I told my friends so we walked on my dad's directions until we found ourselves at the Lotus Hotel and Casino. The entrance was a huge neon flower, the petals lighting up and blinking. No one was going in or out, but the glittering chrome doors were open, spilling out air-conditioning that smelled like flowers—lotus blossom, maybe.

The doorman smiled at us. "Hey, kids. You look tired. You want to come in and sit down?"

Normally I would be suspicious, but I have a pet peeve about keeping promises, so we walked in and what we saw made Grover said, "Whoa."

The whole lobby was a giant game room. And I'm not talking about cheesy old Pac-Man games or slot machines.

There was games upon games upon games. Virtual reality, shooters, and even brain games. No one was was waiting on anything. They even had an indoor waterslide. And to think this place has over 40 floors.

"Hey!" a bellhop said. At least I guessed he was a bellhop. He wore a white-and-yellow Hawaiian shirt with lotus designs, shorts, and flip-flops handed us each a green plastic credit card. What he said was practically luxury.

I thought this was all too good to be true. But I took the card and said, "How much is on here?"

His eyebrows knit together. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, when does it run out of cash?"

He laughed. "Oh, you're making a joke. Hey, that's cool. Enjoy your stay."

We took the elevator upstairs and checked out our room. It was a suite with three separate bedrooms and a bar stocked with candy, sodas, and chips. A hotline to room service. Fluffy towels and water beds with feather pillows. A big screen television with satellite and high-speed Internet. The balcony had its own hot tub, and sure enough, there was a skeet-shooting machine and a shotgun, so you could launch clay pigeons right out over the Las Vegas skyline and plug them with your gun. I didn't see how that could be legal, but I thought it was pretty cool. The view over the Strip and the desert was amazing, though I doubted we'd ever find time to look at the view with a room like this.

"Oh, goodness," Annabeth said. "This place is . . ."

"Sweet," Grover said. "Absolutely sweet."

Everyone went to go shower then go have playtime. I was the last one, so I decided to explore my powers while I waited, and I discovered quite a bit:

I can shoot beams of energy and control it, but their effects depends on what I want.

I am now able to see how strong people are.

I can enhance any of my physical attributes on command.

I can now sense other demigods or at least other beings of power. There's quite a few entities here that aren't human. I wonder if thats why my father wants us here.

I could sense Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, each of them scattered around the hotel.

Boy

"I'm ready. I think."

Focus on your power over your energy. Focus on the feeling of being waken up. Imbue your energy with it and release it. However use only positive memories as a focus point.

I focused on myself, trying to tap into my power like he said. My heart amped up and started beating as loud as a drum, Beating faster and faster until I release the energy pulse like Dad said.

"Is that all?"

Yes. THat is all.

"Oh, ok"

I experimented some more with my powers while the others where gone before going to check up on them. Everything was so luxurious.

It was then I started to notice the creepy vibe I was getting from this place. Security kept looking at me. Everyone's styles were out of fashion, some more than others. Servers kept coming up to me every 7 mins offering me a little green candys treats, but I took in one whiff and either rejected it or took it and threw it away.

I also notice that half of the inhuman presences have disappeared. Odd...

"Heyyyy Zari," said Annabeth. She seemed like she was in a trance. "Whatcha doin?"

She came really close. Like her head was on my shoulders and she was breathing on my neck. Percy would drown me if he saw this. He won't admit it, but he likes Annabeth.

I froze up and didn't say anything, so she pouted, "Heyyyy pay attention...to meeeeee."

I tried to pry her off me but she's strong. I considered emhancing my strength, but that would break her.

"I'm not letting go until you promise to cuddle me when we get back to our room," She whined. "Hehehehehe"

"I-I pro-omise," I stuttered, her finally letting me go and stumbling away. My senses were now on high alert and my blood was running cold. I knew it was too good to be true. Annabeth would NEVER act like that. Like...like...like a dumb blonde. I shudder at what Annabeth and Percy would do to me if tbey found out about this.

