Chapter XXX

"I don't like this at all..." I heard Bianca mumble from beside me and hummed in agreement.

"Very much, an invasion sure sounds unpleasant," I agreed, before I gave a provoking smirk. "though, I am assuming you are talking about something more?"

I felt her roll her eyes, or at the very least I knew she was doing so right now.

"Obviously," She said and sighed. "It's just, this whole plan seems off. It's just not what you mentioned about timing, it's this whole effort, for what gain?"

"Conquering camp, I presume?" I said, still not quite serious.

"Thee, please, I am trying to make a point here." She told me and I nodded, turning serious. "How would you attack Camp, if you were in Luke's place?"

"Certainly not like this," I said. "Luke is relying on sheer force and numbers, it's lacking all finesse, or creativity. He thinks all he has to do is bring overwhelming force to bear in our midst and we'll break apart."

"I assume you have some cunning scheme then?" Bianca asked, and I cocked my head.

"Cunning?" I asked and frowned. "No, but still certainly better than Luke's, I'd call it over-engineered, but that's implying there actually went thorough thought into it."

"When you are done making fun of Luke," She said, amused. "I'd still like to hear your plan."

I pondered for a moment on her question. I'd be lying if I claimed I hadn't entertained the question often enough, though far less so in this last year.

"As said, Luke wants to win this fight with numbers and force, and that's well and good, he might even win, that is if he can get those numbers here," I stated, thoughtfully. "and for that he needs to pass through the Labyrinth. But the Labyrinth is his enemy as much as ours, so unless he has a way to navigate it there would be enormous losses even if he reaches his destination."

"So I take you are no fan of the Labyrinth as a modus operandi?" She asked and I nodded.

"Quite so, and I haven't been, even back then." I told her, thinking of my time in Kronos' higher ranks and general staff.

That was a half-truth, if I was being completely honest, the idea was risky, yes, but I had very much considered it myself, though in the end ultimately voted to oppose it. Now, to a large part that had been to spite Luke seeing as he had originally floated the idea, I'll admit that, but there were far more practical and logical reasons to oppose it.

It was risky in its execution, as said, but it also simply relied on too many variables before that, the assumption Daedalus was alive, that he was willing to help us, that he could even help us. It was too unreliable, especially when a plethora of easier options presented themselves, many of whom I had pondered before.

"If I had to, I'd turn the Camp's very purpose against it," I told her, grinning. "a safe haven for demigods, free to enter for refuge?"

"The borders," Bianca realized near instantly. "they keep out monsters, but let demigods pass."

"Precisely," I said, happy she knew what I was going for. "if I were in his place I'd ditch the monsters all together and instead muster every single demigod in his army and about a hundred gallons of Greek Fire. Land them on Long Island and march over the border at midnight."

"So a night raid," She concluded and I nodded again.

"Yes, a vanguard of the most fanatic and capable advancing and setting fire to everything." I elaborated, my tone turning calculating. "Dozens would die in the flames or be crushed by the rubble without even reaching a weapon, even those that'd escape in any fighting state would probably be wounded, or at the very least, disoriented, panicked, frightened and splintered into groups."

Bianca nodded slowly, clearly seeing the merit of my plans.

"If one wanted they could leave it at that, pull back, minimize their losses." I said, though already shaking my head. "A small skirmish like that would be enough to inflict horrible damage on us, our losses in manpower would be irreplaceable, our morale would be shattered."

"But knowing you, you wouldn't do that, would you?" She asked and I hummed in agreement.

"Certainly not, I'd have the rest of the army follow somewhat delayed." I told her with certainty. "Crush those who still offer resistance, give no quarter. It shouldn't take long, two hours perhaps at that point, either way, long before the sun comes up I'd pull back once more, all while sacking the place, taking arms, armor and above all the golden fleece and burning Thalia's pine, before disappearing into the sea again."

Satisfied I nodded, I at the very least liked to think myself a good tactician. While I was more educated for large scale battles in the thousands rather than these miniature conflicts, the same principles applied nonetheless. There was simply no need to hold Camp Half-Blood, with its defensive capabilities destroyed and its population decimated if not exterminated, it had no value for the defense of Olympus, the location was without importance in of itself.

