I walked around in the darkness. It was too black to see past the end of my nose. I used Riptide for a bit of light. It wasn't enough to stop me from walking smack into an altar. A bag of skittles sat on it. I remembered what Mom had said about someone always offering skittles at Camp Half-Blood. Grinning, I devoured the rainbow colored candy. I grabbed the napkin and a pen from my bag and wrote. Chiron. This is Maya. I'm in Tartarus. I think I might have the curse of Achilles. Dad's dead, but you probably already knew that. He died here. Also, the god Tartarus hates me. But I'm okay. Please tell Mom that I have a plan. Isn't that hr thing? Athena always has a plan? Well, I really do. My plan is to go to the heart. I think that's where Kronos is keeping the gods. I can stay here to receive a note for twenty-four hours. Please respond so I can know that my message got through. I need to know that someone knows where I am and where I'm going. Again, this is Maya Jackson. I burned the letter, praying to every god I could think of that it would make it and get read. Mistakenly, I fell asleep. Naturally, I had demigod dreams. Demigod dreams are never good. They always mean bad news.

"Maya Jackson," a snake-like voice hissed. It was as grating as metal claws across a blackboard. I winced. "you are now ready. Continue to the heart, ignorant child. Continue to your demise. Continue to my rise. You will die, ignorant child of Annabeth. You will drown, spawn of Percy. And I will rise. Your blood will bring forth my grandfather. Then all that you love will die. Beginning with my failure eighteen years ago," the voice started laughing. Then the dream shifted. I was in a prison of sorts. The first thing I did was look around at the prisoners. I saw a grey haired man who reminded me of Uncle Jason. A man who reminded me of Uncle Nico was in a different cell. A man who looked like Dad was in another. I assumed they were the gods. The twelve of the council plus Hades and Hestia were there. A guy who looked like Will turned to me.

"Maya Jackson, you are important. Your quest requires its own prophecy.

The heart of the deep, the location you seek

Entrapment of the soul awaits

Bondage and death combine To turn the tides wrong

Life restored upon death, a home returned."

"What does that means, Apollo?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I'm the god of prophecy, not the future. I don't know what half my prophecies mean."

"Maya, your quest is complicated and dangerous. It requires careful planning."

"I know Grandmother. I have a plan. The heart of Tartarus is where you're being held. I'm coming to you. I'll get you out, and then Hemera promised to help us out."

"And what of the in betweens?"

"Technically my plan is still a work in progress, but when you don't know what you're up against, you can't plan so at least I have a baseline."

"Maya, it's not your fault. Remember that," Hades said to me.

"But it is. I killed him."

"It was an accident. But he would've died anyways. It's part of my father's plan."

"But-"

"Don't beat yourself up kiddo," I looked up to see Dad.

"Daddy!"

"Kronos isn't done bringing people here. People I know are coming: Luke Annabeth Nico Jason Rachel Thalia Reyna Will and Connor. At least. If he succeeds then he will destroy the world. I can promise you that. Please be careful."

"I sent Chiron a message on the altar. That's where I am now."

"Skittles?"

"I already ate them all. But I'm staying here for a bit more to see if I get a response. I sent it about six hours ago and said I'd stick around for twenty-four. I'll have seven days left to get here and get you all out. I can do that. After all, didn't you complete a quest in what, four days?"

"About. Just please be careful. And don't die."

"I'll do my best Dad. See you in a week, right?"

"I highly doubt I'll be anywhere else."

"I love you-" I was cut off by the dream shifting to Camp Jupiter. I watched Reyna pass out into Hannibal the elephant.

When I woke up, there was a hellhound about to tear out my throat. I jerked my sword up, slicing his head off in a single blow. I turn to the altar to see more skittles, some bacon, a slice of toast, a large bag of ambrosia, and a note. I read the note.

Maya.

Are you sure your father died? Nico hasn't found him anywhere in Erebos. Thank you for sending the note. Your mother is quite worried for you. She says the heart is not a prison. The lowest place is near Nyx's palace. She says the prison is underground. A word of advice should you encounter my father. Don't. You don't want to face him. When your father faced him, it required your mother speaking to Luke, who was hosting him, rather than to the Titan. It required your mother speaking to the person who protected her as a child, to her friend, rather than the the man he'd become. But now, Kronos does not have a host, so that cannot happen. The Titan has only been defeated in this manner by myself and my siblings fighting together. Chaos has never been defeated. I do not see how you can be successful, but I pray that you are.

Chiron

"Well that's uplifting," I said, looking up from the note. I put the ambrosia and skittles into my backpack and eat the bacon and toast. I jot down a thank you and send that. If Mom said not the heart, then not the heart. She's been here before. I trust her. "Nyx's palace, here we come."

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