Hey there! Didn't take me forever this time, eh? Anyways, I'm slightly in a rush so sorry for my poor editing job
Enjoy!

(Rebecca's POV)

"The sarcophagus is in place, General," Agrius informed me when Oreius and him entered the throne room upon Mount Othrys.

I sat in the secondary seat aside my father's, head held up merely by my hand. For hours I had been forced to listen to a never-ending line of Titan soldiers with their various announcements and predicaments. That sort of tedious work was not designed for someone with ADHD. Not only did the hard throne hurt my backside but the echo gave me the most atrocious head ache, but still I labored on in vain attempt to win the favor of my men.

"Yes, very good," I managed as a reply to the bear-man.

"Is there anything else you would have us do, General?" Orieus asked, keeping his stature proper but not dating to meet my gaze; a true sign of respect. Now these two I could get on my side, I was preparing to ask the two to swear on the Styx, but something stopped me.

My gaze drifted for a moment over to Luke who stood precariously by my father's throne, not willing to sit in it, but not daring to leave my side.

"No, that'll be all," I waved the brothers out of my presence.

"Next," I called but the room remained empty. The doors swung slightly from the bear-men's exit but no one entered.

Finally in-stepped a girl with mangled coloured hair, Amber. "That's all for today, General," she assured me.

"Very good. You may go."

Without another word the girl exited the throne room leaving me alone with Luke.

As soon as the doors came to an ultimate close I let myself fall back in my seat and sighed, "Thank the gods that's over!"

Without warning I felt a strong grip on my shoulders and Luke's fingers began to massage my tense muscles. "I thought you handled that perfectly."

"Thanks," I frowned letting Luke's hands release me as I rose to my feet. "I should get going. There's work to do."

"Do you mean you've thought about Anteus?" Luke asked, excitedly following me as I strode towards the doors eyes wandering as I admired the craftsmanship of the ever-expanding castle.

"Of course I've thought about it, Luke, but I'm sure you don't need me for such a petty little thing like that." I smiled playfully.

"Petty? You think what I'm doing is petty?" His brow furrowed as he turned on me cutting me off. I watched as his fists grew white with frustration. "Are you aware that my actions are to ensure Kronos can rise?"

"Of course I'm aware of that!" I answered harshly but without letting my voice rise. Where was this anger of his coming from?

"Then you know very well that for your future to be you need to help me."

"Excuse me? I don't need to do anything, Luke. And you have no right to speak to me with such disrespect."

"No right?" Luke's sky-blue eyes turned a sickly shade of grey like the sea before a storm. "Need I remind you that I went in the Styx to ensure that your father could use me as a host?"

"I am the General of this army!" My voice began to rise uncontrollably.

"And I thought you loved me!"

My heart sunk. "Oh yeah? Well I thought the same. I guess I was wrong."

With that I stormed out of the throne room leaving Luke alone.

…

Men? Self-absorbed rodents with a single mind-set, is more like it! Life would be so much easier without them. I've never liked the hunters, but I'll give them that one. Though in my anger I still found myself searching for Bianca's brat of a brother; Nico di Angelo. I needed to get out of this grave that Luke and Kronos had dug for me, and I needed his help to do it. I couldn't live under my father's rule, at least, not as he intended me to. Perhaps I was letting my anger get the best of me when I thought I could over-power a Titan. However, if I could show him just how powerful I was he would not be so likely to use me as yet another pawn on his chessboard.

As I strode towards my corridors in the great palace I could feel my necklace bouncing against my chest, the ticking of the clock only half the pace of my heart. The first step was to find Nico, only then could my journey to power begin.

My corridors were set up in the same manner as the command tent at the desert camp. The camp had been relocated here in my absence, and most of it converted into the palace. In the centre of the back wall was the king size bed Luke and I shared, hidden behind a sheer red curtain. Next to the bed was the dark oaken bedside table where I kept my few possessions.

Opening up the small cupboard door under he table I shifted my personal stash of ambrosia to the side so that it sat beside an old book. As I reached to grab a single drachma from the back of the cupboard I found myself instead grab hold of the book and pull it out. Swinging my body around I rested my back against the bed and opened to the first page of the tattered book. It was completely blank except for the handwriting in the top right corner.

To Alex Rideau,

May your aim remain true.

Apollo.

I had found that book among Alex's few possessions when I returned to the Titan camp that tragic day so many years ago. It seemed like a lifetime had passed since the last time I spoke to the son of Apollo.

A lifetime since I held his bloody body in my arms. A lifetime since that cheeky glow of his lighted up even my darkest days. A lifetime since he had given his own life to save Luke. That time flew by like a leaf on the wind.

Continuing to flip through the pages I found numerous poems of heroism, tragedy; pretty well your typically poetry book.

"Rest in the sea, and see the sun rise..." I read quietly from the book. As my hands followed an invisible path through the book, flipping page after page, I couldn't help but notice a piece of paper shoved in between two pages. Unfolding the sheet I found printing scribbling in pen, as if the writer had an idea and was rushing to get it down on paper. I could only assume the sloppy printing to be Alex's. Curiosity overwhelming me I read, "A Half-Blood of the eldest gods shall reach sixteen against all odds...a single choice...Olympus to preserve or raze." My eyes darted to the door as I heard footsteps, but no one entered. Flipping the page over I found yet another hastily written paragraph:

Seven half-bloods shall answer the call.

