A/N: I am back!

Okay, so I have decided that I will write a sequel to Lyn's story. However, unlike this one, which I plunged into without really thinking on where it was going to go, I am going to plan this next story as much as I can before I start. That being said, it is going to take some time, especially with other stories that require my attention. My idea is to gather all the names who voted yes for Lyn's second story in the reviews and PM them towards the end with further details, mostly stating that I will inform them when I have Lyn's first chapter up and running. If you would like this, let me know in a review or PM and I'll make it happen!

Now, without any further news, I will let you read. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Five:

I had seen the light of battle before and this occurrence of violence was no different. The former children dressed themselves in bronze armour, arming themselves with swords, javelins, spears, anything with a mortal edge. They assembled in elongated lines, each cabin fulfilling their duties. Our quickly assembled army seemed small as I looked down at them on the hilltop. Only half our power were currently prepared to fight. The other half were aiding with the war effort in other ways. The Hephaestus children were busy in their forges, smashing away at various metals to form new swords and repair the damaged and the old. The Aphrodite children set up multiple white medical pavilions in preparation for the wounds and death that the camp was to face.

I trudged down the grassy hill, Nico at my side, my hounds racing ahead. Neither of us spoke. What was there to say? Among the clattering and rustling of the young soldiers readying themselves, we were nothing but a pair of shadows waltzing through the crowd. I felt a chill in the air, despite the summer sun blazing down. Though Apollo kids were able to block out the slight chills and absorb the summer sun, my shivers still came. Nico noted as much with a simple side glance.

"It is not the sun." He said, as though he could read my thoughts. Some days I thought he could. "It's the Shades. They're coming in greater number."

It was my turn to shoot a side glance. "How do you know?"

"When you work in the shadows, you learn how they act. I was piecing together my theory a few days ago. You always know they're there when the temperature drops."

"Shadow is devoid of sunlight." For once, I prayed for the sun to keep shining. We continued at a brisk walk, straight past the gathering swell of kids.

"Where are we going?" I questioned, looking to the multiple Demigods who arranged themselves in an organized chaos. I then looked ahead only to spy the cabins.

"The forges." Nico replied, his voice taut. "We're fairly unarmed."

"I'm not, and neither are you." My eyes fell to the obsidian blade hanging on his hip as it always had. Most times I forgot it was even there. It was as much a part of him as any limb. "Simple bronze, in your case."

"What are you taking?"

Nico stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I'll worry about myself."

"And I too will worry about myself." Displeased, I started to slow. Nico's pale hand lashed out so suddenly that I hadn't a chance to stop. Not that it mattered. He simply kept dragging me forward.

"You won't do anything for yourself Lyn. There's a reason I had to look after you for so long."

I plucked his fingers one by one away from my sleeve, detaching himself from me.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Do you? Then tell me, how are you going to find with these arrows of yours?" He waved his hands in the air, in nothingness.

Scowling, I replied, "What would you suggest, since you know so much more about this then I do."

"You'll fire with regular arrows, like everyone else. The shadows you seem to enjoy fighting with take more effort, and further to the point, knowledge of our enemy. We don't have that."

I didn't like the idea of fighting without the shadows, but despite my bitterness, I could see reasoning behind his theory. Suddenly, I could hear running footfalls coming up behind us. I looked behind my shoulder. A camper, clad head to toe in shining bronze slid to a choppy stop before Nico and I.

Panting, they tore off their helmet. Underneath the armour was a boy, maybe fourteen if I had to judge. "Lyn, I have a request on behalf of the archers."

I raised an eyebrow. Before I could question this new appearance, Nico grabbed my attention. He leaned in close before murmuring, too low for the archer's ears to hear, "I'm going to prepare myself. Do the same for yourself, or you will soon regret your choice."

Nico left at that point, quickly immersing himself into the background as only Nico could do. I turned back to the camper.

"What is it you need?" I asked him. "I can't give you all a lesson on how to fire an arrow now… you've left it a little too late at this point."

The small slice of humour vanished in thin air as soon as I said it. The camper remained stone-faced.

"We need somebody to help us, to keep us together as a unit. You… a daughter of Apollo… well…"

"You want me to call draw, aim and loose?" A simple enough task. The caller, usually a master of the trade, would decide whether or not the enemy was close enough to fire upon, usually during the beginning stages of war. After that, it was to keep arrows in volleys rather than a free for all storm of wooden shafts.

I nodded once, accepting the offer. "Gather all the archers you can muster and meet me on the hilltop, I have some things to say."

A wave of relief washed upon the boy's face.

"What's your name?" I called after him as he scampered away.

The stopped and turned. "Kevin. My name is Kevin."

He ran off then, his metal armour clanging.

