Camp Half-Blood: Junkyard

It was nightfall and everyone was sitting down as Hiccup cooked stew. Percy and the others were listening as Hope explained with their friends were.

"So your Master Riku's son," said Thalia looking at Shade curiously.

"Indeed I am, and I believe you met my father at one point," said Shade.

"Yes, it was back when I was with Luke and Annabeth, it wasn't a very happy memory," said Thalia darkly.

"I still don't understand how you are able to fight blindfolded," said Percy.

"It's part of the initiation for all those who learn from my father," said Shade. "Learning how to use darkness is a risky and challenging affair. My father only teaches those who have the potential of keeping it in check. The blindfold of my eyes is in order so that I can lie to myself."

"Lie to yourself?" said Percy.

"I wouldn't concern yourself, but now I'm able to fight even blindfolded," said Shade.

"I can believe it," said Bianca.

"Hiccup, you haven't explained why you and Toothless are here?" said Hope looking at Hiccup, who was handing them bowls of stew.

"A few of Rattus' flunkies tried to kidnap me, but they ended up getting Astrid," said Hiccup grimly.

"Who's Astrid?" Thalia asked.

"My girlfriend," said Hiccup.

"So thee came all this way to rescue her," said Zoë sceptically.

"Why wouldn't I?" said Hiccup confused. "Anyway, a few moments later Shade appeared telling me that he knew where they were taking her and asked if I would accompany him. And once you mention though that he was an old friend of you Hope, how could I say no?"

"So, you're a Viking and you have a pet dragon," said Bianca gesturing to Toothless, who was curled up nearby.

"He's a pet, he's my best friend," said Hiccup.

"I'm more surprised that thee knows how to cook, I thought it was always the Viking housewives that did the cooking," said Zoë distastefully, not noticing that Hope, Rex and Frank were shaking their heads vigorously.

"I never knew my mother," said Hiccup sadly. "She died a few months after I was born."

Zoë was slightly taken aback. "Forgive me," she said.

"Yeah, Hiccup had a rough childhood," said Frank.

"Not as rough as me," said Thalia.

"You do realise I didn't have a friend until I was fifteen and my father can be bothered with me, and he was the chief of our tribe," said Hiccup.

Thalia got up as if she wanted to argue some more, but Percy quickly changed the subject.

"I just want to know what happened to you Grover," he said looking at Grover.

"I think Pan was communicating with me," said Grover dreamily.

"You mean the god that satyrs have been searching for all their lives," said Rex.

"Yeah, I felt some sort of presence and then everything went blank," said Grover.

"It is a shame that Pan has disappeared," said Zoë looking up into the stars. "In the old days, there were much more. Whole constellations have disappeared because of human light pollution."

"I have to agree," said Hiccup looking up at the stars. "I've seen many more back at my world."

"You know, this brings me back to the days my family would set out to the beach," said Hope laying backwards. "He would always say that every star there is just another world and we spent the night trying to guess which world each star belonged to. I miss those days."

"You've never said who your father was," Percy noted.

Shade gave her a look, which was quite impressive since he was blindfolded.

"It's nothing should concern yourself about," said Hope.

"We should discuss what we do next," said Rex.

"Like how Bianca destroyed one of the zombies," said Thalia looking at Bianca. There's a lot more out there somewhere. We need to figure out how to fight them."

Bianca shook her head. "I don't know. I just started and it went up in flames."

"Maybe there's something special about your knife," Percy said.

"It's the same as mine," said Zoë. "Celestial bronze, yes. But mine did not affect the wires that way."

"Maybe you have to hit the skeleton the certain spot," said Percy.

Bianca looked uncomfortable with everyone paying attention to her.

"Never mind," Zoë told her. "We will find the answer. In the meantime, Rex is quite right we should plan our next move. We could fly over to the nearest city. I think that would be Las Vegas."

"No!" said Bianca. "Not there!"

