I realized I was cramped in a small space with Nico.

"Where are we?" I asked, looking around but it was too cramped and too dark.

He seemed to take notice of our surroundings, and started panicking.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask him, gripping his wrist to let him know I was here. Was Nico afraid of small places? I had no idea, I never got to ask about what Nico was afraid of back at camp, plus, I don't think they would give that information if they knew.

He shuddered, "Nothing, bad memories," He quietly said

"Did- did you perhaps shadow travel us to the place in your bad memory?" I asked, feeling nervous. I heard all about Nico's adventures by asking around, hoping it would have been fun but his lone adventures were not friendly at all.

Nico shook his head, "I...don't know. I'm sleepy, let me take-"

"Wait, don't sleep yet. Not until we figure out where we are" I harshly whispered, pulling on his cheek. Nico groaned in annoyance. I did want him to rest, wholeheartedly but I needed Nico to be awake in case he shadow traveled us to a trap.

Then I heard it. Children's laughter.

I gulped nervously, and pressed my ear against the wall but before I could completely press my ear I tumbled forward, along with Nico and before I knew it I was looking at children who paused and looked at us with those doe and innocent eyes.

The lights were bright I squinted my eyes as I took notice of our surroundings, there were people surrounding us in an instant. I thought we were going to be under attack again, so I reached for my knife that was on my side but when I noticed that they were looking at us with disgusted looks.

I looked around again. Red, yellow, children's laughter, and the smell of burgers.

We were in McDonald's.

I instantly panicked and bent the mist, it was difficult to fool a lot of people, but it was good practice. Just a second later, everyone was on their own way, as if two teenagers didn't just spill out of the fast-food chain's cupboard.

I glanced at Nico who was already dozing off on my leg, I let out a loud sigh of relief. If Nico accidentally took us to a place where he didn't like, I'm not sure I would've survived that.

Wait, this wasn't like, a death trap, or a fake McDonald's, right?

The restaurant looked completely fine, I've tried casting a spell to undo any magic that surrounded us, including the mist. For a moment, people stared at us like we were crazy, but I put the mist back when I realized this was just an ordinary McDonald's.

I slowly regained my composure, grabbing my never disappearing backpack and put Nico's arm on my shoulder, dragging the both of us to the counter to order some food.

I suddenly remembered how the spell book disappeared, I already memorized half the spells and was already about to learn how to create potions, but it was taken and well- that was bad. Besides the fact that the spell book was back to its original owner, which wasn't even good news, I feel like we stopped at a dead end.

We were supposed to go east, but which east? Prophecies were too vague.

Once I plopped sleeping Nico and myself on one of the booths, and got our food, I took out the map that was inside my bag.

I munched on my fries, looking at the map worriedly, not even knowing where to go.

All of the sudden, I was surprised when a tray was slammed on our table, with a Big Mac and a large soda.

I looked up, and a blonde boy smiled down at me before sitting in front of me.

I was wondering if he didn't see us, and that I've overdone the mist, but he continued smiling at me. It gave me a chance to properly look at him, he was incredibly good looking, a killer smile, even if he was only wearing a pair of jeans, a shirt that said with the r reversed and a flannel.

I almost thought he was a demigod, but his aura was so bright-

"Apollo?" It was meant to be a statement, but I wasn't too sure.

He pouted, "Was it that hard to recognize me?" He asked

I shook my head, "N-no, it's just that you look different from the stuff they show at camp,"

He smiled again, sipping on his soda, "We gods can take many forms, I was a little lazy today but I realized people didn't recognize me" He frowned at the end.

"Not even my own sister," He added but he waved his hand, "But alas, that was not the point of my coming. Good day to you, Eretria and um, is he alive?" He asked, motioning towards Nico who slept beside me. I stifled a nervous chuckle and elbowed Nico but he didn't budge.

I started nudging Nico awake, and he did manage to wake up. He scanned our surroundings, looked at Apollo, sneered a little and went back to sleep.

Apollo looked offended but hid it with a smile, "Whatever, he's always like that," He said and I agreed.

"Are you here to help us?" I asked, feeling a little hopeful

"No," Apollo said almost immediately and my shoulders slumped "We cannot interfere with quests, but sometimes, we can offer them aide,"

"But...." I trailed off, "That's what I said,"

Apollo looked up, before shrugging "Was it?"

I almost split a nerve, but I couldn't do that. Apollo could easily blast me to bits.

"I can help you," Apollo said, smiling cheerfully as he took a bite on his burger.

I cheered but before I could say anything, Apollo cut me off, "But,"

"You have to help me first," He finished

I puffed out my cheeks, there really was no other choice. Besides, it was hard to turn down an offer from someone who gave me a billion dollar watt smile every time I met his eyes. And I swear this guy still looked undeniably looked so good despite wearing something so simple.

If I was no demigod, I would swoon over him. But I was a demigod and I was in dire need of help or else I was gonna lose my mom soon. I would practically beg and kneel to all gods and goddesses to send me help.

"Okay, what is it?"

He motioned outside McDonald's, but there were a lot of people so Apollo had to specifically point out to what or who he was referring to. Or I wasn't gonna understand him at all.

"That lady over there, the one wearing a yellow dress and crying," Apollo pressed on, as if he read my mind.

"Uh huh,"

"If you get me her number, I'll consider helping you,"

I looked at Apollo as if he was insane, but shook it off. Gods were weird in their own way.

"Alright," I agreed and stood up. Apollo grinned at me, his eyes full of hope.

But before I could leave the booth, a cold hand grabbed my wrist. If I wasn't so familiar with the sensation of a cold almost bony hand grasping my wrist, I would've screamed but it was Nico. I looked at him, his face was still hidden by his other arm that was resting on the table but he glanced at me, his eyebrows furrowing together.

"Where are you going?" He asked

I pointed outside, "Oh, um, Apollo wants her number. The box of nuggets is yours, by the way"

Nico looked like he didn't want me going away, or maybe it was just me so I had to reassure him.

"It's fine, I'll be back," I told him, patting his head and his grip loosened.

He grumbled before going back to sleep.

Fighting monsters? Getting trapped by your evil sister? Carrying around the son of Hades? Oh please, getting her number will be easy peasy.