Ch28
Annabeth gripped her plate of food as she took a deep breath. Why am I even anxious about this, I am just going to sit down next to them and tell them about the Labyrinth and have them help me convince Grover to go. She watched as Percy and Magnus entered the dining pavilion, get their food, offer sacrifice, and go to their seats at the Poseidon table.
The two appeared to be having an intense conversation and watching them talk and whisper made her feel a twinge in her stomach. Not that I care that they are good friends and I am happy that they are close and all but still they are hiding something else and they never hide anything from me. She watched as Grover and Chiron talked to both of them as she took a deep breath and calmed her emotions.
She had to admit that she was still a bit pissed off after what had happened yesterday. She had originally planned to have a nice day with Percy but then he asked if Magnus was coming and well that was not her plan. She honestly didn't know if she was pissed or sad that Percy wanted to bring her cousin and be with him when she wanted to spend a day with Percy to herself. He really couldn't take the hint she thought as she gripped her tray at the memory of Percy and her cousin sitting across the café table laughing it up and chatting with some mortals.
The memory of yesterday made her blood boil, that red haired especially was a little too close to both of them. Also, that blonde girl who reminded her of Clarisse; she didn't know why but something inside of her said to stay away from her and that she was nothing but trouble. Either the way those girls acted as if she wasn't worth their time pissed her off. Maybe that's their secret, they have other people. Her nostrils flared at the thought as she shook her head. I mean they would tell me if they were dating, at least Magnus would. However, she had noticed that he had been a little more secretive lately and maybe he was just shy about talking about that stuff. Maybe it is just some teenage drama and he is just shy about it she thought as she walked towards the Poseidon table ignoring the looks from her cabinmates.
She sat down next to Percy as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Annabeth you're not supposed to be here?" Percy said in surprise
Both he and Magnus stared at her and she ignored the pang in her heart. She knew he probably didn't mean it to sound like you don't belong here, we don't want you here. The fact that he and Magnus suddenly stopped their conversation as if they were discussing some deep secret did not help things. "Its important, Grover is in trouble, there is only one way we can help him and that is the Labyrinth."
"You mean the maze they kept the Minotaur in?" Percy asked
"Exactly, and like everything else it has moved west as is currently underneath the US. It's been growing for thousands of years, lacing its way under Western cities connecting everything together underground. You can get anywhere through the Labyrinth," she said as she started to eat her food and ignored the looks other campers were giving them.
"If you don't get lost and die a horrible death," Grover muttered.
"There has to be Grover Clarisse lived after all," she said
"Wait what is this about Clarisse?" Magnus asked.
Annabeth looked over at the Ares table and felt Clarisse's eyes on her as if knowing what they were talking about. She sighed as she turned to Percy and Magnus and began to tell her about Clarisse and her mission from Chiron and how she found Chris Rodriguez. She watched Percy and Magnus's eyes widen as they told her the plan about using the Labyrinth to help Grover find Pan.
"I can't do it," Grover whimpered as he shook his head.
"But this might be your last chance," Magnus said trying to cheer up Grover.
"Yeah we will help you," Percy said reassuringly.
Grover looked as if he were about to have some sort of panic attack, "I have to go see Juniper," he said as he got up.
She sighed as she heard Quintus clear his throat she looked at him and he gave her a look that basically meant go back to your table. "See you guys later," she said with a sigh as she got up and headed back to her table and feeling a bit frustrated at how Magnus and Percy started talking again as soon as she left. She ignored the looks from everyone else in the pavilion as she sat back down at the Athena table. She looked one more time at her cousin and Percy, she couldn't explain it but she felt jealous that Magnus could just sit with Percy. She had never felt jealous of her cousin before but at that moment she wished that she could just sit with Percy and be as close to him as her cousin was. Would Percy even want that though? He obviously prefers hanging out with Magnus over me She thought bitterly as she finished her food.
