Author's Note: (I lost five IQ points from just reading the author's note!) Yes, it's the return of the dreaded author's note at the top! I just felt like it, plus I have some stuff to tell you guys. I probably owe you so much at this point from being late that it's not even funny. I'm not sure how, but I guess I'll find some way to pay you back. Anyway, I had to put the Lotus chapter in two parts because I had a sleep-over to go to that night when I was going to finish this part off, and I knew that if I didn't put it in two parts, you wouldn't get anything until, like, Sunday. That's why this is way too short. I'm sorry. And also, I really am trying to make it descriptive, but ... I'm still learning. Oh yeah, and all this stuff about Vegas, total speculation. Just from what I hear on TV about it, and pictures, so yeah, some facts aren't true. Sooooooooo ... go ahead and read. Class dismissed.

The blaring of car horns diminished as the sun went down, but don't let that fool you. The night-life in Vegas was astounding, and Nico had plenty to keep himself occupied with. Gamblers placed their bets, lights shone blindingly, and the marvels didn't cease there, with a miniature Lady Liberty, a whole town full of constant buzzing life, and stuff that looked like they could be taken straight out of a Picasso painting. Incredible. The cool night air blew weakly against Nico's skin, in a relaxing amount. Not so cold as shivering, more like refreshing.

The moon hung lazily in the sky, sleepily watching over he town. All that was missing was a gallery of stars to go with it. Pollution forever clouded the skies of Vegas, so there was only an all-too-empty sky to stare at. Nico supposed Grover would start bawling or something if he saw that, being the environmental freak he was. (Nico's words, not mine).

Nico was itching to get up and do something. All that sitting and waiting was killer on his ADHD, and it wasn't planning on letting up anytime soon. He thought it wouldn't be such a crime to possibly leave his post for a few minutes, couldn't hurt. I mean, with Percy in the enraged and nonsensical state he was, he was probably rampaging some poor town, and Thalia, probably peeing her pants up on that stupid hoarse that kicked him in the face. Maybe just a little break. Just a little one.

Nico resolutely stood, deciding he deserved it. After all, he'd went to the bowls of Tartarus and back (literally) for Percy, shouldn't he be entitled to a sliver of relaxation, some prosperity, perhaps? Or, if nothing else, this walk. Quite definitely, this walk, he decided.

The bustle on the walkway - the people shoving their way to the casinos - didn't bother Nico all that much. He was just glad to be moving, to be truthful. The brisk night air felt more invigorating when walked against it. Forgetting how exhausted he was Nico picked up the pace, with a light jog, just because of how fresh it all felt. Maybe it was just a short adrenaline rush, but Nico enjoyed it throughly, embracing it's entirety. It'd been so long since he'd been able to relax - or it at least felt long - and he appreciated it.

Though, that did leave the Lotus ungaurded. For too long.

Percy thought Vegas looked like a giant bug-zapper at night. With all those bright lights, he thought it was a wonder why it wasn't always infested with moths. But he shook that random thought off as he passed the mini-Lady Liberty, he was supposed to be focused. He was on a mission. I he failed, he'd most likely loose Annabeth, and he couldn't let that happen. He wouldn't go home empty-handed, he'd get the card and the secret part of the plan, and sweep her off her feet. Make everything right. Make it stop hurting.

Walking numbly and thinking hard, Percy came upon the entrance to the Lotus at last. It looked glorious, in the sense that it was finally in plain sight. Sighing, releived, Percy scrambled forward, rejoicing that it was really right in front of him. He stummbled and nearly tripped on his own feet in the excitment, but he didn't care. He would of crawled on hands and knees to get there if he had to.

Staggering, Percy entered the Lotus casino. Possibly, never to be seen again.

After a couple minutes, Nico knew he had to get back to the Lotus. He knew Thalia would kick his butt to next week if he left it unguarded too long, and he had to be ready when Percy came. He wouldn't want to have to drag the idiot out. To be truthful, he didn't even want to be near it, after ... well, you know.

Reluctantly, dragging his feet, Nico went back to the Lotus. Bitterly, Nico plopped himself back down on the curb. He thought of ways to torchure Percy once they got back to camp for making him come back to this stupid place. Maybe he'd get a flamethrower ...

Suddenly, eclipsing his thought and his view of the moon, a black shadow swooped downward towards Nico. He couldn't make out any features, but it looked like ... a hoarse. Uh oh.

Thalia glared at him, an icy cold glare at that. "Where's Percy?" she asked, her voice containing a little too much hostility.

Nico shrugged indifferently, "Dunno, probably terrorizing old ladies and innocent puppy dogs. Last I saw, he was having an attack."

For a moment, Thalia's glare faltered, then became more fierce. "You saw him, and let him go? What the Hades were you thinking?"

"I was thinking I didn't want to die," he answered, taking a step forward. "You ever seen him like that? He was about to rip my freaking head off!"

Thalia growled, "I'll rip your freaking head off!"

"Chill, Spaz. He's probably on his way now, we can head him off here."

"YOU COULD OF HEADED HIM OFF AT THE BEACH LIKE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO!"

"Shut up! You couldn't of taken him like that either, so don't act all high and mighty."

Nico wasn't sure, but he thought he saw her eye twitch. A few moments passed, then she tackled him to the ground. "I'LL GAUCHE OUT YOUR INTESTINES THROUGH YOUR EYE-SOCKETS, YOU LITTLE ****!"

She grabbed her hunting knife (Artemis didn't miss it) and held it to his neck. He tried to squirm away, but the knife was too close to move much. "Get off me!"

"NO! You practically killed him yourself, letting him go like that! Annabeth says he could be dead now, a-and it's your ******* fault!"

"Or, he could be fine. He could be here any minute, in one piece! Just get off me!" his voice came out a lot higher than he meant to because of the angle his neck was bent to avoid the blade.

As if on cue Percy ran out of the Lotus - a shiny new credit card in hand. The bell-hop was yelling after him, "Sir, you haven't even seen our latest arcade games! And our new waterpark, it's astounding!"

"Leave me alone, you freak!" Percy shouted back.

"PERCY!" Thalia and Nico both yelled, half in relief, half in anger.

You know what's stupid? That Fanfiction sometimes lets you type, then says you're not logged in! Well, if I wasn't freakin' logged in, then why'd you let me use SMKears's document manager? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr! Sorry, it's just really, really annoying when that happens, don't you think?

P.S. Can you guess what the 'seceret part' of Percy's plan is? It might be obvious, or maybe Where's-Waldo-esq. You tell me.