This is a long chapter. Sorry in advance for the sadness. :-) Enjoy.

Important thing to note... This will be yaoi (boy-boy). Don't like? You do not have to read.

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

ΩΩΩ

Nico POV

We found the cave fairly easily. It was Percy who spotted it. The cave was right on the ocean, only a few dozen feet separated the entrance from the low tide. It was obvious that when the tide rose, the cave would be mostly submerged.

The opening had me nervous. I had never been on an official quest before but I knew enough about fighting monsters to be hesitant about entering it. The entry was huge. I could have easily stacked two of the Hades cabins in the entrance and still had room to walk around them.

I did not want to meet whatever monster called that home, but we had no choice.

Piper, Hazel, and Jason were going to stay on the Argo in case we needed to make a hasty retreat. We had contemplated putting the Argo down on the ocean but we had decided against it when Percy informed us that the ocean had a deep pocket right in front of the cave. The water was several hundred feet deep and that depth usually meant water monsters.

Another reason for having Jason stay on the ship was that when those monsters sensed our presence, he could warn us.

The four of us climbed down and drew our weapons.

Frank clearly decided that if we had the space he would use it. He turned into a full grown African elephant. It was rather impressive actually.

We walked towards the entrance with Percy and me in the lead.

We were about 10 feet into the cave when I saw movement. I raised my sword to attack only to feel myself pushed to the cave floor.

I saw something wiz through the air where I had stood only a second before. Before I could even react I felt the weight that had been pinning me down move until it was between me and whatever had been attacking us. I sat up and saw Percy crouched in front of me with his sword at the ready.

I shook my head, of course it would be him, it always is...

"So we meet again Perseus... I've been waiting for this moment."

I saw the monster step out of the shadows and I felt my eyes widen. My gaze swept up from the ground. I took in the sight of the lion body with the head of a man. It was the tail that showed that he was not a sphinx. I watched as the monster raised his scorpion like tail over his head in preparation to fire.

The sight of Percy protecting me from the manticore gave me a crippling sense of déjà vu. I felt like I was ten years old again.

The monster stepped forward with a wicked grin on his face. "And this time there is no Olympian around to save you."

Percy's laugh brought me back to the present. "True, but I'm not the child that I was last time, and you're in my domain." Before any of us could react Percy threw his hand forward. A wall of water rose out of the ocean and smashed the manticore into the ground at Frank's feet, "If you wouldn't mind big guy."

Frank trumpeted and stepped on the soaked monster, reducing it to a fine golden powder.

Percy smiled and turned to me. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off. "See? What did I tell you? That was a cake walk. Come on let's get back to my dad."

I saw Percy roll his eyes and frown, "I don't know you guys. That was far too easy."

Ryan scoffed but I ignored him. I agreed with Percy but Apollo was a strange god. "It is Apollo. Last time he helped you all he asked for was a poem." I looked around the cave; I couldn't understand what a god would be doing hanging out in a place like that. "Come on let's find whatever it is we're looking for."

Percy sighed and looked away. "Alright but let's hurry, high tide will be here in ten minutes. I can hold it back a little but not for very long."

We searched the cave floor with no success. It would have been easier if we knew what it was we were looking for.

Percy had stopped searching and was focusing on keeping the water out of the cave. "Something's not right."

I instantly looked up, "What's wrong?"

"Where are the fish? I've been holding back this wave for almost five minutes now and I haven't seen a single fish."

Ryan scoffed, "Who cares about fish?"

Percy shook his head. I could see the sweat beading down his face from the effort of keeping us dry. "You don't understand. If there are fish, they come to say hi to me. All sea creatures do. They can sense a child of Poseidon."

"Whatever, maybe they have better things to do?"

"I've never seen the ocean this empty for this long. This is the perfect place for fish too. That deep pocket should be filled with schools of them. I'm telling you guys, something is not right."

Ryan rolled his eyes and ignored him.

I started getting anxious. I trusted Percy and if he thought that something was wrong, then something was wrong. I doubled my efforts.

After a few more minutes I found something. "Over here, I've got it." I picked up the golden object and shoved it in my pocket. Percy's discomfort had spread to me. No one knew water like Percy did. "Okay let's get out of here."