"Kevin." I repeated, before sighing. I changed my course for one of the cabins. Obediently, my hounds followed. I caught the gaze of my biggest, Pónos. "I read in a book once that you should always know the names of the men sentence to death on the battlefield. That they were your brothers in your final hour."

With the thought of war becoming more and more real, I quickened my pace to the gleaming, golden cabin number seven.

As I had ordered, several archers had gathered at the top of Half-Blood Hill. I joined them while I did a quick count, estimating around fifty archers in all. Not a great number of fighters, especially when I added the fact that each of them were trained archers, rather than Apollo's natural born shooters.

"If only I had a swarm of half-brothers and sisters." I muttered under my breath, not wanting to deter my archers, especially on the dawn of battle. I noticed that they were all clad in bulky armour, some even had swords hanging down from their belts. Several of my shooters were from Ares and Athena's cabin, but I could easily spot some of Demeter's children as well. I had a large, mixed group of Demigods.

Sheathing my bow by slinging it over my shoulder, rattling my arrows in my quiver, I whistled loudly to gain their attentions. At once they came to order, pleasing me greatly. I decided then that I should motivate them as I had seen plentiful commanders do in movies. I knew that it was not the same, especially under my circumstances, but it seemed the right thing to do. I fiddled with the bow as I thought, feeling the smooth wood. I had taken the bow and quiver from the golden cabin. There had always been weapons in the shining building, including a spear propped up against the far wall. I had chosen an elk horn recurve with a wooden grip with leather for comfort. It was a heavy draw, giving it more power than the traditional Longbow I had been contemplating during my selection. It had felt strange going through the weapons all piled in the back, as though they had been left there in a hurry. I could imagine my kin racing to the arrows and the bow rocks during times of war, the cabin leader calling out orders to the rest of the Apollo archers. For a split second, I longed for a filled cabin, with others like me.

There is no one like you, a voice sharply corrected. You are the one and only.

Unfortunately, the voice was one of reality and reminded me that I did not have Apollo's archers.

"Lyn?" I perked as my name was called. I had various pairs of eyes staring at me, some with worry. Most gazes were simply blank.

"Right, sorry." I shuffled my stance, clearing my throat. "Now, most of you may not know me. Those who do probably hate me. I have disrespected your… our… gods, and the camp itself on more than one occasion. There is no reason for you to love me. However, war is upon us and it is in times like these where you forget the hate you feel for your fellow brothers and sisters in arms and focus on the common enemy. I have been asked to lead you. I accept and gladly so, however, I ask of you one thing. Follow my orders to the letter. I am the last child of Apollo and because of that, I know my way around a bow and all that comes with it, much better than the rest of you.

We will assemble behind our foot soldiers, in long lines for better width of range. And if you are unsure of your shot, shoot far rather than allowing your arrow to impale your comrades before they can fight. We are the first line of defence. We are going to pick off as many of those things as we can to ease the load of the foot soldiers."

I took a pause, trying to read the faces of my troops. Children. Even I could be considered a child. I had noticed during my short and strange time here that I was a veteran that hadn't fought in any wars. The eldest of campers were nearly sixteen, the youngest eight or nine. I had asked Nico about the young ages and what happened to the older campers. His answer then was just silence. Now I realized that this was what happened. They died before they could reach adulthood.

Suddenly, a warning growl ripped through my hound's throat. I ran a hand though the fur standing upright on Talaiporía's back. The hellhound had warned me of a new visitor, one that had approached silently and skillfully. I recognized this new visitor, with their muscular build and wide shoulders.

"LaRue." I greeted with as much courtesy as I could muster. As in my makeshift speech, I had to put the hatred behind me.

"There will be no war council." She informed me. "Not enough time."

"Understandable. I'm placing my archers on the hill's rise. I expect your foot soldiers to be placed underneath?"

"Such a simple strategy, and hard to defend." A near Athenian noted. Both Clarisse and I turned, sending our own respectful glares towards the outburst speaker.

"It is what it is." I said. There was a silence. "Anything else you would like to tell me."

"There's little I can tell. The campers are ready for the fight, as hard as it may be."

"And they won't run?"

The child of war snorted. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

I cracked a small smile. "I wouldn't expect anything different."

I looked over my enemy. Her armour was typical Greek attire, and she suited the bronze. Clarisse then sighed, extending out her hand.

"Good luck, Apollo girl. I hope you don't die." I took her hand, her grip filled with the strength I'm sure she would unleash in the battle approaching. I almost felt my heart melting from the compliment.

"I hope you don't die too."

In long lines we stood shoulder to shoulder, bows in hands, quiver on our backs. I stood a few paces in front of the fifty children of various parenthoods who stood together as one, joining the masses that stood below. Despite our numbers, it was quiet. Nobody shifted or shuffled or created noise. The lines had been assembled just under an hour and stayed in formation.

