AN: For those good people of you who have read the last chapter very early, I had accidentally uploaded wrong version of it, with a different ending. It isn't a terribly big difference, but not completley insignificant either.
Chapter XXIX
"Alright, you can look," Bianca finally said, having held me waiting for a few seconds.
I opened my eyes, looking upon my excited girlfriend, though my eyes were drawn downwards. In her hands was a wreath of leaves, glowing a ghostly white. A smile played over my lips, it seems Bianca really had not missed out on her mythology lessons.
"A wreath of underworld poplar," I stated, curiously. "just like Heracles."
"I know it isn't as unique as yours..." She smiled apologetically, before continuing. "but I thought it fitting, you know in face of the first line of the prophecy-"
"You misunderstand, I very much like it, you know I, of all people, appreciate a reference." I told her, smiling as well. "Besides, the fact that it is from you makes it special enough to me."
Bianca grew slightly red, and I smirked, even though we have been together two weeks now, making her blush still was an incredible joy. Though she composed herself swiftly, lifting the wreath above my head in a festive motion, despite the fact we were all alone in my cabin.
I instantly understood, lowering my head forward as she placed it down, gently nestling it in my curls. When she lowered her hands again, I took advantage of the fact how close she had stepped to me, leaning only slightly lower, pressing a kiss on her lips. As she returned it, a bit surprised, I used her moment of distraction, sneaking my arms around her waist, looping them behind her lower back.
Suddenly I let myself drop backwards onto my bunk, Bianca giving out a small surprised yelp as I pulled her onto my lap and into another kiss.
"I am happy that you like it." She told me, embracing me. "Because I take this as you showing your gratitude."
"We aren't wooing one another anymore, are we? Not I am not grateful, but I need no reason to kiss you." I said, before tilting my head. "Though I have to ask, are we making this into a tradition? A gift after every quest?"
"If you want to, because then it's your turn again." She told me with a smirk. "Though aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves, already planning our next adventure?"
"Ah, I suppose you are right," I said, before smirking in turn. "perhaps it is time to rest on my laurels while I can."
Bianca groaned in annoyance, burying her head in my shoulder in frustration.
"Oh gods, I mean, I already saw that pun coming weeks ago when I started planning this," She muttered and sighed. "but it is made soooo much worse by the fact you know perfectly well those aren't laurels."
I stifled my laughs at her suffering, earning me a slap on the arm, which only made me chuckle once more.
"Why do you still pretend to dislike my puns?" I asked her, earning me an eye-roll.
"Because I am not pretending." Bianca told me insistently and I raised a brow.
"And here I thought humor was very important to women." I mused. "I must truly be quite amazing otherwise for you to overlook that shortcoming."
"Just shut up and hug me you cocky fool." She commanded and I obliged.
Of course someone chose that very moment to enter the Poseidon Cabin. Panic flashed in Bianca's eyes, not many would come here at this time. Tyson was back since yesterday and it was still rather early in the morning, there was no reason for him to return so soon. Which left really just one other probable option, Chiron, the last thing we, though much more me, needed was another rules violation since I was already on parole.
With the grace of a huntress, Bianca threw herself off me to the side into a corner of the bunk, the shadows instantly wrapping around her like a cloak. But it was too late, standing in the door-frame with raised brow was none other than... Percy?
What the Hades was he doing here? He was not supposed to arrive till tomorrow afternoon, he had orientation day at his new school today from what he told me.
Not to mention, Annabeth had let slip that they were going on a date this afternoon, having already been at camp for a few weeks. Those were of course not her words, but her insistence on it not being one made it all too sure.
"Hey Perce," I greeted him, awkwardly.
"Hi Percy," Bianca followed in suit, no less awkward and still much more flustered than me.
"Should I ask?" He said, slightly amused despite his sullen look.
"I'd prefer you not to," I said, standing up. "though what got your spirits so low? Caused a flood in school on your first day?"
"You don't know how close you are," Percy muttered and I shook my head. A lot of demigods got kicked out of schools, but Percy's record of property damage was still astounding.
"Fine, I shan't ask what happened." I said and turned back to Bianca, not saying anything, though she clearly got the message standing up as well.
"It's alright," She told me. "I know you want to catch up with him, we still have a whole summer left, not to mention, I doubt we'll find much peace and quiet here right now."
"You can come with us?" I offered, though she shook her head.
"It's nice of you to offer, but I know when to go," She said to me. "besides, archery practice starts soon, I need to be there."
