A/N: Hello, I've finally updated without waiting three months in between. I call that an accomplishment. If you want this to happen again, please review and remind me that I need to write. Sometimes I start reading and forget to save time for writing, so all reminders are helpful. Also, thanks for reading my story and/or reviewing. It's awesome seeing what everyone thinks. If you have any questions about anything I've written or something like that just message me. I'll try to respond. Thank you.


I'm annoyed, so basically nothing has changed since I came back from the UnderWorld. I should have stayed at the palace. At least then I wouldn't be stuck in a boring conference room.

After Stark decided he wanted to talk to me, his suit grabbed me and flew me to one of the many buildings he owns. Now I'm in this room with some guard introduced as Happy blocking the door. Usually that wouldn't be a problem since I can shadow travel, but the lights happen to be extremely bright. Maybe Stark isn't as idiotic as I thought if he figured out my disappearing trick.

I alternate between tapping my foot and twisting in my chair (seriously, who give a demigod a swivel chair) for an agonizingly long time before the glass doors swing open and Stark finally decided to grace up with his obnoxious presence. "You kidnapped me." That's not what I was expecting my first words to him in months to be. Still, it is worth mentioning. "Doesn't that go against some type of super hero code?"

Stark glades to his body guard. Happy simple shrugs. "He's got a point, this is kinda illegal," he agrees with me.

"Happy."Stark rubs his eyes in exasperation.

"Yes sir?"

"Get out." Stark points out the door.

"What ever you say boss." Happy give a little salute and a smirk and leaves.

"Look kid," Stark addresses me.

"You know, I'm really tired of being called that," I interrupt.

"Nico," he amends, "or do you prefer Ghost King?"

"I would prefer being allowed to leave."

"Nico it is then." He casually walks over to one of the walls and presses a hidden button. A panel slides up to reveal a bar. "You know," he pauses to grab one of the glass bottles half full of liquor and pours himself a drink, "you're a hard person to track down."

"I wasn't aware you were looking." Not that I would let him find me if I did.

"Cap asked me to after you randomly dropped off the face of the Earth." Liar. There's no way that's the only reason I'm here. Though, if it is, then that means Stark might not be a clear sighted mortal like I though. Did the Mist not work on any of the Avengers. If S.H.I.E.L.D remembers me it could cause problems in the future. I'll have to worry about that later, right now I have to deal with this blockhead.

"Since when do you do favors for wanted criminals?" Yes I know about the Accords. I only live under a rock most of the time. The ice in his glass clinks as his grip tightens. Looks like I touched on a sore subject. "So what's the real reason I'm here?" I move on. "I'm not signing that stupid piece of paper."

He downs the rest of his drink in one gulp then sets it down with a thud. "How do you know Spider-Man?" He gets to the point so quickly I might think he doesn't want me mentioning the little civil war he had with Rogers a couple months ago. I'm guessing Spider-Man is the hero from earlier. The one that turned out being Parker under the mask.

"You mean Peter?" Stark's eyes widen a fraction of an inch. Just enough to show me that he's worried that I know that name. "I go to school with him."

"You go to school? Since when?" He really shouldn't be so surprised. I am fifteen after all.

"Yes," I tell him, slightly offended, "I started yesterday."

"And you're friends with Peter?" Now he's just being rude.

I roll my eyes. "Friends is a generous term, but it's not like I'm going to tell anyone his secret." I assume that will answer his next question. "Even if I did, who would believe me?" Stark opens his mouth, probably to defend his protégé. Then he quickly shuts it and shrugs in agreement.

"Oh, well, I had this whole speech prepared," He rambles.

"Sorry to disappoint. Is that all?" I want to leave. This is getting no where and my injuries are still hurting. I don't think my arm is supposed to be that swollen. Also, I can't know for sure since there isn't a clock in the room, but I'm positive I haven't slept in over twenty four hours.

"No," He answers when I go to stand up from my seat, "there's one more think." Oh goodie. "I want you to keep an eye on Peter." He's kidding right?

"You're kidding right?" He doesn't say anything."Why would you want me to do that, better yet, why would I do that?" Stark shrugs.

"Didn't you say you would save all those people that I couldn't?"

"Maybe," I grumble. I really don't like when twist my words around and uses them against me.

"Well, I might not be able to save him in time. I'm a busy man after all." I'm basically a safety net. That doesn't make me like this any more.

"Fine," I agree. Though my lapse in judgement may have something to do with all the blood I lost tonight. That or sleep deprevation can be the only explanation.