I racked my brain for whatever could be responsible, going through the adventures of every hero I ever learned about. Hercules, Perseus, Achilles, Thesus, Odssyeus...Odssyeus? Odssyeus!

I facepalmed. How could I have been so stupid? Lotus Hotel and Casino. In the story of Odysseus, Odysseus and his crew had landed on the island of the Lotus Eaters. He and his crew thought they had spent a few day there eating lotus, but in reality it was months and those months. Odysseus had to drag them away by there ears.

Before I could panic, I saw two kids, presumbly siblings arguing. One a girl, about 11, absolutely gorgeous, with black nair and warm onyx black eyes, wearing a black t-shirt and jeans. THe boy was about 9, and looked just like her. He was playing a Galaga game. But it wasn't the girls beauty that caught my eye...well maybe a little, but their demigod aura. The fact they had a demigod aura. But the age of their demigod aura didn't reflect how old they looked. Strange.

"Seriously Nico, this will be your last game."

"I know, Bianca. Be quiet and let me focus."

Then a line fromt the prophecy popped into my head

You shall Find two angels, and set them free from their cage

Two angels?!

Chiron said prophecies always had double meanings.

Double meanings? Double meaning? hmmmmmm.

I decide to learn more about them before acting.

I walked over, in awe at the Nico's skills. His score was in the 170000s. Bianca blushed when I came over, smiling, "You're brother is a master. I should learn from him."

"Grazie"

"Nico, he might not even understand Italian."

"My bad. Thanks."

I chuckled, "So do you think he could beat me? My highest score is 179757."

"Dammit. I just lost. Oooo, I have the highest score, 186434"

"O-oh. Y-yea but he's an addict who doesn't know when to quit."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Alright Alright Alright, lets just agree to disagree. So what're your names? I'm Zarion. Zarion Resonance Malachai Frost. But you can call me Zari," I said with a smile.

"Bianca Di Angelo," said Bianca while ruffling Nico's hair, "And this little bambino is Nico Di Angelo."

My eyes widened, "Tell me, 'Di Angelo' wouldn't happen to be 'Angel' in Italian"

She nodded, "Yea."

"How long have you guys been here?"

"A while. We don't remember when we got here though"

This is bad. They've probably been here for years. I need to get them out. However it looks like the guards are watching us.

I decided to be serious, "Has anything weird or out of the ordinary ever happened to you two?"

"You mean like the one-eyed Bus driver that drove us to this place?"

Bianca whacked him on the head, "No, Nico. Don't bother him with his crazy we might be."

"BB, I once punched through military-grade glass that was supposed to be able to withstand a tank with my bare hands twice before I was 8. Try me," with a smile. She blushed then She and Nico looked at each other.

"We share the same dreams sometimes. And we're pretty sure we see dead people." said a scared Bianca.

"And I swear I saw a lady with a lower snake half. And there's this voice in our dreams that the night will save us soon."

I looked around. There were guards eyeing me suspiciously, so I dragged them to a corner and said "Both of you aren't crazy. The things you've been seeing are real."

"What do you mean?" said Bianca.

"Do you know the Greek gods?"

"Oooo like the ones from my MythoMagic game, Hestia, Zeus, Poseidon, and Dionysus?"

"Well they're real and they have children with humans called demigods. The things you've gone through only happen to people like demigods."

Their eyes widened, "You're not saying...?!"

I nodded, "You guys are demigods. And as proof, can you guys see this?"

I summoned Firestorm and Everblaze.

"Those look so cool," said Nico excitedly.

"Only people like demigods can see stuff like this cause a magical veil prevents most mortals from seeing it," I said. "I know I sound crazy right now, but you guys need to follow me. We gotta get out of here."

Nico looked around and said, "Why? This place is the best!"

"You guys know the story of Odysseus?"

"I know some of it, But Nico knows all of it."

I looked at Nico and said "Remember the island of the Lotus Eaters?"

Nico's eyes widened and he gave Bianca a scared look, "Bianca we need to leave."

"What? Why?"

