Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, in which they get back into the Labyrinth and find themselves in trouble pretty quickly- as always please do read and review- and just so you know I've officially started writing TLO's plotline, I've finished the not so mini-fic that takes place between the two.

It was decided that the quest would continue the next day- after all it was starting to get late, and it was agreed that both Percy and Leo deserved at least one night in camp.
And Percy had to admit it was nice- Atlantis had been safe and beautiful but it wasn't home in the way Camp and her own home were, it felt good sleeping in the safety of her room with Annabeth and Rachel both there.

That had been somewhat unexpected- but whatever tension there had been before seemed to be gone now and Percy was glad that her girlfriend and her friend were friends now, still Percy was glad. Though she didn't understand how Rachel had dreamed of the whole volcano thing.

It made things simpler anyway- they didn't have to go into the city to find Rachel and convince her to come on the quest.

When the next day came the questers gathered by the entrance to the Labyrinth early, shortly after the sun rose- they'd all had a quick breakfast of granola bars before heading off to the clearing that held Zeus' fist, and Percy was almost surprised by how ready she was to get back to the quest- knowing that Rachel would be able to get them through easier was comforting- and she had to admit it was kind of nice seeing Rachel looking so excited to actually be able to help- she'd even changed into a Camp Half-blood T-shirt.

Percy was glad to be back in camp clothes too, they felt comforting, and she had Riptide tucked into her jeans pocket and her dagger was strapped to her calf beneath her jeans- and in her other pocket- in the leather jacket was a whistle made out of Stygian ice. Percy was slightly concerned about that- but- well, somehow she knew leaving it behind wouldn't do any good. Drew hadn't given it to her, so it had returned by magic of some kind.

Percy frowned to herself but she decided against dwelling on it- she still wasn't sure what to think about Daedalus- it just didn't make sense to her- if he was a traitor why had he given her the whistle and the advice- the whistle could be a trap but.. the advice- no. No that wasn't a trick she was certain of it after her dream- Rachel was supposed to lead them on this part of the quest, they needed her.

And she didn't understand leaving Mrs O'Leary- Percy had gone to the arena on her own when she'd woken up- while Annabeth and Rachel were still asleep to say goodbye to the hellhound- who had given her a very mournful look and whine when she'd walked away from him.

In any case, the clearing wasn't too busy- but Chiron, Luke, Thalia and Zoe were all there to see the questers off- bidding them goodbye and- in Sally's case smothering Percy and Leo with kisses before she let them go.

Annabeth was the first to step into the little entrance- Rachel right behind her with Percy and Leo bringing up the rear- and just as they had before they quickly turned on their flashlights.

Percy's breath caught when she did and Annabeth had to lay a hand on Percy's shoulder to steady her- the room had changed, this time they found themselves in a large brick tunnel- and on the wall was a skeleton.

It wasn't human. It was huge, for one thing—at least ten feet tall. It had been strung up, chained by its wrists and ankles so it made a kind of giant X over the tunnel. But what really sent shivers down Percy's spine was the single black eye socket in the centre of its skull.

"A Cyclops," Annabeth said. "It's very old. It's not- it's not Tyson Percy-" And Percy swallowed hard, taking a deep breath.

"I know Wise girl- I... I haven't felt anything from Grover- so we know he's alive. I'm sure I'd have felt something if anything had happened to the others." Percy didn't like dwelling on the fact that her brothers and her friends had been stuck down here for two weeks- and who knew how long that would be in the Labyrinth.

Still, even knowing it wasn't Tyson Percy found herself feeling uneasy- whatever had put the skeleton there had to be dangerous.

"Right." Rachel's voice was slightly shaky, "I remember you telling me about Tyson. Don't think I really clicked that he was an actual Cyclops until right now."

"Are you okay?" Percy shot the other girl a worried look. "I know you're still not used to this."

"I'll be fine." Rachel let out a slow shaky breath.

"You'll get used to it." Leo's voice was almost sympathetic, "It was totally crazy to me at first too."

"Let's go." Rachel visibly pulled herself together and she moved forward, stepping under the skeleton's left arm and forging forward.

"Right." Percy glanced at Annabeth, who gave a small shrug, and the three Demigods followed the mortal as she led them deeper into the maze.

It didn't take them long to come to a crossroads- ahead the brick tunnel continued, to the right the walls were made of ancient marble slabs. To the left the tunnel was dirt and tree roots.

"That one looks like the tunnel the others took." Percy pointed out, a frown on her lips.

Annabeth frowned. "Yeah, but the architecture to the right—those old stones—that's more likely to lead to an ancient part of the maze, toward Daedalus's workshop."

"We need to go straight," Rachel, her voice confident.

"That's the least likely choice." Annabeth's voice was tight. "What if you're wrong-"

"You don't see it?" Rachel frowned, "Look at the floor-"

"You mean the lovely bricks and mud?" Percy raised an eyebrow, "What's so special about the floor?"

"There's a brightness there. Very faint- bur forward is right- in the left tunnel those tree roots are moving like feelers. I don't like that. To the right there's a trap about twenty feet down. Holes in the walls, maybe for spikes. I don't think we should risk it."

Percy turned her head, peering down both tunnels.

"Can you really see all that?" Leo's voice was curious.

