A/N: Okay, I'm so sorry that I left you guys! School got the best of me, and I pretty much had no time for anything. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this!

Oh, and about the House of Hades...I realize it messes up the whole Lazel plot thing I have going on, so we're just going to pretend that the Calypso/Leo ordeal never happened. (I would kind of prefer that anyways.)

Enjoy this! I hope it was worth the wait!

Ethan POV

How did I get myself into messes like these? One minute I'm walking through a beautiful city with a girl, and the next I'm trudging down a vacant, dusty road.

The way Helena was talking, I expected this so-called quest to be heroic and dangerous, killing monsters every few minutes and rescuing Frank and Piper on the first day.

First great discovery of the day: Helena Jackson was a really crummy quest leader.

"My feet hurt," whined Emily Marie.

"Suck it up," said Lexie.

I shot her a warning look, but she clearly didn't receive it, because she just kept talking.

"I mean, seriously. We've only been walking for like, a couple of hours, and all you do is complain."

Collin stopped walking and turned around. "No one asked you to come, so shut up. What are you doing here anyways?"

Lexie shrugged. "Nothing would make me happier than leaving right now."

"Then why don't you?" he asked.

Second great discovery of the day: Lexie Stoll and Collin Zhang had serious problems with each other. Today was going fantastic.

Lexie opened her mouth again, no doubt to start yelling at Collin, but I threw up my hands and groaned. "Please stop it! Sheesh, you guys are annoying."

Helena gave me a look that read, this is coming from you, moron. I rolled my eyes at her.

We turned a corner and found ourselves face-to-face with a wall.

"Um . . . how did that happen?" asked Sammy.

As I looked around, I realized that we were standing in a room, completely enclosed with brick walls. The room was slowly contracting, and I was being squished between Collin and Jessica. I could feel Jess shaking and hyperventilating. Collin seemed to be holding his breath, for some reason.

"Oh my gods!" screamed Sammy. "How did we get into this huge cave?"

Everyone turned to look at him. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "We're in a brick room."

"No, you idiot," said Helena. "We're standing in a huge pit and it is the most freaking scary thing I've ever been in!"

Collin was still holding his breath and his eyes were shut tight, but he said (with his mouth closed, and I could barely understand this), "We're underwater!"

Emily Marie shrieked. "Help! There's a scary lady coming for me!"

I whipped around to where she was facing, and suddenly we were standing knee deep in a pond. I took a deep breath, thankful for the open space. Next to me, Collin sighed heavily, able to breathe again.

Lexie moaned. "I think I'm going to be sick," she mumbled. "Please, stop moving . . ."

Emily Marie screamed again. "Help!"

I pulled out my bow and aimed right at where Emily was facing. "Show yourself!" I called. "Stop torturing an innocent girl! You have no right to mess with our heads!"

A laugh sounded throughout the valley we were standing in as a woman materialized before my eyes. She had a shimmering shawl pulled over her, concealing her hair and cloaking her face in shadows. Her eyes were bright violet. She snapped her fingers and I found myself standing a cold prison. All my friends had disappeared, and there was no one here but the psycho lady with the purple eyes.

"Who are you?" I demanded. "And what have you done with everyone else?"

She smiled. "Oh, they're currently being drowned in poisonous water that will make them go insane, so I would make this quick if I were you."

"What?"

She waved a hand. "They'll be fine. On the bright side, I get to have a fun little talk with you!"

"Who are you?" I asked again. "And answer me this time!"

"Mania, goddess of insanity," she said. "I love playing around with demigod minds. Best fun there is! But then again, you're not a full demigod, are you? Must explain why you aren't completely insane yet."

I took a deep breath and willed myself to remain calm. If I wanted to get out of this and save the others from dying (or losing their sanity) I was going to have to keep my head on my shoulders. Unfortunately, I wasn't used to doing that. I only knew that if I started to panic, Mania would certainly make me go insane. Literally.

"What do you want?" I asked her.

"Well, my master wanted me to give you this news. I'm not sure if you can handle it, though. Your fragile legacy mind might just break."

"Tell me," I growled. "Now."

Her eyes narrowed. "Your father, the almighty Percy Jackson, has been taken prisoner by none other than my almighty master, who is regaining power by the day."

Suddenly I felt sick. Surely this wasn't happening. When Frank had disappeared, sure it was alarming. The fact that Ouranos had nearly eaten the son of Mars was quite disturbing. But now Dad was gone . . . it felt so much worse. He had always seemed so invincible and so strong. Why did it have to happen to him?

Mania cackled. "You know, I didn't think that capturing the seven would be this easy. You'd think they'd at least put up somewhat of a fight."

"Can I go now?" I could hear the tremble in my voice, and I 'm sure Mania could too.

"Sure!" she said. "I only kept you here to tell you that. You see, I'm waiting to fully torture you. It's no fun to do when no one's watching."

I swallowed nervously. "You will never lay a finger on me or my friends."

"Oh, we'll see about that. Goodbye, Ethan Jackson!"

The prison, and Mania, dissolved. I was back on the streets of California, and in front of me was a large enclosed glass tank. Collin, Jessica, Sammy, Helena, Emily Marie, and Lexie were all swimming around in green liquid. They all seemed to be unconscious except for Emily, who was barely tall enough to keep her head above the liquid.

I reached for my bow and arrows, but they weren't there. I had nothing to smash the tank with.

I looked around, willing myself not to panic. Everything was going to be fine. My friends were going to be okay. Dad would escape. I was going to find a way to -

I stopped myself as I noticed a giant rock sitting conveniently nearby. I didn't even stop to think what it was doing there. I just chucked it, with all my might, at the roof of the tank.

Thankfully, it broke. The green liquid spilled everywhere and my friends tumbled onto the ground. Emily Marie ran and gave me a hug, but everyone else remained sprawled on the ground.

I think now was a good time to panic.