Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or any of the characters. Except Kristina.

Thinking

"Speaking"

CHAPTER 4

Previously,

He stares at it. "It's H-Hades."

I nod again.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I want to say everything was alright after that. I want to say Nico and I managed to cope.

Unfortunately, I would be lying if I said any of that. I wasn't alright. I threw myself into anything that would keep my mind off Bianca. I learnt how to wield her scimitars till it was second nature. I also learnt how to use my twin daggers, the ones Beckendorf made for me.

I kept up my usual sword practice, and archery, while also learning the basics of medicine. Anything to keep my mind off her.

Moving on, Nico... Nico's fatal flaw is holding grudges, and he has one against Annabeth. He left Camp Half-Blood in the dead of night a few months ago, leaving only a note on his bed that read:

"Kristy,

I'm sorry for leaving, but I can't stay at a Camp that doesn't care for us. They let our sister die, and they don't even have a cabin for our father. I won't fit in there, even if you have.

I'm sorry again, but I have to do this. Don't try to find me.

Love,

Nico."

I was so mad at him, I... accidentally summoned three skeleton warriors during dinner. It was a pure accident. I swear.

I would just have to wait for the 'Battle of the Labyrinth' to find my foolish little brother.

Anyway, I forgave Annabeth, who thought I was speaking to her when I said 'You promised," when I was really talking to myself.

I've started learning Ancient Greek with her for a few days before she decided to go live with her father and step- mother, but said she would still visit from time to time.

Also, Hades sent me a personal trainer/butler!

When I was practicing my shadow travel and stuff, a zombie dressed in a butler's outfit popped up.

I yelped and jumped back.

And then, it spoke. "Please, Ms. di Angelo, do not be afraid."

"Who are you, and... why do you have an Italian accent?!"

"I am Alessandro, your chauffer, butler or whatever you wish." He bowed deeply.

"Did... I summon you?" I asked, still on edge.

"No, but your father, my lord, Hades has sent me." He pulls out a black... something and hands it to me. "He wants you to have this."

I took it and examined it. A credit card, I think.

Black, with a skull on it and my full name engraved on the bottom right in cursive.

"I... see." I really didn't. "How much is on here?"

"How much ever you wish. Lord Hades is the God of Riches."

I grinned. "Nice. So, can you train me?"

"If that is what you wish, Ms. Di Angelo."

So, since then, Alessandro has been training me. And trust me when I say this; he's good.

He's been helping me with my powers, sword fighting, archery, and my daggers.

And I'm already seeing results. Amazing ones.

I guess since I could be the prophecy child, Hades is helping me in his own way.

Travis and I have grown closer, and I help him prank people at times.

I help him as long as he doesn't prank me. That's the deal we have.

Being the daughter of Hades, not many people like me. Aside from Annabeth, Travis, Connor, Clarisse from time to time, Malcolm (Annabeth's half-brother), Beckendorf, Silena Beauregard, Mr. D's sons, Pollux and Castor (they decided I wasn't that bad if their dad liked me), Grover, and Percy, no one else talks to me.

Okay, that's a lot of people.

But I would much rather have people not talk to me than try to suck up to me, then bitch about me behind my back like some of the Aphrodite campers tried.

Annabeth has been visiting and the last time she came, she told me she had to meet up with Percy – to which I grinned, because she told me she had a crush on him – and go catch a movie.

Annabeth, Clarisse and I have been helping Grover and Juniper against the Council of Cloven... something. Council of Cloven Elders, was it?

Juniper, by the way, is Grover's girlfriend. She's a dryad – a tree nymph.

I've also been helping Annabeth and Clarisse with their 'super-secret' project.

As I said, anything to distract me.

The new 'sword instructor' arrived, Quintus, along with his pet hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary.

I can sense Daedalus' soul through the automaton, but I haven't said anything about it yet. I've still been keeping an eye on him, though.

Mrs. O'Leary – obviously – likes me because of the whole Underworld-y thing, and likes to play Get the Greek, which is Fetch! with a shield.

Dionysus had to go do... God stuff, so many of the campers were practically celebrating, aside from his sons, Pollux and Castor.

Anyway, back to the present.

It was the first week of June, when Grover's hearing was scheduled, and Annabeth and Percy were supposed to arrive.

Clarisse and I headed to the Council thingy along with Grover, who was nervously chewing on a can of Diet Coke.

We walked into the woods, where a bunch of satyrs were sitting in a circle in the grass.