"Cause it's a trap. This place makes you forget you're sense of time. You may think you've been here for a few weeks, but in reality it's been years. I know it's luxurious, but for all you guys know, you may have family outside who was looking for you guys. We have to go. We just need to get my frie—!"

Percy ran to us, "Zari we gotta go. This entire pla is—"

"—a trap? Yea, I know. But I found some new demigods."

"Hey I'm Percy Jackson."

"Bianca and Nico Di Angelo."

I saw more guards appear, watching us, "Look I'll go get Grover, you get Annabeth. Be careful, the guards are watching us"

He nodded and ran off, his hand in his pocket on riptide most likely.

I looked to Bianca and Nico "Come with me, guys. We gotta find Grover."

While looking, Bianca asked, "So...um...Is Annabeth like you're Girlfriend? Do you like her?"

I laughed, "Oh my, that's rich. But no, she's not. She's like the scary annoying sister I never had. Besides Percy likes her. He just won't admit it."

"Oh, Ok," said a smiling Bianca. Nico smirked, "Hehehehehe what you smiling for?"

"Shut it Nico."

We went searching for Grover and found him playing Virtual Human Hunter.

"Grover, come on. We need to leave,"

He was really going at it, "All earth-haters must DIE!"

"He really cares about the earth, since he's part goat," I said nervously to Bianca.

"Grover, your girlfriend is here!"

Grover whirled around, instantly out of his trance, "Where? Actually how did I get here? I was in the room earlier!"

"Doesnt matter, we need to leave! NOW!"

We met up with Annabeth and Percy and headed toward the exit.

Nocturno, I think I'm gonna need your help I thought

Wow kid, you have impeccable timing. Just finished a date with one of my girlfriends.

One of?

I don't want to heAr any of that from you, Mr. River Railer.

No it's just, aren't we the same age?

Dragons have different aging systems. In fact, in your age system, I'm technically 19, but dragons don't start aging till we sprout our wings. I sprouted mines twelves years ago.

Bro...

Yea, not even my kind understands it. It's actually pretty irritating.

As we were walking to the door, two Of the guards at the entrance blocked our path

"Where do you think you're going?"

"We need to get back to our families," said Annabeth.

"We have strict orders to keep those two" said the the one on the left, pointing at Bianca and Nico, "Here. You four can leave, but they stay."

"No." I growled. "They will be coming with us,"

All the men drew swords.

Scare tactic? Said Nocturno

Scare tactic.

"Either let us go, or my friend in the sky will burn this place to the ground." I said.

Nocturno landing on the roof and let out a unearthly roar.

The men looked conflicted, looking at each other.

The one on the right spoke out of fear, "You don't understand. It was their father who put them here. For their own safety he said. If we let them leave, he will destroy us all."

"Our father? I mean thanks, but we have no friends here. No one understands us here and we've never been outside since we got here. Like ever," said Bianca. "I don't even know my own birthday but know ol I am. Nico knows his. That's extremely weird."

"January 28th," said a smiling Nico. All the other guards looked conflicted.

Let them go said an ominous voice. Something came out of the wall, a brown hare.

"Are you sure, my lord?" said one of the guards. The Hare looked at Bianca and Nico.

They've gained a thirst for the real world. Keeping them here will only make it worse and soon they will try to escape. I've dealt with this before

The hare looked at Bianca and cocked its head, September 4, my dear

The guards parted and let us through, but as soon as got out the doors, I knew something was wrong. The weather was totally different, storm clouds thundering throughout the desert.

Ares's backpack was back on Percy's Shoulder. Must be enchanted.

Percy ran to the nearest newspaper stand, "Uhh guys, you need to come see this."

We all ran to see what he was looking at. We were still in the same year. But then I noticed the date: June twentieth.

Percy started to ruffle his hair out of stress, "We've been in the Lotus Casino for—"

"—5 days?!"

Nico and Bianca look at us, "What wrong?"

Annabeth was pale, "We only have one day to prevent a war that can destroy civilization"