Title: Silver Lightning

Author: Izzy Blackwell

Genre: Romance, Adventure, Family

Rating: T

Pairing:Sherlock/ John Greg/Molly Mycroft/Anthea

Warning: Slash, violence, implied sexual content.

Summary: Zeus's daughter has gone missing near Scotland so Hera commands John, son of Apollo and Greg, son of Athena to go and rescue her. But they have to hide all this from Sherlock and he's not happy, nope, he's jealous actually, as is Mycroft.

Chapter Four: Safe House

The safe house Nico had taken them to was really more like an abandoned apartment building in the outskirts of London. By looking at the buildings around them Sherlock could tell that the flat that they were using was probably the only one that was furnished and stocked with supplies. Looking out of the window Sherlock could see the Thames, other warehouses, and some other buildings. He's been around this part of town once or twice before, chasing after a lead or a criminal.

Unlike those times though, he didn't feel confident. Before, his knowledge was his greatest asset because he knew everything that was relevant. Until now he considered myth and legends to be irrelevant. Right now he wasn't an asset but a liability, and boy did that hurt his ego.

If they ran into monsters (though he'd been assured that they were absolutely safe here), he would have to rely on a teenage boy. A teenage boy who, if he wasn't being lied to or under some very potent drug, was a demigod...son of Hades, lord of the Underworld.

"So...it's real?" Sherlock whispered, moving his gaze from out of the window towards the boy who was tending to the unconscious girl.

"A lot of things are real that people think shouldn't be. What are you referring to? The underworld? Hell? Heaven?" Nico asked absentmindedly as he wiped the sweat from the girls feverish forehead.

"...All of it I suppose," Sherlock murmured as he moved next to Nico and helped him replaced some of the bandages.

Nico gave a small grin, "Yeah...though most mortals aren't really suppose to know until their time. Some are capable of seeing through the Mist, but mostly, it all goes unnoticed."

"You've mentioned the Mist twice now. What is it?" Sherlock asked.

"It's something created by the gods a few centuries ago. After humans began to become distant from the Gods and began to doubt their existence completely. After some time it became too dangerous for every common mortal to know and see the monsters and gods that lived side by side with them. So Zeus created the Mist. Anyone with any magical training could harness it. Some of us get caught up in it without even trying.

"Especially now, mortals, with all their advancements, won't take it well to know that all this myth is actually real. So while some of us demigods can be fighting some giants who are spitting fire with our armor and swords, the Mist would make it so mortals don't see. They'll see some kids being bullied by some gang bangers, maybe they'll see guns and bats or something, but really it depends on the mortal.

"Whatever their minds create to rationalize what they're seeing. One time I was attacked in an airport in Canada and a monster followed me inside. Huge scary neanderthal kind of monster. So some little kid traveling there that heard moose were Canadian, started yelling Moose! Moose! It became contagious and eventually everyone else's minds started looking for the moose that was rampaging through the airport. And that's generally how it works."

Sherlock digested this. "So this Mist is used to keep you all hidden and out of trouble with mortals?"

"It's...there to help. But demigods are trouble prone. Though it makes it so we don't have to waist time explaining why a bunch of kids are running around with swords, wearing armor, and riding chariots or Pegasus or Hell Hounds," Nico said.

"Would it be possible to...become invisible with this Mist?" Sherlock asked.

Nico looked at him and seemed to connect the dots, "If trained properly, anything with magic can be concealed from Mortal eyes. That includes demigods. I'm guessing there have been times when John has disappeared?"

Sherlock nodded, "Do you know what his roll is in all this? He said he had some family business to do."

Nico snorted, "We're all family Sherlock...it's very complicated, but from what Percy told me, he and another demigod, son of Athena, were ordered to find Luna."

"Now that she's found...is John finished?" Sherlock asked, you had to listen for the hope that was there.

Nico frowned and whispered, "It'll be hard and we'll need to plan, but yeah, John's roll is almost over in this."

Sherlock furrowed his brows, "What's going on?"

Nico sighed, "I don't think I should tell you. Once Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, and me and Luna rendezvous we'll get a plan worked up. All we really need is Luna to regain her strength."

Sherlock watched Luna and then Nico, and remembered what Nico had told them when they were captured, "John and Lestrade were sent to locate this girl and take her to the Gods I assume. Not all of them, and those who ordered the mission are sure that she's a threat and are most likely than not going to imprison her, if not kill her because she's dangerous. But she's not. Well, she is, but she's not evil. John's and Lestrade's job was to send her to the gods, and until they turn her in, their job isn't done. You plan on making it seem like John and Lestrade captured or rescued, whatever they've been told, then have her escape so she can go back to doing whatever she was doing before hand, which I'm going to assume is pretty dangerous and serious if the Lord of the Dead is sending his own son to rescue this girl. Am I right?"