Grover went and stood in the middle, facing three really old, really fat satyrs who sat on topiary thrones shaped out of rose bushes.

I'd never seen the three old satyrs before, but I guessed they must be part of the Council of Something or the Other.

Grover started telling them the story, while Clarisse and I stood on either side of Juniper, who had a handkerchief with her.

"It'll be fine, Juniper." I murmured, trying to calm her down once the three fat satyrs showed disbelief to Grover's story.

Annabeth arrived soon enough and I muttered, "I want yours's and Percy's date details later."

She looked kinda pissed at that.

I turned back to the council, where Grover had finished speaking.

"Master Underwood!" the council member on the right shouted, cutting off whatever Grover was trying to say. "Do you seriously expect us to believe this?"

"B-but Silenus," Grover stammered. "It's the truth!"

The Council guy, Silenus, turned to his colleagues and muttered something.

Chiron cantered up to the front and stood next to them. He was an honorary member of the council, actually.

The elders didn't look very impressive.

They reminded me of the goats in a petting zoo—huge bellies, sleepy expressions, and glazed eyes that couldn't see past the next handful of goat chow.

Silenus tugged his yellow polo shirt over his belly and adjusted himself on his rosebush throne. "Master Underwood, for six months—six months— we have been hearing these scandalous claims that you heard the wild god Pan speak."

"But I did!"

"Impudence!" Exclaimed the elder on the left.

"Now, Maron," Chiron said. "Patience."

"Patience, indeed!" The one named Maron echoed. "I've had it up to my horns with this nonsense. As if the wild god would speak to…to him."

Juniper looked like she wanted to charge the old satyr and beat him up, but Clarisse and I held her back.

"Wrong fight, girlie," Clarisse muttered. "Wait."

"For six months," Silenus continued, "We have indulged you, Master Underwood. We let you travel. We allowed you to keep your searcher's license. We waited for you to bring proof of your preposterous claim. And what have you found in six months of travel?"

"I just need more time," Grover pleaded.

"Nothing!" the elder in the middle piped up. "You have found nothing."

"But, Leneus—"

Silenus raised his hand.

Chiron leaned in and said something to the satyrs. The satyrs didn't look happy. They muttered and argued among themselves, but Chiron said something else, and Silenus sighed. He nodded reluctantly.

"Master Underwood," Silenus announced, "we will give you one more chance."

Grover brightened. "Thank you!"

"One more week."

"What? But sir! That's impossible!"

"One more week, Master Underwood. And then, if you cannot prove your claims, it will be time for you to pursue another career. Something to suit your dramatic talents. Puppet theater, perhaps. Or tap dancing."

"But sir, I—I can't lose my searcher's license. My whole life—"

"This meeting of the council is adjourned," Silenus announced. "And now let us enjoy our noonday meal!"

The old satyr clapped his hands, and a bunch of nymphs melted out of the trees with platters of vegetables, fruits, tin cans, and other goat delicacies.

The circle of satyrs broke and charged the food.

Grover walked dejectedly toward us. His faded blue T-shirt had a picture of a satyr on it. It read GOT HOOVES?

"Hi, Percy," he greeted, depressed. "That went well, huh?"

"Those old goats!" Juniper said. "Oh, Grover, they don't know how hard you've tried!"

"There is another option," Clarisse offered darkly.

"No. No." Juniper shook her head. "Grover, I won't let you."

His face was ashen. "I—I'll have to think about it. But we don't even know where to look."

"Don't worry about it." I chimed in. "We'll figure something out, right?" I smiled to keep everyone's spirits up.

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked Annabeth and me.

"We'll fill you in later." Annabeth said, just a little coldness in her tone.

I arched an eyebrow.

She twirled her index fingers in a 'later' gesture. I nodded.

Percy stared at the two of us in confusion.

"You wouldn't get it, punk." Clarisse smirked slightly.

He scowled.

The conch horn sounded in the distance.

"C'mon. Annabeth started jogging. "Cabin inspection's starting."

Helping the Stoll brothers do last minute clean ups, I laughed when they simply shoved everything under the bed.

"If Silena finds that and we get kitchen duty, you guys are doing my share." I threaten Travis and Connor.

They sighed and got everything out.

Grinning, I helped them quickly place everything in the right places.

The three of us are the only all year-round campers from the Hermes cabin.

The cabin door opened and Silena entered. "Hi there." She smiled at us.

I smiled back. Silena eyed the Stoll brothers and crouched to look under the bed.

I turned smugly to the boys and mouthed, 'I told you so.'

They both stuck their tongues out childishly.

