Disclaimer: All rights go to Rick Riordan

A/N: THERE WILL BE NO UPDATE NEXT WEEK! -

Yeah, so I will be visiting family halfway across the country next weekend and won't be able to write a chapter for next week. I will be back the following week, so don't worry.

Just so you know, this chapter is crossposted on , and on Wattpad under the name of Middlemist2 (Middlemist1 was taken). I had someone accuse me of stealing this content, but I'm not, I'm just cross-posting it. I've written everything that isn't the House of Hades content, and the only other person that this belongs to is Rick Riordan, because this is his amazing world that he has created, not mine.

Also, all votes are counted over all three of the websites I post this on, so if it doesn't match up for what the previous chapters are saying then that is why. I had almost all votes for Nico on my other post of this story but none on this one.

Next week's options are:

-Percy (Future)

-Will

-Athena

-Artemis

-Piper (Future)

-Other, with an explanation as to why (I need ideas for how to write their PoV)

PLEASE READ: One more thing. I had a couple people say that they didn't like the chapter for last week because Dionysus's PoV was really rude or something like, and while that is completely okay, I just want people to understand why I write the way that I do. I'm not going to make every chapter the same thing. It's stagnant and boring, and no one want's to read a book as long as mine that is repetitive and has no depth to it. I want you to feel something when you read my writing, whether that is anger or excitement or hatred, I just want to make sure that if you are going to message me about how you didn't like the chapter then it is for the right reasons. I obviously didn't agree with most of what Dionysus was saying in the last chapter, but I wrote it that way because it wasn't my PoV of the chapter, it was Dionysus's. I'm just channeling (to the best of my abilities) his character. And all of these character's... character, I guess. So if you are going to give me criticism, please make sure that it is for the right reason's, and not "I didn't like what you said about Percy in the last chapter" because I didn't say that, that's just how I thought Dionysus would think.

For everyone else, thank you so much for reading my book. And reading this far into it. It means a lot to me that the hours of work I am putting into this book are brightening a few people's day.

PS: The Roman numeral for this chapter was really satisfying to type.

Also, I'm trying really hard not to swear in this book, so I've definitely written some odd sentences to get my point across without actually swearing.

I was sitting in the corner. By myself. Like I always was.

It wasn't because I had an aversion to being around people (though I kind of did), but it was mostly because people apparently had an aversion to being around me. And I hated them for it. Which made them want to be around me even less.

A never-ending circle of loneliness.

I'd small part of me had hoped that reading this book would show people that I wasn't about to put in a bad word with my father about how they should spend their afterlife if they so much as looked at me wrong, but I hadn't yet had a chapter from my point of view. I wasn't sure whether I should be grateful or unhappy.

On one hand, I might actually be seen as a human being (well, half of one) instead of a monster that was allowed behind the borders of Camp Half-Blood, unlike all of the other monsters in the Greek world.

On the other hand, the last thing I needed was anyone knowing what I was thinking. (ie. my deepest, darkest secret which seemed to always be the only thing my mind focused on)

Yeah, I was definitely thankful that I hadn't had a chapter from my point of view.

Aphrodite started reading the moment Hera put the book in her hands.

"THEY BARELY MADE IT INSIDE.

As soon as their host threw the bolts, the cow monsters bellowed and slammed into the door, making it shudder on its hinges.

'Oh, they can't get in,' the man in denim promised. 'You're safe now!'

'Safe?' Frank demanded. 'Hazel is dying!'

I really didn't want to sit here listening. I'd already lost one sister, and that had turned my entire life upside-down. Reading about my other sister dying would destroy me.

Their host frowned as if he didn't appreciate Frank ruining his good mood. 'Yes, yes. Bring her this way.'

Curse him.

Frank carried Hazel as they followed the man further into the building. Nico offered to help, but Frank didn't need it. Hazel weighed nothing, and Frank's body hummed with adrenalin. He could feelHazel shivering, so at least he knew she was alive, but her skin was cold. Her lips had taken on a greenish tinge – or was that just Frank's blurry vision?

