Hello everyone! I don't think I'm even allowed to apologise for the one year delay in chapters so I don't think I will.

AH I'M KIDDING. SORRYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

I've had such a busy school year. From debate to a play to a football team to speech giving to a Green Programme i had to take part in to a science fair to lots of other shit and also EXAMS and SCHOOL and STRESSSSS.

Now that that's out of the way, enjoy the chapter!

Leo's POV

The oracle is just a girl. A beautiful red-haired, green-eyed, bright-smiled girl.

Not anymore.

It's been more than a month that I've been down here in these smelly old cells where all the moaning, groaning and greatly regretful traitors to the crown are kept. I say regretful and I mean regretful. So does the king when he vows to punish them so brutally that they would regret ever turning against him. I, luckily, haven't been given the honor of such an audience with his highness but i have been given a preview of what might happen if I so much as look at him the wrong way.

Rachel the Oracle.

At least that's what everyone in her village called her for they never knew her last name or if the name they called her was even her real one. She was different. Different is quite an understatement to describe a girl who spontaneously coughs green mist out of her mouth and babbles cryptic lines of poetry. But different is the only term. Different is the only human term to describe something otherworldly. But she was more (less, technically) than her oracle self. She was a funny, sweet and strong girl.

Was.

Until they broke her.

She doesn't talk much anymore. She doesn't spout green mist and prophecies anymore. Sometimes I even forget that she's there. Sometimes I forget that Rachel is there and not some other mute and broken girl in the cell across me. Her green eyes are dull enough not even to look green. Her red hair is covered in enough dirt and dried blood that she's now a brunette. And her smile... What smile? I've never seen her smile down here.

Until today.

"Rachel?" My voice quivers a little. "You look a little crazed."

"She's coming." She whispers, a small smile carved on her face.

"Who? A friend of yours?" When she doesn't reply I continue, nervous. "That's great. We can offer her tea, food, what do you think she'll-"

"She's almost here, Leo."

"That's a bummer, i didn't even get to prepare-"

"And she'll make him regret being born. She will make the man who demands regret feel it himself."

"Rachel...who is this you are talking about?"

Her smile widens and then some sort of crazed panic flashes across her face. Her voice is both amazed and terrified.

"Gaea."

A glaze spreads across the metal of his bars and I yelp as the cell bars begin to freeze.

Piper's POV

"Hello boys." Circe's voice draws out into a drawl as she gazes up at the giants with a small smirk on her face. The giants grunt in return but even that grunt stretches out into a boom.

"Brought the little eidolon?" They try to quiet their voices but tremendously fail.

Circe glances back at me and instead of averting my eyes I will them to turn gold. My face must seem constipated in concentration but I'm sure it does the job for her eyes don't show any sign of suspicion in them at all. "Yes. Its now off to the castle to give her back to the king. I trust the eidolon will raise no suspicions?" She raises her eyebrows at me and I smirk.

"The foolish mortal will never find out." I say as if i know anything they are talking about.

She smiles. "True. He'll be too busy planning his little war. Oh, mortals. So daft of them to wage war at this dire of a time." She looks at me again. "I trust you'll report back every week? I need all the information the king has hidden from us and when he plans to wage this war of his."

Her plan is futile. There's no way in Hades he is ever letting me know anything about any war. She would've been more careful had she known anything about the king. But all i do is nod and allow her to feel satisfied.

"I came here to tell you to gather the creatures. We need as many people on Gaea's army as possible. And be careful with the Hunters and Amazons. Even without their gods they are still dangerous."

The giants scoff, disliking the fact that they have to take orders from her. From a being much, much, much smaller than them.

"Well, then." Circe says, turning to me. "I trust you know what to say when i send you off?" Gods, this woman does a lot of trusting.

"Of course."

"And what is it? Tell me."

I grit my teeth and give her a grin. "I don't take orders from you, Circe. Shall we go?"

The look in her eyes promises death. A slow, painful death. But she turns and allows the bright pillar of light she conjures, consume us both.

