This chapter is dedicated to my doctor and work. Work won't allow me back until I get full clearance to do my duties, and my doctor hasn't agreed to it yet. I haven't been able to drive until today so I have been stuck at home- which means I had more time to write.

I know that Blood of Olympus is out- I have not read it YET. There are no spoilers in this chapter - Not that there would be as it is set before Heros of Olympis series.

I would like to thank everyone who reviewed, liked and followed this and my other stories.


Chapter 29 Ghosts, Dreams and Monsters.

"You used a septic tank hole and root beer to summon the dead," said Hades shaking his head "I guess that is better than a Happy Meal."

"Hey can we have a demonstration?" asked Travis "can Nico summon the dead here for us now?"

"You can't… not on Olympus," said Zeus.

"But we could down on earth," said Hades wanting to see what his son could do.

"Who would we summon?" asked Thalia as all the demi-gods got up, ready to summon a ghost.

"A grandparent, older sibling…" said Rachel.

"We are not summoning the dead," yelled Zeus.

"Why not?" asked Apollo "it is not going to hurt anyone."

"Why would you summon the dead anyway?" asked Ares.

"Information," replied Athena.

"We are not summoning the dead because…" said Zeus.

"Why Not," shouted half the group.

"Because I want to know what happens in the story," admitted Zeus.

"Yes let's continue with the story," said Rachel.

"Fine," chimed in Travis and Connor.

"I can't think of anyone I would want to summon who is dead in 1983, so on with the story," said Thalia.

"Nico was a bit put off that Minos hadn't arrived even though it was fully dark," said Percy.


"Nico began summoning the dead; he tossed barbecue and root beer into the pit and began chanting in Ancient Greek.

"What else would you expect him to chant in; Egyptian?" asked Ares.

"It was weird, as Nico began to chant the bugs in the woods stopped chirping and the night air became cold and menacing," said Annabeth.

"In my pocket the stygian ice whistle grew colder and froze the side of my leg," said Percy.

"It is maintaining its connection with the Underworld," said Hades.

"The first spirit appeared as a sulphurous mist seeped out of the ground and shadows thickened into human forms," said Percy.

"One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink, but only Bianca was allowed to drink," said Nico.

"I drew Riptide and the ghosts retreated with a hiss, but it was too late to stop the first spirit," said Percy.

"The ghost solidified into the shape of a bearded man wearing white robes and a circlet of gold wreathed on his head," said Annabeth.

"Minos," growled Hades.

"He disrupted the ritual," said Nico grumpily.

"Minos apologised to Nico for being unable to resist the sacrifice but was smiling as he examined himself and seemed pleased that he could see himself in almost solid form," said Percy.

"No… he shouldn't be solidifying," said Hades.

"Nico had stopped chanting and the spirits of the dead began to shimmer dangerously bright and had to quickly begin chanting again to keep them at bay," informed Annabeth.

"Minos informed me that he had come to protect me from the liars who would deceive me," said Nico.

"Minos wasn't very impressed with Percy …. He didn't think that the sons of Poseidon had improved over the centuries," said Annabeth.

"I think they have improved over the centuries, Percy is probably the best of your sons for years," said Demeter to Poseidon.

"Thank you Lady Demeter," said Percy glowing with pride.

"That is not hard since he is the only child of Poseidon for over fifty years," said Thalia.

"I told Minos to get lost as we were looking for Bianca," said Percy.

"Minos had heard about Percy beating his Minotaur with his bare hands and stated that worst things awaited us in the maze," said Annabeth.

"Why is he there?" asked Hera.

"He tried to make us doubt whether or not Daedalus would help us, stating that Daedalus cared nothing for half-bloods. We couldn't trust him as he was beyond old and crafty and he was bitter from the guilt of murder and cursed by the gods," said Percy.

"The guilt of murder- who did he kill?" asked Rachel.

"You'll find out later," said Percy.

"From one of your dreams?" asked Apollo.

"That is how I found out," admitted Percy.

"Apparently Percy and Annabeth were hindering me, trying to persuade me to give up my goal," said Nico who had moved closer to the hearth and Lady Hestia.

"Apparently we were his enemies and Nico shouldn't listen to us. Nico should, however let Minos protect him," said Annabeth.

"He threatened to turn their minds to madness," said Nico.

"Like the others, that was when we realised that it was Minos who turned Chris into his then madmen state," said Annabeth.

"That ghost turned me mad?" asked Chris puzzled.

"Yes… Do you remember him?" asked Annabeth.

"No … I remember flashes of situations but nothing of great detail," admitted Chris who was holding Clarisse's hand tightly.

