Ch29

This place is a real pain in the ass Magnus thought as they passed through the labyrinth. As soon as they stepped into the maze it began to confuse them, shifting its walls, narrowing its passageways, and closing off exits and entrances. The only relief was that his body was shining like a flashlight so they were not completely lost. Hopefully we don't die here he thought as he walked next to Percy, they were all on edge when they ran into a Roman room with the two headed god Janus.

"Hello demigods," one face said.

"What are you all doing here?" Asked the other. "One leads the way you wish to go and the other leads to your certain doom."

"I know you, you are Janus," Annabeth said.

"Smart girl," one of the faces of Janus said. "We know you daughter of Athena, about your indecision and about your choice you will have to make sooner or later."

"What choice?" Percy asked as the two faced god only laughed. They both watched as the color drained from Annabeth's face when suddenly a bright light flooded the room.

She was a tall and graceful woman with long hair, she wore a silver dress and radiated an elegant vibe. "Janus are you causing trouble again?" The woman asked in a stern voice.

"No my lady of course not," Janus said. The lady stared at them and back at Janus and Magnus couldn't help but feel a bit fearful of her. "Then begone," she said as Janus only nodded and disappeared.

"Good," the lady said before turning to them and smiled. "Now demigods you must all be hungry. Sit down with me and we shall talk," she said as she waved her hand and a plate of food and glasses of drinks appeared.

"Who are you?" Percy asked

"I am Hera," she smiled. "Queen of Heaven." All of them looked surprised as they went and sat down across from her.

She seems so regal and motherly at the same time he thought as she sat next to Percy. Her smiled at them as they all ate the food and tried to be as polite as possible. "Queen Hera what are you doing here in the Labyrinth? Annabeth asked.

Hera smiled at her and with a flick of her finger Annabeth's hair was straightened and her face cleaned. "To see you all of course," she said with a smile. He exchanged a look with Percy, usually when a god came to visit you it was because they wanted something.

"I just thought you didn't like heroes," Annabeth said carefully.

Hera sighed, "Just because of that little spat with Hercules? Honestly people will never let me live it down. That's water under the bridge now, me and my husband had some excellent marriage counseling since then and came to an understanding especially since that incident," she said as if she were something on the table.

"You mean when he Fathered Thalia?" Percy asked, probably out of reflex. He kind of wanted to kick his friend since Hera glared at both of them with a frosty kill you now look.

"Ah Percy Jackson, one of Poseidon's many children," she said coolly. "As I recall I voted to spare your life. I hope I voted correctly."

Magnus watched Percy look away in embarrassment and then Hera turned to him with a smile that was both warm and a warning to not push his luck. "Magnus Chase was it? How are you enjoying our family," she said emphasizing our. "Since you are a part of us I expect you to fight with all that you have now," she said with a smile. She smiled at him as if she were an old school teacher lecturing a pupil, it kind of pissed him off but he knew better than to argue

"Um good Queen Hera," he said not knowing what to say. "Yes I hope not to disappoint, I will do all I can for our family."

"That is good I hope I was also correct when it came to my vote. Olympus needs all the fighters it can get," Hera said with a smile. "After all, you and Percy shared so many experiences last winter that I am sure you both will cherish those memories. I am glad you found a good home among us Olympians."

"Thank you Queen Hera I know," he said as he felt Percy and Annabeth's eyes on him. Percy looked like he knew what she was talking about but his cousin looked confused and for a second he thought she looked hurt but her face quickly changed to neutral.

"Now then," Hera said as she looked at all of them. "To keep my family, the Olympians together I am doing my best to help you all. Zeus does not allow me to interfere much I afraid but once in a while he allows me to grant a wish, but before I do that let me give you some advice. If you seek Daedalus I would seek out Hephaestus, he knew the man better than anyone else and can tell you his fate."

"But how do we get there?" Annabeth asked.

Hera sighed. "You wish for something you already have; the means is in your grasp. Percy has the answer." Annabeth looked like she wanted to ask something else but the room rumbled like distant thunder. "Looks like my time is up, seek out Hephaestus, you will all pass through the ranch I imagine but keep going and use all the means at your disposal however common they seem," she said before vanishing into a puff of white smoke.

