Sleeping was out of the question. After making his round through the forest and talking with Talia, Nathan couldn't sleep. He couldn't shake the feeling like something dangerous awaited him in Tatarus. And what freaked him out even more was the river. Phlegethon. He thought. Whatever this river was. Nathan knew it wasn't a nice freshwater springs river. Odds were it was made out of fire.

When he finally got to the cabin of Hades, Nathan took off his shirt, laid down on the black velvet bed and stared at the ceiling. He couldn't help but feel sad. He had just arrived at camp, been labeled the weird kid and was sentenced to a place that no demigod could ever survive. Tartarus.

Turning over, he cuddled the pillow at his side. He didn't feel like sleeping, but he did feel tired. Closing his eyes, he awoke in a dream.

He was floating over a vast landscape of carnage, death and torment. Nathan didn't know much about Greek Mythology or the Underworld, but he knew that this place was only the tip of the iceberg. Willing himself forwards he glided across the thick black bog of mist that clouded the landscape. It must've been hours as he explored the lands.

When he stopped, he spotted a giant in a cacoon-like sculpture. It was reforming. Healing it's wounds being reborn. Gliding in closer, Nathan gazed at it's features. It wasn't a giant, it was far too small to be a giant. It was a titan, one of the children of Gaea. Hyperion, the titan of light.

Nathan smiled as he examined the titan. He seemed to have been reformed for more than ten years yet, he still was healing. Turning around a woman appeared out of a wave of dark mist.

Her akin was pale and white as snow, but her eyes were black and filled with cold. She wasobviously a goddess, but her attire screamed psychopath. She held a long black vail of cloth so thin you could see right through to her skin. The woman was stunning but also held the power of fear and intimidation.

"Are you afraid?" She asked gazing at the titan behind me. "Are you afraid of me?" She continued. "This landscape changes by the minute, drags those like you deeper within here. His mouth is where you arrive, but you end up at his heart at the end."

"You're a goddess." Nathan concluded. "Are you Tartarus's wife?" He wondered. The goddess stared at him as if he were a child asking a question so insignificent that she didn't even hear him.

"Darkness isn't tied to emptiness, a pit may be dark, but eventually light reaches it in some way." The goddess smiled. "I am Nyx, the first goddess. I am the embodiment of Night and my husband is Erebus that embodiment of darkness."

"What do you want form me?" Nathan replied.

"I want you tp remember this, those among you can also be like you. Even if they say their children of gods, who's to say those gods aren't like Tartarus and myself. Keep an eye out, and remember to find that river when you come in person." The goddess turned. In a scatter of dark mist a voice called across. It was peaceful and still maintained the same tone as Nyx.

"This place hurts you more than the others." Called the voice.

With a silent gazed, he opened his eyes, to see a beautiful nymph asleep beside him. In a surge of emotions, he fell off the bed to awake her. It was Talia. Her scarlet hair was a mess yet still retained beauty.

"Talia!" He cried. "How long have you been here?"
"Mm?!" She thought for a minute. "Since about four, I saw you sleeping and decoded to laid down next to you. I also wanted to say goodbye, before you leave."

Gazing at her, he smiled. He felt a little bad, not taking her feelings into account. He wanted to stay and hang out with her. Probably go for a walk or head for the beach shore, but sadly, he had a date with a Phlegethon in a few hours, he had to get ready.

Giving her a hug, Nathan calmly took a moment. He couldn't help but smelling her scarlet hair, it smelled lovely- like a meddow in the churn of spring. With a slow break away, Talia gave him a kiss on the cheek and headed off in her cameo mode into the hustle and bustle of camp.

Glancing at the crowd of campers getting an early start on their days, Nathan felt sad. He felt like a peice of him was being pulled apart.

Notes

Phlegethon, reading the house of Hades, so far that river is a central theme of tartarus, thought why not have the kid explore it.

So we see more romance between Talia and Nathan, solo questing builds character though- let's hope he can survive, and what was up with the crazy dream and that message?

Thanks for reading, he's got a few more things to do, no worries I'll try keeping it short fifthteen chapters? Good Bad? Short for eme can be pretty long so bare with it. Thanks for reading again and I hope you guys still like the characters and the story. I'll be writting soon.