A/N: SO I updated! XD

I'm super sorry it took so long for it to actually happen. But before you read this I need you to go back and read the whole fanfiction over again because I updated the whole thing, and I added things

The things that I added are important to this chapter, so please go back and read!

Nico's POV:

I would like to say this now, I, Nico di Angelo, hate the smell of rotting corpse', I would take the smell of burning flesh over that smell any day. I had been in this cave for a total of twenty-eight days. Twenty-eight days without sunlight. Twenty-eight days without proper food. Twenty-eight days without Leo.

Of course the days had to drag on forever, I never knew what time it was, or how much time had passed since I had woken up, or how much time I had seen that hound dissolve in front of me. Yes, I somehow defeat that beast, which did upset the voice greatly. Which amused me greatly? Yes, it did.

Letting out a small breath, I let my hand rake through my hair for a moment or two, letting my eyes flicker over the darkness of the area. I had no idea how long I'd stay here. I could die here and no one would probably notice why would they? I was just a burden on society, and the people around me.

"That's right little hero, break, no one needs you." The voice rang clearly throughout the cave. Female, as I've learned the past days.

Another voice joined this time. "He's been broken for a while, Hel, why didn't you get the other one? He would have been so much more fun to break! Think about it."

The female voice, Hel, obviously hissed. "Loki, you're an idiot, I got the one I wanted. See, by taking this one, the other breaks slowly, and the other one slowly eats at his psyche, and then soon he'll snap. Maybe even die."

Blinking rapidly, this conversation that was happening before me was terrifying, these two people. Hel and Loki, they wanted me and obviously Leo out of some picture. For some reason. I stayed quiet and listened to their words carefully.

"He wouldn't die, he has too much hope that that one will live and return." Loki snapped, the voices fell silent for a moment. "Where's Garm?"

"The brat killed him, my precious dog." Hel's voice was laced with bitterness, she was remembering a few days back when she had let Garm attack him, and he couldn't just lie there and get eaten by some mutt.

Raising my sword, I pressed the black blade into the creatures shoulder, hearing it howl in pain and then stumble back. Watching it closely for a moment, I heard it whimper. I knew it was injured I just did not know why it wasn't vanishing.

"Have you not learned, Nico di Angelo? We are not from your stories; you cannot kill Garm with only a little cut." The voice cackled with amusement at my try at getting rid of Garm, of course, telling me that only made me more determined than ever. Moving I gripped his sword tightly in my hands, raising it slightly. A smirk laid upon my lips. Cocking my head to the side some, I laughed.

"So, I have to murder the mutt to kill him? What fun!" I started laughing, which seemed to shock the voice considering that it made an audible gasp. Shifting I let my blade drag lightly against the ground, it cracking slightly under my feet and blade. Speaking again I growled at the beast, but talked to the voice. "See, I am the Ghost King, I am the Son of Hades, and I will not bow to the likes of you!"

Moving he let the ground crack open more, skeletal hands clawing at the edges of the cracks. "You have no power here." Raising my sword now, I held it firmly in both hands. "And, now, mutt, I will have your soul." My lips twitched into a slight snarl as I lunged at it, momentarily letting one of my hands grab the creature. With it in hand, I took my sword and shoved it hilt deep into its chest. I watched as it let out a pitiful whine, looking up at me, it still had a fight in it. I saw it. Watching it open it maw weekly brought certain sadness to me, but it was either me or Garm who had to die. Moreover, I hadn't planned on dying.

I needed to get back to Leo. I couldn't let him loose me too.

I snorted lightly and looked up at the ceiling for a moment or so, letting out a small breath. It's been too long. I needed to get home soon. I let my eyes flit across the area I was kept in. For the most part it changed from when I was first brought here, because now it was brightly lit, it had a bed in the corner and a dining table kept on the other side.

It surprised me that they still considered me their prisoner, considering I was pretty much treated like a guest at this point. Sighing softly, I ran a hand through my nappy hair, making a small face at how it felt. It's been almost a month since I've taken a proper shower. It's been almost a month since I've changed my clothes. I felt disgusting.

"I thought you said others would come for him by this time, Loki, I certainly don't see anyone coming for him. Do you?"

I flinched at these words, yeah; no one was coming for me. Who would? I was just a pathetic child of Hades who seemed to bring destruction wherever I went. The words of Loki and Hel rang clearly throughout my head.

Nevertheless, despite those voices being the loudest and present in my mind there was always one that would wiggle its way to the front. Leo's coming for you. I laughed. Right. I couldn't count on him, or I'd be here forever! However, I knew that wasn't true, Leo tried his hardest.

Smiling softly, I let my hand trace a small area on my cheek. It was the same area Leo would always press his hands against, he always the warmest touch, the warmest smile. The brightest eyes. The craziest words. The softest lips. The roughest hands. God, I really wished Leo was here now. I missed him like crazy.