She looked really freaked out, like she'd just been dropped off the steep end of a roller coaster.

Zoë frowned. "Why?"

Bianca took a shaky breath. "I… I think we stayed there for while. Nico and I. When we were travelling. And then, I can't remember…"

Rex looked up and met Percy and Grover's eyes. Hope wasn't sure, but she got the feeling they were all thinking the same thing.

"Bianca," said Rex. "You didn't at all stayed at a hotel called Lotus Hotel and Casino?"

Her eyes widened. "How could you know that?"

"Oh, great," said Percy.

"Wait," Thalia said. "What is this Lotus Casino?"

"A couple years ago," said Percy, "Grover, Annabeth and I got trapped there. It's designed so you never want to leave. We stayed for about an hour. When we came out, five days had passed. If it wasn't for Rex and Master Ventus we would still be inside."

"No," Bianca said. "No, that's not possible."

"I thought your aura was older," said Rex looking troubled. He then closes eyes and concentrated hardly. "Judging from the way your aura is reacting, I'd say that you're over seventy years old."

"That's impossible," Bianca said. "I… I'm not that old."

She stared at her hand as if to make sure they weren't wrinkly.

Thalia's eyes turn sad. No doubt she understood how Bianca felt being pulled out of time for while. "It's okay, Bianca. The important thing is you and Nico are safe. You made it out."

"But how?" said Rex. "Both me and Master Ventus had a hard time ourselves resisting the magic around. We were lucky enough to get them out of their and that was for an hour. How could you have escaped after being there for so long?"

"All I remember is a man that said it was time to leave," said Bianca.

"Question is who is this mysterious man?" said Rex.

Suddenly Toothless shot up and growled.

"Guys, I think we have a problem," said Hiccup.

No sooner had he said it, they were hit with a blazing light from down the road. The headlights of a car appeared out of nowhere. They got out of the way just as a deadly white limousine slid to a stop in front of them.

"What do you make of this?" Frank asked.

"I only sensed two powerful aura from within," said Rex. "One is I know very well, hot and fiery, but the other is even more powerful, deadly and yet relaxing."

"That helps," Hiccup muttered.

The back door the limousine opened right next to Percy. Before he could separate the way, the point of a sword touched his throat.

Every one of them drew their weapons aiming at the big man that exited the limousine.

He smiled cruelly. "Not so fast now, are you punk?"

He was a big man with a crew cut, a black leather biker's jacket, black jeans, a skin-tight white vest and combat boots. Wraparound shades it is eyes, but Hope swear that behind them were hollowed sockets filled with flames.

"Ares," Percy growled.

"You again," said Rex holding his sheathed sword firmly.

"Why if it isn't the hooded rat," Ares sneered. "Still have your sword shield I see." Then he looked at Hiccup. "Ah, I've heard of you. The boy that ended a three hundred year war and make peace with his people's mortal enemy."

"I see word gets around," said Hiccup.

"I know every war," Ares smiled evilly. He turned his eyes to Toothless, who was growling at him fiercely. "Nice dragon, the unholy offspring of lightning and deaf itself I believe your people call him."

"What do you want Ares," said Rex.

"Surprisingly, this is a friendly meeting," He dug the point of his blade a little further under Percy's chin. "Of course I'd like to take your head for trophy, but someone wants to see you. And I would never be had my enemies in front of a lady."

"What lady?" Thalia asked.

Ares looked over at her. "Well, well. I heard you were back."

He lowered his sword and pushed Percy away.

"Thalia, daughter of Zeus," Ares mused. "You're not hanging out with very good company."

"What your business, Ares?" she said. "Who's in the car?"

Rex then lowered his sword. "Of course, no wonder her aura is so strong," he said.

"Point to the rat," Ares smiled, enjoying the attention. "Oh, I doubt she wants to see the rest of you. Particularly not them." He jutted his chin towards Zoë and Bianca. "She only wants to see Percy, Hope, Rex and Hiccup. It'll only take them a few minutes."

