Percy awoke last the next morning. Annabeth was sitting up next to him, her hair tied in a braid. She smiled.

"You're up." Percy jumped at the noise, fumbling for his sword, realizing it wasn't around his waist. His eyes found the prince. It came back to him. The quest, the prophecy. Percy sighed, embarrassed.

"Sorry, Jason," he told him. Jason nodded.

Turning to the group, Jason spoke. "We should head for Mirar. Nico, we'll see if we can help you find Hazel while we find Rachel." Nico nodded.

One hour later, with leather packs full of food and medical supplies, the group set off on the path. Percy slowed down to walk alongside Nico.

"Necromancer, huh?" Percy asked. "When'd you learn that?"

Nico scowled. "While back." He twisted his silver ring, as he always did when he was nervous. Percy let the conversation into a somewhat awkward silence. Percy remembered the first time they had met, three years ago, a kid with a bright future...

Percy sat on a wooden log, next to a flowing stream. His feet were bare, dipped in the fresh water. His hair was much more tame than usual; he wanted to look nice for when he went into the town. If anyone suspected him of being a water elf, much less a magic being, he would certainly be arrested. After several offenses, the already suspicious knights would be fed up.

"Hey, mister!" Percy looked up at the chirpy voice. A little boy stood in the path, with short black hair and bright onyx eyes. His tunic was slightly tattered, and his boots scuffed up. "Can you help me out?" He smiled.

Percy gestured for him to sit down. He did. "What can I do for you?"

He looked slightly sad. "My half-sister, Hazel. I need help finding her." He looked a bit happier. "Then I can find Bianca!"

Percy nodded, not knowing who Bianca was. "I'll see what I can do. Come on, kid. Let's go."

Percy wasn't sure how long he'd been lost in thought until he saw the sun in its descent. "There." Reyna pointed.

Up ahead, a large stone wall stood high, knights stood patrolling. Past that, crowded streets and old shops cramped the crowded, bustling streets, people returning home from their day. In the middle of it all, a large golden castle shook hands with the clouds, diamonds and rubies decorating the sides of the spires. Balconies hung over the towers, the entire structure making a large glistening shadow over the city.

"That's- That's a lot of gold," Jason breathed. Frank nodded. Piper stood in awe, while Percy and Annabeth stood back cracking a smile next to Reyna.

Nico huffed. "Let's go."

We began to walk.

"I'm glad Cardin was right next to Minos kingdom; we would've been walking for days," Piper said.

"Wait, we are in a different kingdom? We didn't even walk that far. I guess if we need to use our-" Annabeth clamped her hand over Percy's mouth and glared.

"No. Even if King Zeus uses magic beings as slaves, Minos is almost as bad. He uses them as personal servants," she sighed, her face turned grim. "But if they're powerful enough, he holds them prisoner against their own will."

Jason nodded. "We should make sure you five lay low."

"Which is nearly impossible since the streets will be empty," Piper added.

Reyna shook her head. "That will not be a problem, Piper. Come, let us go to the seers hideout."

"You have a hideout too?" Jason asked, his eyes widening. Percy laughed, explaining that the seers had a place here, hidden.

The seers hideout was a lot more extravagant since he was last there, Percy noted. After weaving through alleys and going down a small, crooked staircase, they reached their destination.

The wooden walls had tapestries of battles and prophecies that were to come or already completed. A candle lamp hung in the middle of the room, casting a dim glow on the room. Rugs of every kind littered the floor, women of all kinds sitting around. But, in the middle of it all, was a frizzy-haired girl.

Rachel was looking over a scroll when she heard the group enter. She brightened. "Percy! Annabeth! I see you met Reyna."

Annabeth nodded, anger carefully hidden in her eyes. "We came here for... several things."

Rachel smiled. "Yeah, I figured." After introductions and a small consumption of food, Rachel spoke of the prophecy.

"I see you have gathered most of the group, Reyna. But I have a feeling your group isn't complete." She shook her head. "If only I could figure out-"

Reyna put her hand on Rachel's shoulder. "Rachel, it is quite alright. Look, we've already found most of them, just like you said." Rachel gave a small smile.

Nico shifted. "Rachel. I need help with a, uh, personal quest." Rachel stared at him for a moment.

"What is it, Nico?" The shadows in the room seemed to quiver at the mention of Nico's name. Percy stared at a spot on the wall with a shadow that seemed like it was moving away, as far as it could get. No one else seemed to notice. Percy was dragged back into the conversation when Nico spoke.

"I'm looking for a girl named Hazel Levesque."

