Chapter 24- Leo Doesn't Joke About Grabber Arms

We were all standing on deck, trying to look for something that screamed "secret entrance" in the ruins below. Leo and I had managed to get the ship to be able to fly, but it wasn't fast or stable - we could probably get knocked out of the sky by a single angry ventus at this point.

"Oh that's beautiful!" I heard Leo call out. I ran to see what he had found.

"Looks like more rubble." I heard Percy announce.

I looked and saw what Leo was talking about. "There." I said, pointing to the door. It was about fifty yards away from us, but clearly a door. Rings were etched in the ground at even intervals - things that don't just appear in nature. It was huge - maybe fifty feet across. Plenty big enough for a door and a couple elephants if you wanted.

"Exactly! See, the architect knows her stuff." Leo said happily.

"What are we looking at?" Frank asked.

"Ah, Senor Zhang, you know how you're always saying, 'Leo, you're the only true genius among the demigods'?"

"I'm pretty sure I never said that." Frank said calmly.

"Well it turns out there are other true geniuses. One of them must've made that work of art down there." Leo announced.

"It's a stone circle. Probably the foundation of an old shrine." Frank said, confused.

Piper shook her head. "No, it's more than that. Look at the ridges and grooves carved in along the rim."

"It's like the teeth of a gear." Jason commented.

Or a combination lock, I thought.

"And the concentric rings." Hazel said, pointing them out. "That pattern reminds me of Pasiphiae's pendant. The symbol of the Labyrinth."

A chill ran down my spine. I couldn't believe that the Labyrinth had really been reopened. Daedalus had given his life to close it. All his work for nothing. I still had nightmares about that place. I didn't ever want anyone down there ever again.

"Huh?" Leo asked, breaking my thoughts. "Oh, I hadn't thought about that. But, think mechanical. Frank, Hazel, think concentric circles. Haven't we seen things like that before?"

Frank grunted. "In the laboratory under Rome."

"The Archimedes lock on the door." Hazel agreed. "It had rings within rings."

Percy snorted. "You're telling me that's a massive stone lock? It's, like, fifty feet in diameter."

"Leo might be right." I told them. "In ancient times, the temple of Asclepius was the general hospital of Greece. Everybody came here for the best healing. Above ground it was the size of a major city. But supposedly the real action happened below ground. That's where the high priests had their intensive care, super magical-type compound. Accessed by a secret passage."

"So that big round thing is the lock?" Percy asked, scratching his ear. "How do we get the key?"

"Way ahead of you, Aqua Man." Leo assured him.

"Ok, do not call me Aqua Man. That's even worse than Water Boy." Percy retorted.

Leo ignored him, turning to Jason and Piper. "You guys remember that great Archimedes grabber-arm I told you I was building?"

"I thought you were kidding." Jason said.

"No, my friend. I never kid about giant grabber arms. It's time to go fishing for prizes."

I wanted to say something about how that must be the only thing Leo won't kid about, but I was too confused and amazed as the giant grabber arm extended from the ship.

I went to join Leo at the consol where he was controlling the arm. "I was hoping I could make it long enough to reach into Tartarus and grab you and Percy." Leo explained quietly. "But you got out before I could make it that long."

I ruffled his hair. "Hey, at least you get to use a giant grabber arm today." More quietly, I added. "Thanks for trying, Leo."

He nodded, not looking at me. Jason was flying out ahead of the ship, trying to help guide the arm.

"Left! A couple inches!" I heard him yell back to us. "Yeah! Ok - keep it coming. You're good!"

"Ok, little buddy." Leo said, patting the Archimedes sphere in the helm of the ship. "This is all you!" Leo pressed some buttons and the sphere activated. I watched with the rest of the crew as the grabber arm spun the lock. Automatically, the arm released the first ring and moved to the second.

Piper, standing on Leo's other side, kissed him on the cheek. "It's working Leo. You're amazing!"

Leo grinned at her, but then I saw his shoulders stiffen. He was thinking about whatever his mystery plan was, I was sure of it. "Yeah, well, thanks beauty queen." Leo told her, trying to brush past it.

The door opened below us with a hiss, revealing a spiral staircase leading down into the dark.

Hazel took a deep breath next to me. "Leo, even from up here, I'm sensing bad stuff at the bottom of those stairs. Something large, and dangerous. You sure you don't want me to come along?"

"Thanks Hazel, but we'll be good. Me, Piper and Jason - we're old pros at this dangerous and large thing."

Frank handed Leo the Pylosian mint vial. "Don't break it." He warned.