I looked over at Hazel. Frank's vision was definitely working well enough to see that her lips were indeed a bit green.

It killed me that I had to sit over here, away from her. I might not know her, but she was still my sister, and despite how different they looked, all I could see when I looked at Hazel was Bianca.

This whole "read the book from the future" thing was definitely not helping with my depression. I was also fairly certain that I might need a therapist after this, but I was broke and I definitely wasn't going to ask my father.

His eyes still burned from the monster's breath. His lungs felt like he'd inhaled a flaming cabbage. He didn't know why the gas had affected him less than it had Hazel. Maybe she'd got more of it in her lungs. He would have given anything to change places if it meant saving her.

The voices of Mars and Ares yelled in his head, urging him to kill Nico and the man in denim and anyone else he could find, but Frank forced down the noise.

I normally wouldn't care about someone else's well being to the point I'm at right now (I mean, as long as their alive why should I?) Frank wasn't going to drop dead, so why should I be worried? But if he wasn't able to focus because of those gods, and Hazel died because of them, I might actually attempt to kill them.

So yeah, I might be just the tiniest bit worried. Just a bit.

The house's front room was some sort of greenhouse. The walls were lined with tables of plant trays under fluorescent lights. The air smelled of fertilizer solution. Maybe Venetians did their gardening inside since they were surrounded by water instead of soil? Frank wasn't sure, but he didn't spend much time worrying about it.

Yes, please try to ignore the soil smell and save my sister's life. Thank you.

The back room looked like a combination garage, college dorm, and computer lab. Against the left wall glowed a bank of servers and laptops, their screen savers flashing pictures of plowed fields and tractors. Against the right wall was a single bed, a messy desk and an open wardrobe filled with extra denim clothes and a stack of farm implements, like pitchforks and rakes.

The back wall was a huge garage door. Parked next to it was a red-and-gold chariot with an open carriage and a single axle, like the chariots Frank had raced at Camp Jupiter. Sprouting from the sides of the driver's box were giant feathery wings. Wrapped around the rim of the left wheel, a spotted python snored loudly.

Oh great, Triptolemus. I hope he didn't mind the children of Hades. His patron was Demeter, after all.

Frank hadn't known that pythons could snore. He hoped he hadn't done that himself in python form last night.

Several people laughed at this. I couldn't bring myself to, even though the image of a snoring python who was also Frank was slightly amusing.

'Set your friend here,' said the man in denim.

Frank placed Hazel gently on the bed. He removed her sword and tried to make her comfortable, but she was as limp as a scarecrow. Her complexion definitely had a greenish tint.

Dread overtook me. I really wouldn't survive losing another sister.

'What were those cow things?' Frank demanded. 'What did they do to her?'

'Katoblepones,' said their host. 'Singular: katobleps. In English, it means down-looker. Called that because –''

They're always looking down.' Nico smacked his forehead. 'Right. I remember reading about them.'

Oh no. Please don't mention it. That is the last thing my reputation needs right now.

Frank glared at him. 'Now you remember?'

Nico hung his head almost as low as a katobleps. 'I, uh ... used to play this stupid card game when I was younger. Mythomagic. The katobleps was one of the monster cards.'

A couple of people glanced over at me.

Great.

Frank blinked. 'I played Mythomagic. I never saw that card.'

You could kill me now and I would be fine with it.

'It was in the Africanus Extreme expansion deck.'

I swore to the gods if someone looked at me one more time I was going to run someone through with my sword just to maintain a shred of dignity.

'Oh.'

Is it over?

Their host cleared his throat. 'Are you two done, ah, geeking out, as they say?'

'Right, sorry,' Nico muttered. 'Anyway, katoblepones have poison breath and a poison gaze. Ithought they only lived in Africa.'

