, "You actually beat the chimera? Props to you girl, you've got guts,"

"Thanks, but no thanks," I managed as I held the hilt of my knife, ready to throw it towards him.

I made a silent prayer to Apollo and Artemis, whose aim were very good. This wasn't archery, but I had to pray that my knife would hit Krios.

"You may have beaten the chimera, but you can't beat me," Krios stated, glaring at me with a wicked smile.

I grinned, "Sure," I said as I pulled out my knife and chucked it towards the titan. It flew perfectly, and hit the center of Krios' chest. Golden Ichor started pouring out but Krios only pulled out my blade, and chucked it back at me. If I wasn't fast enough, it would've hit my head.

"A small knife, will not work on me, sadly," Krios said, wiping a fake tear.

In the corner of my eye, I spot Nico in the shadows. I mentally cheer, but I had to distract Krios.

I pulled the knife from the wall, and faced Krios.

I always thought titans were tall as hell. But I guess this was his only current form because of the lacking power Krios had. Power or not, he was still strong.

"I can always try again," I wiped the blood that dripped from the side of my mouth before throwing the knife again, with more force this time. The knife landed on the exact same spot where I hit earlier, and more of the golden Ichor flowed out.

Krios growled, pulling out the knife, "It hurts like an ant bit me, your efforts are futile,"

This time Krios had been smart enough not to throw the knife back to me, so I decided to throw my sword. My sword was much more heavier than my knife, and I barely had enough arm power to manage the throw perfectly, so it only managed to nick the titan's face.

The titan's eyes flared with rage, picked up my sword and stalked over to me. I no longer had any weapons with me but before he could make me a perfect barbecued demigod, Nico stepped in front of me and blocked his attack.

"Son of Hades," Krios sneered

Nico smiled smugly, "It was stupid of you to send me in a limbo of shadows. The shadows are my domain. I own the shadows,"

For a moment, I swooned over Nico. He was like an epitome of a cool demigod.

Krios glared, and instant, in an inhuman speed, Nico and Krios had their swords, well, Krios had my sword, but the swords were clanging against each other as they fought.

I ran to Hecate who was already unconscious. I slapped her awake, knowing she'd probably get mad a little later but it didn't matter. I had to get her out of here.

"Mom! Tell me how to break these chains!"

Hecate groaned, "It's tied to Krios, I told you,"

"No! There must be another way!" I insisted, tugging on the chains.

Hecate pointed at my neck "Yo- your-"

"Treya!" An all familiar voice called out to me.

I looked back, and in that moment, I didn't know if I was gonna cry or laugh or just stay still. I saw Nico fighting still, but it was no longer the middle aged man who called himself Krios earlier.

It was my brother.

I felt the air knocked out of me, as my head started spinning. I was confused. I was lost. What in the Hades was happening?

"Gavin?" I choked out

"Eretria," Hecate called out in a firm voice, making me turn back to her.

I looked at Hecate with tears in my eyes, "Who is that?" My voice cracked

I just wanted to give up, and break down. I had no idea what was happening.

Hecate looked away, "I had been too late when I noticed. Your brother's body was used by Krios. At first, I thought he was just getting older. Your brother was like that, he adapted but then he started acting indifferently when you turned fourteen. It was getting harder to keep the mist around this house strong, Krios had been deflecting my magic all along,"

"But I grew up with him!" I cried out, as I watched Gavin turn back to the middle aged man and back to Gavin again.

Was he never real?

They were still fighting, and Nico could hold him back but he was starting to struggle. He was gaining on Nico. I had to help Nico. Nico was real.

He was the only person real to me. He was real.

Hecate pressed her lips together, "I'm sorry my child, I will explain everything once this is over,"

"You made my whole life a lie! I thought I was the best soccer captain in town!" I sobbed, the feeling of betrayal creeping in. I fiddled with the chain on my neck. I had to let Krios think that I was confused and would turn against Hecate.

"Eretria, you have to listen. He's been tracking you all along, he knew you'd come back eventually so-"

"Sixteen years! I thought everything here was real! Even my own brother wasn't real!" I screamed, shaking my head.

What did he use to track me with? What?

My heart dawned on the wallet my brother gave me that day at the airport.

Hecate looked at me with guilt, "Eretria, you have to calm down,"

"How can I calm down? That's my brother right there!" I pointed at Gavin, er, Krios who was now inflicting more cuts on Nico. But it didn't mean Nico wasn't also advancing on him. He made little nicks on Krios, whose Ichor was flowing everywhere.

I marched over to them, and stopped Nico my holding his wrist.

"Nico," My voice cracked "He's my brother, don't hurt him,"

Nico looked at me as if I was insane, "Are you crazy? That's a titan!"

"He's my brother," I repeated, lowering his sword down but before he could argue with me, I pinched his wrist to let him know I was onto something.

Gavin laughed behind me, his exact laugh and voice were exactly like Gavin's it was frightening.

Was there really no other way to save him? I wanted my brother back.

"Join me!" He cackled, coming forward to pull me into a hug but before he could take another step, I pulled my chain necklace, and it elongated to a bigger chain. Nico's skull ring falling into my hand. I slid it on my finger as fast as I could while I quickly chained Krios.

Krios growled, and was suddenly engulfed in his flames.

I couldn't bring my brother back. It's too late.

Nico instantly summoned some undead soldiers, because they came in prancing in the room, helping hold the titan down because the two of us weren't enough to keep him still.

"You cannot defeat me!" He struggled to break the chains but Nico suddenly held the chains with me, containing him. I knew that the chains weren't gonna hold any longer. I knew I had to do it.

It was getting harder for us to contain him, I looked at Nico who gave me a stiff nod before handing me his sword.

His sword was heavy, it instantly drained me. It only showed that this swordwasn't compatible with other demigods but Nico.

"Now!" Nico snapped me out of my thoughts.

I bit my lip, feeling my tears threatening to spill as I pierced the dark blade on Gavin's body.

It shouldn't have been this easy to defeat a titan. Especially someone like Krios, and only with two demigods, with the other being weak (me of course) but who was I to complain and yaddle when my arms were half burnt, and I was injured everywhere else.

The titan's cries died down as Gavin's body dropped to the floor and I instantly found myself kneeling while holding Gavin's cold hand, my real tears finally breaking through as I cried in pain.

Everything hurts. My burnt arms, my head, the small cuts on my body, my aching muscles and my heart.