Sighing, I could feel sweat prickling down my neck despite the oncoming chill. The nerves I felt made my fingers shake. I tried to remind myself that shaking fingers were the last thing I needed once the shooting began. Trying to clear my head, I looked down at the ranks below, trying to spy Nico. I had tried to convince him to stay at my side, as a team, but he had decided he was more useful down below. I prayed to the gods to keep him safe. This was not the time to play hero. Eventually I found the boy, standing to the right in the sea of bronze. He was easy to pick out. Even surrounded by people he was secluded. There was a notable ring of space around him. The campers left Nico to himself at best and it seemed even in times of war he was avoided, seen as a bad omen.

"Uh… Lyn?"

I glanced over my shoulder. I had surrounded myself with who I thought were the best archers, ones I knew weren't going to shoot me in the back during the worst of the battle. Kevin was amongst them and was speaking now.

"Yes?" I whispered back, matching his tone.

A loud bellowing echoed against the quiet, shattering it like dropped glass. I jumped a mile, flinching against the sudden sound. Once the thundering faded away there was nothing but gloom hovering over the camp. Hearts were thudding, sweat was trickling, all in anticipation of the shadows crawling forward.

"I hope it can wait." I whispered back to Kevin as I lifted my bow, pre-drawing my bow. I raised it fully, tightening the muscles in my back. Fifty bows followed my lead.

Lurking out of the trees that acted as a wall in front of us came the Shades. Like rolling mist, they swirled and danced into the open field, not one taking shape. In mere moments the forest floor was covered with Shades.

Suddenly, an arrow from the middle ranks shot forward and landed quivering in the middle of the field. It was useless however. The Shades drifted away from the arrow's location. I spun around, eyes narrowing.

"Who shot?" I hissed. Talaiporía and Pónos circled, jaws snapping. The agitation was apparent even in the minds of simpler beasts. No one stepped forward.

"WHO SHOT?" I shouted, making myself heard. I was sure the foot soldiers below could hear. The ranks began to shift aside, making room for a sole archer. I stepped forward myself, removing my arrow. The one who came forward was a girl around twelve or thirteen. She clutched her bow with white fingers, and the look on her face was one of fear, though it was debatable whether or not it was the Shades who scared her.

"Out!" I pointed towards the white pavilions set up near the Big House. Her brows furrowed together in confusion.

"But-"

I scowled. "Did I stutter?"

"No, but-"

"I asked if I stuttered." I repeated.

The girl bowed her head. "No."

"Then get out. I will not have people like you shooting with me. Go somewhere else… and this time make yourself useful."

Her eyes were shining as she stared at me, her mouth quivering as if she was trying to speak. I refused to give her a change to oppose my orders, to question my rank as a commander. I prompted Pónos with a nudge to the ribs. The hellhound padded forward, head low. The girl's eyes widened, and the further the hound stepped, the more she retreated. The deep snarling was a sound even I wanted to flinch away from. I had learned the hard way that these beasts were not my own but monsters to fear.

"Leave." I warned her. "It's for the best."

One final snap from strong jaws was all it took for her to drop her bow and hurry away. I turned to the rest of my archers.

"Remember! I am the one calling draw!"

I sighed after the ordeal, combing my hair back with my fingers.

"Lyn, we should keep as many archers as we can. She was a reasonable shot." Kevin counselled behind me.

I grunted, a sign of my displeasure. "I will not take any chances of defeat. Not while I am leading."

I turned back to the enemy, selecting an arrow from my quiver yet again and nocked it. I drew the string back halfway, ready for a shot. The war horn blew one long note, signalling the archers. One glance to the trees showed that the Shades had begun to form. Sucking in a deep breath, I shouted my order.

"Draw!" The command was met with the sound of bows being loaded and drawn. "Aim." I brought my bow up, the tip of the arrow pointing just above the treeline, for better downfall. My archers modelled my actions. "Fire!"

The already weak sun was blocked out by half a hundred arrows arching in the sky. I watched as some arrows fell short, dangerously close to the front line.

"Aim further!" I yelled at them.

Damage was minimal. Most of the arrows missed their original targets, and those arrows that did strike sprouted out of the Shades like flowers from the ground. Swearing under my breath, I called for another draw. I realized then that it would take several volleys until we made even made a dent. The army below stirred to life, the commanders shouting orders to their own grouping of soldiers. Second time around fared much better as the Shades solidified. We managed to take down one or two, but history repeated itself and I found more arrows uselessly clinging to the foes.

I ordered volley after volley as quick as I would dare as the Shades formed ranks. Soon however, the creatures began to march forward.

"Draw. Aim. Fire." At rapid speed arrows were flying. I winced as each arrow became more and more dangerous to our own side as the armies mixed with ruthless cries.

