I got a review saying that the mushy stuff was getting a little old. It has inspired this chapter thank you non-mushy-stuff lover. You have put some gore into my story!

Tell me what you think at the bottom.

"Thalia welcome back." Annabeth got up hugging Thalia around the neck obviously having missed her dearly.

"Thals, take a seat. We need to catch up." Percy said pointing to the spot that was just beside Annabeth's spot.

"Thanks Kelp for Brains," She plopped down removing the hood from her head so that we could see the intricately French braided hair. The circlet was beautifully set atop the braid and only looked slightly different then mine.

"What have the Huntresses been up to?" Nico wondered snaking an arm around my waist. I slid across the bench a little as he pulled me closer. It shocked me at first and then I relaxed.

Thalia eyed the motion slightly but left no comment. "We have recently been dormant just beyond the borders of camp. Lady Artemis has been really stressed and so we haven't had time for much."

"What made her so stressed?" I asked a bit worried for my immortal mother.

"Whenever I was around her she kept muttering something about an angel. I'm not sure if it has to do something with it." Thalia admitted picking at a plate of eggs that had just been set in front of her.

"Oh…" I breathed. I heard Nico sigh beside me. Percy gave us a weird look along with Annabeth beside him. It had escaped me that they still had no idea about why they were really together. Yea, they loved each other, but Percy was angel on Earth to be a savior to Annabeth's lost soul.

We sat in an awkward silence for the rest of the meal. Thalia didn't eat much and I pushed my plate away thinking about my mother even though Nico insisted that I eat. I had to convince him that, no; I was not hanging out with some of the anorexic Aphrodite children. When would I have time to get into their twisted world? It wasn't worth the risk to even talk to them even though their mother was pretty nice.

Nico and I said our goodbyes and left the table. Chiron offered a wave. Nico nodded in return. We jumped down off the back of the pavilion and went into the woods to our clearing. No, we don't own the clearing, but we like to think of it as ours.

We made it to the center and sat down. I used Nico's chest as a pillow as he rested with his arms behind his head. The sun leaked through the canopy of trees and it seemed like this was perfect. That was until…

"Nico," A dark image flashed through my mind waiting in the woods. "Someone's out there."

"Congratulations Aikaterine, you can still sense my presence." I scrambled to my feet only to see Nereus waiting just inside the shadows.

"Please, go away Nereus. I'm not going back with you." I bellowed in his direction trying and failing to hide the worry in my voice. I didn't want to leave Nico again. I couldn't.

"He broke the deal we made. He should be dead." Nereus hissed stepping into the sunlight. The one thing I'll never forget is the hunger that seemed to linger in his eyes. He stared at me seeming to scale my body with his mind. I took in a ragged breath trying to calm myself.

"I broke no such deal." Nico was at my side pulling me into his arms.

"Then how did she get back here to camp with you?" He said 'you' as if it was some kind of foul word that should have never rested on his tongue.

"The deal we made said I couldn't look for her. I didn't go looking because I knew if I did someone would get hurt. My dad found her." Nico stated calmly though his arms were tight around my waist.

"She is rightfully mine! You get no more say in her life Di Angelo." He spat stepping toward me and touching my arm. I hadn't realized he was so close and I cringed into Nico's embrace.

"She is her own person. You have as much say as I do." Nico protested pushing me back behind him. I stumbled a bit catching my footing only a few feet back.

"I won her fair and square. Either, you hand her over to me or I'll kill you and drag her away kicking and screaming. The ball is in your court." Nereus had that calming voice that infuriated you even more after he was done talking. It made no sense it was just how it worked.

"No!" I shouted coming up between them and pushing them away from each other. Nereus took a step back avoiding my shove and Nico stumbled back falling to his back. I drew my sword from my side always having it near me. I hadn't gone anywhere without it since I got back to camp and that wasn't changing now.

"Aikaterine, don't get into this; this is between me and Nico." Nereus said calmly pulling his own sword. Backbiter gleamed in the light and I remembered the feeling of the power that came with the blade.

"This is about me and you; therefore, Nico has nothing to do with this." I spat feeling the anger boil inside me.

"Fine," He stepped forward slashing at me with the blade. I took it easily with my own and threw it to the side so that the momentum sent him back three steps. I stepped in two steps slashing for his chest. He barely deflected it before contact and I took another slash toward his legs. Nereus jumped high into the air trying to clear the blade coming square for his ankles.

Unluckily, he escaped my blade and came down for my head. I dropped to the ground rolling to the side and letting the blade lodge into the ground. I used the flat of my blade going behind Nereus's knees and knocking him to the ground. He scrambled trying to get up. I had already gotten to my feet.