"Quite true, you missing it would be very suspicious." I agreed and pressed a kiss on her lips. "I'll see you at noon."
She nodded, and hurried off, though I didn't stop myself from looking after her for a few seconds. With a sigh I turned back to Percy, whose mood was clearly lightened now.
"So, you and Bianca, huh?" He asked, smirking, and I nodded.
"What gave it away? The kiss?" I asked, rolling my eyes, mostly unbothered by his teasing. "Speaking of, how are things with Ann going? You still up for-"
His expression faltered again, and I sighed, I had meant to tease him, not to be mean.
"Fine," I said. "I know what'll lift your mood, mind a little walk to the forges?"
"The forges?" He asked, confused. "Why?"
"Tyson's back," I told him, before adding. "and I need to speak with Beckendorf."
"Sounds like you are looking for an excuse to do the latter." Percy told me and I shrugged.
"I won't deny that," I agreed and looked outwards. "so are you coming? Tyson was happy to see me, I am sure he will be ecstatic with you."
"I can already feel my ribs hurting," Percy said and I nodded.
"Well, brace yourself," I told him and moved to go, him following me.
"So how have things been since winter without me?" I asked him curiously after a few steps.
"Alright, I guess," Percy said begrudgingly. "less monsters, but, Mom misses you."
"That was to be expected," I said sadly.
"You know, you could come home again," He proposed and I frowned. "after the summer I mean."
"I wish I could," I told him.
This was a topic I had long considered since going to Camp year-round, but I was certain about it. Manhattan was not the place for me, I didn't belong there, not truly. Mortal life didn't suit me, and it was not because school was a problem for me necessarily. But I knew I would feel terrible for sitting at home when I could be training and preparing for the war to come.
"So what's stopping you?" Percy prodded.
"It'd be irresponsible, I am where I need to be." I argued and shook my head. "Not to mention, I'd be endangering you, and even more so mom. I can't do that."
"What do you mean?" He asked, confused. "Our scent's gotten a little stronger, sure, but we can handle it together."
"Things have changed," I insisted. "I went on a quest, painted a target on my back so to speak and took up a burden."
"A quest?" Percy exclaimed. "What for? And what burden?"
"Kronos' Scythe," I said bluntly, earning a disbelieving look from Percy.
"You are kidding right?" He asked and I grinned, slightly, summoning the ancient blade once more.
Over these last weeks I had grown close with the weapon if that made any sense, familiar.
Percy instantly took a bit of distance, he seemed to recognize it, in a way at least, which is no wonder, Backbiter had a similar aura.
"You kept it?" He choked out in surprise. "Wouldn't it be safer to-"
"Safer? Sure, stowing it away on Olympus for example, would be plenty safe." I agreed, already knowing what he was about to say, and twirled the blade, letting it fluidly turn to sickle shape and back.
"But I did not take it to have it collect dust." I said firmly. "This weapon is a first step on the way to defeating Kronos. Besides, I have sworn an oath, I couldn't give it to the Olympians, even if I wanted."
"A first step? And what makes you so sure that you'll be the one defeating Kronos? Also, what oath are you talking about?" Percy prodded, question following question.
"So many questions. To answer the first, it is a good base, yes, but I want to stack the odds as much in my favor as I can, as long as I have the opportunity to. The second, well, it could be you, it could even be Bianca, if by some chance we stop aging or die. But no, I don't think so, or at least I hope not, I'd rather bear its consequences than see you or her do so."
Percy seemed a bit offended or insulted by that. Though I paid it no heed as I continued my answer to his questions.
"As to the last, well, I needed Hades' help, the terms were fair and reasonable enough, not like I had any intention of handing it over before either." I said, before adding. "But now I certainly can't, at least not without forfeiting my soul."
"You went to the Underworld then?" Percy asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, it was the way prophecy described, ironically enough my goal laid beneath the Ocean." I mused and he raised a brow.
"Wouldn't it have been easier to just swim there?" He asked and I shrugged.
"Surely, but you know well enough how cryptic and complicated Prophecies can be." I answered and chuckled. "Though in light of my companions, I am not sure that would have been possible, I am not even sure Bianca can swim, considering her parentage and past, let alone in a good two fathoms depth."
I definitely needed to ask her and if the answer was no, do something about it, I would have no girlfriend of mine drown. That would be not just very tragic, but also terribly embarrassing.
"So you went with her?" Percy concluded and I nodded. "I assume your experience was a bit more pleasant than mine then."