Thank the gods. Metaphorically. Not literally. I had nothing to thank them for.

The man in denim shrugged. 'That's their native land. They were accidentally imported to Venicehundreds of years ago. You've heard of Saint Mark?'

Frank wanted to scream with frustration. He didn't see how any of this was relevant, but, if theirhost could heal Hazel, Frank decided maybe it would be best not to make him angry.

At least he was thinking logically.

'Saints? They're not part of Greek mythology.'

The man in denim chuckled. 'No, but Saint Mark is the patron saint of this city. He died in Egypt, oh, a long time ago. When the Venetians became powerful ... well, the relics of saints were a big tourist attraction back in the Middle Ages. The Venetians decided to steal Saint Mark's remains and bring them to their big church of San Marco. They smuggled out his body in a barrel of pickled pig parts.'

'That's ... disgusting,' Frank said.

History is weird. You get used to it after you've met an uncountable number of people who lived hundreds of years ago.

'Yes,' the man agreed with a smile. 'The point is you can't do something like that and not have consequences. The Venetians unintentionally smuggled something else out of Egypt – the katoblepones. They came here aboard that ship and have been breeding like rats ever since. They love the magical poison roots that grow here – swampy, foul-smelling plants that creep up from the canals. It makes their breath even more poisonous! Usually, the monsters ignore mortals, but demigods ... especially demigods who get in their way –'

'Got it,' Frank snapped. 'Can you cure her?'

Finally. If he just passively listened for another second I was... I don't know, I was going to do something. Something bad.

If I had a nickel for the number of people I had mentally threatened I would be the richest person in the world.

The man shrugged. 'Possibly.'

'Possibly?' Frank had to use all his willpower not to throttle the guy. He put his hand under Hazel's nose. He couldn't feel her breath. 'Nico, please tell me she's doing that death-trance thing like you did in the bronze jar.'

Everyone looked over at me. I silently shook my head, and everyone looked depressed instantly. Then they went back to ignoring me.

Sure, only pay attention to what I have to say (or not say) when you want something from me. I'm fine with that.

Nico grimaced. 'I don't know if Hazel can do that. Her dad is technically Pluto, not Hades, so –'

'Hades!' cried their host. He backed away, staring at Nico with distaste. 'So that's what I smell. Children of the Underworld? If I'd known that, I would never have let you in!'

Oh no.

Frank rose. 'Hazel's a good person. You promised you would help her!'

What am I? Chopped liver?

'I did not promise.'

Nico drew his sword. 'She's my sister,' he growled. 'I don't know who you are, but if you can cure her you have to, or so help me by the River Styx –'

'Oh, blah, blah, blah!' The man waved his hand. Suddenly where Nico di Angelo had been standing was a potted plant about five feet tall, with drooping green leaves, tufts of silk and half a dozen ripe yellow ears of corn.

Oh, sh*t.

Demeter started laughing.

'There,' the man huffed, wagging his finger at the corn plant. 'Children of Hades can't order me around! You should talk less and listen more. Now at least you have ears.'

A couple of people laughed. I wanted to punch them.

Seriously, what was it with plant gods turning people into plants?

Frank stumbled against the bed. 'What did you – why –?'

The man raised an eyebrow. Frank made a squeaky noise that wasn't very courageous. He'd been so focused on Hazel, he'd forgotten what Leo had told them about the guy they were looking for.

'You're a god,' he remembered. 'Triptolemus.'

How could you just forget that someone is a god?

The man bowed. 'My friends call me Trip, so don't call me that. And if you're another child of Hades –'

What is so wrong with being a child of Hades?! We are people too! And I don't control what my father does so why do I always have to face his consequences?

'Mars!' Frank said quickly. 'Child of Mars!'

And how is being a child of war any better?

Triptolemus sniffed. 'Well ... not much better. But perhaps you deserve to be something better thana corn plant. Sorghum? Sorghum is very nice.'

"What's wrong with corn?" said my brilliant mind.

