AN: Hey guys, I hope you guys are well. Again, I want to apologize for the lengthy "hiatus" I took from writing. Honestly, I have no motivation. I'm a senior, and I'm already in college, and I just want to watch Youtube and Netflix and read fanfictions instead of writing them. However, I will try to upload a little bit more, as I do have tests I have to study for quite often. Honestly, at this point, I'm just lying to myself and you guys about writing, so hopefully I won't take too long to post the next chapter, I'm sorry in advance. Also, this chapter is probably where it starts to deviate from canon. Nico won't be in the Labyrinth, but some things will be similar. Also, I know there are some plot holes with weapons and armor and stuff, just know that Achilles' blade is broken, and Perseus still uses his armor. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the last chapter, and enjoy this one!
Recap:
Zoë raised an eyebrow. "Me of course," Perseus said, puffing out his chest. "Well, I probably should get paid for it," he muttered, causing Zoë to laugh and hit him playfully, causing Perseus to chuckle. "Anyways, archery competition?" Perseus asked.
Zoë looked at Perseus in disbelief. "You really think you can beat me?" she questioned.
Perseus looked at Zoë with a smirk. "I know how good you our, Miss Huntress," he joked. "But I am pretty old as well, and who knows? Maybe you'll get distracted by my handsomeness and misfire."
Zoë looked at Perseus incredulously, but started laughing after seeing the mirth in Perseus' eyes. "You're on pretty boy," Zoë said, getting her bow and getting into a stance.
"10 arrows?" Perseus asked.
"10 arrows," Zoë confirmed. "Ready, set, go!"
Present:
Perseus was still grumbling after his archery competition with Zoë. Yes, Zoë had many years of experience, probably more than him, shooting arrows, but she didn't have Artemis' blessing. Still grumbling as he got out of bed, he headed to the Hephaestus cabin to get a new xiphos. As he approached the cabin, he saw a muscular African-American demigod who looked around 18. Silena's boyfriend, he thought, as we walked up to him.
"Hello Beckendorf," Perseus said casually, causing Beckendorf to turn around and look at Perseus.
"Hello Perseus," Beckendorf said with a small smile. "Is there anything you need?"
"Yes, I need a new xiphos," Perseus said. "Could you model it off of Achilles' sword? I'm quite familiar with it, and can describe it for you."
Beckendorf's eyes bugged out. "Umm..yeah, just give me a second to get something to write with," he said quickly heading into his cabin.
After a few moments, Beckendorf came back and Perseus described his brother's sword to him, but instead of gold, asked for Celestial Bronze. "Easier to kill monsters, and I have other weapons for other needs," he said mysteriously, his hidden blades that could kill mortals and monsters coming to mind. Beckendorf looked at him strangely before nodding.
"It'll be ready by the end of the day," the son of Hephaestus said, causing Perseus to nod.
"Thanks, Beckendorf," Perseus said sincerely, before heading towards the dining hall. When he walked in, he heard more chatter than usual. When he heard the topic, he whistled lowly. Damn, the Apollo cabin staved off an Aethiopian drakon, well done demigods.
"This is a great reason for War Games tonight," Daedalus said, bringing Perseus out of his thoughts. Perseus growled, before raising his glass alongside the rest of the campers.
"To the gods," Chiron said, his voice ringing throughout the mess hall.
"To the gods," the campers replied, voices meshing together.
"To the gods," Perseus said, softly under his breath, heading towards his brother at the Poseidon table after giving Zoë a smile at the Artemis table. "Hello brother," Perseus said. "What's new?"
Maximus sighed. "With Grover's trial and everything with Luke..." he trailed off.
Perseus looked at Max and put a hand on the younger son of Poseidon's shoulder. "You'll get through this, especially with her help," Perseus said, gesturing to an approaching Annabeth.
"Hey Max, I know you're stressed, but I have a way to help Grover," she said nervously.
Perseus sighed. The Labyrinth.
Max looked at her with a hopeful expression, causing Annabeth to take a deep breath. "The Labyrinth," Annabeth said, exhaling.
Max looked at Annabeth with a confused expression. "I thought that was in Greece," Max said. "Under Crete where the Minotaur was."
