Hello my Olympus fan club! I do apologize severely for not being consistent; I had a big move recently, and I know it's been ages, so I hope you can all accept my dearest apologies with this extra long chapter! BTW, for my fans of horror, check out my creepypasta (The Man In The Shadows, wrote on Halloween) in my account!

Chapter Eight

Frank sat at the dining pavilion, casually sipping from one of the camp's endless chalices, as campers ran between cabins, the Big House and the woods, bringing supplies for their chariots, armor, weapons and traps. The stressed looks on everyone's face made Frank's anxiety skyrocket. So instead he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose.

Years before Frank knew about his Roman heritage, his grandmother and mother had engrained the need for honor. Not only in oneself, but in battles, to even honor his enemies. We all believe we're fighting the good fight, even when fighting on the wrong side. Jason had told everyone the story, how Zethes shot Piper, how he killed him. It was so full of malice, so primal and animalistic. Frank had to leave the Big House before Jason could get any further than Zethes eyes melting.

Hazel suddenly sat down beside him, making him spill soda on his Camp Half-Blood tee. She giggled and placed her head on his shoulder. She was so warm, so present and alive, unlike her brother Nico. She did however, still have the capability to somehow move around and be unseen. It felt like she had suddenly appeared next to him.

"You okay big guy?" She said, pecking his cheek. He smiled, anxiety and fears fading away entirely, but he couldn't shake that dread in his gut.

"Yeah, just, thought that was too gruesome. I didn't know Jason had that in him" He felt bad saying it, but he meant it.

"Well, Zethes took Piper away from him. From all of us. I don't approve of what he did, but Zethes deserved everything that happened to him. I just…" She trailed off, but shook her head. "Come on. We need to prepare" She stood up and outstretched her hand.

Frank took it, standing up "For what? We haven't gotten word back from Apollo or any other gods yet have we?"

"No, but Jason told us what's coming" She shivered "More like who."

Leo had his back against Peleus' head, who happily blew rings of smoke through his nose. Festus was still back at Camp Jupiter, and of course, he couldn't ask Calypso to bring a bronze, mechanical, fire breathing dragon head on a plane to New York City, so he hung out with Peleus quite often. This one time, they even played 'Who can make the biggest fireball' and shot immense balls of fire into the sky. He called it a draw when they almost lit the camp on fire.

He idly pet the dragon's nose, feeling the rough scales, thinking of Piper. He had seen her the day before, in the dining pavilion next to Jason, yet it seemed so distant now. His head perked up, the sound of a car approaching. Peleus simply opened his eyes half way and puffed a frustrated plume of smoke, declaring the need to be pet. Leo stood and pat the large dragon's body "I'll be back big guy."

He saw the yellow taxi and the stern but beautiful face in the backseat. He felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth; even in a time like this, she can make me smile, he thought. The cabbie had frost covering part of his car, and he looked like he was in shock. Leo did not blame him, after he saw that dome collapse on the city. He sped off nearly as soon as Calypso got out, not asking for cash. She took three long strides and embraced Leo in a hug so fierce it nearly broke his ribs.

"Hey- Oof, it's okay." He pulled his arms free and hugged her back. He wanted to say something funny or clever, something he would do in any other situation, but his heart wasn't in it. He wanted to try for her sake, but he thought about Jason's story, and how Calypso was behind him the entire time. He decided to stay quiet, which was a first for him.

After a few seconds, she pulled away from him and took a shaky breath. She wasn't crying, but that didn't surprise Leo. She didn't know Piper well, or for very long, but it had still shaken her to her core.

"How are you?" Calypso asked. Leo smiled "Livin' the dream, doll" He said, outstretching his arm to the hill. "Come on. You need to get some rest."

Jason had put up quite a fuss when the group had told him to get some rest. He insisted he needed to help, until Percy told him he would help when he got some sleep, to which Jason couldn't argue. Leo came in with Calypso shortly afterwards, who went to rest in the spare bedroom of the Big House, since Dionysus no longer came to the Camp.

"How is she?" Hazel asked Leo as he sat down at the ping pong table.

"She's shaken, but physically she's totally fine" He said, his hands perfectly still on the table. He missed Piper. Annabeth intertwined her fingers with Percy's under the table, anxiety in her chest. The thought of losing him again terrified her. She squeezed his palm gently, and he squeezed back, as guilt squeezed his chest. He kept thinking about what Rachel said, and it made him feel bad. He should talk to her.

