As we rounded a corner after the dragon, of which I fairly certain of who the owner was, I nearly tripped when I heard a siren blare behind me. I turned around to see a police cruiser flashing its lights as it stopped next to us. The doors opened, and these weird looking guys stepped out.

"Samuel Strife?" one asked, but as my vision was a little blurry, I couldn't tell which one was talking. I nodded, and three officers approached me. I turned around, but Shade had vanished. When I turned back to face the officers, they were right in front of me.

The middle one stepped forward and held out a pair of handcuffs, saying, "We have a warrant for your arrest." My vision must be worse than I thought because I didn't even see his lips move.

Wait, did that dude just say he has a warrant for my arrest!?

"For what?!" I snapped, a little impatient.

"Disturbing the peace," the officer said in a sweet voice. It was as if he was saying, 'For being so funny!' and not an actual crime!

"Samuel. Their lips are not moving. They are not real police officers," Shade whispered to me. I squinted my eyes, and everything finally came into focus again. They definitely weren't moving any part of their faces as they talked.

Blemmyae!

"Can we talk this out?" I asked as I started to back away from them. They started walking towards me, and I quickly looked at Shade, who nodded. I turned and booked it as fast as I could down the street. I heard the police siren go off as the monsters gave chase. I ducked into an alley and kept running. I looked back and saw the car go passed the alley. I ran behind a dumpster and caught my breath as the sirens faded away.

"A close one indeed," Shade said appearing next to me and making me jump.

"Will you stop doing that!? I already got half the fucking country trying to kill me. I don't need you giving me a heart attack every ten minutes!" I shouted at the specter, who merely shrugged.

"Very well, Samuel."

"Sam, just…fucking call me Sam!" I said irritated as I looked out of the alley and saw no police in either direction. I started walking as quickly as I could, following Shade to where Leo Valdez was going to land.

"You certainly have a colorful vocabulary, Sam," Shade noted as we walked. I huffed in annoyance.

"Yeah? Well, why don't you tell that to someone who actually might give a shit! I curse! I'm loud! I insult people! Get used to it!" I snarled at Shade who didn't even seem fazed. After a few minutes of hearing nothing but honking and my shoes hitting concrete I looked at Shade. "How do you even know where Leo is going to land?" I asked. Shade raised a finger, and I quickly interjected, "I swear, if you give me a cryptic answer about predictability or some shit, I will deck you! I will find a way to physically touch you and fucking punch you!"

Shade lowered his hand and turned to me, saying, "I overheard him speaking. He said where he was going. I know the location." I nodded in satisfaction at his answer and kept following him.

After what felt like hours, we finally turned a corner, and I saw a large building ahead of us. Near what looked like a connecting garage, I saw Leo Valdez sliding off his dragon. Three women and another guy were with him as well.

"Well, here goes nothing. LEO!" I shouted as I started looked around for a second before turning around and seeing me running at him.

"Oh, man! Terminator's back!" he shouted at me with a grin. Ohhhhhhh, it is so difficult not to just pulverize this guy!

I made it across the street and was met with a sword to my throat. The guy that was with them, a heavily scarred guy I might add, and I thought I looked like a mess, was holding a sword to me halting me in my tracks.

"Who are you!? State your business!" he demanded.I looked at him with a bored expression.

"Yeaaahhhh, can someone tell Scarfaces bitch here to back off?" I asked as I pushed his sword away.

"Lit? He's cool...sometimes. This is Sam Strife, the son of Eris and a former camper...also former enemy...also former friend...boy you just love flip flopping don't you?" Leo asked making me clench my jaw.

"Listen, Shade here said you might be able to help me," I said nodding to Shade. Everyone looked around but gave the same confused expression.I turned and Shade was rubbing the back of his head.

"Only you are aware of me, Sam. I prefer it that way," he said. I glared deeply at him for making me look fucking crazy.

"Never mind, I need help dealing with the guy that's running this city," I said.

"Commodus? I thought we were done with that guy!" the girl next to Leo said, stomping her foot.

"Yeah...uh...who are you? Actually scratch that, who are all of you?" I asked looking at that Lit guy, the girl, and the two older women who had been silent the whole time.

"Oh, yeah! Intros! Sam? This is Lit, the son of King Minos, used to be a total jagoff, but not anymore. These two ladies here are Emmie and Big Jo! And this right here is Calypso! My muse, my flame, my shining light, my-…" he was interrupted when Calypso nailed him in the gut with her elbow.

"Will you shut up already?" she asked but her smile never left her face.

"Wait…Calypso? Like the Calypso? Daughter of Atlas?" I asked curiously. She nodded, a little embarrassed, and I smirked. "No need to be embarrassed. I worked for your dad, so in terms of things to be ashamed about, I'm pretty sure I'm leagues ahead of you." I patted her shoulder, shook Jo's and Emmie's hands, and finally gave Lit the finger, just so I could see him fume.

"So, you need our help fighting Commodus, who we just fought and barely survived against?" Calypso asked,crossing her arms looking annoyed.

I thought about this for a second. They had just gone through their own troubles with Commodus. They looked tired, beat up, and exhausted.

"Yep!" I said, making her roll her eyes and leave. We all made our way into the building, which they were calling the Waystation, and as I walked through the main hall, I suddenly tripped over an invisible force.

"Oh shit…" I said as I suddenly found myself in a net and staring at a tall woman.

"And you would be?" she asked curiously.

"Tied up and confused?" I answered as best I could with my face squished against the net rope.

"Lady Britomartis, if is alright with you, I humbly ask you release our guest," Emmie said loudly about ten feet below me. Britomartis huffed in boredom before the net opened, and I fell face first onto the ground. As I dragged myself up to my feet, I found her standing right in front of me. Emmie leaned over to me, whispering, "She is the goddess of Nets. She's also a prankster, so be on guard." I nodded as I looked at the goddess, but she wasn't looking at me.

"Oh, I see you have a friend," she said looking behind me. I turned, and the only one behind me was Shade. I looked back and forth between the two, and finally, Shade approached her and gave her a 'Come here for a sec' gesture with his hand before speaking to her in a hushed whisper. She nodded. "I see...are you sure? Very well, but I hope you are right." She looked at us again, and Shade vanished from sight.

"Now then! Who's hungry? I have fish!"

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