Can I just say I published this all while in school? I missed my beloved recess for this. Hopefully my efforts weren't in vain and you like this chapter. Happy reading!

Also, please just for Gods' sake review. If not, I hope none of you will be unhappy about what I choose. I did give you the choice to choose. You were the ones who didn't take it, you can't blame me.

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KryptonJoyWrites: Thank you for reviewing. I'll be sure to take note of them. Of course, I won't delay the twins meeting. Somewhere along going to the Doors of Death, they'll know. For Annabeth, I'm going to wait it out a little, you'll know why.

Nico POV

Waking up was bad enough. I had starved for a week. After suffering through Tartarus then going through that, I didn't move much. Barely lifted my head and didn't use my strength to speak loud. I was haunted with nightmares of the monsters as they overwhelmed me and Andy's nonchalant look as the monsters appeared. Hazel stayed with me 24/7 which I liked. Andy may not have wanted to leave Tartarus, but I had no doubt she would send someone to get her key that I hid in the shadows. Like how she had first shown me the key, I was able to hide the key in the same way. When I was waking, I thought… I thought I felt claws on me. Not injuring me but just searching. Hazel said there had been no one so I cannot confirm if it was real or not.

Hazel cared for me, telling me what happened with the 7, how they were going to get Annabeth now. She told me Percy mentioned the cracks that led to Tartarus. I couldn't help imagining Andy rising, holding her sword like a princess warrior and killing me for what I did.

I had started to talk to Hazel when Leo suddenly started praising Frank and his ability to read chinese. It was interrupted by Hazel who wanted to share what I told her. I got to my feet with Hazel's help, thanking them and telling them I lost hope. My stomach felt like it was an endless pit. No matter what, I felt like I couldn't satisfy the hunger—like the prince who was cursed by Demeter. Hopefully I won't die like him, that would've wasted their efforts.

Percy said, "You knew about the two camps all along. You could have told me who I was the first day I arrived at Camp Jupiter, but you didn't." I leaned against the helm, not looking at him. "Percy, I'm sorry. I discovered Camp Jupiter last year. My dad led me there, though I wasn't sure why. He told me the gods had kept the camps separate for centuries and that I couldn't tell anyone. The time wasn't right. But he said it would be important for me to know..." I interrupted myself as I doubled over in a fit of coughing. Hazel held my shoulders until I stopped and stood again.

"I—I thought Dad meant because of Hazel," I continued softly. "I'd need a safe place to take her. But now...I think he wanted me to know about both camps so I'd understand how important your quest was, and so I'd search for the Doors of Death." The air turned electric—literally, as Jason started throwing off sparks.

"Did you find the doors?" Percy asked. "That's what's important right now."

I shook my head. "I was a fool. I thought I could go anywhere in the Underworld, but I walked right into Gaea's trap. I learned of the location of the doors and was going there when her allies caught me. I—" my voice broke as I recalled what happened. Shouts of pain, my blood splattering, Andy's cold eyes. "It was like running from a black hole."

"Um..." Frank chewed his lip. "What kind of black hole are you talking about?"

I turned to Hazel. I didn't want to say it a second time. When Otis and Ephialtes dragged me out of Tartarus, I was hanging on by the thread and I could listen, a little. Enough to understand. But it just brought bitterness that Andy didn't warn me.

Hazel gently placed her hand on my arm. "Nico told me that the Doors of Death have two sides—one in the mortal world, one in the Underworld. The mortal side of the portal is in Greece. It's heavily guarded by Gaea's forces. That's where they brought Nico back into the upper world. Then they transported him to Rome."

Piper must've been nervous, because her cornucopia spit out a cheeseburger. When did she get that? I never knew they were up for sale or something. "Where exactly in Greece is this doorway?"