"Perfect, I'll have Happy drive you home," he exclaims while giving me a smile that got him on so many magazine covers, but only makes me nauous.

"No thanks." I'm already leaving as a baby sitter, I rather not make it even worse by letting him know where I'm staying. "If you'd dim the lights I'll find my own way out of here." Stark scoffs. He shrugs when I only glare at him.

"Friday," Stark command even though I'm the only other person in the room and I don't think he's talking to me. "kill the lights." He makes a down motion with his hand and the lights follow. They dim until the room is almost entirely covered in shadows. I consider the problems with shadow traveling in front of a mortal, but right now I just want to leave and don't really care if I get in trouble. I'm pretty sure Stark already has an idea about what I'm about to do anyways.

"Well Stark, I can certainly say that it was not a pleasure to see you again," I give as a farewell and melt into the shadows.

I solidify in my apartment, thankfully right above my couch. Plus, I don't feel like I'm fading. Best news all night. I'm ready to join the world of Morpheus, instead I get attacked. "Ghost," a figure yells before jumping on me. The air is knocked out of me.

"Ashley," I open my eyes to find a mop of reddish blonde hair blocking my vision. "Can't breathe," I wheeze.

"That's enough Ash. You don't want to kill him do you?" None other than Lou Ellen says. Ashley's head pops up so that I can see, but she continues using my chest as a chair.

She hums, thinking it over, "Sure, why not?"

"Okay, get off." I push gently push her away and sit up. "I already feel like the dead, no need for me to join them." Ashley laughs like I told a job and my body isn't on fire. Lou Ellen looks more skeptical. "What are you doing here?" I force myself to stand and search for one of my Ambrosia stashes since it doesn't seem like I'll be getting any sleep with them here.

Lou Ellen doesn't answer right away. "Ash, don't you think it's time you went to bed?" I stop in my search to give her a confused look. What could she want to talk about that Ashely can't hear? A stern 'mom' look from Lou stops the "but" that slips from Ashely's mouth and has her scurrying off to the only bedroom in the apartment. Now I really want to know why they're here. "You look horrible. What happened?" Lou Ellen asks once the door shuts.

I rummage through a drawer until I find the godly food that I'm sure I hid here. "Have you ever jumped out of a car?" I tear a piece off of the lemon square looking food and plop it in my mouth. Aah, so much better.

"Yes," she doesn't even hesitate to think about it. "Is that what happened?"

"Something like that." The swelling has gone down significantly and most of the cut are starting to close. Thank goodness for magical medicine. "You still haven't said why you're here," I change the topic. Tonight is already bad enough without having to explain my failures.

"There was a problem at camp," she says lightly though the tone sounds forced.

"What type of problem?" I haven't felt an unusual amount of souls heading to the Under World, so I'm assuming it isn't a monster attack. At the same time, I don't think she would come all this way for something minor like a pig ball gone wrong.

"A couple of kid have been bullying Ashely because of her powers." She avoids looking directly at me by messing with her hair. My hand automatically drifts to the hilt of my sword, but all I find is an empty sheath. Did I leave it at Starks? No, I must have lost it when I fell out of the van. Stupid weapons dealers. "Earlier today they were teasing her for having an undead pet and it got a little violent." I glance toward the closed door of the bedroom. "Ashely's fine," Lou reassures me when she noticed my gaze. "A bruise or cut here and there, but fine." Maybe it's a good thing I lost my sword. I would have put those jerks in the infirmary by now if I still had it on me. "However, no one has seen Spirit since."

I take a deep breath like Will taught me to when I get angry. "I was wondering where that zombie bunny was hiding." Not really, but it's much more civil than what I really want to say right now. I want to curse the campers for never learning and the gods for forcing those powers on a kid in the first place. I want to scream that they shouldn't shun her for abilities that she didn't choose, that I didn't choose.

"But I spoke to Chiron about it and he agree to let her leave camp for the weekend and stay here," she hurries on once it's obvious I'm not going to get mad. On the outside at least.

"Oh did you?" I smirk. So this is why they're here. I pretend to think it over even though we both already know my answer. I would do almost anything to keep Ashley growing up the same way I did. "I guess she could stay here."

Lou claps her hands together in excitement. "Great, I'll pick her up Monday morning," she plans. I let her get half way to the door when I remember that there's something I need her to do for me.

"But if Ashley's staying here then you should have time to do a favor for me." Grabbing the first piece of paper and pencil I can find, I start making a list.