I do this because I can and hence I will. Hey guys, a completely hypothetical question. Do you remember the Chaos Army story where Percy gets betrayed and all that? Would you be interested to read it?

"Percy, help me!" I yelped.

I shoved my entire body against the left door, pressing it toward the centre. Percy gently placed down Andromeda, before doing the same on the right. There were no handles, or anything else to hold on to. As the elevator car ascended, the Doors shook and tried to open, threatening to spill us into whatever was between life and death.

My shoulders ached. The elevator's easy-listening music didn't help. If all monsters had to hear that song about liking piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, no wonder they were in the mood for carnage when they reached the mortal world.

"We left Bob and Damasen," Percy croaked. "They'll die for us, and we just—"

"I know," I murmured. "By the Gods, Percy, I know."

In a way, I was glad for the job of keeping the Doors closed. The terror racing through my heart at least kept me from dissolving into misery. Abandoning Damasen and Bob had been the hardest thing I ever had to do.

For years at Camp Half-Blood, I had chafed as other campers went on quests while she stayed behind. I had watched as others gained glory...or failed and didn't come back. Since I was seven years old, I had thought: Why don't I get to prove my skills? Why can't I lead a quest?

Now I know. I learned it the hard way. The hardest test for a child of Athena wasn't leading a quest or facing death in combat. It was making the strategic decision to step back, to let someone else take the brunt of the danger—especially when that person was your friend. I had to face the fact that I couldn't protect everyone I loved. I couldn't solve every problem, despite me wanting to.

I hated it, but I didn't have time for self-pity. I blinked away my tears.

"Percy, the Doors," I warned.

The panels had started to slide apart, letting in a whiff of...ozone? Sulfur?

Percy pushed on his side furiously and the crack closed. His eyes blazed with anger. I hoped he wasn't mad at me, but if he was, I couldn't find the heart to blame him. I knew he blamed himself for Bob, for the years he spent at Hades's palace. Now I basically forced him to abandon him.

If it keeps him going, I thought, then let him be angry.

"I will kill Gaia," he muttered. "I will tear her apart with my bare hands."

I nodded, but I was thinking about Tartarus's boast. He could not be killed. Neither could Gaia. Against such power, even Titans and giants were hopelessly outmatched. Demigods stood no chance. (Except maybe Andromeda but we all know that is impossible now)

I also remembered Bob's warning: This may not be the last sacrifice you must make to stop Gaia.

I felt that truth deep in my bones.

"Twelve minutes," I murmured. "Just twelve minutes."

I prayed to my mother that Bob could hold the UP button that long. I prayed for strength and wisdom. I wondered what they would find once we reached the top of this elevator ride.

If our friends weren't there, controlling the other side... "We can do this," Percy said. "We have to."

"Yeah," I said. "Yeah, we do."

We held the Doors shut as the elevator shuddered and the music played and a long lost twin sister slumbered, while somewhere below us, a Titan and a giant sacrificed their lives for our escape.

I didn't want to wake up. You know, I expected to fall asleep at any time. After using up so much energy, healing myself, I was surprised I could've continued. When the shadows forced me to sleep, I didn't put up much of a fight. My brother and Annabeth had to do the rest themselves. Lord Chaos helped us as much as he could. Now they just had to have the strength to sacrifice Bob and Damasen and go to the mortal world. Back to their homes. I didn't know where I was but since the last thing I heard was my brother, I had a feeling I was with them right now.

I had no dreams. I was nowhere and everywhere at the same time. I felt nothing, but I also felt my past tortures. It felt so wrong but so right at the same time. I could feel my skin smoothing over, healing. I have, despite what one might say, never been interested in healing. I didn't have much. I have always relied on power or the Titans healing to make sure I didn't die. With none of that with me, I could only sleep and recover.

There was silence. I was lying down, and I heard nothing. It was peaceful. I like this. Soon, though, I will have to face my actions. I will see Nico di Angelo again. Can I do it? Can I apologise? Luke once told me that saying sorry was when you regret doing something. Do I regret it? Not really. Maybe I will be faced with hate by his friends. Maybe they will sway Percy and Annabeth, though that is highly unlikely. I found I didn't care. Let them hate me. What is my purpose? In the silence, it seems like all these questions have come back again. Annabeth told me my purpose will come to me eventually. I still haven't found it. Was it to help others?

