omg thE TitLeS oF tHiS aNd pRevIoUs chApTeR mAtCH!?!!!!!! ok bye.

Nico pov:

There was a knock at the door to the backroom. I slowly stood up to not disturb the others and opened it.

I opened the door to see Jason Grace waiting.

"Hey Nico, wat'cha doing here?" He asked while adjusting his glasses. I mentally cringed at the way he tried saying "watcha".

"I was just watching a movie."

He looked over my shoulder (which wasn't too hard) and I saw something in his expression change for a second but I couldn't tell what it was. Weird.

I cleared my throat for his attention back. His head snapped back.

"So what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Oh, do you mind helping me with something? It'll be quick." Jason said.

I looked back to the two sleeping girls and Will zoned off, staring at the wall. "Sure," I responded. "Give me a second."

I nudged my boyfriend. Then shook him until he snapped out of it.

"Huh- what?!" He immediately said.

'I'm just heading out with Jason, okay?" I took my hand off his shoulder.

Will nodded slowly before planting a quick kiss on my cheek. A quick, small rush of heat spread through my chest making me smile. "Bye, Tesoro."

Jason was stupidly grinning behind me.

"Oh wipe that smile off your face. Let's go."

Jason still continued smiling.

Piper pov (this chapter is another alternating one):

I had a problem.

Once I woke up everything was so comfy. But my leg decided to cramp!!

Since my blanket was too comfy I decided just to fill my time with random things and see where my thoughts took me! Yay!

I'll spare you some but I was just observing around myself at one point. It seemed that Nico had left a bit ago since the room had gotten a bit warmer, Venesse had fallen asleep at some point, and Will was just staring at a wall deep in thought. I wouldn't be surprised if he was just replaying the movie in his head. I looked at every detail in the room, finding interest in random things.

After 10 minutes of mental preparation, I finally found the urge to roll off the couch.

So without disturbing anyone I silently got off the couch and made my way to the door. I looked back and saw Will waving bye then adjusting the blanket so that it covered his younger sister. I smiled and waved back.

That's when it decided to re-enter my mind. I remembered seeing Will, Venesse, and other healers working to save that girl. I shivered, then threw it out of my thoughts.

Nope! Bye-bye, annoying thing to think about!

Nico pov:

"Thanks for that," Jason said while landing on the ground.

"No problem." I brushed off my clothes which had recently gotten a few cuts. If you wanted to know what happened, there were young hellhounds, animal skeletons, a reading light, and the Zeus cabin involved. Oh and Sherlock Holmes being a Zumba teacher.

I was leaving his cabin but heard something. Water, and two voices. One Jason's and one someone else's. I narrowed my eyes.

Now normally I would leave it alone but considering how low Jason's voice was right now like he didn't want to be heard I decided to investigate.

I crept to the closest window and blended myself in using the shadows.

I heard a soft woman's voice through what was probably an Iris message.

"Yes, it has arrived and is being well taken care of." Zeus' underwear, her voice was annoying to listen to. It was the kind that was all high and "eeeHeeE, I'm so sTuPid and pReEttY! Mwah!!"

"Great, she won't know right?" Said Jason's voice.

"Of course!"

I sighed in relief, it was probably just a gift!

Nevermind, that was until I heard the next thing,

"The memory spell will hold for long enough." The woman's voice said. Now I feel very dumb for that relief.

"What happens if it runs out?" Jason asked.

"Then have it not run out. Just bring her back once she shows signs of remembering. That simple." She paused. "Do you think it's running out?"

"No, not yet," Jason responded. (that originally said jet 💀)

I got myself out of there.

I accidentally crossed the border to Camp on the way out. I almost headed back but suddenly there was a cry for help.

Despite knowing better I headed towards the scream. It could've been some camper being attacked. Little I knew that it was dragging me further from camp on purpose.

I finally found the source after running for a bit. A frail woman was laying on the ground, her side bleeding. I checked my surroundings, there were no other souls close, traps, or threats. It was a little weird that whatever hurt her already left.... I rushed to her side anyway.

"Ma'am, can you hear me?" She slowly nodded. "Can I help you?"