Nico looked at Sherlock in awe, "...Yeah. How did you do that?"

"It's my own gift. Now I'm curious to know what she's doing. How long was she there?" Sherlock asked.

"Mortal time? A month," Nico replied, "You can just know stuff by just looking at people?"

"Yes. I can notice the details that go unnoticed by others and they tell me everything I need. The rest are usually just educated guesses. Did I get everything right?"

"Well...there was something," Nico replied, his attention back on Luna.

"There's always something!" Sherlock muttered.

"They're called quest, not missions. And my father didn't send me after her. He...favors her, despite being the child of Zeus. She uses the underworld as a means of travel to avoid the gods since they really have no business being there. And they can't tell my father how to run his land and who should be allowed to go freely...and well, not many know how to without being ghost or descendant of Hades...I've known her for a few years since I've run into her while she was on her quests. She's helped me, I've helped her. We became friends.

"John and the son of Athena were chosen, and some of the gods of Olympus are desperate to have her in custody, so they're putting their best demigods from New York on board to help in her capture. Percy, son of Poseidon, called me because he thought my Shadow Travel would come in handy, also as the son of Death, when I strike an enemy they stay dead. I know there's something much more serious going on. My father doesn't really think I'm powerful enough to get involved, but hasn't done anything against me so I can only imagine that I'm not screwing this up. And I guess saving her doesn't make me look completely stupid...but if he were here he'd point out that I had gotten capture and had to be saved by a mortal...no offense." Nico ranted and then apologized.

"None taken...fathers can be..." Sherlock looked for a word.

"Demanding? Insisting? Obnoxious?" Nico offered.

Sherlock gave a small grin, "Yes. My own father was rather difficult. I don't wish to imagine what it must be like having a god as a father," Sherlock replied honestly.

Nico scoffed, "It's no picnic. He's a god...he's cast a very wide shadow. I'm only half god. I'm already 18, I'm already pushing it...there's no way I can ever do anything that will remotely let me step an inch away from his shadow. I'll always be Hades' son...Sorry, I didn't meant bore you with that."

"Don't worry...I understand." and he did. Always living in the shadow of someone else, be it his father or his brother. Someone who expected too much, and everything you ever wanted wasn't good enough or the right thing. Having to go through all that and fight monsters! "Wait...you said you were 18 and already pushing it? What did you mean by that?"

"Demigods are always being chased and hunted down. Monsters and creatures sniff us out because it's build into their DNA to fight against us, or rather our parent." Nico said nonchalantly with a shrug.

"But since the Gods don't really come down to earth as much as they used to like back in the day, they settle for us. Sometimes it because we're a part of what our parent used to represent. The stories that have been placed? Like Apollo chasing the snake that killed it's mother? A lot of children of Apollo and some of the hunters of Artemis have had many battles with snakes. Snakes are actually their chosen phobia or common known enemy. The story with Athena and Arachne? As far as I know all of the children of Athena are afraid of spiders and spiders all hate the children of Athena in turn...it's built into them.

"And then of course there's the low level monsters and demons who talk a big game but can't really do what they boast. So instead of taking on a powerful god, they go for their kids...

"We have a camp in New York...kind of like a base, but it's also a refuge for Demigods where they can stay, sleep, grow up, and train without fear of being destroyed and hunted everyday...at least not without back up. It's an entire camp with cabins full of brothers and sister, and there are a lot of cousins...well, unless you're a child of The Big Three. We've got a range of ages...sometimes our sources lead us to infants. These last few years we've had a few ankle bitters who were raised in the camp since practically the beginning. We've actually had to place in a nursery in the camp and have nymphs to care for them, if the mortal mother or father would rather get rid of them. Sometimes the child is claimed as young as a month old, or sometimes they have to wait a few years, but eventually everyone is claimed by a god and placed in their proper cabin, with the rest of their siblings. Some kids are looked after in their homes though by our satyrs until they're old enough to know about their other parent...sometimes kids runaway and we find them along the way. This Lestrade? His sister by his mothers side that will join us, she ran away when she was seven. When they found her she was being attacked by a monster and holding them off with a trash can lid being used like a shield and a common hammer that she found...

"Sometimes our mortal parents accept us and love what we are. And they fight for us until it's time they let us go to learn about our paths as heroes and let us go grow up. Sometimes...they hate what we are and abandon us and then we're on our own..." Nico's face turned grim and Sherlock was stunned a bit by the look in his eyes. He's heard that silly phrase that the eyes are the window to the soul and that you can see what the person is feeling through them. He didn't believe that and found it stupid until he sometimes caught sight of John after a nightmare. Sherlock could see the terror in his flatmates eyes. And now he could see the sheer look of horror was ever present in those young demigod eyes of the boy in front of him.