The silence was nice. I like it, love it even. People might find it suffocating. You couldn't move, couldn't do anything. They start fighting it, maybe out of instinct, and then panic as it suffocates them. I welcome the immobilisation. I don't fight as I feel myself sink. When I wake, I will wake, but I am never one to fight sleep. It distracts me from the torture. Granted, sometimes I would relive a moment of torture. I still prefer it.

My hellhounds protected me when I needed them. We didn't communicate, but still they knew. That soothes me. Maybe I won't have to fight them in the mortal world. The thought brings comfort to me. I smile.

Slowly, I could feel myself move. I could hear again, I could hear crappy music, and Percy and Annabeth giving each other encouraging comments.

I didn't force myself up. We were through the worst of the journey. I was of no help now, like back then. I needed the patience to heal. Granted, I was too exhausted afterwards, but I still helped better than with the burns.

"Sephie…" I heard my brother hiss. I must've moved.

"Let her rest." Annabeth said through what I thought were gritted teeth. I was grateful. I didn't want to open my eyes, not now. I just wanted to sleep…

Hazel POV

"What?" Leo screamed as I leaped straight into the pit of snakes, pulling him with me. I focused on blocking out his screams and the pompous weasel clinging to my neck. I bent all my will into redirecting the magic of the Labyrinth.

Pasiphaë laughed with delight, knowing that any moment we would be crushed or bitten to death in a pit of snakes. If that was the case, I wouldn't have done it. I'm not suicidal, I think. Not yet.

Instead, I imagined a chute in the darkness, just to our left. I twisted in midair and fell toward it. We hit the chute hard and slid into the cavern, landing right on top of Pasiphaë.

"Ack!" The sorceress's head smacked against the floor as Leo sat down hard on her chest.

I grunted. For a moment, the three of us (plus a weasel) were a pile of sprawling bodies and flailing limbs. I tried to draw her sword, but Pasiphaë managed to extricate herself first. The sorceress backed away, her hairdo bent sideways like a collapsed cake. Her dress was smeared with grease stains from Leo's tool belt. It was almost funny.

"You miserable wretches!" she howled. As things go… it wasn't the worst insult thrown at me.

The maze was gone. A few feet away, Clytius stood with his back to us, watching the Doors of Death. By my calculation, we had about thirty seconds until Percy and Annabeth arrived. I felt exhausted from running through the maze while controlling the Mist, but I needed to pull off one more trick.

I had successfully made Pasiphaë see what she most desired. Now I had to make the sorceress see what she most feared.

"You must really hate demigods," I said sardonically, trying to mimic the sorceress's vindictive smile. I need to get more acting lessons, I think I might've failed. "We always get the best of you, don't we, Pasiphaë?"

"Nonsense!" screamed Pasiphaë. "I will tear you apart! I will—"

"We're always pulling the rug out from under your feet," I false-sympathized. "Your husband betrayed you. Theseus killed the Minotaur and stole your daughter Ariadne. Now two second-rate failures have turned your own maze against you. But you knew it would come to this, didn't you? You always fall in the end."

"I am immortal!" Pasiphaë wailed. She took a step back, fingering her necklace. "You cannot stand against me!"

"You can't stand at all," I countered. "Look."

I pointed at the feet of the sorceress. A trapdoor opened underneath Pasiphaë. She fell, screaming, into a bottomless pit that didn't really exist. The floor solidified. The sorceress was gone. I was beyond exhausted.

Leo stared at me in amazement. "How did you—"

Just then the elevator dinged. Rather than pushing the UP button, Clytius stepped back from the controls, keeping our friends trapped inside.

"Leo!" I yelled desperately.

We were thirty feet away—much too far to reach the elevator—but Leo pulled out a screwdriver and chucked it like a throwing knife. An impossible shot. The screwdriver spun straight past Clytius and slammed into the UP button.

The Doors of Death opened with a hiss. Black smoke billowed out, and two bodies spilled face-first onto the floor—Percy and Annabeth, limp as corpses.