"You know, I am sure you would have made a terrific villain," Bianca told me mirthfully.

"I think so as well, black is very much my color." I said, smirking at her and stepping a tad bit closer. "But I do not regret my decision in the slightest, after all, I hardly would be standing where I am, and least of all, with whom I am right now."

She blushed, and leaned against me a bit more, a smile playing on her lips.

"I am quite happy that you made that choice, if you had any doubts regarding that." Bianca told me, looking up. "But pray tell, why isn't Luke doing as you just proposed?"

"Well I don't know, but Luke's quite frankly a prideful, arrogant asshole." I said and she raised a mocking brow.

"I am not sure how listing your similarities helps prove your point." Bianca told me dryly and I gave a very amused snort.

"Very funny, Bi, I know you enjoy insulting me a lot, but what I am trying to say is Clarisse is probably right." I said to her, before glancing out of the arena, wherever Clarrise had stormed off to after her spat with Travis.

A triumphant victory, she had said. I wasn't sure if that was what Luke would get if he came charging out of a chokepoint against a prepared enemy in defensive positions. What I hoped for him to receive was a painful death, preferably at my hands, but even if succeeded, this victory would make him pay in blood, Ichor and lives and dearly so.

There was only one true worth to such a bloody, damn near Pyrrhic victory. An open field battle was a show of force, both to his enemies and his own troops. We had every advantage we could get in such a mismatched battle and we had so by his will more or less. If he still broke us, that simply showed his superiority even more so, that, or, perhaps, there were far less tactical reasons at play.

"He probably wants a true triumph, a decisive, clean victory in a proper battle. A show of force and superiority, or that's what Kronos wants at the very least, but Luke himself?" I asked, before answering myself.

"That's not so simple, those reasons are not easy to define, but if you ask me, he's simply too proud or too weak." I frowned. "Unwilling to kill eighty in surprise and without a fight, or maybe he thinks himself merciful, wants to give his former camp-mates a chance to surrender, tsk, as if he wasn't waging war to destroy all of western civilization."

"Shouldn't we simply be glad he isn't doing it?" Bianca asked tentatively and I nodded.

"Yes, let us be glad he is such a fool," I said, smirking, and she groaned in frustration.

"You can be so petty," She complained. "sometimes I feel like you hate him much more on a personal level than because of what he did."

I chuckled, she wasn't entirely wrong, I had been butting heads with Luke ever since we met. We simply were too opposed in our views, while also often being both rather ambitious and stubborn. The fact we were fighting in a war against each other only worsened our relationship somewhat, there wasn't much more damage to be done.

Just as I was about to continue, Chiron spoke up from the arena's entrance.

"My dear," He said, uneasily. "You've made it."

I turned to the gateway, through which Annabeth now walked. You did not have to be Chiron, or have known her for all too long to see that something was wrong, off. The usually proud, shrewd and confident daughter of Athena, seemed cowed, dulled and shaken.

Narrowing my eyes I watched as she walked over to one of the stone benches and sat, or much more sank down wordlessly. Her eyes seemed to wander around wildly, without finding hold. Worried, I looked to Chiron first, then to Percy, though both were entirely focused on Annabeth with concern. Though, finally, Quintus stepped forward.

"So?" He asked, breaking Annabeth from her trance.

Her gaze finally settled, first on Chiron, then on Percy, where it remained she took a deep breath, collecting herself, before starting to speak.

"I have heard my prophecy," She stated, clearly trying to sound firm. "I will lead the search for Daedalus' workshop."

Well, at least she hasn't lost her voice, or gone mad in any other visible capacity. If Chiron was to be believed it wouldn't be the first time after someone visited the Oracle. Still, by how outright terrified she seemed, I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the prophecy after all.

"And what did it say my dear?" Chiron asked, cautiously. "You know how important the wording is."