"Halt!" I called for cease of fire. I motioned Kevin over.

"Split the forces and cover the left side, I'll take the right side. We need to enter close quarters in order to be effective. Keep the best archers on the hill, I feel that we shall need them."

Kevin trotted off, calling out fresh demands. Professionally, my half of the army gathered in a cluster, looking to me expectantly for orders. Nearby, Kevin gathered his portion. I counted twelve archers remaining.

"Only twelve?" I questioned aloud, cracking my knuckles as I contemplated the fact. Hearing the ring of the battle below, I decided to quiet my thoughts and start the short march down the hill.

"Archers!" I had to raise my voice to even hope to be heard. "You know what to do!"

I spun on my heels and led down the hill a group of twenty. In a matter of minutes we entered the battle. The shrieking rung down louder here along with the metallic clanging of armour, human baying and crying from the campers, all the while Shades roamed the field. The group I had fanned out, loosing arrow after arrow into the chaotic mess. I joined in on the fire. Talaiporía and Pónos darted off and I prayed that the black beasts could determine friend from foe. I picked an arrow from my remaining ammunition, drawing my loaded bowstring. Along the shaft I saw scene after gruesome scene, but despite the bloodshed, the members of Camp Half-Blood held their own. Far better than what I had originally thought. I spied a Shade facing away, busy stalking a Demeter boy. I released my arrow. It flew true, right into the neck of the creature. I would have turned away to continue fighting if the Shade had not shrieked before its murderous advance. I spun around, fumbling for another arrow-

It stopped mid charge, only to erupt into shadow with a second arrow sprouting from its head. Kevin was the shooter and my saviour. I nodded my thanks to him, allowing the blonde haired boy to race away.

And that was when it happened. A cold, single drop of rain landing on my forehead. I could feel it slide down my skin. It was rain. The entire camp seemed to freeze and look up into the sky.

It was always decent weather in camp, even in the winter season. I hadn't heard of rain in camp since-

The even encounter suddenly turned into a massacre. Caught distracted, the Shades slashed and cut with their swords and spears, cutting down camper after camper. I saw my own archers running madly, forgetting all about their long range weapons.

"Stay together!" I hoarsely ordered, the heavens beginning to open up to drown us all. "Reform! Reform!"

I found myself knocked to the ground as a camper darted hectically past. I smashed my head against the dampening ground, sending me sprawling. I feebly reached for the bow I dropped. I refused to go without defence. I tried opening my eyes, but I was greeted by nothing but a blurry blackness. A strong hand wrapped around my upper arm, hauling me to my feet. Still brutally dizzy, I wavered uneasily on my feet.

"Open your eyes."

"They are open. I can't see!" I mumbled in my reply. I became steady, my blackness fading. I was forcefully turned, pale hands clasping both sides of my head.

The voice repeated. "Open. Your. Eyes."

I blinked, gathering my sight once again. I found black eyes staring deep into mine.

"Let us see what your darkest moments are, Lyn Barker." Before I could protest, the god was already buried deep inside my mind.

Even at the age of six, Lyn Barker knew where she stood on the social ladder. She knew that her tiny studio apartment, shared with her mother, was unusual. She knew that her mother was different. It was clear as day: Lyn Barker did not belong. The apartment was on the top floor of an older apartment block, filled with those in the same situation as the Barker family. Bordering the poverty line. It was late August in Chicago, and Lyn Barker was excited for school. In just a few weeks she'd be able to go out and meet friends and other people, hopeful to find somebody, anybody like herself. Until then, she was stuck at home with her mother. Lyn tried to love her mother. She would paint pictures of the way things used to be, before the little girl was even born, and present them to her mother, only to receive negative reactions each and every time. She tried to find neat things to share, such as pretty rocks or lost items, only to get ignored. Little Lyn saw the other children and their mothers, and questioned why her family was not the same. She wondered where her father was. She knew little about her father. She had only been given his name by accident while her mother was in a drunken state. Apollo, Lyn had been told. She had been told that he abandoned the family and was not to be spoken of. Lyn had followed the rules and cast aside the thoughts of a father. Lyn knew she was not alone in that aspect. Many kids didn't have fathers. She was just one of them.

Lyn was busy saying prayer and counting the days until school, covered up in blankets on the couch when a knock came on the door. The sound came once. Lyn's thoughts to her mother's religion faltered. Curious, Lyn sat up, the tattered yellow blanket that she had since her birth fell to the floor. The six year old eyed the time glowing red from the digital clock on the bookshelf pressed up against the wall. It read ten o' clock. She should have been asleep many hours ago, but excitement of school kept her awake.

