A/N: Alright, so, you guys aren't going to like this, but... I am going on a small hiatus. I have run out of buffer chapters so all of my chapters would be late like this one. I am also out of buffer chapters for my Shadows story. So I am going to go on hiatus until I have 5 chapters prepped for Immortalized, Shadows, and my Avatar story (Which I have three buffers left anyways). So it will probably be a few months, but I will come back. Aint no way I am leaving this story dead. I still got to a whole third book planned for this. I will be updating my other two stories one more time with the same message. Peace out. See you guys later. Last thing... I am so sorry for the ending of this chapter. Not really.

Reyna stood on a small outcropping on the rim of the Black Canyon, her gaze locked onto the Hoover Dam to the North. Their trip to the canyon had been surprisingly uneventful, something that the consul found quite suspicious. There was no doubt in her mind that Annabeth and her allies knew they were coming, they had been plagued with issues their entire trek from Fort Worth. She was sure that there would be a host of traps and ambushes waiting for them.

"So… where is the safe house anyways?" Zoe asked as she sat crouched next to Reyna and looked through a pair of binoculars. She lowered them and looked up at her mother. "All I see are mortals atop the dam and naiads in the river."

Reyna glanced at her daughter. After the promise her father had made, something that Reyna was still angry about, the girl had crawled out of her own shell a little. The consul looked up into the clear sky, the sun approaching midday as ideas and strategies roamed through her mind. "We do not know exactly," she admitted, her gaze dropping to the dam. "But Nico swears it is within the dam itself. We will just have to breach and clear the whole facility."

Zoe followed her mother's gaze. "What about the people there at the top of the dam? They aren't going to respond well to a small army marching in even with the Mist."

"We will deal with them as needed," Reyna answered, crossing her arms. "The Mist can cover the gaps and if need be, we can have the gods run interference after the fact."

Zoe frowned at that. "I guess," she said as she rose to her feet. "So, what is the plan exactly?"

"No need to make it fancy," Reyna said. "They already know that we are coming. The fourth will secure the top of the dam while we and the rest of the Praetorians' head down and into the powerhouse. Come on, let's go." The consul turned and walked away towards her gathered soldiers, all of them stretching their limbs by the buses before they had to climb back onto them.

Zoe quickly followed after her. "And if the titan isn't there?"

"They'll be there," she looked at her daughter with a small smile. "You don't doubt your Uncle Nico now do you?" She turned back as her daughter came level with her. "A titan wouldn't run from a fight."

"Have you decided who is going to replace Centurion Rebecca?"

Reyna shook her head. "We are going to promote when we get back to New Rome and give Rebecca her burial rights," she told her. "In the meantime, Karina is being given the temporary position of Optio. She will be working with Mike to secure the Dam."

Zoe nodded but said nothing, something Reyna was unsure of if it was a good thing. Her daughter was normally very outspoken. To have her be a shell of herself was… disheartening. Reyna would have to deal with it once they were back in New Rome. This wasn't the time to unpack everything that was bothering Zoe. Pulling herself from her thoughts, Reyna caught sight of Liam, the boy strapping on a set of hoplite armor. After the kids' impromptu quest, a year and a half prior, Reyna began to store extra sets of Greek and Roman armor in the praetorian buses. Just in case. Next to Liam, Jason stood, already in his personal armor, a mix of legion and hoplite, talking to Karina. As they approached the trio, Zoe talked to her friends as Jason stepped up to her.

"You still haven't told her?" Jason whispered to Reyna, though she thought it was more of an accusation than a question.

Reyna's gaze turned sharp as she looked at her friend. "No," she whispered back, leading Jason away from the others. "And I have no intentions to."

"She is going to find out sooner or later," Jason reasoned with her. The two turned the corner around the bus. "Keeping this from her will not end well. She needs to be prepared for what she is going up against. They all do."

Reyna's eye twitched, the only break in her mask as she tried to argue the point. "If I had my way she would be back with the Artemis, or with Percy. Those would be the safest places for her. But the Hunt is on the other side of the country and Percy is dealing with Oceanus."

Jason smirked. "What? Doubt my ability to protect her?"

"It's not you I doubt," she said, shaking her head. "It's just, we have no idea how powerful she has become. Chaos knows what Night has gifted her. We need to be on guard."