The ground gives away for a moment before brushing my feet in a sort of reassurance. I look down. Cobblestone. The smell of lilies invades my nostrils and i look up. The marble castle, sitting right before me, its garden surrounding me and Circe and its smells engulfing me in a state of warmth. I realise as much i hated living here, i loved being here. I loved the maze of gardens and hallways inside. I loved the friendly maids and the taste of freshly baked bread straight from the kitchens. Everything was great here. The only thing I hate is what lives inside here.

I look around and see few guards, none of them paying much attention to us. As Circe starts walking towards the runway that is the entrance of the castle i suddenly shove her into a wall made of bush, a part of the green maze, the garden. She falls, startled and quickly turns to me, arms raised. I dodge the burst of power she throws at me and curve to lunge at her. She rolls away and i end up grabbing only her hair but that's enough to stop her. I yank her head towards me and perfectly pin her to the ground.

"You got out?" She growls.

"Indeed i did." I grace her with my smile before my face turns murderous. "Fix him."

She frowns. "Who, exactly?"

"The same person you caused to bleed out all the blood left in him."

"Oh, yes the wine boy." She says, "And why should i do that?"

"Because i said so." I lace some charmspeak into my words and her face turns dazed.

For only a second.

She laughs. "You were going to use charmspeak? On me? Oh, dear girl, it'll never work."

I pull my face dangerously close to hers. "Then that means you'll just have to do it willingly." I breath the wine scent off my lips to her nose, hoping it'll work to my advantage and daze her like it did me. Her eyes crinkle as she grins.

"You can't use my own magic against me, princess, but i must say that was a smart move."

"I must have really dazed you for you to compliment me like this."

"I assure you I'm still in right senses." I catch the last word a moment before she suddenly flips me over and slams my head against the cobblestone ground. I blink back tears against the pain and try to keep alert.

Her grin speaks enough, her smug face victorious.

I huff through my nose and glare up at her. That is enough to keep her distracted as i slip Katropis out of my pant's waistband and stab at her.

She jumps of and rolls down the path away from me and i grab her again and pin her once more. She grits her teeth as i lean down and angle my blade at her heart.

"I'm going to repeat this only once more so you better listen clearly Circe. Fix him of else I'll..."

"What? Or else you'll what? Kill me? I'm afraid that is quite impossible." She grins, "You on the other hand are a mortal. Easy to kill."

"I'm the one pinning you-" I gasp.

My eyes dart down to her hand..clasping a knife...embedded in my side. I will myself not to slump, not to black out but the pain is unbearable as she twists it.

She chuckles again. "Did you really believe i didn't come prepared? Oh foolish as the mortals come."

I grit my teeth against the agony as she shoves me off of her and stands up, leaving me on the ground.

"Goodbye Piper Mclean." She smirks. "I highly doubt you will be missed."

I yank the blade out and attempt to throw it at her but i fail miserably and leave her choking on her laughter as she walks away.

"But you needed me." I whisper. She turns, raising an eyebrow.

"I can easily create another you to spy. I don't need the original. Now if you'll excuse me..."

"Wait." I croak, black spots blurring my vision.

She keeps walking.

And walking.

And walking.

And with each click of her heel, my vision darkens further

Further

Until the darkness envelops me.

Jason's POV

"I think Hazel was just seeing things." Reyna says.

It's been a few hours since Circe left with Piper and a promise of death and bloodshed. A few hours since we read the message Gaea had given us. A few hours since Hazel suggested Piper broke out of her possession. A few hours since Percy smashed the wall with his fists in anger at Piper for leaving.

The message said only a few words.

"I can give you access back to Rome and access back to your powers. I do not fight unworthy opponents."

Everyone in the room had tensed at the words. The silence was a long and unbearable silence, a sort of nothingness no one could fill.

But Annabeth had at least tried. "Please don't leave. Not yet. Not on Gaea's terms."

"There were no terms." Reyna said, her face a mask of stone.

