Characters: Percy Jackson- Omega, Luke Castellan- Alpha, Zoë- Beta, Bianca di Angelo -Theta, Phoebe-Eta, Charles Beckendorf- Delta, Silena Beauregard - Gamma, Ethan Nakamura- Iota, Castor- Kappa, Lee Fletcher- Zeta, Michael Yew-Epsilon

AN: Hey guys, this is long over- due and I'm so sorry. It's been so busy these past couple months and I expect it to only get busier. I'm going to try writing more often again as it helps me a lot. Anyways hope you enjoy :*

Chapter 13

Annabeth crept along behind Chiron and Omega as they made their way into the Big House. Once they entered his office, she crept into the house.

Since no one would inform her on any of the Shadow Knights, she would have to find out who they were for herself. They all seemed comfortable around Chiron, especially Omega, therefore she decided to use him to find the Knights' identities.

The boys were already talking, and Omega was reaching to push his hood back as she reached the open office door. Then Stephen burst through the front door. Omega dropped his hands and looked toward the door expectantly. Stephen reeled back when he saw Annabeth, but then strode over to the door to push it open. She followed him into the office. Omega had let his hand drop from his hood and stood as still as a rock facing Stephen, while Chiron looked on with a little surprise.

"You want somebody to fight, do you?" He asked taking another step towards Omega. Omega reacted only by dipping his head in agreement. "Let's go then. You and me."

"Right now?" Omega asked in a soft voice. He seemed almost happy about Stephen challenging him.

"Are you scared Shadow Knight?" He sneered the name and Omega stood up straight as quick as a snake.

"No, but Chiron and I were just having a private conversation, which the two of you barged into," Omega said stiffly, "and if I recall you didn't say anything out in the arena earlier."

Stephen was getting red in the face and his jaw was clenched. Firmly, he said, "Well if you're too scared to fight you can just say so. And she wasn't with me," he added nodding at Annabeth.

Omega gave her a questioning look, and she glared at him coldly. He put up his hands in mock surrender and then turned back to Stephen. "I'll fight you. But not right now," he added as Stephen started to smirk. "I have a mission to complete. Don't forget, there is a war happening outside these walls."

"The war doesn't matter, the camp needs to see that I'm better than you; cause I am." Stephen demanded.

At this, Omega chuckled a bit, and then turned to Chiron. "We'll finish our talk when there's less of an audience. However I wasn't lying when I said I had a mission, I'll be on my way now." He stopped by Annabeth and bowed overdramatically, "Good day m'lady."

"Alright, did Artemis tell you of the mission?" Percy asked.

"Of course she did, I'm the lieutenant of her hunters. Are you ready yet, or are you going to fight another pretty boy?" Thalia asked.

Percy smirked, but said, "no, that's not until we get back. Did you hear who asked to fight me after the fact?"

"No, who are you fighting this time?" she asked.

"Stephen, now there's a pretty boy." he chuckled. "Now, I was thinking we would take Nico with us. Although I've been down there several times, Nico can get us in and out of there the fastest. And I'm expecting an attack during my next fight."

"Alright, let's get him." Thalia said calmly.

"No objections?" Percy was astonished.

"No, I agree with you wholeheartedly."

"Lord Hades, we have a package for you from Lady Artemis," Omega said, walking up to Hades and Persephone with Thalia and Nico following.

"And what is it?" Hades asked curiously.

Thalia presented him with a letter, "it's her agreement to your earlier discussion."

Hades smiled, "so she finally agreed, did she? Why is it, that she sent a Shadow Knight and my own son with one of her hunters?"

"She assigned me because we know each other from my life before a Knight and she trusts me to protect her huntress." Thalia gave Omega a smoldering look, so he amended with, "not that she can't take care of herself. Of course."

Nico laughed. It was weird to see him smile with a total stranger, which got Hades to thinking again: who is this Shadow Knight? How has he risen to such power? "They brought me of course, to sweet talk their way into your palace."

"Sweet talk?" Hades raised an eyebrow and Omega scowled, making raise his other eyebrow too.

"Get in to talk to you easily," Nico explained. He put a hand on Omega's arm and he looked down at him. It was weird how much taller Omega was compared to his son.

"You couldn't have just said you had a package for me?" Hades questioned.

"Is this an interrogation now, Lord Hades?" Thalia asked. "We couldn't be sure that they would let us in that easily, especially Omega over here."

"How are you sure they'll let you out easily too?"

"Dad!" Nico shouted in protest, to which Hades held up his hand.

"And what is it you want, my lord?" Omega asked. He was looking straight at Hades, he could feel the eye contact, but it was weird not being able to see the eyes.