I tried to take in a breath but it was too shaky. "The House of Hades. It's an underground temple in Epirus. I can mark it on a map, but—but the mortal side of the portal isn't the problem. In the Underworld, the Doors of Death are in...in..." I didn't continue. It was hopeless. I was so foolish to shadow-travel there. I was even more foolish to ever think Tartarus was like the Underworld and that I had some control over it. The first time I saw Andy was when I understood that.

Percy looked like a bucket of cold water was dumped on him. "Tartarus," he guessed. "The deepest part of the Underworld."

I nodded. "I—I thought I could get there myself. I was wrong. The things I saw down there..." my voice broke, I couldn't continue.

Hazel pursed her lips. "No mortal has ever been to Tartarus," she explained. "At least, no one has ever gone in and returned alive. It's the maximum-security prison of Hades, where the old Titans and the other enemies of the gods are bound. It's where all monsters go when they die on the earth. It's...well, no one knows exactly what it's like." I did. Andy did. She lived there. If we contacted her, she could help us. But she didn't care about human activities. Unless we somehow convince her that her life would be affected, she wouldn't bother about a world she had barely got to see.

Hazel passed me my sword which I used like a cane. "Now I understand why Hades hasn't been able to close the doors," I said. "Even the gods don't go into Tartarus." Thanatos would never stay there long enough to close the doors, even he was afraid.

Leo glanced over from the wheel. "So let me guess. We'll have to go there."

I shook his head. They couldn't go there, it was suicide. I survived because of Andy. By the looks of things, she would never, ever trust demigods again. Especially if they mention me. "It's impossible. I'm the son of Hades, and even I barely survived. Gaea's forces overwhelmed me instantly. They're so powerful down there...no demigod would stand a chance. I almost went insane." Andy… she considered herself inhumane and not in a good way. I was not certain if I lied about the last part or not.

"Then we'll sail for Epirus," Percy said. "We'll just close the gates on this side."

"I wish it were that easy," I said. Truly, if it was, I could've avoided many things. "The doors would have to be controlled on both sides to be closed. It's like a double seal. Maybe, just maybe, all seven of you working together could defeat Gaea's forces on the mortal side, at the House of Hades. But unless you had a team fighting simultaneously on the Tartarus side, a team powerful enough to defeat a legion of monsters in their home territory—"

"There has to be a way," Jason said. Everyone kept silent. I looked out, we were descending toward a palace-like building.

"We'll figure out the Tartarus problem later," Percy decided. "Is that the Emmanuel Building?"

Leo nodded. "Bacchus said something about the parking lot in the back? Well, there it is. What now?"

"We have to get Annabeth out," Percy said. I forced back the bitterness that formed hearing the concern he had. Percy was off-limits to me, why couldn't I just learn?

"Well, yeah," Leo agreed. "But, uh..." He looked like he wanted to say, What if we're too late? Wisely, he changed tack. "There's a parking lot in the way." Percy looked at Coach Hedge. "Bacchus said something about breaking through. Coach, you still have ammo for those ballistae?" The satyr grinned like a wild goat. Too wild for my liking. "I thought you'd never ask."

Andy POV

I reached. I gaze up at the cave-like tunnel. "Since this is your body, Tartarus," I mumble as the winds pick me up, making me fly with insane speed, going much faster than I would've falling down. "Would this be your throat?" I never knew why, maybe it's because of Chaos, but whenever I reached an exit or entrance to Tartarus, they would pick me up and try to send me up. Before, I had fought against it, but now I welcome it. "The lengths I have gone to for my key. One week, Nico. You owe me much and I think you know of it as well."

Nico POV

The place imploded, folding into itself. The carpark we bombed became nothing but a big hole. The cars that had been there previously were gone. We descended into the darkness that reminded me too much of Andy. I am unused to the bright light. Her exact words. The sky may be bright but the cavern was originally dark. Andy might still come. I stiffened. Beside me, Hazel laid her hand on mine. "Annabeth!" Percy yelled from where he was leaning over the rail, loud enough for all of us to hear despite the chaos being created. A small "here" was heard.