"We will be," Jason assured her, grabbing her shoulder reassuringly. "Now, come on, we got some time before we move in on Annabeth."

Reyna blocked a strike with her sword, twisting the crooked blade aside and thrusting through the dracaena's chest. She pulled her blade from the monster's chest as the dragon woman dissolved without a sound. Whipping her blade around, Reyna batted aside a club from a cyclops and slashed his neck. She flicked the golden dust off her blade and observed her surroundings. Her Praetorians were holding off the bulk of the defending forces back near the elevators while Reyna took Jason, Zoe and Liam deeper into the power station at the bottom of the dam. The wall to her left was the Black Canyon wall and her right was floor to ceiling windows showing the raging water released by the dam. Turbines lined the walls, their thrum filling the massive room. Her small strike group skirted the worst of the enemy forces, encountering small pockets that they could easily deal with. Then there was the added bonus of taking pressure off of her guards. Not that Bernard was happy with her running off on her own, having to stay behind to lead the Guard. Sometimes it felt like he forgot she was old enough to be his grandmother and didn't need babysitting.

Turning, she watched as Zoe cut down a hellhound. The girl responded reasonably well when Reyna had told her, the determination that was lit in her eyes was a welcome sight compared to the cloud of despair she had hanging over her. While she was loath to admit it, Jason had been correct. Reyna's overprotective nature of her daughter blinded her to the truth. Zoe needed a target. Something she could focus on and keep her mind straight.

The thrum of turbines reverberated through the air as Reyna looked for Jason. The son of Jupiter was fighting with his half-brother, making mincemeat of several more monsters. They were making good progress, even if they hadn't found any sign of Annabeth. The shadows shifted behind Jason and Reyna thought she caught a gleam. Reyna's eyes widened minutely as she shouted, "Jason, six o'clock!"

The Son of Jupiter immediately spun around, blocking a long, thin blade with his gladius. Damian sneered at Jason as he broke the blade lock. "I am going to enjoy tearing you a new one," the boy snarled as he thrust again at Jason.

The man parried the blow, shoving the boy aside and into the wall. "Still smarting over that ass whooping?" he taunted with a smirk and lunged at Damian.

Reyna watched as Zoe's face contorted into fear before almost instantly being replaced with unbridled anger. The girl gave a roar of anger before leaping into the fray against Damian, the boy now struggling to fend off both of them. Reyna narrowed her eyes as she watched the two battle the boy. From what she had been able to gleam through reports of Damian and her own observations, the boy was arrogant, sure, but not stupid. Why would he attack them alone? Unless he wasn't alone. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up and Reyna immediately rolled forward. A column of fire blasted the space she had occupied, melting that patch of concrete into a puddle of goo. Leaping from the catwalks high above them, the Chimera crashed into a turbine before landing on the ground in front of Reyna.

The beast towered over the consul, standing several heads taller than her. Its furry mane was coated in blood and Reyna spotted the diamondback snake-tail moving about behind it, ready to strike. The consul backed up slowly taking in the monster's lion head and front paws, the back half of a goat. Bleating drew her attention and Reyna looked up to see a massive horned goat's head sitting above the lion head, the base of its neck meeting the loins at the body. The Chimera growled menacingly, and Reyna gripped her Aegis cloak tightly. The goat's head reared back and launched another column of flames at her.

Reyna pulled her Aegis in front of her, the indestructible cloak shielding her from the flames and heat. The flames ended abruptly, and Reyna rolled away again, the Chimera crashing into the ground where she stood. The consul rolled to her feet, brandishing her sword at the monster and keeping her hand on her cloak. Lightning struck the backside of the Chimera, the beast squealing in pain as it retreated.

Liam dropped down next to her, sparks flying off his form. He glanced at Reyna who gave him a questioning look. "I don't think I want to get in Zoe's way," he said.

Reyna looked past him and saw Zoe tearing through the massive turbine room, chasing after Damian. The boy retreated through the shadows, popping in and out as he attacked her from her blind side. Jason swept in when he could, protecting her while staying out of her way. "Understandable," Reyna agreed as she looked back at the Chimera.

"So, what's the plan?" Liam asked, defaulting to the consul.

