Chapter 32

All eyes turned to him

"What are you thinking?" Reyna asked, not liking the look in his golden eyes "If you are going to try and dive head long into danger again you can forget it"

Damien looked down at the raven haired beauty, his slight smile fading "Reyna, I may not be much of a fighter but I can get us across this"

"And what if it's a trap and as soon as you get across there and separated from us they attack you?" her mask was slipping, her worry for him real "I say it's too dangerous"

Damien's eyes softened as he looked at Reyna "I don't see another option, jump or stay and wait for someone to find us"

A long silence hung in the air as the two of them stared at one another, Annabeth's grey eyes darted between them, clearly seeing what was going on between them, she glanced to Hazel who seemed to be thinking the same as she was

"Reyna" the blonde began

Reyna knew that tone and shot Annabeth a dangerous look, but Annabeth continued

"Do you trust him?" she asked the Praetor

"What?" she responded, eyes carefully watching the blonde

"Do you trust in Damien's ability?" Annabeth's eyes flashed to Damien then back to Reyna

Reyna exhaled "His ability is not in question"

"Just your trust in me" Damien finished for her, hurt in his eyes

Reyna looked up at him, wishing she could take back the words, she could see his jaw clench dangerously as he looked away from Reyna and out across the icy floor

"Damien" Annabeth said, drawing his attention to her "What's your plan?"

"A zip line of sorts" he said simply "But I need a rope"

She nodded, turning to the big guy "Markos give him some rope"

The Markos rummaged through his rucksack and pulled out some heavy duty climbing rope, he handed it to Damien, he took one end and tied it around his waist, he then handed the other end back to Markos

"Keep hold of this" he said, he turned to face the wall, but came face to face with Reyna, her dark eyes looking up at him

"Be careful" she whispered

Damien gave her a small nod and then stepped around her, he ran a hand against the wall, it was icy, but not too slick, it would make a considerable difference in tractions, limiting his distance, he turned back to Markos

"I could use a boost"

Damien got Markos to kneel on the steps with his back to him creating a makeshift springboard, he hoped it was enough

"Push up and launch me" Damien said as he planned his foot placements for the second time, his mind going through the motions he needed to make it, he didn't know what would have if he hit the magic, whether it was just an alarm system or if it would kill him on contact.

He walked back up a few steps as the girls stood back, all eyes on him, he took a few deep breaths and shook out his limbs, getting his blood flowing, he bolted down the stairs and onto Markos's back as the Greek pushed him off, launching him higher.

His feet hit the wall as he bent his knees and leapt, stretching out his body to try and lengthen his leap, he focused on the spot where he was going to land, his mind calculating in the milliseconds between his strides along the wall's surface

Soon he realised that he was going to land in the enchantment, he rolled his body in mid-air, so his legs where going over his head, his hands landed on the ground just beyond the enchantment, but in that position his upper back collided with the floor painfully, he slid to a stop, as he held his shoulder, it taking most of the force.

"Damien!" Reyna called out, she didn't care who heard the panic in her voice

"I'm fine" Damien said unconvincingly, he rolled onto all fours and slowly stood, he was pretty sure that he had a couple of cracked ribs from the impact, he took a moment, turning away from the others, taking a deep breath in, wheezing as he felt pain flare through his torso

He pulled a dagger from his waist and plunged it deep into the wall, he then tied the rope to it, signalling Markos to do the same, the men pulled the rope taught. Hazel stepped up first, being the smallest, she took hold of the rope and lifted her legs so they looped around it, she began shimmying her way down, the rope held and soon she was down next to Damien, she tried to check his injuries but he waved her away and focused on the others.

Reyna was next, Damien watched her closely as she crossed, he resisted the urge to help her down, he thought that it wouldn't be appreciated, plus she was capable of handling herself.

Markos was the last to cross, he dumped his heavy coat so he had more movement, Damien mimicked him, thinking that it was probably easier to fight without a coat on, his body felt a little chilly but he was sure he'd rather be colder and move then to have any restrictions on him.

There was only one way to go now, an even darker tunnel, they entered, staying silent, Reyna strained her ears trying to hear any signs of others in this place, she knew they were definitely in the right place, there would not have been faun magic if they were in the wrong location.

Damien listened too, his eyes occasionally finding their way back to Reyna, he jumped when she turned slightly and using her arm pressed him up against the wall, before he could respond she placed her finger on her lips signalling everyone to be quiet.

Damien stayed perfectly still, not wanting to distract her, he tried to hear what she was hearing, he strained his ears and finally he heard it, could he really be hearing the gentle voice

"Is that singing?" he whispered, his voice barely audible

Reyna nodded, she stayed close to the wall and continued her way silently down the tunnel, they allow followed suit, soon she could make out a light at the other end of the tunnel, she slowed her pace even more, the distant voice becoming clearer too, it was female and it was sad, she sung in an ancient language, it had to be Euterpe.

At last they reached the opening, icicles hung from the ceiling, torches hung from them, illuminating the vast cavern, Reyna could see a solitary figure standing in the room, Reyna's eyes scanned the rest of the space but saw no one

"She's just standing there" Reyna glanced back at Annabeth "I don't see anyone else, or any restraints"

Annabeth's grey eyes flashed with confusion "It must be a trap"

"We need to get her out of here" Reyna muttered "We take it slow"