"So, this is the Chase Space Annabeth was talking 'bout.." Adri trailed off, looking around the mansion. "Ooohh!! This is a nice test subject..." Adri muttered under her breath, caressing the helmet of an armor. "What was that, Morte??" Adri swiveled around, only to be face-to-face with Alex. "Good, its just you. And did Nico tell you my last name??" Adri exclaimed both in relief and disbelief. "He sure did. Also, what were you planning, heh??" Adri suddenly had a diabolical grin on her face. She pulled Alex by the collar of his shirt and whispered in his ear, "I can control ghosts. So, if I find one to possess this suit of armor, we can prank the boys..." "Sounds like a plan. I'll keep watch. Find a ghost, ASAP..." Answered Alex with a matching grin.

           "What're you both doing here, alone??" questioned Nico, skeptically. "Alex and I are trying to figure out from when exactly this suit of armor is... And you will not believe what I found.. It's still got dried blood on it!!!" Adri answered, making an explosion gesture on either sides of her head. "Oh well.. Anyway, Magnus and I will be upstairs, thinking and going through the library.." "Oka- Wait a minute!! Nico, aren't you dyslexic??" "Yes, but Randolph Chase has a few Ancient Greek books." To this, Adrienne nodded, satisfied with the answer and wished him goodbye.

          As Alex kept guard and Adri contacted ghosts, Magnus and Nico were successfully (*cough*not*cough*) finding answers in the books. So, let us take a look at what Magnus and Nico were doing.

          "Hey, Nico.. Found a book, that I think is Greek." Magnus said from atop the ladder leading to a high shelf. "Where?? Give it here.." Nico said, as he stood on his tip-toes to reach the book Magnus was handing him. "Yep, it's Greek. Now all we gotta do is translate it." Nico said, and Magnus immediately got a sense of foreboding. They both sat down in a pair of arm chairs as Nico began to translate it.

          "The title here says 'The Other Gods'. D'you think that means something." After spending so much time around Alex and Sam (Alex's sister), Magnus has learned not to disturb them. And only answer their question if they look at him. "Sightings of creatures that simply do not belong to the Greeks. The Aesir and Vanir. Isn't that the Norse deities??" asked Nico, finally raising his head. "Yeah, that's them. So, d'you think this book'll help us??" "I have a feeling. Also, we better give this book to Adri. She's a fast reader and she's not dyslexic so she's of better help." (You might say 'Nico, you just met her a day ago, how do you know this??' But trust me when I say Adri's an open book.)

          Downstairs, Adri and Alex finally got a ghost to possess the armor and where scaring off little kids but then started entertaining them because they felt bad. Just then, Nico stepped out of the shadows scowling. "So this is what you two were up to. Anyway, we think we have a lead." With that he disappeared back into the shadows.

          Adri offered Alex her hand and they stepped into a shadow and shadow-travelled to the library. "Where's this book you were talking about??" Magnus handed her the book. She took it and sat on the armrest of Nico's arm chair. She quickly flipped through the pages, reading them, until she burst out laughing after about ten pages. "Holy He-Hera!! Hahaha!!," She began wheezing. "This book, is to make fun of the other cultures.. And Gods!! Can this author curse!!" Looking at their faces, she cleared her throat and started again. "This book is useless. It just goes like, 'Frey is the summery god who is always frolicking..' No offense Magnus." "None taken. They aren't too far from the truth." "So, wrong book??" Nico asked, peering at the book from around her arms. "Yes, wrong book. So let us now find another book..."

          After about half an hour, Adrienne came across a book with a worn out leather cover. She pulled it out and read the gold font. "GUYS!! This one's in Greek. And it' pretty old. Come quick. 'The Legends of the World' it says. Wonder what's in it??" With that, she opened the book. And the second she opened it, she was thrown against the wall with such force, that the others heard a crack from what they hoped was the stones.

          They all rushed to the curled up figure of Adri, who was wrapped in her wings. She groaned as Nico helped her sit. "Dam, that was bad.." she grumbled. "Let me take a look." Magnus said as he placed both his hands on her shoulders. "Nothing's broken??" he said, rather, questioned. "My wings are like an armor. Can protect me." Adri explained as she stood. "Where's the book??" she inquired as Alex handed it over. 

          She closed her eyes and rested her palm on the cover as if sensing something. She immediately pulled it back with a wince. Turning it over, they all saw a few blisters sprouting on her palm. "Underworld.." she said as if it explained everything. Mutely, she passed the book to Nico. He too must've felt something, because he dropped the book in surprise. "Powerful.." Nico muttered.

          Magnus, though concerned about this book, immediately noticed how Adri's blisters were starting to bleed. He quickly took her hand and summoned the power of Frey. She thanked him and offered a small smile, but it turned into a grimace. "Give us both a moment.." Nico said, grabbing Adri and going to a corner. 

          There, Adrienne pulled out a silver tablet. She looked like she dialed a number and ringing could be heard. As Alex and Magnus curiously watched, they heard a deep voice that felt like velvet say 'Hello'. "Dad.. Sorry to disturb you, but we found a book." Adri nervously began. "We both sensed extremely powerful Underworldly magic protecting the book. It was strong enough to throw Adri against the wall, Lord Thanatos." Nico continued.

          "It seems like you ran into a problem. Why don't you both bring the book to the Underworld and we'll have Hecate figure it out, huh??" Death replied in a tone a father would use when suggesting to get ice cream even though his child failed their test. "Okay. Should we come now, or like, tomorrow??" Adri asked, timidly. "Come now, I am free today. Not too many deaths." he answered casually as if he was talking about paperwork.

          "Okay dad. Bye. Love you." Adri said, ending the call and sounding pre-occupied.

AN: What do you think??? Sorry it's longer than usual. Got carried away.

Yours,

Helene