I recognize the voice instantly as the love goddess herself. Last time I seen her, her hair was long and blonde. Her eyes grey, flickered to change every so often briefly. I see her now with dark eyes and black hair for one moment and changing to blonde the next. My eyes spasm at the sight and I have to look away.

"Oh gods," I groan.

"Percy!" Aphrodite chirps, "Oh my dear boy! You are simple adorable!"

"Sorry?" I ask her with a frown.

"You defending your lover," she gushes, "Oh my goodness! So beautiful. I never knew Hades would be so accepting of his son's interest!"

I stare at her for a moment as my cheeks turn bright red.

"I-I," I stutter, "Nico's not… I mean, we aren't together."

Aphrodite gives me a small smile. Nico looks as though he'd rather die than have this conversation.

"You two are my new project," she grins, "Of course I adored Annabeth and you together, but this… This is perfection."

"We aren't an experiment," Nico snaps.

"Of course not," Aphrodite grins sweetly, "But the plan I have for the two of you!"

"Mum," Piper intervenes, "How about you be a little more subtle?"

"Subtle?" Aphrodite scoffs in an unladylike manner, "Percy doesn't do subtle."

"So you need to shove it down our throats?" Nico growls.

"I'm glad you understand," The love goddess smiles, "Whilst Percy may be oblivious, he understands the trueness of love. Better than some of my own children.

"Love is strange and beautiful Nico di Angelo. You need to accept that."

With a smile, she turns away, weaving her way across the space to some of her children.

"Shall we get going?" Frank asks.

"Yes," Hazel answers, "Shall we?"

The girl sobs in the corner of the half destroyed building as Riptide sinks into the back of a hellhound. Hazel rushes towards the girl. To the left I see some movement. From an empty room springs a small humanoid monster, covered in scales. It's scaly hands wield a sword, shinning.

Hazel shrieks, her weapon falling from her hand as she's knocked on her back. My heart stops.

Hazel.

Nico's sister.

In my mind I see Nico as a ten year old. I hear his screaming, his grief pouring out. Hazel will not be like Bianca.

I launch myself at the monster, drawing riptide across my body, to protect Hazel. Our swords clash together as it blocks my strike. I try again, this time my enemy's blade is thrown from it's hand. The girl screams as Frank emerges from a small rodent form behind the monster's, catching my attention for a moment.

It's left scaly hand jerks upward, driving a small knife into my chest. It's fangs show as it grins at me. I can't feel the pain, nothing but numbness. The tip of my blade slice's its flesh nicely. The face freezes, before disintegrating into golden dust. Frank's eyes catch mine, his mouth open slightly as I feel my blood dripping down my shirt to the ground.

"Percy," he whispers, "Oh gods. Hazel!"

I hear Hazel scram to her feet and her eyes catch sight of the blade still in my chest. I swallow and sieze it's handle.

"Percy," Hazel warns, "Don't!"

I look up at her and see a large scratch across her.

"You're hurt," I croak out.

"What?" she demands.

My lungs ache as I dissolve into a coughing fit. I taste blood in my mouth.

"Frank," Hazel says, "we need to get back to camp now."

He nods before turning into a giant eagle. Hazel helps me, with difficulty, onto his back sitting the little girl, crying, in front of me. One his three passengers are on, Frank lifts off through a hole blasted through the wall. My head spins and I close my eyes.

Hazel's hands hold me still as we land.

"Help!" She screams, "Someone help."

I open my eyes for a moment to see Jason sprinting quickly with several other demigods behind him.

"Hazel?" Nico yells, "Are you okay?"

I slip from Frank's back and land solidly on the ground with a thud. A fierce pain lances through my body. My muscles turn rigid as I gasp in complete agony. The last thing I saw was Nico's face as I coughed my blood all over his lap.