Annabeth sighed. "Well, like Olympus, it moved under the US. It has been growing under the surface, and you can go anywhere in the country through it."
"Assuming you don't get lost first," Grover butted in, shivering at the thought.
"Grover," Annabeth said, looking at the nervous satyr. "There has to be a way, Clarisse was fine–"
"No, she wasn't," Grover stated. "And the other guy..."
"He didn't die," Annabeth said, before frowning. "Just insane."
"Brilliant," Grover said dejectedly.
Perseus sighed. "I'm assuming you are talking about Chris Rodriguez?" he asked.
Annabeth looked at the ancient ex-immortal. "How did you know about that? You haven't been here."
Perseus gave Annabeth a small smirk. "Chiron catches me up on these things. Besides, I heard she found Chris in Phoenix."
Annabeth sighed. "Yes, remember Clarisse's mission last year?"
Max nodded, giving Annabeth a curious look.
"She found Chris, and brought him back here so mortals wouldn't put him in a mental institution. Kept babbling about string and such," Annabeth said, causing Perseus to look at Annabeth sharply.
"Did you just say string?" Perseus asked seriously.
Annabeth looked at Perseus with a confused expression. "Yes?" she said uncertainly.
Perseus swore under his breath. "Max, I have to leave. Let me know if there's anything new to report," he said, before vapor travelling out of the mess hall, causing Max to look at Annabeth with an even more confused expression, before Annabeth filled him in about Ariadne's string, and how Luke is planning to find it.
LINE BREAK
Perseus reappeared in the arena, sitting down on an empty box while he waited. After a few moments, he flexed his wrists, revealing his hidden blades, observing them. Meeting Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was something he would never forget, and helping the Master Assassin improve the former's set of hidden blades was something he missed doing. After fiddling with the blades, he sat down on the sand cross-legged, summoning a ball of water. As he waited, he split the ball into three smaller orbs, and juggled them in the air.
After a little while, he felt someone approaching, and made the orbs of water disappear. He walked over to the side and picked up a sword. As he turned around, he saw Daedalus enter the arena. Perseus walked up to the old inventor and raised his sword to his throat. "Promise me."
Daedalus looked at Perseus with a confused expression. "What do you mean?" the inventor asked.
"Promise me, on the Styx, that you will not willingly give Ariadne's string to Luke or the Titan army," Perseus said, the sword drawing closer to Daedalus' throat.
"I...I swear," Daedalus choked out, and Perseus removed the sword and threw it off to the side, causing the inventor to breathe out a sigh of relief.
Perseus gave Daedalus a harsh look. "I know what you are, Quintus," Perseus snarled. "And I know what you've done. Don't cross me," he said, before vapor travelling out of the arena to meet up with Max.
When he reappeared in the mess hall, Maximus, Annabeth and Grover were still chatting.
"So, what do you think Luke's planning with the string?" Perseus asked, causing Grover to jump at the sudden question from the ex-immortal.
Annabeth sighed. "Knowing Luke, he'd want a route into camp, but from Clarisse's scouting, the closest entrance is in Manhattan," she stated.
Perseus shook his head. "That's only the closest one we know. There could be one underneath the Zeus cabin for all we know. We have to figure out what Luke's planning before it is too late," he said, turning and heading out of the mess hall, leaving a contemplating Annabeth and a chatting Maximus and Grover.
LINE BREAK
At nightfall, Perseus headed towards the arena where the campers were gathered. He noticed Zoë off to the side, and he gave her a smile, which she half-heartedly returned, causing Perseus to sigh. He knew she hated it here, but wasn't able to do much besides spend time with her, not that he was doing that anyways. He blew a raspberry with his lips. He really needed to sort out his friendship with Zoë.
"...Which have already been chosen!" Quintus said, causing everyone to groan. Seeing Mrs. O'Leary, Perseus smiled. He had started to like the hellhound, even though he had killed many of her brethren. Confused at the whole shebang, Perseus walked up to Maximus.
"What's going on?" he asked his younger half-sibling.
