A/N A super quick update! Thank you my wonderful readers. I'm soo glad that there are so many people out there who are enjoying my story as much as I am! Thank you Shoshona, Mangofishy, and Anime Princesses for your reviews of Chapter 7. I will be addressing the empathy link soon. I have a theory on why in TLH Grover couldn't use that. I can not tell you guys how pleased and flattered I am that not only are so many people reading my story, but with each chapter I have more people adding my story or myself to their alert lists of favorites list, also that not only are so many of you reading my story and coming back for more, but you feel so moved as to review and let me kno how you feel and what you think! Without farther ado, I will leave you to why you're really on this page, because it's not to read me rambling up here.

Enjoy!
Miette

**Disclaimer** I do not own anything that you recognize as the creative and intellectual property of Rick Riordan

Bia looked, confused, at Nico for elaboration.

"The Hunters of Artemis, we've been trying to get a hold of them since Jason, Piper and Leo returned from their quest. Jason's older sister, Thalia, is the Lieutenant and she told Jason that they would be here soon, that was weeks ago. We finally officially decided something was wrong around the time you arrived." Nico explained as he and Bia quickly headed back toward the camp proper.

"When was the last time anyone had contact with them?"

"When Jason, Piper, and Leo talked to Thalia and her girls while they were on their quest."

"You guys haven't even had an IM from them since?"

Nico shook his head chagrined, "They don't come to camp often. It's not unusual for us to not hear from them regularly, but not in a situation like this. Thalia is Annabeth's best friend and good friends with Percy, too. She and the hunters have been helping with the search for him. He's one of the few males Artemis can tolerate which from her toward a guy is a huge accolade, though that took a lot. So, the fact that Thalia hasn't been in contact to check on Annabeth, or check in on the search is odd. Then on top of that since she told Jason they would be headed here and then not show up and not let us know?"

"Yea, I see the problem." They ran up to The Big House where Annabeth and Rachel were sitting on the front porch with Jason and Grover.

"Thalia IM-ed?" Nico asked hopefully.

"No," Rachel shook her head sadly, "Phoebe."

"Phoebe?" Bia asked, sitting down with the others.

"Thalia's second," Annabeth replied, her voice was void of emotion. "Apparently," she continued, "Some of the girls had been going missing, so Thalia took two of the girls and tried to go in search of those who'd disappeared, leaving Phoebe in charge of the rest of the girls. The plan had been for Phoebe and they hunters to keep heading here slowly, looking for any sign of the missing hunters and Percy, and they were supposed to meet up with Thalia and her search party. However, the search party never showed. They tried to get a hold of them, waited two extra days, Phoebe finally decided she needed to contact us. She and what's left of the hunters should be here in a few days. I'm not sure if they'll make it before we leave for the scholla, though."

"Does she have any idea what's been happening to the hunters? Does Lady Artemis have any idea? Surely she could track her own hunters?"

"She can't find them, but she's positive they aren't dead." Jason said, running his hand absently through his hair.

Bia shrugged slightly, "She'll be found. From what I've heard, that girl is a survivor and a half." She'd decided the best course would be to just be positive, though she was very worried for these girls she'd never met and the affect their disappearance would have on Jason and their new friends. Besides, why in the name of Jupiter were these girls disappearing? It couldn't be a coincidence. It had to have something to do with Gaea, and maybe her dream?

Finally, Friday dawned clear and warm. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes as she and Rachel got up and began to ready themselves for what would be a big day. Bia hadn't slept again last night, being woken through the night by the same dream she'd been having since the night before they finalized the plans to leave for the Scholla. The most frustrating part, even more so then her sleep being interrupted, was that she couldn't remember the dream in anymore detail then the first time she had it. She knew it was important, though.

"Biatryz, Oracle." The two girls turned quickly toward the voice.

"Queen Hera." Rachel bowed her head slightly in acknowledgement of her guest, while Bia dipped a curtsy.

"My lady."

"Is there something we can do for you?" Dislike colored Rachel's voice as she addressed the goddess standing before her.

"Don't you take an attitude with me, Oracle. Just because you are Apollo's little Prophetess doesn't mean that you can disrespect me. Besides, I'm here to speak to your Roman friend."

