Nico never thought he would ever have incentive to go back to camp - and stay there. Connor never thought he'd fall in love, what with Travis acting dumb over Katie. They were both wrong. With Percy missing and new prophecies, it seems that the war with the Titan's was only the beginning. (The Lost Hero never happened.)

…

Chapter 1. Nico: Kidnapped and Quests.

Dark. That's the first impression you'd get of the Underworld. Cold's next. Everything here reminds you of death. It seemed like a big joke then that I, a living breathing mortal, lived here.

But what choice did I have? Living at Camp still wasn't easy. Not everyone was ready to welcome a son of Hades with their arms wide open. Sure, I visit my cabin sometimes but I don't exactly advertise my presence there. Plus, living at camp was just so … constricted.

I stared up at the ceiling of my room. It was made of black marble like everything else in the room. Hades was a rich god after all and being his son does have benefits. Sighing I dragged myself out of bed and shot a glance at the clock. 7.00 pm. Time to get work.

When I came down to live in the Underworld after the Second Titan War, my father had been more than happy to accept me. He even went as far as to giving me special duties in this place. The gesture seemed sincere but I suspected that he was trying to make up for the past. For Bianca. For my mom. Whatever.

I made my way to the entrance to the Underworld. One of my duties was to check up Cerberus. Since Annabeth spent some quality time with him that dog had seemed to develop an obsession with small little spit covered red balls.

Half way there I was intercepted by a skeleton messenger.

"Ghost king" It bowed deeply. There's a message for you" I stopped surprised.

"A message? For me?" I repeated. That didn't happen very often.

"Yes. From a half blood Annabeth. She's waiting in the lounge." Annabeth? I thanked the messenger I rushed to the lounge which was where all IM's to the Underworld were usually directed. Annabeth would never call me if it wasn't important. She and Percy both knew that I didn't do small talk.

I burst into the lounge. Annabeth's figure was clearly visible in a simmering rainbow. I skidded to a halt at the sight of her.

"Annabeth?" I couldn't conceal the shock in my voice. It must have been pretty obvious on my face too. Annabeth looked like she had aged several centuries. There were deep purple bags under her eyes. Her face was pale. Her hair was in complete disarray. But what surprised me the most were her eyes. Annabeth's usually stormy and analyzing eyes looked huge in her pale face and were filled with sadness. "What's wrong?"

"Nico" Her voice was hoarse, as though she had been crying. "Nico. Percy's missing."

"What?" My mind couldn't seem to register her words.

"For three days now. We thought he went off to visit Tyson or maybe Sally but they hadn't heard from him either."

Percy was missing. This is bad. This is worse than bad. This is horrible. I grasped at the first possibility that my mind offered.

"Rachel?" My voice came out as a whisper. I tried again. "How about Rachel?"

Annabeth shook her head sadly. "She arrived here yesterday. She hasn't got anything either."

I sank into a nearby chair. "What are we going to do?" Percy was gone. Missing. Vanished. To my surprise, this had a deeper impact than I expected. Percy had been a brother I never had, and probably never will have. He had believed me. Now he's gone. "C'mon Annabeth! There has to be something!"

She looked at me with those sad eyes. "Chiron forbid any of us from leaving camp, in case – you know" Her voice broke. I knew what she meant. In case what took Percy was out to the rest of us too. In my mind, I saw a horrible monster staring at Camp and licking its jaws; just waiting for its next treat to come out of the boundaries.

I threw my hands up, what was wrong with Annabeth? "Since when have you listened to Chiron's orders? Especially where Percy's involved?"

Annabeth's eyes teared up. There was something in her face that hinted that she was in more pain that she let on. Broken. She was broken, I realized.

"Annabeth." She must have heard the pity in my voice for she pulled herself together. All traces of tears and sadness disappeared behind an iron mask of strength.

"Anyway" Annabeth went on in a flat voice. I admired her strength. Even now she wasn't willing to give up her pride. "I IM-ed to ask if you've - seen him." Her voice broke.

"No Percy didn't come to see me. The last time I saw him was during that trip to get that child of Ares in Ohio." Annabeth glared at me. I wondered what I did wrong.

"That wasn't what I meant" I stared at her clueless until her meaning sank in.

"Oh. Oh. No, no he isn't here. My father would've have- I haven't- No-he isn't here." It was a relive to say the words. Annabeth relaxed slightly when I confirmed that her boyfriend wasn't dead. For a moment I felt another annoying stab of self-pity. The only time someone called me was to check if one of their friends had died. Then I gave myself a mental shake- Percy was missing and I was wasting time thinking about myself.