Max looked at Perseus and just gestured to Quintus, who continued. Your goal is simple: collect the gold laurels without dying. The wreath is wrapped in a silk package, tied to the back of one of the monsters. There are six sets monsters. Each has a silk package. Only one holds the laurels. You must find the wreath before the other teams. And, of course…you will have to slay the monster to get it, and stay alive."
The demigods started murmuring excitedly. "I will now announce your partners," Quintus said. "There will be no trading. No switching. No complaining." Perseus tuned most of it out, until he heard his name:: "...and Perseus," Quintus finished.
Perseus looked around confused, when Maximus nudged him and jutted his head towards Zoê.
Perseus nodded and walked up to Zoë. "Partners?" he asked, causing Zoë to snort.
"Men," she said with a smirk. "Such idiots."
Perseus smiled. "Yes, but I'm your idiot," he said, walking ahead of her, not noticing a blush crawling up Zoë's face.
Stop thinking about him that way, Zoë berated herself. He probably doesn't have the same feelings for you, it's been 2000 years.
Zoë matched Perseus' step as they walked towards the first set of monsters they saw, a group of dracaenae. Seeing the silk package, Perseus pulled out his daggers, and Zoë unshouldered her bow, pulling an arrow from her quiver. Looking at Zoë, he nodded, and he ran towards the group of monsters, feeling an arrow fly past his shoulder and hit the first dracaenae, causing it to disintegrate into golden dust.
Perseus quickly threw his dagger at one dracaenae, causing it to turn into dust. He quickly threw two more knives at two more monsters coming at him, causing those two to become dust. Suddenly, he flexed his wrist, and, faster than the human eye could see, Perseus turned around, his wrist flexed, and stabbed his hidden blade into the last remaining dracaenae, turning to Zoë as the monster dissolved.
Zoë looked at Perseus in slight shock, not at his prowess, but his speed. She knew he would be more skilled and faster in the two thousand plus years they had been apart, but she never noticed how fast he truly was.
Perseus gave Zoë a smirk. "Shall we check the package?" he asked, gesturing towards the silk sack. Zoë scowled before heading towards the package and pulling out a hunting knife. She took the knife and lodged it underneath the top of the box and wedged the top open. As she looked inside, she frowned, before shutting the box and heading back towards the clearing, causing Perseus to chuckle.
"I'm assuming you didn't find anything," Perseus said, his eyes full of mirth.
"Check yourself, skatá," Zoë shot back, not even looking at the ancient demigod, causing Perseus to chuckle.
Perseus smiled, following the former Hesperide back to the arena where Daedalus announced the partners.
As he reached the arena, he quickly scanned the arena. Scowling, he walked up to Daedalus. "Where's my brother?" he said lowly, snarling at the inventor.
Daedalus shrugged his shoulders. "Shouldn't you be looking for the laurels?" he asked.
Perseus scoffed. "I don't give two shits about the laurels," he said, heading towards the exit of the arena. "MAXIMUS!" Perseus called, strolling through camp. He knew Maximus wouldn't leave, so he was sure his brother would show up somewhere.
As he wandered, he saw another large figure. "MAX!" It yelled, over and over again. As Perseus walked towards the figure, he recognized Tyson shouting his brother's name.
"Tyson!" Perseus called, causing the cyclops to look at Perseus and rumble towards the demigod.
"Brother!" Tyson exclaimed, wrapping Perseus up in a bear hug.
"Tyson," Perseus wheezed. "Please let go, you're crushing my ribs." Tyson let go abruptly, causing Perseus to double over briefly.
"Have you seen brother?" Tyson asked, his lone eye widening.
Perseus shook his head. "No, but I see a group of campers headed towards Zeus' Fist," Perseus replied, heading to where a group of campers were grouped up, calling for Maximus and Annabeth.
"MAX! ANNABETH!" Tyson bellowed, his voice overmatching that of the rest of the campers. After a few minutes of yelling, Perseus craned his neck to see Max and Annabeth talking with Clarisse, who was wearing the laurels.
Perseus walked up to the two demigods, a worried expression on his face. "Where were you guys? You've been gone for an hour?" he exclaimed.
Max and Annabeth looked at the ancient demigod with confused expressions. "What do you mean? We were only gone a few minutes..." Max trailed off, causing Annabeth to smack the back of his head.
