Ch. 21
Annabeth came up and grabbed her father's hand as she led him out of the cabin. When they got outside she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly.
"Thank you for that Dad. That means a lot to me and I know it will mean a lot to them too."
Perseus nodded with a smile, "Good. I hope you know there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. They matter to you so they matter to me."
Annabeth pulled back with a smile. She turned around as her father did the same before Annabeth let out a terrified shriek while Perseus pushed her behind him.
In front of the duo was the mummified body of the oracle, her eyes already glowing green as green smoke began to pour from her mouth. In its familiar raspy voice, the oracle spoke.
"Father and daughter must guide the path
Into the maze to find Athena's wrath
Three companions must join their band
Saved by child of wisdom's final stand
Found at the conclusion of the quest
The source of Olympus' greatest test."
Perseus watched the mummified corpse collapse in front of him, making no effort to soften its fall. No, he had half a mind to slice its head clean off after the prophecy it had just given.
He glanced back at his daughter whose eyes were wide and her face was pale.
"Come, we need to visit your mother right away." Perseus said softly as he held his hand out for Annabeth to take.
She nodded numbly before slipping her hand into his before they dissolved into mist, reappearing outside the borders of camp where Perseus closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them again and glanced at Annabeth's pale face.
"You're not going to die Annabeth. There is no way I would ever let that happen. They would have to kill me first and that's not likely since I'm invulnerable. Prophecies almost never mean what they sound like. Have faith in your abilities and it will work out in the end."
Annabeth just nodded numbly before Perseus put a hand over her eyes as a golden light descended in front of them. He pulled them back as Athena materialized, her worried expression showing she already knew of the prophecy.
"Apollo has already announced the quest to the council. Zeus is blaming us for whatever the threat mentioned is."
Perseus rolled his eyes, "He can blame whoever he wants, that's his problem." He said as thunder rumbled overhead.
"How is it that you are related to such a dumbass?" Perseus muttered.
Athena smirked for a second before becoming serious again.
"You know where you have to go right?"
Perseus nodded slowly, "Yes, unfortunately. I don't know where there is an entrance but yes, I know where we're going and who we're looking for." He said with a slight glare at the goddess.
Athena scowled, "He got what he deserved and you know it."
Perseus rolled his eyes, "Can you see if the gods can locate an entrance. I need to think about the three companions that we apparently need."
Athena nodded then waited for him to tell her who he was considering taken along on the quest.
"Well, I suppose we outta take the two brats Annabeth always goes on her quests with, but the fifth is who I don't know." Perseus said smirking when Annabeth sent him a slight glare for calling Luke and Thalia brats.
"What about Zoë?" Annabeth asked curiously.
Perseus shook his head, "She is a hunter. She already risked her life on the quest to find you. I won't ask her to do so again."
Athena tried not to show the slight smile that appeared on her lips when Perseus shot down Annabeth's idea. Perseus noticed and rolled his eyes but decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Who is the most skilled camper beside you, Luke and Thalia?" He asked looked at Annabeth.
His daughter looked thoughtful for a moment before a frown appeared on her face.
"I guess that would be Clarisse but she's a daughter of Ares…." Annabeth said trailing off.
Perseus looked over at Athena who simply shrugged. He nodded and grabbed Annabeth's shoulder before the dissolved into mist, reappearing outside the Athena cabin.
"Go find you friends and see if they're willing to go. I must speak to Chiron."
Annabeth nodded and took off towards the Zeus cabin while Perseus headed straight for the big house where he found the old centaur playing cards with the wine god, Dionysus.
Dionysus noticed his appearance first, an uneasy look on his face when he did.
"Lord Dionysus," Perseus said in a respectful tone surprising the god immensely.
Perseus noticed his expression and chuckled a bit, "Expecting me to be hostile? I don't believe you killed any part of my family or ordered my murder so I would rather not accumulate another enemy. You may have voted against my relationship with Athena but to each his own. I do not hold grudges for small things such as that."
Dionysus cleared his throat, "Yes, well Perry…" He started before Perseus coughed loudly.
"Let's not misunderstand each other. I am not one of these kid campers. I'm older than some of the gods and if you want to be treated with respect then I expect the same in return."
Dionysus narrowed his eyes but when Perseus just glared back he looked away when a slight glow appeared in the demigod's eyes.