"Thank you Nico." She said softly. I nodded wordlessly. "Maybe you could come here-?" I knew what she wanted. I could come there and help her to find Percy. I was the only half-blood who came and went from Camp freely.

I was saved from having to decide between staying here with the dead or going to a place where I wasn't exactly welcome by another messenger. It was one of those upper class messengers who worked directly with my father.

The skeleton's voice was cold and uncaring when it spoke. "Your father wants to see you. Now."

I exchanged dark looks with Annabeth. My father and I didn't exactly have the perfect father-son relationship.

"I'll try to get something out of him before coming. " I was determine to pitch in somehow. Seeing Annabeth fall into pieces was hard; she was usually so strong. Annabeth nodded weakly. She seemed to be miles away.

"Come soon." I heard her reply. Then she was gone.

I turned to the messenger. Somehow, despite having no skin whatsoever, the look it gave me seemed disapproving. Sighing, I walked to the throne room, my mind in a complete mess. Percy was missing. Was he hiding from someone? Or something? Was on a secret quest? Or had he been kidnapped?

I strode into the throne room without knocking. My father was having a conversation with someone. Before I could see who it was, he dismissed him or her with the flick of his hand. I did catch his last words though. "I'll get him on it right away" I wondered if the 'him' was me.

"Nico" My father turned and surveyed me critically, taking in my appearance from my dark jeans and black Walking Dead t-shirt to my mussed up hair, black combat boots and my sword which was disguised as a large silver ring on my index finger. His expression wasn't exactly disapproving-it was more like he was amused. To my relief, Persephone's throne was empty. It was summer, I realized with a jolt. Strange how fast time seems to past down here.

"Do you anything about Percy?" I shot the question at him. I figured that if I didn't give him time to think I might get a straight answer out of him for once. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

"No. Nico, you know I can't-"He began in a tired voice.

"Oh c'mon! No one knows what happened to him! Did he run away? Was he kidnapped?" I pressed on, desperate for some answers.

Hades nodded. "He is being held against his will, yes" The simple statement sent my mind whirling. Somehow someone or something had kidnapped the most powerful demigod in what a hundred years.

"Who did it? Where is he?"

"Nico-"My father had a pained look on his face.

"What? Why can't you tell me?" I felt my anger rising.

"Because," My father sighed. "The gods don't know." My jaw hit the floor.

"What?"

"No one's seen him, Nico. Not even the gods." I didn't say anything. I couldn't. Hearing that the gods did not know something was like Grover saying he didn't like enchiladas. "I'm sorry" My father's apology sounded genuine. I nodded and began turning away when his voice pulled me back again. "But that wasn't why I called you here"

"Oh?" I looked at him questioningly.

"I have a quest, of sorts, for you" This really got my attention. I had never been on a quest before.

"You are to go find a demigod and bring her to Camp Half Blood" Disappointment coursed through me. My first quest was something I had done countless times before. With Percy. I felt sick.

"No thanks, dad. I'll pass." I turned away again.

"It wasn't a request" My father's voice was cold now. I slowly faced him again. "You are to go find this demigod. Bring her to Camp. And then you can join the search for that son of Poseidon." His voice signaled no arguments. I tried anyway.

"What's so special about this half-blood that a normal satyr can't get her?" Even to my own ears, I sounded like a bratty child.

My father sighed. I could tell he wasn't in the mood for arguing with me. "It is a special request from her godly parent, Nico." I opened my mouth but he cut me off before I could protest further. "Just do it. Do it and I'll release some information on your friend. The one's that's missing."

"That's blackmail-but I'll do it." I added hastily.

"Good." Looking pleased, my father conjured a hologram of sorts in front of me. "Her name is Vanessa. She's currently in Maine. Here take this" He handed me a gold ring in the shape of a dolphin. "This will keep you tuned to her location" I took it wordlessly. Her parent, which ever god or goddess it was, must be important. I studied the hologram, committing the girl's features to memory. She was cute, I realized. Long brown hair, eyes that were a deep mesmerizing bluish gray, and a surprisingly vulnerable mouth. She had tanned skin, the kind that Aphrodite girls would kill to have.

"And Nico?" I looked at my father, hoping he didn't guess what exactly was on my mind. "Time is of the essence." I nodded and walked out the grand doors. Looking back, I always wondered whether I should hate my father for that quest or thank him.

AN: I am sorry for taking my original story off so abruptly. This is a rewrite and I promise Alva, Vanessa and Connor will be back! I will try to update as frequently as possible. To my previous readers, who would have guessed this by now, this story isn't exactly the same but I promise I won't dissapoint! This is dedicated to Emmarina Aniramme (check out her stories; they are awesome) and Vanessa BlueBlood. PM me if you have any questions. Review please! CCs are welcome!