a/n: i'm literally playing dance the night to write this because my speaker isn't playing the proper pokerface 😭

Nico pov (yes, finally seeing your little ball of darkness):

You know, I really wish I could've said that I woke up sometime after I arrived at the final location, alas that was not the case. In truth, I woke up in the middle of the ride there and I was forced to feel every time there was a bump, or someone picking me up. I was tied by some sort of magic rope (probably either monster or godly-made) over my whole legs, my eyes, hands, and mouth, each cord preventing me from shadow traveling or using any abilities. For the love of Zeus.

Flash forward to right now maybe just a few days later, my kidnappers ripped the rope off of my eyes and mouth while I sat in a chair with wheels at the bottom, it didn't spin however. Sad.

I was in a large empty room with only a pair of large curtains. That's probably for whatever grand reveal they have planned.

"Why, hello there, Nico," said a woman with jet-black hair slicked back wearing a shimmery, tight green dress. "Welcome back."

Wha-, then I looked at a different kidnapper and my heart rate picked up. She looked like a mix between a maid and flight attendant and I saw a pin on her blouse, it was small but I could make out the symbol. A pink lotus.

No... As if she read my thoughts the black-haired woman said, "Yess." She grabbed the back of my chair and pushed it to the large black curtains, oh here comes the grand reveal, I thought sarcastically.

Two other women pulled the curtains and there was.... A window! Wow!

Ok, back to semi-serious. My heart was already at my stomach so seeing the game rooms in the Casino could hardly affect me more, but my breath slightly quickened. Don't think of her, Don't think of her, Don't think of her, I repeated in my head.

I re-opened my eyes to see what they were pointing me at. It was just a a girl that couldn't be past twenty holding a little baby in one arm while she showed her how to use the game.

"They can't see us by the way," The black-haired woman said.

"Ok," I responded, still watching the girl and baby. There really was not much to say to that.

I observed the two people more closely. The girl, who maybe was 19, had long hair that curled at the ends (how? Eh, maybe she straightens the top?). Her hair probably used to be strawberry blonde but had gone light. She just wore a pink cardigan and wide jeans.. Just a normal person. I racked my memory for anything like her but nothing came up.

The baby had tan skin and wispy brown hair. The child had very feminine features so I guessed she was female, I am sorry if I am wrong. She however tugged at my mind, like I had known her or she reminded me of someone, but who or why? I played with a few ideas in my head for why I knew one, but not the other.

"Does the older girl work at the casino?"

"No, no," a blonde worker in another tight dress laughed. "Aria came with her here!"

I knew it wasn't because of the casino then because I couldn't remember this Aria. But the little girl seemed familiar.

The black-haired girl silenced the blonde one. "He shouldn't be the one asking questions! We are!"

The blonde woman gave a "Ohhhhh," like that had only just occurred to her. I guessed the black-haired woman was more in charge so I spoke to her directly.

"Why am I here? Also can you please let me know what your names are? i don't want to think of each of you just based on your hair colour."

She pulled the chair back to her but I could still see out the window. " Fine. Mine's Lydia, She is Callie," She pointed to the blonde worker. "And that's Elena," She pointed to a strict-looking woman with tied-back ginger hair.

"What about the guards?" I asked.

"Doesn't matter!" Lydia said furiously. "Now, what, do, you, know?!" She said, pronouncing every syllable.

"About what?" I cocked an eyebrow with a slight smirk. I didn't really know that much, but I'll have a bit of fun. Gods, I've picked up too much from Percy.

Then, somehow, that baby looked right at me. Apparently, it didn't matter that the glass was there. She looked directly at me.

Then, I saw her eyes and everything stopped, memories flooding back. Oh my gods-

a/n: sry abt the short chapter!!!! The next one is halfway done!!!