To storm or fire the world must fall.

An oath to keep with a final breath.

And foes bare arms to the Doors of Death.

"What on earth...?" I breathed just as man's voice boomed in the hall.

"REBECCA!" It was unmistakably Luke; his voice thick with anger.

Remaining silent I returned the book to its place in the cupboard and snatched a few drachmas before shutting it.

By the time Luke entered the room I was already on my feet. "What are you doing?" He asked, hands notably in fists.

"What I'm doing is none of your concern, Luke. Of have I not made myself clear on that subject?" Snatching my leather jacket from its place on the door I threw it on and shoved the paper, which I realized was still in my hand, in the pocket.

"And where exactly do you think you are going?" He ordered, taking hold of my upper arm. His blue eyes turned a sickening shade of grey so that they matched the startling streak in his hair.

"Let go of my arm, Luke," I managed through clenched teeth.

"Or what?" He countered, gripping my arm with increasing force.

No words were necessary. I merely raised my free hand slightly in the direction of his neck.

"You would use your power against me?"

"I will use my power against anyone who gets in my way. Now step aside."

And so I was off. Leaving Luke alone in our chamber with a bitter sense of desertion and betrayal lingering in my gut.

(Nico's POV)

Why can't everyone just leave me alone? Or haven't I given enough to the gods? I kept reminding myself that Bianca was alive; I hadn't lost her in the junkyard as I had previously thought, but was she really better off? Who knows what Artemis had made her endure as punishment. She shouldn't even be punished, I thought, All she did was follow Rebecca to the Dam and fight a few skeletons. Who wouldn't do that?

I still couldn't understand what her crime was, even after she explained the situation to me.

It wasn't long after I had left Camp Half-Blood that she contacted me. I was hiding out in an abandoned warehouse when suddenly a shimmering screen appeared before me with the image of my sister staring back at me.

"Bianca?" My voice wavered from both shock and the cold. "I–I though you were d–dead…"

She smiled back at me, her hunter clothes were tatted and charred and her hair was a complete disaster. "I know," was her reply. "I was…Until Rebecca brought me back."

"Rebecca…?"

Her eyes were wide and her voice took on a more serious tone. "Look, Nico, I don't have much time." Her eyes kept darting to a door behind her. I didn't understand what she was all worried about. She seemed to be in some sort of five-star hotel with canvases scattered throughout the room.

"What? W–where are you?"

"I'm at a mortal's place," she answered quickly. She must have noticed my confused face as she quickly explained, "She sees through the mist, she helped me escape…Look, Nico, I really don't have time. Just listen. No one can know that I'm alive. I already contacted Artemis and she's ready to give me a full pardon if–"

"A full pardon?" I cut in. "For what? What did you–"

"Please Nico! I'm going to help Artemis capture Rebecca, but I don't think I'll ever have a chance to talk to you again."

My jaw dropped, I could feel water pooling in my eyes.

"Artemis hates men, and technically I shouldn't have ever been able to talk to you, but Artemis made an exception because you're my brother. But now…"

"Bianca…" A single tear streamed down my face, I tried to snuff it back in, but it was already gone.

Footsteps could be heard from her end of the message. "I'm sorry Nico, but I have to go. Just promise me you won't come find me."

"But…Bianca…I can't–"

"Promise me!" She said more urgently.

"Fine."

"Thank you. I love you, Nico. No matter what happens, you'll always be my little brother," I could see the hurt in her eyes. Bianca had always tried to be the strong one, but I knew she couldn't hold back her feelings forever.

"But–"

"Good-bye." Casting a hand through the image my sister disappeared and I was left all alone.

...

So there I was, lounging on a park bench in Nashville, Tennessee when yet another Iris Message appeared before me, however to my dismay this one was not from my sister.

"Nico di Angelo," the ominous golden eyes of Kronos' daughter started back at me.

"Rebecca. What do you want?" As I spoke to the demigod–demititan…er…whatever, tourists continued to pass, admiring the various statues of country legends. Who know what the mist perceived the IM as–perhaps a laptop, or a cell phone. It was probably best not to think too hard on the subject.

"I believe I owe you a debt," Rebecca continued, her hair reminded me or dried blood, a sickly shade between red and brown.

"Yeah, so?"

"So," her tone was sharp and yet somehow smooth, like a snake. "I do not like to be in someone's debt. Particularly a half-blood such as yourself."

"And what is that suppose to mean?" I sneered, grabbing hold of my stygian iron blade out of habit.

"Never you mind that. The point is I wish to offer you something. Protection. A place in my army. I will ensure your safety as well as a place for you when this war is over."

"And why would I ever join you?"

"Because if you do, I will help you find your sister," she smiled. "So Nico," she breathed, "Do we have a deal?"

Everything anyone had ever told me about Rebecca came rushing back in waves. "She can't be trusted." "She's plays tricks with your mind." "She's a murderer."

It was like she had a big warning sign plastered to her face:

WARNING: MURDEROUS LUNATIC!

But she knew things, things that no one else should possible know, and she was smart. In short, she was the one person who could help me find my sister.

So without any more persuading or tricks I found myself utter a single word that would change everything: "Yes."