"How's Jason?" Nico said after a moment of silence. He stood in the corner, not too far from the door. Even though a window was right in front of him, sunlight pouring in, he was shroud in shadows. It took a moment for anyone to respond.

"He's torn up" Percy spoke up "He wants revenge, but he's seeing red right now. He just needs to cool off" He dug in his pocket for a while before pulling out a glowing sea green thread, about a foot long, and placing it on the table. Everyone stared in awe as Percy continued.

"Jason picked it up off the stand where he saw the Fates, and Calypso has the scissors. I tried to cut this thing with my sword, but it bounces off like it was metal" everyone's attention went to Percy. He raised his eyebrow "What? It was scientific research, I knew it wouldn't cut" Annabeth punched his shoulder hard, and he chuckled and recoiled.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?" She placed her finger to her head.

"Do you not use that Seaweed Brain of yours? Like ever? You could have killed yourself!"

"I had faith!" Percy said, rubbing his shoulder.

"In whom? Half of divinity hates us at the moment" Percy put his hand up.

"My point being, this seems to only be destructible via those scissors, so I'll just" he pulled his camp necklace from under his shirt and twisted it around the string, tying it off.

"Okay that's great and all" Nico said, coming out from his shadowy spot "But why did they leave it? There's no way they'd just forget it" the son of Hades pulled a small knife from his belt, made of the same iron as his sword, and took a seat at the table, picking his nails. After his initial shutdown from Piper's death, he'd gotten calmly determined. Annabeth eyed Nico's blade as Leo spoke up.

"Take it from someone who's been tossed about by the Fates; we're not going to figure them out. We need to focus on what we can do about all this." He seemed dead serious, nothing like Leo at all. Nico began to speak, but Hazel interjected "He's right, Nico." He looked at his sister, feeling a pang of pain in his gut. He, Leo and Hazel had all been subject to lost time and, in accordance, lost loved ones.

"Fine" He said, feeling slightly defeated. "Than what-" Nico was cut off by the sound of knocking at the Big House door.

Jason did not have a nice nap.

As he hazily walked to the Zeus' cabin, he bumped into campers left and right, who briefly murmured apologies and continued their jog. Jason was aware that Zethes had warned them about Khione, but he had time for a nap, a shower and some food, he was sure. He pushed open the door and fell into his bunk, sleep taking over as he heard the door close behind him.

It took him a while to realize he was dreaming. He was looking up at a square black ceiling, with all four walls visible. He sat up, and looked at the floor; a blue pattern carpet, frayed from time. He stood up and looked at each wall, finding a silver elevator door to his right, with the respective 102 floor, and the hidden 500th floor button visible. Jason pressed the button, but nothing happened. He then pressed the open door button, and they did so with a pleasant ding!

He walked out to the front gates of Olympus, which bizarrely stood open wide. Jason continued on, looking around; there was no one in sight. No nymphs, no minor gods, no sign of any of the Muses. It was like everyone had just packed up and left, with some doors and windows ajar. He walked for what seemed like hours, the fountains running and occasional soft booms of thunder were the only sounds to be heard.

Finally he reached the palace, and entered the enormous doorway. He froze in his tracks as he saw the huge figures that stood a few dozen feet away; Poseidon, it seemed, with a trident strapped to his back, and a floral camo shirt tucked into regular camo pants, with black combat boots. 'No, not Poseidon. Neptune' he thought. The god of the sea was talking to a man in black Timberlands, frayed jeans, and an AC/DC t-shirt. His Ray bans hung from his collar, his golden iris' almost dull.

"Have you had any contact with her?" Neptune asked quietly. They both glanced at the doorway every few seconds, which reminded Jason he was dreaming. He walked a bit closer, spotting the Ophiotaurus floating around in its water ball. The gods may not have seen Jason, but Bessie did, letting out a soft "Moooo!" at the sight of him. He put his finger to his lips as Apollo replied.

"Nothing. I figured she was gone, but I really hoped. She's a goddess after all" Apollo sadly shook his head, but he wasn't distraught, just… disappointed. Then Jason remembered- Percy, Nico and Thalia had dropped Artemis into Tartarus, yet Apollo still helped them.

