Chapter 3

When word got out that Annabeth, Nico and Percy were moving to Auradon, no one was more excited than the son Hercules. Henry had grown up watching the adventures of the great Percy Jackson and his friends, dreaming of the day when he could set sail for Camp Half-Blood and have adventures with other demigods like him. So, when he found that his childhood heroes were enrolling in his school, Henry felt like he had died and gone to Elysium. Especially when he found out that he'd get to be roommates with Nico.

Nico Di Angelo, the Ghost King who survived the Labyrinth, Tartarus and shadow-traveled the Athena Parthenos half-across the world! Henry couldn't wait to go on quests with the greatest son of Hades who ever lived. Only they hadn't been on any quests. Ever since Uma disappeared, things had been quiet in Auradon. Until Nico got summoned to Fairy Godmother's office with Annabeth, Carlos, Jane and Percy. Henry and his friends knew exactly what that meant.

"Dude!" The son of Hercules jumped as Nico shadow-traveled into their dorm room.

Nico rolled his eyes. He didn't know what he did to get stuck with the son of Hercules for a roommate, but the two of them were as different as night and day. Their dorm room was proof of that.

Nico's bed was cloaked in blackout curtains. Henry's bed was right next to the window so he could rise with the sun. Nico kept his stygian iron sword and armor neatly displayed on a mannequin. Henry's imperial gold armor and weapons spilled out of his storage trunk like pirate treasure. Nico had a magic microwave that created McDonald's combo meals at the press of a button. Henry had an enchanted minifridge that never ran out of nectar-infused protein shakes. Nico's wall was covered with vintage movie posters. Henry had a calendar that kept track of his various workout routines. Nico had a small shrine to Hades made of bones, iron, and jewels. Henry had his Heracles' old celestial bronze dumbbells. After a month of living in Auradon, Nico was convinced he and Henry only had two things in common: they both were highly trained demigods and they both liked playing Mythomagic.

And yet, Henry kept trying to find some sort of common ground with Nico. He was basically the kid brother Nico never asked for. Always following him around and pestering him questions. Percy thought it was funny. Said Nico was the same way when he first got to Camp Half-Blood. Nico didn't see it.

"Bro, where have you been?" Henry asked "No one's seen you left campus with your sister."

"Official business for the queen," Nico answered, grabbing a duffel bag out of the closet, and filling it clothes.

Henry knew what that meant. "You got us a quest, didn't you? Please tell me you got us a quest. We're finally going on a quest!"

"No. I got a quest," Nico corrected as he continued to pack "You're staying here."

"Aw, come on!" Henry whined "How are we supposed to be the world's next half-blood duo if we never go on any quest together?"

Nico suppressed a groan. He really hoped he wasn't this annoying when he first got to Camp Half-Blood.

"Come on, Nico. We can help," Henry insisted "You got to take me with you."

"Not my call. Mal and Percy picked the team, not me. Where'd I put those Pomegranate seeds?" Nico thought aloud.

"Can you at least tell us where you're going?" Henry asked.

Nico sighed and filled them in.

"Holy Hercules. Circe is Evie's grandma? Evie's grandma is Celia's sister?" Henry realized. "That's…really weird."

"Try having a friend who's also your great-times a thousand nephew," said Nico, shoving a week's worth of nectar and ambrosia into his bag "My sister Hazel told me that Percy nearly fell off a roof when he found out Frank Zhang was a son of Mars and a descendant of Poseidon."

"I still don't see why we don't get to go," said Henry "I helped Percy protect Auradon when Uma and Jackie attacked. Come on, Cousin Nico. I've been training for this my whole life. Literally."

"Our crew's big enough already. At Camp Half-Blood, we rarely ever sent more than three people on the same quest." Nico paused as remembered what happened to his sister Bianca Di Angelo. His time in Tartarus. "Bad things happen when more than three people on a single quest."

"How many people are going with you?"

"A lot. If it were up to me, the team would be cut in half," Nico muttered, as he zipped his bag shut. Nico felt a twinge of guilt when he saw disappointed look on Henry's face.

"Look, Circe trained nearly every sorceress from the Isle. If word gets out that their old mentor's making a power play for Auradon, they might try some of their old tricks. Someone needs to keep an eye on the home front. That's where you and the freshmen come in. Think of it like capture the flag," Nico suggested "I'm on offense. You guys are on defense."

Henry straightened up and smiled. "We won't let you down. And if you get into trouble, send an Iris-Message. I'll get Pegasus and round up the calvary."

"Sure kid." Nico hefted his bag over his shoulder and headed out the door. Being a friend was a new experience for Nico. But he liked it.

