she wasn't a normal person and that she was never going to lead a normal life. Demi-gods tend to die before they reach the age of 20, right? That's what Sarah always said, because usually they die fighting the monsters that threaten their lives.

So Cressida was shadow-travelling, and although it was pleasant for her, it wasn't usually pleasant for Hade's children. Artemis told her to shadow-travel and that will lead her to Nyx' destination. It took longer for Cressida to travel than usual. With the whistling in her ears, and the whooshing in the hair, she finally found herself in a desolated place. There were dark trees and unfriendly sounds of nocturnal animals in the midst. Cressida could hear the tickling of their noises in her ears.

She stumbled on the ground at the impact of the speeding shadow-travel and stood up, brushing leaves off her jeans. She suddenly felt cold and felt goose bumps forming on her pale skin, and swallowed. She walked on in the darkness, finding for Nyx and looking above the starry sky for signs of her godly presence. It was like a beautiful forest she was venturing in: tall, towering misty trees canopying above her forming a shield of darkness. The atmosphere around her was foggy and cloudy featuring an entrance to a looming murky lake that was as dark as the sky. The moon was reflected, and Cressida was amazed because she hasn't seen something so compelling.

As she walked on to the edge of the lake, she looked around her. There were glittering objects in the trees nearby, and the bushes were as silver as the moon. Cressida blocked out the whispers of the nocturnal animals and then she heard a mournful howl in the distance. She stood waiting by the glassy black lake and the tranquil space, waiting for Nyx to arrive. Though she knew Nyx was already hearing, she could tell. She could sense a sort of deity's presence. A powerful presence.

"Hello…? Nyx? Mother of Night?" Cressida spoke with a shaky voice. She cleared her throat and spoke louder when no sound responded. "I'm here. Answering your call and all."

A soft whisper erupted into the air and lasted shortly. With her heart pounding, a shadowy-misty figure descended from the night sky and Cressida was blinded by the shroud of starry haze.

Cressida watched, terrified and amazed, as Nyx landed. She wasn't 40 feet tall, thank gods. She was more humanoid height-like, the height the usual gods do. She still had her wide black wings. Cressida thought she looked like a dark angel. Nyx was stunning, really – she was clouded in a churn of starry mist, wearing a long tunic darken dress that featured the colours of the nebula. And as her figure moved, the colours were iridescent and the sight of it reflected on Cressida's eyes – which turned immediate constellations when Nyx came. Nyx face was pale and light, though looked slightly translucent. She had eyes so daring and calculated, and resembled the look of ancient years.

"Hello Cressida," her soft voice slurred. She glided forth and as she did the nocturnal animals stayed silent, so did Cressida, because Nyx was a goddess of power and many gods feared her. Scratch that, they all did. "I have something very imperative to discuss with you." She cocked her head as she stood a good metre from Cressida.

"Err, you do - ? Oh yeah." Cressida stammered, quite nervous right now. While the goddess considered her, Cressida talked, "Um, I really need to ask – why – what was that voice in Tartarus? When I went there, I was with Hemera and Eris and this strange voice talked – "

But Nyx just smiled. It wasn't cold or anything, but it didn't give Cressida comfort, though gave her assurance. "Yes, I am aware. That… that is a peculiar thing to occur, yes. Although since they are one of my mine, it can… Well, Cressida. Those were the Fates, you are aware of them, I suppose?"

Cressida lowered her eyebrows in confusion and a knot ravelled in her gut. "Yes, but what…"

Nyx sighed and brandished her arm and watched as stars traced along them and flew into the sky, without looking at Cressida she talked, "The Fates have answered your call, Cressida. You have no fate, no destiny… that they can see."

That knot in the pit of her gut twisted and turned, tugging more strands of her internals and adding to the piece of that knot and tugging fiercer. Fear spiralled viscerally, and Cressida couldn't move or couldn't speak, couldn't even tear her gaze away from the goddess. Wet coldness slid and prickled down her spine.

Then the goddess looked at her, and her starry eyes dimmed. "You have a quest, Cressida. And you may not do it alone. You see – this quest of yours is considered highly dangerous and many would not dare embark. Though… we must do this without Zeus' knowledge and that has been arranged yet reluctantly. Only demi-gods can venture on this quest, you see. And certain offspring of gods have been chosen to accompany you, because they acquire a particular skill. Are you following?"

"Yes," Cressida said quietly, gulping hard as she listened intently.

Nyx smiled, "Good. Well, you are to retrieve something important that belongs to me and has been tucked away far out of my reach because of certain reasons. Only an offspring of mine can get it out of that situation, and that is you. Since you cannot do it yourself since there are obstacles that you will encounter, demi-gods from camp half-blood and Jupiter – though they are in alliance with Zeus, some are willing to cooperate."

Cressida did not understand "Camp Jupiter" though a hot steam washed over her.

"… these will be your companions." Then, with her arm she used to send stars, she waved it and a cloud of misty pictures swirled and become clearer, like a holographic screen.

It showed camp-half blood, with the campers at work. The camp seemed cleaner and newer, and the campers seemed much more relaxed. Then the screen face on Jack and Cressida shuddered. He looked grave as Chiron the centaur talked to him with hand gestures. The screen focused on Dominique, daughter of Athena, she stood next to Jack and looked sullen though a gleam of excitement twinkled in her grey eyes.

"They're being informed on the quest…" Nyx was saying.

Then the screen displayed a town-like area, and kids with purple shirts were strolling around and satyrs were out and about excitedly with gold in their hands. With astonishment, Cressida saw ghosts gliding about, creating havoc. There were temples, too. The screen focused on a teenaged boy with dark hair on a horse. He was wearing a purple shirt. Then the screen displayed a girl with dark skin and gold eyes, she was reading a scroll, looking apprehensive though ready for battle.

"That's all of them." Nyx said, she looked at Cressida who was horror-struck. "Tomorrow, Cressida. And I shall give you locations to venture, and shall send forth your companions tomorrow dawn. Then you all shall find my belonging."