"No mess under the bed?" She stood up, looking impressed. "Lemme guess; Kristy forced you?"

"Obviously." I grinned, while the boys pouted.

She laughed and walked out with a 'see ya'.

I headed for the door and said over my shoulder, "I'll be at the arena if you need me."

I closed the door behind me. I instinctively rubbed at Bianca's bracelet.

I wore my own on my left hand and hers on my right. I was ambidextrous.

I walked to the arena, where Percy, Tyson (Percy's Cyclops brother) and Quintus were standing.

Tyson was playing with Mrs. O'Leary, while Quintus and Percy were sparring.

As soon as Mrs. O'Leary saw me, she bounded over, jumping on me and smothering me with licks.

"Whoa, girl." I laughed. "Calm down."

I managed to stand up – with difficulty – after a few moments and pet her.

"The god of dead people." I heard Tyson say. I walked over to them.

"That would be my dad. What's up?" I smiled.

You are also child of god of dead people?" Tyson blinked.

"Yeah," I held my hand out. "Kristina di Angelo."

"I am Tyson!" He enthusiastically shook my hand, almost crushing it. "You are pretty."

"Thank you. You're a cyclops, huh?"

"Yes!"

"Cool." I grinned. I turned to Percy, "Spar?"

He grinned, "Bring it on."

"Careful now, don't kill each other." Quintus commanded.

I glanced at him, "Oh, I'm sure he'll be fine."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nightmares are a common thing among demigods. Even I've had nightmares before, but none as bad as last night.

I dreamt of Nico. It's exactly what Percy had in canon. Nico talking to a ghost about bringing Bianca back, to trade a soul.

I wake with a start, cold sweat clinging to me. I clench my fists in my sheets, angry Nico would try to bring Bianca back to life despite her willingly giving her life.

I notice the clock and realize I still have a few hours before breakfast.

I get up, shower, and head back to the cabin.

I waited for the breakfast horn to blow, before heading over to the tables.

Managing to eat four pancakes before Annabeth waved me over, I place my fork down.

Annabeth meets me halfway and we walk over to Percy's table, where Chiron and Grover are already waiting.

"What's this about?" Percy asks.

Grover chews his eggs. "He wants you to convince me," he mumbles.

"I'll tell you what it's about," Annabeth speaks. "The Labyrinth."

"You're not supposed to be here," Percy states, looking at the two of us.

"We need to talk," Annabeth insists.

"But the rules…"

"Oh, screw the rules!" I exclaim. "Do you think Kronos cares about the rules? Do you think..." I glance at Annabeth, "Luke follows the rules? No!"

Percy sighs and says, "Alright, you win."

"I know." I say smugly.

Annabeth grins at me and I wink at her.

She continues, "Look, Grover is in trouble. There's only one way we can figure to help him. It's the Labyrinth. That's what Kristy, Clarisse and I have been investigating."

"You mean the maze where they kept the Minotaur, back in the old days?" Percy asks.

"Exactly," Annabeth nods.

"So…it's not under the king's palace in Crete anymore," He guesses. "The Labyrinth is under some building in America."

"Actually," I chime in. "It's right under us."

"What?" He blinks.

"It's right under us." I repeat. "I found the entrance a few days after I arrived."

"The Labyrinth is right under the surface of the mortal world, kind of like a second skin. 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." Annabeth informs.

"If you don't get lost," Grover mutters. "And die a horrible death."

"Grover, there has to be a way," Annabeth sighs. "Clarisse lived."

"Barely!" Grover protests. "And the other guy—"

"He was driven insane. He didn't die."

"Oh, joy." Grover's lower lip quivers. "That makes me feel much better."

"Whoa," Percy interrupts. "Back up. What's this about Clarisse and a crazy guy?"

Annabeth glances over toward the Ares table. Clarisse is watching us.

"Last year," Annabeth starts, lowering her voice, "Clarisse went on a mission for Chiron."

"I remember," Percy nods. "It was secret."

"Which was stupid, honestly." I roll my eyes. "I mean, daughter of Hades here." I point to myself. "Underground's my turf."

"It was secret," Annabeth ignores me, "because she found Chris Rodriguez."

"The guy from the Hermes cabin?" Percy asks.

"Yeah," Annabeth confirms. "Last summer he just appeared in Phoenix, Arizona, near Clarisse's mom's house."

"What do you mean he just appeared?"

"He was wandering around the desert, in a hundred and twenty degrees, in full Greek armor, babbling about string."

"String," Percy echoes.

