A/N: The new chapter is mostly here because there are actually some people favoriting and reviewing my story. So thank you to those people. 3

Chapter 4: What. Did. He. Do!

The scream came from behind him. He turned and started running while calling for Seth anxiously. He heard the scream again. It was coming from the Hades cabin. 'If Nico has hurt my baby in any way, there will be one less living son of Hades!' Percy thought angrily already planning his revenge.

He busted down the door and saw Seth duct-taped to a chair facing Nico who was glowing with a strange black aura. His eyes were glowing red and little flecks of light flew off of him landing on the floor and on a chair across the room from Seth. There was something in the chair and it was glowing. It was also freaking Seth out because the young ten continuously looked back and forth with horror from Nico to the thing in the chair.

Neither boys had noticed Percy's entrance because Seth was facing away from the door and Nico was in some kind of trance. He snuck up behind Seth to see what was in the chair. 'Backbiter! How did Nico get it though? And what the hell is he doing to it?' Percy thought, getting worried. 'Oh no!' Percy realized what Nico was attempting and he had a feeling he new why. He had to get Seth out of there and fast.

He stood up and gently placed a hand over Seth's mouth, moving in front of him to cam the child down. When Seth realized it was Percy and he was safe, he stopped struggling. Percy held a finger to his lips, telling Seth to stay quiet. Seth nodded and Percy removed his hand. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pen, clicked it, and it turned into his sword, Riptide in hid hands. He slowly and carefully started to cut the tape from his boyfriend's body.

As soon as he was free, Seth hugged Percy tightly, remaining silent. Percy held him close and put his mouth to Seth's ear. "Go to Annabeth. Tell her I'm fine, but the Prince is raising the traitor. Okay?" he whispered softly.

"Yeah." Seth breathed back, "Okay" he turned and slipped out through the door, closing it silently behind him. Percy was about to try snapping Nico out of his trance when there was a blinding flash of light. He saw another figure appear beside Nico.

'Oh no! He did it! He brought him back! oh gods!' Percy thought, panicking. Nico and the strange boy turned toward Percy as the light dimmed.

"Where's that disgusting little brat?" Nico demanded, venom in his voice.

"I-I don't. I don't know." Percy stuttered in disbelief, starring at the second man. "Ho-how did you? Where did you?"

"This, my dear Percy, is one of the many perks of having Hades as my father." Nico smirked. He glanced back at the mysterious man then back at Percy. "He agrees with me, you know. He thinks the little mutt should die in a hole somewhere cold and alone, though. I was just going to crush his spirit..."

"Stay away from him!" Percy yelled, his anger returning to him. He turned to the figure. "Why do you want him dead? You don't even know him!"

"I know you're in love with him. I know you left me and forgot about me because of him."

"Oh. He didn't tell you. Did he? Nico didn't tell you who I loved before Seth. Nico forgot to mention why he doesn't like Seth. Nico was my boyfriend for about five months. About a month after you... 'left'... Nico and I got together. He left for over four months and I got together with Seth yesterday." Percy explained, glancing at Nico every now and then.

The boy turned towards Nico. "Is that true? Is he telling the truth? Did you lie to me, Nico? Did you love him?"

"Ummm... well... uhhh... yeah. Percy and I went out, but Seth has taken our Percy from us both!" Nico muttered, backing away. He had just reached the door when it busted open, revealing Annabeth, Grover, Seth and Will. They tried to enter, but Nico had put up a thick barrier. Percy couldn't even hear them. He was so utterly alone right now and he could do nothing about it.

"Nico!" the guy yelled, clearly angry, "Why the hell did you lie to me? I will not work for you!"

Percy stepped towards Nico and asked, "Is he really back? Or is this some sick, demented magic trick?"

"He's really back. As if he never left." Nico responded, shivering slightly. "Please, Percy. Don't let him kill me! I never wanted to kill or even injure Seth. I swear! I only wanted you to leave him so he would be miserable."

"I won't let him kill you. At least no while Seth is here. I don't want him having more nightmares. He'll already have enough because of you!" Percy said, coldly.

"Move Percy! I don;t want you to get hurt when I destroy this demon!"The other boy commanded.

"He deserves it. But not here. Not now." Percy stated, stepping in front of Nico and drawing his sword.

"I don't want to hurt you, Percy, but I will if I have to!"

"Back off! I will NOT let my friends see me die! They won't see you or Nico die either. Just let me go and then you can have him."

"NO! Move or die, Percy! Take your pick!"

"How about fight?" Percy asked, raising his sword. He lunged, knocking the boy's blade into the air and catching it. The boy backed off, now defenseless.

Percy handed him the sword and says "Let us go."

"Nico!" the boy yelled. "Let them go!" the barrier disappears and Percy runs to Seth, wrapping his arms protectively around the smaller boy. Annabeth steps forward, joining the hug.

"Is he really back, Percy?" she asks quietly.

"Yeah. Nico really did it." Percy muttered in sadness. "He did it to mess with me and Seth."

"Percy, I know this has got to be hard on you." She whispers.

"Percy let's go. I don't like it here." Seth pleads softly.

"Okay, baby. Go on to the cabin with Grover. We'll be on in a bit." Percy says, calming the younger one.

"M'kay." Seth mutters walking away with Grover.

"Will, honey, can you go check on them? Seth looked pretty freaked out." Annabeth asks sweetly.

"fine." Will responds. He pecks her lips and follows the other two boys to the Poseidon cabin.

Annabeth and Percy turn and walk back into the Hades cabin. The strange figure was advancing on Nico who was disarmed and had backed himself into a corner.

"Stop!" Annabeth yelled.

The boy turned to her and asked exasperatedly, "Why, Annabeth? Why should I stop?"

"Because if you kill him, you'll fade away! You won't even exist in the the Underworld, you'll just... vanish." She replied, clearly upset.

"Let's test that theory, Annabeth!" he exclaimed, turning to finish Nico off, only to find Percy standing in the way. "Get out of the way, Percy! I don't want to hurt you!

"No!" Percy yelled defiantly. "He's only thirteen! He doesn't think about consequences right now!"

The boy shoved Percy out of the way, but Nico was gone. "He shadow traveled! Percy, you let him go! He was trying to hurt your boyfriend and you let him go!"

Suddenly the shadows behind the boy darkened and Nico appeared. Just as suddenly, they were both gone.

"No!" Annabeth shouted in anguish. "Luke!"