"Apparently Minos sees the maze as part of his property and believes that those who intrude deserve madness," said Percy.

"So how come Nico didn't succumb into madness?" asked Hermes.

"Probably because he is my son," said Hades.

"Who says he isn't mad."

"Nico told Minos to be gone and thankfully he followed Nico's wishes," said Annabeth.

"Minos had referred to Nico as master and mentioned that he would make him a lord," said Percy.

"How would a dead man make him a lord?" asked Will.

"He is clearly using the kid," said Dionysus.

"But for what reason?" asked Athena in wonder.


"We kept the spirits back as Nico continued to call for Bianca. A silvery light flickered in the trees; it seemed bright and stronger than the others. It was the ghostly form of Bianca Di Angelo," said Percy.

"Nico's chanting faltered and the other spirits crowded forward but Bianca sent them retreating into the wood."

"My daughter has power over the underworld even at death," said Hades proudly.

"Bianca looked the same as she had in life. She wore the outfit of a Hunter of Artemis and a bow was slung over her shoulder," said Percy.

"She greeted Percy first," Nico whispered from where he was seated next to Hestia.

"I had felt guilty about Bianca's death for a long time, but seeing her in front of me was five times as bad. It was like her death was fresh and new," said Percy quietly.

"Percy apologised to Bianca but Bianca informed him that he had nothing to apologise for and she had made her own choice and didn't regret it," said Annabeth softly.

"Nico stumbled forward out of a daze. The Bianca looked sad and as if she'd been dreading that exact moment," said Percy.

"Bianca admitted that she hadn't answered me sooner as she hoped that I would give up," said Nico who was now embraced in Hestia's arms.

"Nico stated that he was trying to save her but Bianca informed him that he couldn't save her," said Annabeth.

"Bianca told me that holding grudges are dangerous for a child of Hades, it is our fatal flaw," said Nico.

"Bianca wanted him to forgive. She informed Nico that Percy had been worried about him, that Percy could help Nico," said Annabeth.

"Bianca admitted that she had sent the Iris-Messages to show me what Nico was up to, hoping I would find him," said Percy.

"Why is Bianca helping Percy and not Nico?" questioned Thalia.

"Bianca pointed out that Nico was mad at her and not me," said Percy.

"I was mad that she had left me to become a Hunter of Artemis. I was mad because she died and left me alone," said Nico quietly.

"Bianca was sorry that she had left him alone but said Nico needed to overcome the anger and stop blaming Percy for her choices," said Annabeth.

"It could be your doom. If Kronos is rising he can twist you to his cause," said Athena.

"Nico didn't care about Kronos all he wanted was his sister back," said Percy.

"You can't have that," said Hera.

"As a son of Hades, he could," said Hades.

"Bianca however told me if I loved her not to try," said Nico.

"The spirits had started to gather around again, and seemed agitated. Their voices whispered Danger!" said Annabeth "Bianca informed us that Tartarus stirred as Nico's power draws the attention of Kronos."

"Bianca said that the dead must return to the Underworld as it wasn't safe for them to remain," said Percy.

"Nico must be powerful if he is attracting the attention of Kronos," said Apollo.

"Or the fact that he is calling spirits from the Underworld and therefore Tartarus," said Zeus.

"Nico you know you can't bring her back," said Hades who had moved next to the hearth.

"I know…." mumbled Nico.

"Don't worry, you not the only person who has wished to bring a loved one back, you unfortunately have more means to do so," said Hestia "I know your father was tempted to revive your mother," she whispered so only Nico and Hades heard.

"As much as I wanted to bring her back I knew it was wrong… and your mother would have refused like Bianca did," admitted Hades just as quietly.


"None of us were anxious to travel at night so we decided to wait till morning," said Annabeth.

"Staying at the ranch would have been more comfortable than a bedroll in the maze," said Demeter.

"Except it didn't keep the nightmares away," said Percy. "I dreamt I was with Luke, walking through the palace on top of Mount Tam, which was now a real building and not an illusion."

"Not another dream," grumbled Ares.

"I know they are annoying but they are informative," said Apollo.

"Luke was dressed for battle. He wore his breastplate but his sword was missing, his scabbard was empty. He walked out into a courtyard where a dozen of warriors and dracaenae were preparing for war," said Percy.

"If you are preparing for war you would have your sword," said Athena.

"In the dream Kelli the empousa informed Luke he had a visitor. Luke seemed stunned on who the visitor was," said Percy.

"What monster could stun him?" asked Athena knowing that Luke would have been in cohorts with many a monster by now.