The knock came again, beginning to sound impatient. Lyn stood, her bare feet shuffling on the floor. The door was on the other side of the room. Lyn paused when she heard her mother begin to wake. Fearing the trouble she'd be in if she were found awake, Lyn raced back to the sofa, scooping up the yellow blanket and diving under it. Her mother was conscious by now, half sober half tipsy from her meal of reheated pasta and her choice of drink. Lydia's mother had lighter brown hair, cropped short just above the shoulders. Some would say that Charlotte and her daughter shared the same silky hair, but that was where the similarities end. Charlotte went to the door, covering herself up with a jacket she picked from the dirty laundry pile. She opened the grey door, staring up at the figure who stood there, a man with black curly hair.

"Charlotte."

The woman hissed, recoiling away from the visitor.

"You!"

"I have come for Lydia." The man stated. "You are not fit to care for her."

"Lyn."

The man tried to look around Charlotte, peering into the single room home.

"Lyn, if you prefer. Although, if I recall, that was not the chosen name on her birth certificate."

"You shall not have her."

"Oh, but I shall."

"Where would you take her?" Charlotte snapped in reply.

The man was cool in his response, as if it was well recited. "The camp I have told you about. She would be well looked after there, by one of the best centaurs I know-"

"No. Lyn stays with me. How do you expect her to lift a sword when she can barely pick up a pen and write her own damn name?"

Charlotte's words were beginning to slur together.

"The dyslexia is all about who she is. Now, if you would allow me." He forced his way into the room, his bright eyes locking onto the couch. Lyn gasped in surprise, and snapped her eyes close.

"I'd sooner have her raised in poverty than this camp of yours!" Charlotte raged, stomping after the man. The black curled man shushed Charlotte, his voice soft and melodic.

"You'll wake her."

Lyn could hear a figure close beside her, possibly crouching or kneeling. Then she felt the soft touch of a hand smoothing back her hair.

"She turned out very beautiful."

"I suppose. There's not much of me in her."

"I am not so sure. She will be brash in her actions, judgmental and angry. And bitter, so very bitter."

"Where will she be in her future?"
"Not with you… and not with me either, I fear."

"It is better with neither of us." Was that compassion in her mother's voice? She had never heard that before.

"Is there anything to drink?" The man suddenly asked, halting in his stroking. With a grunt, Charlotte headed for the kitchen. Suddenly, Lyn felt a finger tap her on the end of her nose. She opened up her eyes, only to find the man's face quite close in front of hers.

"Quiet now, little one. Wouldn't want your mother to know you're awake should we?"

Lyn shook her head in answer. The man sighed. He did not look happy.

"Are you sad?" Little Lyn asked, frowning herself. She drew the yellow blanket over herself tighter.

The man nodded. "Yes. I am sad because I will never be able to have you. My last daughter, the last one."

"Who are you?"

The man smiled then, taking Lyn's tiny hand and raising it to his mouth.

"Your future will be filled with hardships, Lydia." He continued to whisper. "But know I will do whatever I can to ease the burden. I am breaking the law by being here, talking to you. But you are worth it. You're the sun that lights the dawn. You're my Lydia, my daughter."

My eyes snapped open. Grey sky was the scenery I saw, along with the heavy rain still falling. I sat up, head whipping around. I lifted a hand and placed it on my cheek, feeling the spot where the god's hand had been.

"Where are you?" I hissed, looking about the battle that still raged. I located my bow a few feet away from me and snatched it up. With lightning speed I lifted the bow, drawing an arrow.

"That was an interesting thought of yours." A voice called from behind. I crawled to my feet, my arrow pointed at the chest of the god. Erebos stood in all his tall glory, wearing suit of the deepest black. His black hair was greased back into a pony tail. His skin, whereas before was translucent it was so pale, was now dark, dark as his clothes.

"That was personal. That was mine. That was-"

"Buried so very deep inside your head. You did your best to forget that little encounter didn't you? You succeeded."

My fingers flexed, testing the bowstring.

"Try, Lyn Barker." The god invited. He puffed out his chest, as if to make my target that much bigger.

"I think I will." I growled, yet I even as I demanded my fingers to release, they stayed locked. Erebos nearly smiled.

"Let us see what else you have buried inside that lonely mind of yours, shall we?"

The god burst forward, hands outstretched. Finally my fingers released, but the arrow did no damage. In fact, it hardly even struck its target. Erebos wasn't just transparent, he was the shadows… nothingness. The arrow flew right through his torso. I stumbled backwards away from the misery that was to come, but it was no use. He was already taking what he pleased.