Bia stepped forward, "Yes, my lady?"

"For this joining of the Scholla and Camp Half-Blood to work, you Daughter of Vesta, must insure that everyone recognizes their shared goal. Working together won't come naturally to the two groups, even for all of the good intentions of everyone now to try."

"Yes, my lady…" Bia wasn't really sure what Queen of the gods was getting at.

"A great deal of your part in this quest will be giving the two sides a mutual goal."

"My lady, we have a mutual goal…One you have helped us to see."

"Yes, Biatryz, but through you there will be a more personal goal. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you. You may not be the best fighter or the best strategist, but you are the binding that helps to keep those around you together."

"Umm…Thank you? My lady," Bia wasn't sure what to make of Hera's statement.

"I am nearly sure that you and your companions will reach the Scholla with little trouble, but all of the same, be ready." With that, the goddess was gone, leaving the two girls looking at each other.

"Well, that was…interesting, any prophetic translation for what in Jupiter's name she was talking about?"

Rachel shook her head, "None, sorry girlie. Atleast she doesn't think you guys will have any trouble on your way to the Scholla. That's something."

"Yes, I suppose so." Absently, Bia pulled a brush through her hair. "I just hope she's right."

"Well, no use worrying now, it won't change anything." Rachel said, as she pulled on clean clothes, "Besides, you get to see your kids soon!"

"That's true," Bia's face broke into a huge smile thinking of the Nati and her friends who she missed desperately. She left her hair plaited down her back, brown boots over dark skinny jeans, her pugio strapped to her leg, her spatha hung at her waist, and her bracelet of plumbata on one wrist and a second bracelet on her other wrist which would expand into her scutum or shield at need completed her outfit for leaving. She didn't think her full armor, or even her chain-mail Catafracta were appropriate for the short trip on the Argo II to the Scholla, though they may have helped to ease the anxious feeling in her stomach.

Rachel cocked her head as she took in Bia's appearance, "You look like 'Legionnaire Barbie'."

"'Legionnaire Barbie'?" Bia gasped out between laughs. She shook her head. "That's a new one. Come on, I want to try to eat something before it's time to head out." The two girls walked arm in arm toward the camp proper.

Breakfast was an edgy affair with many furtive looks being shot at the 5 who would be shortly embarking on the quest that seemed to be in answer to the new great prophecy. The Argo II was already sitting at the dock, having been moved there on Wednesday by the Hephaestus campers. The Argo II and Bunker 9 were secrets at the camp, so, of course, everyone had already long known about them.

Bia managed to choke down a cup of green tea and a few bites of bread and olive oil, but that was all of the breakfast she could bring herself to consume. She wasn't sure why she was so anxious, it wasn't her first quest and any fights or battles likewise would not be her first, but something was unsettling her. She just chalked it up to her recent dreams. She looked around to see how her soon to be traveling companions seemed to be feeling.

Piper had her head together with one of her brothers and one of her sisters. She seemed to be giving them last minute instructions, I guess on running the cabin in her absence. They kept glancing down the table at one of their sisters, a pretty girl who had been pointed out to Bia as Drew, a real unpleasant creature.

Annabeth's brother Malcolm had his arm around her shoulders as she sat with her head in her hands. Bia assumed that perhaps, Annabeth was anxious about how she would find Percy when they arrived at the Scholla. He'd regained much of his memory, and from what Annabeth had said of their recent IM conversations their relationship was more than intact, but he was still not completely the person he was before Hera had taken him.

Leo was animatedly discussing something with Jake and Nyssa at their table, already wearing his tool belt of awesome-ness, as Bia had come to think of it after he'd shown her last week, it seemed that he, like her, was ready to get going immediately.

Bia's gaze moved to the Big Three tables, the only one occupied being Zeus's at which Jason sat playing with his cereal. She knew that he was worried about Thalia and had been hoping that at the least Phoebe and the other hunters would arrive before the Argo II set off.

"Rach, um, have you seen Nico today?"

"What? Isn't he-? Oh." Rachel cut off her own question as she looked up and saw the answer for herself, no, he wasn't sitting at the Hades table. "He's probably still in his cabin or something. I bet he overslept."

