Titan's Curse: I Don't Give a Dam

A/N: As some of you might know or not know already, I've taken up the story of Hitome-chan's Exchange which was previously given to XTheSonofHadesX. But since he had a lot on his plate, I offered to lighten his load a bit. And also because I really wanted to make a fic like Exchange for a while but I just haven't thought of a thorough plot line until this story was handed to me :D

Since it was originally a Percy-centric fic, I'm planning to write it with more POVs but mainly the ones of Nico and Percy's. It will still be a war fic in a monarchical setting which I'm so excited to write about because I love those kinds of story lines. But anyway, I probably won't post up the first chap for a few days until I sort out some kinks in the plot. If you guys have any suggestions or violent reactions, please feel free to message me or comment after this update. ;P I really like reading what you guys think about the chapters. :D

Since I don't really write ANs that much (coz I don't usually know what to say huhu), thank you so much for all the reviews, favourites and followers! I hope I can keep you interested till the end of this fic (and it's sequels ) so stay tuned and happy reading! :)

Disclaimer: Characters and universe are all owned by Rick. But anything non-canon are mine. :D

PERCY POV

Nico was crying. No, sobbing.

And Percy just stood there helpless as he watched Nico sink to the ground in grief. Guilt gnawed at his insides. It was his idea. It should have been him who had gone under that foot and died to save his friends. But instead, Bianca rushed in to save them— to save her brother.

Percy noticed the others had stopped crying in favour of staying silent. They probably thought it best to save their tears when Nico wasn't around. Their sadness could never compare to what Nico must be feeling right now.

Grover came forward to hug the boy and Nico just let him comfort him, crying silently onto his shoulder as Grover laid a hand on his back.

Percy walked towards them, crouched down to their level and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Nico, I-"

"No, get away from me!"

Nico suddenly yelled wrenching himself away from both Grover and Percy. The shout garnered the attention of Thalia and Zoe and they ran towards them as Nico continued to shout,

"You promised me you'd keep her safe!"

Nico might as well have stabbed the older demigod with a rusted dagger. Percy might have preferred that as it would have hurt less than reminding him of his promise.

"Nico, I-I couldn't..." What could he say? That he couldn't stop her? He knew he had been capable of bodily dragging her away, but the fierce determination on her face had prevented Percy from doing so. He knew the feeling of taking responsibility for one's actions especially when someone he loved was in danger because of him. She would have probably stabbed him with an arrow if he had tried stopping her then.

But none of that could excuse him from the brunt of Nico's anger and grief. "I shouldn't have trusted you! You lied to me."

Nico's short stature was shaking and he clenched his fists so hard around the figurine Bianca gave him Percy thought it might break. Percy had never seen such usually bright and happy eyes go dark with anger before. It was quite scary if Percy were to be honest. And also very familiar. 'Where have I seen those eyes before?'

"Nico, I'm so sorry." Percy said. It was the only thing he could say.

But the younger boy continued as if he didn't hear him. "She's dead! Bianca's dead! And it's all your fault! I hate you! I hate you! I ha-"

Nico collapsed again afterwards, crying into his hands. The others had stayed silent during the exchange and Percy could tell that everyone else felt a small degree of guilt over the loss of Bianca, especially Zoe.

Percy was surprised when Thalia walked towards Nico and brought the boy close to her chest, letting him cry over her. Percy didn't think she was that close to either the Di Angelo siblings but maybe there was something more there? Percy really didn't know much about her past so he wouldn't know. He sighed, this was shaping to be a terrible quest and they weren't closer to finding Artemis or Annabeth yet.

It took a long while for all of them to calm down and find a way to escape the now haunting desert.

Fortunately, at the edge of the dump, they found a tow truck so old it might've been thrown away itself. But the engine started, and it had a full tank of gas, so they decided to borrow it.

Thalia drove. She didn't seem as stunned as Zoe or Grover or Percy. And Nico definitely was in no fit shape to do anything. "The skeletons are still out there," she reminded them. "We need to keep moving."

She navigated them through the desert, under clear blue skies, the sand so bright it hurt to look at. Zoe sat up front with Thalia. Grover, Nico and Percy sat in the pickup bed, leaning against the tow wench. Nico was on the other side of Grover, staying quiet and just staring blankly into space as if he were in a daze. The air was cool and dry, but the nice weather just seemed like an insult after losing Bianca.

Percy's hand clenched in frustration. This shouldn't have happened. He wanted to believe that Bianca was still alive somewhere. But Percy had a bad feeling that she was gone for good.

