Shattered

Charon

Rachel's eyes widened, making Bianca regret her decision. "No way! You're –"

Bianca squirmed.

Rachel leaned in for the sake of privacy. "Who is it? Anyone in particular?"

"Umm..." Bianca said, avoiding her glance.

"Fine, you don't have to tell me. Honestly, I still haven't learned half the rules of this place either," Rachel admitted, which made Bianca breathe out in relief. Rachel pulled Bianca from the tree stump, "Don't worry, I won't say anything until you want me to. Now come on, I'll know what will brighten your mood up. I smell breakfast!"

"Yeah, I guess I do feel a bit peckish."

The shorter girl then grimaced, "I also smell meat. Someone is about to get murdered!"

After breakfast, they were pretty much set. The hunters had the courtesy to pack a backpack for her, which was filled with everything from a tent, lighters, snacks and odd bits of survival gear. As always, it weighed less than a feather on her back.

"Ready to go?" Percy elbowed her, grinning. Bianca told him yes, as they made their way out of town and into the mountains. He seemed a lot more relaxed, at least until Zoe Nightshade decided to join them.

"Percy, Bianca, wait up!" she said as she jogged to catch up with them.

Percy turned to the demi-titan and raised an eyebrow. "Lieutenant Nightshade," he greeted formally. He might have sneaked in a salute. Since when did he start calling her by that? "What may we do have the pleasure?"

Zoe rolled her eyes at the son of Poseidon. "Give it a break, Percy. We can continue our... our discussion another time. I've come to accompany you two on your venture to the Underworld."

"What?"

"Artemis has just remembered that for general safety on a quest, there must be a group of three that ventures out. Three is a sacred unbreakable number, and since our goal is the underworld, we might need it."

"But this isn't a quest, and we've been INVITED to the underworld," Percy rationalized.

Zoe sighed, "Would you prefer if I send another hunter with you two? Rachel perhaps?"

Percy's face reddened. "What – no – what are you saying?"

"I'm saying –"

"Don't I have a say into this?" Bianca finally spoke up. The two looked at her, probably ashamed by their actions, but one couldn't know for sure when it came to those two.

"Oh. Of course," Percy stammered while Zoe looked away from the son of Poseidon.

"Okay, so I want Zoe along. I mean, if you still want to come, that is, lieutenant."

Zoe growled, "Of course."

Bianca clapped her hands. "That settles it!" She looked at the sky. By her estimates it was already nearing seven o'clock. "I may be new at this, but we better get going. I don't know about you two, but all that hype during breakfast about Phoebe's venison makes me want to be back by then. So let's get a move on!"

Ω

They made it to DOA Studios by one in the afternoon. It had been a long one thousand mile trek, across the rugged dry steppes of Utah and the worse run in visits of at the Hoover Dam and Las Vegas. Gladly, the trio had decided to make a wide arch around the Las Vegas strip.

Bianca didn't have fond memories of the place, and she suspected neither did Percy. If they had even gotten close to the Lotus Casino... She shuddered. She did not want to spent another seventy years at the place, just when she was getting somewhat accustomed to the early 21st century.