Chapter 1, Act II - Becoming Part of Team Trees.

All was not well.

I had been seated atop a branch on Thalia's pine tree, knowing exactly what was coming. I heard a rustling, and saw a mop of blonde hair approaching the tree.

"Luke, you've gotta do better than that." I said, leaping down from the branch. He looked around, startled, until his eyes locked on me. I kept forgetting other people don't get night vision.

"I'm not gonna just let you do this. I helped camp, and fixed one of their biggest problems. Now you're trying to put us at risk by poisoning the eternally dying corpse of your best friend? How fucked up is that?" I demanded, as the demigod in question continued approaching the tree.

"How did you know I was going to be here, especially at this time of night?" He asked level-headedly. "Because I know you. I know your plot. You don't have to poison the tree, Luke. I plan on getting a quest to find the Fleece anyways, this year. Percy's destined to make his way there, anyways." I confessed.

Hey, if I know what he's doing, he definitely realized I know he wants to bait us into getting the Fleece. How would I have known he wanted to poison the tree without knowing that?

He narrowed his eyes. "I think you understand why I have to do it. He'll punish me if I don't." He said, a mild fear in his eyes. "Luke, you left your cabin alone. You betrayed them. I've had to take care of kids who now have rather severe trust issues because you manipulated them. You're not our family. You don't belong here, not anymore. So please leave, before I'm forced to do something drastic." I implored him.

He shook his head, hefting his sword, slipping the vial he held back into his pocket. I reluctantly brought out my sword, and in my free hand, I shot a beacon of light into the sky. I had told Chiron weeks before this that I was scared something would happen to Thalia's tree, and I insisted on keeping watch.

We agreed on a signal, and we knew it would grab Dionysus' attention, if not Chiron's. I proceeded to fling a light arrow at him, and he somehow managed to dodge it. I felt time slow down as he dodged, and I frowned. "Your sugar daddy can certainly pull some party tricks. But he's not powerful enough to do much more right now, is he?" I guessed.

Luke growled. "You were always too perceptive for your own good." He lunged at me, and I lit my sword up with blue fire, and parried, retaliating with a blast of air to his legs to unsteady him, and I lashed out. I was aiming to protect the camp, nothing else. But, to my surprise, he didn't recover as quickly as I thought, and his non-dominant hand came clean off.

He howled, but backed up. He sheathed his sword, and pulled out the vial. He hurled it recklessly at the tree, and I sliced it open, and used my hydrokinesis to hurl the venom back at him. Time slowed, and Luke dodged the venom that was meant to poison the tree. "A shame. I would've loved to see you disfigured further for what you did. Leave, or I'll get your other hand, too." I snarled.

It was all talk, honestly. It hurt to cut off his hand. He meant the best, and Kronos was manipulating him, though Luke wasn't innocent in the matter by any means. He was still a scumbag, though I still didn't want to hit him with the venom, and I'm glad it didn't hit him. But I think Luke believed what I said, because he ran away, using his sword to take him back to wherever he came from.

Chiron came cantering up the hill to see me wielding a flaming sword, looking at steaming, sizzling grass. I pulled water from a bottle in my inventory to dilute the venom, and hopefully, it wouldn't spread anywhere. He loosened his grip on his bow, and I looked at him.

"I was right. Luke was here, and he wanted to poison the tree. I'm going to report the incident to the gods this following morning. I will return and visit the Oracle, and I'm going to be taking a quest this upcoming week to find the Golden Fleece, in case Luke returns, and tries again." I told Chiron, a dangerous undertone to my voice.

Chiron nodded, still too drowsy to argue. "I'm sorry for getting you up. I figure the two of us have a better chance at facing Luke, and I was fortunate enough to disfigure him, to where he may not be as powerful an adversary as we anticipated, as you can see." I said, kicking at Luke's missing hand.

Chiron gave the hand a sad look, before I incinerated it. I returned to the recently-built Hecate cabin, which was thankfully not built out of dangerous Lincoln Logs this time. I wasn't all that surprised to see Lou or Alabaster awake. The one thing the three of us have in common, aside from odd appearances for kids in 2007, is that we're all night owls. We function much better at night.

I, for one, entirely blame mom. Her powers are far stronger at night, and that carries down to us, which is why I could fight Luke with powers and brute force, rather than strategy. Alabaster took a look at me, and blanched when he saw blood, but didn't ask.

Lou, however, didn't take it in stride like he did. "Your sword hand is covered in blood. Did you get a visitor?" She asked, examining it. "The traitor returned, trying to poison Thalia. Fortunately, he was put in his place, and is missing his right hand now." I explained. She frowned.

"You could've called for us, you know that." Alabaster added quietly. "I know, but I didn't want either of my siblings caught up in the crossfire. He's still the best swordsman in three hundred years. He still poses a threat, which is why I have to visit Olympus tomorrow and give an update, in hopes I might persuade Lord Zeus to prepare his forces, and let us start preparing properly for what's to come. After that, I will be taking a quest to find the Golden Fleece, in case he returns to try again." I updated them.