"He'd been driven completely insane. Clarisse brought him back to her mom's house so the mortals wouldn't institutionalize him. She tried to nurse him back to health. Chiron came out and interviewed him, but it wasn't much good. The only thing they got out of him: Luke's men have been exploring the Labyrinth."

"Okay," Percy asks, "Why were they exploring the Labyrinth?"

"We weren't sure. That's why Clarisse went on a scouting expedition. Chiron kept things hushed up because he didn't want anyone panicking. He got me involved because…well, the Labyrinth has always been one of my favorite subjects. The architecture involved—" Her expression turns a little dreamy. "The builder, Daedalus, was a genius. But the point is, the Labyrinth has entrances everywhere. If Luke could figure out how to navigate it, he could move his army around with incredible speed."

"Except it's a maze, right?"

"Full of horrible traps," Grover agrees. "Dead ends. Illusions. Psychotic goat-killing monsters."

"But not if you had Ariadne's string," Annabeth says.

"Or a child of Hades," I chime in.

"True. But in the old days," Annabeth continues, "Ariadne's string guided Theseus out of the maze. It was a navigation instrument of some kind, invented by Daedalus. And Chris Rodriguez was mumbling about string."

"So, Luke is trying to find Ariadne's string," Percy deduces. "Why? What's he planning?"

Annabeth's expression turns grim. "We think he wants to invade camp through the entrance Kristy told us about."

"It's the only plan that makes sense." I nod. "And the Labyrinth can also solve Grover's problem."

He blinks. "You think Pan is underground?"

"It would explain why he's been impossible to find."

Grover shudders. "Satyrs hate going underground. No searcher would ever try going in that place. No flowers. No sunshine. No coffee shops!"

"But," Annabeth says, "the Labyrinth can lead you almost anywhere. It reads your thoughts. It was designed to fool you, trick you and kill you; but if you can make the Labyrinth work for you—"

"It could lead you to the wild god," Percy finishes.

"I can't do it." Grover hugs his stomach. "Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up my silverware."

"Grover, it may be your last chance," Annabeth said. "The council is serious. One week or you learn to tap dance!"

"Besides," I speak. "I'm Hades's daughter. I could guide you through it. You can trust me."

Quintus clears his throat, and I sigh. "We've pushed our luck enough, Ann."

Annabeth nods. Squeezing Percy's arm, she says, "We'll leave now. Convince him, won't you?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I walk over to Chiron. "Hey Chiron, could you do me a favor?"

"What might that be, Kristina?" He smiles.

"For tonight's event, I need you to forget about me."

"What?" He frowns. "Kristina-"

"Listen to me." I interrupt. "While everybody else is busy, I'll slip into the Labyrinth. I'll show you where the entrance is so that you can be on standby or keep someone else."

"It's not safe." He shakes his head.

"Chiron," I say slowly. "Would you prefer Percy, a son of Poseidon who knows nothing about the underground, or me, a daughter of Hades? Someone who thrives underground? Even if something happens to me, Percy will be safe. He can be the child of the prophecy."

He looks conflicted. One last push.

"I'm part of the Labyrinth... exploring... whatever. Who better to check it out than someone who already knows lots about it and can navigate properly?"

His shoulders slump in resignation, "Alright. I'll stay on standby, just in case."

I grin triumphantly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That night, I got ready to head into the Labyrinth, while everyone else got ready to take part in their golden laurel thingy.

"Gather around." Quintus ordered. "You will be in teams of two," He announced.

When everybody started talking and trying to grab their friends, he yelled: "Which have already been chosen!"

"AWWWWW!" everybody complained.

"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 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 crowd started murmuring excitedly. The task sounded pretty straightforward.

"I will now announce your partners," Quintus said. "There will be no trading. No switching. No complaining." "Aroooof!" Mrs. O'Leary buried her face in a plate of pizza.

Quintus produced a big scroll and started reading off names. Beckendorf would be with Silena Beauregard, which Beckendorf looked pretty happy about.

The Stoll brothers, Travis and Connor, would be together. No surprise.

Clarisse was with Lee Fletcher from the Apollo cabin—melee and ranged combat combined; they would be a tough combo to beat.

Quintus kept rattling off the names until he said, "Percy Jackson with Annabeth Chase."

"Nice." Percy grinned at Annabeth.

"Your armor is crooked," was her only comment, and she redid his straps.

I snickered.

"Grover Underwood," Quintus said, "with Tyson."

