A/N I have written three chapters today (this, Lightningstruck Dove, and Blood Magic (Carry On by Rainbow Rowell)), as well as a minature program and report for Computer Science... My fingers hurt from all the typing...

Shoutouts to theonewhoisBEST, Oswin Cadwin, Silver Huntress Of Artemis, and Vampire Demigod, thanks for reviewing with such positive stuff, guys!

The first part of Nico's plan went rather well. He walked back up to the cliff and yelled down to the Guardians, who took interest in him at once.

"I bet you couldn't stop me after all!"

They bared their teeth at him and the muscled in their smooth, furry legs bunched up before they sprang into the air, claws extended, ready to rip him to shreds. He gulped.

"Badger!"

The first Guardian took a swipe at his face and he ducked. A few strands of hair floated down to rest on the floor beside him.

"Badger! Now would be good!"

A chunk of rock broke away from the side of the cliff and was carried on the wind. Slamming into one of the feline creatures, it cracked and fell through the air, it's victim plummeting after it.

At the same time, one of the Guardians suddenly started screeching insults at the others, who instantly replied. More rocks followed, and soon the Guardians were too busy fighting one another to pay much notice to the demigods below.

"Thanks, guys," Nico gasped. Badger nodded at him, and Snake waved her fingers towards the rock face, causing a few more chunks of stone to break off. Leo sent some fire streaking towards the creatures, and laughed as they opened their maws and breathed ice at him.

"Go! We got this!"

Nico gestures to Percy, who ran over and raised the level of the water until they could step onto it. As it descended back to its original level, he breathed out slowly.

"Are you... are you shaking, Nico?" Percy looked at him, concerned.

"No," he snapped.

The surface of the ocean stilled before them, becoming slick and glassy. Taking a tentative step, then another, Nico started walking along the cause way that Percy had made, and the green eyed boy followed him.

The sea spray soaked them in freezing water, and Nico was glad for the extra protection of his aviator jacket. Percy probably isn't getting wet at all...

They walked for about half an hour, steadily further and further from the shore in a straight line, scanning the waters around them for any sign of the Ehtel.

"What does this thing look like, anyway?" Percy asked.

I don't know, Nico realised. Artemis hadn't mentioned it in her tale, and there was nothing out in the ocean to give a clue to its size or type. He wasn't about to admit that to Percy, though.

"You'll know when you see it," he called back.

"In other words, you don't know. Great." Nico glanced over his shoulder at the other boy, and saw a bead of sweat gather on his brow. He hoped Percy wouldn't run out of energy before they got back to shore.

A dip in this sea would mean certain death, said the part of his brain that spoke in Will's voice. The cold would cause your body to start shutting down...

Shut up, he thought back.

Then, the glassy area of water widened dramatically to create a calm circle about 100 metres in diameter. Glancing at Percy, he saw that the other boy looked just as confused as he was.

This was not Percy's work.

A single figure stood in the centre of the area, with its back to them, staring at the grey horizon. It looked humanoid, from its average shaped head and shoulders down to its normal feet (they were bare, though. That was peculiar, in this weather.) It was wearing a white shirt and loose trousers that looked as though they were made from clouds. It looked harmless, but Nico had learnt never to judge things or people by first glances.

He couldn't tell if it was male or female.

Percy sat down behind him, clearly exhausted from their trip here, so he stepped forward.

"Ehtel."

It turned to face him - except that it didn't, for it had no face. Instead, there was just a stretch of plain white skin: no eyes, no nose, nothing.

"Have you come to kill me, little hero?"

Why does everything we meet call me that? And where is its voice coming from? It doesn't have a mouth...

"Yes."

It laughed. "You will not manage it, little hero. Few can stand against me."

Then it stepped towards him. He raised his sword, keeping his eyes on its blank face - and it changed.

It's body stayed the same; grey hair, white clothes, bare feet; but instead of porcelain white skin, it's face showed something else.

Percy gasped behind him, and whimpered slightly, and he almost dropped his sword in shock.

For suddenly, he was staring into the eyes of his dead sister.

And Bianca looked back at him from the creature's empty face.

A/N What do you think of the Ehtel, guys? It's been pretty fun to invent...

Hope you enjoyed, as ever!

~Fi