The girls searched the maze for their missing friends, but they were nowhere to be found.
All of a sudden, Delaney heard a clank! She whirled around, her daggers poised to strike, and found Thalia staring a Reyna, whose gladius was lying on the floor.
"What?" Thalia asked, concerned for her friend.
"Something powerful is near here." She whispered. "Don't you feel the discord and chaos?"
Delaney nodded. "I feel it now."
Thalia shivered. "I think I know what it feels like when I turn Aegis on someone."
"Well, aren't you going to name me?" Asked a voice.
Thalia groaned. "Great."
Delaney whipped around, her dark brown hair with blue streaks whipping her in the face.
A woman stood before them, with hair as black as night, a dark purple gown, and a stygian iron sword at her side.
"Eris." Thalia whispered. "She hasn't shown her face in centuries."
Eris chuckled. "Not quite."
"What does she mean by that?" Delaney asked.
"It's Discordia, not Eris." Reyna said. "The more violent form."
"Well done, little praetor." Discordia chuckled. "Sadly, knowing who I am won't save you or your friends."
"What did you do to them?!" Thalia asked, her voice deadly quiet, raising her spear.
"Why, they're right here." Discordia waved her hand and Annabeth, Nico, and Percy appeared, unconscious. She kicked Annabeth hard in the gut, but the daughter of Athena didn't stir.
"No!" Thalia screamed. She charged, but Discordia simply waved her hand, and sent the daughter of Zeus flying over a chasm that appeared.
"No!" Delaney screamed.
"Go!" Reyna shouted. She swiped her gladius at the goddess, trying to keep her occupied.
Delaney launched herself into the chasm, the wind propelling her.
Thalia was screaming, her arms flailing as she desperately tried to lodge her spear into the rock.
"Thalia, grab my hand!" Delaney thrust out her hand. Thalia grabbed it, and Delaney struggled to hold on.
Her sister's hand slipped, and Thalia fell down, and down. Delaney raced down after her, trying not to think about if she didn't grab her. Then, she had an idea. The words she had told Percy earlier rang in her ears
"You need to let go of your fear!" Delaney screamed. "Force the winds to do your bidding; and don't take no for an answer!"
"I can't!" Thalia screamed desperately.
"You have to think about happy thoughts, that's how you let go of your fear!"
Thalia chuckled, despite the peril she was in. "Are you quoting Peter Pan?"
"I guess, but it's true!"
Thalia closed her eyes. A few seconds later, they snapped open. A breeze swept by, and Thalia used it to propel herself up.
Delaney laughed with glee. "I knew you could do it!"
Thalia laughed. "I'm not afraid of heights with this trick now!" She flipped through the air and Delaney followed; and they made their way to Discordia and their friends.
When they reached them, Reyna was at her knees, and Discordia was laughing with delight at the praetor's pain.
Nico and Percy were awake, struggling to escape their bonds.
"Reyna!" Delaney screamed, as the praetor collapsed.
Discordia chuckled and turned around. "Back for more, I see?"
Thalia raised her bow. "Always."
Delaney glanced at her sister, and mouthed, divide and conquer.
Thalia nodded and raced to rescue their friends.
Delaney stepped forward to intercept and slashed her dagger into Discordia's thigh before she could stop Thalia.
Thalia had cut Nico's bonds, and he was struggling to summon zombie warriors to help Delaney, while Thalia quickly moved to Percy's bonds.
Delaney threw a dagger, aiming for Discordia's forehead, but the goddess simply laughed and deflected the dagger, and slashed at Delaney with her sword, but Delaney dodged and it grazed her skin.
Percy and Nico staggered to their feet. Percy reached into his pocket and brought out Riptide, and he charged into battle to help Delaney.
Nico looked around for his sword, and he found it near Thalia, who was busy cutting Annabeth's bonds. He picked it up, summoned some zombie skeletons, and charged.
Delaney slashed Discordia's chest and dodged with her single dagger, and Percy was slashing from behind. Nico and the zombie warriors were attacking her legs, but Discordia seemed to be having very little trouble at all.
Discordia sent out a large blast, sending Percy and Nico flying, knocking them unconscious and the skeleton warriors disappeared.
Delaney threw her second dagger at Discordia's forehead, and hit her target, but Discordia simply pulled it out and tossed the dagger aside.
Thalia noticed what was happening, and charged, but Discordia flicked her aside.
Discordia tripped Delaney, and she fell to the ground. Discordia put her sword under Delaney's chin, and lifted her head up.
"Do you yield?" Discordia asked.
"Never." Delaney spat.
"Are you sure? You are disarmed, your friends are helpless to save you, and you are facing certain doom."
Delaney smiled. "I think you might want to rethink that." Her hand crept to her back pocket, and she flicked her lances and they grew to full size.
She rolled out of the way before the goddess could react, and the goddess screeched in anger.
Thalia took advantage of this distraction, and raised her spear, and the goddess dodged; right into Delaney's lance. The goddess screeched in anger and disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Percy, Nico, Reyna, and Annabeth groaned, and rose to their feet.
"I think we might be breaking Jason's record." Percy joked.
Delaney grinned. "And Thalia can fly now."
Percy's eyes widened. "How?"
"I told her to think of happy thoughts."
Annabeth smiled. "Are you quoting Peter Pan?"
Delaney cracked a smile. "That's what Thalia said, but it's true."
"Can we get going?" Nico asked.
"But where do we go?" Reyna asked.
"I think we should try and get back to Texas." Thalia said.
"Oh, that reminds me." Annabeth said. "Where are we?"
"Athens." Delaney replied.
"You're sure?" Nico asked.
"Pretty sure, unless you guys left giant dents, shrapnel from ballistae, and a piece of the Argo II somewhere besides the Parthenon."
Percy chuckled. "No. That's definitely the Parthenon, alright."
"Anyways," Reyna handed Annabeth her dagger. "Let's go to Texas, cowboys and cowgirls."