Annabeth stomped her foot. "Really here are some sandwiches and some help but wait I can't help you all," she said in frustration before looking at both of them. What did she mean by you know the answer Percy? Also what did she mean by are you enjoying our family? Did something happen between you and Percy last winter?" She asked as her eyes narrowed on them.

"I don't know what she was talking about," Percy said as they both exchanged a quick glance.

Magnus gulped; I can't stand lying to her. "Yeah me either."

Annabeth looked at them as if she thought they were lying, though to be fair he was but he was sure Percy didn't know either. "Fine lets keep going," she said coolly as they all got up. They heard rumbling from the right door so they quickly made their way to the left door.

He could tell that his cousin was upset at something. For the past day or so she seemed a bit more reclusive around him and Percy for a lack of a better term. He couldn't explain it but she would often look at him as if she were upset at him and Percy for something. More than once he caught her staring at him and Percy almost as if she wasn't sure if she wanted to join them but would turn away as if they were bothering her.

Well now she definitely is upset, maybe Hera really did piss her off he thought as they followed her down the tunnel. She did not speak or even look at him or Percy as they reached the end of the tunnel. Yeah she is definitely upset at something, did we do something? He thought as he, Percy, and Grover worked to break through the roof.

The good news was that they were above ground and were in San Francisco. However, Annabeth was definitely upset at them and during their short time on the island where they helped free a hundred arm cyclops and fend off monsters before being forced back into another entrance to the labyrinth his cousin only spoke to him and Percy when necessary.

"It smells like the dead here," Grover muttered as they walked down the tunnel

"Nico must have been here," Percy said pointing to a pile of McDonalds wrappers.

"Lets go we will find him," He said as they continued down the tunnel. However, when they exited the tunnel they were greeted a bright light. "Where are we?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes.

That was when he heard the mooing. He opened his eyes and saw a bunch of bright red cows mooing at them behind some metal bars. "I didn't know cows came in red," Percy said as he looked at the bright red cows.

"They are cattle of the sun and they are sacred to Apollo," Annabeth said

"What have we got here," said a loud voice. They all turned around to see a large man with a white beard who looked like a rancher mixed with Santa. "You kids lost?"

"We are half bloods on a quest," Annabeth said as they carefully reached for their weapons expecting a fight.

"Its alright I mean you no harm," the man said raising his arms. "I am a half blood myself; the name is Eurytion and I am the cowherd for this here ranch. You came through the Labyrinth like the other one I imagine?"

"The other one, you mean Nico?" Percy asked

They noticed Eurytion look around as if he were being watched. "I'm only going to say this once you all best better get going back to where you came before its too late," he said in a whisper.

"We are not leaving, not until we see this other demigod please," Annabeth insisted.

Eurytion sighed, "Fine then let me take you all to my boss and welcome to Triple G Ranch."

They didn't feel like hostages or anything as Eurytion walked alongside them as they were led to what appeared to be a farmhouse. "Say hello to Mr. Geryon," he said as he pointed to another man who looked like another farmer but with three extra body parts.

They all greeted Mr. Geryon and suddenly a familiar figure came out. "Geryon I want your answer soon," said Nico di Angelo.

They all stared at him, he had grown taller and was lankier than before. Nico's eyes widened in anger and terror at the sight of them and drew his sword.

"Hey calm down now there will be no fighting here," Mr. Geryon said.

"They let my sister die," Nico said his voice trembling with rage as he glared and pointed his sword at Percy. "They are here to hurt me too," he spat as he glared at them, specifically him and Percy.

"Nico we are not here to hurt you what happened to Bianca was," but Percy was cut off by Nico.

"Do not dare speak her name you are not worthy of her either of you," he said as he glared at him too.

"Hey Percy did the best he could it isn't his fault," he said almost wanting to say it was his sister's fault she died but he thought it would be a really stupid thing to say given the current situation.