The Argo II stopped 40 feet from the floor. It lowered a rope ladder, but Annabeth stood in a daze, staring into the darkness. I was almost worried but Percy went next to her, lacing his fingers in hers. He turned her gently away from the pit and wrapped his arms around her. She responded by burying her face in his chest and breaking down in tears.

The pit was glowing red, a hypnotising light that drew me close. Hazel grasped my hand and pulled me to go over to the couple hugging.

"Your leg." Piper knelt next to her and examined the bubble wrap cast. "Oh, Annabeth, what happened?"

She started to explain about the ghosts and spider, how she tricked Arachne by exploiting her pride. Percy didn't let go of her hand, which made me go uncomfortable and turned so I wouldn't look at them. When she finished, most of our faces were slack with amazement. "Gods of Olympus," Jason said. "You did all that alone. With a broken ankle."

"Well...some of it with a broken ankle." Percy grinned. "You made Arachne weave her own trap? I knew you were good, but Holy Hera—Annabeth, you did it. Generations of Athena kids tried and failed. You found the Athena Parthenos!" Everyone gazed at the statue.

"What do we do with her?" Frank asked. "She's huge."

"We'll have to take her with us to Greece," Annabeth said. "The statue is powerful. Something about it will help us stop the giants."

"The giants' bane stands gold and pale," Hazel quoted. "Won with pain from a woven jail." She looked at Annabeth with admiration.

"It was Arachne's jail. You tricked her into weaving it." With a lot of pain, I thought wryly. A broken ankle couldn't have been easy.

Leo raised his hands. He made a finger picture frame around the Athena Parthenos like he was taking measurements. "Well, it might take some rearranging, but I think we can fit her through the bay doors in the stable. If she sticks out the end, I might have to wrap a flag around her feet or something." I blinked at the mental image. Of the Athena Parthenos jutting from their trireme with a sign across her pedestal that read: WIDE LOAD. That was strangely disturbing.

"What about you guys?" she asked. "What happened with the giants?"

I kept quiet and let Percy tell her about rescuing me, the appearance of Bacchus, and the fight with the twins in the Colosseum. He told her I had found out about the Doors of Death, and how they had to be closed on both sides. "So the mortal side is in Epirus," she concluded. "At least that's somewhere we can reach." I couldn't help but grimace. "But the other side is the problem. Tartarus." I withheld a shiver as someone's cool voice spoke. "Indeed, Son of Hades."

They turned to the direction of the voice. I did as well, somewhat reluctantly as I saw who I expected. Andy stood with her back facing Tartarus. She wore the same gown as a week ago but it was dusted in golden dust. She had removed her wreath and her hair tumbled—a good thing I guess as it hid many of her scars.

She stared at me coldly, like a stranger, with her arms folded. "Who the heck are you? And where did you come from?" Percy demanded, going forward to shield Annabeth who just stared at Andy like she was her worst nightmare. It was a possibility. "Better yet, what do you want?" Jason went to stand beside Percy, their swords drawn. Andy's own sword hung loosely by her side. I had no doubt she could be faster than any of us if she intended to fight us. "Who I am is none of your business, Percy Jackson." She took a step forward, away from the chasm. She didn't meet his eyes. A good thing I suppose, considering how similar she looked like him. "As for where I came from, you will not want to know. I can tell you, though, I just arrived." She took another step forward. Percy and Jason grew tenser. Andy suddenly chuckled dryly. "Oh, child of Athena, I do not need the statue. By all means, take it." She frowned when none of us did, still avoiding our gaze. "What are you waiting for? The statue is of no use to me. Go on, take it."

"Yeah, I don't trust random girls who just show up, know my name, and refuse to look at us." Percy said dryly.

"If I say I am blind? Would you believe me?"

"Hard to believe." The words were like croaks coming out of my mouth.