"It should've been me," He whispered finally to Grover, the guilt overwhelming him. "I should've gone into the giant."

"Don't say that!" Grover panicked, whispering as well so that Nico wouldn't hear them. "It's bad enough Annabeth is gone, and now Bianca. Do you think I could stand it if..." He sniffled. "Do you think anybody else would be my best friend?"

"Ah, Grover..."

He wiped under his eyes with an oily cloth that left his face grimy, like he had on war paint. "I'm... I'm okay."

But he wasn't okay. Ever since the encounter in New Mexico—whatever had happened when that wild wind blew through—he seemed really fragile, even more emotional than usual. Percy was afraid to talk to him about it, because he might start bawling and gods know he could only take so much crying for one day.

At least there's one good thing about having a friend who gets freaked out more than him. Percy realized he couldn't stay depressed. He had to set aside thinking about Bianca and keep them going forward, the way Thalia was doing.

Percy glanced at the smaller demigod beside Grover, hoping he could say the same thing for him. Although Nico had shouted his hatred for Percy back in the desert, the older demigod only felt sympathy and guilt towards the young boy especially when he wasn't taking Bianca's death well.

Knees up his chest, arms around them and head resting on top of the backpack they had stolen for him in the desert, Nico was acting the complete opposite from when Percy had first met him. The older demigod wished that they could bring Nico back safely to camp since a quest was too dangerous for a depressed ten-year old boy. But they didn't have enough time left and they needed to save Annabeth and Artemis as fast as possible.

The tow truck ran out of gas at the edge of a river canyon. That was just as well, because the road dead-ended.

Thalia got out and slammed the door. Immediately, one of the tires blew. "Great. What now?"

He scanned the horizon. There wasn't much to see. Desert in all directions, occasional clumps of barren mountains plopped here and there. The canyon was the only thing interesting. The river itself wasn't very big, maybe fifty yards across, green water with a few rapids, but it carved a huge scar out of the desert. The rock cliffs dropped away below them.

"There's a path," Grover said. "We could get to the river."

Percy tried to see what he was talking about, and finally noticed a tiny ledge winding down the cliff face. "That's a goat path." He said.

"So?" Grover asked.

"The rest of us aren't goats."

"We can make it," Grover said reassuringly. "I think."

Percy thought about that. He'd done cliffs before, but he didn't like them. Then he looked over at Thalia and saw how pale she'd gotten. Her problem with heights... she'd never be able to do it.

"No," Percy said. "I, uh, think we should go farther upstream."

Grover said, "But—"

"Come on," Percy said. "A walk won't hurt us."

He glanced at Thalia. Her eyes said a quick 'Thank you'.

The group followed the river about half a mile before coming to an easier slope that led down to the water. On the shore was a canoe rental operation that was closed for the season, but Percy left a stack of golden drachmas on the counter and a note saying IOU two canoes.

"We need to go upstream," Zoe said. It was the first time Percy had heard her speak since the junkyard, and he was worried about how bad she sounded, like somebody with the flu. "The rapids are too swift."

"Leave that to me," Percy said. They put the canoes in the water.

Thalia pulled him aside as they were getting the oars. "Thanks for back there."

"Don't mention it."

"Can you really..." She nodded to the rapids. "You know."

"I think so. Usually I'm good with water."

"Would you take Zoe?" she asked. "I think, ah, maybe you can talk to her."

"She's not going to like that."

"Please? I don't know if I can stand being in the same boat with her. She's... she's starting to worry me. And Grover and I could take Nico."

"Are you sure? Nico's not really..."

Thalia sighed. "Percy, to be frank I don't think Nico would want to be in the same boat with you right now."

Percy inwardly flinched. Despite it being true, comforting Zoe was about the last thing he wanted to do, but the older demigod nodded. Thalia's shoulders relaxed. "I owe you one."

"Two."

"One and a half," Thalia said.

She smiled, and for a second, Percy remembered that he actually liked her when she wasn't yelling at him. Before she left, she placed her and on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Nico will get over it. He's just very upset right now. He needed an outlet."

Percy gave her a pointed raised eyebrow, "Yeah, I'm used to being people's outlets."

Thalia rolled eyed her eyes, probably recalling their brief fight in camp as well. "Because you act too much like a seaweed brain, it's hard for people not to yell at you." She turned and helped Grover and Nico get their canoe into the water.

As it turned out, Percy didn't even need to control the currents. As soon as they got in the river, Percy looked over the edge of the boat and found a couple of naiads staring at him.