Rachel looked slightly sad at the name. "I've heard a rumor. And, if you are truly looking for Hazel, I pray that it isn't true." She sighed. "A few days ago, just after I Percy and Annabeth left here, I was going out for bread and I heard a man talking to someone. He said, 'That explains it. I had wondered why the kingdom was out of debt and rich in only a few years'. Then, the other man... he said, 'Yeah, he sure knows how to control that Levesque'." Rachel shook her head. "I'm sorry, that's all I remember."

Nico growled. "Whoever has her should watch out, I will personally take them by the-"

"Thank you, Rachel," Reyna said, quieting Nico. She looked over at the necromancer. "There's your information. Will you be joining us or not?"

"Wait, Reyna," Jason said, concerned. "What if Hazel's a part of the prophecy? If Nico is part of this quest, it can't just be a coincidence that he's looking for Hazel."

Annabeth agreed. "We have to check it out." Percy nodded

Reyna sighed. She looked over at the remaining party: Frank and Piper. "I guess you agree with this?" Frank nodded, while Piper gave a very stern 'yes'.

"Alright. What's the plan?" Reyna stood up.

Rachel shook her head. "Sleep first. You must be tired after walking all this way."

Percy silently thanked Rachel the next morning. Refreshed, he quickly sat with the chattering others. Piper smiled, now dressed in a more of a quest appropriate outfit. Dark green trousers were tucked into brown boots, a white blouse fitting her perfectly. Her hair was out of its braid, now in a choppy cascade down her shoulders.

"We were waiting for you to awake," she said. He nodded, and the cheerful noise stopped.

Rachel began speaking. "One of the seers had a vision. She thinks Hazel is in the castle."

"How are we going to get in the castle? That place must have thousands of guards, with that much gold," Frank stated.

Annabeth bit her lip. "Not to mention finding her. You saw the castle, it's huge."

"Piper could talk her way in," Percy said bluntly. Piper quickly shook her head.

"N-no. You heard Annabeth yesterday. Magic is- it's..." she sighed. "Besides, there's no telling how many people we will have to get through, by then someone will notice my magic."

"Not if we're quick," Jason said.

"Look, I'd love to just talk our way in, but it's not that simple." Piper looked worried. Percy knew that look. It was the exact same look Annabeth had given him a couple years ago, when she was afraid of her skills, of her intelligence. Back then, that Annabeth had done things. Bad, bad things.

Percy sighed. "Piper-"

"Whatever your powers have done in the past, you need to get over that now. Either that, or head back to Cardin," Reyna said, fed up with Piper's excuses.

"Reyna," Percy said harshly.

"No, Percy," Piper said, glaring at the knight. "She's right. Let's go." Percy settled with a pitying glance towards the charmspeaker, and got ready to leave.

"You shouldn't have done that," Piper said, staring at the path in front of her. The seven were walking towards the castle, a few whispers around the air, but the happy chatter drained from Reyna and Piper's argument. "I haven't known Reyna for long, but she was right. I need to get over it." She looked down. "It's something I should've done a long time ago."

Percy didn't meet her eyes. "What happened?"

Piper bit her lip. "I got rid of the only friend I had." Percy's eyes widened, to which Piper noticed. "No! Not like that!" Her tone calmed. "It's just... I told him to..." She stopped, and Percy saw the girl was on the edge of tears.

"You don't have to tell me the rest."

She nodded. "Thanks, Percy."

"Dang, that is a lot of gold."

Percy laughed. "You said that yesterday, Grace."

"Yeah, but it's still a lot of gold." Jason smiled. Nico looked as if he was suppressing a grin, but caught it with an irritated groan.

"Let's go. If Hazel is being held captive by Minos..."

Annabeth nodded. "We should hurry."

Funny enough, the amount of guards in the place was minimum. It was the guards themselves they were worried about. Most of them reaching seven feet, heavily armored guards were scattered around the place. With humongous long swords that looked like they could kill you in a single blow, Percy found himself giving them glances, even if they were letting them past. Finally, they made it past the gates.

Reyna spoke up. "Get ready, Piper. Once we leave the common's area of the castle, we will need your help." Piper nodded.

The seven made it to the small servants door off to the left. A guard scowled. "What are knights doing entering the servant door?" Jason stiffened.

Quickly, Piper used her magic. "Oh, but sir, we have to go through this door. Together. You see, it's important. A valiant knight like you must know that it is very important, correct?" Piper was using her magic so thickly, Percy was having trouble thinking straight. Her eyes flashed like a kaleidoscope. The guard's head lolled, as if in a trance.