'Wait!' Frank pleaded. 'We're here on a friendly mission. We brought a gift.'

Very slowly, here ached into his backpack and brought out the leather-bound book. 'This belongs to you?'

'My almanac!' Triptolemus grinned and seized the book. He thumbed through the pages and started bouncing on the balls of his feet. 'Oh, this is fabulous! Where did you find it?'

'Um, Bologna. There were these –' Frank remembered that he wasn't supposed to mention the dwarfs –

Don't mention the dwarfs.

'terrible monsters.

Thank the gods. (not literally)

We risked our lives, but we knew this was important to you. So could you maybe, you know, turn Nico back to normal and heal Hazel?'

Yes, please.

'Hmm?' Trip looked up from his book. He'd been happily reciting lines to himself – something about turnip-planting schedules. Frank wished that Ella the harpy were here. She would get along great with this guy.

Who?

Everyone else seemed to have a similar question, but the future people weren't paying attention.

'Oh, heal them?' Triptolemus clucked disapprovingly. 'I'm grateful for the book, of course. I can definitely let you go free, son of Mars. But I have a long-standing problem with Hades. After all, I owe my godly powers to Demeter!'

Frank racked his brain, but it was hard with the voices screaming in his head and the katobleps poison making him dizzy.

'Uh, Demeter,' he said, 'the plant goddess. She – she didn't like Hades because ...' Suddenly here called an old story he'd heard at Camp Jupiter. 'Her daughter, Proserpine –'

'Persephone,' Trip corrected. 'I prefer the Greek, if you don't mind.'

All of the Greek's smiled while the Romans glared at them. Seriously, were the Greeks trying to provoke a war?

Kill him! Mars screamed.

I love this guy! Ares yelled back. Kill him anyway!

Ares mind all day every day.

Frank decided not to take offense. He didn't want to get turned into a sorghum plant.

'Okay. Hades kidnapped Persephone.'

He really needs to review his history. I mean, most of the information I got from Mythomagic has saved my life several times, so I'm not unhappy that I played it. Just disappointed in myself. (Whether I was disappointed in myself for playing it or because I had changed so much that I didn't play it, I wasn't so sure.)

'Exactly!' Trip said.

'So ... Persephone was a friend of yours?'

I doubt it.

Trip snorted. 'I was just a mortal prince back then. Persephone wouldn't have noticed me. But when her mother, Demeter, went searching for her, scouring the whole earth, not many people would help her. Hecate lit her way at night with her torches. And I ... well, when Demeter came to my part of Greece, I gave her a place to stay. I comforted her, gave her a meal, and offered my assistance. I didn't know she was a goddess at the time, but my good deed paid off. Later, Demeter rewarded me by making me a god of farming!'

'Wow,' Frank said. 'Farming. Congratulations.'

Ha. Okay, that was a bit funny.

'I know! Pretty awesome, right?

No.

Anyway, Demeter never got along with Hades. So naturally, you know, I have to side with my patron goddess. Children of Hades – forget it! In fact, one of them – this Scythian king named Lynkos? When I tried to teach his countrymen about farming, he killed my right python!'

'Your ... right python?'

Trip marched over to his winged chariot and hopped in. He pulled a lever, and the wings began to flap. The spotted python on the left wheel opened his eyes. He started to writhe, coiling around the axel like a spring. The chariot whirred into motion, but the right wheel stayed in place, soTriptolemus spun in circles, the chariot beating its wings and bouncing up and down like a defective merry-go-round.

'You see?' he said as he spun. 'No good! Ever since I lost my right python, I haven't been able tospread the word about farming – at least not in person. Now I have to resort to giving online courses.'

Oh no. How horrible.

'What?'

As soon as he said it, Frank was sorry he'd asked.

As you should.

