Why a year? Demigods have so many advantages, I need a reasonable amount of time to give my oc a fighting chance... even the weakest demigod starts off super strong, faster, durable and they all heal faster. Some more so than others, I needed a realistic time to develop.

I am sorry for the change, but the last story sucked bad. All tell and no show...

Everything about this story is superior...

They stood in the shadows of Valencia Boulevard, looking up at gold letters etched in black marble: DOA RECORDING STUDIOS. Underneath, stenciled on the glass doors: NO SOLICI-TORS. NO LOITERING. NO LIVING. It was almost midnight, but the lobby was brightly lit and full of people. Behind the security desk sat a tough-looking guard with sunglasses and an earpiece.

As they looked in, Percy took the pearls out of his pocket the three milky spheres the Nereid had given him in Santa Monica just about an hour ago when they first made it to L.A. Rowan assured him they were intensely magical, they radiated magic he was sure of it... but there was only three of them, that bothered him quite a bit. He knew he was being excluded already.

They walked inside the DOA lobby. Muzak played softly on hidden speakers. The carpet and walls were steel gray. Pencil cactuses grew in the corners like skeleton hands. The furniture was black leather, and every seat was taken. There were people sitting on couches, people standing up, people staring out the windows or wait-ing for the elevator. Nobody moved, or talked, or did much of anything. Rowan sensed a great sadness, which was odd as most of the ghosts were not magical, which in turn made him rather sad.

The security guard's desk was a raised podium, so they had to look up at him.

He was tall and elegant, with chocolate-colored skin and bleached-blond hair shaved military style. He wore tortoiseshell shades and a silk Italian suit that matched his hair. A black rose was pinned to his lapel under a silver name tag. He oozed god like power.

Percy, ever the fool, said. "Your name is Chiron?"

He leaned across the desk.

"What a precious young lad." He had a strange accent-British, maybe, but also as if he had learned English as a second language. "Tell me, mate, do I look like a centaur?"

"N-no."

"Sir," he added smoothly.

"Sir," Pecy repeated.

He pinched the name tag and ran his finger under the letters. "Can you read this, mate? It says C-H-A-R O-N. Say it with me: CARE-ON."

"Charon."

"Amazing! Now: Mr. Charon."

"Mr. Charon," Percy said.

"Well done." He sat back. "I hate being confused with that old horse-man. And now, how may I help you little dead ones?"

Rowan stepped up. "Lord Charon, we were sent here by your master Hades. We are here to prevent a war between the gods, I am sure we can be allowed to enter?"

The man paled ever so slightly. "Ahh, yes, he did mention that. You would be Rowan, right?" He nodded. "I thought so... yes, come with me. There is a special entrance from here, takes you straight to the boss man." he led them towards a special panel. "I swear by Styx, this is a portal straight through the Shadows straight to the boss. He told me to make the oath, that you would not go in otherwise."

Bowing, Rowan smiled. " Sir... here are a few Drachma, for any children who have been here longer than most. I will be adding you to my sacrifice list, and some Drachma, can you help the innocent first?"

Charon stopped, then leaned down. "You are a good boy, Rowan, so few have that level of compassion. Yes, I will fulfill your request."

Rowan kissed the man's brow, making him blush and back up. "Thank you!"

"Hehe, you are sweet, now go."

Rowan all but skipped through the portal, with his friends following behind him. There was a moment of cold stretching, like a cold, dark roller coaster, and then poof he was at Hades' feet. The man helped him to stand, and excited Rowan threw himself in the man's arms. Hades held him, stunned.

"Can I do that? Can I do that?"

The man belly laughed, an impossibly lovely and warm sound. "Yes, my son, you can. It's call Shadow travel, and all magical beings can, though it's easier for my Underworld Kin. I would suggest you learn Mist Travel first though."

"YES! I will learn and boom, travel every where!" He grabbed the man's hands and said. "Let's help the others."

And to his shock, Hades helped Grover and Percy stand up while Rowan helped Annabeth stand up. Hades, in another shocking turn, said. "Welcome to my realm, children, I apologize for the manner of entry..." he was awkward but sweet.

Rowan beamed at him. "I knew you were a good man, thank you for not letting me down." Hades smiled, and it was the softest, sweetest expression. "Now, we need your help finding the Bolt and the Helm."

"You have the bolt." he gestured to Percy. "Ares gave it to you, I sensed it when you arrived here. I know Percy made the oath, so I know it was not stolen and Hecate, my old friend had an eye on you Rowan. She told me, since you were a new rising Sorcerer, that she watched you and you are in no way the thief. I knew it was wise to keep an eye on you, so I watched from the shadows. Ares gave you the bag, and it in reality is the sheath... and so, I know you are innocent. I will report it, as soon as I get my Helm back. Your father has already been informed, I told him telepathically.

Percy Jackson, my Oracles say that you must go to the surface, you must fight Ares and get back the Helm. Only you can, it is part of your larger prophecy. He is the god who turned. Please... I will be keeping Rowan though. He and I need to talk, it is vital that he stays here for a time, but I swear he will be safe. Now go, before you test my patience." He threw his hands out, and the pearls spilled out, twisting and bursting by the kids, taking them in bubble form to the surface, leaving Rowan to Hades.

Rowan smiled at him. "So what now?"

A shadow formed in the god's hands, and when it faded, a book existed. "This." He handed it to Rowan. "This is my thank you, but also a gift from Hecate in a way. You have mastered your first tome. This book is on Underworld magic, on sleep and death and shadows. Master it and you can harness the dead to master magic to a greater degree. You will never rival a child of mine for magical control over the dead, but you can learn. It will also allow you mastery over your Sleeping self! Never doubt the powers of the Underworld."

"Thank you, you honor me... I need to tell you the true thief's name." Hades stopped, eyes wide. "It is Luke Castellen, he even tried to blame Annabeth and you... he has influence enough so no one would question him... I think we should force him to make an oath, and if he fails kill or capture him. I also know, know, that your father is the true criminal. He has been influencing Percy in dreams, Percy told us on the way here that he was called the Crooked one by the person he was commanding..."

Hades shivered and made a clawed gesture on his heart. "I pray you are wrong... but I will report it to Olympus and hope your friend Percy does the same. Now it is time you go, until you master Underworld magic, mortals do not do well in this place. It saps your strength. I can only protect you from it for so long. Now go, with my blessing and my appreciation..." The man waved his hand and shadow ate Rowan, pushing him through time and space until he appeared at the dinning pavillion next to a very stunned Chiron.

"Well, that was cool... hey, where is Luke?"

The Centaur looked at him confused. "Why do you ask, he stayed back at his cabin claiming illness?"

"He's the thief!"

In an instant Chiron and Rowan, ignoring the gasps of the demigods, were rushing to where Luke ought to be. He was nowhere to be fine, not in his cabin or anywhere else at all...

Chiron looked at Rowan. "Explain, everything, now!" And so he did, and when he finished the man sighed. "That explains so much... we need to warn Olympus. Where did you get that book, child?"

"It was a gift from Hades, for defending his honor."

"I sense dark magic in it, be very, very careful..."

"I will be.. now go, talk to Olympus, I have other things to work on...and eat, I am hungry."

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.