Throughout the rest of the day, she did her normal camp activities, some by herself while others with her cabin. She did some activities with Magnus and Percy though she couldn't explain but seeing them do activities together and have fun really made her feel down and at times she did not want to interrupt the fun they were having. I don't want to interrupt them, what if they just see me as a bother? She sighed as she shook her head, she knew that they cared for her but still she just felt as if there was this wall between them and that they didn't want her on their side.
That night after dinner, Quintus had everyone suit up in combat armor like they were about to do capture the flag. However, the mood among the campers was more serious, she noticed that the crates in the arena had disappeared and she had a feeling that whatever was in them had been released into the woods.
"Ok everyone gather around," Quintus said standing on the head dining table. "You will all be collecting gold laurels without dying. They are attached to the back of one of the monsters. There are six in total, you have to get them off and not die of course. "You will all be in teams of three I will announce them all. To her delight, she was paired with Magnus and Percy. Percy smiled at her when their names were called but she just rolled her eyes as she walked towards them.
"Well lets do this," Magnus said as they looked towards the woods. She and Percy nodded as they all walked into the woods. They found some tracks and followed them through the woods, they passed by the Stoll brothers and managed to avoid them as they went deeper into the woods. "This is where we stopped looking for him," she muttered as she remembered that this was the place they stopped looking for Nico di Angelo when he ran away.
Percy and Magnus exchanged a look and she felt a twinge of annoyance before Percy spoke up. "I saw him last night," he said.
"What do you mean?" She asked as her eyebrows furrowed. Percy told her about the dream while Magnus remained silent. When Percy finished talking she sighed, "Summoning the dead, that is not a good idea."
"Yeah and the spirit mentioned some kind of maze," Magnus said as he looked around.
She looked at her cousin for a bit, she didn't know why but she felt as if he and Percy were hiding something else. However, their conversation was interrupted by the sound of crackling branches and dry leaves. Something large was moving in the trees just beyond the ridge. "That's not the Stoll brothers," she said as they drew their swords.
They managed to go to Zeus's Fist, the large pile of boulders in the middle of the west woods. It was an impressive landmark where campers often went to meet up for hunting expeditions but this time it was empty. "Hi there," said a familiar voice.
All three of them jumped and grabbed their weapons only to see Juniper yelp and jump back, "Please put those down, Dryads and sharp blades don't mix."
"Juniper," she exhaled as she took a sigh of relief. "What are you doing here?"
"Um I live here," Juniper said pointing to the juniper plant. "Um are you guys busy?" She said in down that she knew meant that Juniper was not happy.
"No we are not busy what is wrong?" she asked as she sheathed her sword.
Juniper sniffled as she cleaned her teary eyes. "It's Grover, he is so distraught. All last year he was looking for Pan and every time he comes back it is worse," she said with a sob.
"Juniper he is just really stressed out about losing his searcher's license," she said calmly.
"But he can't go underground you can't let him," she protested.
Annabeth sighed as she gave Juniper a sad look. "it might be the only way to help him; if we knew where to start.
Juniper opened her mouth as if she were about to say something when there was a rustle in the woods. "Hide!" Juniper said. Before she could ask what she meant she disappeared in a puff of smoke. They all turned around and a large ten feet long insect with jagged pincers and an armored tail came out of the woods.
"Annabeth use your cap while we distract it," Magnus said as he drew his ax. However, two more scorpions appeared from the woods.
"We cannot take them all, that's impossible," She said as she saw Percy and Magnus look at each other and at the scorpions.
"Lets climb then it's the only way," Magnus said as pointed to the rocks.
"But there is no time," she said as she drew her sword and looked for some kind of opening.
Percy and Magnus managed to parry the claws of a scorpion; Percy then blocked another attack while Magnus brought his long ax down on its heading making the scorpion shriek in anger. For a second she couldn't help but stare in awe and feel a bit jealous at the coordination Percy and Magnus had. Magnus managed to bait one of the scorpions and distract it long enough for Percy to attack it. They work really well together She stared around and drew her sword and swung it at another scorpion that was trying to attack Percy.