Trip hopped off the chariot while it was still spinning. The python slowed to a stop and went back to snoring. Trip jogged over to the line of computers. He tapped the keyboards and the screens woke up, displaying a website in maroon and gold, with a picture of a happy farmer in a toga and a farmer'shat, standing with his bronze scythe in a field of wheat.

'Triptolemus Farming University!' he announced proudly. 'In just six weeks, you can get your bachelor's degree in the exciting and vibrant career of the future – farming!'

Wow, amazing.

Frank felt a bead of sweat trickle down his cheek. He didn't care about this crazy god or his snake powered chariot or his online degree program. But Hazel was turning greener by the moment. Nico was a corn plant. And he was alone.

Normally I would hate him for letting Hazel die, but I could see how the situation might be a bit complicated.

'Look,' he said. 'We did bring you the almanac. And my friends are really nice. They're not like those other children of Hades you've met. So if there's any way –'

'Oh!' Trip snapped his fingers. 'I see where you're going!'

'Uh ... you do?'

'Absolutely! If I cure your friend Hazel and return the other one, Nicholas –'

'Nico.'

'– if I return him to normal ...'

Frank hesitated. 'Yes?'

'Then, in exchange, you stay with me and take up farming! A child of Mars as my apprentice? It's perfect! What a spokesman you'll be. We can beat swords into plowshares and have so much fun!'

I don't really care what he does, as long as he saves Hazel. And turns me back into a demigod.

'Actually ...' Frank tried frantically to come up with a plan.

Ares and Mars screamed in his head, Swords! Guns! Massive ka-booms!

If he declined Trip's offer, Frank figured he would offend the guy and end up as sorghum or wheat or some other cash it was the only way to save Hazel, then, sure, he could agree to Trip's demands and become a farmer. But that couldn't be the only way. Frank refused to believe he'd been chosen by the Fates to go on this quest just so he could take online courses in turnip cultivation.

You'd better. Save Hazel's life, then worry about your own.

Frank's eyes wandered to the broken chariot. 'I have a better offer,' he blurted out. 'I can fix that.'

Trip's smile melted. 'Fix ... my chariot?'

Frank wanted to kick himself. What was he thinking? He wasn't Leo. He couldn't even figure out a stupid pair of Chinese handcuffs. He could barely change the batteries in a TV remote. He couldn't fix a magical chariot! But something told him it was his only chance. That chariot was the one thing Triptolemus might really want.

'I'll go find a way to fix the chariot,' he said. 'In return, you fix Nico and Hazel. Let us go in peace. And – and give us whatever aid you can to defeat Gaia's forces.'

Then hurry up! Hazel is dying!

Triptolemus laughed. 'What makes you think I can aid you with that?'

'Hecate told us so,' Frank said. 'She sent us here. She – she decided Hazel is one of herfavorites.'

The color drained from Trip's face. 'Hecate?'

Oh thank the gods, we are finally getting somewhere. Threaten him and be done with it.

Frank hoped he wasn't overstating things. He didn't need Hecate mad at him too. But, ifTriptolemus and Hecate were both friends of Demeter, maybe that would convince Trip to help.

Yeah, say that Hecate will be angry if he doesn't save Hazel and the get out of there. You don't have to tell the truth, especially when someone's life is on the line.

'The goddess guided us to your almanac in Bologna,' Frank said. 'She wanted us to return it to you, because ... well, she must've known you had some knowledge that would help us get through the house of Hades in Epirus.'

Trip nodded slowly. 'Yes. I see. I know why Hecate sent you to me. Very well, son of Mars. Go find a way to fix my chariot. If you succeed, I will do all you ask. If not –'

'I know,' Frank grumbled. 'My friends die.'

'Yes,' Trip said cheerfully. 'And you'll make a lovely patch of sorghum!'"

I swear to myself that Frank let Hazel die and I had to spend the rest of my life as a corn plant, then when I died I would personally haunt Frank Zhang for the rest of his life as retribution.

A/N: Come back in two weeks for the next update!

And please comment, it means a lot!