"Maybe…" He'd stuck around, Bia really hoped after waiting to leave the last few days as she'd asked he didn't go and leave this morning without a goodbye.

"Don't worry," Rachel squeezed her hand, "I'm sure he'll say goodbye before you leave."

"Sure. I'm going to go check on Jason real quick, he's not looking so good." She stood and put words to action, and slid into place across from Jason. "She'll be fine."

Jason looked up, at first confused by Bia's presence and what she'd said.

"Thalia? She will be fine. Annabeth told me how much she's already survived through. We know she's not dead because Lady Dian, er Artemis, would know. Nico even double checked with his dad just to be sure, and she's not dead. Besides, now she has a baby brother to live for." Bia reached out and squeezed Jason's hand. "Now, come on Legatus legionis. We're about to embark on a quest."

Jason smiled and squeezed her hand back. "Thanks Bi."

"Now, I have a son of Hades to find."

"Be nice to him."

"Me? I'm always nice!"

"Uh-huh, and most people fall for your act."

Bia just smiled as she walked toward the cabins. It was a short hour before they would be leaving and she had to speak to Nico before that. Passing the arena, she realized the campfire was bigger than it should have been at this time of day. Sitting beside the fire was Nico and the 9 yearold girl that was Bia's mother. Bia was debating if she should interrupt when her mother looked up.

"Don't hover so, darling. Come," Hestia patted a spot beside her, "join us."

"I didn't want to interrupt…" Bia said, slowly closing the distance between herself and the pair sitting by the fire, "I was concerned you'd left already." Bia didn't look at Nico as she spoke.

"I told you I'd at least stay till you guys left. I'm still not sure about after that, though."

"Thanks, Nico. For sticking around for now, I mean."

He shrugged.

"How are you, Mamma?"

"I'm well, honey, but you two young things need some privacy to talk before you leave, so I shall leave you to it, but first." Hestia reached into the fire and teased out a tendril of flame. She encased the flame in what appeared to be a small glass sphere, a stone in a silver ring. "Here darling, this may help you on your quest. Keep a bit of the home fire with you."

"Thanks Mamma." Bia slipped the ring onto her right index finger, her ring finger already being occupied by a claddagh ring.

Hestia hugged each of the demi gods before vanishing.

"You're mother isn't big on subtlety, is she?" Nico asked with a small smile.

"What? You think she keeps leaving us alone on purpose for some reason? You don't think she really had business on Olympus the day we met? You don't think she's simply leaving us alone because she's busy and she wants to leave us privet to talk?" Bia laughed.

"Maybe you're right." Nico smiled as Bia slid closer to him.

"She didn't show you any visions, did she?" Bia asked, suddenly a little anxious as to how bad her mother's lack of subtlety may be.

"Visions? No, why?"

"Mamma can show people the past, present and future where it applies to family. I just thought She may have shown you…I don't know…Never mind." Bia smiled up at Nico.

"Do you think she could show me my mother? I remember so little of her."

"I suppose she could, but I don't know how badly that would risk upsetting your father. I've heard he's still very…raw about you're mothers passing."

"Yea, I guess you're right." Nico was still considering the possibilities, though, oblivious to what Bia had been concerned about bringing up this gift of her mothers.

"Come on," Bia stood up, "walk with me."

No one interrupted the pair, though many watched, as they walked a circuit of the camp, around the cabins and various buildings and practice areas. Somehow, Bia had gotten to describing 'her kitchen', as she thought of it, at the Scholla and the last big meal she'd prepared in it before coming to Camp Half-Blood for Reyna's birthday, when she and Nico reached the relative privacy and seclusion of the woods.

Before he could lose his nerve or change his mind, Nico grabbed Bia's wrist and spun her toward him, much like earlier in the week when Grover had interrupted, but this time he intentionally brought her against his chest. Slowly, giving her a chance to move away, Nico lowered his lips to Bia's. Very lightly he pressed his lips to hers, the result a sweet, chaste, peck.

"Umm…" Bia touched the tips of her fingers to her lips when Nico released her.

"I'm sorry, I-" Nico turned away, running his hand through his black hair.

