Chapter 5- Mysteries and Horrid Discoveries

Thalia's POV

Chiron organized a head counselor meeting in order to figure out who had killed Kylee and Damien. As temporary head counselor of the Artemis cabin, I was invited.

Surrounding the ping-pong table was me, Percy, Annabeth, Will, Jason, Piper, and other younger campers I didn't recognize. Piper was crying, and Jason was too. I was holding back tears myself. It's hard to describe it. It felt... like someone had numbed my entire body, and everything just kind of... hit, but without a sharp point.

Unfortunately, this numbness had caused me to miss the fact that Nico was not present.

"Two of our campers have died, and I'm sure everyone hear would like to know who caused this." Chiron's voice resonated throughout the unnaturally quiet room. "Will, you and your cabin mates examined the bodies?"

Will stood to answer the question. "Yes, and we can confirm it was not a monster. Similar stab wounds were found on both bodies. They were obviously killed by the same person." He glanced over at Jason and Piper, to make sure he wouldn't traumatize them too much. It looked as if he could do no more harm, so he continued. "The odd thing was that the blood was darker than it should have been. We ran several tests on it, but nothing came up. The only unique thing was the coloring."

Chiron stroked his beard in thought. "Curious. Very curious indeed."

Adella's POV

Was the light dim, or was that just me? I couldn't tell. Either way, a dark shadow began to creep over the entire camp. Every light had nearly diminished, the hearty glow the valley usually had faded to the occasional blip.

That afternoon, Ferrell had been found dead in the Zeus cabin. Auntie Piper and Uncle Jason had decided that they should leave, for their own sanity.

The manner of Ferrell's death had been the same as his siblings', according to a tearful Sophey. Stabbed, oddly dark blood.

But the most important question remained: why?

Ryan's POV

My bed was cold. This was normal, except for the fact that I now had a warm, soft bed. Why was there a rock in my back?

With a groan, I sat up, and noticed the ropes around my wrists and ankles. I tugged against them uselessly.

Realizing that I couldn't escape the bonds, I decided to take in my surroundings. Rock walls and floor. Uneven. Maybe some sharp edges?

Footsteps sounded outside, and shadows crossed the small amount of light leaking in under the door. I tried to rearrange myself to look unconscious.

Creaking loudly, the door opened. Inside stepped a girl, holding a flashlight aloft.

Wait a minute- this girl looked no older than 13. And beside her, a boy about the same age.

The girl's caramel hair reflected the light in an abstract sort of way. The boy beside her had dark skin and copper hair that looked like a million springs sitting on his head.

"Son of Tartarus." The girl spoke with a bitterness I reserved to associate with others twice her age.

"Yes?" I answered, trying to keep my voice free of pain. Or fear.

"You killed them." Like a dagger through the air, her voice pierced my very soul. The guilt washed over me... I had tried so hard...

Sage's POV

We sometimes call ourselves the Seven Children, even though there are ten of us. Well, actually, there are seven now. How horridly ironic.

We sat in a circle on the floor of Bunker 9. Alex had suggested the spot because of it's privacy, and because she adored being surrounded by the machinery.

But now the little girl was crying into her sister's shoulder. Adella was sitting on Reed's lap, curled into his chest. Oh, and he was crying too. There wasn't a dry eye in the room (well, bunker).

"It was Ryan." Sophey said, stroking Alex's hair.

"What makes you say that?" Marcus asked.

"Because their blood was black!"

"That leaves Uncle Nico and my mom as suspects too. And we all know they would never do such a thing." Marcus pointed out, silencing Sophey.

"So who was it then?" I asked. "The blood was black, so we know there was some sort of Underworld-y magic, but they all died from stab wounds."

"Good point." Marcus paused in thought. "Maybe the spell wasn't trying to kill them."

At that, Sophey jumped up, knocking Alex aside. "What?!"

Marcus fell backwards in surprise of her outburst. Poor guy wasn't used to Sophey. "Well, Underworld healing tactics aren't the best. Maybe they were trying to heal them by thickening their blood. Trying to slow the blood flow."

At this, Sophey started muttering and pacing. I exchanged a glance with Luke. We read each other's minds the way only brothers could.

"Let's go to Uncle Nico." Luke suggested, speaking our telepathy. "Me and Sage will go."

Marcus nodded in agreement. "He should know more about the Underworld than any of us."

Sophey stormed out of the room, to the distress of Alex. The little girl sought solace in my arms, forcing me to hug her. I did so willingly, feeling her warm tears soak the shoulder of my shirt.

Luke's POV

The Hades cabin was always a bit on the scary side, and this seemed particularly obvious as we stared up at it's looming form, the sun behind it forcing a shadow onto us.

"Let's knock." Sage suggested, taking charge as usual.

I simply nodded, the cold resentment the cabin seemed to give off limiting my ability to speak.

The moment Sage's knuckles touched the door, it fell inwards. Sage looked surprised, his face still and shocked. I couldn't help it. I laughed.

Sage snapped out of his reverie. "Very funny, Luke." He peered into the cabin. "Uncle Nico?"

I walked over to stand behind my brother. The cabin was dark, with shadows like mist curling out, freed.

"Well? Go in." I whispered. Sage scoffed.

"I-I'm going." He stepped inside the dark and shadowy cabin, with such care and caution, I nearly shoved him inside.

As we went into the cabin, we noticed the body on the floor.