They looked like regular teenage girls, the kind you'd see in any mall, except for the fact that they were underwater.

Hey, he said.

They made a bubbling sound that may have been giggling. Percy wasn't sure. He had a hard time understanding naiads.

We're heading upstream, He told them. Do you think you could—

Before Percy could even finish, the naiads each chose a canoe and began pushing them up the river. They started so fast Grover fell into his canoe with his hooves sticking up in the air.

"I hate naiads," Zoe grumbled. A stream of water squirted up from the back of the boat and hit Zoe on the face. "She-devils!" Zoe went for her bow.

"Whoa," Percy said. "They're just playing."

"Cursed water spirits. They've never forgiven me."

"Forgiven you for what?"

She slung her bow back over her shoulder. "It was a long time ago. Never mind."

They sped up the river, the cliffs looming up on either side of them.

"What happened to Bianca wasn't your fault," Percy told her. "It was my fault. I let her go."

He figured this would give Zoe an excuse to start yelling at him. Like what Thalia said, he was a good outlet. But Zoe's shoulders slumped. Plan Cheer-Up-By-Yelling-At-Percy was a no go. "No, Percy. I pushed her into going on the quest. I was too anxious. She was a powerful half-blood. She had a kind heart, as well. I... I thought she would be the next lieutenant."

"But you're the lieutenant."

She gripped the strap of her quiver. She looked more tired than he'd ever seen her. "Nothing can last forever, Percy. Over two thousand years I have led the Hunt, and my wisdom has not improved. Now Artemis herself is in danger."

"Look, you can't blame yourself for that."

"If I had insisted on going with her—"

"You think you could've fought something powerful enough to kidnap Artemis? There's nothing you could have done."

Zoe didn't answer.

The cliffs along the river were getting taller. Long shadows fell across the water, making it a lot colder, even though the day was bright. During the whole ride, Percy had wanted to try and understand the dream he had the night before so he showed Zoe his sword, Riptide. And soon, Zoe was explaining to him about her past of being one of the Hesperides. Apparently, she had a bitter stint with a hero she had helped but who never gave credit for her actions saving him.

Percy wanted to hear more but then he noticed the canoe slowing.

Gurgle, gurgle, the naiad spoke in his mind.

Percy looked ahead, and he saw why. This was as far as they could take them. The river was blocked. A dam the size of a football stadium stood in their path.

"Hoover Dam," Thalia said. "It's huge."

They stood at the river's edge, looking up at a curve of concrete that loomed between the cliffs. People were walking along the top of the dam. They were so tiny they looked like fleas.

The naiads had left with a lot of grumbling—not in words he could understand, but it was obvious they hated this dam blocking up their nice river. Their canoes floated back downstream, swirling in the wake from the dam's discharge vents.

"Seven hundred feet tall," Percy said, nostalgically. "Built in the 1930s."

"Five million cubic acres of water," Thalia said.

Grover sighed. "Largest construction project in the United States."

Zoe and Nico stared at them strangely. "How do you know all that?"

"Annabeth," Percy explained. "She liked architecture."

"She was nuts about monuments," Thalia said.

"Spouted facts all the time." Grover sniffled. "So annoying."

"I wish she were here," Percy sighed.

The others nodded. Zoe was still looking at them strangely, but he didn't care. It seemed like cruel fate that they'd come to Hoover Dam, one of Annabeth's personal favourites, and she wasn't here to see it.

"What's so interesting about memorizing every single fact about an architect?"

Percy almost didn't recognize the curious but less jovial voice as he turned to see Nico staring at them but when he caught Percy's eyes he looked away. The older demigod tried not to feel hurt that Nico now bore a grudge against him. But he was glad that the boy was at least speaking again.

"Nico, why the heck would you memorize every Mythomagic point of each god?" Thalia retaliated in question.

Nico blinked as if he never thought about the idea. "Because it's fun and it could be useful in the future." He pointed towards himself and the others. "Case in point."

Thalia smirked. "And you've got your answer. Architecture is her passion as a daughter of Athena and her knowledge in the area has proven useful before."

"Yeah." Percy couldn't help but say as he recalled past quests with Annabeth. She had really been a helpful quest partner with her intelligence and quick-thinking. Through his reminiscing, he didn't notice Nico glancing at him briefly.

"We should go up there," Percy said. "For her sake. Just to say we've been."

"You are mad," Zoe decided. "But that's where the road is." She pointed to a huge parking garage next to the top of the dam. "And so, sightseeing it is."