"So you do speak. How nice. Enjoyed your 7 day experience of torture? At the very least, you did not die. Didn't I tell you you wouldn't die, Nico? I told you, you would survive. That I would make sure of it, even if I had to do the extreme."

"You betrayed me to the giants!" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop. "You told them our location!"

Hazel gaped. "Nico, you know her?" The others stared. Some at me with confusion, some at Andy with apprehension. "Yes. Yes I did. She betrayed me."

Percy grounded his teeth. He hated betrayals. "You stole from me!" Fire exploded at Andy's last word. "You survived, didn't you? Now, return what you have stolen, and I'll leave you to whatever you were doing."

"A trade." I said firmly. As firmly as I could for someone who nearly starved and suffocated to death. "Nico, what are you doing?" Hazel whispered. Piper and Annabeth shared worried looks. "Yes, Nico, what are you doing?" Andy purred. Her eyes darted across the cavern, too fast for us to see.

I took a step closer to her, with Hazel stabilising me. "I return what I stole and you help us close the Doors of Death."

Now everyone stared at me like I was crazy. "Nico, you said it yourself no demigod would survive down there. You would send her down for something you stole? When did you even meet her?" Jason spluttered. "Yeah, where did you find her? And were there any other pretty babes? Is she single?" Leo asked. "Not the time, repair boy!" Piper slapped his head. Percy shook his head. "We need to secure the Athena Parthenos. Jason, Frank, Leo, Piper. You deal with the statue. Nico, Hazel, Annabeth, and I will deal with freaky lady over here." They didn't seem happy but left. Jason clasped Percy's shoulder in a comforting way before going. Andy watched them go, making no movement to stop them. That only made things more tense. Hazel huddled closer to me.

"Return it!" She was suddenly centimetres away from me, hands on my jacket. Hazel cried in warning as Percy brought down his blade. Andy was never one to boast, though. She turned to him, eyes blazing red. Percy cried out in pain and quickly dropped Riptide that was smouldering. "Andy, stop!" I got out. Andy put me down, extinguished her fire and turned to Tartarus with her back to us. "I had been willing to let you go free, Son of Hades. I helped you and asked for nothing. Is this how you repay me? By forcing me to enter the games of Olympus?"

"The Doors are dangerous, Andy." I insisted. Percy came between us. "Okay, time out. Who is she, Nico? And how did you two meet."

"You can either call me Andy or Rhea. The first one, Nico uses. The second is the name the Titans gave me 13 years ago. As for how we met, I saved him from death a week ago."

"Around the same time he was captured." Annabeth noted. "Did you have something to do with it?" Hazel asked, flushed.

"Yes, Hazel. She did. She gave my location to the giants and they overwhelmed me as she sat on the sidelines doing nothing."

"If I wanted you to die, I would have left you at where Tartarus and the Underworld met!" Andy snarled, turning to me. Her eyes were still ablaze, like she too knew. Since she saw Percy, it was possible. "Do not forget who I am, Son of Hades. Just like you, I am a demigod. Unlike you, I was supposedly 'great' enough to get the attention of Titans. Do not twist my story until I am the villain. Just return it and we can delay my revenge for another few weeks!" She raged. The ground shook.

"Yet you could easily unchain the Doors! You refuse and are condemning 7 billion people!" I shouted, immediately regretting my actions as I broke down in a coughing fit that made me rely completely on Hazel for support.

"Yeah, why don't you? Do you want your world to end?" Percy asked. "Her world will not end, Percy. She lives in a world that shaped her to be different from us."

Annabeth's grey eyes widened. "It's not what I think of, is it?" Percy looked stumped. As did Hazel.

Andy raised her hand. A pillar of fire erupted. "I have many powers. Unfortunately, mind reading is not one of them. So I can neither confirm nor deny your question."

"She meant rhetorically, Andy." I grumbled. Andy paused. "You of all people should know I do not know that word, Nico." Annabeth gaped. "You didn't? Didn't you go to school? You should learn about it in high school or lower!"

