I don't own any characters in the Percy Jackson universe which is rightfully owned by Rick Riodan. However, the Greek gods and/or other mythological figures are used in my own imagination and well you can't claim copyright on history.

Chapter 26

I pulled out another arrow. Since Hephaestus had made add ons to my arrows I decided now as the time to test it out. I fired one and on contact, it exploded. Once again he just healed. He was already near me by the time I had tried out multiple arrows.

"Don't learn do you? You can't kill me as long as I'm on the ground. I am Anteus. Mother earth aways heals me."

Then it hit me. Hercules killed him by breaking his back and holding him suspended in the air. He just laughs as I stand still.

"What are you standing for? Perhaps you accepted your fate. Don't worry I'll make your life long and painful. See the skulls above you? I will add you there in my father's name."

I look around and find many skulls suspended on chains. Chains. I could use them to suspend him. He stops waiting and charges. I concentrate and the chains come down and wrap around him, holding him too far above the ground to heal.

"Jackson, don't." Luke starts.

"Let me down you little shit!" Anteus yells.

I shot a couple of arrows at him. I purposely hit areas that wouldn't be fatal. I take out my sword, which had reformed in my pocket, and slowly walk towards him.

"Don't kill me. I'll give you anything you want. I promise-"

I stabbed him before he got to end the question. I glared at Luke with anger in my eyes. He points at us and monsters start rushing at my friends, with the intent to kill. I wouldn't have enough time to climb up. I saw Ethan still in the corner of the arena so I grabbed him and teleported to the front row. The monsters were tripping over seats in excitement. I glanced around to look for Luke. He was running away.

"Come back here, you dirty dog. I'm tired of you using my friends and me as fuel for your entertainment." I yelled.

"We'll meet again, Percy." He replies simply and leaves.

I growled and released my anger on the monsters around me. Left and right, monsters were being mowed down. Suddenly, I narrowly dodge claws aimed for my face. I fell on my back and Kelli was on top of me.

"Aw man, I damaged your pretty little face. Too bad I have to kill you."

She raises her claws, but suddenly a knife thrusts through her stomach.

"You don't get to touch him," Annabeth growls.

She disintegrates and despite the chaos I Iaughed.

"Oh really? Who gets to touch me?" I asked.

She blushes and gets up.

"That's not what I meant."

Nico looks at me sending me a silent message. I nod and we both concentrate. A small army of skeletons rise and start to fight off the monsters. We run back into the maze. We ran quite a bit to put some distance between the arena.

"Thanks for helping me back there." Says Ethan.

"It's all good. Why don't you come back with us to camp?"

"No. I'm sorry to tell you this but I refuse to help the gods. They've never done shit for me. I'm going back to find Luke. I'm sorry things ended up like this. I have a feeling we'll be meeting again and we won't be on the same side. I'm sorry. Should've just killed me when you had the chance."

Ethan turns and leaves down the tunnel and disappears. Annabeth tries to follow him and probably kill him, but I stop her. He was just another lost soul. I grit my teeth and remember something.

"I'll be right back. Watch them."

"Where are you going? Let me follow." Annabeth starts.

I shake my head and run back to the arena. The area was a mess but I needed to do one last thing. I concentrate my emotions and the red inside me. On my palm greek fire appears. I was sweating and tired but managed to throw it.

"You don't know my father if you think this pleases him," I said as the room fills with flames.

I return to my friends and they were waiting for me, treating any minor wounds.

"Rachel, which way?"

"Uh, this way." She responds with a shaky voice.

After all that happened, I couldn't blame her. We eventually reach a door with light coming from inside the door. I press the door and it swings open.

"Anybody home?" I yell.

I inspect the room. The room obviously had been used recently as papers were everywhere and the laptop still running.

"Ah, you guys came." Says a voice.

We turn to see Quintus standing by a desk. I get my bow and aim for his head. He slowly raises his hands.

"Whoa, Percy. I thought we were on good terms. After all, we exchanged sword blows."

"You are a traitor to the camp. Where is Daedelus?"

"Well, I am Daedalus. I managed to prolong my life."

"You liar," Annabeth growls.

"No, my young architect. Quintus merely means the fifth in Latin. This is my fifth body."

Annabeth laughs in disbelief.

"Who knew our sword trainer was a comedian." She says.

"No, he's right."

"What? You believe that ridiculous story?"

"Yes. When we sparred, I had cut him. No blood came out. Also, I had a dream. He helped kill Minos and disappeared. While he was leaving he held blueprints. Now the real question was why did you betray us? Did you come to spy on us?"

"That wasn't it. I wanted to see if your camp was worth saving. I wasn't a spy." He answers.

"Then give us the string so Luke doesn't," Nico growls.

"Luke already has it. I'm sorry. He promised to bring back my son and nephew."

"You killed your nephew I remember. Why?"

"Just as Annabeth, I have a fatal flaw of hubris. I hated seeing my nephew surpassing me at such a young age. Jeoulasy got the better of me. Athena still refuses to let me forget." He answers and pulls down his collar.

There was a purple mark of a bird. More specifically, the partridge. Perdix meant partridge. I instinctively touch my collar as well, remembering the pain.

"He also promised to throw Minos into Tartarus." He continued.

"Did somebody say my name?"

We turn to the new person in the room. Or rather a ghost. The ghostly figure of Minos had come along with a pair of empousi. Daedalus paled and drew his sword.

"All of you leave there is an exit into the Labyrinth in the back."

"No, we're staying to fight."

Minos starts chanting and a cold feeling starts to fill the room. Cracks appear on the floor and ghosts start to climb out. A ghostly moaning starts and Nico glares at Minos.

"You are not allowed to be here," Nico says.

"I am Minos you have no power over me. I am the king of ghosts." Minos retorts.

A purple aura rises off of Nico. Minos starts shaking.

"No, you are a fraud. I AM THE GHOST KING!" On the last word, Minos is sucked into the floor along with the others.

The empousi attack, scratching what seems like a pipe in the process. She strikes at me and I blocked with my sword. The smallest of sparks flew off my sword igniting the room.

"GO NOW!" Yells Daedalus.

"What about you?"

"I'll be fine, now go!"

I grab the others and run for the other exit. As we close the door the room explodes. Rachel leads us to another exit. When we leave I noticed that we were on mount Tam.

"Fool careful with the blade. One scratch and your soul will be ripped from your body." A voice hisses.

"Uh, I'll let you carry it then."

That voice belonged to Ethan. We sneak closer to the top. Annabeth hands me her cap and I slowly walk up the mountain. I saw 2 telkhines, Ethan and Kronos's coffin. I walk behind the coffin and open the lid. I raised my sword then paused. It wasn't Kronos in the coffin. It was Luke.

"He stirs. Quickly the blade!" One telkhine hisses.

Ethan quickly bows with the scythe on the floor.

"Fool he requires his spirit."

"Uh, I'm not going to die am I?" Ethan asks.

"No, swear allegiance to Kronos. That is all."

"NO!" I take the cap off and sliced a telkhine.

The other backs up.

"Ethan, don't do this."

"I told you that you should've killed me. I DENOUNCE THE GODS OF OLYMPUS! WHAT HAVE THEY EVER DONE FOR ME! I PROMISE TO FOLLOW LORD KRONOS!" Ethan shouts.

Thunderclaps can be heard in the distance. Smoke billows from the coffin and Kronos rose from inside the coffin.

"Finally. I AM FREE!" He shouts.

"Luke?"

End of chapter 26. As always please review to let me know how I did and how I could improve. Till next time!