Grover just about jumped out of his goat fur. "What? B-but—"

"No, no," Tyson whimpered. "Must be a mistake. Goat boy—"

"No complaining!" Quintus ordered. "Get with your partner. You have two minutes to prepare!"

Tyson and Grover both looked at Percy pleadingly. He tried to give them an encouraging nod, and gestured that they should move together.

Tyson sneezed. Grover started chewing nervously on his wooden club.

"They'll be fine," Annabeth said. "Come on. Let's worry about how we're going to stay alive."

The two walked away.

I stayed hidden in the shadows. When Quintus gave everyone the word to get started, Chiron nodded at me. I nodded back and shadow traveled to the rock with the Greek delta.

I placed my palm on it and it opened, revealing a narrow opening. I exhaled and jumped in.

I landed on my feet and looked around. It was pitch black. I lifted the small torch I had brought.

A corridor. The walls were covered in moss. I placed a hand on the wall and started walking.

But before I could take three steps, I heard two heavy thumps.

I drew my sword, but in the light, I saw Percy and Annabeth.

"What are you doing here?" Annabeth and I spoke together.

"We were cornered by scorpions and fell." Annabeth explained. Then she gasped. "This is why you weren't paired with anyone!" She figured. "You planned to come here!"

"Yeah..." I muttered. "You both need to get out of here."

"You're coming with us!" Annabeth exclaimed.

"I need to explore this place!" I protested. Her jaw set in the stubborn way, and I knew I wasn't going to win.

I sighed and waved at them to go first. I pressed the Greek Delta; the mark of Daedalus and the ceiling above us opened again.

Slipping out, all the campers surrounded us.

"Where have you two been?" Clarisse demanded. "We've been looking forever."

"But we were gone only a few minutes," Percy said.

Chiron trotted up, followed by Tyson and Grover.

"Percy!" Tyson said. "You are okay?"

"We're fine," He said. "We fell in a hole."

The others looked at him skeptically, then at Annabeth.

"Honest!" He insisted. "There were three scorpions after us, so we ran and hid in the rocks. But we were only gone a minute."

"You've been missing for almost an hour," Chiron said. "The game is over."

"Yeah," Grover muttered. "We would've won, but a Cyclops sat on me."

"Was an accident!" Tyson protested, and then he sneezed.

"They fell into the Labyrinth." I decided to elaborate.

"Where's your partner?" Clarisse asked, eyeing me.

"I don't have one." I sighed. "I was supposed to explore the Labyrinth before you guys so that I could guide you correctly. Then these two fell in and forced me get out with them."

"You planned on exploring the Labyrinth on your own?" Clarisse demanded, storming over to me. "Of all the stupid, idiotic-"

"Clarisse." I interrupted, smiling at her. "I'm fine, don't worry."

She glared at me for a moment, then sighed. "Just be careful next time."

All the campers looked surprised.

Chiron spoke up. "Alright, we'll talk about this tomorrow after breakfast. Everyone get to your cabins and sleep."

Everyone groaned but did as he said.

That night, I had another nightmare:

I saw a boy in a Greek tunic and sandals crouching alone in a massive stone room. The ceiling was open to the night sky, but the walls were twenty feet high and polished marble, completely smooth.

Scattered around the room were wooden crates. Some were cracked and tipped over, as if they'd been flung in there.

Bronze tools spilled out of one—a compass, a saw, and a bunch of other things I didn't recognize. The boy huddled in the corner, shivering from cold, or maybe fear.

He was spattered in mud. His legs, arms, and face, were scraped up as if he'd been dragged here along with the boxes.

Then the double oak doors moaned open. Two guards in bronze armor marched in, holding an old man between them. They flung him to the floor in a battered heap.

"Father!" The boy ran to him.

The man's robes were in tatters. His hair was streaked with gray, and his beard was long and curly. His nose had been broken. His lips were bloody.

The boy took the old man's head in his arms. "What did they do to you?" then he yelled at the guards. "I'll kill you!"

"There will be no killing today," a voice said.

The guards moved aside.

Behind them stood a tall man in white robes. He wore a thin circlet of gold on his head. His beard was pointed like a spear blade.

His eyes glittered cruelly. "You helped the Athenian kill my Minotaur, Daedalus. You turned my own daughter against me."

"You did that yourself, Your Majesty," the old man croaked.

A guard planted a kick in the old man's ribs. He groaned in agony.

The young boy cried, "Stop!"

"You love your maze so much," the king said, "I have decided to let you stay here. This will be your workshop. Make me new wonders. Amuse me. Every maze needs a monster. You will be mine!"