"The one he had informed to stay on Alcatraz," said Percy.

"Kampe," exclaimed Zeus.

"Kampe declared that she had come to serve. To get her revenge," said Percy.

"Kampe is a jailer," said Hermes.

"Yes but no one escapes her, she wanted us dead," said Percy.

"That's not good," said Hermes.

"Luke seemed hesitant, a line of sweat trickled down his face as he agreed for her to go with them. He gave her the job of carrying Ariadne's string," said Percy.

"That would be a position of great honour," said Hera.

"Wish they had left that monster in Tartarus," said Athena.

"So did Luke as according to him, she is too chaotic and powerful," Percy said.

"Luke didn't want Kampe to join the maze battle?" said Hermes confused.

"Kelli told Luke he should use the power and not fear it. Luke just wanted the maze battle over," said Percy.

"Maybe he finds it unpleasant to destroy his old camp," said Aphrodite.

"It was either that or he was having second thoughts about his own special part," said Percy.

"What is his special part?" questioned Hermes.

"Kelli enquired if their strike force was sufficient and was informed that it was enough. Apparently a deal was almost complete and all they needed was to negotiate safe passage through the arena," said Percy.

"What arena?" asked Ares. A slight look of disgust flickered across Poseidon's features as he had an idea on what arena they were talking about.

"Kelli told Luke that he couldn't fail as she didn't want to see his head on as spike," said Percy.

"Luke wouldn't have wanted that either," said Annabeth.

"Kelli decided to attend to other matters- she informed Luke she was bringing despair to their eavesdropping enemies and looked directly on me exposed her talons and ripped through my dreams," said Percy.

"Well she was definitely bringing despair," said Apollo.

"Which was why she hadn't chased me out of the dream, as I had expected her to sight me sooner," admitted Percy.

"You can't say your dreams are not informative, they even tell you what the enemy are doing," said Athena.

"If not depressing," said Apollo.


"I found myself in a different place in my dream. I was at the top of a stone tower. Daedalus was hunched over a worktable wrestling with some kind of navigational instrument. He was older than I'd last seen him, he was more stooped and his hands were gnarled. He was also squinting as if he was having trouble seeing," said Percy.

"Of course he looks older, it what people do," said Hades.

"A young boy about eleven came bounding up the stairs carrying a wooden box," said Percy. "Daedalus greeted the boy as Perdix, although the tone of his voice was cold."

Athena gasped she knew what information this dream was going to divulge. Percy looked at her silently conveying that she had guessed correctly.

"Daedalus asked, his nephew, if he had finished his projects. Perdix replied he had, stating that they had been easy. Daedalus didn't seem happy with this answer. He thought the project about the problem of moving water uphill without a pump wasn't easy," said Percy.

"Not an easy project," said Hermes.

"It is easy- we did it," said Travis and Connor.

"You didn't do it," said Clarisse "You got Percy to do it."

"And it wasn't easy for me to do," said Percy.

"Hey it was easy, and we didn't have Percy's help," said Travis.

"That wasn't easy that was dangerous," yelled Chris.

"It was easy to convince people to help," pointed out Connor.

"The hill overlooking camp was on fire," shouted Chris "of course people helped."

"Fire what fire?" questioned Thalia.

"You set the hill over looking camp on fire," yelled Clarisse.

"We passed buckets of water from the lake up the hill, stamping out flames away from Thalia's pine tree for hours," yelled Annabeth.

"But we did get water uphill without the use of a pump," said Travis before he and his brother was attacked by Clarisse, Annabeth and Thalia. It took a minute before the pair was begging for mercy.

"Anyway… Perdix showed the older inventor some diagrams causing Daedalus nodded grudgingly," said Percy ignoring the boys who were hogtied in a corner. "Perdix told Daedalus that the king loved it and said that he, Perdix might even be smarter than Daedalus."

"No one likes to hear that," said Katie.

"Perdix said he was glad he was sent to study with Daedalus as he wanted to know everything he does," said Percy.

"Perdix could take Daedalus's place when he died," said Hades.

"Perdix had been thinking … Why does a man have to die?" Percy informed the group.

"Everything dies but us gods, it is the way," pointed out Hades.

"But why?" asked Nico.

"That is what Perdix asked. He wondered if you could capture the soul in another form, like how Daedalus had made the automatons, why could he not make a bronze form of a man," explained Percy.

"Such thing is not possible," exclaimed Zeus however three gods present were wondering if it was not as impossible as one would think.

"Perdix thought it was possible with the use of a little magic- Magic and Mechanics together," Percy with a shrug. "Perdix brought out his notes on how one could make a body that would look human. Daedalas read the notes for a long time, his eyes narrowing; he glanced at the kid before stating that it would never work."