Nico's voice drops to a whisper, "...Sometime we're lucky to find them, but there are always monsters out there who just want to fight. They don't care about age or strength. If anyone reeks of god in anyway...they attack. We've had to bury a lot of children...far more than I care to count. That's all we really are...children. Set off to save the world, and we really don't have much of an option. Too much time has passed so it's sort of been decreed that the Gods can't intervene in our lives unless it affects the entire planet in some catastrophic way...there is no help from anyone but each other. And not a lot of us make it past 16. Reaching 20 is considered a great feat.

"John and Lestrade being as old as they are...they are living legends...myths themselves...the amount of adventures and quest they must have gone on...and now the lives they lead..." Nico sighed and shrugged, "It's in the blood I guess. We're born warriors and raised as heroes."

"Soldiers in time of chaos are heroes...in times of peace are nothing," Sherlock said, remembering what John had said.

Nico gave him a too tired smile for someone his age, "Yeah, but after too much chaos, it isn't always a bad thing being nothing."

They changed all of Luna's bandages and were maintaining her fever and settled into a comfortable silence. Both of them lost in thought, and staring at the unconscious demigod in front of them. Wondering what secrets she held and what adventures she promised.

Eventually Nico said he was going to get some rest. Sherlock grunted in response and continued to watch over Luna. Half expecting that her outward appearance give him all the answers he needed. It gave him some facts, but he didn't know which questions they answered, or if even could think of the questions they could answer.

Besides the woulds the he saw were caused by whips and chains that were obviously used to strike her in an attempt to get answers, there were some burn marks that seemed to have been made by some chemical. There weren't any fumes that Sherlock recognized so he couldn't really say which chemical was used...or if he knew it at all. The girls clothes were miraculously intact. The rips and tears that Sherlock remembered being there were patched up. Assuming what they are and the adventures they must go on, Sherlock assumed that the clothes were magically woven or are made of certain material that will protect the wearer from heat, poisons, and keep them well clothed no matter what they've been through.

She had a dark gray T-shirt with a red lightning bolt on the chest. Black pair of jeans, a light black jacket with a high collar, and a brass colored pin on the left side. It was of a bird with a arrow in its beak, inside of a circle. Red Converse sneakers adorned her feet. Each wrist had a bracelet, which didn't get at all destroyed by the bear traps. Sherlock beings to wonder what magical property they must hold. The one of the left hand was of a red star in a silver circle, on a black leather bracelet that looks like something a goth kid would wear. The one on the right was also on a black leather bracelet like a goth kid would wear, the symbol though was on a silver square. It was of a sun, the middle was a red circle, and the wavy sun lines were in black.

While treating her woulds Sherlock also saw a necklaces of a silver key.

"Do you always think so loud?" a voice murmured, bringing Sherlock out of his thoughts.

"No. Usually it's other people who think too loud," Sherlock replied and helped Luna up as she tried to do so by herself but with difficulty.

"Thanks..." Luna muttered then looked over at Nico who was dead to the world. "He was always terrible with rainbow communications."

"I'm sorry?" Sherlock asked confused as he too stared at Nico, who hadn't moved an inch in his sleeping form.

Luna looked at him with such a piercing look that it made him somewhat uncomfortable(which is a difficult task to do), and Sherlock wasn't sure if it was the lack of light, since their only source was a few lamps spaced around the room, or if her eyes actually flashed silver before returning back to light brown.

"Ah...mortal. Well, Nico, like most demigods are born with a bit of ESP. Most of us just get stronger in the field that our parents cover, but there is a bit of a base line with powers that all of us share. At times it seems like a curse, at other times an advantage but while mortal dreams are just memories, nightmares, essentially their fears, as well as their desires presented to them while they sleep, it's different for demigods. For us it's actual visions.

"That's a method that sometimes our parents prefer to use so only we know that they're communicating with us. Sometimes it's the bad guy, if they're powerful enough, who are taunting us by giving us insight on their schemes to make us feel all the more helpless. Sometimes it's just a great desire to spy on our enemy that our dream self, or soul, visit our friends or enemies to see what's up, all the while going unseen." Luna explained.

"So...he's not just sleeping?" Sherlock asked as he motioned towards Nico with his head.

"He's the son of Hades, Lord of the Dead. Darkness is his specially. Metaphorically dreams are a shady realm. Using Iris isn't his strong suit. My guess is he's trying to communicate to some other demigod through psychic dream connection," Luna said with a shrug.