They had to walk for almost an hour before they found a path that led up to the road. It came up on the east side of the river. Then they straggled back toward the dam. It was cold and windy on top. On one side, a big lake spread out, ringed by barren desert mountains. On the other side, the dam dropped away like the world's most dangerous skateboard ramp, down to the river seven hundred feet below, and water that churned from the dam's vents.

Thalia walked in the middle of the road, far away from the edges. Grover kept sniffing the wind and looking nervous. He didn't say anything, but Percy knew he smelled monsters.

"How close are they?" He asked the satyr.

Grover shook his head. "Maybe not close. The wind on the dam, the desert all around us... the scent can probably carry for miles. But it's coming from several directions. I don't like that."

He didn't either. It was already Wednesday, only two days until winter solstice, and they still had a long way to go. They didn't need any more monsters,

"There's a snack bar in the visitor center," Thalia said.

"You've been here before?" Percy asked.

"Once. To see the guardians." She pointed to the far end of the dam. Carved into the side of the cliff was a little plaza with two big bronze statues. They looked kind of like Oscar statues with wings.

"They were dedicated to Zeus when the dam was built," Thalia said. "A gift from Athena."

Tourists were clustered all around them. They seemed to be looking at the statues' feet.

"What are they doing?" He asked.

"Rubbing the toes," Thalia said. "They think it's good luck."

"Why?"

She shook her head. "Mortals get crazy ideas. They don't know the statues are sacred to Zeus, but they know there's something special about them."

"When you were here last, did they talk to you or anything?"

Thalia's expression darkened. Percy could tell that she'd come here before hoping for exactly that—some kind of sign from her dad. Some connection. "No. They don't do anything. They're just big metal statues."

Percy thought about the last big metal statue they'd run into. That hadn't gone so well. But he decided not to bring it up. He glanced again at Nico to see how he was doing but the boy was staring at the statues as if he were thinking exactly what Percy thought. But he didn't cry this time, just looked away, gripping the backpack straps tightly. Thinking about Nico suddenly reminded Percy of his conversation with Aphrodite a while back.

'Send that cute boy, Nico, my love, won't you? I'll bet he needs it.'

How in gods name would he be able to send the boy her love? Percy instantly had a mental image of the peck on the cheek she had given him before Ares had kicked him out of the limo. Percy shook his head to rid himself of the image. No way was Percy going to do that. Why traumatise the boy further after what happened with Bianca?

'I'm sure he doesn't need a goddess's love right now.' He thought while looking back at the slightly sulking boy again.

NICO POV

Nico was finding a lot of things he didn't like right now. One was the metal statues which gave him an uncomfortable reminder of another metal giant that had taken his sister's life. Another was, strangely, the girl, Annabeth, whom Nico had seen only for a fleeting moment before she was captured by the enemy. It was unreasonable for him to dislike a person he had never met especially when the others obviously held her in such high regard. Probably not a good time to think about that as the group finally stopped to look at their surroundings.

"Let us find the dam snack bar," Zoe said. "We should eat while we can."

Grover cracked a smile. "The dam snack bar?"

Zoe blinked. "Yes. What is funny?"

"Nothing," Grover said, trying to keep a straight face. "I could use some dam french fries."

Even Thalia smiled at that. "And I need to use the dam restroom."

Nico watched as Percy started laughing, and Thalia and Grover joined in soon after. Zoe just looked at them oddly then glanced at Nico, "I do not understand."

Nico had to crack a small smile at Zoe's ignorance to the bad language that Bianca had always prohibited from using. 'Well she's not here anymore, so it's not like she can stop me.' Nico thought angrily.

"I want to use the dam water fountain," Grover said.

"And..." Thalia tried to catch her breath. "I want to buy a dam T-shirt."

"Come on, Nico. Say something." Grover said, nudging him.

"I—," Nico glanced to the side to avoid seeing their laughing faces. "I don't give a dam making jokes right now. Aren't we on a quest?"

At the same time he finished, a 'moo' sound was heard which could have also been the cause of the sudden lack of laughter in the group. The smile melted off Grover and Percy's faces as they looked around, confused.

"Did I just hear a cow?" The satyr said.

"A dam cow?" Thalia laughed.

"No," Grover said. "I'm serious."

Zoe listened. "I hear nothing."

Thalia was looking at Percy. "Percy, are you okay?"

"Yeah," He said. "You guys go ahead. I'll be right in."

"What's wrong?" Grover asked.