Alabaster nodded, and Lou frowned. "Who do you plan on taking with you?" She asked. "Percy and Annabeth, same as last time. Annabeth has a connection with Thalia. This is personal for her. I need Percy for his water powers, as we're looking at traveling to the Sea of Monsters to find this." I explained. "Fine picks, but they aren't here." She pointed out.

I grinned at her. "They will be."

I turned in for the night, calling lights out. The two of them have night vision, the same as me, so it didn't really matter, it was just telling the cleaning harpies that we were asleep, and to not come in and try and eat us for staying awake.

My rest was, for once, dreamless. I woke up pretty early, and found Lou and Alabaster both asleep, sprawled over what they were working on. I let them rest, and I left the cabin in search for Argus.

Argus was outside the Big House, keeping an eye on things. "Hey, Argus. I arranged with Chiron late last night for transportation to Olympus. We were attacked last night, and I need to try and convince Zeus to prepare for war." He nodded at me, and hefted a set of car keys, gesturing for me to follow.

I kept asking Chiron to start ASL classes, but he denied it each time, insisting the Hephaestus cabin was able to make surprisingly effective hearing aids. I honestly just wanted to communicate with Argus better, because a demigod with a major disability like that is practically unheard of. There were a few, but none in living memory. Beethoven, for example, as a child of Apollo.

I partially wondered if it was impossible through illness to be disabled in such a way because of our godly genetics, honestly, and it came to be through physical accidents. But by the time we arrived at the van, I broke from my thoughts, and slipped into the passenger's side. Argus, understanding it was urgent, drove like an absolute nutter.

Again, I hated drivers who insisted on going fast, but I was willing to excuse Argus entirely because he was loyal to Hera, and thus to the gods. He was made to be a security guard. Of course he was gonna drive fast if the camp's safety had been at risk. He needed someone to tell his higher-ups what happened.

By some miracle, we never came close to hitting a pedestrian or another car. He dropped me off at the Empire State Building, and thankfully, the guard recognized me, and let me up. I cussed out Apollo's music taste again. My Way, by Frank Sinatra, was playing over the speaker.

I swept into the throne room, where Hestia sat contentedly, probably waiting for me. "Hestia." I greeted, sitting across the fire from her. She smiled at me, and the smile quickly vanished. "Dionysus told Lord Zeus what happened. He expected you to visit, and he asked you to take a quest to find the Golden Fleece, should such a thing happen again." She said quietly, the fire shrinking so she could look me in the eye without clouds of smoke interfering.

"Nikomedes, Zeus has decided to... increase security at camp, and that means finding who he believes to be a more reliable activities director." She continued. I narrowed my eyes. "He's firing Chiron, you mean, and he's replacing him with one of his dead sons, right?" I said in dismay.

She could only nod. I sigh. "I'll prepare, and I'll leave in a week. I anticipated the quest, not so much the replacement of Chiron. That may make things difficult. I had also intended to ask Zeus to try to prepare for war, but it seems he's a step ahead, even if he's taking the wrong steps." I shook my head.

"I should be back within a month, my Lady. I intend to take Percy and Annabeth, should they arrive in a timely manner, alongside the newcomer tagging along with them. But I should take my leave. Thank you for telling me this." I rose from where I sat, and moved to leave the throne room.

I felt hairs stand up on the back of my neck, once I arrived at the bottom of the Empire State Building, and I looked around for whatever I had sensed. I found a polecat, and I knelt, knowing this is what I sensed. "Gale." I recognized the polecat as my mother's.

Gale only farted in response. I resisted the temptation to make a face. To be fair, it's not Gale's fault for having gastrointestinal problems. The polecat started running off, and I had to jog after her to keep up. She took me to Central Park, where I found my mother, sitting on a bench, scratching at a Labrador's ears. "Mother. Hello, Hecuba." I greeted the duo, sitting on the bench with her, scratching her other familiar's ear.

"I think you know why I brought you here." She told me. I nodded hesitantly. "An entrance to the Underworld is here. Is Hades sending summons for me?" I asked. "I believe he has a task for you before your quest, and you will need to traverse through his domain for the sake of time. Visit his palace, and he will tell you what he wishes for you to do." She replied serenely.

"Thank you, mother. It's nice to see you again. And thank you for aiding me against Ares last summer. The duel would have been doomed if not for your assistance." I said gratefully. Honestly, there were some gods I just really didn't like, Zeus and Dionysus among a few others sitting at the top. Hecate wasn't one of them, definitely.

She sent a small smile, and she vanished. She didn't flash away or anything, but she just disappeared, alongside Hecuba and Gale. I laugh. She hadn't truly been there, just an apparition to provide a message. The longer she's around, the more she risks punishment from Zeus for breaking the Ancient Laws. Her previous visit was already pushing it, honestly. But nothing stopped her from using her domains to reach out.