Reyna observed the monster carefully, the Chimera growling as it prowled in front of them. "Attack from the rear, I got the front," she told him, flipping her sword in the air which turned into a javelin. The boy nodded before rising into the air.

The Chimera bleated at Liam as the goat head reared back for another blast of fire. Reyna lunged forward, thrusting her javelin at the goat's head. The beast dodged her attack, roaring in anger as it took a swipe at her with its paw. Reyna ducked the attack and thrust her weapon up at the lion's head. The Chimera leaped upward, out of reach of her before a bolt of lightning tore through the ceiling and shot the beast out of the air. The monster crashed into the floor hard, cracking the concrete. Reyna watched as Liam rocketed down towards the Chimera, his sword pointing down at the beast.

Then, the ceiling caved in as pieces of the ceiling fell to the floor below. One such large piece struck Liam and pinned him to the floor with a thud. Looking up, Reyna saw a woman hovering in the opening. She wore a snow-white dress, the skirt billowing lightly in the breeze along with her thick, lush black hair. The air around her seemed to crystallize as her cold aura spread. Menacing storm clouds gathered overhead, a threatening blizzard overhead. Reyna narrowed her eyes as she observed the goddess. What was she doing here? She was supposed to be in Europe.

A groan from Liam drew her attention, the boy struggled against the slab of rock resting on his back. Looking past him, Reyna saw the Chimera freeing itself from another, larger chunk of ceiling which had pinned it. Ignoring the newcomer, Reyna rushed forward, gripping the bottom of the concrete block and lifting it. Liam began to crawl out when a shout of pain escaped his lips. The boy flipped around, slashing his sword at the snake head latched to his calf. His sword bit into the snake's neck and the snake released him with a pained hiss. Liam scrambled backwards out from under the block, which Reyna then dropped before checking the boy. Two punctures the size of dimes oozed blood and what she assumed to be poison from his calf.

Reyna dragged the boy away from the monster, resting him against a turbine. "I'm sorry Reyna," he groaned as clutched at his leg.

"Shush," Reyna told the boy, tearing off her sleeve and wrapping it around his leg above the wound. The Chimera roared as it freed itself from the ceiling debris. "You'll have to find a way to stop the bleeding. You. Will. Not. Die," she ordered, handing him a cube of Ambrosia.

The consul turned to face the Chimera as it shook the dust from its fur. This was not going to plan, and now they had two wild cards in play. Reyna just hoped Khione was there to help.

Jason did not want to leave Zoe alone to fight Damian as he flew up to the goddess. It wasn't that he doubted her ability, but given recent events, she did not seem to be thinking clearly. The girl was tearing through the turbine room with a vengeance, a whirlwind of a storm following her as she chased after the boy. However, the arrival of a goddess demanded his attention. He didn't know why Khione was there, but it couldn't be good.

Jason came level with the immortal with an expectant look. "Khione," he greeted her civilly. Despite all the trouble she caused in his teen years, the goddess had done a remarkable job leaving Jason and Piper alone over the past century. According to Percy, she had decided to keep her nose out of trouble. At least until now. "We're kinda busy, if you haven't noticed. What do you want?"

It was then he noticed something strange about her. Black veins marred her pale skin and her soft, coffee brown eyes were now consumed with darkness. Khione grinned unnaturally as she gazed at him with those black eyes. "I am here," she began. Jason noted a second tone to her voice, something sharp and menacing beneath her normal cold tone. "To claim what should have been mine over a century ago."

Jason cocked an eyebrow at her. "You're not still hung up about that, are you?" he asked in disbelief. He looked at her up and down with growing concern. "What happened to you Khione?"

Khione blinked and looked down at her form, concern etched on her face. "I-I don't," she began before her body stiffened and the blackness of her veins and eyes retreated within her. She looked up, her sickly smile returned, and her brown eyes bore madness. "My mistress has granted me a greater power."

"Huh uh," Jason said as he pulled the air currents around him, preparing to fend off the goddess. "Well, look, I don't want to hurt you. Percy has told me your banishment had been good for you. But I cannot allow you to interfere here."

Khione's smile widened. "Oh, but you misunderstand. You are not here to distract me. I am here to distract you," she admitted joyfully.