"I am not sure anymore," Annabeth mumbled and I raised a brow and I wasn't alone. "something like... To delve into the darkness of the endless maze,"

Ah, I thought, at least the prophecy has a rather clear start, that was something. Bad prophecies were one thing, but you could prepare for those, cryptic ones, not so much.

"Three there shall be at crossways," She continued, closely followed by the third line. "Two the traitor, two the lost one to raise,"

I furrowed my brows and sighed, guess I had jinxed it not being cryptic. Two plus two was four, as any first grader could tell you, which seemingly stood in direct opposition to the second line and the number of three. I pondered it further, that is... if it was truly referring to the number of questers, though three truly was the number for questing without doubt.

"The lost one," I heard Grover repeat, sounding... hopeful? "That's great, it must be talking of Pan."

My scowl grew deeper, that seemed like quite the leap of thought. I knew he and all the other Satyrs were frankly obsessed with finding Pan, but still, there were a hundred other possibilities, each seeming more likely to me than a god missing for millennia.

"And a traitor," Percy remarked, skeptically. "far less great."

"Please, let us hear the rest," Chiron said, raising a hand to stop any further commentary.

"The last, to meet an end at brother's hand," Annabeth said cautiously and I froze, my heart skipping a beat.

Barely did I listen to what followed, The child of Athena's final stand I heard but faintly, but the line only emptily echoed in my mind, the one before repeating again and again, an end at brother's end.

Desperate I threw a look of terror and panic to Percy. I had considered volunteering, planned on even, but I doubted this was such a good idea anymore. Percy was surely going with Annabeth. If I were to go with them, I panicked, no, there was no way I'd let myself kill my brother, was there? Perhaps Chiron would be right after all with his warnings, but I couldn't let this happen, there was no way in-

"Thee," I heard Bianca whisper with concern, clearly seeing my panic, breaking my train of thought and felt her warm hand slip into my own, giving a reassuring squeeze.

I tried to calm myself, at least this answered why Annabeth seemed so worried, right? This truly was foreboding, two deaths seemed all too likely, one for all we knew possibly being her own. Not to mention how confusing this all was, if there was one more that would make five if added together. But the prophecy itself mentioned three as well, perhaps the two mentions referred to one and the same pair?

"Well, we should not lose hope so soon," Silena finally said after a few moments of somber, worried silence. "I mean, Annabeth is hardly the only child of Athena, right? And we can't even begin to figure out who the next one refers to."

Desperately I nodded, Silena was right, it was irrational of me to project my fears on this prophecy, right? I mean, I was not Percy's only brother, we had dozens of far more nasty, immortal half-brothers, Cyclopes, giants, the list goes on. And who even says it would be Percy? Still, I couldn't banish those worries from my mind, no matter how hard I tried.

"Silena's right," I breathed out, though my voice felt forced. "it'd be foolish to draw wrong conclusions now, though we should be very careful about this..."

Murmurs of agreement came from all around, though I was much more occupied with other matters. Worried, I glanced at Annabeth, who finally caught my gaze, giving me a confirming nod. Clearly she could tell my worries and seemed to agree, this wasn't good, perhaps it was more than my paranoia at work, perhaps I was right in my concerns after all.

"Quite, but first we should hear the rest," Chiron agreed, yet warned and turned back to Annabeth. "if there is more, my dear? The prophecy doesn't seem to be complete."

"Something like, Destroy with a hero's final breath," Annabeth muttered, shifting uncomfortably, though speaking no further.

"And?" Chiron asked.

Ah, I thought, realizing what bothered him. Prophecies didn't always follow a poetic meter, sure, but at least proper rhyming was to be expected. It didn't take the god of poetry, Apollo's actual poetic prowess aside, to know breath and stand didn't rhyme.

Clearly Chiron thought she was hiding something, but what? What could be any worse than the other two damn near promising death, bad enough to make her hide it?

"Look, isn't the most important part of all of this that I will be leading four others into the Labyrinth?" Annabeth asked and I raised a brow.

"So you're going with five people, huh?" I asked, doubtful at the interpretation.

"The prophecy calls for it," She argued and my brow moved even higher.