I stepped up to the cluster of rocks. "The Door of Orpheus, I think it's called." I muse. "I need music to open it. I can't say I've tried anything musical in this life, so it's worth a shot." I started humming along to a song that came to mind, and the rocks started shifting. "Apparently it doesn't have to sound good for the path to stay open." I think.

The song ended as the path finally opened, and I started to sing Heroes, by David Bowie. It's a long song, and it's incredibly fitting, considering the first recorded person to use this path, thus the name being the Door of Orpheus.

I descended down the path, trying not to focus too hard on the long staircase. I kept singing the whole way down, and whenever I wavered, the tunnel rumbled, closing slightly, until I continued, dilating back to usual as I picked it back up.

I was halfway through Shangri-La by the Kinks when I finally arrived at the bottom, the path closing behind me. I was on the shore of the Styx. I hesitated. The Chimera pelt was useful against Ares, but I didn't have it anymore. I could just... I shook myself out of that thought. I'd need Hecate's approval to even try, anyways.

Shuddering as I thought of what could've happened, I made my way to Hades' palace.

I entered the throne room, coming to face the god I was looking for. "Lord Hades. You summoned me?" I asked. "Yes, I did. You have made good on your promise, and I wished to ask of you one more favor, as my Furies are currently busy handling... other things." He said, disgust wracking his voice at whatever the other things were.

"What is it, Lord?" I asked. "I want you to escort my children to camp. You are welcome to use my domain to bring them from one end of the country to another, as I am aware you are due to leave for a quest within a week. I would have Alecto do it, but... ah, you'll likely see for yourself as you leave. Charon will be waiting at our end of the Styx for you. I suggest you move soon. Charon is not a patient man." He told me.

I nodded. "I won't let you down, Lord Hades. If anyone makes trouble for them at camp, I'll make sure my siblings take them in and treat them well, until I return, then I'll help them personally." I assured him, turning to leave. "One final thing, son of Hecate." He called. I turned back around, and he shrunk to a human size, walking to face me.

He handed me a pitch black key. "My gift to you. As a child of Hecate, you can use Stygian Iron just as my children can. Use this as you will. Consider this part of my payment to you for assisting me and my children." I smiled. "Thank you, Lord Hades. I'll use it well." I told him.

I used observe on the key as I left, and it had surprise after surprise in it.

Underworld Portal Key

This key, gifted to you by Hades, allows you to transport yourself from anywhere in the country directly to the Underworld. If pressed into your palm by two fingers, it will grow into a Stygian Iron weapon of choice, though nothing unrealistic. This key is keyed to you, and will return to your inventory upon losing it.

I was shocked, honestly. This thing is incredible. And this is only part of his payment? He must really care about his kids. I realized I'd been standing outside his palace in shock for a couple minutes now. I yelped, and created a cloud of darkness to shadow travel across the Fields of Asphodel, to arrive right outside the EZ Death line.

I saw Charon, and motioned to him to wait a second. I went up to Cerberus. "Hey, buddy. I promised I'd be back." I grinned, three balls of light appearing in my hand. I kinda wonder how those become solid. I smell plot convenience.

I started scratching him behind the ears, taking a moment for each head. "You're such a good boy. You keep being a good guard dog, okay boy? I'll visit again soon, and hopefully, we'll get to play next time." I promised. Cerberus, I think, was in heaven, so to speak.

I walked up to Charon, and he chuckled. "Cerberus needed that, lad. It's no surprise the four of you had got past 'em last time." He noted. I nodded, and we settled into the boat, as he rowed us upstream. Around where it became the boat last time, it flickered back into an elevator. Instead of sitting in a boat, I found myself standing in an elevator, leaning against the elevator wall.

"I hope you got my offering from last summer. I noticed you'd forgotten to get the last few drachma, and I gave you some food, too." I told him. "Yeah, I'd gotten it. It was delicious. I'd say it was worth the time it took to eat it." He mused. "Camp food really is amazing, isn't it?" I smiled.

"I'll try and stop by next time I'm on this side of the country, but I can't promise I'll be able to. I'm sure it gets lonely. Company's always nice." I continued.

How dare you accuse me of sucking up to gods? I'd never dream of gaining favor of gods by sucking up to them, especially not a son of Nyx. No, never. Absolutely not.

We bid each other farewell, and I got a taxi. "Where you headed, kid?" The cabbie said, chewing on tobacco. Ew. "Las Vegas." His eyebrows shot up. "That's a far drive. You got the money for it?" I grinned internally as I pulled out one of the Lotus platinum cards I got. I understood how Annabeth felt when she did this before. Mortals are driven by money, and if they're motivated enough by it, they'll do anything for enough money.

Just so happens that I have enough money to make the dollar bill look like an atom in terms of value.

In summary, we were there in just a few hours.

I sat, once again, in front of the Lotus Hotel and Casino.