"Will it work?" Sherlock asked.

"Maybe. If he's trained himself. Mostly we don't have full control, dreams just happen," Luna said.

"Unless emotions are high?" Sherlock offered.

"Yeah...but I'd rather not waste any more time. Gods in Olympus know how long I've been gone in mortal time," Luna said.

"That's the second time I've heard that today. Is there really other time, other than mortal time?" Sherlock asked with serious interest.

Luna nodded, "The gods can't necessarily control time, minus Cronus...well at least not a lot of it. In short intervals they can. Maybe even travel through it, but it's not common or smiled upon really. Messing with time causes a lot of complications that it's far simpler just to leave it alone. But there are places that contort time. There's a hotel in Vegas I think called the Lotus Hotel. It can feel like two hours when outside it's been about five days."

Luna looked at Nico, "Nico was placed there with his sister for protections. To him it felt like about a week or two at the most...He's from the 1940's."

Sherlock's eyes widened.

"Anyway...even though I was extremely tired, I heard snippets of your conversation. There are others?" Luna asked.

Sherlock shook his head and then nodded.

"Okay...I heard safe house the belongs to Aphrodite. I know about the demigod camp, but Nico's really the only other demigod I actually know. I want to let Nico sleep since he doesn't get much either way. You wouldn't know anyone there, would you?" Luna asked.

"Yes. John," Sherlock replied.

"John what?" Luna asked.

"Dr. John Watson," Sherlock said.

"Son of?"

"Apollo."

"Alright. We're going to need a bowl of water, a mirror, and a torch. I have a mini one on my belt we can use. Go and refill this bowl with clean water and while in there see if there's a hand held mirror or something we can use that will cause a reflection," Luna instructed as she took out the mini yet bright flashlight from her belt.

"Why?" Sherlock asked already grabbing the bowl.

"We need to make a rainbow," Luna said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Sherlock didn't question it and just did what he was told. It wasn't normal of him, he knew that, but Nico had told the truth earlier. Things were bound to get weirder, and at the moment Sherlock just needed to do whatever it took to get to John.

When he came back with a clean bowl of water and a hand held mirror Luna took it and placed the mirror at the bottom of the bowl. Then she pointed the torch at the mirror and up came a rainbow. Luna then dipped her hand into her pocket and flipped the coin into the rainbow.

"I call upon the power of Iris. I wish to call John Watson, son of Apollo, at the safe house of Aphrodite!" Luna commanded. Her voice went from quiet to normal, and it caused Nico to stir awake.

Sherlock watched in fascination as a violet haze like veil appeared over the bowl of water, and an image began to form.

In the image, John was sitting on a sofa, his back straight like a true military man, his arms crossed, and his face in a scowl.

"John..." Sherlock whispered, but it was enough to get John's attention.

"Sherlock! Thank the gods! You're alright! You are alright aren't you?" John got that out in one breath.

"Yes I'm fine. What about you?" Sherlock asked as was about to touch the image but Luna pulled him back. He looked at her.

"Touch it and the image vanishes and that's my last coin," Luna said, which again sounded like the most obvious thing in the world but it only confused Sherlock.

"It's an Iris message Sherlock. It works pretty much the same way as a public phone. Touching the image would be the same as hanging up," John explained, a small smile on his face now that he knows Sherlock is safe. "Where are you?"

"In the outskirts of London in a safe house," Nico replied, all three of them now in view of John.

"So you're all safe?" John asked, brows furrowed in worry.

"Yes John, we're alright. Don't get your trousers in a knot, I saw you merely a day ago," Sherlock said, trying to lighten the mood, but even if it's only to himself, that's too long to be away from his friend.

"A day? Sherlock...you've been missing for a week!" John informed them and Sherlock's eyes widened.

"Time distortion remember?" Luna reminded Sherlock as she nudged him with her shoulder a bit.

"Who else is there with you?" Nico asked.

"Right now I'm keeping watch. It's not really needed but we've hit a dead end and I needed to do something with myself, and I didn't feel like being with the others...we've kind of locked horns, so to speak. Downstairs there's Mycroft and Molly. For some reason they're being targeted but they're just mortals, which is something I don't understand. We're keeping them here because...well, they'll be monster bait otherwise. Lestrade's here...also Anthea, Percy, and Annabeth," John explained.

"What about Thalia?" Nico asked.

John shrugged, "She was there at Stone Henge with the others but after we were told that you were captured she disappeared and went to look for you."

Nico frowned, "She's not missing is she?"

John shook his head, "No. She's looking. Artemis is leading her and some of her other hunters in search of Luna and you as well. They check in every day on Percy's orders."

