Hey there! Welcome back!

I can't really remember the pacing of the posting of chapters, so I'll upload it as I go. I think it was a week from today, but then again - not sure. Things are improving - gradually and slowly, as all of life is. Taking on other projects, hence my lack of 'presence' around. But I will still reply to your messages.

Life is still ripping blood, sweat, and tears from me. And I am starting to be okay with that. Hey, if you want something, you should go for it, no matter the cost, am I rite? Anyway, you ask how I'm getting by? Eye rolls, sarcasm, and having a resting bitch face in general.

For all of you who have followed and favorited this story, thank you so much!

Reviews, huh?

CrazedFnatic, there is a side to Cassandra that you don't know, and I think you're gonna have to wait and see what that is!
Unfortunately no, you don't get the cookies, because someone else got here first. Better luck next time?

French Frii, I will tell you more, stick around! Also, I do have a discord, but for obvious security reasons, I am not about to disclose my handle to the entire world to see. DM me here and I'll let you know.

pjo . fanatic .316, thanks, I'm glad you liked it! And it would seem that you beat two people in the race! Sugar powdered donuts or chocolate ones?

Disclaimer: No, I do not own PJO, HOO, or any other amazing creations from Uncle Rick. He does. If I ever get to meet him will I shake his hand and punch him in the jaw? Yes. Yes, I will.
Also, I wish I could own 'My Immortal'. But instead, Amy Lee owns me.

ON THE FIC!

"Good morning guys!" Cassandra exclaimed, climbing down the stairs with Leo trailing behind her. Everyone looked over to them and Annabeth smiled when she saw her happy smile and his loving gaze on her.

"Hey, Cassie! Leo!" Hazel waved "How are you? Slept well?"

"I did." Cassandra jumped down the last step and beamed at her "What about you?"

"I slept well too." She smiled.

"Like a rock," Leo replied, wrapping his arms around her middle and placing a kiss on her shoulder.

"Leo…" Piper called, eyebrow raised.

"No, Piper." He shook his head and held Cassandra tighter "Not anymore. I believe her. And I'm ashamed it took so long for me to do so."

"Leo…" Cassandra gasped, looking up to him with a relieved smile "Thank you…"

"I have to talk to you." Nico stepped in "I discovered some things about her. And the quest."

"Okay. Let's talk over breakfast." Annabeth suggested, and everyone followed her to the restaurant.

They sat down and ordered breakfast. The owner of the inn was more than happy to offer them breakfast. Apparently, they had done a great job the day before, and Cassandra had delivered the orders faster than the usual delivery girl, and the lady even offered her the job. She kindly refused but requested breakfast.

"These pancakes are delicious!" Leo exclaimed, "I swear, probably the best pancakes I've tasted."

"Really?" Cassandra eyed him.

"Yeah, wanna taste?" he asked. She nodded, and he took a fork and fed her.

"It is good!" she commented "Want some of mine?"

"Nah, you need the food," he winked "I felt some bone this morning."

"Usually guys get hit when they slip on the 'fat' comment." Annabeth said while seeing Leo getting slapped in the back of the head "Not when they call their girlfriend 'skinny'."

"She knows I like to grab." He smirked and while Percy laughed, Jason and Frank blushed, and Nico rolled his eyes.

"Boii, if you don't start running…" Cassandra threatened.

"You know you love me." He stole a kiss from her, and she smiled.

"Okay, Nico." Hazel called "What did you want to tell us?"

"Right. Last night…" he told them about the appearance of Tamiya and her explanation of Cassandra's abilities and the information she had provided on the Old Bane but held back the information about her parents and the shadow. He merely mentioned that Tamiya had spoken of a fire being good for her, especially when she was asleep.

"So… she's human but has abilities." Piper affirmed, "And you heard this from a ghost that's haunting her?"

"Not haunting. Accompanying." Nico shook his head "There is a difference. When a ghost haunts you, they make your life hell."

"Kinda like you right now," she commented.

"-When a ghost accompanies you, they are protectors. They follow; they open your ways and they keep the bad people away from your path. Kinda like you when I choose to drop you off a mountain." He raised an eyebrow.

"Fine. So what? She can charmspeak and fight?"

"That isn't charmspeak." Jason intervened "She's just… naturally trustworthy."

"And fighting… she's rational. She sees opportunities and takes them." Annabeth noted "I've fought her. It isn't experience. It's observation and reproduction, with a twist of quick thinking. Percy… I know why her way of fighting was familiar to you."

"You do?"

"It was almost like you were fighting me, right?"

"Yeah…" he admitted "Yeah, she had your backhand. And Stoll's silent foot. Oh, my gods."

"Exactly." She smirked "Now, we just have to figure out what is the Old Bane, and why are there three of 'them', whatever them is."

"Good. Okay, we have some sort of plan. I say we get our things and take it to the park." Frank suggested.

"Good idea." Leo smiled and got up.

Everyone finished their meal and walked to their bedrooms to grab the bags and take off. Leo, Cassandra, and Nico entered their room and the latter took the female's hand. "Nico?"

"I held back some information that Tamiya gave me. That information only concerns you." He declared.