"I don't fear you," the old man groaned.

The king smiled coldly. He locked his eyes on the boy. "But a man cares about his son, eh? Displease me, old man, and the next time my guards inflict a punishment, it will be on him!"

The king swept out of the room with his guards, and the doors slammed shut, leaving the boy and his father alone in the darkness.

"What shall we do?" the boy moaned. "Father, they will kill you!"

The old man swallowed with difficulty. He tried to smile, but it was a gruesome sight with his bloody mouth.

"Take heart, my son." He gazed up at the stars. "I—I will find a way."

A bar lowered across the doors with a fatal BOOM, and I woke in a cold sweat.

That was Daedalus.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next morning, after breakfast, Chiron called the meeting. We met in the sword arena, which I thought was pretty strange, to discuss the fate of the camp while Mrs. O'Leary chewed on a life-size squeaky pink rubber yak.

Chiron and Quintus stood at the front by the weapon racks. Clarisse, Annabeth and I sat next to each other and led the briefing.

Tyson and Grover sat as far away from each other as possible.

Also present around the table: Juniper the tree nymph, Silena Beauregard, Travis and Connor Stoll, Beckendorf, Lee Fletcher, even Argus, our hundred-eyed security chief.

Annabeth spoke, "Luke must have known about the Labyrinth entrance," she said. "He knew everything about camp."

Juniper cleared her throat. "That's what I was trying to tell you last night. The cave entrance has been there a long time. Luke used to use it."

Silena Beauregard frowned. "You knew about the Labyrinth entrance, and you didn't say anything?"

Juniper's face turned green. "I didn't know it was important. Just a cave. I don't like yucky old caves."

"She has good taste," Grover said.

"I wouldn't have paid any attention except…well, it was Luke." She blushed a little greener.

Grover huffed. "Forget what I said about good taste."

"Interesting," Quintus polished his sword as he spoke. "And you believe this young man, Luke, would dare use the Labyrinth as an invasion route?"

"Definitely," Clarisse confirmed. "If he could get an army of monsters inside Camp Half-Blood, just pop up in the middle of the woods without having to worry about our magical boundaries, we wouldn't stand a chance. He could wipe us out easy. He must've been planning this for months."

"He's been sending scouts into the maze," Annabeth said. "We know because…because we found one."

"Chris Rodriguez," Chiron said. He gave Quintus a meaningful look.

"Ah," Quintus replied. "The one in the…Yes, I understand."

"The one in the what?" Percy asked.

Clarisse glared at him. "The point is, Luke has been looking for a way to navigate the maze. He's searching for Daedalus's workshop."

"The guy who created the maze." I said, glancing at Quintus while I said that.

He stiffened. No one else noticed it.

"Yes," Annabeth said. "The greatest architect, the greatest inventor of all time. If the legends are true, his workshop is in the center of the Labyrinth. He's the only one who knew how to navigate the maze perfectly. If Luke managed to find the workshop and convince Daedalus to help him, Luke wouldn't have to fumble around searching for paths, or risk losing his army in the maze's traps. He could navigate anywhere he wanted—quickly and safely. First to Camp Half-Blood to wipe us out. Then…to Olympus."

The arena was silent except for Mrs. O'Leary's toy yak getting disemboweled: SQUEAK! SQUEAK!

Finally, Beckendorf put his huge hands on the table. "Back up a sec, Annabeth, you said 'convince Daedalus'? Isn't Daedalus dead?"

Quintus grunted. "I would hope so. He lived, what, three thousand years ago? And even if he were alive, don't the old stories say he fled from the Labyrinth?"

Chiron clopped restlessly on his hooves. "That's the problem, my dear Quintus. No one knows. There are rumors…well, there are many disturbing rumors about Daedalus, but one is that he disappeared back into the Labyrinth toward the end of his life. He might still be there."

I debated whether or not to tell them.

"I... don't think he's dead." I said finally.

Everyone turned to me. I straightened and continued. "I had a nightmare yesterday..."

I retold it.

"...I think the soul my brother was talking about is Daedalus's." I finished. "I recognized the ghost who is supposed to be advising him as Minos."

"The man who wanted Daedalus dead more than anyone for helping his daughter, Ariadne, help Theseus." Annabeth added.

"Exactly," I nodded my confirmation.

"We need to go in," She announced. "We have to find the workshop before Luke does. If Daedalus is alive, we convince him to help us, not Luke. If Ariadne's string still exists, we make sure it never falls into Luke's hands."