Nico gave a sigh of relief, "Good. Can you call the others?...we need to plan."

"No. John tell everyone we need to rendezvous," Luna ordered. As Sherlock looked at her he saw her perfect posture, stance of confidence and strength, calculating and determined eyes. She was a natural born leader.

Sherlock looked over to his own hero.(He blushed lightly thinking of John as such and also in an intimate way.)

John frowned, "There is some serious activity of monsters roaming around. It's dangerous going out in such a big group. We're bound to get caught in some sort of crossfire. And where would we go? This place is specially guarded. Wouldn't it be safer here?"

Luna shook her head, "It belongs to one of the gods. I know that not all of them are against me, but even if Aphrodite isn't, other gods can have eyes and ears in there as well. I have a safe house all my own. You know my situation right?" John nodded, "Right well...I'll tell you where it is, and you're right. Going in one huge group is asking for trouble. Go in intervals."

Nico spoke up, "Have Lestrade and Annabeth take Molly. You and Anthea take Mycroft. Tell Percy to take Mrs. O'Leary. I'd advice going through her all together but too many people...it might not be safe, and Mrs. O'Leary might not be strong enough...and you don't want to be stranded in the Underworld. But she can handle herself and Percy just fine."

"Alright...sounds like a good plan. Where are we going?" John asked.

.:~*~:.

Luna's eyes had turned silver, Sherlock noted, as she spoke the location to John. She instructed to whisper it to Annabeth and to Percy and no one else. The less people know about it the better.

In their own safe house, Sherlock was helping collect some of the things they needed. It wasn't much though.

"This is Uncle Hades', right?" Luna asked Nico.

"Yeah. Once we leave everything will go back to normal, so make sure you don't leave anything behind," Nico replied.

Sherlock made a face that Luna saw and said, "It's dimensional magic. It keeps us hidden. Right now this room is it's own little dimension. We can see out of it into the reality that we know but no one else but Hades can look in here. It's a one way kind of thing. Once we leave Hades eliminates this dimension so it's like it never existed. It's a great way to cover your tracks. It's what I've been using to keep hidden from the gods. It's sort of like a radio. They need to have the same frequency as me to find me, and every time I move I use a new one."

"Ah..." was Sherlock's only response.

Luna shook her head a little and grinned at him, "I know this is out of your comfort zone, but I promise that once we're all together I'll catch you upook on everything. I'll give you some books you'll find rather fascinating now that you know all this is real. You're different than most mortals. You'll come in handy, I just know it."

Nico frowned from packing away some of the medical supplies, "After we meet up with everyone else we'll be planning to make it seem like John and Lestrade's quest is complete..."

Luna's grin fell and she shook her head again, "No Nico...they're in this too now. Since the last time I talked with you and Uncle Hades things have become more complicated. And in my sleep state I was in right now...it's not just them, now the mortals have a part in this too."

Nico had been bent over a box but he stood up straight and stared directly at Luna with a serious expression, "Exactly how deep are the mortals in this mess?"

Luna was standing close to Sherlock and her eyes flashed silver again as she waved her hand over his eyes. It was as if someone had run a paint brush with transparent paint with a tint of violet over his eyes. Sherlock picked up the mirror from the water bowl they had used earlier and looked at his face and then looked at Luna curiously while silently demanding an explanation.

"I can see it with my eyes since I'm magic. Whoever captured you gave you the ability to see through the Mist. I'm assuming the other mortals as well," Luna said.

"Why though?" Nico asked.

"It's a game..." Luna muttered, then she went towards the window and looked out of it. She was thinking and delved into her own mind. From where he was, Sherlock could practically see the gears turning, it was just like what John describe it looked like when he observed Sherlock think.

"A game?" Nico echoed but was ignored by Luna. Nico sighed, "I hate it when she gets like that. Until she's finished thinking she's not moving..."

Sherlock had to suppress a grin. He was beginning to really like this girl. From her mannerisms and her near military like leadership...it was like the combination if he and John ever had a child. Sherlock cleared his throat and fought back the heat he felt upon his cheeks and neck and turned towards the Death Demigod.

"Whoever is really after her, not the gods, but the monster in charge of the ones who captured us, is playing a game. Before it was just Luna I assume, but now all these demigods are getting involved. It will make it harder for this thing to get to Luna so he has to try something else. But it can also work in it's favor to have more pieces in the game that it can use. Since you're here and they're there I assume he's tried the divide and conquer strategy. That didn't really work so he's trying this. The demigods in this ordeal are powerful and smart enough, attacking them personally and physically might prove to work against him, so this is his new tactic. Obtain leverage on each of the new demigods. John and Lestrade are both so sentimental...they would have given anything to get back anyone they knew was in the hands of the enemy...this thing must know that and used us mortals against them but it failed," Sherlock said.

