Alyssa's POV

I felt a cold feeling swoosh past me. I shivered, and opened my eyes reluctantly. I was still in the same old building as I had fallen asleep in. Presumably, it was still night, although I couldn't be sure from the lack of windows. I looked around, but no one was there. No Annabeth, Will, or Leo. I stood up, groaning slightly as I stretched. Where could they be? Surely they wouldn't leave without telling me? I squinted in the dark. Not even our supplies that we had rummaged were there.

My eyes flicked around the room. "Leo. Annabeth. Will," I whispered hoarsely, hoping that they were nearby. No response. It was so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop.

"I wouldn't call for help, dear." I whirled around at the voice. Melaina stood there, in her battle-worn armor, and a crooked and dented sword in her hand. She rose an eyebrow at me, as if she was determining whether or not to kill me. I looked around for a weapon of some sort. The nearest thing I could find was a metal pole that had been broken off of one of the shelves. I picked it up, wielding it like a staff.

"Go now, before I decide to kill you," I snarled. I tried to keep the fear out of my voice, but it showed in my quivering hands. My heartbeat pounded so loud, I thought that Melaina could hear it way over there.

Melaina regarded me with amusement. "You're all going to die, Alyssa. You, Will, Leo, and Annabeth. You're whole camp will be crushed."

My breathing became ragged. "But...why? What did we ever do to you?"

Melaina snorted. "It was my fool of a brother, Will. He abandoned me. Left me. When Apollo never claimed me, when my brother forgot about me, I ran from the camp. But did he care? No! He let me die!" Melaina swept her sword across the shelves in anger, sending glass jars shattering on the floor.

I backed away a few steps. "So...you wanted revenge?"

Melaina's eyes narrowed. "Yes, but not only that. I've always had a grudge against the gods. Not because of their insolence, but because my ancestor was killed by the hand of the gods. She was ridiculed by others, called a traitor...a monster. All she ever did was sacrifice herself!"

"What are you talking about?" I hefted up the pole, noting Melaina's flushed face, and her strong grip on her sword.

"She fought in The Trojan War. She was a daughter of Apollo as well. She...well, turns out she was trading vital information between the two sides. She was eventually caught in the act by the Greeks, and the gods executed her for betrayal."

"That doesn't make her innocent. Betrayal comes at a price," I snarled.

"Oh, but in the end, she sided with the Greeks, and killed the leader of the enemy. The gods never cared for anyone other than themselves, so of course, they killed her before she even got the chance to explain herself."

"Grudges can be dangerous things. It'd be better for all of us if you let it go," I said.

Melaina chuckled softly. "I could do that, but of course, I won't. Such a naive little girl," she tutted. "I thought you would have caught on by now."

I narrowed my eyes at her, but said nothing.

Melaina regarded me triumphantly. "Have you wondered where Hades' loyalty really lies? The gods are supposedly on your side, yet, Hades betrayed you. Let's put it this way, Hades wasn't really...himself, at that time. Sure, he hates heroes, but he wouldn't go through all that work just to kill a few."

"So what you're saying is that you're...controlling him?"

Melaina smiled, her pearly white teeth glinting like those of a wolf's. "Hades is a powerful god, and I wouldn't have the power to control him. No, he was the one controlling him; a forgotten entity that is beyond the power of the gods. He gave me my powers in the first place.

I sighed frustratingly. "Who's he?"

"Sysiphus. He was a king, who attempted to cheat death, and was sentenced to eternity of rolling a boulder up a hill."

I rose an eyebrow. "Well...I suppose that's what you get for trying to cheat death. But why, out of all kings, does he want to rise? I mean, I know he's probably really miffed and all, but why not another king? Why him?"

Melaina sighed almost sadly, as if she were reminiscing bittersweet memories. "It is like asking why the sun rises in the morning...I wouldn't know, I simply work beside him."

"Beside him?"

"Indeed. He promised me life. But of course, he chose me because I have something he doesn't."

I crossed my arms across my chests. "You know, it would certainly help if you would stop talking in riddles," I murmured.

Melaina reached up and tapped her temple with her finger. "Information, dear. That's the key to success. I have the information that Sysiphus needs, in order to obtain a dragon tooth of Zerelth the Eternal. Zerelth's tooth will break the bonds that holds Sysiphus in place, and he will rise, and together, we'll wreak havoc upon the Olympians. Of course, things would've been much easier without the Olympians half-blood heroes. That's why I tried to get you to lead the others into the trap in the Underworld."

"You mean to say...that I almost betrayed them?" My voice quavered, and I knees turned to jello. My vision flashed back to when I held the sword over Leo, almost murdering him. And it was all my fault.

Melaina shrugged, as if it was nothing. "Quite so. Oh, but it's not big deal. You'll all perish anyway."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Melaina cut me off.

"Not to mention that blasted son of a Poseidon is gone as well. You could have helped him. But you let him go. You betrayed him."

I flashed back again, as I held Percy by the wrist as he dangled from the ledge of a ravine. I remembered the sad, but accepting look on his face, as if he knew his fate already.

"What...happened to him?" I asked.

"Araluen, child. He's gone forever. He's still alive, but he can't ever come back...that is, unless you cooperate."

I could feel the colour draining from my face. Percy in Araluen? "What do you mean, cooperate?"

Melaina nodded towards the oak leaf necklace, dangling from a chain around my neck. "Give it to me, and I'll spare your friends."

I had almost forgotten about it. The bronze oak leaf was all I've ever worked for, and I'd be getting my silver one, the sign of a graduate Ranger, very soon. I reached my hand up to touch it, feeling its cool metal against my hot skin. "Why should I listen to you? You'll kill everyone anyways, so it won't matter. If you wanted the oak leaf, surely it would aid you some way - and I don't help the enemy."

Melaina nodded, almost as if she was expecting my answer. "Brave, tough, and loyal. I knew you would decline. The oak leaf would help retrieve the dragon tooth, but it can only be used by those who know true sacrifice. Remember, your offer still stands. I would reward you, bringing you back to your normal life in Araluen. Goodbye for now."

Then, my vision tunneled, and went black. A few seconds later, I sat up in my makeshift bed, next to Leo, Annabeth, and Will. Beads of sweat rolled off my forehead.

It was all a dream. I had to tell them about my encounter, it would turn our quest down a new route.