"Wait a second," Percy spoke. "If we're worried about an attack, why not just blow up the entrance? Seal the tunnel?"

"Great idea!" Grover said. "I'll get the dynamite!"

"It's not so easy, idiot," Clarisse growled. "We tried that at the entrance we found in Phoenix. It didn't go well."

Annabeth nodded. "The Labyrinth is magical architecture, Percy. It would take huge power to seal even one of its entrances. In Phoenix, Clarisse demolished a whole building with a wrecking ball, and the maze entrance just shifted a few feet. The best we can do is prevent Luke from learning to navigate the Labyrinth."

"We could fight," Lee Fletcher suggested. "We know where the entrance is now. We can set up a defensive line and wait for them. If an army tries to come through, they'll find us waiting with our bows."

"We will certainly set up defenses," Chiron agreed. "But I fear Clarisse is right. The magical borders have kept this camp safe for hundreds of years. If Luke manages to get a large army of monsters into the center of camp, bypassing our boundaries…we may not have the strength to defeat them."

Nobody looked really happy about that news. Chiron usually tried to be upbeat and optimistic. If he was predicting we couldn't hold off an attack, that wasn't good.

"We have to get to Daedalus's workshop first," Annabeth insisted. "Find Ariadne's string and prevent Luke from using it."

"But if nobody can navigate in there," Percy started, "what chance do we have?"

"I've been studying architecture for years," Annabeth replied. "I know Daedalus's Labyrinth better than anybody."

I coughed. "Hello? I'm still here, y'know."

"From reading about it." Percy stared at Annabeth.

"Well, yes." She shrugged.

"That's not enough."

"It has to be!"

"It isn't!"

"Are you going to help me or not?"

Then he realized everyone was watching Annabeth and him like a tennis match.

Mrs. O'Leary's squeaky yak went 'EEK!' As she ripped off its pink rubber head.

Getting annoyed, I announced, "The next person to ignore me will be sent to Rome via shadow travel. One way trip."

They all stared at me and I crossed my arms defiantly.

Chiron cleared his throat. "First things first. We need a quest. Someone must enter the Labyrinth, find the workshop of Daedalus, and prevent Luke from using the maze to invade this camp."

"We all know who should lead this," Clarisse said. "Annabeth."

There was a murmur of agreement.

I knew Annabeth had been waiting for her own quest since she was a little kid, but she looked uncomfortable. "You've done as much as I have, Clarisse," she said. "You should go, too."

Clarisse shook her head. "I'm not going back in there."

Travis laughed. "Don't tell me you're scared. Clarisse, chicken?"

I smacked him over the head, "Don't be rude!"

Clarisse got to her feet, and she said in a shaky voice: "You don't understand anything, punk. I'm never going in there again. Never!" She stormed out of the arena.

Travis looked around sheepishly. "I didn't mean to—"

Chiron raised his hand. "The poor girl has had a difficult year. Now, do we have agreement that Annabeth should lead the quest?"

"Kristina-" Annabeth tried.

I shook my head. "Uh-uh. This one's yours, Annabeth. You know more about the Labyrinth than me."

She sighed in resignation.

"Do we have an agreement?" Chiron repeated.

Everyone except Quintus nodded. He folded his arms and stared at the table, but I wasn't sure anyone else noticed.

"Very well," Chiron turned to Annabeth. "My dear, it's your time to visit the Oracle. Assuming you return to us in one piece, we shall discuss what to do next."

We all waited for Annabeth to return in silence. Except Mrs. O'Leary, no one made a sound.

"Kristy..." I heard Juniper.

I turned and saw her hiding behind a tree. Quickly moving towards her, I waited for her to speak.

"You need to know: Luke wasn't the only one I saw around that cave."

"Quintus." I guessed.

She nodded.

"Did he go in?"

"I—I'm not sure. He's creepy, Kristina. I didn't even see him come into the glade. Suddenly he was just there. You have to tell Grover it's too dangerous—"

"Juniper?" Grover called from inside the arena. "Where'd you go?"

Juniper sighed. "I'd better go in. Just remember what I said. Don't trust that man!" She ran into the arena.

I sighed and headed back, waiting for Annabeth's return.

I saw Annabeth walking towards us, arms wrapped around herself like people do when they're cold or scared. I guessed it was the latter in this case.

"My dear," Chiron said. "You made it."

Annabeth looked at Percy first, then me.

I couldn't tell if she was trying to warn me, or if the look in her eyes was just plain fear.