I listened carefully to the voices talk; they kept on about how they wanted to take both me and Leo out because they found that we were nuisances. I snorted, I'd be damned if I let them hurt a single hair on Leo's stupid little head.

Leo's POV:

Each day he was gone, the more I slowly let my calm demeanor vanish. He was gone, it was my entire fault, and I couldn't even save him, I needed him. I missed his dark presence, I missed his moody comments, I missed everything we did together, and I miss when he'd lie beside me.

Most of the time when someone offered to do something with me I'd just wave them off and walk in the direction of the beach, somehow, sometimes the water would calm me enough to drag my body through the rest of the day. I knew Percy and Jason were doing their best to be able to get permission to go out to find Nico. Chiron always refused the two. This said a lot about what was happening. He usually let into the two's demands.

Twenty-eight days. Twenty-eight days I had been patiently waiting around camp for something to happen. For him to come back. Twenty. Eight. Days. Letting out an irritated breath I grabbed my tool belt and a bag from cabin eight, before trudging lightly to the border of the camp. I wasn't waiting any longer, I was tired of waiting. I couldn't wait any longer, I've waited long enough. I need Nico, he needs me, we need each other. We always did. We.. always.. did..

Before I even got to the border of camp I collapsed on the ground and buried my face in my hands. Sobbing like a child who just got scolded for stealing candy. I was desperate; by me waiting I was breaking my promise to him. I promised I'd keep him safe. I promised him mom, I promised his sister, him, I promised myself. I promised.

Breaking down and crying wasn't a thing people often did at camp, and when it happened people kept their distance, mostly because they didn't want to have people thinking they made that person cry or become upset.

I moved my hands up into my hair and gripped lightly at the strands of hair, pulling on them, trying to snap myself out of this pathetic state I was in. I knew if Nico was here he would look down at me and laugh like there was no tomorrow, then he'd hold out his hand and tell me to stop being a big baby. When I would get up, he'd wipe away my tears and smirk at me. Then he'd tell me the most ridiculous thing in the world, then end up saying something along the lines of 'so much for being the bad boy supreme, huh, Valdez?' I let a small smile tug at the corner of my lips at the thought.

I don't know how I survived Middle School without him, it was fucking difficult, I didn't want anyone but him by my side during those times. Then he came back! He came back to me. He came back… He returned… to me…

Letting out a shaky breath I finally stood up, and stared straight ahead more determined than anything. I didn't need Percy's loyalty, I didn't need Annabeth's wisdom, I didn't need the Big Three's strength, I didn't need Piper's charm speak, I didn't need Hazel's calmness. I didn't need anything but my determination to get Nico back. It was the only way.

I moved quickly to the crest of the hill, glancing back for a brief moment, before stepping towards the bottom of the hill. I was about to bolt down the thing until I heard eight hooves land beside me with harsh snorts. Flinching I glanced up to see Tempest, Jason's horse (he told me that he somehow tamed a wind spirit), and then Blackjack, Percy's Pegasus (he told me that he rescued the black horse from a mission he went on once), I let my eyes wander farther than the horse' faces and to their riders. On the back of Tempest sat Jason, a smug smirk on his face might I add, and on the back of Blackjack sat Percy and Annabeth, both of them where grinning at me.

I let out a small noise. "I swear, I wasn't going anywhere! Please don't tell Chiron-!"

Jason laughed, and glanced at Percy. "Do you here that Percy? He wasn't going anywhere!"

Percy snorted lightly and cocked his head. "Is that so? We had the impression you were going to rescue Nico! I guess we were wrong."

I blinked a couple times. "How…" I closed my mouth and let out an irritated breath. "Yes, I'm going to get Nico. I'm going insane. What if he's dead?" I let my eyes wander from each male and then back to Annabeth who was staring at me with the softest expression in her stormy gray eyes.

"C'mon Leo, you can ride on Tempest with me." Jason leaned down, holding out his hand for me to take. Tempest made a small-irritated snort.

"Seriously Jason, you should probably tell your horse to watch his mouth! He's got some serious bad language in him." Percy chided from his own ride, I glanced at Percy for a moment before taking Jason's hand, and swinging my leg over the back of Tempest.

After I was situated, Annabeth finally decided to talk. "Leo, I know you're worried about Nico but doing something reckless, like I don't know, going off on your own could get you hurt. On the other hand, you could die. And since he can fell deaths don't you think that would destroy him?"

I blinked and stared at her, wondering what she was getting at.

"Leo, you being alive keeps Nico fighting, you know that right?"

"Of course! I knew that, I just… I was tired of sitting around, waiting, because I don't know if he'll come back or not." His eyes flickered to the ground for a moment before Percy clicked his tongue in pure amusement, distracting him.

Annabeth chuckled lightly. "Calm Leo, we're going to get him back even if it's the last thing we do." She gripped Percy's shoulder lightly in a way to tell him to get along because they needed to go now if they were going to sneak off without being caught.