I jogged lightly over to Backbiter and pulled it from the ground. I now had mine and his blade there would be no escaping the victory I had already set up. I stalked his way just as he got to his feet. The sad attempt to escape was stopped by Thalia standing in the shadows.

When he saw her there she shook her head slowly. Percy and Annabeth soon appeared placed around the clearing border. Now, there was literally no escape. I saw the keen opportunity to end this on going feud of my past and my present for good. I could easily cut him to bits and throw him to Tartarus along with his master Kronos. He would never be able to come back. It seemed pretty good.

I came from my thoughts. Nereus was standing in front of me expecting what was going to come. Easily, I slid the blades behind his knees and knocked him back to the ground. The air whooshed out of his chest and he eyes rattled for a second. I took the last bit of time trying to decide if I was really going to do this. I sent both blades for his neck and crossed them into an ex over his neck.

I hadn't killed him. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I had killed so many others before him and I needed him to lead me back to the base. I needed to get everyone out. I needed to get Hazel and Danny. I needed them all safe back here with me.

I squatted down beside Nereus and whispered into his ear, "I want to know where the base is. You're going to take me there." I hissed. "If you don't I'll kill you and throw you down into Tartarus."

"Why are you letting me live?" He asked his voice coming out hoarse and airy.

"Because without your angel, you wouldn't go anywhere anyway. I consider living more torture then death." I answered coolly rising to full height.

"What does an angel have to do with my death?" Nereus wondered curiosity clear in his tone.

"You'll find out when you die." I assured him.

Percy and Annabeth came from the trees along with Thalia. Percy and Annabeth had to stand there for a little bit to get the swords out of the ground before they pulled Nereus to his feet. The two of them together had to hold his hands behind his back as they headed back toward camp.

Nico wrapped an arm over my shoulders. He handed me Backbiter knowing that I wanted the blade back and I took it thankfully sliding it into my sheath instead of the celestial bronze one I had taken with me. We walked a couple yards back from Nereus and his escorts. I could see Thalia on my mind map dashing through the woods toward camp fast then the rest of us to meet with a group of girls waiting outside the trees.

"You're sparing his life so he can do what exactly?" Nico wondered nuzzling my hair.

"I've decided to assign a quest to myself." I said calmly feeling his warm breath on the sensitive skin of my neck.

"Oh really, what is it?" He wondered kissing my neck.

"I'm going back to the jail. I'm also getting everyone out and bringing them here." My voice some how kept up the calm consistency I had created to sound strong. My breath hitched when his lips made contact with the sensitive spot on my neck.

"Can I help?" He begged his lips leaving my neck and his eyes meeting mine.

"Of course, I wouldn't have it any other way." He kissed me gently before we continued to walk. I hadn't even realized we had stopped to talk. Nereus, Percy, and Annabeth were probably already at the Big House.

We broke through the last line of trees and ran to catch up with our captive. They were about to walk onto the porch of the Big House and we weren't anywhere near there. Chiron and Mr. D were in a heated game of Pinochle. Mr. D threw down the cards and stormed into the house.

"Chiron," I shouted just before he was about to follow Mr. D inside.

"Yes Aikaterine," He turned around face with Nereus and his escorts. He froze for a millisecond and then relaxed visibly.

"I need a favor to leave the camps borders." I said completely calm. If he said no I would still be leaving.

"What must you leave the camp borders to pursue?" He wondered rolling his wheel chair closer to the edge of the porch which I had finally reached. Chiron seemed to be inspecting Nereus as if he were some sort of science experiment. "A son of Oceanus, where did you fetch such a rarity?" He finally decided.

"He was leading Kronos's army." Nico stepped forward speaking to his teacher.

"And he was here, why? Or, am I being to forward with that question?" Chiron obviously caught my nervous expression.

"Forward…" Nico decided rubbing my arms to calm my tense posture.

"Very well, Aikaterine, what is the quest you wish?" Chiron finally let it drop and we could move on to the important matter at hand.

"I need to travel to the jail. Then I'm going to bring the captives back." I explained hoping that that was enough to let me go.

"I'm sorry Aikaterine, with the attack of Olympus having just calmed down I think it is a bit to hazardous." Chiron apologized turning a rolling away.

I huffed and turned away from the house to start walking back to my cabin. Nico's arm stopped me and I came to a stand still. He pulled me back so that I was in front him and he moved the hair that had covered my left eye. I tried to stay angry, but the dark blue irises made me want to just be happy. The smell of dead roses filled my senses and I wished he would pull me in closer.