Then she focused on Quintus. "I got the prophecy. I will lead the quest to find Daedalus's workshop."

Nobody cheered. I sighed.

Chiron scraped a hoof on the dirt floor. "What did the prophecy say exactly, my dear? The wording is important."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "I, ah…well, it said, you shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze..."

We waited.

"The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise."

Grover perked up. "The lost one! That must mean Pan! That's great!"

"With the dead and the traitor," I added. "Not so great."

"And?" Chiron asked. "What is the rest?"

"You shall rise or fall by the Ghost King/Queen's hand," Annabeth said, "the child of Athena's final stand."

Everyone looked around uncomfortably. Annabeth was a daughter of Athena, and a final stand didn't sound good.

"Hey… we shouldn't jump to conclusions," Silena said. "Annabeth isn't the only child of Athena, right?"

"But what does 'the Ghost King/Queen's hand' mean?" Beckendorf asked.

No one answered.

I shifted uncomfortably. In canon it was the 'ghost king's hand'. This is different. Is it because of me?

"Are there more lines?" Chiron asked. "The prophecy does not sound complete."

Annabeth hesitated. "I don't remember exactly."

Chiron raised an eyebrow.

Annabeth was known for her memory. She never forgot something she heard.

Annabeth shifted on her bench. "Something about…Destroy with a hero's final breath."

"And?" Chiron asked.

She stood. "Look, the point is, I have to go in. I'll find the workshop and stop Luke. And…I need help." She turned to me. "Will you come?"

"Hell yeah." I grinned.

She smiled. "Percy, will you help too?"

"I'm in." He didn't even hesitate.

Ugh, when will they get together?

"Grover, you too? The wild god is waiting."

Grover seemed to forget how much he hated the underground. The line about the "lost one" had completely energized him. "I'll pack extra recyclables for snacks!"

"And Tyson," Annabeth said. "I'll need you too."

"Yay! Blow-things-up time!" Tyson clapped so hard he woke up Mrs. O'Leary, who was dozing in the corner.

"Wait, Annabeth," Chiron said. "This goes against the ancient laws. A hero is allowed only two companions."

"I need them all," she insisted. "Chiron, it's important."

"Annabeth." Chiron flicked his tail nervously. "Consider well. You would be breaking the ancient laws, and there are always consequences. Last winter, five went on a quest to save Artemis. Only three came back. Think on that. Three is a sacred number. There are three fates, three furies, three Olympian sons of Kronos. It is a good strong number that stands against many dangers. Five… this is risky."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "I know. But we have to. Please."

I could tell Chiron didn't like it. Quintus was studying us, like he was trying to decide which of us would come back alive.

Chiron sighed. "Very well. Let us adjourn. The members of the quest must prepare themselves. Tomorrow at dawn, we send you into the Labyrinth."

I packed everything in a bag from the camp store, and went through everything once more.

Clothes, check.

Ambrosia, check.

Nectar, check.

Food, check.

Bow and arrows, check.

Scimitars, check.

Sleeping bag, check.

Water bottles, check.

I heard the hushed words of the Stoll brothers. "Dude, just go do it."

"What if she doesn't like me?"

"She's literally going underground. What if – gods forbid – she doesn't come back?"

"I know, but..."

"Just go, dude!"

"You, uh, got everything?" This time the voice was much closer and clearer.

I turned and saw Travis standing behind me, hands shoved in his pockets.

I stood up with a smile. "Yeah..."

I slung the bag over my shoulder and sighed nervously.

"Be careful, yeah?" He smiled nervously.

"I will. Thanks, Travis."

"No problem."

"I should go."

I headed out the door, but three steps in, someone grabbed my wrist.

I turned and...

Oh. My. God.

I felt lips on mine.

Travis was kissing me.

I responded for a second before he pulled away.

His cheeks were pink. He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Stay safe, Kris."

I nodded robotically. Travis – he just kissed me! – backed away, still looking at me, till he reached the cabin door.

He waved one last time and walked in, closing the door behind him.

I stood there, staring into space for a few moments, my brain not processing what the hell just happened.

Suddenly, I snapped back to reality.

Everything sunk in.

A goofy grin made its way to my face. I ran over to Annabeth – she was standing a little distance away, but didn't see anything – with the same thought repeating itself in my brain.

Travis just kissed me! He likes me too!

Annabeth noticed my grin and arched an eyebrow, "You seem to be oddly happy to be going in the Labyrinth. Did something happen?"

"Nothing." I replied, unable to stop grinning. "Nothing at all."

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