"So it would seem..." Nico said ominously.

"Meaning?" Sherlock asked.

"I've dealt with a lot of monsters since I realized what I was. I've faced some pretty stupid ones that are all brawn and no brain. But there are some that are far more complicated than meets the eye. This could be a far more complicated plan. And by making us think that capturing was the purpose, and the fact that we're not captured could give us a false sense of security..." Nico said.

"Then we'll be vigilant," Sherlock said easily with a shrug.

Nico kept quiet but he stared intently at Sherlock.

"Good idea Nico but you don't have to worry about him...his mind is too complicated for them to have manipulated in that short amount of time. They'd need at least a month. And besides they need his mind to be untouched if they want it to work..." Luna said absentmindedly from the window, her eyes now silver and her fingers steepled to her lips.

"What about the others?" Nico asked, sounding a bit relieved.

"Hmmm...genetics are potent, so his brother is unlikely but we'll have to check just to be sure. The woman though...she's common so she's an easy target," Luna said.

"You think these monsters could have brain washed us to be use against you?" Sherlock said rather than asked.

"Not you...you might have been taken whether or not John was involved I suspect. But they wouldn't risk tampering with your mind. No, they wouldn't mess with you because you're perfect for the task. They merely gave the others the sight to scare them and make them a liability for us. Your brother is a genius but lacks the creativity that your mind possesses. That woman's mind is very imaginative but lacks the genius to understand the knowledge that I can receive...no, you're the perfect balance of what they need and wouldn't dare mess with that brilliant mind...The others though are subject-able to manipulation and could be a threat. But all this is, is speculation. We might be over thinking it and it could be as simple as it seemes," Luna replied.

"So there is a chance that they were just caught to be used against us but it just didn't work?" Nico asked, sounding unconvinced.

"Paranoia is a common ailment to demigods, Nico. Careful it doesn't consume you and cloud your judgment. Sometimes things just are. You should know by now that in order to survive demigods should always trust their instincts...their initial instincts." Luna reminded him.

"Why would I be needed?" Sherlock asked.

"Hmm...I'll explain later. Right now we're ready to leave," Luna said as she grabbed one of the backpacks that they readied that was full of rations and survival and basic supplies.

"How are we getting there?" Nico asked, also picking up a pack.

Sherlock grabbed his too and asked, "Shadow Travel?"

"Can you handle all of us?" Luna asked Nico.

He did his best not to look weak in front of others. Usually as the youngest and thinnest, he's always given the lesser jobs because they never want to give him 'too much'. He hated when people assumed he was too weak, or too young, or not experience enough, but he had already used Shadow Travel once before to get them out of there and he hasn't had proper rest, or regained his full power.

Nico looked down ashamed at his feet and replied, "No. I'm not sure I can even take myself. Not yet."

"How long?" Sherlock asked, a bit impatient. Apparently he's been gone from John for more than a week. He'd like to see the soldier soon!

"Another day or so...at least another six hours, but then I'll be out for about a day or two," Nico said.

"No need. I can take us there...though my form of travel isn't really all that better than Shadow Travel, just a word of warning," Luna said as she held out her hands to them. They looked a bit nervous but grab hold anyway.

.:~*~:.

She was right. Magical teleportation wasn't any better than Shadow Travel. With Shadow Travel it felt like being dipped in a freezing lake in the middle of winter while in the Arctic. Teleportation felt like being squeezed through a small tube in complete darkness that gives you a sense of nausea and a chilled sensation.

And the landing wasn't at all steady. All of them seemed to have dropped from out of the sky and landed rather roughly on the ground. When they stood up, they dusted themselves off and looked around. They were in the middle of the woods.

"What? Are we camping?" Sherlock asked with a hint of sarcasm. He didn't see how this was safer.

Luna rolled her eyes and whispered something to each of them as her eyes flashed silver. Suddenly in front of them was an entire estate. Gates, fountain, gargoyles, the works. Luna adjusted her bag over her shoulders and began to walk towards the estate.

"Come on, then," She called from behind her shoulder.

"How was that possible?" Sherlock asked as they walked up the trail.

"It's what makes this place more secure. This isn't god magic but witch magic. You can't teleport yourself inside because you don't know where it is. And you're not a secret keeper either. So unless I tell you what your looking at, you can't see it. And I mean every time. Once anyone leaves these ground they forget about this place. It's that feeling of trying to remember something, because you'll have the memories of being inside, but it'll always be on the tip of your tongue. That elusive thought that no matter how hard you think will always be fleeting. And you'll only remember it again until I whisper to you exactly what it is you're supposed to be seeing. Mortals just walk right passed here. It's sort of like the Mist if it makes it easier to understand," Luna explained.

