Yeah another new story. But I was trying to get through a writer's block on Burning Desire and this is what I came up with, so I decided to post it. And yeah, it's another Nico/OC story. Anyone sensing a pattern? Also, just to let you know, there won't be many updates on this until I'm finished Imperfect Love.

Full Summary: Violet Hanson lost her memories in a car crash when she was seven and has been searching for her past ever since; Lain McKenzie was left at Camp Half-Blood when she was a baby and knows nothing of her family; Aimee Dean is an overly enthusiastic girl with a deadly past. Now these three friends must go on a dangerous quest to the Underworld to save the unforgiving goddess of night.

Hope you enjoy (:

The camp always seemed eerily quiet after the summer session, no matter how many kids stayed year round.

This could be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the person; for me this was a bad thing, a very bad thing indeed. You see, I prefer it when things are loud and chaotic, which are just about the only two words to describe Camp Half-Blood in the summer. It didn't help that my boyfriend, Nico di Angelo, had missed the summer session again. I was used to this, but he usually came to camp at least once a month, and I haven't seen him since my birthday in April. I tried asking his sister Lain what was up but she just said their dad needed their help for something.

Okay, so Lain's one of my best friends, and I know when somethings troubling her. Well, more than usual anyway, because let's face it; the girls got issues. Don't get me wrong, I love her to death (sorry bad pun) but even she agrees she has problems. No one blames her; anyone in her position would have issues. Anyway, I could tell something was most definitely wrong. She wouldn't tell me what it was, though, which was weird; she usually tells me everything. She acted like it was some big secret that could get or killed, which it probably could seeing as we're demigods. I know I shouldn't pry but hey, I'm a curious girl.

I think I might just let it go. For now, anyway. Because honestly there's some more important things on my mind right now. Or, more accurately, there's some more important things missing from my mind. Like-

The door to the Hecate cabin crashed open breaking my train of thought, and I saw of a girl of fourteen with extremely curly ginger hair and a smile as big as her face revealing pink and green braces skip in; Aimee. Mopey McMoperPants, you gonna stop moping and come to the campfire with me?"

I blinked and stared at her. "What did you just call me?"

"Mopey McMoperPants." she said in a tone that confirmed my suspicions; she was crazy. She plopped herself down beside me, one led falling off the bed. "Like, ever since May you've been moping around all depressed and angsty and stuff. Even Lain agrees it's getting annoying, and she's pretty angsty. But, you know I think that might have something to do with the fact that the reason you're all depressed and mopey and sulky - and pranky! - is that you're in love with her brother and you miss him and all and that concept but be really weird for her. I 'unno, none of my friends are dating any of my siblings so-"

I swear Aimee has no mouth brake whatsoever. She just keeps talking and talking and talking until you make her shut up. I said Lain had issues; she's got nothing on Aimee. The problem is Aimee is so damn unhateable. I'm being serious, there is absolutely no way to hate the girl; she's too damn nice. She may be absolutely clueless at times, but she almost always means well. And she always goes out of her way to-oh shit she's still talking. I should probably listen. "Like, isn't it weird to know that she makes our with your brother-"

"Considering I make out with her brother, no not really." I cut her off.

"Oh right...So you gonna come with me to the campfire?" She looked up at me with puppy dog eyes. "It'll take your mind off of Nico!"

I glared at the bunk above me, my almost happy mood darkening. "Fine. It's not like I had anything better to do, anyway."

"D'aw muffin! It'll be okay! Now, let's go nom on something delicious!" She said. Nom was basically eat, and d'aw...well d'aw was just an Aimee way of saying aw. "Like s'mores! Mmm s'mores…" She said, hopping up off the bed, and I couldn't help but smile at how the mere thought of s'mores made Aimee so happy. She just had that affect on people; she made you smile, even if you didn't want to.

"Okay." I consented, getting up off the bed and following her to the door. "But only because I didn't have anything better to do."

She opened the door and we both walked out into the fading twilight, and I closed the door behind us. "Okiee Dokie" she said, linking her arm with mine and trying to skip. Aw hell no! She can link her arm with mine, sure, but there is no way we are skipping. Luckily she caught on that I didn't want to skip pretty fast, because it was awkward trying to walk while someone you're linked with skipped, and she settled for what she called 'walking with rhythm'. It didn't take us long to get to the campfire - the Hecate cabin was really close to it - only about 5 minutes, and when we got there Aimee let go of my arm and ran over to sit beside Lain, a proud smile on her face.

I shook my head and smiled before walking over to them. When I sat down on the other side of Lain I heard her say, "Wow Aimee, you actually got Vi to stop moping and leave her cabin."

Aimee smiled happily as I rolled my eyes. "Oh no, be rest assured; I'm still moping."

Lain rolled her eyes and looked over at me. "Do you see me moping over how Hayden isn't here?"

"Do you see me having seen Nico in the last six months?" I asked Lain, mocking her tone and feeling irritable. I know I shouldn't have taken it out on Lain, because it wasn't her fault, but I couldn't help it.

I felt Lain shift beside me and her arm snaked around my shoulders. "I'm sorry Vi. I just...I forget sometimes."

I stared at her incredulously. "How do you forget your brothers not here? Didn't you notice your cabins been rather empty these few months?"

She rolled her eyes. "I meant I forget what it's like to not see my boyfriend for an extended period of time; I'll probably be moping like crazy by January."