"Yes, but i don't think it's wise to accept a crazy evil woman's proposal." Percy piped in, crossing his arms. "You heard what Annabeth had said before. She said Gaea is using the war to her advantage. If you go, there'll be more soldiers to fuel it."

"And more Greeks to kill our people." Reyna spit out.

"Fine, but you can't leave your own like this." Annabeth gestured to Dakota's sleeping form. "You know you can't."

I nodded, my face grim. "That is true. But you know we don't have a cure for him and we also don't know where Piper is."

Percy sighed. "Yeah." He said quietly.

And Hazel then continued her hunch on how she thought Piper was still in there and none of us wanted to believe her. None of us wanted to allow hope soothe us in fear that it would be snatched away too quickly.

"Jason," Reyna puts her hand on my arm and sigh.

My fist clenches and all i can think about is the way Piper closed her eyes against my gaze, the way she refused to look at me. "Perhaps." I manage to croak out.

She smiles sadly. "If she actually is in there then what a stupid reckless, Piper-y plan she must have."

"Yeah that idiot." I manage a snort. Barely.

Reyna notices and wraps an arm around my shoulder. She doesn't say anything else. She just stays there, a silent comforting force beside me.

"Jason." Percy and Annabeth are both wrapped in their cloaks, their weapons strapped to their belts and their faces grim. "Annabeth and i need to go. I got an Iris message from the castle. Someone's broken into the dungeons and stolen the oracle and...killed all witnesses." He blanches, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Annabeth looks like she's trying not to cry, turning her face away and pursing her lips.

"Who?" I ask quietly, knowing their faces. "Who else was down there?"

"I shouldn't have left him." Annabeth's voice cracks but she inhales a deep breath and lifts her chin up, her pride probably stopping her from crying. "Leo, a guard in my squad, was taken back when word got out about your escape from the guards. Him and everyone else who pursued you. He was questioned and kept down in the dungeons with the Oracle to keep him from saying anything and...and we were just told the dungeons were empty after the attack. Save for the bits of...the bits of flesh and blood kept there and..water. Lots and lots of it."

The name rang a bell. Leo. Wasn't he the guard escorting Piper back to her chambers the night we kidnapped her? It's our fault he was taken. He seemed like a good person. I nod. "He must have got out or...done something. You can't merely assume he's gone."

"He's right, Wise Girl." Percy took her hand. "He's Leo. If i know anyone who can survive a crazy attack it's our boy Leo."

She nodded. Once. Then she walked outside.

"Will she be okay?" I ask.

"She thinks it's her fault because she last saw him before he was taken and could not do anything to stop it. If something actually happened to him it would eat her up forever." Percy says.

I didn't say anything like he'll be fine or it's okay. There's no use comforting people with lies.

"I best be off soon." Percy says. "I'll be back around sunset to...plan i guess."

I nod. There isn't much we know to do. This calm around the house is terrifying enough and now with Dakota bleeding out every second is useful and with us just sitting around all the seconds are being wasted.

Once Percy leaves, i decide to go to the one room that will bring me at least a little peace.

Piper's room.

It was supposed to be a cell but after all of this she didn't even feel like a hostage so i addressed it as her room.

I close the door and slide down to the floor, my head hung between my shoulders. Her scent is still in the room, the fragrance of Lilies. I breathe it in as it gathers around me, a sort of reassurance. That's what she always was in those months. A reassurance. A warm hand always there to help me up. Help everyone up. While Reyna was always the silent comforting force that i allowed myself to lean on, Piper was the one who picked me up when i failed. Who nursed my strength back. She encouraged me to go do things myself with always the promise of being there if i failed. And how i so need her promise now. How i so need her reassurance now.

I close my eyes and sigh. "If you're even in there Piper you better come back." My breath comes out ragged. "I don't plan on leaving without a goodbye."

Piper's POV

"Piper"

Piper, she used to call me.

"Piper."

A scream shatters the night.

"Piper!"

I jerk awake and immediately regret it, my side burning in agony.

Nico sits before me, his hand on my shoulder. I blink at the coldness of it and stare at him.