"High school…" Andy murmured. "Is it a very tall building meant for teaching?" Now Percy, Annabeth and Hazel stared at her incredulously. "Where do you live, under a rock?"

"I would not fit under a rock, Percy Jackson." She said, immune to his sarcasm. "I lived down there." She pointed at her feet. They looked at where she pointed.

"She means Tartarus." I mumble, hating that I had to say it. Silence swept over. The three looked over at her, then at me, then back to her. "Nico, don't kid about this." Hazel said with a false laugh.

"Nico may be a liar and thief, but unfortunately for you, he's telling you the truth. I did tell you, you would not like my answer." Andy said dismissively. "I'm sure Nico could tell you everything, but right now, he and I have unfinished business to tend to. After that, I shall leave and you can continue on your quest. At best, you and I will never meet ever again for the rest of your mortal life. At worst, we will meet in battle."

Before anyone spoke, I cut in. "Andy was a demigod before she became immortal. It is more like the half-immortality thing that the hunters have but she doesn't need to eat or drink. Her talent over fighting was so good, it attracted Gaea's attention. She wants Andy to join her side."

"I remain neutral, for now. So I will not bother the 7 of you. You can leave. It is Nico that I am after."

"Yeah, fat chance." Percy inserted himself between Andy and me. "You see, Nico's our friend. We aren't leaving him to deal with you alone."

"Oh, I will not kill him. Not today." Andy promised. "He has other things he is destined to do, and I will not hold him back. That is, considering how resistant he will be."

Several things happened at that moment. Annabeth, who stood by herself, suddenly screamed. She fell to the ground but continued to move towards the chasm. Percy grabbed hold of her hand, trying to slow her down. Andy gave me a another time maybe look before sighing and going closer to the edge. "Jump, Son of Hades, if you dare." She spared one more look to Percy who was struggling to pull Annabeth up. I couldn't tell what she was thinking about. "You and I both know you will not leave this cavern with all 7 from the prophecy, Nico. The only question is, who will I await in Hell?" She jumped down. I would have almost been concerned at how willingly she returned to her prison if not for the fact there were more pressing matters at hand.

The other four were still loading the statue and didn't notice from the noise the Athena Parthenos made when being moved. I ran to where Percy had fallen. Annabeth was hanging onto him while he hung onto a cliff. I desperately reached out my hand. "Take my hand, Percy!" He and Annabeth had a small conversation before he looked back at me. The look of determination confirmed it. "The other side, Nico!" I hesitated. "But-"

"Lead them there!" He shouted. "Promise me!"

"I—I will." I sighed in defeat. Considering I only had seconds, I had to hurry. I reached into the tiny space, pulling out the key. Just like what Andy did. "This is what I took, Percy! Return it and she may help you!" He smiled at me in gratitude. I dropped the key as he released his hand, grabbing the key in time. He and Annabeth hug each other as a voice laughs in the darkness. Sacrifices. Beautiful sacrifices to wake the goddess.

Hazel knelt down in disbelief. When I went to her, she looked at me with tears. "Will Andy really help, Nico? Or will she kill them?"

"She helped me when I fell. The only reason why she was like that was because I crossed a boundary. She is more likely to help them if they have the key." I admitted. "Andy is not unreasonable, Hazel, she just grew up wrong. I tried convincing her to come up to the surface but she refused. The longer she stays down there, the more the evil will taint her heart. Maybe Annabeth and Percy will convince her otherwise. If they reach far enough, if they see her the way others don't see her, she will help. Because she once told me, even someone like her has a heart. And, she might help preserve their sanity. She's the best shot we got. She could also change her mind and help."

"Preserve their sanity?" She asked with a hint of hysteria. "She told me she can control the Mist." I say slowly, assuringly. "She can hide Tartarus's real look."