The estate from the outside looked it had three floors but on the inside, looking at the stairs, Sherlock saw that it spirals up at least five. As they neared the staircase he turned to Luna and asked, "More magical illusion?"

"Yup. There are seven floors here. The last two have the most protection so you can't see it even with this magic over your eyes," Luna said.

"About that...can I get an explanation?" Sherlock asked.

"Let's get set up first," Luna said walking towards the left. They entered what can be a library but also a living room. Two walls, as high as probably fifteen feet tall like the rest of the room(which again Sherlock assumes must be magic), were giant book shelves. With so many books. Not one space left empty. Oh the knowledge he could get from here! The third wall was like a honey comb full of chest boxes and scrolls and parchments. The wall with the doorway that they just walked through had a dragon head over the door, and decorated all over that last wall were all types of weapons. From swords, to spears, a bow and arrows, to nun-chucks, and ninja stars. Those were just a few examples...there were some that didn't make sense like a pen and some chop sticks and a mirror, and then some that he had no idea at all what to call.

"This...this is impressive," Sherlock said as he took a seat in one of the comfy sofa chairs. Unlike in any other home he's ever been in, the fire was in the center of the room. A square hearth outlined with stone bricks, but this fire burned green.

"Thank you. The others should be here shortly. I'll hear what they have to say and then explain our plans after. In the mean time can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Luna offered.

"Tea and biscuits," Sherlock said.

"I'd like something too," Nico said.

Luna nodded and snapped her fingers. There was a table next to all of the chairs and a plate and chalice appeared in a spiral of blue fire next to Sherlock's, Nico's, and Luna's.

"Thanks," Nico said with a nod towards Luna and then spoke to the chalice, "Hot chocolate." and then towards the plate, "Chocolate chip cookies." and like magic, because Sherlock suppose it was, the cookies appeared.

"Ask for anything you wish to drink and eat and it'll fill itself," Luna explained.

Sherlock picked up the chalice and stared at it with wonder, "Black tea." even though he saw it done with Nico's drink, to see it himself...to have it fill up like that...it was outstanding. "Biscuits." and again to his amazement the tray filled up, but not just any common biscuits, but the ones that Mrs. Hudson knew he liked. As he tasted one, it didn't just look like the ones Mrs. Hudson made, they were just like the ones she made! And the tea was exactly to his liking!

Sherlock was about to comment when the fire in the hearth suddenly rose about five feet and changed from green to blue.

"Ah...the first group has a arrived," Luna said as stood and headed towards the door.

Nico and Sherlock followed and they opened the door to find Annabeth, Lestrade, and Molly.

"Nico!" Annabeth cried as she ran to hug him.

"Annabeth...can't...breathe..."

"Oh, sorry. I was just worried about you," Annabeth said as she let go of him and held him at arms length and smiled at him. Then she scowled and slapped his shoulder a bit hard, "How many times do I have to remind you not to go alone! You should have waited for back up! Do you have any idea how worried we were? Or what kind of danger you could have put yourself in? Well? Answer me mister!"

"I'm not a child..." Nico whined as he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

Annabeth roller her own eyes and then looked at the other two occupants of the room. "You must be Luna and Sherlock."

"Obviously. When are the others planning on coming here?" Luna asked.

Annabeth made a micro expression of annoyance at Luna's rudeness but brushed it off. She's dealt with enough rude people from Ares cabin to be immune to it.

"Since Percy is using Shadow Travel he should be here soon. John, Mycroft, and Anthea will be here in two hours," Lestrade answered. "Good to see you're okay Sherlock."

"Hn," was Sherlock' response before he made a dramatic turn, in which his coat flapped dramatically behind him in his wake, and he returned to his chair.

"What's his deal?" Annabeth asked.

"He's a mortal thrown into the mix of everything he considered myth and unreal. That and his best friend is a main player in this dangerous game. He's seen first hand some of the danger that John's faced but his mind is telling him that there are worse things coming, and perhaps John has already faced worse dangers in the past. That unsettles him. Plus they have a relationship that's been a bit rocky due to previous events. He's anxious to be with his friend again, as well as out of his wits though at the same time he's very interested and curious about this new world...which again his friend is a part of and it doesn't sit well with him..." Luna looked towards Sherlock, "I think he's also a bit nervous."

"She's just like him..." Molly muttered to Lestrade.