"Oh. Want me to leave…?" Leo asked.

"No. It would be good for you to hear too." He shook his head "Tamiya… she was a servant. Of your parents, and now a servant of yours."

"My parents had… slaves?" she frowned.

"No, she told me she wasn't a slave. She was a maid. It was a job for her." He sighed "But she told me she was your maid. That your parents gave you to her to care for and raise. She was your caretaker."

"Okay…"

"I said that fire was good for you, especially when you sleep. And you all thought Leo, no?"

"Yes."

"Well, you are correct." He nodded "What you have… is a shadow. I don't know what it is, and Tamiya said it has been with you since forever, just… watching you. You don't sleep well at night, do you?"

"No."

"Nightmares?"

"Yes."

"That you're dying."

"How do you know?"

"The shadow… whatever that thing is… it takes life from you. That's why you don't rest alone. That thing is killing you little by little, and the only one that can cast it away is Leo. I saw it. Yesterday, I woke him up and he ran to you, and the second he touched you, the shadow was cast away as if Leo burned it." He explained, "You need him."

"I knew there was something about you…" she whispered, smiling at him lovingly.

"I told you I'd keep the shadows away, love." He winked.

"Nico?" she called "My parents… did they give me away?"

"I don't think they had a choice." He looked apologetic "According to Tamiya… the Old Bane killed them. So, not so much give you away, more like save you from suffering the same fate."

"They're dead?"

"I'm sorry, Cassandra." He bit his lip and grabbed his bag "I'll leave you two alone for a bit."

"Thank you, Nico." She pulled away and hid her face in Leo's chest.

.

An hour later, the group was sitting on the soft grass, under the warm sunlight. They formed a circle, and Nico was the only one in the shade of the tree next to them. They were talking, discussing the prophecy when a man approached them. He was tall, beautiful, and wore sunglasses. With casual clothes and elegant poise, Hazel smiled politely at him when he touched her shoulder.

"Yes? Can I help you?"

"Please. You wouldn't know where the nearest ice-cream shop is, would you? The sun is rather exhaustive today." He spoke in a baritone voice.

Piper began to give instructions, but Cassandra had frozen beside Leo. He watched her worriedly, but she never ceased her stare at the man. He noticed her gaze and smiled, turning to her. "May I help you? What is it, dear?"

Cassandra stood up and pulled her dagger out, pointing it at the man "Who are you? What are you? Answer!"

"Cassie!" Percy called, but the man only stood with his arms up as the brunette pushed the dagger to his throat.

"He keeps shifting! He's not human, Percy!" she exclaimed.

"Oh, I totally forgot you're a monster spotter." He cursed, standing up and uncapping Riptide. "Name yourself, and maybe you won't lose your head."

"Okay, okay…" he took off his sunglasses, and Nico gasped.

"Apollo."

"You mean, the god?" Cassandra frowned.

"Hello dear." He winked "What's up?"

"What are you doing here? Don't you have matters to deal in Olympus?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow.

"I do, but I can spare some time to see Olympus' favorite pawns." He smirked and looked at Cassandra "You are something else. I didn't know the eyes had come with a no filter."

"What are you talking about?" she frowned, and he brushed her off "All in due time dear, all in due time. You're lost. You don't know where to go. And all you have is some lines of a riddle without an answer."

"Came to help?" Piper raised an eyebrow.

"Yes." He nodded "Tamiya – yes, I know you talked to her – gave you a clue. I'll give you another. There are three. They are in the tips of the trilogy. Not many people like that place. Accidents… happen. A lot of storms."

"That's what you have to say to us?" Percy raised an eyebrow.

"It'll help. I shouldn't say anything, but I felt the need." He smiled mysteriously "Besides, I have my reasons."

"Obviously." Annabeth rolled her eyes "What do you want, Apollo?"

"Nothing from you…" he eyed them, before turning to Cassandra "But I want from her."

"What do you want from her?" Jason frowned.

"Calm down, boy." He smiled "Nothing bad, and I'll take my leave soon. Just… sing for me, dear?"

"You want me, to sing to you? A god?"

"Indulge me." He gazed at her. Cassandra looked over to Annabeth, who nodded. The brunette closed her eyes and parted her lips, letting her voice sound in a silvery, melodic voice.

These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase

When you cried, I'd wipe away all of your tears
When you'd scream, I'd fight away all of your fears
And I held your hand through all of these years
But you still have all of me

"Thank you." He sighed happily.

"I… I didn't know you had such a beautiful voice, Cassie." Percy said.

"You sound like an angel." Jason's eyes were dazed, but he wasn't the only one. Hazel, Frank, Nico, Annabeth, and Piper all stared at her the same way.

"Thank you, Jason." She smiled. Apollo smiled and gave her a little bow, before walking away and disappearing.

.

"I can't wrap my head around this," Annabeth grumbled.

"What's up?" Leo asked, sitting in front of her.

"Oh, hey Leo." the blonde smiled "Nothing, just trying to make sense of Apollo's riddle."

"Need a hand?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Okay, let's start with the easiest part... tips and trilogy."

"Trilogy. Number three, an original, and two sequels. Tips, three points, maybe?"