"Annabeth, you'd be breaking the rules," Chiron cautioned. "you are only permitted two companions, you know that well enough."

"I am only doing as the prophecy calls," Annabeth insisted. "it speaks of five in total,"

"Perhaps," I conceded, shaking my head. "Or maybe the same two are simply mentioned twice, making it only three. It could just as well be the case, just as the lost one and the traitor could be one and the same as well."

"Impossible," Grover muttered. "The lost one is Pan."

"That's only a guess," I argued, frowning. "we don't even know if he is alive."

"He is not dead." The satyr insisted firmly and I sighed. "It must be Pan, I am sure."

"Fine, have it your way," I told him, frustrated. "but even then, that makes my point no less possible, he may well be the traitor, he has fought for the Olympians before, has he not?"

"You can't be serious?" Grover seemed terribly offended. "Most Satyrs would try and kill you for saying something like that, that is damn near blasphemous-"

"Yet a possibility," I interrupted, annoyed, letting out an exasperated breath. "I am not saying that I believe it, but I do not think it is impossible either. Of all gods, Pan perhaps has the best reasons to want the end of the West, if he cares about nature even half as much as is claimed. I met a river god once, and he was more than willing to sell me out to Kronos, and his river wasn't even that polluted, not to mention, Pan is far from the most virti-"

Chiron's hoof clopped the sand and stone hard, silencing me.

"Please, Theseus, you have made your point," He said, cautioning. "we are getting off track."

I nodded, there was no point in quarreling about this. Still, the fanaticism of the satyrs was... annoying to say the least, Pan had been claimed dead for a couple millennia now, even Ouranus was more present than him and he was dismembered about twenty thousand years ago. Still, the sky could be seen above, Pan? Not so much.

Looking at Annabeth, I raised a brow, as I continued staring down the daughter of Athena, trying to ignore Percy's still disapproving looks from my conversation with Grover.

"Perhaps you are right," She finally muttered, and I was even more surprised, Annabeth conceding? That couldn't be, and of course it wasn't the case. "but despite that, I am sure of what I am doing, I will need all of them."

Sighing, I nodded again, usually I trusted the daughter of Athena, ignoring our occasional disagreement, her judgment was usually correct. If she insisted five were right, she had the right to take five, but that didn't mean I had to like it. But this quest was risky enough as it stood, to go beyond that, to break the ancient laws and take five? That was asking for death.

She turned to Percy first.

"Will you come?" She asked and he nodded without delay.

"Of course," He said, not hesitating and she smiled in response and turned to Grover.

"And you as well," Annabeth asked, hope returning to her voice. "I am sure the wild god is waiting for you."

"Yes," He said, unshaken in his fervor. "I shall pack some tin cans for the journey."

"And Tyson as well," She continued, turning to the Cyclops.

"Yay! Blow-up-things time!" Tyson excitedly proclaimed, clapping his hands with what sounded like enough force to crush bronze or stone.

It was truly adorable, and I couldn't help but smile despite the dire situation.

Though I couldn't help but wonder, didn't Annabeth see the risk, or did she simply ignore it? Tyson was Percy's brother as much as he was mine. I didn't have the heart to claim that the friendly Cyclops would willingly hurt either of us, but that didn't stop the prophecy.

Still, my worries aside, that only made four, who else could she...

"Bianca," I heard Annabeth call and froze as her hand slipped from mine.

Warily, I glanced at my girlfriend who merely crossed her arms, her eyes seemed all too similar to her father's at that moment. That same unintelligible, inquisitive look, that seemed to tolerate no opposition or deception.

I was glad that Bianca didn't look at me like that, usually that is, because she had gotten a good part of her father's scariness as well, at least when she wanted to.

"Why?" She finally asked.

"Delve into the darkness of the endless maze" Annabeth simply quoted as an answer, before elaborating. "I don't think anyone can be suited better than you for the Labyrinth, if what I have read is correct no one does better underground than children of Hades."

"You aren't wrong," Bianca agreed, nodding slowly. "the underground suits me as much as the dark does, but wouldn't someone more experienced be better?"