"We can't keep this up for longer," she said as she deflected a pincer.
Percy and Magnus exchanged a look almost as if they were having some sort of internal conversation. Percy then took a step back while Magnus swung his ax down on the scorpion's claw cutting it clean off. The scorpion let out a loud shriek as it tried to sting Magnus with its stinger. Magnus managed to avoid it as he activated his shield.
"Guys get in here it's safe," Percy said through a crack.
"Are you crazy it is too narrow," she said as she avoided another stinger.
"Its alright I'll cover you," Magnus said as he dodged the stinger of the scorpion who he just hurt.
Well we are in a tight spot she thought as she turned and bolted for the rocks. She managed to squeeze herself inside of them and was going to call out to her cousin when she noticed that he was also squeezing in-between them. Magnus tripped over something and ended up falling on top of her and she ended up falling on top of Percy.
They both tumbled into a pit that they hadn't seen before. They could see the scorpions above them along with the evening sky as it slowly turned dark. "Where are we?" She said as she looked around.
"Safe from the scorpions at least," Magnus said as they looked around.
"It is some kind of room," Percy muttered as they looked around. Percy then looked around, "Hey Magnus are you ok? You are glowing."
She turned to her cousin and saw that indeed he was glowing lightly, it wasn't bright but just enough to see around them. Magnus looked in shock at his hands, "Wow this is new?" He said in shock.
"Maybe its a power from your godly parent?" She said as she looked up and down her cousin who looked like a human flashlight. He can't be a son of Apollo, maybe his dad was a minor deity associated with light?
Magnus and Percy exchanged another look with each other as if they were having some sort of internal conversation, which made her blood boil. Seriously I am right here she thought as she clenched her fist. Am I just a third wheel to you guys or what?
Magnus cleared his throat, "Yeah maybe," he said with a nervous laugh.
"Yeah maybe your dad was the God of light or something," Percy said with a nervous laugh before clearing his throat. "So what is this room anyway?
"It's a corridor," she said, "We should be careful we should find an exit."
"Ok lets stick together," Percy said as he grabbed both her and Magnus's hands. Under normal circumstances, she would have been elated that she was holding hands with Percy but a part of her felt like her cousin was killing the mood.
"Let's take it easy," she said as they slowly walked through the corridor two steps at a time.
Suddenly an idea came to her head, "Wait help me examine the walls," she said as she let go of Percy's hand.
"What for?" Magnus asked as he and Percy started feeling the wall
"The Mark of Daedalus," she said as if it were the most obvious thing. Seriously it is like the two of them really do share one brain it seems.
"Um ok but what is it," Percy said.
"Got it!" She said with relief as she pressed her hand against a tiny fissure on the wall. The tiny mark began to glow blue and the Ancient Greek Delta appeared.
Suddenly the roof slid open and they saw the night sky and metal ladders dropped down.
"Percy, Annabeth, Magnus we found you," Tyson said loudly as he called to others. They all looked at each other and nodded as they climbed the ladders.
As soon as they all got up they were greeted by a group of campers and Chiron. "Where have you all been," Clarisse demanded. "We have been looking for you all for hours."
"But we have only been gone for a few minutes," Magnus said. "There were three scorpions so we hid in the rocks and found a hole.
"A hole?" Clarisse said suspiciously, her face looking as if she were about to face some horrible monster. "You found it didn't you," she whispered.
"Chiron maybe we should talk about this in the Big House," she said before turning to Clarisse who was looking directly at her. "We did," she said looking her in the eye.
"This explains what Luke was after," Clarisse muttered.
"What do you mean? What did we find?" Percy asked.
She turned to him and sighed, "An entrance to the Labyrinth. An invasion route straight into the heart of the camp."