I sobbed. "Oh, gods..." They were alive. They looked dead, but they did it. That's all that's important.

Leo and I started forward, but Clytius raised his hand in an unmistakable gesture—stop. He lifted his massive reptilian foot over Percy's head.

The giant's smoky shroud poured over the floor, covering Annabeth and Percy in a pool of dark fog.

"Clytius, you've lost," I snarled furiously. "Let them go, or you'll end up like Pasiphaë."

The giant tilted his head. His diamond eyes gleamed. At his feet, Annabeth lurched like she'd hit a power line. She rolled on her back, black smoke coiling from her mouth.

"I am not Pasiphaë." Annabeth spoke in a voice that wasn't hers—the words as deep as a bass guitar. "You have won nothing."

"Stop that!" I cried out in fear. Even from thirty feet away, I could sense Annabeth's life force waning, her pulse becoming thready. Whatever Clytius was doing, pulling words from her mouth—it was killing her.

Clytius nudged Percy's head with his foot. Percy's face lolled to one side.

"Not quite dead." The giant's words boomed from Percy's mouth. "A terrible shock to the mortal body, I would imagine, coming back from Tartarus. They'll be out for a while."

He turned his attention back to Annabeth. More smoke poured from between her lips. "I'll tie them up and take them to Porphyrion in Athens. Just the sacrifice we need. Unfortunately, that means I have no further use for you two."

"Oh, yeah?" Leo growled. "Well, maybe you got the smoke, buddy, but I've got the fire."

His hands blazed. He shot white-hot columns of flame at the giant, but Clytius's smoky aura absorbed them on impact. Tendrils of black haze travelled back up the lines of fire, snuffing out the light and heat and covering Leo in darkness.

Leo fell to his knees, clutching at his throat.

"No!" I ran toward him, but Gale chattered urgently on my shoulder— a clear warning. I still wanted to do it, but I forced myself to stop. Gale hasn't led me wrong. Not yet.

"I would not." Clytius's voice reverberated from Leo's mouth. "You do not understand, Hazel Levesque. I devour magic. I destroy the voice and the soul. You cannot oppose me."

Black fog spread farther across the room, covering Annabeth and Percy, billowing toward me.

Blood roared in my ears. I had to act—but how? If that black smoke could incapacitate Leo so quickly, what chance did I have?

"F-fire," I stammered in a small voice. I cleared my throat and tried again. "You're supposed to be weak against it."

The giant chuckled, using Annabeth's vocal cords this time. "You were counting on that, eh? It is true I do not like fire. But Leo Valdez's flames are not strong enough to trouble me."

"And what about mine?" A voice snapped from deep within the Doors. A disgruntled figure stalked out. I didn't need to know anything to know she wasn't happy, before I gasped. Somehow, whenever we were close to Tartarus, she appeared.

Andy's facial expression showed great displeasure as she walked out of the Doors like she owned the place. Her clothes had changed so I could no longer see her skin, but I sensed something I hadn't before. The Mist clung to her, swirling lazily around her but never leaving her. And I never wanted to be at the receiving end of the glare she gave Clytius. "You couldn't have waited like, I don't know, 30 more minutes before bothering me?"

Clytius seemed equally surprised she was there. From Percy's mouth, he said "Rhea…"

"Wow, old news, mister." She snapped, clearer than before, but equally grouchy. "News flash, I just spent I don't know how long being burned alive. I am not in the mood to listen to this shit."

All the while, I just stood there awkwardly as they argued like some old married couple. Or rather, Andy did and Clytius tried to understand why she was here. "The Doors of Death…"

"Yes, I think we established that like fifty years ago. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm not that invested in fighting you today." She walked right past Clytius and kneeled next to Percy, humming a low tune, sounding too ancient to be anything I understood. For some reason, Clytius did not attack. Perhaps he was too shocked to do anything but stare.

"It seems like the child has lost patience." A soft, lyrical voice said in amusement behind me. "But I haven't. What do you say, old friend? Shall we battle?"

Gale squeaked excitedly, jumping from my shoulder and scampering to the entrance of the cavern where a blond woman stood in a black dress, the Mist swirling around her.