"But what if she doesn't?" Hazel broke into sobs. "You mustn't underestimate Percy and Annabeth. There is someone else who can help if she doesn't." Bob. I hope he is doing well. Hazel doesn't stop her cries.

"What happened to her?" Frank, Jason, Leo and Piper came running to us. "And where are Annabeth and Percy?" Jason asked.

Through tears, Hazel told them everything with me backing her up. Piper joined Hazel in the tears fest. "They aren't dead. Not yet." I said awkwardly.

"How do you know?" Leo asked. I raised my brow. "Don't underestimate my powers, Leo. Also, it takes time to reach the bottom."

"So the girl is from Tartarus?" Frank asked in disbelief. "Well, technically yes and no." I wrapped my arm around Hazel's shoulder. She immediately leaned into me. "She has lived in Tartarus for 13 years but she is 17 this year. Andy was abducted when she was 4 and they tried to break her. 3 years ago, give or take, she wrenched free from their grasp and continued on living in solidarity. Got some people from the high places to notice her and she is the leader of hellhounds."

"Hellhounds?" Hazel wiped her eyes. "I sensed the presence of one many times. When Frank and Leo and I were following your sword. And when we all reunited. I thought I was being superstitious."

"Not likely." I said numbly. "She was searching for her key. The bronze jar prevented any powers from working, she must've been waiting for a time to strike. When I thought I felt claws, it must have been searching."

"But how? We never saw anything." Frank and Leo exchanged flabbergasted looks.

"Andy is still very confusing. But for now, let's get out of here." I mumbled. They all agreed with some still looking at the chasm.

Third POV

As the 6 demigods leave Rome, only more trouble could await them. Meanwhile, in Tartarus, monsters could only tremble in fear at the unsteady temper of the half-immortal.

Andy screamed again. A telkhine was cowering in front of her. "Can't you see I'm busy?" She demanded. Before he could respond, he was disintegrating as Prodido appeared, stuck in his gut.

Your temper, while rarely aroused, is causing trouble. Gaea purred. What happened, sweet Andy?

"You should know, Gaea." Andy scowled, her eyes darkening. "There are two demigods on the way here. The son of Poseidon and the daughter of Athena. Was it necessary? I want my life before. Where I could live with only my hellhounds and ignore all these. Knowing them, they will first try to locate me. If only Nico wasn't a thief, I would be in the Void right now."

You hate him but you do not kill him. Gaea noted, a tad bit angrily. Why so?

"I have crossed too many lines, Gaea. Most of them were because of your children. I do not wish for more. Besides, the son of Hades is cute." Andy admitted, thinking back. "I love his innocence."

He is not innocent.

"Your definition and my definition of innocent are different. Plus, his destiny is not over. I have enough things to worry about, I do not wish to add the Fates to that list. Fulfil your part, Gaea, and do not bother with me again. When you wake, it will be a different thing altogether." Gaea was not happy but left, leaving Andy staring. She shook with rage at the River Cocytus. Others would cry or drown in agony, but Andy was always met with rage at this river. Sighing, she sat down by its banks. She arrived earlier than the two demigods as she could teleport. Now, she waited for the two. Maybe it was time for her to hear people out.

Two hellhounds passed her, one going straight past her while the other gave her a quick howl, a hello in their language. She was to wait for days for the two. This was to be a long and boring wait yet she could care less. She stared at the scars, memorising each one while waiting for time to pass. Some, very rare, were inflicted on her by herself. Sometimes it was an accident. Others, like the scars on her wrist, were on purpose. Honestly, she just wanted to see what was so good for suicidal, after Oceanus let the word slip.

It was an impulse to do it, but somehow, she didn't regret it. It gave her a new feeling, a sort of control—control she never had in her world—and she just loved it.

Sighing, she kept her head up. "One little decision and I'm suddenly wanted. By both sides." She murmurs. "What do you want from me, Nico do Angelo?"