No wait, I was still mad! I'm supposed to be mad. But, how could I be? It was nearly impossible. It was moments like these that made me reconsider my actions. And, he knew that. That was exactly what Nico was trying to make me do. He wanted me to reconsider.

"What are you going to do Aikaterine?" Nico demanded sweetly.

"I'm going to wait till night fall." I admitted freeing myself from his grasp and heading down toward the cabins.

"What are we supposed to do with Nereus?" Percy shouted after me.

I froze. What was a supposed to do with that bastard? I couldn't let him live for too long. He would hurt some of the campers or take them with him. That was the last thing I needed.

"Bring him here." I demanded.

Percy and Annabeth forced Nereus our way and stopped him in front of me. He was considerably taller then me, but he was the same height as Percy. I put a heavy hand on Nereus's shoulder and pushed him to his knees. His devious looks had been seduced to nothing once I pulled Backbiter at my side.

"The last time you hurt me was the last time you'll be hurting anyone." I whispered into his ear just before forcing the blade through his chest. A gasp escaped his lips and Annabeth let a gasp out as well. Nereus's body fell limp and I retrieved my sword from his flesh. I used what was left of Nereus's shirt and wiped the blade clean of his blood.

I sheathed Backbiter and walked away. Nico stood in shock at the dead body I had just left behind. Percy dropped Nereus's arm and Annabeth fell into Percy's arms. I tried to ignore the scream of Chiron's name Percy yelled at the big house. I had promised myself that day in the arena that the only person killing Nereus would be me. I had just fulfilled that, but I felt no better.

"Chiron, Aikaterine has gone mentally insane." Percy claimed as obviously the centaur had come to the scene. "She killed Nereus right in front of us."

"She doesn't belong here at camp. Let her leave." I heard a camper say from behind me. I was going out ear shot, but it was enough to give me even more incentive to leave.

I took off into a sprint suddenly sensing my pursuer. "Aikaterine… Wait!" Nico screamed as I took off into the line of trees behind my cabin. I could feel tears come down my cheeks, but it was barely noticeable through the ravaging wind in my face.

Two arms came around me out of nowhere creating a vise around me. I jolted to a stop and leaned into the chest of the one person who would have been able to catch me. The only one who could shadow travel was standing there taking the beating I was giving to him. I pounded my fist against his chest as I cried trying to escape. It was useless. It was like stuffed animals against a bear. It was impossible to win.

"If you want to free them, I'll follow you. You can't get rid of me by running." He finally said after about twenty minutes of me beating him. We were now on the ground. I was panting and crying only a small bit of tears. He had kept his arms around me the whole time not saying a word.

"I'd like that." I admitted with a shaky voice. I did want him to come. I didn't like having to leave him behind and the situation was no different.

"Plus, I can get us there faster. What's the name of the place exactly?" The mood had seemed to lighten when we had started talking. It was already early dark hours.

"The place is called the Jail of the Forbidden." I said clearly.

"Ok," He started to think and I could see the look on his face.

"Wait!" I whispered harshly remembering a huge detail.

"What!?" He hissed back chuckling under his breath at my sudden explosion.

"Magic and all that, it only works in the office. If anywhere else you'll die." I said quickly.

Nico thought that over; since I had said it so fast, he had to rethink all my words before deciphering the meaning. "Ok, thanks for the heads up." He finally said after a minute or two.

I felt myself start to vanish as a cold wind seemed to sweep us away. I felt cold stone touch my back as we landed in the office. Nico's arms were still wrapped around me though now we were on our sides. I stood up brushing the dust off of me.

The office was a mess. Papers covered the desk and the chair was shoved off into a corner. There was some sort of stain on the carpet that looked like blood, human blood. I cringed at the thought of this being an empousai feeding chamber and then collected myself. Nico got to his feet looking around the office for himself.

"So, this is what hell on Earth looks like." He said sheepishly as if he were afraid that something was going to eat him.

"The top right drawer of the desk, that's where all the keys are. Can you get them for me?" I wondered looking down one of the corridors that would go to me old room. I could here the silence of the place other then the soft cry of a baby.

"Here you go," He handed me the keys and then held my hand in his. I dragged him down the hall toward the baby's cry and went into Rainey's hallway. This would be the first rescue of the long day ahead of us.

haha you guys thought that when Thalia came back it would have to do with her. haha haha haha yes i laugh at you. At least i don't bite my thumb at you! Sorry i have Romeo and Juliet on my mind. REVIEW it's how you get more chapters!

Sincerely,

wisegirlindisguise