Here's another chapter and I feel like things are moving along! Well not really, I can't bear to rush things or make them remotely straightforward, anyway here you go!

The day passed a little quickly for me. We ate some lunch in one of the gardens and then spent the afternoon exploring. It was the best thing to do with absolutely no money.

It was when we were walking around that I finally realised something was off about this place. Because it looked different from I remembered. It was in many parts only a slight change but this street looked completely different.

I asked Nico about it, feeling like I had died centuries ago. "After the second Titan war, Olympus was trashed so it was redesigned over the summer," he replied.

Second titan war? I really needed to find out what had happened over the last few years. I still didn't know why I was here. Had someone led me back to life or was it just a coincidence?

That's how Nico ended up giving me a detailed account of anything that had happened while I had been dead. I had been replaced by Thalia? That was ridiculous! I don't think I could bear to face any of the hunters now.

Well perhaps Thalia had matured, she had, after all, finally joined the hunters which she had originally actively hated and avoided. She surely must have changed.

And Percy Jackson had become a hero, a really good one too, I hoped he was still the good person I had just begun to know and Nico definitely seemed to think highly of him. Nico had of course charged a lot too... How had so much happened? In such a short time?

And Nico only knew half the story, he couldn't tell me anything about camp Jupiter but they undeniably posted a big part in ending the conflict. I wished I had asked Jason more but how was I to know that he'd just disappear. Maybe my arrival did somehow cause Jason to disappear. If some divine being caused me to appear there then maybe the same one caused Jason to vanish as I was getting to know him.

I need to find out what it was.

Perhaps I was drawing conclusions too quickly but I knew something was happening, I hoped King Midas, if it was him (and I had a very good feeling about it), would know something. I need some answers and this could quite possibly be my only opportunity.

We still had a while until nightfall and although Nico had definitely recovered, we stuck to or plan and visited a museum that had no entrance fee, it was filled with Greek and Roman relics that had no purpose in the modern day. Old swords and other weapons would be in an arsenal somewhere and most coins still had uses with trading so the museum most featured old pots and art work and medals.

Next to many of these articles were descriptions about ancient Greek with an incredibly accurate history, usually from the angle of the gods, giving it an interesting perspective. This was not the first time I had been there but it seemed that even here had been redesigned at some point. It was quite refreshing.

There was also a short section focused on Britain and France, consisting of more important items from when the gods had resided in those countries. I was looking around in this section when Nico suddenly grabbed my sleeve.

He gave me a desperate look and gestured to behind him without making a sound. All I could see was a tall woman in a suit-

That was Athena!

Nico was clearly uncomfortable and I had no desire to talk her either. We had to get out of here! Fortunately her back was to us so we quickly walked away without her noticing (or perhaps she just didn't care). And we left the museum. It was only once we were a safe distance away that I spoke again.

"I did not expect to see her in there, perhaps it would be best if we leave swiftly," I suggested though now that I stopped to think maybe Athena would have been willing to share some info with us.

"No, nor me. The gods have stopped communicating with us demigods recently though, maybe we should've talked to her," Nico said unhappily.

That was news to me. "Why have they stopped?" I asked.

He shrugged. "They haven't told us, but there must be some new threat," he replied.

I frowned. "I'd still rather avoid her, especially if she doesn't want to be contacted. I have hope that answers lie in Nebraska. Ready to go?"

I clutched Nico's hand tightly as we travelled through complete darkness. A few seconds and it was light again, though it seemed darker than New York. I let go of Nico again as I felt him fall to the ground in exhaustion. I didn't get a chance to look around.

Because a monster was charging at us in the dark. It was already too close for me to draw my bow so I quickly got out my gold short sword.

Just in time, as a bronze sword lunged at my chest, I easily batted it away but a scaly hand tried to grab my other arm. A dracanae, a dragon-women then. It attacked again with its sword, this time to disarm me but I avoided the manoeuvre and pressed the advantage. After a particularly strong slash, I knocked her sword out of her hand.

"I sssurender..." She said, releasing her grip on my arm.

I decided to ask her a few questions, before killing her. "Why did you attack me?"

"To protect my massster..." She mumbled with a defeated look.

"Your master?" I prodded, glancing at Nico, who was somehow fast asleep.

"The one with the gold, but I warn you, he will kill you if you continue," she said quickly, realising that I wasn't about to let her live.

