It was a bold move, Leo thought. Just a few minutes ago, he was making sure the ship was stable. He had high hopes the engine would help the Argo ll fly, but he had doubts. After assuring himself the ship would hold out, he met the others in the mess hall. Jason sat in the center of the table, Reyna, Frank, and Hazel to his left. On his right sat Piper, Annabeth, and Percy. Nico, who had woken up half an hour beforehand, stood off to the side as if he was too uncomfortable to sit with the large group.

Leo still couldn't believe it. Hazel had made it out of her imprisonment with seven others and then came and found him. After the others had nothing left to say about their journey, Reyna cleared her throat. "I have not told you of the prophecy." Hazel nodded, looking slightly curious. Reyna sighed, a sad look lingering in her eyes. Leo guessed the quest was coming too quickly for her.

"The sorceress shall awake from her slumber,

Only to be stopped with the magic number.

A demon shall have his final stand,

So that the rest might see land.

One lost in the palace of eternal sand,

Death's ghost one other shall withstand."

The room was silent other than Leo's fingers tapping against the table.

Annabeth coughed. "Right. So, the palace of eternal sand," she said. "Maybe somewhere in the desert. Tartarus' kingdom? Miglo? It's just east of Cardin."

"Maybe. I'm not sure. But if it says, 'one lost' we should be careful," Jason said. "And this 'demon' business."

Reyna nodded stiffly. "I agree. Demons are vile creatures, but if one of them will help us, we should not judge quickly."

Frank scoffed. "I don't think you know how demons work. They're deceiving, evil. Nothing but ill intent. They look like mortals."

Reyna stared at him. "How do you know that? Anyone who has run into a demon has always, always gone insane."

"I ran into a few of them back in Lord Hades' kingdom, but a few knights took them down before anything could happen." Nico stiffened at the word 'Hades', which didn't go unnoticed, along with Percy and Hazel's constant shifting.

Annabeth rose her eyebrows. "You do know Percy, that if you have something say, you can say it." Percy opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Nico coughed. "Hades is my father," he stated it as if this was nothing. Jason made a choking noise.

"Your father is Hades?"

Leo sighed. "Look, as much as I love listening to you talk about prince's and princesses, I have an actual idea." The other eight sat expectantly. He caught Piper's glance, and how she bit her lip, but he decided to ignore that. "A few months ago, I found a paper dropped by Minos. He was looking for a dagger, one that could see the future. We find that- we find out what our next move is."

Annabeth's eyes widened. "Katoptris! The last owner, Helen, used it to see the future. I think it was enchanted by some sorcerer, though I can't..." She trailed off, probably annoyed that she couldn't remember. "But you're right, Leo!"

Percy shifted to hold Annabeth's hand. "Where is it?"

Leo knew that question was coming. "It wasn't really clear, but my guess is somewhere on a beach. The note said something about a beach in... I think it was somewhere in the west."

Jason nodded. "There's only one kingdom west of Mirar. Ritlad."

Percy grinned. "Anyone up for a family visit?"

Ritlad happened to be very cautious to large flying triremes, as Leo found out. They had crossed the kingdoms border pretty easily, but once they made it to the capital city, Memer, they guards began to load their catapults.

Leo decided that was a good time to land.

The others agreed.

"State your business," one of the bulkier guards said, his voice gruff.

Reyna stepped forward. "We only wish to enter your city. We mean you no harm."

Leo was glad Reyna came forward, instead of himself because, in all honesty, he would've said something that got them all killed- and he was having a pretty good day so far.

"Ha!" One of the younger guards pushing forwards. "What was this whole thing with the ship then, huh? You could be from another kingdom, Cardin perhaps?" Leo noticed Jason's jaw tightening, but the princes mouth was glued in a tight line.

"No," Annabeth said, understanding the knight's caution. Ritlad and Cardin had been in conflict for years. "We apologize for our ship, but I guarantee we have no bad intentions."

"Are we supposed to believe that?" The burly one had his hand on his sword hilt.

Piper's eyes widened. "Please," she said, charmspeak leaking into her voice, though, Leo couldn't tell if she meant to or not. "We need to get through. We'll leave the ship out here."

The guards seemed dazed. "Uh, yeah sure, whatever you say." Frank let out a relieved sigh.

The gate rumbled, and Leo could feel the iron gears turning inside the walls turning, the pulleys lifting the gate out of the way.

Into the city they go.

Okay, sorry for the filler/ short chapter! This chapter and forward are where most of the similarities end. Most battles, trials, etc, will now be courtesy of me! Also sorry for the long wait. I just got (and finished) Trials of Apollo, and Rick, you sir, have been a good author (except those plot twists, cliffhangers, you know, the usual). Now I need the next book...

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

I don't own PJO or HOO.

Also, if you'd like, please go check out a two-shot I just finished called 'Claustrophobic'. It's some sad Leo stuff, so yeah.

Questions? Comments? Concerns?