"Right, that sounds fair enough Perseus. I assume you came to talk to Chiron about the quest that was issued."
Perseus nodded and looked at Chiron, "I assume you know what the prophecy said. Annabeth is asking Luke and Thalia but I am in need of a fifth member of the quest."
Chiron raised an eyebrow, "Anyone in mind?"
Perseus nodded, "Tell me about this Clarisse girl. The daughter of Ares."
Both Chiron and Dionysus looked surprised when he said the demigod's name. Chiron shook it off quickly.
"She is a skilled warrior. Perhaps a little rough around the edges but she is a good kid overall."
Perseus smiled, "Can you introduce me? I would like to ask her to join us."
Chiron nodded, "Shall I bring her here?"
Perseus looked thoughtful for a minute before shaking his head.
"Bring her to the arena. I will meet you there."
Chiron nodded and cantered off leaving Perseus alone with the wine god.
"Lord Dionysus," he said with a slight bow of his head.
The wine good looked pleased with Perseus' respect towards him and gave him a nod in return before Perseus dissolved into mist, reappearing inside the empty sword fighting arena as he waited for Chiron.
Chiron trotted into the arena with a buff looking girl trailing a couple feet behind him. She looked apprehensive but not scared. Her eyes landed on Perseus with a bit of unease as she followed in the centaur's wake.
Chiron looked up at Perseus and gave him a quick nod before making his way out of the arena while Clarisse looked at him confused before glaring at his retreating.
"Stupid centaur." She grumbled before looking up at Perseus chuckled.
"So, you must be Clarisse, I've heard a bit about you." Perseus said casually.
Clarisse nodded, "Yeah, well everyone has heard of you… you led the army that burned Troy. Chiron said you wanted to talk to me?"
Perseus smirked, "Yes, down to business. Can I ask you something, do you not like my daughter and her friends?"
Clarisse's eyes widened at the question before she paled a bit unsure what he wanted. She steeled her nerves and shook her head.
"I don't dislike your daughter. She is a skilled and I don't have a problem with Thalia either. I could do without Castellan but no real problem, why?"
Perseus nodded, "Yes, Castellan is a bit annoying but not a bad kid. I asked you here because I hear your one of the most skilled demigods in camp."
Clarisse perked up a little at that compliment.
"The oracle gave a prophecy to Annabeth and I. It calls for us, along with three companions to journey into Labyrinth to complete a couple tasks. It will be dangerous and I only want the best to go with us. I want you to join us. It will be Annabeth and myself along with Thalia and Luke. I would like if you would be the fifth." Perseus said seriously.
Clarisse's eyes widened, "You want me to go? But I heard what you did to my brother. It sounded like you don't like children of Ares." She said a little warily.
Perseus smirked, "I don't like your father because he killed someone very important to me long ago in ancient Greece. I promise I do not hold grudges towards his kids. Your brother got embarrassed because he thought he should be teaching the class instead of me. I simply showed him he was not right. I do hope you're a little tougher than him, I hardly touched him."
Clarisse looked surprised, "Yeah, well, he didn't mention that he challenged you. I guess that makes more sense now."
Perseus smiled, "So, how about it? I am asking you because you're the best in camp. I will ask someone else if you want but I would prefer you, if you'll come."
Clarisse was silent for a minute before she looked back at the immortal demigod with a hardened expression.
"I'm in."
Perseus grinned, "Good. Prepare to leave in the morning. I am waiting for word on the closest entrance of the Labyrinth to be discovered. Once it is, we are leaving."
Clarisse nodded then looked confused, "Wait, the Labyrinth? Like the one from ancient times?"
Perseus nodded, "Moves with the gods I'm afraid. What we'll find down there, I have no idea. That's why I want skilled demigods, people who can handle themselves."
Clarisse smiled, unable to deny the ego boost she felt by being picked by a hero as legendary as Perseus.
Line Break
Perseus drove the camp van into the city, a place he wasn't particularly fond of. Even as he watched the world grow, he was never one for urban areas but now he had four demigods including his daughter with him as he pulled into the city. They were heading for the Marriott Hotel in Manhattan, the closest entrance to the Labyrinth that Athena could find with such short notice.
"So, why exactly are we heading into the Labyrinth?" Thalia decided to ask as they rode.