At that moment Chiron stepped forward to start that campfire, which was its usual fun with the s'mores and the sing-along and all, but I couldn't help but think that it would've been a lot more fun if Nico was there holding my hand. I mean, everything was more fun when Nico was with me, regardless of the situation. It was more fun before we dated, and if we ever do break up, it will be more fun after.

After the campfire was over, Aimee bounced off to her cabin while me and Lain dragged our feet to our cabins which were beside each other, #13 and #14. When we were about halfway there the sky began to brighten and we stopped in amazement. Within a few seconds it was bright as day and I groaned at how bright it was; I could never sleep when it was light outside. A child of Demeter ran over and told us that Chiron had called an emergency war council – or a meeting for the head counsellors – we turned around and dragged our feet to the Big House. We went around the porch to the front door and into the room where everyone was talking loudly. The war council room had become practically family with its couches, ping pong table, and numerous knife marks from the Ares cabin tirades – mainly from Clarisse – and me and Lain comfortably sunk into one of the couches. Almost instantly Aimee was lying across our legs, feet dangling on the empty cushion, head in my lap.

"Hai," she said cheerfully. Damn Apollo kids and their never-ever-tiredness.

"Hey," we grumbled simultaneously in response, not even bothering to attempt to shove Aimee off as we normally would. Aimee really needed a boyfriend; preferably one who liked to snuggle.

Chiron stood at the front of the room full centaur form and he cleared his throat. "As many of you have most likely noticed, the night has gone—"

"Nope, never noticed." I grumbled, wondering why Chiron would call us here to tell us something so bluntly obvious. Chiron either didn't hear me or just decided to ignore me.

"-and at the moment only one thing is clear; we need a quest. But, rather unfortunately, our oracle is not here. I have contacted her and she said she can be here by tomorrow morning-"

I felt someone jab a poke in my side. It was Aimee, naturally. She whispered "Nyx" almost silently, her eyes gleaming with excitement. I didn't get it at first but I felt Lain stiffen beside me and it only took my tired brain a moment to process what the other two had already figured out.

Nyx was the Goddess of Night; surely she had the power to take it away, right?

"Now at the moment," Chiron continued. "there are two main problems. First off, it is not only the valley that has lost the night; it is the whole world and mortals are bound to notice. But, i'm afraid we have even more pressing matters; until the night is returned Apollo will not be able to stop driving the, ah, sun. And he is not happy about it."

The room was silent for a moment as everyone thought about what it would mean; bad things only, of course.

"Until our oracle has issued a quest, however, there is nothing we can do. We must meet here tomorrow at 2 o'clock sharp."

Everyone nodded but one kid who yelled out "Can we go to bed yet?" I think he was a son of Demeter, but I really wasn't sure. Before Chiron could respond, the nods turned into yelling as the demigods around me realized that we couldn't do anything. That was truly the one thing no demigod could stand doing; nothing. So, as usual in this situation, pandemonium broke out;

"But surely-"

"Something we can do-"

"Anything!"

"-can't be-"

"Nothing!"

"Settle down!" Chiron called out. "I know it is hard doing nothing, but we cannot move forth until a prophecy has been given, so until further notice you will all return to your cabins and report here at 2 tomorrow. Goodnight."

He left us then, his tail swishing behind him. I couldn't help but notice it was curly and I remembered the rumours that Chiron put his tail in curlers at night. I snickered and my mouth twitched in amusement.

"You think this is funny?" Someone spat out at me. No, literally; spit hit my cheek. I wiped it off in disgust and looked up to see the head counsellor of the Ares cabin, Clarisse La Rue. She normally wasn't as bad as you would think an Ares camper would be, but apparently the thought of me not taking this seriously pissed her off. But I was taking this seriously; who wouldn't?

"No." i replied coolly.

"Then why were you snickering?"

"Is it a crime?"

"No, but not taking this seriously could get you killed, and I don't know if you know this kid but Silena was fond of you. You're not dying on my watch. And if you're not taking this seriously and Rachel issues you the prophecy and you die. What would happen then? Huh?"

I sighed and rolled my eyes; me and Silena Beauregard had been friends, and I should have known that Clarisse might have a soft spot for anything or anyone she liked; Clarisse and Percy even got along now. "If you must know, Clarisse, I was snickering at how curley Chirons tail is/ Ever heard the rumours about the curlers?"

She contemplated whether or not to believe me before grinning. "I saw them myself."

My mouth fell open in shock. "Really?"

She nodded. "It was classic. If demigods could use phones I would've taken a picture.

I smiled. This is what I mean about Clarisse not being half-bad; she really could be nice, when she wanted to. I looked around and realized that me, Lain, Aimee, and Clarisse were the only people left in the room. I also realized that Aimee was asleep. I groaned slightly; Aimee may be light as a freaking feather, but I really didn't feel like carrying her and I didn't have the heart to wake her up. Clarisse seemed to realize that I was too tired the carry her to the Apollo cabin because she picked her up off of us, careful not to wake her, and said "Don't worry, i'll bring her to her cabin. It's on the way to Ares cabin anyway."

I grinned slightly. "Thanks."

She shrugged as much as she could while carrying a 5'2, 57 pound girl bridal style. "Don't mention it."

Before I could reply she turned on her heels and left. I yawned and turned to Lain. "Do you think Chiron would really care all that much if we slept here? I'm about to pass out."

She yawned and streached out. "Probably not."

And so, without another word we readjusted ourselves so we were comfortable - which was not an easy task; the couch was too small for the both of us but whatever, we managed - and drifted off to sleep.