The giant stumbled backward, bumping into the Doors of Death. "You," he said from Leo's mouth.

Andy looked up, unamused, and went back to what she was doing, moving her hand all over Percy's body but not touching him. I was concerned at what she was doing, but right now, Clytius was the more pressing matter.

"Me," Hecate agreed. She spread her arms. Blazing torches appeared in her hands. "It has been millennia since I fought at the side of a demigod, but Hazel Levesque has proven herself worthy. What do you say, Clytius? Shall we play?"

Now, if the giant had ran away screaming, I might've as well gave him an offering to express my gratitude. Then we could tick the second last thing off our list and be closer to having the rest of the day off.

Clytius greatly disappointed me.

When he saw the goddess's torches blazing, the giant seemed to recover his wits. He stomped his foot, shaking the floor and almost stepping on Annabeth's arm. Dark smoke billowed around him until Annabeth, Percy and Andy were totally hidden. I could see nothing but the giant's gleaming eyes. The last thing I saw was an Oscar worthy eye roll by Andy.

"Bold words." Clytius spoke from Leo's mouth. "You forget, goddess. When we last met, you had the help of Hercules and Dionysus—the most powerful heroes in the world, both of them destined to become gods. Now you bring...these?"

Leo's unconscious body contorted in pain.

"Stop it!" I yelled, unable to see my friends in pain and not being able to do anything. Wait, cross the second part out.

I didn't actually plan on what happened next. I didn't wake up this morning and think oh! You know what, today I'm going to do something I'm not even sure will kill me or not.

I acted on pure instinct, I had to protect my friends. I imagined them, Leo, Percy, Annabeth and, yes, even Andy, behind me the same way I had imagined new tunnels appearing in Pasiphaë's Labyrinth. Leo dissolved. He reappeared at my feet, along with Percy and Annabeth. Andy looked up and glared half-heartedly at me before turning her focus back at Percy. I could hear his breathing growing more evenly, but I didn't understand. The look she shot at me was dazed, half-sleepy. But Nico told us so many times Andy wouldn't do anything for free. So what happened in Tartarus that changed that she would heal Percy? The Mist whirled around me, spilling over the stones and enveloping my friends. Where the white Mist met the dark smoke of Clytius, it steamed and sizzled, like lava rolling into the sea.

Leo opened his eyes and gasped. "Wh-what...?"

Andy got up, moving over to Annabeth. I could sense their heartbeats getting stronger the longer Andy hummed her song.

On Hecate's shoulder, Gale the polecat barked with admiration.

The goddess stepped forward, her dark eyes glittering in the torchlight. "You're right, Clytius. Hazel Levesque is not Hercules or Dionysus, but I think you will find her just as formidable."

Through the smoky shroud, I saw the giant open his mouth. No words came out. Clytius sneered in frustration.

Leo tried to sit up. "What's going on? What can I—"

"Watch Percy and Annabeth." I drew my spatha. "Stay behind me. Stay in the Mist."

"But—"

The look I gave him must have been more severe than I realised.

Leo gulped. "Yeah, got it. White Mist good. Black smoke bad."

I advanced.

It is quite funny when you think of it. All I wanted was a nice sleep. The ground I was sleeping on hadn't even been that bad. Then of course, stupid Clytius had to be dramatic and wake me up by harming Percy.

I glared at the skinny boy as I worked quickly to heal Annabeth. It wasn't even that bad. A bit of a sprain on her knee from where she landed every time she jumped over something. A bit of hysteria from processing everything. Cuts and bruises from the fights. Nothing I couldn't handle. But where did I see this boy? And who is he? Oh yes, the boy who I thought was an annoyance. He is very annoying when I see him with my own eyes though. I can understand why the Giants would hate him. He was the one with the three eidolons and the strange room I had seen through Crystal's eyes. All those foreign mechanics. I wasn't the only one who had no idea what was going on though. I could see it in Hazel and Frank's eyes; they also had no clue what the boy had been rambling about.

As Hazel fought with Hecate—a former ally of Kronos—I focused on my brother and Annabeth. They were coming out of their shock, that's a good thing.