"Nothing," The older demigod said. "I... I just need a minute. To think."

Nico wondered why Percy needed a minute alone just to think. The others hesitated, but the look on the demigod's face probably convinced them because they finally went into the visitor center without him. But as soon as Percy couldn't see them anymore, Nico snuck back around to follow where that older demigod went. He was curious and a little bit suspicious of his actions.

Ever since what happened in the desert, Nico had been feeling mixed emotions concerning Percy and he didn't really know what to think anymore. He thought he should be angry at the older demigod for breaking his promise but at the same time, knowing that it wasn't really Percy's fault since it was Bianca's decision to go. He just wished he could run away, to be left alone with his thoughts after what happened to his sister. But he had gotten himself into this predicament and now he had to stay and finish this quest, if only because he now stood in place of his sister who wasn't able to complete it.

The young demigod followed Percy to the north edge of the dam where the son of Poseidon looked over. From where Nico watched behind a potted plant, it seemed like Percy was having a conversation with a cow. Since when did children of Poseidon learned how to speak cow-language, Nico wondered.

Then the young demigod saw Percy tense as he looked down on something below.

Nico heard a kid yell, "Hey!" and he turned his head to see a skeletal warrior reveal his skull face to a group of kids.

"Ah!" the kid yelled, and his whole group backed away. Nico was almost paralysed with fear and shock until Percy suddenly ran into him.

"Nico! What are you doing here? Where are the others?" Percy asked.

"You were acting suspicious so I followed you." Nico grumbled.

Percy looked as if he didn't know whether to be annoyed or resigned. But there was no time for small talk as the older demigod suddenly grabbed his hand and ran. Nico forced his legs to keep in pace as Percy dragged them towards the visitor center.

They were almost to the stairs when Nico heard tires squeal. On the west side of the dam, a black van swerved to a stop in the middle of the road, nearly plowing into some old people.

The van doors opened and more skeleton warriors piled out. They were surrounded.

Percy bolted down the stairs and through the museum entrance, Nico following behind him. The security guard at the metal detector yelled, "Hey, kids!" But they didn't stop.

They ran through the exhibits and ducked behind a tour group.

"Nico, where did you last see the group?" Percy asked, looking around in hopes to see them.

"This place is too dam huge. We changed directions so many times, I can't tell where we are anymore." Nico told him.

Suddenly, the metal-detector guy yelled, "Stop!" behind them. There was no place to go but into an elevator with the tour group. They ducked inside just as the door closed.

"We'll be going down seven hundred feet," their tour guide said cheerfully. She was a park ranger, with long black hair pulled back in a ponytail and tinted glasses. Nico thought it lucky that she hadn't noticed them being chased. "Don't worry, ladies and gentlemen, the elevator hardly ever breaks."

"Does this go to the snack bar?" Percy asked her.

A few people behind them chuckled. The tour guide looked at him. There was something about her presence that made Nico's skin tingle. Another god perhaps?

"To the turbines, young man," the lady said. "Weren't you listening to my fascinating presentation upstairs?"

"Oh, uh, sure. Is there another way out of the dam?"

"It's a dead end," a tourist behind Percy said. "For heaven's sake. The only way out is the other elevator."

The doors opened.

"Go right ahead, folks," the tour guide told them. "Another ranger is waiting for you at the end of the corridor." They didn't have much choice but to go out with the group.

"And young man," the tour guide called. Percy looked back. She'd taken off her glasses. Her eyes were startlingly gray, like storm clouds. "There is always a way out for those clever enough to find it."

The doors closed with the tour guide still inside, leaving Percy and Nico alone.

"She was a goddess, wasn't she?" Nico inquired.

"How did you—" Percy was cut off by a ding that came from around the corner. The second elevator was opening, and they heard an unmistakable sound—the clattering of skeleton teeth.

They ran after the tour group, through a tunnel carved out of solid rock. It seemed to run forever. The walls were moist, and the air hummed with electricity and the roar of water. Percy and Nico came out on a U-shaped balcony that overlooked this huge warehouse area. Fifty feet below, enormous turbines were running.

"There're no exit signs, " Percy said. "unless you want to jump into the turbines and get churned up to make electricity."

"No, thank you." Nico said.

"Then wading through the crowd it is."

Another tour guide was talking over the microphone, telling the tourists about water supplies in Nevada. They worked their way around the crowd, trying not to be too obvious about it. There was a hallway at the other side of the balcony—maybe some place they could hide. Nico wished that he had stolen a dagger back at the desert, so that he'd at least be able to protect himself and not only rely on Percy.

