Chapter 2

After two fights with monsters(told you handphones were dangerous)we finally reached camp and headed towards the Big House to find Chiron. He wasn't surprised to see us or anything since we did visit camp half-blood now and then, even though summer had yet to come. It was like our second home to us and most of our friends were there too.

"Yes?"

"Chiron," Annabeth started, seeing that i was preoccupied with looking at a group of newbies learning how to swordfight. It was amazing how many more half-bloods were being brought to camp after the gods' promise to identify all their children. Another reason i was looking at them was because their instructor was Nico. Well, he only taught the new batches but that was just because he wasn't as experienced (he had been in camp for only one and a half years so far) as certain others. In terms of swordfighting skills though, he had become one of the best in camp, even though he was only fourteen. After the battle with Kronos and coming to camp, his swordfighting skills had really improved, due to the camp's training, sheer hardwork, natural talent and i suspect, talking to the ghosts of past swordmasters. Who knew?

"-know that you two can defend yourselves. In terms of getting there though, i'm sorry but i think a long airplane ride may still be the quickest way."

"But by the time we reach Singapore, Grover might already be dead. Don't you have some magical teleporter or something?"

i said as i picked up on the conversation.

Chiron just stared at me while Annabeth looked like she was going to pick up a stick and whack my head.

"What? I'm Just trying to help...I mean, the only problem now seems to be getting cheap, quick transport. I'm quite sure we'll be able to take care of ourselves and save Grover after that."

"Woah. Save Grover?"

i jumped slightly and turned around to see Nico standing right behind me. It was creepy how he could move so silently, like, well, shadows and death.

"What happened to Grover? Is he in danger?"

I looked at Annabeth and she looked me. I decided that there really was no harm in telling him so i did.

When i had finished, Nico looked at me and said simply, "Ok then, i'll come with you."

So maybe there was a bit of harm.

"What?" i blurted out.

Please don't get me wrong. It's not like i hated him or something. On the contrary, he was one of my best friends. It's just that, well, i was thinking this adventure would be a good excuse for me and Annabeth to have a considerable amount of just-the-two-of-us time.

"it'll be more exciting than staying at camp. Anyway, it seems like you need a fast way of getting to Asia. I can help you with that."

"What?" i said again, except this time, Annabeth joined me. Chiron just looked shocked. Hundred of years old teacher of heroes outsmarted by fourteen year old demi-god. It figures.

Nico looked at me and said the answer i should have expected, "shadowtravelling."

Annabeth looked even more confused so i told her about what had happened before the historical battle with Kronos one and a half years ago, like how we had used shadow travel to get from camp to Luke's mom's house. She nodded as she understood and turned to Nico.

"so...have you been practicing it? Cos it pretty much seems like you can only transport yourself?"

"i've been training. I'm quite sure i could bring both of you with me."

i suddenly saw flashes of images of me being half stuck in the shadows-one of my legs kicking out of the tree, my head sticking out, juniper using my helpless head as a punching bag for doing that to her tree. I really hoped this was going to work out.

"Maybe...we should go somewhere darker? It's noon now, there are hardly any shadows." the images forced me to ask.

"i think i know exactly where." Nico said and gave us that creepy smile of his.

This is horribly short. Sorry. I write this on my phone and since the screen is smaller, I don't know how long the story really is...I love Nico. That was random. I know.