Strange words from a veteran of two successful quests, I thought, but didn't speak my thoughts out. Bianca didn't seem entirely convinced yet, and I wanted it to stay that way. It was bad enough my brother was going on this foolish quest, I was not going to have her risk her life as well.

"There is no one more experienced who can shadow travel," Annabeth argued firmly. "if we get trapped or stuck down there-"

"I am your way out," Bianca finished and looked thoughtful, almost convinced.

"Bi," I said, brushing along her arm. "remember the prophecy, it does not bode well. Please, think about this thoroughly."

"I know Thee," She said, sounding hesitant. "but if there is a chance I can prevent people from dying on this quest, and if we succeed, in Camp as well..."

I wanted to protest, to argue, but couldn't bring myself to more than a grim nod. And before I could muster any more arguments however, she had already turned back to Annabeth, and taken a deep breath.

"If you want me to, I am coming with you," She declared and the daughter of Athena smiled.

"Thank you, Bianca," Annabeth said and the daughter of Hades nodded in return.

I sighed, of course it was Bianca's choice, but still...

"Very well, the members have been chosen." Chiron declared. "Let us adjourn. The members of the quest must prepare themselves. Tomorrow morning we send you into the Labyrinth."

Slowly the crowd dispersed, till only a few of the campers remained spread out in the arena, Bianca and me included. I crossed my arms and for a while we stood in silence till she turned to me, her expression was apologetic, as she stepped closer to me.

"You know, you make me feel awful when you look that mad," She said and I sighed. "and not saying anything makes it a lot worse."

"It's not like I am mad at you," I told her, sighing again.

"I know you aren't," She said and gave a smile. "but you look mad."

"I am just very worried," I insisted and she nodded.

"And I really appreciate that," Bianca told me and gave me a brief kiss. "but there's no need for you to be."

"Gods, I hope you are right," I muttered and my voice's tone turned hard, scraping for a moment. "Percy would be bad enough, but I can't imagine losing you."

"I told you I needed a break from the Underworld, didn't I?" Bianca joked and I cracked up slightly, despite the dire topic. "Come meet me in the forest after dinner tonight, will you?"

I raised a brow, yet managed a smirk, very much opposing my mood. Surely she wanted to cheer me up, and it certainly worked, but I already felt there was some ulterior motive to this.

"Some last minute sparring?" I asked, knowing this very much was not her intent, and she smirked as well.

"Sure," She whispered and stepped away. "I'll be seeing you at eight, and don't you dare be late."

When we were walking through the forest, it was still lit by the quickly fading light of dusk, though nonetheless Bianca was leading the way confidently, clearly she had a goal in mind.

"I have to admit, I had half expected you to come prepared for sparring and not a date," Bianca remarked, happily looking back at me. "though I am pleasantly surprised, you actually dressed up a bit."

"So if that's the criteria, considering my armor is probably the fanciest I own that could be considered clothes," I pondered, smirking. "Doesn't this make sparring or questing a date as well?"

"You consider beating up your girlfriend a romantic activity?" She asked jokingly and I chuckled as she shook her head. "Perhaps I should talk with Lady Artemis again."

"And here I thought you preferred me human and male," I told her and chuckled . "or alive at the very least."

"Oh, I am sure I could make due with the latter," The daughter of Hades told me with a playful glint in her eyes.

I remained silent, as I stared at her incredulously, to which she rolled her eyes.

"In all seriousness mister," She said and poked my, true to my word, unarmored chest. "I am expecting at least one proper date this summer, at least once we have dealt with this whole mess."

"Speaking of this mess," I said, crossing my arms. "I assume you want to talk about it?"

"Want to?" Bianca asked and shook her head. "No, but I feel like I owe it to you at least."

"You don't owe me anything," I insisted and smiled. "But… I'd appreciate it."

"Thought so much," She said and looked around on the familiar clearing we had arrived at, her eyes raised up at the tree's broad, almost skeletal, white wooden crown.