By the time they got to the opposite side of the balcony, Nico noticed Percy getting tenser by the second which didn't help Nico's nerves either. He backed into the little hallway and watched the tunnel the warriors would come from.

Then right behind them, Nico heard a sharp Chhh! like the voice of a skeleton. Or like the sound of someone sneezing, he amended when Percy swung his sword to defenceless mortal girl.

Nico nearly shouted in alarm until he realized the girl was unharmed. She just yelped and dropped her Kleenex.

"Oh my god.'" she shouted. "Do you always kill people when they blow their nose?"

"You're mortal!" Percy exclaimed. Nico almost face palmed. Percy was being too obvious.

She looked at the older demigod in disbelief. "What's that supposed to mean? Of course I'm mortal! How did you get that sword past security?"

"I didn't—Wait, you can see it's a sword?"

The girl rolled her eyes, which were green but not like Percy's. She had frizzy reddish-brown hair. Her nose was also red, like she had a cold. She wore a big maroon Harvard sweatshirt and jeans that were covered with marker stains and little holes, like she spent her free time poking them with a fork.

"Well, it's either a sword or the biggest toothpick in the world," she said. "And why didn't it hurt me? I mean, not that I'm complaining. Who are you? And is he your brother? He's so cute! And whoa, what is that you're wearing? Is that made of lion fur?"

"It's like I'm faced with another Nico." Percy muttered to himself.

"What?" The girl and Nico asked at the same time— one curious, the other insulted.

Suddenly Percy seemed to be concentrating hard on something, and then he snapped his fingers. "You don't see a sword," Percy told the girl. "It's just a ballpoint pen."

Nico really did face palmed this time.

She blinked. "Um... no. It's a sword, weirdo."

"Who are you?" Percy demanded.

She huffed indignantly. "Rachel Elizabeth Dare. Now, are you going to answer my questions or should I scream for security?"

"No!" He said. "I mean, we're kind of in a hurry. We're in trouble."

"In a hurry or in trouble?"

"Um, sort of both."

She looked over his shoulder and her eyes widened. "Bathroom!"

"What?"

"Bathroom! Behind me! Now!"

Nico didn't know why they were listening to her. They slipped inside the boys' bathroom and left Rachel Elizabeth Dare standing outside.

"How could she see your sword and the fur? I thought mortals couldn't see through the...the Mist." Nico tried to remember that one day lesson he had back at camp before he found his way to the quest.

"Some mortals can see through it like her apparently."

Nico heard the clattering, hissing sounds of skeletons as they came closer. "Are we really going to just hide here while we let that girl defend herself against those monsters?" Nico asked Percy angrily.

"What? No, of course not! Her yelling just really distracted me." As Percy said that, his grip on his sword tightened. Nico knew Percy was about to open the door and save the girl like the hero demigod he was when they heard Rachel Elizabeth Dare start talking in that rapid fire machine way of hers.

"Oh my god! Did you see those kids? It's about time you got here. One of them tried to kill me! He had a sword, for god's sake. You security guys let a sword-swinging lunatic inside a national landmark? I mean, jeez! They ran that way toward those turbine thingies. I think they went over the side or something. Maybe they fell." The skeletons clattered excitedly. Nico heard them moving off.

Rachel opened the door. "All clear. But you guys better hurry."

She looked shaken. Her face was grey and sweaty.

Nico peeked around the corner. Three skeleton warriors were running toward the other end of the balcony. The way to the elevator was clear for a few seconds.

"I owe you one, Rachel Elizabeth Dare." Percy said.

"What are those things?" she asked. "They looked like—"

"Skeletons?"

She nodded uneasily.

"Do yourself a favor," Percy said. "Forget it. Forget you ever saw me or him."

"Forget you tried to kill me?"

"Yeah. That, too."

"But who are you?"

"Percy—" He started to say. Then the skeletons turned around. "Gotta go!"

"What kind of name is Percy Gotta-go?"

If they weren't being chased by a gang of skeleton warriors, Nico would have laughed but as it was, he and Percy bolted for the exit.

The cafe was packed with kids enjoying the best part of the tour—the dam lunch. Thalia, Zoe, and Grover were just sitting down with their food.

"We need to leave," Percy gasped. "Now!"

"But we just got our burritos!" Thalia said.

"Oh good, Nico's with you. We knew he must have followed you back." Grover said. Zoe stood up, muttering an Ancient Greek curse. "He's right! Look."