"I certainly can't complain about Hades's hospitality," I told him genuinely. "and I even got to meet Bianca's elder sister. She was more than nice enough all things considered, even let us stay a night in the Isles of the Blest."
"Really? So, how was it?" He asked, curiously.
"Uneventful mostly, no dreams, and I was asleep in seconds. It was great honestly." I told him happily. "I still regret not getting to eat any of the food, that blueberry cake looked enticing. Though, the rest of the quest was far less fun, only a couple of near death experiences. Talked to Morpheus, almost got captured, killed an Elder Cyclops, stole a symbol of power, got tricked, actually captured that time, had a nice chat with Oceanus, which of course ended in attempted murder, from my side that is. So just the usual demigod stuff."
"I guess so." Percy agreed, before my words settled in. "Did you just say you killed an Elder Cyclops?"
"Yeah, Brontes, a shame really, quite the good craftsman the world lost there," I said, before smiling. "don't tell Tyson, will you? I am afraid he might take offense."
"Aren't you worryingly casual about this?" Percy asked and I shrugged.
"Well I sure hope this is not the last immortal I kill." I told him and he raised a brow. "Because I think me dying or us losing are much more likely reasons for that being the case than Kronos changing his mind. This war will not end without a lot more blood, or at least ichor, shed if you ask me."
Percy remained silent, it might be a bit cynical of me, but I doubted there truly was an alternative.
"Enough talk of war," I decided, wanting to move to lighter topics. "that guy, Paul? What's he like?"
"He's a good guy, Mom's happy with him." Percy said after a while and I nodded satisfied.
"That's good to hear." I agreed with a nod. "I just wanted to make sure and hear it from you as well, though mom said the same."
Our mother was a matter I truly trusted Percy on without question. I cared about her, of course, and saw her as a mother as much Percy did, but I didn't know her as he did, I never would. So if he said she was happy and everything was well, it likely was, which meant I at least didn't have to worry about her.
"Though I have to ask," I said after a while. "does he actually know about me?"
"Yeah, officially you are abroad on a stipend for the year." Percy told me and I raised a brow.
"And where am I supposedly?" I asked curiously.
Of course I was well aware of what Mom had told him, but I still couldn't waste the opportunity to toy with Percy a bit.
"Um, somewhere in the UK, I think?" Percy answered, unsure.
"And which city?" I asked him and it was clear he didn't have an answer.
"York," I told him, and shook my head, disapprovingly. "you should be able to remember that it was the easiest choice."
"Wait, you knew?" Percy asked and I smirked broader.
"Of course, me and Mom planned that excuse together," I told him, chuckling. "You'll have to do better than that to keep up a convincing ruse."
"You-" Percy started, but was interrupted.
"PERCY!" Tyson joy-filled shouted from the top of the small hill the forges sat on, waving to us.
First Percy seemed happy, then a short flash of terror on his face as Tyson came bounding down towards us. I had already gotten my dose of Cyclops caused rib-breaking, and I was not just talking about my fight was Brontes. So I dissolved into mist, just seconds before Tyson crashed into us and started squeezing the life out of Percy, in this case not literally speaking.
As I reappeared a bit behind them, I couldn't stop myself from turning and mockingly winking at Percy. Confusion was spelled out on his face, though the Cyclops hugging him took most of his attention as he tried to get him to set him down. Chuckling, I walked onwards to a Beckendorf shaking his head in silent amusement and stopped next to him.
"I take you are here for your helmet?" He asked and I nodded.
"Well, you told me it would be ready today." I told him and he frowned slightly.
"I said it might be ready," The son of Hephaestus corrected.
"Can't hurt to ask," I told him and shrugged. "so is it ready?"
"Well, you are in luck," He said begrudgingly. "I wouldn't have gotten it done if I hadn't gotten some help yesterday."
He looked at Tyson and I nodded. I would have to thank him for that, but for now it was time for another sort of thanks. Beckendorf bid me to wait, and went deeper into the forge to one of the storage areas. Coming back only a few moments later, carrying a cloth-wrapped object in his left hand.
"I have to say, it was quite the fun project, though the design schemes were a bit unusual." Beckendorf remarked. "Quite Greek in a way, and very much still a Corinthian helmet, but there are quite a few differences, aren't there?"
"You know well enough there are, you made it, didn't you?" I asked him and he nodded, wordlessly handing the helmet to me.
I felt like a child unwrapping his Christmas presents, of course I had paid for it myself, ordered it myself, designed myself and knew what it was, but still I was quite excited. I dropped the cloth and held it up to inspect it.