Percy nodded, "Frank can you fly us out of here?"

"Sure." Frank turned into a giant eagle and flew to the opening. The wave was already filling over ten feet of the opening.

"Alright Nico, you go first. You have what we need."

I nodded at Percy and walked to the opening.

Frank took off and was just about to grab my arms when I felt a piercing pain puncture my stomach.

The pain was so intense I blacked out. The last thing I heard was Percy shouting my name.

ΩΩΩ

Percy POV

The world seemed to slow down. The entrance that had been empty of all life only a moment ago was now filled.

I felt my eyes widen in terror, "Nico!"

My warning was too late. I watched as a serrated tail swung out and pierced through the stomach of the son of Hades. For a moment I froze. It was only luck that my mind kept the wave out of the cave.

I watched helplessly as Nico collapsed in rapidly increasing pool of blood. "Frank, get Nico back to the ship now!"

The son of Mars swooped in and picked up the unconscious demigod and flew away before the monster's tail could strike again.

I saw the creature's head snap out of the water towards the retreating pair. I subconsciously summoned a wave too push his head away. The monsters teeth missed the pair by inches.

The creature spun his focus towards me and I got my first clear view of the beast.

It was a sea serpent. It must have been 150 feet from nose to tail. Its scales were a ghastly mix of bog green and dirt brown. It had blood red eyes and teeth as long as my forearm. Its head and tail were surrounded by what looked like bone spikes. It was those spikes that hurt Nico.

I could only pray to every god on Olympus that Nico would be alright. I couldn't believe I had missed the signs...

I should have been able to guess that it was a sea monster. It was obvious enough that this cave was underwater half the time. The deep pocket would be the perfect place for a monster as large as him. Plus it completely explained the lack of fish. Fish will clear out of an area where a super predator lived.

Just looking at the sea monster was enough to tell you that it was a carnivore. And but the way it was looking at Ryan and I, we were its next meal.

I looked around trying to figure out a plan.

I couldn't hold back the wave for much longer. I was ready to pass out and if I fell the two of us were dead.

I saw a pile of boulders 30 feet inside the cave. "Ryan, climb up those rocks."

I started walking backwards towards the pile, my arms were beginning to shake with the effort of trying to keep the wave back. The sea serpent was swimming around snapping at the air in front of the wave, it knew that it wouldn't be kept out much longer.

I looked to my right to see that Ryan hadn't moved. "Ryan, get moving! I can't keep this up anymore."

Ryan shook his head in disbelief. "But, my dad..."

I reached out, grabbed his arm, and shoved him towards the rocks. The wave surged forward for a moment before I was able to get control of it again. "You can think of that later, if you don't want to be fish food shut up and get your ass up there!"

He started running and I was right on his tail.

I was nearly to the top of the pile when I slipped. I managed to catch myself but it was to late. The wave and its resident were already spilling into the cave. The wave would have ripped me off the pile but Ryan caught my arm and pulled me onto the top.

I wanted nothing more than to collapse in exhaustion but I didn't have the time. We were in more danger than before.

I could sense the monster beneath the waves circling around our temporary haven.

I looked around and felt myself pale. Our island was only about 15 feet across at it's widest point. The water kept pouring in, it was only around five feet below the top of our pile of rocks. The creature would have no problem reaching us.

The only reason that we were still alive is it clearly felt like toying with us.

Suddenly it lunged towards Ryan. I swung out my leg and took his feet from beneath him. I watched as it's teeth snapped in the spot where he had stood a moment before.

It dove back beneath the water, sending a wall of water over our platform. The force of the wave nearly knocked me off but I caught my balance at the last second.

I could see Ryan starting to panic. I wanted to calm him down but we didn't have time. "Ryan, snap out of it!"

He shook his head and started to whimper.

I groaned and tightened my grip on my blade. I swept my gaze over the water. I saw a movement on my left. I swung my body around only to hear a splash behind me.

Before I could react I heard Ryan scream. I spun around and automatically brought down my sword. My blade sliced through the monsters tail and Ryan fell back to the ground, clutching his arm.