"We will not leave them alone with thee, Lord Ares," Zoë said.

"I doubt we have very little choice," said Rex. He then looked at the limousine. "I doubt we're very much danger with her."

"Who do you mean?" Hope asked.

"Someone you don't want as an enemy," Rex said simply.

Percy looked at them. "Don't worry about us, we'll handle this," he said.

"You heard the boy," Ares said. "They've got things under control."

Reluctantly, their friends lowered their weapons. Ares regarded Percy and Rex with loathing then opened the limousine door like a chauffeur.

"Get inside," he said. "And you might want to listen to the rat about your manners. She's not as forgiving of rudeness as I am."

The moment she entered, Hope saw both Percy and Hiccup's jaws dropping. Rex seemed to be composing himself, but Hope felt an air of jealousy around her.

Right in front of her was a beautiful lady wearing a red satin dress and hair was curled in cascade of ringlets. Her face made Hope completely jealous, she was beautiful about make-up, her eyes were dazzling and she had a smile that would've lit up the dark side of the moon.

Hope wasn't sure what she looked like. Or even what colour her hair or eyes were. Though she remained mostly a redhead, like her mother, which made Hope jealous because she always wanted to be a redhead.

"Freya," Hiccup gasped.

The woman just giggled. "No, my handsome Viking, but you're not far off," she said.

"Aphrodite, I was wondering when you'd show up," said Rex.

"How could I resist?" said Aphrodite.

"Can someone explain what was going on?" Percy asked.

"Yes, I'd like to know about that myself," said Hope.

"You're so beautiful my dear, but you could do with doing your hair up," said Aphrodite looking at her.

"My lady, not to be rude, but we don't have a lot of time," said Rex.

Aphrodite sighed. "What is it with men and their quests," she said. "If you spend too much time on fighting you won't enjoy the love of life."

"What's going on?" Hiccup asked.

"Well, I wanted to meet you four, after all it's been a long time I've seen a quest for true love," said Aphrodite.

All four of them stared at her in disbelief, though Rex didn't look at all surprised.

"Hang on," said Hope incredulous. "I understand Rex and Hiccup's motives fall under true love, but me and Percy aren't even in a relationship with anyone."

"Ah, but you have feels for someone, don't you," said Aphrodite slyly. "Percy has feels for Annabeth."

Percy shot up. "Hang on, I never said—"

She made a tsk tsk sound. "Percy, I'm no your side. I'm the reason you're here, after all?"

Percy stared at her. "What?"

"And you my dear, you feels for Shade are the same kind your mother had with your father," said Aphrodite. "Now there was a couple, shame I didn't not take apart in it."

Hope stared at her not sure what to think. Part of her wanted to deny everything, but the other half agreed with what Aphrodite had said.

"I don't suppose you know where the girls are?" said Rex.

"I'm afraid not, but I'll give you some helpful advice when it comes to Faye," said Aphrodite leaning in towards him. "Trust your heart."

"I will," said Rex.

"Now, you better go," said Aphrodite leaning back into her sit. "Oh, and beware an old enemy of yours is coming."

"Wait, what do you mean?" Percy asked.

Before he could get an answer the car door opened and Ares grabbed his shoulder, pulling him out of the car and back into the desert night.

"I guess our audience with the goddess of love is over," said Hiccup.

The three of them then exited the car door where they met with Ares, who was staring at Percy with hate.

"Consider yourself lucky," said Ares. "If I had my way I'd kill you, but rumour is that the biggest war in history is about to start and you guys are in the centre of it."

"I think it's pretty much started," said Frank. "Don't you realise the war that is waging above your skies."

"Bah, that's nothing except for schoolyard brawl," said Ares dismissively. "I'll be waiting, but until then… get lost."

He snapped his fingers in the world is a three-sixty, spinning in a cloud of red dust. They fell to the ground.