"Shut up you both are responsible for her death," Nico said angrily. Nico glared at him, his eyes were full of anger and hatred and he felt that a lot of it was directed at him and Percy.

What the hell did I do? He thought as he felt the gaze of Nico on him, it was full of the same hate he had for Percy but he swore he saw something specifically aimed at him, resentment. I didn't even know his sister well. In a way he felt that Nico might be angrier at him than Percy, it was just a feeling but he couldn't shake it off of him. Nico seemed to glare at him as if he had taken something from him.

"Come on now put your sword away Mr. di Angelo or I will have Eurytion take it away," the three-bodied man said. Nico glared at them both again before reluctantly sheathing his sword. "There now how about I give you folks a tour of the ranch."

They all looked at each other and nodded as they followed both of the men into the trolley. It was almost like going to the zoo. He sat next to Percy and noticed that his cousin was sitting across from him and for a second he thought she would sit next to Percy as well but she ended up sitting alone while Nico sat in the back glaring at all of them.

Oh gods this place reeks he thought as they passed by various animals such as flesh eating horses and other stuff. Good thing falafel is vegetarian he thought as he covered his nose at the smell of the various unwashed animals. He wasn't a vegetarian but this place was really making him consider being one. Geryon kept on talking about business and clients and he had a feeling that this guy was really shady.

When the tour was done he was more than happy to get off and Nico got straight down to business. "My ghost told me that you could help. He said you could guide us to the soul we need."

"Wait I thought I was the soul you wanted?" Percy asked.

Nico sneered at him as if he were a pest, "You? Why would I want you? Bianca's soul is worth a thousand do yours."

Geryon smiled, "I'm sure Minos likes to disappear when things get difficult. You see Luke Castellan is offering very good money for half bloods and he will definitely pay a lot for you all," he said.

Nico drew his sword by Eurytion knocked it out of his hand. Before Percy could help a large dog pounced on him and growled. He and Annabeth were about to help but noticed that they were surrounded. "Now how about we all play nicely or Mr. Jackson here will end up dead," Geryon said.

"You fiend," Annabeth spat.

"Now come on a deal is a deal and Luke is paying a lot of money," Geryon said with a wicked smile.

"Wait how about we make a deal," Percy said as the dog slowly got off of him.

"What kind of deal?" Geryon said curiously.

"I'll clean the stables of those horses and in return you let us go including Nico," Percy said.

"You could do that," Eurytion said. "They're filthy after all."

Geryon looked as if he were debating something and then laughed, "Alright but you have until sundown and just to let you know your friends will stay with me."

Percy looked at both of them and they both nodded, he can do this he thought as Percy got off and headed towards the stables while they followed Geryon back to his house with Eurytion behind them to make sure that they don't escape.

However, as soon as they entered the house he felt something hit his head and he slowly lost consciousness as he fell to the floor. He was going to call out to Annabeth but he saw her, Grover, and even Nico fall to the ground passed out.

Frey sat on his throne in Alfheim as his messenger Skirnir appeared before him and bowed. "Well how did it go?" He asked.

"I told the Queen of Olympus that we will accept the offer," Skirnir said.

He nodded, "Good hopefully all goes well." The Queen of Olympus had her interests and so did he, and this would be an interesting partnership for sure.

"My lord is this really wise?" Skirnir asked carefully.

Frey sighed as he sat in his chair. "If Lord Odin would object to it he would've stopped it already. Besides this is a chance to get in touch with my son, it's in everyone's best interest." Besides, Queen Hera liked to have friendly ties with other deities outside of Olympus to preserve her own interest at home and abroad.

Skirnir nodded, "I understand sir."

"If anything bad happens I'll deal with it but for now we need to prepare for my son," he said as he got up. "Lead a party and scout around Mt. St. Helen, I'll be watching the mountain from here." If what Queen Hera said was true things may happen there and that will be my chance to meet or save him.

"Understood sir," Skirnir said with a bow. He nodded as Skirnir left his presence. Well Natalie I will soon be meeting our son again. He felt a mixture of joy and apprehension, he knew that a lot of things could go wrong but he didn't care he would see and help his son no matter what.