The serpent roared in pain and the noise shook the cave.

I saw Frank flying towards the entrance. "No Frank, stay back!"

I saw him turn away from the entrance and circle a few hundred feet above the water.

I looked at Ryan. His injuries didn't look life threatening but there was no way he could shoot.

Fifty feet away the sea monster's head launched out of the water to glare at me. He roared and I could see rows and rows of razor sharp teeth.

I swallowed and raised my sword.

The monster hissed and shot towards me. I dove to the side in a roll, I felt wind rush over me. Before I could even think, it lunged again. I dropped flat on my stomach to avoid being decapitated.

The monster was too fast. There was no way that I would be able to stab it when it came close, not if I wanted to survive. The monster reared again and let out another earth shaking roar.

I looked down at my companion and knew what I had to do. I dropped my sword and grabbed his bow.

There was every chance that I wouldn't be able to do what I needed. I prayed to every god I had ever met that it would work.

I waited until it opened his mouth, drew back the arrow and fired.

I watched as my arrow flew strait on target. It buried itself to the fletching in the monsters maw. The serpent let out a painful roar before it burst into dust.

I felt myself drop to my knees in relief and exhaustion.

ΩΩΩ

The world seemed to blur around me. I watched in a daze as Frank and Jason pick us up and flew us back to the ship.

Piper met us on deck and shoved a piece of ambrosia at both me and Ryan. I felt my hand shake as I shoved it in my mouth. The instant I started chewing I felt my vision coming back into focus.

I swallowed and looked around.

I felt myself pale at the sight of Nico. His unmoving body was laying on deck. Hazel sat at his side, tears streaming down her face. I saw the gaping wound in his stomach. I watched but I didn't see any signs of him breathing.

My heart stopped...

Nico couldn't be dead. He was talking with me just minutes ago. I felt tears spring to my eyes as I stumbled towards him.

It felt as though my heart had been ripped from my chest. "Nico, no gods. Please no..." I dropped to my knees beside him. I had no words to explain the pain radiating in my chest. Never had the pain of me losing anyone been this strong. I couldn't lose him, I couldn't survive in a world without him in it. A broken sob escaped from my chest.

In that moment it hit me, I loved him. I couldn't believe that I had to lose him forever in order to see it. "Gods Nico, I'm so sorry... Please, don't leave me."

Suddenly I saw his chest rise. The relief I felt at that slight movement brought a fresh wave of tears. "Oh thank the gods!"

I saw a bright flash appear on my right. "You're welcome." Apollo stepped forward with a smile.

I turned towards him, "Can you heal him?"

Apollo's smile faded, "No, he must survive or die without my interference."

I suddenly felt a sharp stab of hatred for the sun god.

"Why not? You are the god of healing."

Apollo looked at me with a saddened expression, "Zeus has ordered against it. This is a rare occasion where my healing would interfere with another' gods sphere of influence."

I was shaking with fury. "So I'm just supposed to let Nico die?"

I saw Apollo's eyes flash dangerously. I knew that I wasn't being as respectful as I should have but I couldn't help myself. "There is hope. If you can reach Calypso's island in time, she can save him. If not, then yes. He will die."

I went to stand up but Jason put a hand on my shoulder to keep me down. "Thank you Lord Apollo."

The god nodded at him. "By the way, I think the son of Hades has something of mine."

With shaking hands I reached into Nico's pocket. I pulled out the item that had been paid for in blood. I shouldn't have been surprised but I was. It was an iPod. It looked exactly like one you would buy at a store except for the fact it seemed to be made of gold.

I looked at it in disgust. "This is what we risked our lives for?"

Apollo shrugged and took it from me. "What can I say, it has all my favourite songs on it." He smiled and stepped back, he waved his hand and a compass appeared on the deck. "As long as that's in the hands of one of my children, it will show you the way. I will see you again Percy. Till next time."

Apollo stepped back and I averted my eyes just before he disappeared.

I took a stuttering breath and looked at the broken body on the floor in front of me.

"Come on, we need to get this ship going. We have to get to Calypso, and fast."