"Could it work ….? Do you think?" asked Hermes looking at Athena.

"Maybe, it would explain a lot," said Hades.

""Perdix asked Daedalus if he could fix the instrument he was working on, enquiring if his joints were swelling up again. Perdix didn't seem to notice Daedalus's anger when he declined the offer. Perdix picked up a bronze beetle and began to play with it near the edge of the tower. The barrier for the tower was a sill that ran around and only came up to the boy's knees," informed Percy.

"Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" asked Nico.

"The kid is going to fall," said Dionysus "Why else would he mentioned it."

"In the dream Daedalus was mumbling about the boy being smarter than him and taking his place. Perdix was asking Daedalus about his son and the flying wing incident. Perdix mentioned that he would like to fly but he would make his own wings that wouldn't fail," said Percy.

"Ouch… that was probably not the best thing to say especially regarding his son," said Hades.

"In the dream I imagined Janus shimmering in the air next to Daedalus telling him to choose," said Percy "The next moment Daedalus is tossing another bronze bettle towards the boy telling him to catch… however Perdix was unable to and fell, somehow catching the rim of the tower.

"Oh thank goodness," said Demeter.

"Daedalus ignored Perdix's cries for help and didn't move from his spot. He softly told Perdix to make his own wings and be quick about it. The boys cried as he lost his grip and tumbled towards the sea," said Percy.

"He let him fall," gasped Demeter.

"He didn't even try to help him," said Rachel stunned like her peers.

"There was a moment of silence and then thunder shook the sky. A woman's stern voice spoke from the heavens, it said…" said Percy as everyone looked towards the female side of the throne room.

"You will pay the price for that," admitted Athena.

"Daedalus wasn't happy saying that he had always honoured Athena. That he had sacrificed everything to follow her way," said Percy.

"Yet Perdix also had my blessing as well as him. And he killed him and for that he had to pay," said Athena bitterly.

"Daedalus felt he had already paid, he had lost everything; he guessed he would suffer in the Underworld. He however picked up Perdix scroll and slipped it into his sleeve," said Percy.

"He did not understand he will pay then and forever," said Athena coldly however had looked surprised about the information about the scroll for a moment.

"Daedalus suddenly collapsed in agony and unfortunately I could feel what he felt," said Percy glaring at Athena. "A searing pain closed around my neck like a molton-hot collar, as I woke."

"Sorry for the dream pain," apologised Athena.

"You just watched the guy you are looking for murder his own nephew," said Apollo.


"Grover was awake watching the Nature Channel although it was two in the morning," said Percy.

"He probably missed Juniper," said Thalia.

"Grover informed me that seven days had past since we had left camp. He was out of time for his deadline for the Council of Cloven Elders," said Percy.

"He will lose his searchers licence and be stuck at camp," mumbled Dionysus.

"Maybe you could talk to them make them give him more time," said Demeter.

"Grover wasn't really positive; he told me he could feel the wild fading. He had to find Pan otherwise he wouldn't be returning to camp," said Percy.

"The next morning saw us returning to the cattle grid, Nico refused to join us," said Annabeth.

"I needed time to think, and I was still angry, my sister came out of the Underworld for Percy and not for me," admitted Nico.

"Eurytion promised that Nico would be safe and could stay as long as he wanted to gather his thoughts," said Annabeth. "He also told us of his plans for the ranch. No more sacred cattle meat, he was thinking soya-bean patties and making friends with the flesh-eating horses."

"He might even sign up to the next rodeo," said Percy with a grin.

"That would be something of a horror to watch," said Zeus although Ares looked eager at the thought.

"Eurytion reckoned we would be looking for Daedalus's workshop and although he didn't know where it was Hephaestus would," said Annabeth.

"I don't know where it is," said Hephaestus.

"Eurytion pulled out a silver disc with a button on top stating that Hephaestus visited the ranch and studied the animals for his automatons. The last time he visited Eurytion did him a favour and gave him the disc saying it would lead to the forges but only once," said Annabeth.

"What favour did he ask?" asked a confused Ares.

"Help with a trick on you and his wife," answered Percy.

"Stop pulling tricks on me," yelled Aphrodite.

"Well stop CHEATING on ME."

"Eurytion just gave you the disc?" questioned Hera.

"He said he didn't need to see the forges," said Percy. "Annabeth pressed the button and immediately dropped it with a scream as it grew eight legs."

"Stupid spiders," mumbled Annabeth.

