Hope you enjoy this new chaper! Life is full of many problems, which postpone an author from finishing their chapter. That is my excuse.

Disclamer: I do not own the character of Nico, nor some of the plot, but this is all my words and ideas.

I hope you enjoy.

Please review at the end!

-Bookdiver

Nico III

We ran so fast that I am surprised we didn't run through any walls, but that would have been cool. As soon as Ms. Treewa mouthed the words run, I stood up on my chair, and jumped over the entire table. For an entire second I felt like some sort of ninja on a mission, but as soon as I touched the ground I took off running like a demigod being attacked. Which I am. We ran down to the basement and ran out the trap door. I was surprised to see Ms. Treewa running faster than I thought possible for a middle aged woman. I was running fast, but I felt strangely at peace not knowing what the monster was. Sadly I had the strong suspicion that it was some giant monster sent by Gaea to kill me, and maybe Genevieve...

We ran across the field in the back yard. Then I saw a fence with no door. It was about five foot tall, and had small spikes on the top. I knew we had to jump. Then I had an idea.

"Genna, you and your mom get over the fence and meet me over by that tree!" I yelled. "I will distract him and meet you there later!"

"Okay, since I haven't any better ideas!" she puffed, but told her mom, and started over the fence.

I stopped running and turned to face where the monster would emerge.

I waited. Ten seconds... Twenty seconds... Forty seconds...

Now I was getting impatient, but kept waiting. Then there was a crash inside the house.

"OW! THAT HURTS!" whined a deep voice.

Then tripping out of the screen door was a giant. He was tall, but not as big as the other giants Nico had seen maybe twelve feet instead of twenty. It was covered in a soft brown beard and mustache. Its hair was also brown, but braided, and in some braids there were glowing sticks, probably to represent each person he killed. I took the time to count and saw that there were only three glowing sticks in total. It made me feel a little better.

I was the first to speak as we stared into each other's eyes. "Who are you?"

"I am Clytius." The giant boomed.

I scanned through my knowledge in Greek myths. The name sounded vaguely familiar. "Oh... Didn't Hecate kill you?"

"Well... Uh... No I can't be killed, but yeah that is what the myths say." Clytius said sadly.

"Did Gaea send you to kill me?" I asked, not so scared of the big guy anymore.

"Not exactly." he scratched his head. "Well I reformed at the same time as my 'brothers' did, but they had always made fun at me for not wanting to kill anyone. So I decided that I wanted to be good, so I went out looking for a hero to help, and smelt you, so here I am."

"So what was the whole I am going to eat you thing about?"

"Oh, I did that, so you would know I was here, my brothers told me that no matter what that would work. Unless no one was home." he said it in the same way you would say "no duh".

I rolled my eyes. "Have you ever heard of a doorbell?"

His eyes got wide. "What is a doorbell? I want to try! Please!"

Then I remembered the plan, they must be worried.

"Hey can you climb over the fence?

"Yeah. Why?" the giant asked curiously.

"Because I have to meet some friends over there," I said pointing, "And you need you to meet them."

"Okay, I can do that. I will go now." the giant turned and walked toward the fence, lifted up one leg and stepped over the fence.

I shook my head and concentrated on the tree that was the meeting spot, and disappeared.

.*. .*. .*.

I stepped out of the shadow next to the tree and grinned. In the process Genna and her mom looked super spooked at the sight of me.

"Hey." I said.

"How did you do that?" Genna asked in awe.

"Shadow travel," I said still grinning. "Would you like to meet the giant?" I asked.

Both of them looked a little nervous, but it was Genna's mom who answered.

"Of course we would like to meet the giant." Ms. Treewa answered quietly.

We walked over to the fence, and saw Clytius sitting on the ground playing with the grass, making him only about six feet tall.

When he saw me a grin spread across his face.

"Hello." he boomed. "Who are they?" he said pointing to Genna and Ms. Treewa.

"This is Genna and her mother, Ms. Treewa." I said.

Clytius stood up, reaching his full height, and held out a huge hand.

"Hi, my name is Clytius, but I would prefer you called me Cly."

Genna boldly walked up to him and shook one if his fingers because his hand was too big to shake.

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Cly." Genna said politely.

Cly turned to look me in the eye.

"Now, since I have decided to help you and be good, will you tell me what you are planning on doing?"

I took a deep breath; I had not been telling Genna the full truth this whole time, and was nervous to do so.

I looked to the ground and spoke quickly.

"Look guys, the truth is… I am going to find the Doors of Death. If you don't want to come I understand. I am so sorry for misleading you all… I'm sorry." I felt so ashamed I just wanted to crawl in a hole and die.

Genna gave me a triumphant look, though I had no idea what it was about.

"I knew it!" she sang holding her hand out to her mom, who put a ten dollar bill in.

"Wait...What? How did you... never mind." I said bewildered.

"We had a bet." Ms. Treewa said glumly. "Ten bucks you were telling the truth, or doing a bigger quest that you were not telling us about. I thought you were telling the truth, so I lost."

Now I felt even worse.

"So you never trusted me?" I whispered.

"No, we trusted you," Ms. Treewa said kindly, "but most people don't ask for a quest and help just so they can find out about their past, but… more."

That made me feel a little better, but I still felt guilty.

"Okay so when are you ready to go?" I asked turning to Genna and Cly.

"Now, but... We're you serious about going to Montana?" Genna asked.

"No, I think we are going to Greece."

Hope you liked it!

I worked hard to please you.

In case you are wondering, Ms. Treewa is not coming with them to find the Door of Death. If that wasn't clear in the story sorry.

Please review!

Expect the next chapter in a few weeks...maybe a month or so, but I doubt it.

-Bookdiver