By now the dead forest had almost entirely recovered, broken down by time and replaced by new sprouting saplings and bushes, all except that dead, mighty oak tree. I smiled, I had always liked the spot, but by now I connected even more fond memories with it, having met Bianca here plenty of times since she came to Camp, for training that is, but still it was time spent with her.

I still could hardly believe how much had happened in those six months, just over half a year, I thought. Another quest together, we had taken Kronos' Scythe, and finally were together, all of that would be in vain if we failed this time.

"We'll talk, but not here, come on, we're almost there." She told me, and turned to the tree, before suddenly taking off in a sprint.

Leaping up she grasped one of the oak's lower branches, and within the blink of an eye had already climbed halfway up the tree. Amused, I shook my head, though I was at that moment very glad I had left the armor in my cabin as I slowly walked towards it to follow her up the tree.

By the time I had almost reached its base she was already standing at its top, and stretched her tongue out at me, as I followed her annoyed. As stated before, when it came to climbing or archery I sometimes wondered if there perhaps was still some of Artemis' hunter's blessing left in her, either way, I couldn't let this stand unchallenged.

Using my last bit of way to pick up speed, I jumped up, turning to mist as I moved to the first branch a good twenty feet up. Continuing up this way, moving from branch to branch, I gained good speed, swiftly reaching the tree's top at fifty feet height, almost too fast that is, nearly stumbling off it again on the other side, Bianca only barely pulling me back.

"I thought you had mastered that by now?" She asked, chuckling and I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly.

"Perhaps I was a bit overeager," I conceded, panting. "but truth is, without the Scythe in hand it's still quite the challenge to properly control it."

"I noticed," Bianca said as she pulled me closer from the edge, closer to her, kissing me.

"So, any particular reason we are up here?" I asked as I pulled back, warily glancing down the good fifty feet drop.

"Look up," Bianca told me instead of answering and as I did, I couldn't help letting out a short happy breath as I noticed why we were here.

From the tree's proud height you could easily see above the other tree tops and the sky's starry tapestry spread out above clearly visible, without leaves obstructing our view.

It was a nice, clear and dark sky tonight, and even a layman could make out the most prominent constellations, Ursa Major, Orion and quite a few others.

"Thought you'd like it," She told me. "considering you once mentioned something about stargazing, back in that night in Arizona."

I thought back as well, only vaguely remembering an offhand comment I made at that campfire.

"You still remember that?" I asked her, surprised, and she blushed.

"I found it rather romantic, when you spoke of stargazing." Bianca told me as she sat down near one of the broad branches, reaching out of the tree's crown.

Smiling, she padded the spot next to her for me to join her, to which I happily obliged. Quickly she huddled closer and leaned against my shoulder and chest, resting with a pleased expression on her face as I wrapped her in my arms.

"I guess I should start with apologizing," She told me after a while and I hummed. "I know you aren't happy with me going on this quest."

"It's not like it's you going on a quest that I have a problem with," I insisted genuinely. "it's that someone might die on it."

"We thought the same the last time," Bianca argued. "Yet we all got out fine,"

"I think Ell's shoulder would disagree, and I would as well." I threw in. "Really only you were uninjured."

"I said fine, not uninjured." Bianca chuckled. "But it was the same as the one before, we thought two would die in the desert, none did."

"You aren't wrong," I conceded and pulled her even closer. "but I don't like you being in danger, especially if I am not there with you."

"I can very much fend for myself," Bianca insisted and I nodded.

"Oh, no one's denying that," I told her happily and smiled. "it's just, I want to come, I really want to, it's just..."

"You're worried about Percy," She concluded and I nodded again. "I understand, you are worried, I really do. You are Percy's only full-blooded brother, aren't you? I know you well enough to say that there's no way you'd kill him, and you know that yourself as well."

"It's good to hear you think that, but what if I do so by accident, or don't have a choice." I argued and frowned. "And even then, we still have plenty of half-brothers, far more than you, or Annabeth, or Grover. Who could it mean but him?"

"It'll be alright, I am sure of it," Bianca insisted, her voice calm and soft. "and I'll make sure of it."

"I'd prefer none of you to go if I am quite honest." I told her still. "But least of all you and Percy, I can't afford to lose either of you."