"Where is Hazel?" He asks, concern warming his features.

I dumbly blink before registering the question. Huh?

"Back at the safe house..." I reply, my voice hoarse. A pounding in my head muffles my thoughts.

He nods, grateful until a tsk sounds behind him.

"The girl almost died and you ask her about Hazel?" A blonde boy appears behind him with a packet of...something in his hand, his head shaking and his lips pursed.

Nico rolls his eyes and looks away.

The blonde smiles at me reassuringly and grins.

"Solace...Will." I say. Will works in the castle's infirmary and after many incidents with the king and me in the infirmary he and i have known each other quite well.

"How do you feel, princess?" He sits in an empty chair beside Nico.

"Alive." I croak.

He smiles, nodding. "Well, that means I've done my job well. Eat this and I'm sure you'll feel more than alive." He hands me the packet.

I take it, frowning before realising what it is. Ambrosia. I quickly rip the packet open and stuff the ambrosia inside me, quick to get this pain out of me.

It's a slow warm feeling that spreads through my abdomen to the rest of my body. I sigh in content, closing my eyes. "Thanks."

"Well it isn't often you find a dying girl in the Green Maze." Will says.

"What were you doing there?" I inquire, frowning. I open my eyes to find Nico's ears turning to a bright shade of pink and Will coughing awkwardly.

'"You know, strolling around and...making use of my break." His smile is too cheerful.

I don't question him. Only because as an Aphrodite-blessed i know just what is going on and wouldn't want to embarrass them further.

I let my eyes roam around the room I'm in. It's a quite big room. The floor is a dark mahogany and the walls are covered with shelves nailed to the wall or cabinets holding ointments and folded cloths and other things i don't know the name of. There are other beds identical to the one i'm on with no one occupying them except for one which-I gasp.

"Leo?"

He's unconscious, a blanket all the way up to his chin, his face covered in cuts and burns and bandages. He looks so pale and so still. So so still. I leap of my bed and make one step far before collapsing on the ground, the pain in my side still very much there and still holding me back. Will yelps and rushes to help me up.

"Don't move, princess. You'll undo your stitches." He grasps my elbow and slings my arm over his shoulder, letting me lean in him for support. I feel my other arm being taken by Nico and slowly they walk me to where Leo lies. I fall to my knees in front of his face and whip to the two standing behind me.

"What happened? And where...where are we?"

Will crouches to my level. "Piper, i need you to keep this a complete secret. I need you to promise me this."

I swallow and nod.

"We're in a place not too far from the castle called Camp Half-Blood. It's a safe haven for all blesseds where they can practice and control their powers and also be kept hidden from the king who keeps searching for us. Leo grew up here and this was his only home and the only place where he could try to control his powers without harming anyone." Will doesn't break eye-contact from me when he says all of this.

"Powers?"

Nico nods from his place and continues Will's explanation. "Leo is the only Hephaestus-blessed in this century to have the power to wield fire. He kept it under control and a secret so the king wouldn't end up using him for that. Right now he...he's in this state because he used his powers too much."

"Why?"

He and will exchange a wary glance before he says. "Because he had to save everyone and himself from the Ice Princess, Khione. She attacked the dungeons to kidnap the oracle and Leo happened to be locked in a cell down there too. He tried his best to defeat her and ended up using more power than his body could endure."

"This is my fault." I whisper, gaping up at them. "This is all my fault."

"He'll be up anytime soon Piper. He'll be okay." But Will doesn't say it isn't my fault.

"How long have i been out?"

"Four days." Nico says. "As long as Leo has."

I curse. "Will," I look at him, "Is there any way you can cure someone from a spell?"

Will startles. "Why-"

"Just answer me."

"I don't know. But if i bring a Hecate-blessed with me i might be able to."

"I have a Hecate-blessed there already."

OOOOH Will Piper even be in time to save Dakota? Will Circe come back with another Piper? Will Jason ever get out of this damned country? Will Leo ever wake up? Stay tuned in for the next chappie!

Catch ya later!

~Bellinda Cross