"If it was five, I'd consider stars." He observed, "But Apollo isn't the god of the skies, and the only artsy thing that comes to my mind is the Vitruvian Man."

"Leo, a little less Leonardo da Vinci, a bit more logic." Annabeth smiled "He also mentioned 'three of them'. Why is the number 3 so important?"

"Isn't the number 3 supposed to mean perfection and good fortune?"

"Yeah. But number 3 in Greek mythology?"

"The Big Three? Zeus, Poseidon and Hades?"

"Or the three realms. Up, middle, and down."

"What about the three sides of things?"

"What do you mean?" she frowned.

"Well, you know how people always say that there's the good side and the bad side?" he explained "Well, those are not the only sides that exist. We have the 'gray zone' now."

"Fair point. Then what do we get from the Big Three, the three realms and the three sides of something?"

"A big mess, that's what we get." Leo smirked "Three times three equals nine, but there is no mention of a nine."

"You know?" Piper stepped in "This is starting to feel like an Illuminati theory."

"No, Illuminati is easier." He declared "Annabeth?"

"Illuminati? What is that?"

"It is said to be a powerful and savagely guarded organization that secretly controls the entire modern world. Conspiracists say they do that mainly through infiltrating the media and brainwashing everybody." He explained, "Their symbol is a triangle with an eye in the middle."

"A triangle? Leo, that's it!" she jumped "A triangle! Three tips, a trilogy! It's a triangle."

"And where are you gonna find a triangle that has storms?" Piper asked.

"The Bermuda Triangle!" Leo grinned "Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico!"

"Annabeth?" Piper frowned "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, it's just… I have a bad feeling about this. But either way, we need to get to Florida. How?"

"Going by car, the trip is…" Leo started to do the math "19 hours and 45 minutes given or taken. Also depending on traffic."

"We need to find a ride to Florida," Annabeth said out loud.

"What's in Florida?" Percy asked.

"The first point of the Bermuda Triangle." She explained, "Apollo's riddle leads us there."

"Where's the nearest truck station?" Cassandra asked.

"Why?" Frank asked.

"Trust me, if you want to go great lengths in as little time as possible, you either squat a train wagon or you hide in the back of a truck." She explained, "It's great to run away."

"You ran away?" Hazel frowned.

"Once or twice. Almost managed to get in a plane, but Immigration got me."

"Why?"

"Dark days feel the need to quick getaways." She simply said, "So, truck station?"

"About a mile from here." Jason said, "Piper, think you can charmspeak a truck driver into giving a ride?"

"Psh, that's easy." She smirked "When are we leaving?"

"How about now?" Nico suggested.

.

Thirty minutes later, the nine teens were in the nearest truck station. Jason and Percy were leaning against the pumps, talking quietly, while Annabeth and Piper were looking for trucks that went to Miami. The rest was inside, patiently waiting for Percy's signal for them to go in. Piper was walking around, casually asking the drivers about their destinations with a shy-looking Annabeth trailing behind her.

"So, you're going to Miami?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah." He pursed his lips "I got a package to deliver in the Oceanfront Suites."

"Can you take us there?" Piper used her charmspeak, lacing her voice with honey.

"I can." He nodded "Just hop in."

"We have a couple more friends that are going with us." She smiled "Can I bring them too?"

"You can bring whoever you'd like, dear." He smiled viciously, and Piper nodded.

"I'm gonna go get them, and then we'll leave. Just tell me which truck is yours." She sighed.

"That one." He pointed at the grey box truck near the restrooms "Just hop in the back and I'll be driving off in ten minutes."

"Thank you." Piper nodded, and the two girls left to meet Jason and Percy.

"Piper got us a ride." Annabeth smiled as she reached her boyfriend "Straight to Miami Beach."

"Awesome." Percy waved his hand and the five teens left the station, coming to meet the rest of them.

"Are you okay, Cassandra?" Jason asked.

"Yap. Just saw some weird-looking humanoid exiting the café." She smiled "Which is the truck we're getting into?"

"That one." Piper pointed "He's leaving in ten minutes. We should get going."

The teens walked to the truck and Piper pulled the back door open, letting them all enter, before closing it behind herself. They waited silently, and eventually the door was shut and locked, and the engine started running. Soon, they were driving off, and Leo lit his hand on fire.

The box of the truck wasn't refrigerated, and for that they were glad. Despite the warmth of Leo's fire, they didn't want to make the male use all his energy to keep them heated. The walls were gray, like the outside, and there were some cages in the back, but all of them were covered with black sheets.

"And now we wait." Jason declared, and they fell into silence.

A/N: Huh, next chapter is going to be fuuuuun. Wait and see. I think you'll like it too. I'll try to post next week, but I can predict the shambles that it will be. Stay safe and sound in these dangerous times, people, please. Prevention is the keyword. No, the vaccine doesn't prevent you from getting Covid, but it still helps your body create defenses for it. Basic vaccination logic, folks.

But I'm not here to get political, I'm here to vomit my ADHD and anxiety into functional, story-telling words.

First to review gets a free block of cheese! Or a treat of your choosing.

PS: Love you guys!

LoneeWolf :)