Seven years later, Lyn Barker could hardly remember the excitement of school anymore. Instead, that enthusiasm had long given way to fear and unwillingness. School now for Lyn was nothing but a never ending maze of terror and agony. A labyrinth they called it. Just entering middle school, Lyn had thought a new school would ease the hell that the bullies brought. Of course, the bullying continued. Dubbed incompetent by her teachers due to her severe dyslexia and ADHD, she was also named aggressive and angry as a beast by the boys. No matter how pressing and hurtful the others were, the girls were always the cruelest. Even when the thirteen year old locked herself away in the always empty music room, they found her and whispered secrets to one another in Lyn's presence. Sometimes they wouldn't come find her. Sometimes they left Lyn alone with the music stands and sheets of notes, allowing her to play with the instruments. That gave her peace of mind. However, the peace would never last and the girls and boys and adults would come back. Lyn went to her mother on the worst days. The best she reaction she received would be a look of 'deal with it'. If not that, then a snort or grunt. At this point, Lyn had not completely forgotten the man in the apartment that night. She had forgotten his voice and his face, even his words, but one thing that did remain was the soothing touch of love and tender care. She longed for something similar, and feared she would never receive it.

Once, on a particular bad day of verbal abuse, Lyn had found an empty storage room. She hid amongst the stacks of paper and supplies for the rest of the day, not once bothering to come out. It was then when she decided to run away. A mere two years later, she carried out that plan and never once regretted her action. It was during that year that her mother herself died, by drinking herself to death.

A solid left hook landed on the curve of Erebos' jaw. I didn't care the slightest if I inflicted pain or not. It was simply to ease my own suffering. I tried for words in my mouth, but could only taste the bitterness of hatred and loathing. The god rubbed his jaw, but his black eyes gave nothing away.

"That wasn't nice, was it? Maybe that is why you were hated."

"You have no right!" I spat, my fists curled and ready for the next hit.

Erebos rose a brow. "I have every right. I am a god."

"Not for much longer. The Olympians will come, they'll sort you out themselves."

Erebos smirked then.

"I would hope so, but alas, they have their offspring to do the fighting for them. Why should they raise a finger?"

"They will."

"Where is this sudden hope coming from?" The god questioned, evidently enjoying himself. I could feel my glare burning holes, holes that healed the second they were created. "Speechless, dear? Then we'll have to change that."

Swearing under my breath, I realized that it was a game he was playing… and I did not know the rules.

"You could die of a heart attack from this place." Lyn muttered as she eyed the menu that the Denny's waitress had blankly offered. "Grease, grease, grease with a side of cardiac arrest."

"Food is food, Lyn." Nico replied, sitting across from her in the booth in the back. The Denny's just beside the highway was the day's rest point.

The girl sighed. "I know, but look. Are you looking?"

A solemn nod came as a reply. "I am looking."

"Then you will see ambulances in our future… Would you take care of me, even if I was disgustingly sick from this delicious meal o' mine?"

Nico's normally locked lips twitched into a smile for half a heartbeat. "I'd see what I could do."

"What would you do?" She questioned, setting down her menu, leaning over the table playfully.

Nico did the same, refusing to smile. "I barely know what I'm having for lunch, let alone how I would take care of you and your heavy heart."

"Well. That's disappointing."

"Were you expecting some knight in shining armour to whisk you away to some fancy castle?"

"No." She replied stubbornly. "I've long since given up on that ideal."

"It's not all bad." Nico said, deciding on his own meal. Lyn still had trouble.

"I suppose it isn't." Lyn replied, flashing a smile. It was a forced smile.

"Are we going to talk about what happened?" Nico questioned, frowning some.

"You mean the thing that attacked us? Burnt the inside of the motel room black? Yeah, I don't think so. It's just apart of this life, like you said. In truth, I'm still getting used to it. Demigods and monsters. Seems like a fairy tale."

Both demigods had escaped unhurt, but it had been a tough and fearful escape.

"It won't be the last, I know," Nico said. He paused before continuing on. "It's not safe."

Lyn looked up, regarding Nico's expression. "It never will be. But we are free."

"Are we free Lyn? Or just trapped in another cage?"

"This cage seems a bit bigger than the last." She bitterly replied, retreating into her seat.

Before he could argue with her, the waitress returned. She was an acne ridden woman, her greasy hair hanging in strands that could represent rope if you squinted hard enough.

"Decided?" She asked, less than courteous. Nico fished out the mortal money he had collected on the road. It was just under eight dollars, and was barely enough for one. However, in his head, Lyn didn't have to know that. Catching the fistful of money anyway, Lyn quickly decided for them.

"Just eggs and bacon. Two."

The waitress tried to argue, but Lyn got word in before she could. "Thank you."

The waitress turned with a straight back, almost rolling her eyes. Nico grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and laid it out flat on the table.

"What are you doing?"

"Writing instructions."

"For what?"

Nico didn't reply, but merely produced a black inked pen, scrawling on the makeshift paper with several misspellings. Only when he was finished did he hand the napkin to Lyn.

"Camp Half-Blood."
Lyn's face became suddenly malicious. "You've told me about this place before."