The boy started laughing weakly. "So, um, my name's Leo. What's yours, beautiful?"

"My name isn't beautiful." I said in confusion. "And I thought Nico already introduced me before?"

His mouth formed an O. "You were the hot chick. So that's why I thought you looked familiar."

"Aren't you in love with someone else?" I was quite familiar with the look in his eyes. It was the same look Percy has when looking at Annabeth. It is clear he's not easily infatuated, so his girlfriend must be somewhere else. Must be very recent if he still hasn't gotten rid of the habit of calling other girls 'hot'.

"How did you know?" Leo suddenly paled. "Is it obvious?"

"Quite, actually." I stated truthfully. "Do you like fire?"

"What kind of a question is that?" He snapped his fingers. A small flame appeared. I watched, mesmerised at the precision he had if he was able to do that. Rarely, I could do that. That big fireball had been unintentional. My fires were out of control, I couldn't tell them where to be half the time. Fascinating.

"You do not worry you will get burned?"

"Um, no. I'm fireproof. Usually, I'm worried that my clothes will be burned." Leo explained, looking weirded out. I suppose first impressions last. I hardly cared about image though.

"How odd. I'm the opposite. Lord Chaos summons these clothes for me," I motioned to the clothes I had on. They were simple but compared to them, I might as well be wearing a dress adorned in jewels, "and they are indestructible. Easy to wear, easy to move in, but rarely anything can tear it. Unless you are Tartarus of course. Usually when my clothes are spotless, I have countless injuries behind them."

His eyes were widened. "Now I remember! Your name's Andy, isn't it? Nico said you…" he drifted off awkwardly.

I shrugged. "I'm not sure what he said but I think he only said it based on what he knows. You can believe them if you want, I don't care how people see me. I'm barely seeing myself right now." I smiled at myself. "I mean, I'm slowly getting the pieces to piecing who I am, but that's going way too slowly."

"Huh?" He looked so confused.

"Lethe." I said simply. "She's a bitch."

"Ohh! Yeah. She's the one who makes you lose your memories, right?"

"Yep. A bitch, like I said." He flinched as the sound of chains breaking and shattering. "Ah, Styx! I completely forgot we weren't alone."

"Yeah, Percy says I have this impact on others that just makes them forget they're in the middle of a fight." I said, totally at ease as Leo struggles to find what to do. "So… you wanna just continue talking?"

"Not when my friend's in danger of dying!" He gestured wildly to Hazel who looked about to crumple. I sighed. I kinda enjoyed talking.

"Fine. Afterwards?"

"If we survive, maybe." His eyes were wide, and wild.

"Fine. You got yourself a deal then." I leaned in conspiratorially and winked at him. "Watch my flames."

Hazel POV

Andy kept Leo busy, which eased me. Somewhat. At least it allowed me to focus in battle, although it hardly helped. I was at my wits' end, when I did what I thought was the stupidest thing of all.

I threw my sword at the Doors of Death.

I heard Clytius roar so loudly that a half dozen stelae fell from the ceiling and shattered as the Doors shuddered and disappeared in a flash of purpose light.

"That was for my brother, Nico," I gasped in exhaustion and pain, but also in victory. "And for destroying my father's altar."

You have forfeited your right to a quick death, the giant snarled. I will suffocate you in darkness, slowly, painfully. Hecate cannot help you. NO ONE can help you!

The goddess raised her torches. "I would not be so certain, Clytius. All we needed was time—time you have given them with your boasting and bragging."

Clytius snorted, but faded into silence as Andy suddenly said, "and here I was hoping for a semi-normal life."

Hecate nodded at Andy. "Rhea."

"I remember you." Andy grinned boyishly. "Do you remember me?" Again with the cryptic words!

"Kronos wanted to bring you to New York after he invaded the Gods." Hecate said neutrally as my heart almost stopped. "His plans weren't opposed."

"I guessed you would tell me that." Andy shrugged. "It's okay though, I've made peace with it." She then raised her hands, winking at me. "Want to watch a show, Hazel Levesque? You know, you are quite famous down there in Tartarus."

Then the ground exploded.