Lestrade sighed, "Looks like it...that's all we need. Another Sherlock." he said more to himself and Molly, but then towards Luna, "I've known him for a long time. It wasn't until John that he started being remotely human. He's new to emotions but nervousness isn't something that he's capable of. He's too narcissistic."

"This John is basically Sherlock's heart, right?" Luna asked.

Lestrade took a moment before nodding, "Yeah...in a way."

"Well then...from what I can tell and from what I saw in his mind, and yes Nico I took a look in his mind, I was very curious, Sherlock lives quite the interesting life. And he gives John a purpose...John's a hero. He lives only for adventure. Sherlock's reached the conclusion that as far as John's hero days go, he retired. Sherlock doesn't have to worry about John leaving him for more epic adventures...but now John's being called back...It's obvious Sherlock may be brilliant, but he's still mortal. He fears that John will leave him for what he's certain is a more exciting life. And that in comparison Sherlock is now dull in John's mind."

"They even have similar vocabulary..." Molly mumbled.

Lestrade nods and follows Sherlock, and everyone else follows him. In the living room/ library, Lestrade goes up to Sherlock and slaps him upside the head.

Sherlock looked surprised and kind of mock glares at Lestrade.

"For a supposed genius you can be pretty stupid sometimes," Lestrade said.

"I suppose so considering both you and John are demigods and I never once suspected," Sherlock answered bitterly.

"First of all, you weren't supposed to noticed. And before you say anything it doesn't matter how brilliantly smart you are, you are all reason and logic and this is magic. Magic defies reason and logic...and I'm not talking about that. Sherlock..." Lestrade takes a seat next to Sherlock's and moves the chair so he's sitting right in front of him. To the other who seemed to have been forgotten by the two momentarily, it seemed like a father scolding a son.

And like a child, Sherlock hugs his legs to his chest and turns away from Lestrade, a pout threatening his features.

"If it makes you feel any better, John and I weren't gallivanting around London behind your back hunting down monsters and going on quests. I just realized John was a demigod about a week ago when we both arrived in New York," Lestrade said.

Sherlock still didn't say anything but did turned to look at Lestrade.

"Second of all, okay yes, John and maybe the rest of us are so used to adventure and chaos and danger that we can't completely give it up, and maybe that's why John decided to stay with you," Lestrade said.

"Yes I understand now completely fine. John cares about the rush my lifestyle gave him...and now...this is here to replace me. I'm just a mortal...John's done with me. I can't compete with all this..." Sherlock said in a bitter tone.

"There ya go being an idiot again," Lestrade sighed and pinched the bridge between his nose, "It was your lifestyle that attracted John to you yes, but it's you that's made him stay."

Sherlock looked at Lestrade in the eye with a curious and demanding look.

"When we arrived at Stone Henge and found Molly and Mycroft captured and surrounded by monsters, it didn't take long for John to know that you were captured too. Once we fought and killed almost all the monsters, John spared one and demanded where you were, but then something killed that monster and there John was...like Moriarty all over again. But this time worse, because he knew you were alive and in enemy hands, and he didn't know what they were doing to you. The not knowing was killing him...he was restless and jumpy and angry...

"Then we get a message from another demigod saying he found Zeus' daughter. That he was rescued by a tall, pale, dark haired mortal...John collapsed and was nearly sick with relief!

"Yeah he wanted nothing more than to be the first one out here, but the soldier and hero in him made him stay back and let me and Annabeth bring Molly to safety because him and Anthea are demigods and Mycroft is used to violence and danger to an extent.

"It's in his nature to be good...in his nature to be a soldier...it's in his nature to crave danger. So whether you want to be noble or whatever and try to decide what's good for him, don't. John's going to be in danger until he dies. It's in his blood, Sherlock. Now stop being an idiot and just accept that dangerous life with him and be there!"

Yup...Lestrade is a bad ass. And I think that in the show he's the only one besides John who can talk to Sherlock like that and have Sherlock actually listen.

I hope you guys are liking Luna.

The other day I just finished reading the third installment of the Kane Chronicles and...I am so excited! I just know Rick Riordan is going to make a crossover between The Heroes of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles! There's not really any evidence in The Heroes of Olympus but there is so many clues in The Kane Chronicles! In The Red Pyramid Bast tells Carter and Sadie that while Manhattan is ran by a certain set of gods, that the West(a major theme in The Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series) is run by other sets of gods(the Greek ones)! In The Throne of Fire Carter swears he see's a flying horse! A Pegasus and I'm willing to bet it was Black Jack! and if you read The Serpents Shadow, in the end it's so obvious!

I can't wait, an author, not a fan, but an actual author is going to make a crossover between his books! I am so excited!

Ahem...anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please review!