Jason's eyes widened as he turned. "Zoe!" he cried before flipping back around and splitting a blast of ice with his gladius.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. We can't have you spoiling the fun, can we?" Khione teased menacingly as her hands filled with snow.

Zoe blocked Damian's sword, diverting the blade and lashing out with Riptide. The boy dodged the blow with a laugh, his stupid, childish tone annoyed the daughter of Perseus to no end. Damian retreated, trying to draw Zoe away from the others. She knew what he was doing. She didn't care. He would rue the day he attacked her.

"Come on, Little Night," Damian taunted her as he met her again in a clash of black on bronze. "Don't tell me you're still upset about what happened. What's a little spat between intendeds?"

Zoe growled as rage and power flooded her system. The small hurricane above her pulsed and rained sleet down on the turbine room floor. Darkness creeped into the edge of her vision as her soul cried out for blood. His blood. The sleet that struck her absorbed into her skin, boosting her already increasing strength and pushing her to fight harder. Zoe batted down Damian's blade and struck him in the shoulder with her fist. The boy stumbled back from the blow but quickly recovered, countering Zoe's attempt to run him through. The two traded sword strikes with blows that would have shattered mortal blades. Zoe attacked relentlessly, almost forgoing her training as she hacked and slashed with wild abandon.

Damian parried a wild slash, twisting the sword around and slashing across the front of her armor. Zoe stepped back, her hand flying to her black armor and saw the long, thin scratch on the face of it. Her eyes brimmed with hatred and anger. "Why can't I hit you?" she shouted in annoyance.

The boy shrugged at her with a grin. "Hacking and slashing is kinda my thing," he claimed with a twirl of his smoking sword. "You might as well be trying to fight me with shadows."

Then, it was Zoe's turn to grin. "Then how about I try something you can't do?" she asked as her emerald eyes glowed brightly.

Damian's eyes widened minutely as thunder rumbled across the sky. Lightning arced down. The boy blocked the blow with his sword, the attack blasting him backward and into a turbine with a grunt. Electricity arced off his form as he rose to his feet. "I'll admit, that hurt," he said, rolling his shoulder about. "But you'll have to get more creative than that. Pretty boy's lightning hurt worse than that."

Zoe sneered at the boy. The darkness crept ever more into her vision, threatening to consume her completely. It wanted her to kill the boy, to make him suffer for his blatant attack against her. It wanted her to lose control. Maybe that was what he wanted too. Zoe shook herself before breathing deeply. She was letting her emotions run rampant. She needed to think. She couldn't match him in savagery. Zoe looked up at him, "Then how about we try this?"

Damian looked up and watched a beam of red starlight pierce the clouds. The boy conjured a dome of shadows over him. The light and darkness collided in a flash, the darkness absorbing the light like a black hole and creating a corona of brilliant colors. The surrounding air warped in waves, as if the space around them was a soap bubble ready to pop. The concrete floor liquefied and the turbines crumpled into scrap. Zoe clenched her jaw as she forced more power into the beam. The light shifted from a dark red to a warm orange, the heat intensifying and warping the space around them.

Zoe watched in satisfaction as Damian's protective dome buckled under the strain. "Not so tough now, are you?" she taunted the boy, her eyes pulsing again. Lightning leapt from the clouds, encircling the starlight and striking the dome of darkness. Damian grunted in pain as he was forced to his knees. "What's the matter? Can't handle the heat?" She idly heard Jason yelling.

A sudden, disturbing laugh came from Damian. "I hate to break it to you, sweetheart," he said, his dark eyes glowing with his own power as he held off her assault. "I am just the decoy."

Zoe's eyes widened in realization before a hand grasped her braid and pulled her away. The daughter of Perseus cried out in pain as she was slammed into a turbine, denting its crumpled form and disorientating her. The starlight and lightning dissipated into nothing. Zoe looked up and saw Annabeth standing over her, her black cloak billowing about her and staring at her with those same, madness-filled eyes. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Damian collapse to his knees, his form smoking. Annabeth gripped the back of her neck and smashed her into the demolished concrete. She brandished a dagger at her and gave her a sadistic sneer. "The nature of your existence is an insult. It's degrading. You are an abomination in this world that should not be allowed to breathe in the same realm as my love for Percy," she said and brought her dagger down.

A scream of pain pierced the world around them.