Chapter 5: Leo

Walking through the forge was an experience for Leo. He could have spent a lifetime exploring the structure. In the space of twenty minutes he'd seen prototype flying chariots, the massive chains that originally contained the monster Typhon and the mould for Poseidon's trident. Despite this he was not ready for the wonder that was Hephaestus's workshop. The workshop was the size of the Big House back at Camp Half-Blood, with shelves of scrolls lining the walls. The ground was formed of glass with pure magma bubbling below. Buckets of celestial bronze and stygian iron lay across the room. On a desk were several cubes. Leo was instantly drawn to them. Pacing towards them he picked one up, instantly feeling a connection to it. It gave of the same power as the Archimedes Sphere he'd found in Rome months before, but it felt raw and untamed. Pocketing the cube, he turned to face the others. Jason and Tyson were standing in awe at machinations before them, whilst Annabeth was reading a scroll.

"Guys," she said, "I think I know what we're looking for."

"What do you mean?" asked Jason.

"This scroll contains designs for staffs of some kind, and lists the seven ancient wonders that we're seeking. And look underneath! Chaos's name is written." Leo grabbed the scroll from Annabeth's hands.

"Annabeth is right," he exclaimed, a grin forming across his face, "these staffs were designed by my father to contain Chaos and were stored in the wonders. They seem to harness the power of these crystals depicted here to contain him." Leo tossed the scroll back to Annabeth, who quickly stored it within her bag.

"Hey Leo," the son of Hephaestus turned to see Jason reading an inscription over a small doorway, "didn't you say Styx water was found in ancient aqueducts?"

"Yeah, but why?"

"Well I think this is one."