Nico POV.

Smirking I looked back at the grocery store that the Pheobe chick and some other girl had just ducked into. Shaking my head I kept walking. Yes I knew the Hunters were stalking me once I left my dads palace.

Let me explain. Okay so the Hunters of Artemis are a group of girls sworn to maidenhood, and are forbidden against love. They were following me right now because they thought I knew where the Roman camp, Camp Jupiter, was. And I did. You might wonder why I didn't tell anyone where Percy was. The fates and gods work in strange ways and I learned a long time back not to mess with this stuff. Ever. Or you could end up in a fish bowl falling out of the sky with unicorns and bunnies laughing at you while yellow dandelions turn into rainbows. Yes it has happened before.

I looked down in deep thought about someone. Thalia in particular. NOT that I like her or anything...psh, just... thinking. She was tall, had an amazing body from training with Artemis and full lips that could spread into a smile when you least expect it. Her eyes were an electric-shocking blue that had me always forgetting what I was about to say.

Now you may wonder why I didn't let on why I was aware of their presence. Let's just say messing with the Hunters on their Hunt is seriously fun.

I walked down the street listening to guys holler and whistle at Thalia. She just smiled laughing with the blonde next to her, Zoe I think. Gritting my teeth I kept walking suddenly aware of the mosters around us. The Hunters could probably handle it but you never know. Ducking into an alley I quickly shadow travelled to the top of the two story building. A few buildings away was the entrance to Camp Jupiter.

Quietly I watched the Hunters look around in confusion and anger when they realized I had slipped away. I saw them split up and search. Unsure of how to proceed I saw Thalia and Zoe walk away. Thalia seemed visibly upset and Zoe kept sending her sympathetic glances. Suddenly the mosters came out but I didn't emerge knowing Thalia would want to handle this herself. As I watched her fight and hack at the mosters I noticed how hot she looked covered in monster dust and grime. Seeing her with only the manticore and hellhound left I ordered the hellhound away. Fuming I saw the deep cut that raked across Thalia's stomach. The stupid manticore threw her against the building and angry I slipped behind it.

"Any last words, Grace?" The manticore sneered.

Smirking I answered for her, "Umm, yeah! Goodbye!" And with that I plunged my sword into his back. Looking at Thalia I noticed she had passed out. "Some great hero I am." I muttered.

Quickly pulling a thermos of nector out of my pack I gently lifted her head up and put it to her lips. Slowly color came back to her cheeks and the small cuts dissapeared. The cut from the sphinx melted away. Gently I lifted her up bridal-style and carried her over to Zoe. I put her down and gave some nector to Zoe who was already gaining consiousness. Zoe quickly sat up but quickly turned pale.

"Nico? W-where is Th-thalia?" She stuttered.

"Right here, she's unconsious but much better than earlier." I said as I gingerly tucked a strand of Thalia's hair behind her ear. Zoe seemed shocked by my guesture then grinned. I gave her a confused look and she merely shrugged and said "We need to regroup then we have a few questions we want you to answer."

Ignoring what she said about the questions I put the nector back in my bag and turned to see Zoe supporting the still unconsious Thalia. Zoe grimaced trying to support both of them.

Walking over I quickly took Thalia into my arms again and said "Lead the way."

Rolling her eyes Zoe started walking. "Pheobe! Alexis! Celeste!" Never mind change that to sprinting.

"Zoe!" I called. "I've got a little extra baggage here!"

"Keep up!" Was the only response I got. I decided to just walk instead.

"Stupid Hunters and stupid agility and stanima. Nobody needs to be agile or have good stanima, besides demigods that is. Stupid demigods, stupid olympian gods and godesse-, nevermind not going to finish that one, stupid stone, stupid flower!" I muttered uselessly looking down. "Stupid manticore, stupid monsters, stupid lo-" Nico quickly stopped.

One because he had been about to say love and Artemis would shish-ka-bob him. Not that he was talking about Thalia. Two because he saw Thalia's lip twich ever so slightly in a muffled smile.

I brought my lips down to her ear. "Enjoying the ride?" I asked smirking. Thalia's face quickly turned a faint pink. This made my smirk grow.

"Nico?"

"Yup, pretty sure you're enjoying the ride."

"I spent 7 years as a tree, I'm lazy." She mumbled. "And I got mauled by a stupid-freaking-test addicted-random-questioning sphinx.

"So whatcha doing here Pinecone Face? Came for the tourism? Or just couldn't stay away from me?" I asked cockily.

Thalia's blush darkened, but her eyes remained stubbornly closed. "Shut up death breath! You know why we're here."

"Thalia, you know I can't interfere with the will of the fates." I sighed.

"Yeah, yeah." Thalia frowned.

"So you feeling up to walking?" I snickered.

"Shut up." Thalia said as she weakly lifted a hand to smack me.

"Seriously, that was pathetic!" I laughed then became serious, "You want some more ambrosia or nector?"

She shook her head. "You can put me down now, Pheobe will kill you if she sees you carrying me."

I tightened my grip, "I think you're still to weak to walk without my manly assistance." She smiled. "Manly?"

"You're bruising my ego!" I said in a hurt voice.

"What ego? You're a spineless chicken!" She replied grinning now.

"Yeah, it's dead."

"Thanks for saving me earlier." Thalia smiled. "I had no clue where you were."

"Seriously! 'Thank you for saving me'! You don't think I'd leave you there to die did you?"

"No!" she blushed. "But still, thanks."

"I will always be there to save you from demi-god eating monsters." I replied sincerely looking down at her. Her pink lips were pulled into a soft smile and the blush was still on her cheeks. Her dark eyelashes brushed her cheeks and her soft brown hair was draped over her shoulders.

Something was wrong. I still hadn't seen her perfect blue eyes. "Open your eyes, there's nothing here to scare you away. With the exception of my hideous face." I said in mock disgust with myself.

She weakly shook her head and opened those pretty little eyes.