Nico managed to ask around about a man who sold trinkets and junk but nobody knew anyone like that. The sun was already setting quickly, because the chariot managed to fall off within an hour and a half of riding, another day has passed.

I looked around town too, splitting with Nico and asked around about any inns or cabins that we could've rented but the town was so small, they said they hardly got any visitors because the town was... well, boring.

I even managed to run into Nico thrice while we were apart because of how small the town was. There was just literally a few business stalls, houses, and lots of farms.

We were supposed to meet at the town's plaza at around seven in the evening, and I was already here. I checked my phone, the very same phone that Leo made especially for demigods and checked out where we were.

My eyes widened to see how far we've gotten, we were already so close to Canada. But Apollo said nothing about the place, I wish I could've asked more, a tiny little bit more detail, but no. He only said to head northwest.

"Hey, I heard something about a bazaar at the next town over," Nico said as he suddenly appeared beside me.

I almost screamed in surprise, but I was starting to get used to it, so i had to hold my heart as it gradually calmed down.

"Do you think we should leave now?" I asked, putting back my phone in my backpack.

Nico shook his head, "The next town is really far, if you don't mind walking that is. Because I need to sleep a little before we get going again,"

I pressed my lips together, "No, it's fine. Let's just get some rest," I tell him

"Did you find an inn?"

I shook my head, "No, but I found an empty barn. It's the best shot, plus if it turns out not empty, I can just bend the mist and make it seem like we're chickens or something,"

Nico managed a little smile, "Alright, lead the way"

When we got to the barn that was still empty, thank the gods, we started preparing for the night. It was already very dark outside, the moon was high, which probably meant it was late. I don't know do I look like I could tell time? It's just stuff I learned at school.

"I'll take first watch, you rest first," I tell Nico who slumped on the floor, I sat in front of him, trying to make use of the hay to act as a cushion.

He didn't argue and slept almost immediately.

I put away my sword, because I couldn't really lean on the wall very well if I had my sword on my back. I took out my backpack and checked whatever was inside. Ambrosia, the canteen with nectar, my two wallets, camp shirts, two cheeseburgers I took as take out from McDonald's, a bottle of water.

After two hours of practicing my spells, and eating my cheeseburger, and turning a couple of wooden furniture into random animals, I was drained. I remember Lou Ellen mentioning something about turning people into pigs, and I didn't know I could do that with inanimate objects as well.

But they didn't stay very alive for very along, and reverted back to its inanimate self in a matter of minutes.

Nico slept like he was dead, I constantly checked up on him to make sure he wasn't dead. Because amidst all the noise and the ruckus I made, he slept all through out it. Although I was already feeling tired due to the lack of sleep, it was his good sleep after a few days, it was only fair I let him take it.

Plus, he was more drained than I was. He always used his shadow-travel to escape from near death situations. I wished he could use it more so we wouldn't have to worry about transportation so much but he said he got drained easily and he's been practicing to rest in between jumps in case we encountered monsters.

I also wondered if I could turn people into plants, imagine turning Ella into a cabbage patch in the middle of sparring. Now that would be very funny.

All of the sudden I heard footsteps, loud footsteps. I scurried to grab my things, and my sword and sat in front of Nico.

"Nico, you have to wake up," I rock him back and forth but he didn't wake at all.

I pressed my ear on his chest, and was relieved to confirm for the umpteenth time that he was still alive.

"Nico!" I yell a little louder this time as the footsteps grew closer and closer.

Nico mumbled a few Ancient Greek curses, and went back to sleep.

I clenched my fists, "I'm gonna throttle you- ugh! Wake up please! We have to go!" I harshly whispered, tugging on his shirt.

He didn't wake up.

Soon enough there were multiple shadows at the entrance of the barn, and they were huge. I instantly sensed that they were not human and that I had to figure out a way how to get us out of here.

I thought they were attracted to our scent but one of them said, "Finally! Good to be back!"

I facepalmed, I knew it was too good to be true.

I slowly dragged Nico behind one of the huge haystacks and hid there as well.

I studied what they were doing. The giants were about five or seven in total, when they made a circle, and started a fire, I could see a bit of how they looked. They were tattooed, and honestly looked like a group of totally normal biker friends but they were huge, they had to be around eight or nine feet tall.

Glancing back at Nico, who I hoped was already awake was still sleeping soundly.

"Wait, do you smell that?" One of them pointed out. I cursed silently, and put my hair into a ponytail and held my sword tightly.

There was no way I could defeat all of them. But I could try to trick them.

"You're right! I smell demigods! Just in time for dinner!" Another cheered.

I thought I felt bile creep up to my throat, and I tried to calm down as best as I could and raised my palms. A soft pale purple glow emitted, as the giants approached.

"Come on little demigods! You're making our mouths water!" A giant guffawed as they got closer and closer.

When they looked over at our direction, I immediately cast the illusion on all of them. Making them think that this area was empty and that there were screaming children outside to revert their attention.

They paused. My heart raced quickly. I didn't even know if casting illusions on monsters even worked.

Their eyes were still on us, I didn't know if they could see us or see nothing but pure emptiness.

"Hey, trespassers!" Another pointed outside, it was empty but I purposely made them think that there were people outside. Did it work?

Their leader, I suppose it was their leader, I mean he was the one who led them here and noticed our scent, which by the way is not the best thing ever. Travelling around someone like Nico was the son of Hades was bad news because he emitted such a strong scent, monsters from miles away would notice.

The leader paused and sneered at our direction before looking outside, "Trespassers!" He said out loud and I sighed in relief.

But before I could totally let my guard down, the leader turned back and squinted his eyes at our direction. The entire place got silent, and I was afraid he could hear my hammering heart.

"Demigods... you cannot hide for so long," He grumbled before stalking off.

I crash just behind Nico, feeling a surge of power leave my body. For a moment I felt lightheaded but it was my chance to wake Nico. I knelt in front of Nico preparing to slap him awake, but just as I was about to give him a slap, his eyes burst open and he suddenly engulfed me into a hug.

I was surprised, and I could feel myself as a kettle that was already boiling. He hugged my upper waist and buried his head just by my neck which was a bit ticklish because he had long hair. I sighed and patted Nico's back, and I could feel him relax in my arms.

"Hey, are you alright?" I softly asked and with that, the ghost king seemed to be on his senses and pushed me a meter away and I landed on my butt.

I scoffed, "Wow,"

Nico looked alarmed, "I-I'm sorry, I thought you were-"

"Someone else? No shit, but anyway, we have to go. I don't know how long they'll believe my little trick" I grumbled, standing up and taking my sword, not even bothering to help him up anymore.

Nico peered outside, "Laistrygonian Giants, we have to outrun them,"

"Are you gonna shadow-travel again?" I asked,

"I'm still drained, but I can at least shadow travel us outside," He mentioned and looked back at me. He looked guilty, which was a rare expression and held out his hand.

"Let's go," He said. I looked away from his eyes and held onto his shirt instead.

"Let's go" I murmured and Nico stepped into the shadows.

Nico wasn't lying when he said he could at least shadow travel us outside. I was hoping he'd immediately leave this town but it was better than him still asleep.

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier I really didn't mean to," Nico started

"Why do you have to be sorry, it's cool," I said, trying to sound like everything was cool. It really was not cool, but we had bigger problems aside from my infatuation problems with Nico.

"Anyway, that's in the past. We better go before they find us. Their leader could still sense us even if I managed to fool the rest, I don't know how long my magic will hold," I tell him with a sense of urgency and he nods in response.