"I knew she was losing it, but to really just go against Zeus' orders and attack them directly? That's maniacal!" Jason's brow furrowed as Neptune placed a hand on his shoulder "It's alright, nephew. We will find a way back to peace. We just need to-" The ground shook with heavy footsteps, and everyone in the room faced the doorway.

Zeus stood there, his godly form glowing lightly. He held a thunderbolt in his fist, clasped tight, electricity sparking from his form.

"Lord Zeus" Neptune spoke, calm and steady, but Apollo just nodded. The Lord of the Sky stood still as a statue, the only sound being the crackling of electricity. He wore a white tunic, a celestial bronze breastplate and an Imperial Gold helmet. Strapped to his back was a strange shield; it seemed to be deformed slightly, entirely black, like Nico's sword, but somehow darker.

"Is there a problem, brother?" Neptune casually pulled out his trident and leaned on it as Apollo looked at his cuticles.

"Am I interrupting?" Zeus said, calm and quiet. That was a dangerous tone for him. He walked forward until the only thing between them was the Hearth.

"No, of course not, come, we were just-" Zeus interrupted him.

"Leaving? Preparing for war? To help the mortals" Apollo pinched the bridge of his nose and Neptune sighed.

"Brother please, you leave us no choice. What you want to do is madness!" Neptune took a step forward with an outstretched hand, but Zeus swatted his hand back and scowled.

"You betray your own family!" He said, raising his voice "You say for the good of the world, yet we are the world, Poseidon" Neptune pressed his hand to his temple and winced as his form shimmered, briefly replaced by a tan man in cargo shorts and a floral button down, a small beer belly underneath, before he returned to his Roman form.

"Why do you look like that?" asked Zeus, an almost disgusted look on his face.

"My roman counterpart is more powerful and destructive. I also bite my tongue less" Neptune snapped, but Zeus had already turned to Apollo.

"And you, my son." For a second, there was a twinge of sadness in his face, almost longing, but it was gone almost as soon as it had appeared "They discard of your sister and you aid them in their fight against us?" Apollo's eyes glowed dangerously bright, yet he set his jaw and said nothing.

"You need to-" Neptune tried.

"I need NOTHING!" The Palace trembled lightly as thunder boomed louder, closer. His eyes glowed, but not the usual light blue Jason was used to, same as his, but a dark, navy blue, like cold, deep, foreboding water. "I am Lord of the Universe, and I do as I please!" Neptune put his hands up and tried again.

"Yes I understand. At least, please get rid of that shield." Zeus's face turned into one of rage as he ripped the shield off his back and pointed it at the two gods, who both faced away as soon as he reached for it.

"Look! See and you will understand" the shield faced away from Jason, but he could see it was misshapen and dented, yet somehow, even through the dream, he could feel it's intense aura of power. From where Jason stood, he could see engravings all along the rim and even interior of the shield. He wondered what was displayed on the front.

"Zeus put it away" Neptune spoke calmly but firmly, tightening his grip on his trident. "These are our children" Apollo's eyes glowed brighter, his fingers curling into a fist. Zeus stepped forward to grab the sun god's wrist, but Apollo flung his arm in front of him, still looking away, and opened his palm, blasting the room with a blinding white light.

Jason sat up fast, his arms outstretched to protect his vision, though he was only in his cabin. He sighed with relief, looking at the Zeus statue near the door. 'What's going on dad?' he thought to himself. He groaned and changed, making a note to shower before bed. As he approached the door, he felt a cold draft blow in from under the door. He shivered, before his heart dropped "Khione."

He ran to the door, rattling it, but it wouldn't budge. He slammed his body into it, over and over, but no use. He stepped in front of the window next to the door, and his blood began to run cold. Wiping fog from the icy window, he saw her, standing in front of the Bog House door. It wasn't like what happened in Manhattan, where the snow got worse with the cold. The temperature just seemed to have dropped almost instantly, with a thin sheet of ice covering everything, including the frozen campers outside, faces of confusion or just anxiety, as if they hadn't even noticed. She turned to him, then, slowly, a warm smile placed on her face. Then he looked up, as the cold seeped into his cabin.

Written in the fog of the window, on the inside were five words. Jason read them as his body slowed down, and he noticed something scarier than what was happening; they were written from the inside.

"I'll be back, my love."