"Why are you sorry?" Bia reached out, laying her hand on his arm. He turned at her touch, giving her the opportunity to rise, nervously, to the tips of her toes and press her lips back to his. After a few minutes they began to make their way to the waterfront from which Bia, Jason, Leo, Piper, and Annabeth would be departing, this time they walked hand in hand. "I will be coming back to you, so please don't make it difficult for me. I would really rather not come back from this quest then have to go on another to find you."

Nico laughed, "I suppose I could stick around here, or at least meet you back here when you guys get home."

Piper cat called as the couple approached the pier, "Finally!" she clapped her hands pleased, taking in the clasped hands and the red tint that stained by Nico and Bia's cheeks at her reaction.

"Oh, hush! Finally? They've known each other less than a month, there is no 'finally'." Annabeth's words aside, she was just as pleased at Piper, to see Nico and Bia holding hands and smiling at each other as they were.

"Says the girl that knew Percy for 5 years, and needed her butt kicked by potential competition before she even admitted that she might like him!" Rachel said laughing. "Now there is a finally!"

"Hush!" Annabeth repeated, this time directed at Rachel.

Bia glanced around at her new friends, embarrassed, before she dared to look over at Jason to see his reaction. She needn't have worried though, if the faint smile on his lips truly represented his feelings.

"So, are we ready to go?" Bia asked, trying to distract everyone from her and Nico.

"Just about!" Leo called from up on the ship, "The Argo II is all set, just have to make sure we are all set."

Bia felt Nico's hand tighten around her's at Leo's words. "I promised, didn't I?"

"Yea, well, I've had pre-quest promises before."

Bia fought the urge to hit Nico. "We'll be right back." She pulled Nico back up the dock, out of range of the prying ears of their friends. "You will stop this right now."

Absently, Nico thought that her tone of voice that allowed no room for argument was probably the tone she used with the Nati.

"You will stop being negative and emo. If you put such negativity out into the world, if you keep thinking that we won't succeed, then we won't. If you insist on thinking that I won't come back, then I won't." She said simply. She could see the warring emotions that crossed Nico's face. The contradicting feelings visible in his eyes settled on angry and defensive.

"I thought my sister would come back and she didn't. She said she'd always be there for me and she went off and joined the hunters then got herself killed on a quest when she promised she'd come back, Percy promised he would keep her safe and bring her back!"

"I'm not your sister. I'm not some green demi-god. Annabeth told me about Bianca," she kept talking over Nico's complaint that Annabeth had no business doing that, "and I'm sorry, I can't imagine how you feel, but I do know that you're acting like this isn't going to accomplish anything. This isn't my first quest, I have experience Bianca lacked. I will be fine." She pulled the claddagh she'd been playing with from her hand. As she removed the ring, it morphed from a ring into a small box, about the size of her palm. It was still shaped in the crowned and clasped heart of the claddagh, with the braided band now the sides of the box. "Hold on to this for me. I'll be back for it."

"What-?"

Bia smiled, as she pressed it into Nico's hand, "It's my treasure box. Go on."

He opened it to find an inside much bigger than the outside suggested. Several packets consisting of a small picture and a curl of hair, much like parents kept of their children or couples kept of their sweetheart in a locket, a seashell, a dried sprig of lavender, a pressed honeysuckle blossom, a small stone, a few photos of what Nico assumed were Bia's friends from the Scholla and her mortal family, and various other keepsake type items laid on a red velvet bed. One item in particular he picked up, recognizing the feather he pulled from Bia's hair last week when they'd been sitting on half blood hill. It had fallen into her hair without her even noticing before he picked it out. He hadn't known she kept it.

She shrugged sheepishly when he held it up to her. "I'm sentimental." The box shrunk and Nico slid it into his pocket. "Now," Bia leaned up, laying a soft kiss on Nico's cheek, "Come on and send me off."

The Argo II didn't require a crew to man it, which was rather convenient. After warm sendoff from Chiron and some of the campers including Nico and Rachel, though Nico stood off to the side, the Argo II took off, air travel being made easier thanks to Jason and his father.