Perseus sighed, "We need to find Annabeth's half-brother, Daedalus."
Annabeth's mouth dropped open, "What? Hasn't he been dead for like, thousands of years?"
Perseus reached over and pushed her mouth closed, "No. He has been hiding in the Labyrinth for centuries. He committed a crime for which Athena has never forgiven him. I am not sure how he is alive, but he is. We can ask him when we find him."
Annabeth and the rest of the campers fell into silence as Perseus weaved through traffic, making the group pale at his aggressive style behind the wheel. The all let out a collective sigh of relief when they pulled up in front of the Marriott. Perseus tossed the keys to the valet along with a fifty dollar bill before he led the group into the hotel and straight for the elevator. Instead of going up, he hit the button for the basement as they descended down below the lobby of the hotel.
As they group made their way out of the elevator, they spread out looking for a symbol or sign that showed where the entrance might be located.
"Perseus," Clarisse called. "I think I found it."
The group made their way over to Clarisse who stood in front of an old looking delta symbol that could barely be made out.
"Who would of thought Clarisse would have been the one to find it." Luke muttered but was clearly heard by everyone.
Clarisse's face turned red but before she could snap at the son of Hermes, a pained yelp from Luke made her grin. Luke looked shocked as he held his shoulder tenderly.
"I invited Clarisse and I had good reason. It would be in your best interest to treat her with respect. She did me a great favor by agreeing to join the quest, I owe her a debt of gratitude." Perseus said sternly.
Luke paled a bit and quickly nodded while Clarisse smiled a bit at being defended.
"So, how exactly do we get in?" Thalia asked trying to get things moving.
Perseus grinned, "Easy for demigod. Put your hand on that delta symbol and then step back."
Thalia carefully put a hand on the delta symbol before quickly pulling her hand back as it began to glow before an entrance appeared where there seemed to have been none.
"Whoa, how did you know that? Have you been down here before?" Annabeth said in a bit of awe.
Perseus smiled and shook his head, "No I haven't but I have read up about it as well as hearing things from people who have."
Luke snickered, "He sounds more like a child of Athena than Annabeth's dad." He whispered to Thalia who chuckled.
"OWWW!" Luke yelled loudly as he put a hand on his cheek.
Annabeth glared at her friend, her hand still out from the slap she delivered.
"Don't say stuff like that. It's weird. That's my Dad. He obviously just has more of a brain than you and happens to enjoy being intelligent." She growled while Luke looked surprised before he yelped at Thalia zapped him.
"Sorry, but she makes a good point Luke. That's pretty creepy." Thalia chuckled.
"Why'd you zap me damn it?"
Thalia smirked, "You creeped out my little sis. Toughen up; we probably just saved you from getting smacked much harder by Perseus."
Luke looked at the immortal demigod who cracked his knuckles loudly, sending a shiver down Luke's spine as he smirked.
"Listen to your friends Luke. I like you but if you call me a child of the woman I love again, I promise you're going to lose a few teeth."
Luke looked at Perseus nervously before the immortal demigod threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Relax Luke, I like you. You're a good kid. You just need to learn when to shut up." He chuckled at Luke who smiled nervously.
Perseus smirked a bit before stepping through the entrance of the Labyrinth while his four companions were quick to follow so as to not lose him.
The Labyrinth was dimly lit as torches were sporadically placed along the tunnel. A light appeared to Perseus' left making him pause. He turned and saw Annabeth with a flashlight pointed ahead of them in one hand while she was holding one out to her father.
"Mom said you would probably forget most supplies because you're stressed out." She said handing Perseus the flashlight.
Perseus grinned at his daughter as he grabbed the flashlight, "Yes, she knows me quite well. Now, let's get moving, I have no idea where we're heading so the faster we move, the faster we can hopefully stumble across Daedalus."
Line Break
The group walked for several hours. How many, they couldn't be sure but they continued walking, Annabeth looking at the walls of the Labyrinth in awe as the architecture changed from ancient Greek to Roman to more modern styles.
As they got ready to stop for the night, Perseus tensed.
"Silence." He whispered as the demigods looked at him confused. He stepped forward, his body dissolving into mist as he did.
"Where is he…" Luke started before Clarisse jabbed him in the stomach with her spear making him drop to a knee as he tried to pull the air back into his lungs.