When they got up again, the limousine was gone and like before they were standing in the middle of the junkyard, mountains of scrap metal stretched out in every direction.

"What was that all about?" said Frank.

"We just had a nice little chat with the goddess of love," said Hiccup.

"I should have known when I saw that limousine," Zoë distastefully.

"I would advise caution, Zoë," said Rex. "You may disagree, but she is one of the most powerful Olympians."

"What you mean?" said Percy.

"Come on, Percy, you've been in her presence," said Rex. "If there's one thing I've learned from my travels is that love is the most powerful magic in all the worlds."

Zoë snorted.

"It's true, there's nothing more powerful than true love and no one can make you fall in love," said Rex.

"Aphrodite makes people fall in love all the time, practically her job description," said Thalia.

"No, she can make people think they're in love, but when she's trying to make the perfect match she only guides them to one another and they fall in love themselves," Rex explained.

"You mean like with Helen and Paris," said Bianca.

"Exactly," said Rex.

"Love is worthless," said Zoë.

"I have to disagree with you there, Zoë," said Rex turning on her. "Love is not between just soulmates, but between friends and family. After all you're on this quest, because of your love for Artemis." Zoë stared at him. "Don't deny it, you run the Hunters consider her your mother and therefore you love her. You can't deny it."

"Aphrodite also said that an old enemy was coming our way," said Percy, who wanted to change the subject. He then looked at Hope, Rex and Frank. "I don't suppose you know who it is."

"We've made a few enemies it's hard to keep track," said Frank.

"Great, that's just perfect," said Hiccup.

"We best get out of here before more trouble comes," said Percy.

"I'm ahead of ya," said Frank and reached for his com. "Toodles, we need you to beam us up." However, he got nothing but static."Toodles, do you read me?"

"That's not good," said Thalia.

"Someone's blocking our transmissions," said Frank.

"But Hope could block transmissions from a Gummi ship?" said Hope.

"That would be me," said a voice.

They all looked up and Hope recognised the man descending towards them. It was Syndrome.

"Syndrome," said Hope.

"Oh, you remember me," said Syndrome glaring down at them. "Well, I haven't forget you. How could I forget the ones that ruined my chance for glory?"

"Rattus was using," said Rex. "How many times do we have to tell you?"

"Enough of your lies, because it's your time to die," said Syndrome.

"Encase you haven't noticed you outnumber you," said Hiccup.

"Well, it a good thing I brought back up," said Syndrome grinning.

Suddenly the ground began to shake and the mountains of junk began to crumble. Then emerging from the junk was a bronze giant in full Greek battle armour. He was impossibly tall—a skyscraper with legs and arms. He gleamed wickedly in the moonlight. He looked down at them, and his face was deformed. The left side was partially melted off. His joints creaked with rust, and across his armoured chest, written in thick dust by some giant fingers, were the words Wash Me.

"What is that?" said Hiccup as they slowly backed off.

"Talos!" Zoë gasped.

"Who… who's Talos?" Percy stuttered.

"One of Hephaestus' creations," Thalia said. "But they can't be the original. It's too small. A prototype, maybe. A defective mode."

"Small?" Hope gaped.

"And I would hardly say defective," said Syndrome smirking. "It just need a few adjustment here and there and boom. I have a killer robot."

"Don't you remember what happened to your last killer robot?" said Frank.

"This time you don't have a much of supers to help you out," said Syndrome, he then pointed his fingers at them.

"Move!" Hope yelled.

They managed to dodge in time to avoid Syndrome Zero Point blasts. They quickly hide behind a pile of junk that had not fallen over.

"Don't let those beams of his hit you or you'll be frozen in place," said Hope.

"So not only do we have to avoid the giant killing robot, we also have to watch out for that guy whenever he wiggles a finger," said Percy.

"I don't suppose anyone has a plan," said Thalia.

