DISCLAIMER: Nic and Nyx have yet to sue the pants of Rick Riordan and own PJatO and HoO. For now, they are still his.

NOTE: This is the SEQUEL to The Daughter of Darkness – Rebels and second in the five-part Daughter of Darkness series. If you ABSOLUTELY MUST jump into it without reading everything, admittedly this is the place, but it is STRONGLY SUGGESTED that you go to our profile and read Rebels first. Thanks.

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"They are dangerous. They are not demigods. And they are not the kind of people you need to get attached to," Hades said. He glanced up and down the dark street from where he stood before the Universal Studios entrance. But nobody came down this street, not at this time of night. Not even in a city like LA. The streetlights were all out and even the sky above seemed unnaturally dark. It was not lit by the city's lights, and still it lacked stars.

"Yes, Father," Nico replied. His eyes were closed and he seemed to have heard this before, but he listened. She smiled – see, he wasn't everything the rumors said.

She knew, for she had kept track of the rumors. They were everything to her. And at long last, she had caught whiff of what she'd been hoping for.

"I'm not sure if Hunter or Bree is more dangerous," Hades went on. Inside the Studios, shadows flickered and moved, vague human shapes that were hard to keep in focus. Neither of them seemed to notice her hiding in the ditch nearby – though yet again, who would? It was stinky and damp and nasty. But it wasn't the worst thing she had crawled into on her ongoing quest for survival. "If it were anyone else, I'd say Hunter. But you… You must be careful around Bree, understood?"

"Yes, Father," Nico replied. His gaze opened and swept the streets. She tensed as it went over her, and relaxed as it left. He hadn't noticed her snooping.

"Can you handle this, or should I tell Zeus to ask someone else?"

"I'm fine with it," Nico said, an edge in his voice. "Besides, we really could benefit from the magic she knows."

"True. And it holds an advantage over my brothers, us being the closest ones to them…"

"Father, you can't keep thinking like that. This is our chance to restart."

"Yes, well, I was merely referring to brotherly competition – something you won't ever understand, son – and honestly, you and I have always prided ourselves in being unique. It'd be a shame to lose every ounce of mystery and awe we hold now, wouldn't it?"

Nico chuckled dryly, staring out over the midnight streets. "It would."

She smirked, flexing her fingers into the mushy grass. Not so mysterious now, are you?

Oh, she wouldn't tell anyone of this conversation. She wasn't here to blackmail or bust Nico and his father. Or the Olympians, seeing as they were working together more now. She had come for the rumors, to see if they were true. And by some miracle, they were.

A child of the Titans was alive and breathing somewhere in the United States. Not only that; Hunter was known of and tolerated by the gods. What good news for the girl hiding in the ditch, to at last hear word of such a phenomenon. The hope of this day had been the only thing that'd kept her breathing for so long.

There was hope for her yet.

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Nyx: Hello, internet peoples! WE ARE BACK!

Nic: Yes! You have been graced with our awesomeness once again! It's great to be back!

Nyx: Sooo technically this is nothing new but to say I've got the story up is great. Due to complications and a very, very crowded schedule, I will further have to postpone Chapter One (whatever I decide to name it) until June first. But NO LATER! In the meantime, those of you who still need to read Rebels can do that, or you can drool over the HoH cover coming out May 31st, or you can read the one-shot we have posted, or browse around some of the other awesome authors on here. This wait is purely to give me time to get more studying (for I have not written a word yet) done and to get a couple chapters in before we start posting. After that, with summer, I will have MUCH more time to write and do all my other projects, and you shall hopefully NEVER see a postponed chapter for Rejects again!

Nic: Won't that be the day.

Nyx: Thanks to all our readers, and reviews are appreciated! Our current poll, too, is on HoH predictions and we'd be very grateful to those who voted (and saved me from dying of curiosity).

Nic: Until June first….

Nyx: HAPPEH MOTHERS DAY HAPPEH SUMMER AND HAPPEH GRAD DAY (some of you)! See you in three weeks!

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