It was the very same dark bluish black color the rest of my armor was and bore similar motifs. The differences were admittedly subtle, it was a bit more closed than my previous one and the bronze was slightly thicker, to compensate for the lack of ancient Telkhine magic in it.
Not that I'd ever tell Beckendorf, but I knew even with how amazing a smith he was, he couldn't replace their dark magic, though perhaps that was for the best, I didn't want to know what dark rituals were needed there.
Though these differences were negligible, one stood out above them all, quite literally. The crest of the helmet was made in a familiar, long serpentine shape, traveling across the top, before rearing up at the front, wing-like fins reaching out to the sides, jaws opened. I smiled as I looked into the metallic eyes of the miniature Aethiopian Sea Monster.
Long and hard had I thought about how I could pay him back. There were few things you could give a Sea Monster besides words of thanks, but monsters could fade if they were forgotten, just like gods could.
So I decided that the least I could do was make sure he was not forgotten, or at least play my part in it. Not to mention, this way he could even protect me without being there, even if in a more symbolical fashion, yet I was sure he would still catch a few strikes meant for me in the months to come.
"Ahem," Beckendorf cleared his throat with a small smile. "I see you are quite enamored with it. But I have work I'd like to continue."
"Of course, sorry for holding you up," I told him and nodded once to him. "I suppose I should thank you for getting it done before tomorrow. I would not want to face whatever Quintus is preparing without a helmet."
"Who are you telling it to?" Beckendorf asked, nodding in understanding. "Whatever is in those boxes is alive, and it wants us not to be."
That was in retrospect a very accurate statement about the scorpions we faced the next evening. Though Of course they by now were no longer alive, which also meant they didn't want to devour us anymore, but a few hours ago that certainly held true. Me and Eleanor had not won, I mean we had killed one of the scorpions, but the package was empty, which made me wonder who thought this was a good idea to test skill, it was largely luck based who won.
And it seems today luck favored Clarisse, on her head a golden laurel wreath, the other teams had all gathered around. Well at least forty of forty-one teams, one was missing, Percy and Annabeth. They surely had heard the horn, it was hard not to. So either they were stuck somewhere, dead or willingly avoiding us.
Either way, Chiron quickly organized a search and the campers above the age of twelve started scouring the forest. Not because it wasn't safe for under twelve-year-old campers, which it was not, but it seems the fact we were past curfew already was more important to Chiron's reasoning.
I wasn't truly worried, at least not yet, much more focused on thinking of what to tell Percy. I mean he and Annabeth both gone at once, all alone, the opportunities for teasing him were near endless. It became all the better when we gathered after a good hour at Zeus' fist.
"So, I take you haven't found them either?" I asked Bianca, who rolled her eyes.
"Evidently," She responded, yawning. "I would already be asleep if I had,"
I was about to comment, when Percy and Annabeth walked in to view. Largely unharmed except for a few scratches and bruises as it seemed, so death seemed to not be the case.
"Where were you?" Clarisse exclaimed exasperated. "We have been searching for you for an eternity!"
"What? We were only gone for a couple minutes," Percy protested, confused.
"An hour is not just a few minutes," I told him, smiling. "I know time can fly when you are having fun-"
"We just fell into a hole, nothing more," Percy said.
"A hole? For an hour?" I asked, and raised a brow. "You'll have to come with a better excuse than that."
"I'm serious," He insisted. "We were hiding from the scorpions between the rocks, but we were only gone a minute or so not an hour."
"The game is already over," Chiron told him, coming closer. "you really were gone for an hour."
Percy was still confused and so I looked at Annabeth, she looked thoughtful, which wasn't unusual. But she hadn't spoken up since they had returned, something was clearly occupying her entire attention. Finally though she said something after a moment of skeptic looks at them from all the gathered campers.
"Chiron... perhaps we should talk about this in the Big House." She said, her voice unusually careful.
"You've found it?" Clarrise asked with a gasp and I scowled as I realized what they were talking about.
"Yeah..." Annabeth looked uneasy. "I think so."
It had been a topic of debate and worry among the counselors for a few months now. Ever since Clarisse had reported on it, I was still rather skeptical about the whole thing. I was well aware that Luke had floated the idea of invading Camp through the Labyrinth. But I doubted he would actually go through with it, I had dismissed the plan as unnecessarily risky and pointless, there were easier ways to destroy camp, and I still doubted it.
I had already argued with Annabeth about it once or twice, and was about to do so again when Chiron raised a hand. With quick and firm words he sent us off to sleep, though I remained standing in the clearing. Clarisse, Annabeth and Percy were talking, huddled together.