Bia found Annabeth looking over the port rail of the ship, absently twirling a strand of her blonde hair between her fingers. "What are you thinking of, girlie?"

"What? Oh, the fact that Thalia is scared to death of heights." Annabeth smiled, thinking of her friend.

"Jason's sister? The daughter of Zeus is scared of heights?"

"Yes, like so badly that she'll freeze up."

"That's too funny. Who would have thought?"

"I know. Nothing fazes her, except heights."

"Oh the irony. Come on, lunch is ready, you'll want to come grab some before the boys eat it all." They had left Camp Half Blood 5 hours ago, making it 1 o'clock there now, and 10 at the Scholla. They weren't sure what time they were at now, but the thought was that they'd arrive at the Scholla around 1 California time. However, as Bia turned, she heard something that could put a crimp in that plan. "Oh lutum," she breathed "Annabeth, keep your eyes on the deck."

"What?"

"Basilisk."

"I thought Hera told you we wouldn't have any problems getting to the Scholla."

"I guess she was wrong."

"Dumb, Hera." Annabeth muttered. The same dislike that had colored Rachel's interaction with the Goddess earlier was evident in Annabeth's voice. Bia was really going to have to ask why all of the Greeks seemed to have an issues with the Queen of the Gods.

Without looking up at the flying serpent Bia addressed it, "Is there something we can do for you, Lord Serpent?"

"Oh, little daughter of Vesta, it's rude to not look someone in the eye when you're speaking to them. I can't believe that your mother would stand for such a lack in manners."

"I think the lady Vesta would allow an exception for this case." Jason said as he stepped up beside Bia, his gladius in his hands. Piper and Leo stood on either side of him.

"Don't look the Basilisk in the face, he can kill you by sight."

"Then how do we kill him?"

"There is no need to kill me, heroes, I only bring a message."

"Then spit it out, dragon man." Leo rummaged around in his tool belt as he spoke.

"Tsk, no patience, son of Hephaestus?" Even with their eyes lowered, the Basilisk could see the glares the five demigods wished they could direct at him. "Lady Gaea will rise. You do not know even half of what you're up against."

"Like you? We've already defeated you once. We'd be happy to oblige you with a repeat performance." Bia remembered with some discomfort her first encounter with the monster before them.

"Ah, but I know your tricks now, little Kitten. How is your pretty little sister?" Before she could blink, Bia had a plumbata in her hand expanded to its full size and ready to through at the Basilisk.

"Let- go- of- me." Bia practically growled at the Annabeth and Piper who had grabbed her arms.

"You shouldn't be so obvious about your weak spot, has Lupa taught you nothing?" The basilisk asked as it began to flap lazily away, "This is your chance to avoid a bloody loss. Think about it before you leave the Scholla. Once you depart from there, your fates and those of everyone you know and care about are sealed." With that, the Basilisk was gone.

Roughly, Bia shook of the restraining hands of her friends and stormed to the other side of the deck from whence Jason, Piper and Leo had come.

Piper looked after Bia, unsure if she should follow or not.

"Leave her be a moment, she's real sensitive with the basilisk. It almost feels like, somehow, whoever sent it knows that, knows us, knows her."

"I didn't know she has a sister." Annabeth said, looking over where Bia was now sitting against the ships rail.

"Another daughter of Vesta, Alouette Fournier. Loulou was hurt in a Basilisk attack a few years ago, Bia's always blamed herself."

"Is she…" Piper wasn't really sure how to ask about how Lou was doing.

"She survived, she's alive and well, and happy. A bit worse for wear, but she manages. No one holds anything against Bia but herself. Come on, she'll be even more upset then she already is if her lunch goes to waste, especially if she thinks it's because we're tip toeing around her."

A/N Thankies for reading...finally, we're getting somewhere, next stop The Scholla! I am beyond flattered by all of the reviews you guys have chosen to leave for me, though I am also a bit jealous of those who have equal or less chapters then I and exponentially more reviews :-/ Some of you requested godly presence, and you have received, I have some more planed for upcoming chapters as well. Constructive criticism, comments, and opinions are as welcome as the reviews that have let me know that there are many people enjoying my story as much as I am.

Thank you again!
Miette