"Then you know the benefits of going." Nico said, for a split second filled with hope that he could convince her to go.

"There's more like us."

"Yes."

Lyn cracked her knuckles loudly. The pair were startled when the sound of a plate smashing broke the small silence of the restaurant.

"The hell?" Lyn whispered, moving from her spot. Nico stayed still however. He stared towards the kitchen as the smell of burnt food filled his nose.

Or skin, he thought to himself.

And that was when it struck him.

"Lyn!" He called, jumping from the booth, grabbing his small pack of things. Her attention caught, Lyn turned to face Nico. He grabbed her wrist without warning and began towing her to the entrance of the diner. That was when the serpent dropped from the ceiling, landing with a thud on the floor. The two skidded to a halt, frozen in place at the sight of the giant snake.

"My god…" Lyn breathed, eyes widening. "It's even larger!"
"That's not possible." Nico breathed, his sight rarely straying from the snake. The son of Hades cleared his head with a shake, removing eye contact with the large beast. Within that very same moment, the snake brought his head back and lurched forward, jaws open wide.

"RUN!" Nico shouted at Lyn, herding her over the counter and into the kitchen. The sight inside was just as frightening as the one outside. The three corpses of the two cooks and waitress were blackened ash piles.

"Looks like our big friend enjoys his meals hot." Lyn noted as she crawled through the kitchen floor. The doors to the cook's domain blew off their hinges, the snake hissing behind the two demigods.

"Watch your head!" Nico called as the steel door sailed mere centimetres over his friend's skull. She swore loudly and pressed herself against some cabinets. Nico hurried over.

"We have to get out of here."

"Obviously." Lyn gasped, holding her head. Nico shoved his hands in his pockets and pulled out the napkin map.

"Go to the camp. I'll meet you there, I promise."

Lyn, ignoring the screeching of the snake, the corpses on the floor and over all danger of the situation, laughed.

"I am not leaving your side." She declared. "We are a team."

Nico continued. "There will be a man there who will greet you and keep you safe. You'll make friends and learn to shoot a bow like you are supposed to. You'll never have to worry about monsters again."

"I don't mind the monsters. I really don't." Pieces of the wall crumbled as the snake thrashed at Denny's foundation. She gulped. "Honestly."

"I will meet you there." The boy repeated. He pressed the napkin into her hand, pulled her up and dragged her to the exit on the other side of the kitchen.

"Promise?" Lyn asked, flinching when the ceiling began to fall.

"I swear on the River Styx."

Though Lyn had not learned the meaning of the oath, she found it in her heart to trust Nico.

"Alright."

Nico forced open the door with the help of Lyn, allowing her to squeeze through the small space. The heavy door had been bent and distorted from the steel door thrown against it.

"Where are you going?" Lyn asked, poking her head back through.

Nico's face was grim.

"I'm the distraction."

"No more!" I gasped, my bow hand snapping out into the overwhelming darkness. I felt exhausted, deprived of the will to challenge the god any further. I was met with a ghastly chuckle.

"Your Devine father was right. You have suffered so many hardships, and there are so many more to look through. Alas, I have had my fun for the time being."

I sat up, widening my eyes to accept any possible light. Problem was, there wasn't a scrap of light to be had.

"What is this place?"

"To your feeble, mortal mind? Nothingness. This place is devoid of life and light, of time. Mortals cannot begin to comprehend the Abyss."

My body began to stand, disobeying my orders of stillness. Blind and without control, I felt fear rise.

"What is the point of you if you refuse to take the seats of the Olympians?"

The voice run close beside me, startling me. "I want to regain the power I once had."

"By fighting the children with enemies not even Chiron have seen? What does that prove other than your cowardice?"

"Ah." Was his reply, which struck a chord of confusion with Lyn.

I decided to press on despite my vulnerable situation. I was getting answers.

"And Moore? What was his part?"

"Nothing but an object of my creation. I wanted to test the girl of prophecy."

"The last one? Is that who you wanted?"

The voice sounded amused. "Now she catches on."

"Well here I am!" I shouted. "This is what you've looked for, nothing special!"

"I beg to differ."

"Beg all you want. It makes no difference."

Suddenly, I was blinded by light rather than pitch black. I covered my eyes in panic, shuddering from the burning. Eventually, my eyes adjusted.

The blinding light was a candle upon the horizon, held by a man. Both came creeping forward.

"They have not told you of the prophecy foretold about the Sacrifice?" I stiffened my back. The god laughed, still coming forward. "You are one of a kind, Lyn Barker. You've always known that. Your father knows it. Your… master… knows it. They fight for control over you, and the opportunities you bring."

I stepped forward, this time voluntarily. "But nobody will tell me the part I play!"

