A/n Nico's age is changed in this, so he and Hazel can be twins.

I was reading Journal number three upstairs when Hazel burst through the door.

"Hi bro-bro!" She said cheerfully, placing Waddles carefully on her bed while she looked through her drawer doors. She was wearing a blue headband over her poofy brown hair, and a pink matching sweater with her pig Waddles.

"Hazel?" I said, propping the book on my feet. "What're you looking for?"

Hazel still opened drawer after drawer. "I'm looking for my knitting supplies. I want to make Grover a sweater with a question mark on it. Do you know where it is, Neeks?"

I huffed. "My name is Nico, not Neeks. And look in the closet." Hazel grinned. "Thanks Neeks!" She ran to the closet, swinging it open. I rolled my eyes as she looked.

Grover was the guy who worked for our Great Uncle Chiron's shop, The Mystery Shack. Grover was a nice guy. Gruncle Chiron was a little sketchy though. He was confined to a wheel chair, and often babbled on about Greek Mythology.

Hazel came out of the closet, holding her knitting supplies triumphantly. "Thanks again Nico." She said, tucking Waddles under her arm.

I nodded, and went back to my book. Just then, Grover came in, along with our other friend, Thalia. She worked at the Mystery Shack as well as Grover. Grover was wearing a beanie hat and baggy jeans. He had curly red hair, and a small beard growing. Thalia had short black hair with lightning blue eyes. She was wearing a silver sweater.

Thalia looked nervous. "Guys? Chiron said he wanted to tell us something." Grover shifted his feet. "He sounded real serious, bros. I think it's important."

I exchanged a look with Hazel. We had this twin thing, where we didn't need to say anything, and know exactly how each of us were feeling.

Hazel bit her lip. Chiron always said he had a secret we weren't ready to know yet. Since our thirteenth birthday, he's been really sketchy. I grabbed my pine tree hat, and swallowed nervously. "We'll be right there."

Thalia nodded, and then followed Grover downstairs. Hazel put her knitting supplies down, and mumbled for Waddles to stay there.

Hazel looked up at me, her eyes showing fear. "Nico? What if Chiron has this big mumbo jumbo secret? What if he's not what he seems?"

I agreed exactly with Hazel. I didn't think Chiron was all right in the head, but he was our uncle, and me and Hazel loved him. I couldn't tell Hazel I felt the same thing. I had to be the strong brother.

I shook my head, trying to look convincing. "Nah, you know Chiron's never serious. He'll probably just tell us where he hid the Cheetos." Hazel relaxed immediately.

"Okay! Let's go then, bro-bro!" She cheerfully skipped down the stairs, and I pushed down my worry, and followed her.

Hazel, Thalia, Grover and I went to the living room, and sat around Chiron's wheelchair.

He was old, but he still seemed full of life. He was wearing a green t-shirt, and his mystery shack hat. He had brown hair with streaks of white, and laugh lines around his eyes. But today, Chiron looked tired and worn.

"Hey kids," he said solemnly. "There were some scattered hellos. Chiron cleared his throat.

"Kids...this town isn't what it seems."