"What are they talking about?" Bianca asked me, having remained as well.
"The Labyrinth," I told her and she frowned.
"Ah, I remember, last counselor meeting, you already discussed it back there," She stated and I nodded.
Since she had been claimed, Bianca had taken to coming to the meetings. Officially the meetings were intended only for the senior counselors, but there were no rules forbidding others from being there technically speaking. And both me and Chiron were in agreement that it was appropriate.
"Yes," I said, though I shook my head. "But this doesn't really change anything if you ask me, it only confirms what we already knew. Luke has a way into camp, if he can navigate the maze that is..."
I sighed as Percy proposed simply destroying the entrance at our meeting in the swordfighting arena. Of course the idea was denied by the others, Clarrise had tried before and failed, if it only was so simple.
For a moment I wondered whether it'd make a difference if I used the Scythe. If it could destroy immortals, perhaps it could also destroy a magical entrance, maybe it was worth a try.
"We could fight," Lee proposed after a bit of discussing. "We know where the entrance is, we can establish a proper defensive perimeter. If an army arrives we can await them, armed and prepared and ready."
I nodded and hummed in support.
"I agree," I said and looked to the forest. "Zeus' fist is a good position. We can dig out the ground, force them into disadvantageous positions, if we have the time we could even build a wall."
Some of the campers clearly shared my sentiment, judging by the nods of agreement and murmurs of support. But far more looked unsure, this wasn't good.
"This doesn't have to be only a threat, it's an opportunity. If his forces come here we can decimate them in a rain of fire and arrows, before wiping up the rest, the rocks are a chokepoint, he can't even get a drakon through there." I stated firmly. "We'll have to face them eventually, I'd prefer to do so with full numbers, in the summer, on our terms. Which makes me wonder, why would Luke invade now?"
"What are you trying to say?" Annabeth asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Why not wait till winter?" I asked, frowning. "twenty campers are far easier to beat than eighty. And he can destroy Camp all the same, the disorganized demigods could be hunted down one by one. That's how I would be dealing with this, time is on his side after all, and I'm not talking about my dear grandfather."
"Perhaps he wants a triumphant victory," Clarisse said, crossing her arms. "to wipe all of us out at once."
My frown deepened, but I didn't say anything further. It was a good enough answer. Maybe Luke wanted to show that he is capable to Kronos, or he was just impatient and hubris got the better of him.
But I still didn't see why Kronos wanted to do it this way, it seemed so unlike him, this impatience. He had schemed millennia, why be so careless now?
"Of course we will take defensive measures," Chiron finally said in agreement. "but even as you say in the summer with full numbers, I am afraid Clarisse could be right. The camp relies on our magical borders for protection, if he were to maneuver an army past them, into the forest. We might not be able to beat them back."
This lack of confidence from Chiron was worrying, and not just for me, the rest of the campers murmured and seemed uneasy.
"So we will have to go into the Labyrinth," Annabeth said. "to find Daedalus' workshop and Ariadnes' string. And we will have to do it before Luke does, we have to prevent him from being able to navigate the Labyrinth."
I didn't disagree, biting my lip. Annabeth wasn't really wrong, avoiding battle was preferable. After all, defeating the enemy without fighting was supposedly true excellence. But if I was honest I'd probably prefer a proper battle, because an expedition into the Labyrinth was a gamble which odds I didn't like.
"But if Luke can't find his way through it, then how are we supposed to?" Percy asked, raising a very important question.
"I have been studying architecture for years, and the labyrinth with it," Annabeth argued. "I know more about it than anyone else."
I was pretty sure that statement was debatable, I mean, her mother surely knew more, or Daedalus since we had just floated the idea of him being alive.
"From books." Percy stated and Annabeth turned to him.
"Well... yeah,"
"That's not enough." Percy insisted and she scowled.
"It has to be." She retorted.
"But it won't be," He said.
"Do you want to help me or not?"
I stifled my laughs at them arguing, something had happened between the two that I couldn't name. But this breakfast when Annabeth had just casually come over to the Poseidon table and sat down, it was clear. There was a palpable tension between them.
"All in good order," Chiron cleared his throat. "There needs to be a quest. Somebody must go into the Labyrinth and prevent Luke from entering Camp through the Labyrinth."
"I think it is clear who should lead that quest," Clarisse spoke up again. "Annabeth."
As always, thanks for reading, I'd love a follow or favorite and above all a review!
Next chapter might take a while, since I have a bit of planning to do.