After Percy pushed Nico and I to go on without him we met with Hephaestus and asked for away out of the labyrinth after telling him the story of what happened.

"I see" he said and tampered with that stupid little demon bot. "You know Daedalus's work shop isn't easy to find. I'm not even sure if I could build an automaton that could find it" he said, "just like how the labyrinth moves and evolves so does his workshop. I remember one time for a long time it was at some place in Britain, Bletchley I think, but it hasn't been there since the old oath those three made"

"Do you know where it is now"

"I'm sorry but I don't" Hephaestus said handing over the demon bot to Nico since I'm not going to touch it. Like seriously why spiders.

"Well you kids best be on your way" he said letting us leave.

We were finally out and surprise surprise I was about three blocks away from where my father lives now. I sighed knowing I would have to go home in order to get back to camp. But first I should tell Artemis and Thalia about what happened.

I called Artemis first and told her and she seemed impassive until the end when she thanked me and cut off the connection quickly. Of course Nico kept interrupting saying he wasn't dead. Like come on he got blasted out of a volcano, how could he not be dead.

I then called Thalia who showed more emotion but not by much. Though I could barely keep it together telling the story a third time.

But like Artemis she thanked me for telling her before abruptly ending the call. Though I was surprised I could get an Iris message to her.

"Come on Nico let's go" I said

"Do you know where we are" he asked

"Yes Nico" I said, "and we are in San Francisco"

"Oh ok" he said, "but didn't the video say not to come here"

"Yes"

"Then why are we here"

"So we can get back to camp"

"How"

"By doing something I don't want you to do"

"Which is" Nico asked with both concern and worry

"Going to see my father"

"Oh ok" he sighed in relief, "for a moment I thought...you know what maybe I shouldn't always voice my thoughts" He said after he caught the glare I was giving him.

"That's very wise of you" I said, before leading him to my father's place where I knocked on the door.

The door opened only to reveal the evil stepmother's apprentice, Helen. "Hello Helen" I tried sounding nice

"Oh it's you" she said, "aren't you supposed to be at that little summer camp with those other abominations"

"Don't you mean demigods" Nico asked

Oh gods Nico, I understand Hades is your father, but wait until she's dead before annoying her please.

"Isn't that what I said" she asked him

"No you said abomination"

"Yes just like I said" she replied, "anyway what do you two abominations want" and all the sudden the earth started shaking.

Nico was looking upset and like he was unwanted. "Do you really have to piss off gods by calling their kids names" I asked her

She opened her mouth to speak, "you know what I don't care. I just want to talk to my father" I said getting louder at the end hoping he would hear me.

She huffed before slamming the door, "there's a special place in hell for people like her now" Nico mumbled

Oh how I hope Hades listens to his son about that because I know I'm not the only one with step parent problems.

The door opened back up again, this time revealing my father, "hello Fredrick" I said to him formally

"Athena" he questioned

"Wow can't even tell your daughter apart from her mother" I said

"Oh Annabeth. I thought you said"

"I know what the letter said, and trust me I would rather be dropped off in the underworld than in San Francisco by the labyrinth, but I'm not capable of choosing that" I replied

"Oh" he said, "I see. And who's that"

"I'm Nico, the son of Hades" Nico replied waving way to happily for the stereotype.

"Wow" dad replied

"What" Nico asked

"Just didn't expect" he started before thinking better of it, "nevermind. Anyways, besides the labyrinth what brings you two here"

"I need help and this is the only place I know in this city where I'm sure I can find some" I answered

Dad waved us inside, however Helen was in there glaring at Nico and I, "honey why do you invite them in here they could bring harm to Bobby and Mathew"

"I know Bobby and Mathew are at some summer camp right now. The house is far two clean for them and dad to be here at the same time" I replied only for Helen to let out a huff and leave the room.

"Can you try being nice to her" dad asked

"I wouldn't. I'm trying to decide if I like Hera more or less than her" Nico replied

I however sighed, "dad you know she won't understand and even if she did I doubt she would change. Anyway can you help with getting us transport back to camp" I asked

Dad looked sad, "but it's been so long"

"I'm on a quest right now. Fate of the world type thing so I don't really have time to stay" I replied

"I see. I suppose I can get you and your friend tickets back to New York" he said sadly

"Thank you dad" I spoke softly not wanting Helen to hear, "and if you have some good food you wouldn't mind if Nico makes a sacrifice with that real quick then"

"Why"

"He's a son of Hades dad"

"Ohhh I suppose I can scrap something together suitable for a king then" he said before heading off

"Your dad seems alright" Nico stated after he left

"I could have worse" I admitted, "but Helen doesn't make it easy at all"

20 minutes passed before dad returned with a whole turkey, I'm not even going to ask, some of my ambrosia and Nectar I left with them from years ago and a couple of spare weapons. "I hope the lord of the sky likes a good turdunkin"

Nico shrugged, "how much should I sacrifice" he asked

"All of it and pray that he just lets us live" I responded, taking the other supplies from my father as Nico sacrificed the turdunkin.

"I'll drive you to the airport then" my father offered and we gladly accepted.

It was a boring drive to the airport but once we arrived we only had about an hour till departure "thanks dad" I said steeping out of his car, "I'll try to write more frequently assuming I survive the remainder of this quest"

He stepped out and hugged me, "just survive first" he whispered to me, "you're still my only daughter"

I smiled at that before leaving and heading into the airport through security to catch the flight to New York. Praying that my grandfather won't kill me for traveling with Nico and if he starts thinking about that my mother will convince him not too.

Thankfully by some miracle Zeus didn't strike the plane down. And when we landed Nico started kissing the ground saying he'll sacrifice to Zeus whenever he's at camp till the end of this war.

A bit dramatic in my opinion but I'm not a child of one of my grandfather's brothers so I have no room to speak on the matter.

I then hailed the taxi of damnation and got a ride to camp with Nico. Though Nico didn't thinking the bickering was worth the drachma cost and time.

Once the cab stopped we were kicked out and started our truck up the hill. I didn't feel like calling Chiron to tell the news of Percy because I think it best to tell him in person.

Nico and I created the hill and made our way into camp where others were surprised to see us back when we entered the dining pavilion.

"Where's the others" Clarisse asked, looking nervous as can be

"Grover Tyson, and Thals split off to find Pan having found a viable trail though I don't know how they determined that, and Percy is missing, though she thinks he's dead" Nico said

"How can he not be. He got blasted out a volcano for your father's sake"

"Percy got shot out of a volcano" Clarisse asked, which I nodded to, "look kid I know you're still new but the chances of surviving that are astronomically low"

"WHY DOES EVERYONE DOUBT THE CHILD OF THE GOD OF THE DEAD" Nico exasperated

All the sudden I heard a familiar and now irritable, to me, chuckle from behind me, "prolly because they don't know what your powers are, lil dude"

I turned around and slapped him as hard as I could, "YOU DARE MAKE ME THINK YOU ARE DEAD AND NOT EVEN GIVE ME A CALL TO LET ME KNOW YOU LIVED"

"Well to be honest I just got back" he said nervously grabbing at his neck, "which reminds me. I should probably call mom"