Chapter 50
Annabeth POV
I was still unsure of Rachel but I had to admit she did get us through the maze. It didn't make sense to me but Rachel could somehow see a light that we couldn't and it led us straight to Dedalus's workshop, or at least I think it did. Rachel said we were close but there were a few things that just seemed off to me. The floor was made of metal and there was actual electric lighting in the hallways.
Dedalus' workshop was supposed to be in the oldest part of the maze so why was this all new? Reaching a set of double doors Rachel looked back at Thomas like she was asking for permission to enter. He shook his head and moved to step in front of her. When he did she stepped back brushing past him and her hand lingered on his arm 'If she doesn't back off I'm going to skin her alive before this quest is even over!" I thought.
Thomas pushed the doors open and led us inside. Much like the hallway everything in the workshop was completely modern. There were dozens of work tables covered in the newest equipment and even some things that looked more advanced than modern technology. There was a blacksmith's forge and some dated equipment that might be there out of preference.
But the most startling discovery was the man standing in the room "Quintus!" I blurted. He turned around looking genuinely surprised. "What are you doing here?"
The middle aged demigod opened his mouth to speak but Percy beat him to it. "So you're Dedalus." He said in a no nonsense tone.
"What makes you think that?" Quintus said "The whole camp is looking for this place after all. I could have simply found it first."
"It's that mark on your neck." Percy said "Athena placed that on you when you killed Perdix right?"
Now Quintus looked completely stunned "How could you possibly know about that? None of that made it into the myths!"
"Just like how they failed to mention that the Daughters of Cocalus used one of your inventions to kill King Minos before you ran off into the maze with Perdix's designs." the level of shock on Quintus' face was almost comical, it didn't even look like he was breathing "If I had to guess I'd say that's also a synthetic body."
Finally Quintus seemed to regain his composure and a shaky grin formed on his face. "I have to admit I'm very impressed you figured me out though I can't help but wonder how you obtained that information."
"Dreams." Percy whispered but I could even register his words.
"Wait! You mean it's true!" I exclaimed. I felt like my mind was melting but neither Percy nor the apparent Dedalus paid me any attention.
Dedalus chuckled "I have to say I was surprised when first got to Camp Half Blood. The Daughter of Athena adopted by Poseidon and the unclaimed swordsman who fights like Ares himself. I thought they were a set of real oddities but you take the cake. You look like Poseidon and you have an air of power about you. But when I look into your eyes, I feel like I'm looking at one of my own siblings."
I could see the gears turning dangerously in both their heads and I needed to distract them "But why did you come to Camp!" I yelled as loud as I could. Both paused and looked in my direction 'I got their attention now I need to move it in a new direction.' "You showed up at camp claiming to be an older demigod looking to help out. But when you found out we were looking for your workshop you didn't say anything! Why?"
Dedalus looked unimpressed "Surely you know why, after all it's simple strategy."
"You were scoping us out and seeing which side you should choose." I said.
"In a way." Dedalus said with a shrug, "I never intended to physically join the fight but I was trying to decide if the current regime should remain or not."
"And, what did you decide?"
"I decided that if the Titans wanted to topple Olympus they would have to do without my help but I won't stop them either." He said.
Further conversation was cut off as Nico burst through the doors behind us along with some kind of ghost, or at least I think it was a ghost. "Found you Dedalus!"
"Indeed you have but I must ask why you sought me out. And with my old enemy no less."
"Enemy?" Nico muttered.
"Focus my lord." Minos said "Your so close to getting your sister back you just need to capture him."
"I see kid, you intend to kill me and exchange my soul for your sister's. A decent idea and one of the few ways you could fully bring her back without consequences. But do you realize that since Minos officially owns the Maze he would be the one who gets the reward. Regardless of whether you are the one to capture me Minos would get the spoils you earned and he'll use it to bring himself back to life, not your sister. I'm guessing he failed to mention that to you, not that I'm surprised, Minos always preferred getting other people to do his dirty work."
The form of Minos flicker like he was annoyed "I fail to see why it matters as a subject of Hades, and by extension his son, It is my humble honor to aid him in reuniting with his sister." He said calmly.
An amused grin grew an Dedalus' face "Is that so? Than how about we step outside this maze hmm? I may be strong but with all your friends here you would easily be able to capture or kill me and then the spoils of war would be yours." He even snapped his fingers causing a door to open to the outside.
"No!" Minos shouted. I suspect it was mostly out of reflex but the effect was instant. A wall slammed over the door sealing it off and locking us in the maze.
"And now he shows his true colors." Percy breathed not at all surprised. "You know seeing this I can understand why you daughter turned on you first chance she got."
"What did you say?!" Minos roared followed by what felt like an earthquake.
"What's going on?" Thomas asked grabbing a desk for support.
"I only need Dedalus to die in the Maze for it to count and it just so happens there are plenty in this maze who wish him dead."
"Run!" Dedalus screamed "He's guiding the titan army here!" Thomas grabbed the stunned and shaken Nico and started dragging him to the only other exit in the room. The rest of us including Dedalus weren't far behind him.
"Wait what about Ariadne's string!" Malcolm asked as we ran.
Dedalus and I looked back just as an empousa burst through the workshop doors "No time!" Dedalus replied.
We made it into the hallway on the other side of the workshop just as the maze started shifting again. Walls sprung up out of nowhere and in seconds Dedalus and Nico were gone from sight.