"Wow a daughter of Athena following a spider – you don't see that everyday," said Apollo.

"Actually you never see that," said Will.

"It was even worse as we were following it back into the maze," said Annabeth.

"I wish I had put the mechanical spider on a leash, it was just lucky that Tyson and Grover had excellent hearing otherwise we wouldn't have known where it went," said Percy.

"We came to a tunnel which had a huge abyss in the floor. No floor for thirty meters, just gapping darkness and a series of iron rungs in the ceiling," said Annabeth.

"Annabeth leapt onto the monkey bars and swung herself across," said Percy.

"She is afraid of spiders but not plummeting to her death from monkey bars," exclaimed Thalia shaking her head.

"I followed Annabeth with Tyson giving Grover a piggyback ride, thankfully he made it within three swings as the last iron bar ripped free under his weight," said Percy. "The spider passed a skeleton and slipped on wood scraps that turned out to be hundreds of pencils broken in half."

"We ended up in a room with a dozen skeletons in various stages of decay," said Annabeth.

"A monster stood on a glittery dais. She had a body of a huge lion and the head of a woman," said Percy.

"A sphinx," whispered Artemis.

"Her hair was tied back into a tight bun and she wore too much makeup – reminded me of my third grade choir teacher," said Percy.

"You did choir?" questioned Nico.

"Yes in third grade … it was suppose to improve my self-esteem… but I wasn't really good," admitted Percy. "The sphinx also had a blue ribbon badge that said this monster has been rated exemplary."

"Who is rating monsters?" asked Hades.

"The mechanical spider scuttled between the sphinx's paws and disappeared down the only exit – which was behind the sphinx. Bars came down as we tried to pass the monster blocking both entrance and exit tunnels," said Annabeth.

"The sphinx announced "Welcome lucky contestants get ready to play … ANSWER THAT RIDDLE," imitated Percy in the perfect game show host voice.

"A game show," said Will in awe.

"There was even a spotlight and canned applause," said Percy.

"Did they have fabulous prizes?" asked Hermes.

"We passed the test we got to advance further into the maze. Fail and the sphinx got to eat us," admitted Annabeth.

"So fail and die pass and you could die further in the maze," said Dionysus.

"At least for a game show you have a daughter of Athena with you," said Chris.

"You would think that," said Percy ignoring Annabeth's glare.

"I approached the podium and a test paper appeared with a 2B pencil," said Annabeth.

"Just like normal school exams," said Katie.

"Did you have to make sure you filled in the whole answer bubble?" asked Will.

"Yes otherwise her wonderful grading machine wouldn't register the answer," said Percy.

"I was informed that there were now twenty riddles to answer," informed Annabeth.

"There use to be only one," said Athena.

"They had raised their standards and Annabeth had to show proficiency in all twenty," replied Percy.

"They asked the first riddle, it was a question not a riddle. They were just a bunch of dumb random facts; it was a stupid test," said Annabeth.

"So you easily answered all the questions," said Clarisse.

"No she complained bout it, Grover thought she should wait till after she answered all the questions and I agreed," said Percy.

"It was an insult to my intelligence," said Annabeth.

"Your pride could have gotten us all killed," said Percy "since you refuse to complete the test you failed and was to be eaten."

"The Sphinx pounced at me," said Annabeth.

"Thankfully Tyson hates it when people threaten Annabeth and tackled the sphinx midair sending them both into a pile bones," said Percy.

"Wow, how brave of him, since he doesn't like Sphinxes," said Nico.

"I stepped in front of Annabeth telling her to use her invisibility cap and disappear, the monster was after her, not us," said Percy.

"That's a first, a monster after Annabeth rather than Percy," said Thalia clearly surprised.

"Once Annabeth had vanished the monster turned on me, but Tyson ripped exam grading machine out of the floor throwing at the Sphinx's head," said Percy.

"The bars lifted from the exits and we made our way towards them with the sphinx following. Grover played his reed pipes and the broken pencils grew roots and branches and began wrapping around the sphinx's legs slowing her down long enough for us to get into the tunnel before the bars slammed shut," said Annabeth.

"We continued down the tunnel with the sound of the Sphinx complaining that she couldn't be exemplary with out her test scores and having to grade papers by hand," said Percy.


A/N: Thanks for reading. Please review and I may untie the Stoll brothers.

We had the Sphinx asking questions in this chapter so here is a question from me-

Perdix was wondering if you capture the soul in another form; why not make it into a bronze form of a man. Who were the three gods/ goddesses that were wondering if it was possible?

Leave a review and let me know, I promise that if you fail you won't be attacked by monsters- I have no control over monsters.