"The original Talos had a weak spot in its heel," said Zoë.

"I see it," said Frank pointing.

Hope looked and saw as he raised his foot to stomp that his sole treaded like the bottle of a trainer. There was a hole in his heel, like a large manhole, and there were red words painted around it, which she deciphered only after the foot came down: For Maintenance Only.

"We'll have to stand over its foot to get in," said Bianca.

"Then we need to distract it long enough for one of us to get inside and find a switch or something," said Frank.

"We'll also have to keep Syndrome occupied," said Shade.

"I can handle that," said Frank.

"Not alone you won't," said Hiccup.

"Okay, but who's going inside that thing, because it's pretty much a one way trip," said Hope.

"I'll do it," said Percy.

"No! I will," said Bianca and before anyone could stop her she dashed towards the killer robot.

"Bianca!" everyone yelled.

"We have to stop her," said Percy attempting to chase after her.

However, Rex grabbed his arm.

"She's going what her heart tells her and nothing in the world is going to stop her," he said.

"Besides you'd probably get both her and yourself killed," said Shade.

"Then let's do our part," said Frank.

Suddenly Frank took off and that was the first time Hope realised that the metal backpack he was wearing was actually a jetpack. Then she saw Hiccup flying up towards Syndrome riding on top of Toothless.

"We need to cover Bianca," said Rex.

Reluctantly, Zoë shot an arrow towards the monster's face and it flew straight into one nostril. The giant straightened and shook its head.

"Hey, Junk Boy!" Percy yelled. "Down here."

Then he, Hope, Rex and Shade ran up to its big toe and stabbed it with their blades. Their blades cut several gashes in the bronze.

"I don't think so," said Syndrome flying down towards them.

He and his fingers at them, no doubt wanting to blast them with his Zero Point attack, but out of nowhere Frank began firing his glasses at him. When he turns attention onto Frank, he then saw, out of the corner of his eye, Hiccup and Toothless flying down towards them.

"You just never learn," he said and fired a Zero Point beam at them.

However, at the last second, Hiccup pulled a lever on Toothless saddle and jumped. The beam did hit Toothless, freezing him in place, but Hiccup was now freefalling in mid-air.

"Is he crazy?" said Grover.

"No, that's just Hiccup," said Hope.

Syndrome tried firing a beam at him again, but Hiccup took his arms in and when you open them out he revealed a pair of wings. He was now gliding down towards Syndrome dodging all the beings he was firing.

Because he was so busy trying to hit Hiccup, Syndrome didn't realise that he had freed Toothless, who was now gliding perfectly. He then fired a plasma blast straight towards him, Syndrome was able to dodge it, but it grazed one of his jet boots and now he was flying around uncontrollably.

Next moment, the giant robot began to act funny. It looked like it was seizing up, it could barely move its joints and sparks of electricity were shooting out everywhere. Then it began to collapse straight on top of them.

"Move!" Thalia cried.

They all ran as fast as they could as far from the falling giant as possible. However, Syndrome soon landed on the ground hard and many realise the giant was falling he too began to run. The only problem was chunks of metal were falling from the giant and one of these chunks landed on his cape preventing him from running.

"No!" he cried as the giant fell on top of him.

Once the dust settled they saw the giant laying on the ground in pieces. When they reached the wreckage they search frantically, yelling Bianca's name. They crawled around in the vast hollow chest pieces in the legs and the torso. They search until the sun started to shine, but no luck.

Zoë sat down and wept. Which surprised almost everyone, none of them had ever seen her cry.

Thalia yelled in rage and impelled her sword in the giant's smashed face.

"We can keep searching," said Percy. "It's like now. We'll find her."

"Percy, I can't sense her aura, she's gone," said Rex.

"I should have gone instead," said Percy.

"At least she took that Syndrome guy with her," said Hiccup.

"Somehow that victory feels hollow," said Hope.

"I'll have Toodles transporters," said Frank.