Monsters had to continuously be killed, they had no qualms about killing mortals if they were in the way, and I couldn't leave Nico alone with monsters about. I stabbed her and the monster crumbled before being blown away in the wind.

There was probably more monsters lurking in the darkness so I sighed and grabbed Nico, and dragged him forward, where an imposing mansion loomed ahead.

I was right in front of the mansion now. I knew it was the right place setting as how the most random things appeared to be made of gold, including the door. The mansion appeared till have been painted a pleasing cream colour however many rebellious patches of gold ruined it. This could only be the work of Midas or perhaps some odd person with a very strange sense of humour.

Nico was still asleep despite how far I'd already dragged him. I briefly considered waiting a while before entering, but decided against it. Anyway, we had undoubtedly been seen already. Perhaps I should have attempted to be stealthy but I wanted to speak with Midas.

As I was pondering, the golden door swung open, well not swung, it opened slowly as it was obviously very heavy unsurprisingly. It seems they had noticed my presence and were inviting me in.

"Please leave," a boy said from the open doorway. He clearly wasn't going to tolerate us then.

"Greetings, may we rest here for a little while? My friend is exhausted," I said, acting like an oblivious, innocent person, and gestured to Nico, who really did need rest.

"No, you can't, leave now before I'm forced to kill you," the boy replied, as if we were slightly irritating him.

We sure do attract death threats quickly. "Let me in, I just need to talk to Midas," I said, dropping any act. He wasn't going to be fooled.

If the boy was surprised I knew that name he didn't show it. He snorted, as if I amused him. "Drop all of your weapons at your feet and maybe I'll consider."

"Or maybe I'll just force my way through," I threatened and wished I was taller, not for the first time. I could glare as much as I liked but I would never appear particularly menacing.

Well I was no longer a hunter, maybe I would grow up to be stronger and taller. It was an odd thought, demigods rarely grew to be old, the hunters were exceptions but for all I knew, I could die.

The boy suddenly smiled. "Is that a challenge girl? The name's Lityerses, I'm the best swordsmen there is," he bragged. His tone became worryingly serious, "you don't stand a chance."

He almost certainly was better, though he was likely underestimating me. I didn't particularly care honestly, your skill with a sword rarely prevented you from getting hit with arrows. I just needed a little space.

I took a step back. Lityerses took a step forward, grinning. He had his hand on a large sword, which had to be strapped to his back, ready to draw. He was just waiting for me to draw my sword before he killed me, though he wouldn't wait forever and it was probably too late too avoid this fight.

So I need to make some space. I slowly grabbed one of my special arrows in my left hand, and in my right hand, I drew my sword. Lityerses suddenly lashed out in an attack. An attack with a lot of power in it.

I jumped back but he just advanced and tried another slash, it was going to be fast and deadly. How fast was this boy? But I met the blow on my own sword - which just about took all of my energy - and I lightly threw the arrow with my other hand.

Without a bow, it simply wasn't flying fast enough to injure someone but fortunately that wasn't its purpose. I darted backwards, I was not so dense as to turn away from my opponent, as the enchanted arrow let loose a yellow cloud of methane - it was one of my fart arrows as everyone called them.

It momentarily stunned him with its pungent smell and probably temporarily blinded him too - that stuff really stung. It was just the opportunity I needed to get my bow out, as well as a few arrows. He had already recovered and was charging at me, only a few paces away. I didn't hesitate as I let loose an arrow. He made a movement to dodge but it was futile. The arrow hit him in the eye.

Lityerses roared in pain but slashed at me anyway, possibly in pure fury. No time to shoot. I couldn't dodge it. But I tried.

Pain. Red, searing burning pain. Left side, just below chest. Can't breathe. I hit the ground, hardly feeling the impact. Anger, weakness. My hand found my golden sword. I grasped it tightly, trying to unload my anger. There was his foot. In front of me. I lunged.

He howled again as blood seeped out of the new wound, I'd made. I felt some vindictive pleasure at his pain. I may have attacked again, the details were becoming blurry...

I was... losing blood. But it was too... tiring to move. My hands had suddenly become very heavy, like stone. My sword lay in front of me...

How careless... the hard stone porch suddenly felt very comfortable...

That's it! Ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, tell me if Zoe seems too underpowered here or anything.

Anyway, please do give your reviews, I really appreciate them.