"I want to see who you are," he stated.

"He has a right to keep it to himself!" Nico objected.

"And who will you share this information with?" Omega questioned over Nico's objection.

"Just myself, nobody else has to know, though I've come to know that my son and Zues' daughter know your identity already." Hades answered.

"Yes they do. They are both close friends and they have the trust to know who I am. You have never betrayed my trust, although we're not too close." Omega explained.

"Do we have a deal, you can leave if you show me who you are, granted that I don't tell anybody your identity?" Hades asked.

"Swear on the River Styx." He stated.

"I swear on the River Styx that I will not repeat your identity to anybody or anything." Hades swore and Omega took off his hood, revealing none other than Percy Jackson. "No wonder these two are so close to you," he said simply.

"What? No hug for your nephew? Eh, I'd probably smell like death after anyways." He said and Hades couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not.

"On your way then," Hades replied and they started to turn around. "Oh, and Percy?" He looked back, "I'm glad you're back, we need you."

"I know," he said as they left the palace, Percy pulling up his hood.

Right when Percy got back Stephen walked up to him. "Are you ready to lose?"

"What makes you so sure you're going to win?" Thalia asked him, walking out of the shadows.

Percy turned back to catch hold of Nico as he stumbled, being the last to come out of the shadows. "You okay Neeks?" He whispered.

"Will." He said and then passed out. Nico was strong, but he hadn't slept well in the past few days and Percy easily picked him up.

"You can wait." Percy said to Stephen who gaped at him. "Thalia find Will, have him meet me in the Hades cabin."

She ran off and as Percy started to walk towards the cabin, Stephen started to follow. Percy swung around angrily. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm making sure you don't bail on the fight," he answered confidently.

"Meet me at Zeus' fist in twenty minutes, and be ready. But for right now, my friend needs me." Stephen stayed put, a twitch in his eye the only response. "Go!" Percy yelled and Stephen turned tail and ran.

Percy was about ten feet away when someone yelled, "Omega!"

He sighed, "when will they leave me alone?"

The person caught up to him and kept pace. "What's wrong with Nico?" Annabeth asked.

"He passed out, over exertion." Percy replied. "Why were you doing eavesdropping earlier?"

She blushed at this, but kept her back straight. "Trying to see why you fought Grady to the point of knockout in the arena earlier."

"You're lying," Percy stated matter- of- factly.

"No I'm not!" She denied.

"Yes you are, you've always been a terrible liar," he said, and then realizing what he said thought Oh shit.

"What do you mean 'I've always been?'" She asked.

"I've heard stories that's all," he responded calmly, his heart racing.

"Bull. Truth for truth?" She asked.

"But I already know your truth. And I'm sure you know mine, although you don't want to admit it." Her mouth opened and then closed.

"Fine. Where are you taking Nico? The infirmary is over there," she said pointing back where they came from.

"He doesn't need to go to the infirmary," Percy stated. "He just needs his boyfriend."

"His- oh, Will?" Annabeth asked.

"No, Santa Claus," Percy said, his voice dripping sarcasm.

"Well there's no need to be mean," she said.

"Oh, I have all the reason in the world." Percy said as they reached Nico's door.

"You say the oddest things. Like what am I supposed to take from that?"

"It's open to interpretation," he said and closed the door in her face. He walked over to Nico's bed and lay him down gently.

Annabeth slowly opened the door, so as to not make a sound. Omega was slowly lowering Nico to his bed. He ran his fingers through Nico's hair, pushing it out of his face. She heard feet running up to the cabin, so she slipped her Yankee's cap on and stepped to the side so as to not get trampled.

Will pushed the door open and just before Thalia went to close the door, she slipped through.

"What happened?" Will nearly shouted running up to the bed. Omega stood up and took a step back folding his hands in front of him and looking down at Nico.

"He passed out after shadow traveling," Omega responded.

"Why did you make him use his power?! It's dangerous for him, don't you know?" Will glared at Omega. Annabeth felt bad for Omega, seeing as how he was just being so gentle with Nico.

"I didn't mean to hurt him, I didn't know he'd been sleeping so little. But Nico is strong, he'll get through this. He always has," Omega's voice faded at the last sentence, but Will heard it and looked up confusingly.

"How do you know Nico so well? Who are you?" His voice was softer this time, sensing Omega's pain.

"Omega-" Thalia started.

"No Thals, it's okay. Will can be trusted," he said dropping his hood. Will looked up at him in astonishment, but that was nothing compared to Annabeth's reaction. She gasped, reeling back knocking off her hat, reaching to open the door and slam it closed as she ran into the forest. The last thing she saw was Percy's surprised look as he looked over his shoulder at her.