"Don't break the vial of deadly poison. Man, I'm glad you said that. Never would've occurred to me."

"Shut up, Valdez." Then Frank pulled him into a hug. "And be careful."

"Ribs!" Leo squeaked. But I couldn't help but smile. These two were getting along so much better now. I was grateful for that.

"Sorry." Frank said, but he didn't look super sorry.

"Good luck, Leo." I raised an eyebrow at him, and he gave me a small shake of the head. He wasn't sharing his plan just yet. I had given Leo orders to see if he could also get more ambrosia and nectar, since we were running low on supplies at this point. I wasn't sure if they would be visiting the ancient Greek version of CVS or what would happen, but it'd be nice if he could.

Percy wished him luck as well, then turned to go find a bathroom. I stayed on deck, keeping an eye out for enemy monsters. Jason took Piper and Leo via the winds to the door. After a few minutes, Hazel came over to me.

"Um, Annabeth? I know it didn't go well last time, but I was hoping…."

I turned to her and nodded, slowly. "Yeah. Ok. We can give it another go."

She smiled at me gratefully. We left Frank on guard duty and walked a few feet away. I didn't want us too far from Frank in case he needed us.

"Ok." Hazel took a deep breath. "So, last time, I just let the Mist out. Let it decide what to do. I'm…. I'm not going to do that this time. I have a specific vision I'm going to create. I want to see if that works."

I nodded. "A good vision?" I asked, cautiously.

She blushed. "I think so."

I nodded. Hazel breathed in, then, as she breathed out, the Mist covered me. Slowly, my vision cleared. I was…. In New Rome. It was sunset. I could hear crickets chirping, birds peeping goodnight as they slowly went to their nests to sleep. I looked around. I was…. Near the coffee shop that Reyna had gotten us hot chocolate at. Every detail was astounding. I could see the worn edges on the bricks beside me, the cobblestone streets looked like they had been freshly weeded. There was a chill in the air. I could smell hot chocolate and something else that smelled good, herbs and spices, probably pastries from the coffee shop. Instantly I felt more relaxed. I looked down and realized I was wearing a sweater - one I hadn't seen before. It was a dark grey with tiny flecks of sparkles in it. It was winter. But that didn't make sense - it was July, almost August. Before I could focus too much on that, I heard a whoop behind me.

I turned and saw Percy running towards me, grinning. He was wearing a dark blue sweater and a matching hat, which blew off as he ran. "Hey! I totally passed all my finals!"

I grinned at him and held out my arms. "I knew you could!"

He swept me up and spun me around. When he set me down he grinned at me. "Thank you. For coming here for college. For helping me. For -"

I kissed him. It was the end of our first semester at New Rome's university. That was it. Percy and I were done with finals. We'd have some time off, time to just enjoy life.

I picked up the hat he'd lost and tugged it firmly onto his head. He gave me his most dorky grin and I slipped my hand into his as my heart fluttered. "Let's go look at some Christmas lights."

We started walking towards a residential street, hand in hand. I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed in his salt water smell.

The Mist dissipated. I turned to find Hazel, drenched in sweat, but looking triumphant.

"You saw it, didn't you?" She asked me, excited.

I grinned at her. "Percy and I - attending New Rome university."

"You saw it. I did that." She flashed a triumphant grin and took a wobbly step towards me.

I grinned and stepped forward, pulling my friend into a hug. "Yeah. You did. That was amazing, Hazel."

She pulled away, looking suspicious. "That one didn't hurt, did it?"

I shook my head. "No. I liked it. Percy has mentioned it maybe coming true…."

Hazel bit her lip like she was hoping the same thing. "I didn't think you'd want to, since you haven't seen the city. I don't want to force you, but I'd love to spend more time with you. And I wanted you to see the possibility."

I nodded and, since Hazel was still pretty wobbly, helped her sit down on the deck. "I've definitely been thinking about it. But Hazel, I'm not sure it's a real possibility. We kinda…. Burned that bridge. When Leo fired on the forum. Not sure we'll actually be allowed back in. But I've definitely been thinking about it."

Hazel nodded. "If we can stop the war -"

"And destroy Gaea -"

"And the Giants -" Hazel added.

"And Percy can actually graduate -"

"And a million other impossible things -"

"Then, yeah." I agreed. "I'd definitely consider it. But no matter what, we'll be friends. If you learn how to shadow trave alone, you can come visit me in New York. And I can take Percy's dog to California."

She grinned at that. She had met Mrs. O'Leary.

"Sounds like a plan."