"Be quiet you idiot," Clarisse hissed. "He would not have told you to shut up if he wanted you to speak."
Luke glared at the daughter of Ares. He opened his mouth to growl something at her when a lone demigod who was not Perseus walked around the corner, mumbling things incoherently.
Luke and Clarisse both gasped when they saw his face. Before they could say anything, Perseus solidified behind him and swept his legs out from under him. In an instant, Anaklusmos was at the incoherent demigod's throat.
"WAIT!" Luke and Clarisse yelled in unison.
Perseus looked up but didn't remove his blade from the demigod's throat.
"We know him," Luke said urgently. "That's Chris Rodriguez. He's my half-brother."
Perseus nodded but kept the blade in place, "And why would he be down here in the Labyrinth?"
Luke paled a bit but Clarisse spoke up quickly.
"He left camp. He joined the Titan Army but he isn't a bad kid, he's just confused."
Perseus narrowed his eyes, "Then he should die. I have no time to prisoners or mercy." He said pressing the blade harder into Chris' throat.
"DAD!" Annabeth yelled making Perseus freeze. "Don't. It doesn't have to be this way."
Perseus shook his head sadly, "I'm sorry Annabeth but you simply haven't been alive long enough to know how dangerous giving second chances can be."
Annabeth looked at her father worriedly before glancing at Luke who looked at his brother in terror.
"Please Dad, for me. Please don't kill him." Annabeth pleaded.
Perseus closed his eyes taking a deep breath before he looked back at his daughter, into her grey eyes that now had the streaks of sea green running through them. He slowly pulled Anaklusmos away from the demigod's throat.
"This is a bad decision. This is Hector all over again. But for you, I would do anything." He said softly.
Luke and Clarisse ran over to Chris who still appeared to have no idea what was going on. Annabeth walked over to her father and grabbed his hand, walking him away from Luke before he could change his mind.
"I think this is a mistake." Thalia said speaking up. "Perseus is right. This kid betrayed us and if we spare him now, he could come back and kill any one of us later."
Perseus nodded his head in agreement while Clarisse and Luke both glared at Thalia who glared right back.
"We aren't going to kill him. We will figure something out but he doesn't need to die down here. It looks like something is wrong with him already." Annabeth argued.
Perseus walked back over to Chris making Luke and Clarisse stand up in front of him nervously.
Perseus reached into his pack and pulled out a zip tie. He walked past the two demigods and rolled Chris over before tying his hands up behind his back.
"What are you doing?" Luke asked confused.
Perseus rolled his eyes, "Sparing his life… for now. If I can't kill him, I'm certainly not letting him walk around freely with us giving him a chance to stab one of us in the back."
Luke narrowed his eyes, "He's my brother, he wouldn't do that."
Perseus stood back up and raised an eyebrow at Luke.
"It's either this or I kill him. In case you haven't noticed, we're going to be doing things my way. Accept it or you can lead your brother back the way we came and out of the maze. Your choice Luke."
Luke looked back at his brother who was still mumbling nonsense before nodding that he was fine with doing things Perseus' way.
"Wait, why do you have zip ties? You bring those but not a flashlight?" Annabeth asked a little confused.
Perseus shrugged, "I brought them for you and your friends. Many people have lost their minds down here and if it happened to one of you then I needed a way to control you so you wouldn't get lost or hurt down here."
Annabeth looked surprised by his answer before a laugh escaped her lips.
"What?" Perseus asked confused.
Annabeth smiled at her father, "Just like Mom said. She said you'd remember weapons or things to protect me but forget the small but necessary items we'll need for being down here."
Perseus mock glared at her, "What else did she think I'd forget?"
Annabeth smirked, "Sleeping bags? Food?"
Perseus eyes widened before he face palmed.
"Don't worry Dad, Mom made sure I was prepared. One of us needs to be around to watch over you." Annabeth teased.
Perseus rolled his eyes, "I'll remember this… You're still my little baby girl and you always will be no matter how smart you get."
Annabeth's face turned red while Thalia laughed at her embarrassment.
"So what now?" Luke asked as he and Clarisse carried over a now passed out Chris Rodriguez.
"Now we…" Perseus started before he froze and had Anaklusmos out in a flash. "Someone's approaching. Multiple people and I have a feeling they aren't friendly."