"And you won't. But Annabeth asked me to come with her, and with good reasoning," Bianca stated firmly. "you can't seriously expect me simply to say no to her, can you?"

Honestly, I wasn't sure, could I? What she was saying was reasonable, but still, my worry gnawed at my mind.

"You have a brother as well," I told her and saw her scowl.

"Nico?" She asked, offended. "I know we are not on our best terms, but he wouldn't kill me, that you'd even suggest-"

"I am not saying it's likely, or that he would willingly kill you," I quickly interjected. "but I have to consider it at least…"

"He's still with our father, there's no need to worry about him." Bianca insisted. "But I need to do this, as I said, if it means a crisis can be averted, not just on this quest, but this whole threat as well."

Sighing, I wordlessly rested my head on her shoulder, looking up at the stars above. My eyes traced different constellations, some quite familiar by now, in a lot more personal manner than most could claim.

First I searched for the constellation of Cetus, grinning at the celestial image of the friend that now also adorned my helmet, but there were also quite a bit less purely joyous memories immortalized up there.

I also recognized Draco, the image of Ladon, a shiver went through me at the thought of the terrifying monstrous guardian who protected the golden apples of immortality from any would-be thieves.

Not far from him, ironically enough, was a new, yet still familiar constellation, the Huntress. To this day I still disliked thinking of Zoë, simply because of the fact that, despite what she had said and everything, I couldn't help but still blame myself. I knew what was happening, should have done something, at least made an attempt to stop it.

I grimaced as I wondered what the ancient Huntress would think if she could see me down here, together with Bianca. Who knows, perhaps she even could, from up there.

For a moment I pondered whether Bianca had perhaps spoken with her since then, surely she had made it to Elysium, though I was afraid of actually asking, knowing full well that Zoë probably still was a rather sore topic for her.

Looking back Zoë was all too right about Bianca's nature when she claimed she had a kind and strong heart. Despite what I thought at first she was so far from the selfish girl I had figured her to be, being more selfless and self-sacrificing than anything else. Perhaps above all else she had inherited her father's sense of duty, which certainly wasn't a bad trait, but a dangerous one, for herself that is.

"It seems I truly cannot stop you," I finally conceded. "but don't you dare die down there, I don't need to have to go bother your father so soon again."

Bianca chuckled, but said no more as we fell into serene silence. Slowly, as time drifted by, the sky grew darker and the air quite a bit colder, and though the summer air was plenty warm, Bianca used it to move even closer, closing her eyes as she fully leaned back against me.

"Not that I don't enjoy cuddling," I started, when it was already close to midnight, and Bianca wearily opened her eyes a bit. "but shouldn't we be getting back?"

"What for?" She asked, annoyed, closing her eyes again. "It's already past lights out anyways, and I told Lou to cover for me, in case I run late."

"I mean, I also told Percy not to wait on me, but this doesn't mean we should be doing this." I tried to protest.

"Why not?" Bianca asked, yawning.

"You need to get a good night's sleep for a quest?"

"And where do you think I'd more likely get that, on the overcrowded floor of the Hermes cabin?" She asked, shaking her head tiredly. "No, I am quite happy where I am right now, now be quiet, your speaking makes you less comfortable as a pillow."

Sighing, I submitted to her will and turned my gaze back to the stars as she yawned once more. Soon her breaths grew soft and rhythmic as she fell asleep, only broken by occasional murmurs and mumbled words. Amused, I raised a brow as I listened closer. Was she actually speaking Italian in her sleep? I had to put in serious effort to stifle a chuckle to avoid waking her.

Pressing a kiss on the top of her head, I leaned back, letting myself succumb to her warmth and the calm of the night around, the latter seeming to settle in my mind as well as I closed my eyes. Maybe she was right, perhaps it would all be well, the least I could do was keep my faith in her.

I have returned, hurrah, though sadly I won't be returning to schedule, since I am rather busy, but I'll try to update bi-weekly or so.

I'd truly appreaciate follow or favorite, but above all else a review.