The cafe windows wrapped all the way around the observation floor, which gave them a beautiful panoramic view of the skeletal army that had come to kill them.

There were two on the east side of the dam road, blocking the way to Arizona. Three more on the west side, guarding Nevada. All of them were armed with batons and pistols.

Unfortunately, their immediate problem was a lot closer. The three skeletal warriors who'd been chasing Percy and Nico in the turbine room now appeared on the stairs. They saw their group from across the cafeteria and clattered their teeth.

"Elevator!" Grover said. They bolted that direction, but the doors opened with a pleasant ding, and three more warriors stepped out. Every warrior was accounted for, minus the one Nico had blasted to flames in New Mexico. They were completely surrounded.

Then Grover had a brilliant idea. Nico almost admired the satyr for it.

"Burrito fight!" he yelled, and flung his Guacamole Grande at the nearest skeleton.

Grover's lunch hit the skeleton and knocked his skull clean off his shoulders. Nico was not sure what the other kids in the cafe saw, but they went crazy and started throwing their burritos and baskets of chips and sodas at each other, shrieking and screaming.

The skeletons tried to aim their guns, but it was hopeless. Bodies and food and drinks were flying everywhere. Nico had joined in the fun, throwing cups and plastic plates everywhere. Bianca would never have allowed him to do this if she were here. The thought made him pause for a second and then hands urged him to run as Thalia and Percy tackled the other two skeletons on the stairs and sent them flying into the condiment table.

They all raced downstairs, Guacamole Grandes whizzing past their heads.

"What now?" Grover asked as they burst outside. The warriors on the road were closing in from either direction.

Their group ran across the street to the pavilion with the winged bronze statues, but that just put their backs to the mountain.

The skeletons moved forward, forming a crescent around Nico and his companions. Their brethren from the cafe were running up to join them. One was still putting its skull back on its shoulders. Another was covered in ketchup and mustard. Two more had burritos lodged in their rib cages. They didn't look happy about it. They drew batons and advanced.

"Four against eleven," Zoe muttered. "And they cannot die."

"It's been nice adventuring with you guys," Grover said, his voice trembling.

This can't be happening. They have to finish this quest. Nico still had plans he needed to accomplish for Bianca's sake. He still had a lot of questions left unanswered. He wanted to meet his godly parent. He can't do all that dead.

"No, don't say that! We can't die yet." Nico told him angrily.

"Nico, don't worry. We'll find a way to escape." Thalia tried to tell him reassuringly but worry was clear in her eyes.

"No, no!" He was breathing hard, a mixture of anger, sorrow, regret and hopelessness all sweeping back into him like a hole in a dam. Nico squeezed his eyes shut and covered his ears as if that would help make the warriors go away.

"Nico, calm down." Percy said, grabbing the younger boy's shoulders.

Nico opened his eyes. Behind Percy, he saw some of the skeletons lunging and something in Nico just snapped.

"No!" Nico subconsciously thrust his hand in front of him as if to protect himself from the impending danger. "Go away!" He shouted louder.

The ground rumbled beneath them. The skeletons froze. Only four of them jumped out of the way just as a crack opened at the feet of the seven warriors. The ground ripped apart like a snapping mouth. Flames erupted from the fissure, and the earth swallowed the skeletons in one loud CRUNCH! The remaining skeletons looked to where their brethren had last stood, turned tail and fled from the scene.

Silence.

In the place where the skeletons had stood, a thirty-foot-long scar wove across the road. Otherwise, there was no sign of the warriors.

Nico stared wide eyed at what just occurred. The skeleton warriors...they're gone. Did a god do this? Athena? Zeus? But the earth is not their domain. So who?... Nico looked at the others to see them staring at him in awe and Nico was suddenly struck by the realization that he had done this.

"Wha...how...you?!" Grover was finding it difficult to form words. Thalia and Zoe had yet to close their mouths.

"Nico, how did you do that?" Percy asked, looking at him with such bright eyes that Nico had to glance away. There were too much emotions he was feeling right now and it was making his hands shake.

"I— I don't know. It just happened."

"That was amazing! Dude, what were you thinking?" Grover exclaimed.

Nico looked down at his hands and spoke in a quiet voice. "I just didn't want any more deaths today."

"Death?" Zoe finally seemed to compose herself and she pondered that word as she stared at Nico intensely. "Could it be?...But no, he couldn't have broken thy oath as well."

"What are you talking about, Zoe?" Thalia asked.

