I was gagged, and tied up to a chair. But the first thing I noticed was Nico on a bed, laying deadly still. The room was a little dark, but I managed to see him.

I bit the gag, turning furious at the state that Nico was in. He was deathly pale, he'd always been pale but he was beginning to look like the dead. He was breathing, which made me exhale in relief but his breathing was too slow. He still glimmered in the dark, but his sparkles were growing dim. And the worst part was little sprouts were growing from him.

Sprouts. Circe was turning Nico into some, weird plant.

I tried to get out, but every time I'd get close to breaking apart, the binds would do themselves again.

I was growing tired, my entire body felt like it was on fire because I was so furious at how fast those little sprouts grew. Maybe if we were sent as a trio, we would've been saved. But no, it just had to be the two of us.

I was running out of time, and I had to act fast.

Think Treya! Think!

My backpack was across the room, like it was supposed to be. It'll never be away from me, but I couldn't even get out of the chair. I still had no idea where the spell book was and where my weapons were, but my backpack had ambrosia and nectar, it could save Nico.

If it wasn't too late.

I screamed, begging for Nico to wake up, but it was barely understandable because I was gagged. But even if my mouth had been taped, Nico would not wake up as I struggled.

I couldn't chant a spell, or undo the spell that binds me because I was gagged. I felt so helpless I wanted to cry.

Every minute that would pass, Nico's skull ring that was on my finger tightened. I think it was telling me to hurry up, but I could barely think. There were guards outside who occasionally checked up on us if we tried anything funny, but once they saw how I was struggling, they'd stifle a laugh and go back.

Fools. I'd curse them once I'm free.

Mother, help me I prayed, knowing it was useless because it was my mother that also needed saving from an entity greater than she.

But to my surprise, it worked. The backpack that Lou and my other siblings cursed started shaking, and glowing and suddenly the knife cut its way from the backpack and flew to my hand.

I tried untying myself, hoping that the binds would no longer bind back together. Unfortunately I was wrong, but they were binding together much slower than the first time. So I did the only thing I could think of, I ripped the gag and the binds into shreds, making sure they had until the next century to be restored.

I was gonna jump for joy but I remembered the guards outside.

I quickly rushed towards Nico whose breathing was now a little shallower. I forced the ambrosia on him but it didn't seem to work. The sprouts were still growing.

I tried a small amount of Nectar, but it still didn't work.

I searched for the spell book, but it was nowhere to be found.

I prayed to my mother again. Please, if I'm able to chant new spells, this would be the best time I thought.

But I heard nothing.

I tried shaking Nico awake, but he seemed so fragile, I thought he would've crumbled if I wasn't careful.

I held Nico's hand, "Gods, please wake up already Nico"

A stupid idea entered my head.

I wanted to trash the idea, but I was already running out of time. What if Nico was like Sleeping Beauty and the only way he could wake up was from a true love's kiss?

I slumped down in embarrassment. There was no way I was Nico's true love, we've only known each other for a week.

But I had to try, right?

I blushed, thinking about kissing Nico at a time like this. I carefully lowered my head towards Nico, thinking about how I could regret this until my next life because I thought of something so sloppy and for my own curiosity nonetheless.

I leaned closer, and closer until my lips were only a hair away from his own. My heart was beating so fast I was afraid the guards outside would hear my pounding heart.

But I suddenly heard a whisper, I sat up straight and listened closely.

I slowly started mimicking the whisper, I could actually feel power surge through me. I extended my hands and hovered them over Nico's body, and started chanting louder and louder until I felt myself flinch.

I peeked my eyes open to see the the spell was successfully undone, the sprouts were shrinking, and Nico's complexion was turning back to normal. I mentally cheered, but a deep part of me was disappointed I didn't get to try Sleeping Death Prince- Sleeping Beauty rather.

I sat back on the edge of his bed and grabbed my backpack. I fed Nico the ambrosia and he started to stir. I sighed in relief and patted Nico's long fluffy hair.

By doing so, I woke him up. He snapped his eyes open and he searched around in panic before I shushed him by covering his mouth with my hand and made a gesture that he should shut up.

When he recognized me, his expression turned soft. He pulled my hand away from his mouth and whispered, "Thank you,"

I shook my head, and took out the skull ring he gave me, "No, thank you" I muttered as he placed his ring back to its original place.

"Where-"

"You were right," I cut him off, noticing how drained he still was.

"We are in the sea of monsters, this is Circe's lair. I've heard that this place used to be a spa but times have changed, and she not only hates men but me too," I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I have no idea how we're gonna escape, and it seems like Kim's not here" I added

Nico sat up slowly, "Don't worry, I can take us out of here, you've done enough"

I look at him with worry, "But Nico, you're clearly drained"

Nico frowned, "Yeah but we have no choice, we have to get out of here,"

He got up, but I had to support him, he was too tired to even walk.

We got out of the room, and the guards immediately reacted but I put my hand up and whirled it around. A soft blue mist formed, and I started speaking, hoping my trick worked.

"Tell me where you placed the weapons of the demigods," I spoke confidently, even if I had Nico hanging at my side.

The guards looked entranced, "In Room 304," One mumbled

"Sleep," I ordered and they fell on the floor, falling into their slumber.

As I walked quietly Nico chuckled, "That was impressive, I didn't know you could charmspeak,"

I smiled lightly, "I can't. But Circe can,"

"You made yourself into an illusion? I thought that was limited?" Nico sounded like he was impressed. Tired but impressed.

"I thought so too, I took the risk and looks like it worked," I smiled to myself, feeling great.

When we got to Room 304, the guards were right. Our weapons were there. Nico's Stygian Iron sword and my short sword.

I was starting to think Circe wasn't very organized.

"Nico, we need a plan" I muttered, as we got on the elevator.

Nico grunted in agreement, "I plan to shadow travel us out of here,"

"Now?" I asked

"No," He said, "I need to speak with Circe"

As I expected, word got around fast that escaped, and the ground floor was filled with armed guards and Circe smirking in the middle.

"Hello sister, don't think you could escape this quick," She taunted

I glared at her, "You were turning Nico into a tree!"

She cackled, "Back then, guinea pigs were the go-to, but times have changed and I'm beginning to love trees more. They don't talk and they give us a well-sustained environment here in Circeland,"

Nico detached himself from me and glared at Circe. All of the sudden, the air turned cold, and the ground Nico was standing in was turning white.

Circe looked taken aback but regained her composure in a nick of time.

Before she could say anything, Nico pierced his sword on the ground that sucked the sword like sand, and the earth shook so hard I thought Nico was gonna include me in his collection.

The ground split open and a blast of darkness and the cold rose up, before I knew it an army of the undead has made its way to Circe's hotel, growling, clearly ferocious.

He was still glaring at Circe, and he muttered something that made the undead attack Circe's army.

He made his way to Circe, and pointed his sword at her.

"Where's Kimberly? And give us a clue as to where Hecate is," He threatened.

I thought the most I'd get to see Nico angry was back in Camp when I turned him into a sparkly son of Hades but this was beyond frightening. Circe looked frightened, her expression turning defensive.

Circe held her hands up, and opened her mouth to speak but she looked at me and smiled coldly before snapping her fingers and disappearing into a thin mist along with her little minions.

Suddenly, the earth shook, and everything was shaking, as if it was brittle. The hotel started losing its charm, and every illusion was starting to disappear.

I gaped as Circeland started to crumble, Nico angrily closed up the wound he made on the earth and turned to me, his expression softening a little.

"Let's go," He said, as he held out his hand for me to take. I took his cold hand, and we traveled through the shadows again.