"Yeah, sure, go on through, pretty lady," he said dreamily. Piper's eyes narrowed at the 'pretty lady' comment, but quickly led them through the door.

"Wow," whispered Jason. "I never thought the servants corridors were like this." Jason was currently hunched over with Percy, Frank, Annabeth, and Reyna. Nico and Piper, having slightly shorter bodies, were walking through the walkway with ease.

No one decided to comment on Jason's words, which Percy thought was probably for the best. "It'll be awhile until we get to the dungeons. This place has a similar layout to your castle, Jason," Piper whispered in the silence.

Frank's eyes were darting around, especially eyeing the torches that lined the walls. "So, uh Frank." Percy felt slightly awkward talking to the shapeshifter, as never even knowing him days before hand. "How'd you meet Reyna?"

He looked down. "It was a bit after my mom died in the war against Owrothen. my grandmother, she told me about how our family was a long line of shapeshifters, some of the last in existence." Percy nodded, knowing that shapeshifters were rare, with their well-known weakness of fire. "I was scared- living in a kingdom of people who wouldn't hesitate to capture me if they knew of my lineage. So, I ran. It was months afterward. A group of rogue knights- freelancers, I think- tried to kill me. I used my powers, but they only attacked harder. Reyna found me after that, almost dead. She told me that I was part of a prophecy, and took me to Astar. That's when we met Jason and Piper."

Percy found them in silence. He only found himself saying one thing. "Sorry about your mom. I know if I lost my mom..." He sighed.

"Where is your mom?" Frank asked, curious.

"She was human, so I'm technically half- water elf. She lives in Ritlad, a kingdom west of Cardin. Magic there... it's free. Used in the open. When I met Annabeth, we became knights- not hired by any particular kingdom, but going where we were needed most." Percy looked down. "I haven't talked to her in a few months."

"We're here," Piper announced, a rotten wooden door standing in front of her.

"From the lack of noise, I would guess the guards are only posted outside of the dungeon, so we should be okay," Annabeth said, her ear against the door.

Reyna looked a bit relaxed at that news. Nico only looked more determined. "Open the door." Piper obliged, and the seven walked into the stone room. Immediately Jason was met with the smell of blood. He quickly covered his nose, others following his example. Nico looked bored, and Piper looked embarrassed.

"Oops. I think I may have overshot it."

Jason put her hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. We'll go from here. Wherever here is."

"Torture chambers," Frank said, disgust dripping off every word. Nico's eyes narrowed.

The room was stale, and the smell of death and blood radiated in the air. The room was barren, minus a large raised slate of wood in the middle, probably used to put the prisoners on. A sign above the door said, 'Thorn will see you know'. A large rack of weapons hung off one of the walls, any weapon that could've been thought of hanging off a nail. One particular sword caught his eye. A large bronze sword hung was held by its hilt on nails, a bright glow radiating off of the weapon.

"You like those?" A leathery voice said. "Beckendorf was a good weapon's maker. But I ran out of prisoners to play with. Can you make weapons? I've been looking for a new worker." A man stepped from the doorway, cackling. A large man stood in the room, grey hair neatly placed on his head. Percy guessed this was Thorn.

His eyes widened, finally recognizing a threat, his hands fumbling for his sword. Jason was already armed, with Frank aiming his bow. Reyna was in a battle stance, weapon out, along with Annabeth. Nico glared harshly at the man, holding his black sword. Piper stood warily off to the side, but ready to speak should the need occur. She knew as well as the others that the man could tell them where Hazel was, but the guards would catch them first.

Thorn cackled again. "You don't need to do that, magic scum. Unlike me, your magic is... reckless. You see, Minos kept me as an exception. I don't think you'll be so lucky. Let's see how you do against my blood magic, shall we?" He shot his hand out, the group immediately flew back against the wall, Frank and Reyna taking the blunt of the attack. Both groaned, dazed. Percy rushed forward, and swiped his sword, only for his blade to stop inches away from Thorn's smiling face. "You don't want to do that, water elf."

"Wha-"

"Oh, come on, it's too easy. Water elves don't have blood, only water rushing through their veins, but you... you're half human. Blood still runs through your veins." He glanced at the sword. "Drop it." As if those were the magic words, Percy's hand went limp. Jason tried to stab the man, but only succeeded in cutting his cloak before being sent back to the wall.

"Stop!" Piper yelled, and Thorn laughed.

"Your little charmspeak won't work. Blood magic is something too superior for that," Thorn said.