"Alright everyone we will discuss this later for now let us return to our cabins," Chiron said as he gave her a look that meant we will talk later. "We will hold a meeting tomorrow morning," he said as he looked at her, Percy, and Clarisse.
They all nodded as they made their way back to camp. That night she tried her best to sleep but when she finally fell asleep she had a dream. "Hey guys wait up," she called. She was on a street chasing after her cousin and Percy calling them but they would not listen or didn't want to.
"Guys wait up," she pleaded as she called out to them. However, they appeared distracted by their own conversation as they were laughing and talking about something else. It was as if they could not or did not want to hear her and were preoccupied with their own lives.
"Percy Magnus wait for me!" She called as she ran after them but they just continued to ignore as the crowd between them got bigger and bigger. She called out to them but they were getting out of her line of sight and before she knew it they were gone. "Percy! Magnus! I am right here!" She screamed as she felt the dream end.
The next morning she passed by slowly but Annabeth had other things on her mind. She didn't know what to make of her dream and tried her best to not think about it. I have to focus on what we are doing now. Though she still found herself looking over at her cousin and Percy throughout the morning and into the war council as she and Clarisse explained to Percy what had happened with Chris Rodriguez and the labyrinth.
She was not surprised when Chiron told her to see the oracle, this was her chance to lead a quest and she felt even more nervous at the prospect of leading a quest. She already had a few ideas of who she wanted to bring with her, it was more than three but for this quest, she needed all the help she could get.
As she walked into the arena and saw Chiron and Quintus talking to some campers while Percy and Magnus were talking about something. She looked at them and ignored the twinge of jealousy inside of her and shook her head. No is not the time for this, so what if Percy wants to be friends with Magnus. He could use a friend and he is not a bad guy or anything. Magnus is lucky to have a friend like Percy anyway she thought as she rubbed her temples and took a deep breath.
"My dear," Chiron said. "You made it."
"Yeah I did," she said with a sigh as she sat down on a stone bench and stared at the floor.
"Well what is it?" Quintus asked as Magnus and Percy walked towards her.
"I got the prophecy, I will lead the quest to find Daedalus's workshop," she said looking at both Quintus and Chiron.
"What did the prophecy say?" Chiron asked as he scraped a hoof on the dirt floor.
She sighed as she slowly said the prophecy, "You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze. The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise."
"The lost one it must be Pan," Grover said excitedly.
"What of the rest?" Chiron said looking at her and he knew that she was not done.
She sighed as she continued. "You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand while the child of Athena's final stand."
She paused not knowing if she wanted to say the last lines. However, Chiron was no fool. "Are there more lines? The prophecy does not sound complete."
She shifted on her bench. "Something about destroy with a hero's final breath, and something about the North's son, I don't know what it meant." Chiron looked at her and seemed to get the message that she did not want to talk about it.
To be fair though I don't know what the North's son's decision he shall make means. Who or what is the north's son? She sighed as she stood up. "Look the point is I have to go in and find the workshop, I'll need help. Percy Magnus are you in?"
They both looked at her and for a second she swore that they exchanged a tense look with each other and then with Chiron, she hated it when her cousin and Percy had that look on their faces. For a second she felt a twinge of anger and almost wanted to not have her cousin on this quest and to make him stay here where it is safe. "Of course," Magnus said as Percy nodded in agreement.
She sighed and turned to Grover, "You too Grover I need you for this, it involves Pan."
"I'm in," Grover said as Percy and Magnus nodded with him.
"Annabeth think carefully, you are breaking an Ancient Law by having more than two companions," Chiron said as his tail flickered nervously. "Last winter five set out and we lost one," he warned.
She sighed as she looked at Chiron, "I know but I need this please."
Chiron stared at her and sighed, "Fine you all shall set out tomorrow."
They all nodded, she didn't know why but a part of her knew that she should bring Magnus with her and she needed Percy and Grover too. Maybe things will patch up between us she thought hopefully as she looked at her cousin and Percy who both looked nervous.