Zoe ignored her. "Nico, you say you do not recall who thy parents are, correct?"

Nico was thrown by the unexpected question. He shook his head. "Yeah, I can't recall anything...except maybe my mom."

"That explains it. There can't be no other god." Zoe said. Nico noticed she seemed to be angry with this revelation.

"What—"

"The warriors are coming back!" Grover said in panic, pointing to where the skeletons were running towards them, this time with bigger guns and monster back-ups.

Nico felt tired. As much as he wanted to do whatever he did just now, he didn't think he'd have the energy to do it.

"Whoa," Percy suddenly said. "Their toes really are bright." He was looking toward the winged statues where their toes sparkled under the gleaming sun.

"Percy!" Thalia said. "This isn't the time."

"Thalia," He said. "Pray to your dad."

She glared at Percy. "He never answers."

"Just this once," He pleaded. "Ask for help. I think... I think the statues can give us some luck."

The monsters were coming closer. Seventy feet. Sixty feet.

"Do it!" Percy yelled.

"No!" Thalia said. "He won't answer me."

"This time is different!"

"Who says?"

Percy hesitated. "Athena, I think." Nico suddenly recalled what she said, 'There is always a way for those clever enough to find it.'

Thalia scowled like she was sure Percy had gone crazy.

"Try it," Grover pleaded. Thalia closed her eyes. Her lips moved in a silent prayer.

Nico watched fascinated, wondering for the umpteenth time who his godly parent was and whether he would answer his son's prayers. Nico knew it was his father who was a god because his mother was dead, he remembered that much. He actually had a huge suspicion of who it was ever since the disaster in the desert and maybe Bianca knew on some level as well. Nico just found it hard to swallow that it could possibly be Him.

He snapped out of his musings when the skeletons closed in. The younger demigod was pulled by Percy to stand behind him as the teenager raised Riptide to defend them. Even when Nico had shouted such hateful things towards him, Percy was still looking out for him. It made Nico angry because it confused his feelings of the older demigod even more.

The others readied themselves. Thalia held up her shield while Zoe pushed Grover behind her and aimed an arrow at a skeleton's head.

Suddenly a shadow fell over them. Nico glanced up to see that it was the shadow of an enormous wing. The skeletons looked up too late. A flash of bronze, and all four of the gun-wielders were swept aside. The monsters wielding guns as well opened fire.

Percy raised his lion coat over his and Nico's head for protection but he needn't had to. The bronze angels stepped in front of them and folded their wings like shields. Bullets pinged off of them like rain off a corrugated roof. Both angels slashed outward, and the skeletons went flying across the road.

"Man, it feels good to stand up!" the first angel said. His voice sounded tinny and rusty, like he hadn't had a drink since he'd been built.

"Will ya look at my toes?" the other said. "Holy Zeus, what were those tourists thinking?"

As stunned as he was by the angels, Nico was more concerned with the skeletons. A few of them were getting up again, reassembling, bony hands groping for their weapons.

"Trouble!" Percy said.

"Get us out of here!" Thalia yelled. Both angels looked down at her. "Zeus's kid?"

"Yes!"

"Could I get a please, Miss Zeus's Kid?" an angel asked.

"Please!" She said in half frustration, half desperation. The angels looked at each other and shrugged. "Could use a stretch," one decided.

And the next thing Nico knew, one of them grabbed Thalia, Percy and Nico while the other grabbed Zoe and Grover, and they flew straight up, over the dam and the river. The skeleton warriors shrank to tiny specks below them and the sound of gunfire echoed off the sides of the mountains.

Sorry another AN coz I feel like I should communicate more with my readers hehe. So what did you guys think is the reason why Thalia went to hug and comfort Nico? It's a really simple answer honestly. And how do you think the gangs going to react when they all realize Nico is a son of Hades?

Nico is still in his holding-grudges-at-Percy-but-actually-at-Bianca stage here so if you detect the moodiness, that's the reason. : D

You know I'd just like to say that I really want to get over this book already coz damn it Nico, why you still only ten?! No smutty moments with Percy yet ugh...I draw the line for such moments at the age of 13/14 even if that's going to take a while in these books. I've gotta slowly build the bond even though it pains me not to get them together yet. And we've still got the issue of Annabeth, Rachel and Calypso in the mix...poor Nico's got it going for him to make his man gay. (Well, gay for him, but you know what I mean ;P)

Oh and I changed my pen name for important reasons.

Btw, this is like the longest chapter I've written so far. WOO new record!