Say no more! I snapped to myself. It was difficult, but I managed to keep my jaws shut. The candle suddenly went out. I whipped my head around back and forth, trying to find the candlelight. I hadn't realized how much I relied on it.

It reappeared, inches from my face. I gave a startled cry, stumbling backwards. I landed on my back, staring up at the figure. He strode forward whilst I crawled backwards, my heart threatening to choke me.

"If you yearn for answers, child, you can find me."

I managed to swallow my thudding fear. "Find you where?"

I had never seen more eerie smile. "In the darkest depths this world has to offer."

I knew I was back in reality once I heard the distasteful singing. My musically attuned brain picked out the hymn to Apollo. The singer clearly hadn't the faintest clue of the words or noting. I was half tempted to wake and strangle the girl.

"You're doing it all wrong?" Stated another voice, this time a male.

At least I wasn't the only one noticing, I thought drowsily.

The girl snapped back, "At least I'm trying!"

"Ambrosia will do for this one." A third responded. Words began to bubble on my lips, until I eventually was able to form a name.

"Chiron."

"I did it!" The girl exclaimed, met with scoffing.

"Ryan, Stephanie, some time with her please?"

"Of course." The boy, Ryan, said. The sounds of feet shuffling away was an indicator that I was alone with Chiron.

My eyes popped open. I stared at the white ceiling of the pavilion, set up for the injured.

"I pray to the gods that I was the only one who had to suffer through that."

Chiron gave a throaty chuckle, rolling forward in his wheel chair. I sat up then, woozy at first but then with more confidence.

"Unfortunately, you were not."

"Poor souls." I chuckled also, stretching my muscles. Chiron seemed fairly decent looking considering the battle he had just taken part of. He had dark circles under his eyes, looked rather pale and I decided to not even think about the rat's nest that was his hair and beard.

I put a hand to my head, feeling my injury. I could tell I was wrapped fairly poorly, fairly quickly. I began ripping the bandage away from my head.

"It wasn't done properly." I told Chiron when he shot me skeptical glances.

"They are doing the best, considering the amount of wounded they have to tend." Chiron replied not unkindly. As I worked with my own bandages, I glanced about the room. One of the three large pavilions was full. The two people I had been put beside were either sleeping… or dead.

"How many have been killed?"

The centaur's voice was grave. "Too many."
I nodded in my respect. "They will be seen as warriors, I am sure." I thought of the children's souls lined up below ground.

"What happened to me?" I asked. I could feel a wound on the corner of my head, busted open and only now congealing.

"I cannot say. Perhaps you can?" His words were easily translated into, 'tell me what happened, I demand it'.

"I managed to rustle through my head… then he took me to this place of…nothingness. The Abyss he called it. Then…"
Chiron leaned back in his chair, raising a brow. "Then?"

"He extended an invitation to me."

"To find him, I presume?"

I dipped my head.

"To find him in the darkest place this world has to offer." I half-quoted the god. "Gods know where that is."
And that was when it hit me.

I leapt from my bed, weary not to step on the injured around me. Wiggling past the centaur, I ran for the end of the pavilion.

"Wait just a second!"

"Can't!"

I burst out into the open air and sucked in a lungful. It would probably be the last fresh air I would ever taste if things were to go badly. I jogged a few more paces before whistling for my hounds.

"What about Nico? And your archers? They've all been asking for you."

"Why my archers?" I questioned, though only half in interest. I was too busy searching for the beasts I called allies. I whistled again, this time louder.

"You did lead them."
"Straight to the deaths. Not to mention, I wasn't exactly a hero in this battle. I was too busy having my childhood thrown at me like shards of glass." I still wasn't pleased with that whole experience.

"Where do you plan on going? How you are going to get there?" Chiron demanded, the conversation sounding more traditional in a Lyn and Chiron sense.

"Well, if I find my hounds-" I whistled for the third time, the loudest of all. "Shadow Travel. If not, I'll try it on my own."

"That answers how, not why."

I turned to face him, grinning, though I could not explain why.

"Don't you see? This is what I am supposed to do! The prophecy that you've been hiding, it makes sense. It always made sense."

"Does it?" Clearly Chiron was doubting both me and my decisions. That wasn't too much of a difference.

"Yes! I have to go to Erebos to face him."

"And do what, exactly?"

"Not sure." I started marching towards the camp's gates. "Haven't planned that out yet."

"Lyn," Chiron called from behind. He wheeled himself faster. "Where are you going?"

I slowed to a stop, looking over my shoulder.

"Somewhere I've been before." I could already feel the chilling cold freeze my bones, the darkness taking away my sight. The earth's crust over two thousand meters above my head.

"You seem confident." Chiron blandly noted.

"You have to be when you're the daughter of a god of his standard."

I continued on my way, Chiron at a standstill behind me.

Krubera cave waited for my arrival, and so did the god lurking inside.