"Please." She croaked. I helped her up but as soon as she was standing the bleeding stopped and she covered my mouth and held my hands back with an iron grip.

"Now now honey, don't fight." She said in my ear, smiling cruelly.

This wasn't good. Not because of the situation, but because I had no clue what she was! I couldn't use any of my body as defense, it was almost frozen. I realized she was holding something in her hand a little too late.

The world started fading out quickly and my legs gave out, falling on my knees. I tried to stay awake but I could hardly think right.

"There we go. Nice and easy." She cooed. I thrashed and tried holding my breath but the smell had already overpowered my senses.

Then I passed out.

Piper pov:

I was cleaning the mirrors in the Aphrodite cabin (don't ask). I was furiously scrubbing at one spot that didn't want to come off when Will burst in.

"Piper!" He yelled. I jumped and dropped the cloth on the ground.

"Oh, sorry!" He switched back to his normal voice. "Have you seen Nico?"

I racked my memories of seeing Nico. "I don't think so, why? Is everything ok?"

Will rubbed a hand against his forehead.

"Will, what is it?"

"Well I saw that he wasn't at lunch so I decided to look for him to see if he was ok. He wasn't in his cabin, the arena, fields, woods, docks, or with Percy. And-" He rambled on.

Schist. "Do you want help looking?" I picked the cloth off the floor. I check the mark on the mirror. Eh, no one will notice. I thought.

"No, it's fi-. Ok never mind, sure."

"Where did you see him last?" I asked while closing the door to the empty cabin.

"He was heading off with Jason to do something while you guys were sleeping," Will said.

"Jason's cabin then."

————

"Sorry, no. He was helping me then left. I haven't seen him since then!" Jason responded looking a little panicked.

Will gave a sigh. "Ok, thanks."

We turned and left away from the person who in my mind was already my ex. Like, c'mon.

"Now what!" Will said planting onto the grass.

"Let's check the woods again. Maybe not for him, but signs of him?"

Will's eyes lit up and stood up.

"Why didn't I think of that?!"

I shrugged in response. "Little sleep?"

•••••••••••*•••••••••••

After maybe an hour of looking in the woods I heard the next ring of the bell. Maybe we've had enough.

I approached Will. "Hey? I think we've looked everywhere here and been looking for hours everywhere! Maybe we should head back?"

Will gave a defeated sigh and started walking back. "I don't know what to do."

"We'll have a councilor meeting and bring it up?" I suggested. Will shook his head.

"He'll just be even further by then!"

That's when I noticed how he kept fiddling with one hand and kept the other clenched. His muscles were rigid instead of laid back like they normally would. His eyes darted around. I felt sympathy for him.

I rested a hand on his shoulder. "I know. I want to find him so much but this is getting a bit far. We need others help now." I accidentally slipped a bit of charm speak in the final sentence, but that may have been good.

Will dropped his shoulders. "Ya, let's go." His voice rough.

We started walking away but Will's head whipped around and he froze, his eyes locked on something in the distance. I tried calling his name but he didn't hear me. He took off in that direction. Schist. I ran after him.

He had crossed the border and was looking at something hung up in a tree. My heart dropped into my stomach.

Reyna had gotten a new aviator jacket for Nico's birthday. We all added something to customize it making it even more special. And there it was hanging in the tree by a string.

Will reached up with a shaky hand and took it down. Will gave a strangled gasp. I looked over his shoulder and saw it. Attached to that rope was a card that read,

"Hotel Lotus and Casino!"  It was the size of an average business card. It was a dark green with little gold details around the edge. Under the title was a cartoon Lotus.

What? I thought. "Oh my gods."

I slowly picked it up. I flipped it over and saw a Greek message written in... blood. I swallowed hard and my eyes were blurring making me unable to read the text.

Will finally spoke. "I think it's time for that meeting." His voice shook a bit.

I scanned the forest. "Ya, let's go arrange the meeting."

And we got OUT of there. I tightly clutched the card.

Oh, Nico. What happens now?

a/n: so do any of you have theories?

Suggestions, advice, or ideas?

Mwah, stay lovely, butterflies <3