Triton hated dirty dishes. Ever since his father had cursed him with mortality, the rightful heir of Poseidon had been forced to serve that upstart Percy Jackson, who dragged him out of bed at dawn every weekend and forced him to search for the blasted Uma. And when he wasn't doing that, he was forced to be a serving wench on the Isle. During the cleanup of Uma's little rebellion, Tyson helped Gil and Harry rebuild Uma's family tavern, where Percy put Triton to work while he was at school. Gil and Harry were the waiters. Percy's mother Sally was the manager. Tyson was the cook. And Triton? Triton was the busboy.

"Triton!" Sally shouted, "Come take these orders to table twelve."

The heir of Poseidon scowled as he finished cleaning the latest table, rolling up his sleeves and did as he was told, filling his arms with food, only to drop two of them when a customer bumped into him.

Triton let a string of dolphin curses. The second he gained is godhood back, he was going to send this cursed tavern straight to the depths. As if his day couldn't get any worse, Percy Jackson arrived. The champion of Olympus loved nothing more than to make a massive mess just to watch Triton clean it up.

"What do you want?" Triton asked.

"Nice to see you too big brother," Percy greeted, knowing how much the reminder of their relation irritated Triton.

"Well, well, well," Harry Hook stepped away from one of his tables and addressed Percy coldly "The prince of the seas himself. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Can we talk?" Percy asked "It's about Uma."

Percy told them everything. How Uma was kidnapping girls for Circe, who was brainwashing Evie to be the leader of her uprising.

"So Circe has found us at last," Triton said grimly "That witch is half the reason Olympus hid Auradon away in the first place."

"This is all your fault," Harry told Percy "If you hadn't gone after Uma, none of this would've happened!"

"Harry stop it," said Sally "Percy's been helping us look for Uma."

"When it's convenient for him. When he wasn't too busy playing big man on campus. Bugger cares more about being crown cotillion king than finding his own sister! And now poor Evie's paying for it!"

"Don't yell at Percy!" Tyson threatened.

"Harry's right," Percy admitted "I haven't looked for Uma like I said I would. But that changes right now. I'm going to bring my sister home," he vowed "figured you guys would want in."

"Yay!" Tyson cheered "Blow things up time!"

"When do we set sail?" Harry asked.

"Dawn tomorrow," Percy answered, "Look I'll be honest. You and Gil are best bet at bringing Uma home. But sailing to Circe's island literally means sailing past the edge of the map."

"Sounds terrifying," Grover said. "Mind if I come?"

Percy turned around and saw his best friend walking into the restaurant, wearing a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt and his reed pipes.

For the past month, Grover had been traveling Auradon with Jay and Lonnie, tracking down half-blood and searching for a good place to set up the kingdom's official demigod camp.

Percy jumped out of his seat and gave the satyr a massive hug. Percy need to didn't say him how good it was to see him. Thanks to their empathy link, Grover already knew.

"I missed you buddy," said Percy.

"I missed you too. Carlos called. We got here as quick as we could. So, who wants to go fight a crazy man-hating goddess?"

Carlos and Mal stood outside their childhood home, a million different memories racing through their hearts.

After the unanimous decision to save Evie and Uma, both Annabeth and Ben had agreed that they needed information regarding Evie's familiar connection to Circe. Annabeth wanted to contact Chiron back at Camp Half-Blood. But Ben was the one who suggested going to straight to source and interrogate the Evil Queen herself.

Once upon a time, Baragan Castle had been the most infamous castle on the Isle of the Lost. And the only castle on the Isle of the Lost. A dark massive structure made of stone and twisted metal, surrounded by gargoyles, a rusted iron gate and several keep out signs promising everything kind of threat from being eaten by a dragon to being turned to stone.

"This is where you guys grew up?" Annabeth asked, studying the architecture "I could've designed it better."

Ben chuckled. "You say that about every castle, Aunt Anna."

Over the past month, Annabeth had become incredibly close to her Auradon relatives, so much so that she allowed Ben to call her Anna without the threating to show him the business end of her knife.

"The place change much?" Ben asked Mal.

"Not really," she answered as she struggled to keep her voice level "Pretty much exactly how we left it."

"When was the last time you guys were here?"

"Four months ago. After we built the bridge."

"Carlos, are you okay?" Jane asked.

Carlos blinked as his girlfriend took his hand, his face pale and hands clammy.

"Yeah," he said with a shaky breath "Just bracing myself, you know?"

Mal nodded, remembering the less than warm welcome the VKs received the last time they came home. The descendants of Olympus stepped through the castle doors. Their footsteps echoed through the empty halls. The furniture was covered in cobwebs. Dust-covered portraits of villains hung on the walls.

Carlos flinched as he nearly stepped on his mother's beloved leopard skin rug, remembering what happened the last time he got dirt on it.

"Hello?" Mal called, only to be answered by her echo.

Ben yelped as a spider scurried in front of him, just before his wife trampled it with her heel. "Thanks."

"Maybe we should split up?" Annabeth suggested.

"Not unless you want to get caught in one of my mom's traps," Carlos warned.

"Well, well, well," a voice called from the darkness.

Mal steeled her nerves as the Evil Queen walked into view.