"No you dolt, it was only a few minutes for us, but an hour for everyone else," Annabeth said, causing Perseus to chuckle at their antics.
"A hole, you say," Clarisse said suspiciously, causing Annabeth to nod and Clarisse's eyes to widen. "You found it, didn't you?"
Annabeth stared at Chiron. "Chiron...I think we should talk about this in the Big House," Annabeth said shakily.
Perseus looked at all the campers. Besides Annabeth and Clarisse, they were all very confused. Perseus then turned to Maximus, who had a confused, yet knowing expression on his face. Locking eyes, Perseus raised an eyebrow. "Labyrinth?" Maximus mouthed to Perseus, to which the ancient demigod nodded subtly, causing Maximus' eyes to widen.
After all the campers besides Annabeth, Clarisse, Maximus, and Perseus headed back to their cabins, Clarisse faced the water. "So this is what Luke was looking for," she mused.
"It's an entrance, right?" Max asked.
Clarisse snorted. "What do you think it is, idiot," she started, before sighing. "It allows Luke direct access to camp. He just needs to be able to navigate it."
Perseus swore under his breath and mist travelled away. He knew this wasn't good. If Luke was able to bring the full force of the Titan army into camp, they'd be screwed. He headed towards the beach, contemplating his next actions, when he felt a familiar presence behind him. It was a little bit different, but he always remembered Zoë's presence.
"What's on your mind?" Zoë asked softly, before coming to a seat next to him.
"Just what's going to happen next," Perseus said, still looking out over the horizon. "My brother has a few tough years ahead of him."
Zoë sighed. "Yes, he does," she said. "But, he has you to guide him," she finished, a small blush creeping up on her face.
Perseus kept his eyes on the horizon. "He needs me, not only as a trainer, but as a brother, a friend, someone who he isn't afraid to talk to and spill his secrets because he can trust me," he said, his eyes steeling up.
Zoë put her hand on Perseus' shoulder daintily, causing Perseus to turn and face her. Zoë could see the steel and seriousness within his eyes, and for a moment, was afraid. She knew he would never hurt her, but this Perseus would do anything to protect his loved ones, and that is what scared her. "There's no one better for him than you," she said softly, barely reaching Perseus' ears over the soft whistling of the wind by the water.
Perseus' eyes widened, before a small smile grew on his face: not one of playfulness, but a genuine smile that contained more emotions within it that Zoë had never seen on Perseus before. As they looked into each others eyes, Zoë felt her own eyes widening, before Perseus closed his eyes and looked down at the sand, causing a lump to form in Zoë's throat, and a feeling of sadness to wash over her.
"I should go," he said, letting go of her hand that Zoë didn't even realize he had and standing up.
"Where are you going?" Zoë asked gently.
Perseus' expression went from happy to serious in an instant. "To secure the camp," he responded, before heading back in the direction of the Big House.
AN: Hey guys. I'm sure you probably hate me. Yes, I didn't upload this story for 6 months, but I have some reasons, some legitimate, and some not. Let's start with the ones that aren't legit. Firstly, I was bored of writing. I just wanted to read other fanfictions and chill. Secondly, well, I guess that's it, most stuff falls under that category. However, there are more real reasons. I had schoolwork, was juggling sports as well, and then I got a job towards the end of the year. I graduated high school, and then went straight into working 30 hours a week. Then I started going to the gym on top of that, and have some stuff to do for college, which I have to do in a month. So, I was a little bit busy. However, I finish my job in a few weeks, and so I'll be able to write a little bit more. With all that in mind, I want to apologize for the unexpected hiatus, and I'll do my best to pump out chapters as soon as I can.
Now, on to the story stuff. I've been thinking about Silena and Beckendorf. I like them, and I'm not sure I should kill them off. What do you guys think? Also, Perseus is powerful, but I'm not going to make him know about Silena's charm. What do you guys think? Should he know? And if he does know, I'll probably do it after BotL chronologically. Lastly, I'm not sure how far this story will go. I'll definitely finish the Titan War, but I don't know how far I'll get in the Giant War. Anyways, thanks so much for sticking with me, and please let me know what you guys think, any feedback helps!