Camp Half-Blood: Gummi Ship

All of them were in silence as Frank flew the ship. Hope didn't know Bianca well, but she could tell she was a sweetheart girl.

"So, where are we heading to next?" Hope asked at last.

"I'm sensing something powerful close by," said Rex.

"Is it Lady Artemis or the creature she was hunting?" Zoë asked.

"No, but it's defiantly powerful," said Rex.

"You sure this has anything to do with the quest?" Thalia asked.

"To be honest I don't know, but if it's dangerous I think it would be our best interest to locate it before Rattus and Luke's forces do," said Rex.

"He has a point," said Grover.

"Fine, but we cannot stay long," said Zoë.

"Okeydokey," said Frank. "Toodles, I want you to strengthen out communication, I don't want a repeat of last time."

"You got it," said Toodles.

Then they were all beamed down below.

Camp Half-Blood: Hoover Dame

They soon land on what seemed to be a curve of concreate that loomed between a couple of cliffs. It took a few seconds for Hope to realise that they were standing on a dam the size of a football stadium.

"Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge."

"Over two hundred meters tall," Percy said. "Built in the 1930s."

"Five million cubic acres of water," Thalia said.

Grover sighed. "Largest construction project in the United States."

Hope and everyone else stared at them.

"How do you know all that?" Zoë asked.

"Annabeth," Percy said. "She liked architecture."

"She was nuts about monuments," Thalia said.

"Spouted facts all the time." Grover sniffed. "So annoying."

"I wish she were here," Percy said.

Hope and everyone else were still looking at them strangely.

"Okay, back to the matter at hand," said Rex. "I can sense the aura somewhere here, but there's so many people I can't find its exact location."

"So, we're walking around blindly, perfect," said Hiccup.

"Being blind isn't that bad," said Shade.

"So we split up?" said Hope.

"Hiccup, you and Toothless fly up and give us a bird eye view," said Shade.

"You got it," said Hiccup and he mounted on Toothless. "Let's go, bud."

They watched as Toothless took off.

They then split up in teams of two, Rex went with Zoë, Frank with Thalia and Shade with Grover. This left Hope with Percy and they began wandering around the dam.

"Wish we knew what we were looking for," said Hope.

However, she saw that Percy wasn't listening and he looked like he was in deep thought.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"What?" he said looking up. "Oh, I was just thinking about Nico, Bianca's little brother. He asked me to protector. What am I going to tell them?"

"The truth," said Hope. "His sister died a hero, not many people can claim that."

"I'm still a bit shocked that they came from the Lotus Casino," said Percy. "And one who put them there and who took them out?"

"Another question for another time," said Hope. "Right now we need to find what Rex had sensed."

Certainly Percy came to a stop.

"I think we've got bigger troubles," he said.

Hope looked up and then saw two men slowly walking towards them. They wore grey camouflage outfits that flick it over their skeleton bodies.

"Run," she said.

They ran as fast as they can and soon came across to a park ranger, with long black hair back in a ponytail and tinted glasses.

"In a bit of a rush, are we?" she said.

"Just a little," said Hope looking back and saw the skeletons gain closer.

They looked at the tour guide, who had removed her glasses. Her eyes were startlingly grey, like storm clouds. "I hope you would heed this advice, there is always a way out for those clever enough to find it. I would suggest going to the docks."

Then she walked away and just as someone walked past them they saw that she had vanished.

"You don't think," said Hope looking at Percy.

"Right now I think we have other concerns," said Percy gesturing to the skeletons that were now gaining on them.

Without a second thought they ran a corridor. They worked their way around the crowd, try not to be too obvious about it. There was a hallway at the other side of the balcony in the hope they would be define a hiding place. Both Percy and Hope had summoned their weapons in defence.

By the time they got to the opposite side of the balcony, Percy's nerves were shot. They back into the little hallway and watched the tunnel they came from.