"I can."

"Well-" Annabeth sounded uncertain- and Percy could understand why, it must kill her to let someone else take over and lead the way on her quest.

"Annabeth-" Rachel glanced back, "I know what I see- you have to trust me. I thought we were friends now?"

"I-" Annabeth let out a breath "Right. Fine, I'm sorry. I just-"

"Don't-" Rachel held up a hand, "It's fine."

Then Rachel took off down the tunnel, and Percy, Annabeth and Leo followed after her.

Together they walked down the brick corridor. It twisted and turned but there were no more side tunnels- they seemed to be angling down, heading deeper underground.

"No traps?" Percy's voice was tight.

"Nothing?" Rachel's brows furrowed, "Should it be this easy? I mean from what Percy said your quests are usually pretty crazy-"

"To be fair we've not been down here that long." Leo pointed out, "I'm sure there'll be some scary monsters jumping out in a minute-"

"Gods that's weird." Rachel snorted.

"What's weird?"

"You not using that as an excuse to try and flirt."

"Oh I can think of lots of lines but my heart is taken!" Leo declared dramatically, "And I shall never flirt with another girl again- but, if for the sake of argument I was going to I would have said that if any big scary monsters attack I'll protect you my beautiful fire haired-"

"And that's enough." Annabeth slapped a hand over Leo's mouth, laughter echoing in the tunnel- and Rachel laughed so hard that Percy had to grab her arm to stop her from falling over.

"Oh gods that is the worst attempt at a pickup line that I have ever heard."

"It really was." Annabeth admitted, her lips twitching, "I am so glad that I'm excluded from the terribly flirting." she moved her hand and Leo poked his tongue out at her, which just made Percy and Rachel burst out laughing again- and that was why they missed the creaking noise of metal hinges- but they didn't miss the sound of heavy footsteps and the laughter ceased instantly- they were coming from the corridor in front of them- and Percy didn't even hesitate, wheeling around, "Run!" and they were sprinting back in the direction they'd come- but they didn't make it very far at all before their escape rout was cut off.

There were two Dracaenae, and Percy felt a rush of horror- Kelli.

"Well well-" Kelli was smirking nastily and before Percy and Annabeth even had the chance to draw their weapons she was grabbing Rachel, ripping her away from Percy, her hand turning into a claw as she spun the mortal around, holding her tight with her talons at her neck. "Alabaster will be most pleased to see you again Persephone- he was very upset when he received news about your little escape-" and Percy felt her stomach sinking. "And how lucky for us that you're taking your little mortal pet for a walk- they're such fragile things, so easy to break. If you try and run away again I'll tear her throat out."

Percy felt like she was going to throw up, and Annabeth was by her side, pressing in close as she grabbed her hand and squeezed comfortingly and Leo glowered at the demon cheerleader.

Behind them the footsteps were coming closer, and a huge form appeared out of the gloom. An eight foot tall Laistrygonian with red eyes and fangs.

He licked his lips when he saw them. "Can I eat them?"

"No." Kelli looked far too smug, "Not yet at least, your mast will want them. They will provide a great deal of entertainment." she smirked, "Now march, half-bloods, or you all die here starting with the mortal girl."

And Percy was trying hard not to panic as they were marched along the tunnel, flanked by the Dracaenae, with Kelli and the giant in the back, still holding Rachel, who was looking very pale and frightened.

They'd been disarmed, Annabeth's dagger had been taken, and so had Percy's sword- though they didn't know about the dagger strapped to her thigh.

There was nowhere for them to run- other than forward and what was the point in that, it was clearly where the monsters wanted them to go.

Percy clung to Annabeth's hand as they walked, with Leo pressing himself close into her side, glaring at the monsters if they dared to look at her.

Up ahead Percy spotted bronze doors, they were about ten feet tall, emblazoned with a pair of crossed swords. From behind them came from a muffled roar, like from a crowd.

"Oh, yessssss," said the snake woman on Percy's left. "You'll be very popular with our hossssst."

"Who's your host?" Percy's voice was stiff.

"Oh, you'll sssseeee. You'll get along furiously. He'ssss your brother, after all."

"My-" Percy's eyes widened, "My brother?" her voice was incredulous. "What brother-" her mind was racing. The only brother she knew of that was in the Labyrinth was Tyson
and there was no way it was him.

"Oh gods." Annabeth groaned, "I don't know which one of your brothers it is." she whispered, "Your dad has so many kids that are monsters-"

"Which one of them?" the other Dracaena hissed.

"Not the daughter of Poseidon- Alabaster will want her, he won't want her in the arena." Kelli rolled her eyes, "Though I'd happily watch her fight to the death." and Percy felt a rush of terror as her mind raced and she wrapped an arm around Leo tightly, squeezing Annabeth's hand.

If they sent Annabeth in- Annabeth had no weapons on her unlike Percy- and Leo- Leo was brave and smart but he wasn't a fighter... and.. and what if Kelli decided to order her to be taken straight to Alabaster?

Percy met Annabeth's gaze, a moment of silent discussion before Annabeth gave a small nod and Percy shot Rachel a pained look, "We'll get you out of this-" and then she was releasing Annabeth and Leo and she barged her way through the giant bronze doors before the monsters could react.