Annabeth's eyes darted around, and Percy could just imagine her brain mapping out a plan. Nico who had been standing next to Piper, disappeared. Percy cursed. He should have known the boy would bolt when they saw the torturer. Percy had known his history with torturers, the things that Nico didn't want to talk about in the months he disappeared.

Reyna tried to open her eyes, but Thorn saw and forced her eyes shut. Jason shakily got up, his face littered with dirt. He charged towards the torturer, who simply smiled and threw him back, then picking him up again as soon as Jason groaned and threw him back against the wall. Percy could've sworn he hear a loud Snap! but focused on Thorn. Percy, still without a sword, looked at Thorn.

"Why try, scum? You simply cannot win," Thorn laughed.

"Percy!" Piper yelled, and something made it's was through the air. A sword. Percy caught the blade, it's aura glowing a bright blue as soon as Percy caught it. He pointed the tip at Thorn. However, Percy's attack plan was shortened. Shadows thickened behind Thorn, who immediately turned around. "What?"

The shadows dissipated, revealing a very angry di Angelo. "Not necessarily, Thorn." He stepped forward, Thorn's face twisting in confusion.

"Why can't I- Why can't I control you?" Thorn's voice shook.

Nico smirked. He took the hilt and smacked it on Thorns head. The torturer crumpled. He looked at Percy. "That's twice I saved you. New record." Percy smiled, then laughed. Nico cast a glance to Frank and Reyna, then to Jason, who was struggling to get up.

"Jason!" Piper yelled, running to the prince's side. On his forehead was a nasty gash. Percy put his new sword in his sheath, or tried to. It shrunk down to meet a shape of a reed pen, the size of his hand.

Annabeth looked at the pen. "Interesting sword. Must be magic," she muttered. Nico got a vial of liquid out of his pocket and gave Frank and Reyna a small dose. Jason, assuring Piper he was fine, saw Nico's actions.

"Wait! You said humans couldn't have that stuff. Why give it to Reyna?"

Annabeth answered him, naturally. "Magic is like a candle. For some people, their candle has always been lit. Those are the people who were born with magic. Others light the candle later. Those are people who learn magic, like Reyna. To some magic cultures, she is now a magic being." Jason nodded.

Nico stood, the others helping steady Reyna and Frank. "We should find Hazel now," he said.

The rest of the journey went smoothly, Piper using her charmspeak whenever a knight questioned them.

Percy kept a pace with Nico. "How come Thorn couldn't control you?" He noticed Nico's minuscule panic, but as soon as he blinked, it was gone.

"I don't know." Percy knew the necromancer was lying, but knew Nico wouldn't tell him if pushed. They came across a large cell door, to which Reyna sent a questioning glance.

"A prison cell? They should be with the others. Why is this here?" Frank's eyes widened.

"This isn't any prison cell. Look." He pointed at intricate engravings surrounding the door. "Those a magic runes. They'll block any magic used on them."

Annabeth looked at them closely. "Powerful ones at that. I'm also guessing the door is made so nothing can get out. What is in there?"

"Only one way to find out," Jason said, grabbing the handle and pushing the door.

The room was small. A large basket of jewels was half filled with diamonds and emeralds. Crates of the precious metals stood off to the side. The only light came from a small cluster of candles on the floor, but it was enough to see what the group's eyes saw.

A dark skinned girl only around Nico's age sat in an old wooden chair. Her gold eyes were wide at the sight of the door opening with seven strangers appearing. She wore an old tattered dress, possibly once a yellow, but now a dirt brown. Caramel curls came past her shoulders, her hair frizzy.

"Hazel?" Nico breathed.

This chapter had been edited for your reading entertainment. (:

I'm on a role! Now if only I could get inspiration for my other stories-in-planning... *sigh* I definitely feel like this is going fast, but it's the perfect pace for the twisted, depressing, and heroic story I have in my mind. So if you can't handle plot twists and twisted people, I don't recommend the rest of the story. (But, of course, I'd appreciate it if ya did...)

I don't own Percy Jackson or Heroes or Olympus or Leo and Nico would most definitely be best buds.

Guest: For the most part yes. I'll have Caleo and Percabeth and Jasper and such, but I might change it up with Nico or just go with him liking Will. I'm definitely going to have romance and fluff in the story, but it's mainly plot and story.

And we delve even deeper into Percy's and Nico's mysterious past, along with Frank's past revealed! And of course next chapter: why Hazel's in that crap dungeon in the first place.

Goodbye!