Both Jason and Percy understood this and urged their stallions on, I instantly held tight to Jason. As soon as we we're headed to a secluded area, somewhere off in Pennsylvania Jason decided to inform me where we were actually going. "I got Piper to tell me where she led Nico. It was hard, but I did it."

A small smile graces my lips for a moment, I was grateful for Percy, Annabeth, and Jason at that moment. The only person I had relied on my whole life was taken and these people took it upon themselves to help him find the person he misses so dearly.

(End of two POV ver.)

Once they had landed in a meadow, they quickly looked over the area. Percy had spotted an old run down building, and Jason had seen a cave that was nearby. Either of those places could be places that held the Italian male. Meaning that they had to check both places.

Percy decided to take Jason to check the run down building while Leo was left with checking the cave with Annabeth. The only good thing about this whole arrangement was that if it got too dark in the cave, he and Annabeth would be able to see no matter what. Considering there was no 'E' on Leo.

The two groups quickly split up so they could get this done faster, and if Nico weren't here, they would be able to get on Piper's case a hell of a lot quicker.

Walking to the cave didn't take that long, which was good. However, before they entered Annabeth stopped him. "Leo, I really do hate to ask you of this, but if there's any spiders… Do you mind… Ah, setting them on fire?"

Leo blinked and then laughed. "Yeah, sure, I'll set the big bad scary spiders on fire for you." She nudged him harshly which showed that she was completely and utterly serious about this whole ordeal. With that, Leo still nodded, reassuring her that he indeed would set the spiders on fire.

Both of them took a deep breath before venturing into the caves, the whole 'using natural light' quickly faded and they had to turn on the Leo Light© , their eyes scanned the immediate area once the light flickered to life.

Annabeth spoke carefully. "Maybe if we venture farther we'll be able find something," Her eyes went to scan for Leo's face for any doubt in her place, but instead she found a determined look in the usually jovial demigods face.

They quickly moved, and ducked under stalagmites they encountered, and weaving through the mounds of rocks that blocked their paths. Soon enough they had to stop. After exchanging quick glances, Annabeth moved to press her hand against the piece of rock that was blocking their path.

Then the voice sounded. "Look at that, Hel, people came for the little hero! How amusing."

"Tch, he had too much hope! They should just go away so he can die pitifully alone." They could detect the cruelty in both of the voices, it was painfully obvious at this point, and it didn't even sound right.

Annabeth stepped back and cocked her head to the side, by looking at her face anyone could tell she was in deep thought. "Hel? Like Norse Goddess of the Underworld Hel? Hel itself?"

The second voice, Hel, they decided spoke. "Oh! Loki, look a smart one! Odin would enjoy her very much, don't you think?"

Annabeth raised her hands. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! We're talking about the Norse gods here, you shouldn't even be here! I thought the Norse gods died out!"

The first voice from earlier sneered. "Foolish girl! Did your precious Greek gods die out? No, we never really die out! We sleep. Waiting."

Leo finally got tired of standing there, waiting for something to happen. He made a small noise, which would translate to a growl in anyone's book. "How about this! I don't give a flying fuck who you guys are, I want Nico back now!"

Annabeth blinked a few times, looking at Leo, completely bewildered. She then looked back up at the wall that was standing in their way. If she calculated this right, they maybe be able to get past it. She stepped back and stared at the wall and then Leo.

"Leo." She started, calmly. "I want you to throw three balls of fire, directly in the middle of the stone, can you manage that?"

Leo's lips twitched lightly, but he let out a small breath to calm himself before following Annabeth's directions. After that, she ran back to the wall, it worked.

Finally, she yelled. "Nico! Throw your sword at the sound of my voice, in the crack, quick!"

The voices decided to intervene again, the female one, Hel, "Nico, darling, you're hallucinating again. Who would come and get you? You're pathetic. No one needs you. You're a burden. Everyone hates you. You're a murder. Killing innocent animals? Horrid!"

Leo knew as soon as Hel started talking she was helping play into his fears and worries. This, pissed the son of Hephaestus off greatly. Finally he moved to take Annabeth's spot at the wall. He leaned his head against the wall and talked as loudly as possible.

"Nico. Nico. Nicy. Listen to me. Only me, it's Leo. Don't listen to her, don't listen to anyone but me, ya hear? You're not a burden, not pathetic, I need you. I need you so badly, please listen to Annabeth and throw your sword at my voice. Trust me, I come to bring you home. Everyone, they need you, we came to save you." He stopped for a moment. "Nico, you're my hero, you're my savor. I don't care about anything you've done because you know I don't care, now throw the damn sword!"

There was distinct screeching that came from one of the voices, and then a string of old Norse curses, Leo quickly back up as a black sword quickly pierced the stone right where Leo's face was moments before.

"Annabeth what now?" Leo looked back at the blonde girl, who was completely astonished at everything. However, she quickly shook her head.

"We need a blast of high pressured water."