Then right behind them they heard a sharp Chhh! like the voice of a skeleton.

Without thinking Percy swung Riptide and spun, slashing with his sword.

The girl he'd just try to slice in half yelped and dropped her Kleenex.

"Oh my God!" she shouted. "Do you always kill people who blow their noses?"

The first thing that went through their heads was that the sword didn't hurt. It had passed clean through her body, harmlessly.

"You're mortal!" said Percy and Hope facepalmed herself.

The girl looked at Percy in disbelief. "What's that supposed to mean? Of course I mortal! How do you get that subpar security and what with a gigantic key?"

"I didn't—Wait, you can see our weapons?"

The girl rolled her eyes, which were green like Percy's. She had fizzy reddish-brown hair. Her nose was also red, like she had a cold. She wore a big maroon Harvard sweatshirt and jeans that were covered with marker stains and little holes, like she spends her free time poking them with a fork.

"Well, you've either got a sword or the biggest toothpick in the world and I've never seen a key that size before," she said. "And why didn't it hurt me? I mean, not that I'm complaining. Who are you? And, whoa, what is that you're wearing? Is that made of lion fur?"

She asked so many questions so fast, it was like she was throwing rocks at them. Both Hope and Percy looked at one another, how could she see past the glamour? Everyone had a sort of glamour that hid magic, strange creatures and other things that normal people considered abnormal.

They both knew the skeleton warriors were still chasing them. They can waste any time. But Percy stared at the redhead girl.

"Who are you?" Percy demanded.

She huffed indignantly. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Now, are you going to answer my questions or should I screen the security?"

"No!" they said together.

"Listen, we're in a bit of a hurry," said Percy.

"And we're trouble," said Hope.

"In a hurry or in trouble?"

"Um, sort of both," said Percy.

She looked over her shoulders and her eyes widened. "Bathroom!"

Before they could protest, Rachel Elizabeth Dare shut them into the boy's bathroom. They kept a tight grip on their weapons, but when they looked at each other one thought was appearing in their heads. They had left the mortal girl out there to die.

"Oh my God! Did you see that boy and girl? It's about time you got here. They try to kill me! The boy had a sword and the girl was holding an enormous key. The security guys let those lunatics inside a national landmark? I mean, jeez! They wound that way towards those turbine thingies. I think they went over the side or something. Maybe they fell."

The skeletons clattered excitedly. They heard the moving off.

Rachel opened the door. "All clear. But you'd better hurry."

She looked shaken. Her face was grey and sweaty.

Hope peered around the corner. Three skeleton warriors were running towards the other end of the balcony.

"We owe you one, Rachel Elizabeth Dare," said Percy.

"What are those things?" she asked. "They looked like—"

"Skeletons?" Hope added.

She nodded uneasily.

"Do yourself a favour," said Percy. "Forget it. Forget you ever saw us."

"But who are you?" she asked.

"Percy, we gotta go," said Hope.

"Probably but if you don't know," said Percy.

Rachel watches the two of them ran to the exit.

It took several minutes for all of them to meet.

"We've got to get out of here," said Hope.

"We know, Hiccup told us about the skeletons," said Shade.

"I wish we could have found that thing I sensed," said Rex.

"We need to go now," said Thalia pointing.

Hope turned and saw the skeletons approaching them.

"Toodles, get us out of here," said Frank.

And in that last second they disappeared.

Unknown Location

Annabeth was sitting in a dark dang cell, there was hardly any light and she felt extremely weak. Then her cell doors open and a girl was shoved inside.

Annabeth look to the new arrival curiously, she looked years younger than Luke, but her clothes indicated that she didn't belong here. She had golden blonde hair, like her, that was tied in a ponytail and steel blue eyes that looked menacing.

"Who are you?" said Annabeth.

The girl looked up and stood up proudly. "I'm Astrid Hofferson and I demand you tell me where we are," she said fiercely.