"If it isn't the queen and king of Auradon," the Evil Queen greeted with an exaggerated bow "And their little friends."

"It's a little early for that isn't it?" Mal asked as the Evil Queen took a sip from her favorite wine goblet.

"A queen does as she pleases. You should know that by now, Malevolence."

"Don't call me that. Where are the others?"

"Jafar's long gone, kids. He left the day after you built the bridge, said something about finding some book. As Cruella, I'm afraid she doesn't leave her bed much these days."

Carlos winced.

The Evil Queen raised an eyebrow as Annabeth started pacing around her.

"Something I can help you with, owl girl?"

"Just taking it in," Annabeth replied coolly "You know, ever since the gods vowed to start claiming their kids, I've met a lot of unique demigods in my day. Children of Iris, Nike, Hecate, Hypnos. Never thought I'd meet a daughter of Circe."

The Evil Queen scowled. "I was never Circe's daughter. I was her experiment. A chance to test her theory regarding the relationship between the power of the Big Three and their demigod offspring. An experiment that failed miserably as far as Circe is concerned."

Annabeth and Ben shared a glance, silently agreeing that this theory was worth looking into.

"You weren't on Percy's list of Auradon demigods," Annabeth went on "I'm guessing that you were claimed when you were our age?"

"Wow. You really are a smart one," the Evil Queen said sarcastically "Yes, I was one of Chiron's little students. But I doubt my welcome was as warm as yours."

"You were placed in the Hermes cabin. Along with all the other minor half-bloods."

"It was actually more of a castle," The Evil Queen corrected "from the moment I set foot in that camp, I was a pariah. The child of an evil goddess who turned men into pigs and roasted them over a spit. The boys avoided me like I was the plague. And the girls made sure I never forgot that I didn't belong. Especially the daughters of Aphrodite, who told me day after day that I was nothing more than a hideous witch. Eventually, my father married me off to a northern king who'd been widowed."

"Evie and Snow White's father."

The Evil Queen's face softened. "He was the first person who made me feel beautiful. A mighty warrior, a wise ruler, a doting father and a loving husband. One day, he was injured defending the kingdom from a giant. I begged my mother for a spell that would save him. I should've known better. All magic comes with a price. About a month later, I learned who the mother of my stepdaughter truly really was. Aphrodite," she said with a sneer "The mother of all the little brats who tortured me. I saw the opportunity to get my revenge, so I took it. You know the rest."

The Evil Queen sighed and took a long sip from her goblet.

"Why are you here?" she asked "I doubt it was just to force me to take a traumatizing trip down memory lane."

"Evie's missing," Mal said bluntly, prompting the Evil Queen's face to turn pale. "Your mother took her. We need to know why."

The Evil Queen scoffed. "I haven't spoken to my mother since I got married. And even if I did know anything, what makes you think I'd tell you?"

"Because I'm asking you as Evie's best friend. Or I can order you as your queen," Mal offered as her eyes started to glow "and the queen does not take no for an answer."

"Duly noted, your royal purpelness," Jay commented as he walked in.

The son of Jafar wore a burgundy leather jacket over a gold t-shirt and ripped blue jeans, a bright red beanie on his head and a leather bag over his shoulder.

"Fret not. Your most loyal knight has arrived," he assured with an bow.

Mal laughed and gave her friend a massive hug. "I missed you."

"Missed you guys too. Guess somethings never change huh?" he asked, shooting a glare at the Evil Queen "Is it wine o'clock already?"

"I'm celebrating," Evil Queen slurred "It's a regular family reunion. Care for a cup?"

"I'll settle for anything that'll help us save Evie."

"Sorry kids, you're on your own. I've done all I can for Evie."

Annabeth scoffed. "Yeah, raising her to be a gold-digging trophy wife was really helpful."

"I raised my Evie to survive," Evil Queen said defensively "The only way a woman can survive in Auradon. Forget magic and snag a handsome prince with a fat wallet. Don't believe me? Take good look at your little ringleader."

The Evil Queen jabbed a finger straight at Mal.

"The most infamous daughter of the Isle who married her way into the royal family of Auradon."

Mal resisted the urge to introduce the Evil Queen to her dragon teeth. "We're wasting our time. Let's get out of here."

"Wait." The Evil Queen kept her eyes glued on her wine as they paused.

"My husband was a demigod too. A master of magic. My mother feared his power," she informed "I managed to hold on to one of spells books. It's in the study."

"Thank you," Mal said gratefully.

"Don't thank me," the Evil Queen said with a tremble in her voice "Just bring my daughter home."

Mal nodded, and lead the others outside, where they found Lonnie catching up with Nico, Percy, Grover, Tyson, Triton, Gil and Harry.

Mal glanced around at the crew she had assembled. The best and brightest from Auradon, the Isle and Camp Half-Blood. "Let's go show grandma C.C that we're rotten."

"To the core," they said in unison.