I don't own PJO or HG.

Gaea's curse By NewWorldFiction

Chapter Eleven

"So, where are we going Nico?" Malcolm asked from across the kitchen table.

"Well there is the Acheron, The Cocytus, The Phlegethon, The Styx, and The Lethe. Five rivers in which this prophecy may be talking about if what you believe may be true. However, if under those assumptions, we have no idea which one of these rivers Katniss will have to wade in. And I don't think anyone wants to take a dip in the Styx, much less the Lethe." Nico informed the heroes as he munched on a cookie.

"Well, can't we just check them all out?" Katniss asked, unaware of how deadly these rivers where.

"No." Nico shot her down. "Unless you want to bathe in the river that causes amnesia. Then if that doesn't work and we don't find this 'darkness,' you will have to repeat the process in the other rivers of fire, sins, pain-"

"Okay I get it." Katniss cut Nico off. "But how do we figure out of it's the right one?"

"Let your instincts decide." Rachel added her piece to the conversation as she looked across the table and directly at Katniss before her eyes darted to the boy with the sea green eyes. "Like Percy did."

Percy didn't respond.

"Well we can't just go in there with a leap of faith. We need information before we take any risks." said Malcolm.

"Well, do you have anything better to suggest?" Rachel questioned the son of Athena.

"No."

"Exactly. Now we don't know if we have any sort of timeline for this quest, but who knows?"

"But what about the Kronos thing?" Percy questioned. The last time anybody saw him was down in Tarturas."

"Another thing you guys are going to have to just go with." Rachel informed. "We have nothing to really go on with this."

Katniss looked around to both Percy and Malcolm who seemed to be in intense thought. Hey, Katniss thought, At least he looks better than before, upon her inspection of Percy. The boy had been very quiet and cold ever since the prophecy. Now he was still a little but off from his normal carefree attitude, but Katniss had to admit, she liked him more when he was like this.

But she also hated it. She knew it was nothing but a facade; She saw the real pain he was masking back in the conversation that night she was going to leave. That was something Katniss didn't want to repeat, not like that. She wanted to be at his side to help him other then having a mutual respect.

When did that come up? Katniss knew she had never really cared for people like that other then Gale, his family, and eventually Peeta when she ate those Nightlock berries for him. So why was she suddenly caring for the great Percy Jackson? Rachel had said it was love, but Katniss was sure it was something else; something deeper.

Katniss felt like she was here to help Percy and not love him. But what did she know, right?

"Alright then." Malcolm agreed finally after having a look with Percy, "Now we need to figure out how we're getting there."

"Easy." Nico said, "Let me shadow travel to Hollywood. And, after all that's been done in the last few years, my dad wouldn't mind us. Hopefully."

It still caught her off guard how these kids had gods supposedly as their parents. Or one of their parents.

"Are you sure you can carry three people?" Percy asked, showing concern.

Even Katniss could tell that emotion was genuine. Percy would become cold at times, but he still cared for his friends.

"I've improved a lot sincere first shadow travels. I'm stronger and I can guarantee we won't end up in China."

Katniss became puzzled. "China?"

Nico looked at her like she was outright weird until he remembered the predicament she was in. "Oh, uh, it's just a country on the other side of the world. No need to really go there, unless you won't to get your butt handed to you by some Chinese g- never mind I'm not suppose to say that. Uh could we get going? I have a feeling like I'm about to be hit by a lawn mower."

Everybody looked at Nico confused, but they got it. Or, they hope Katniss understood as well. "Well, let's go then before... Nico gets hit by a lawn mower?" Malcolm spoke still somewhat puzzled, however none the less, leaving it behind. If Nico thought he was going to be hit by a lawn mower, let him do what he feels necessary. All demigods have to trust another demigod when someone talks like that.

Leaping out of his seat, Nico looked like he was ready to go, if the panic was anything to go by. "Let's go!"

Taking off to the front door Nico lined up to be the first through the door, waiting for everybody else to file into the lobby.

As they were getting ready to go, Rachel grabbed Katniss by the shoulder. "Be safe, okay?"

Surprised by the statement, Katniss nodded. "I will."

"Good" Rachel replied as Nico opened the deadbolt of the door. "And make sure Percy doesn't do anything insane."

"Let's go!" Nico yelled, referring to Katniss.

"Alright!" Katniss yelled before turning back to Rachel. "I will Rachel."

Marching up to the demigods that were leaving, she gave one last glance at Rachel who seemed to be fine with watching them from the staircase they had come down from.

It was kinda of sad. She didn't feel like a friend, but more like a mother seeing her children go off. It was bittersweet.

Opening the door wide open, Nico took a step out the door in front everybody and onto the porch. Immediately after, Nico's head turned to the right in horror but he was unable to react fast enough as a red lawn mower came into view for a split second for all those still inside, and collided with Nico sending the two out of view. But the crashing and eventually groans of pain were easily audible.

Percy sighed. "Malcolm, get me the nectar."

Some time later, after a lot of bandaging for Nico, and a short fight with a lawn mower still capable at flying toward Nico, They were outside, on the front lawn.

"Ready?" Nico asked as everybody held their arms in a circle.

"Yep." Percy said while Malcolm nodded.

Katniss didn't have time to respond or even question why 'shadow travel' required them to have their hands together and waiting in Nico.

But she wouldn't have time to question that, when Nico looked at her as if for confirmation and grinned.

Then, Katniss saw the darkest black she had ever seen and felt the coldest cold she had ever felt.

End of Chapter 11

You know what? I suck. This story had gain so much popularity and I've let all of you down. I never realized it was on the second page for favorited fics. But now that I found out... I feel like a jerk to leave you guys hanging. Sadly, just with the way writers block can be and how Uncle Rick ended the BoO with that anti climatic end with Gaea... It's hard to stay on top of this. But, I can give you some chapters here and now. I'll try to finish this within 2015. But if any of you write fanfic, or attempted to, you know the struggle. Anyways, thank you for staying with me. Thank you for still reading this. It means a lot.

- NewWorldFiction

EDITED MAY 3RD 2016