Ch47

After archery with the Hecate Cabin Chiron approached them. "Good morning you two. Do you mind coming with me for a moment?"

"Sure what's up?" He asked as they followed Chiron to the Big House. There they saw Malcolm Pace and Grover talking, both of them had tense expressions on their faces.

"Percy Malcolm here has received a quest to go into the labyrinth," Chiron said.

"Yeah um I did," Malcolm said as he cleared his throat. "You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze. The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise. You shall rise or fall by a ghostly hand. The child of Athena's final stand. The ghost general's armies wreak havoc on land."

"So you're going into the labyrinth then?" He asked.

Malcolm looked at him and nodded. "I wanted to ask you if you would like to join me Percy."

He was taken by surprise by the offer. "You want me to join your quest? Not that I have a problem with that."

Malcolm nodded. "Yeah I figure we will be facing enemies you have experience with. Also I hope by working together your father will calm his anger against me and my siblings."

"Sure I'll do it," he said. "I've been having some dreams about the labyrinth, it won't be easy but I'll help you with what I can."

"Thank you," Malcolm said with a smile. "Grover and Tyson will be coming with us too; we think it will lead us to Pan."

"Sure sounds good," he said with a smile. "Are you sure four of us?"

Malcolm nodded. "I had a dream from my mother and saw a figure of a cyclops, I figure Tyson could play roll."

Chiron frowned. "I don't approve of it but if you must go ahead. I suggest you all prepare then. The sooner you all set off the better."

"Well I wish you luck on this quest," Chris said once they got back to their cabin.

"Thanks. Are you ok with me going?" He asked. A part of him would've thought Chris would've been chosen since he is a more experienced fighter.

"Yeah of course. I wish you the best of luck Percy," Chris said as he looked out the window. "But let me warn you, if you come across my son and his ranch be prepared to fight him He has three hearts that must be destroyed at once, he can be as ferocious as my mother."

"Great sounds complicated," He said as he packed some supplies.

"Don't worry he isn't a great fighter like me so you should be fine," Chris said with a smile. "I do hope you both succeed, maybe our father will soften his heart towards Athena's children."

"I hope so," he said as he looked at Annabeth's baseball cap. He stuffed it in his bag when an idea came to him. "I'll go pray to our father for guidance."

"Good idea. Let me know if you need anything," Chris said as he got up and fed Circe.

I hope this goes well. He went over to the dining area and grabbed a glass of blue coke, eggs, and sausage and went over to the fire and dumped them in. "To Poseidon," he said. Dad please bless us on this quest. If possible allow Malcolm and his siblings into your domain if we need it for the quest. I know you and his mom don't get along but I need to work with him for the good of all of us.

He took a deep breath, he didn't feel any different but he assumed the message went to his dad. With that, he finished getting ready and went with Chris to Zeus's Fist and found Reyna, Tyson, Chiron, Malcolm, and Grover there.

"Well then I wish you all the best," Chiron said looking at them. "Malcolm we wish you and your companions the best of luck."

"Th-thank you," Malcolm said his face red with anticipation.

"Don't worry we got this," he said patting his back.

Chris went up to him and hugged. "Be safe Percy. I'll keep things safe here for you."

"Thanks," he said hugging him back.

Reyna then went up to him and hugged him tightly. "Return safely ok?

His face turned red as he hugged her back. "I-I will."

"Wait!" Called a familiar voice. He turned to see Lou Ellen run up to him.

"What is it?" He asked.

Lou held out a necklace. "I have this good luck charm for you both. I want to give it to you both so you can have our mother's strenght with you."

"Uh sure thanks," he said. Looking into her eyes he saw sincerity in her eyes. Even if they can't come it could look good for them to be helping us.

Lou smiled and went up to him as she gave them each a necklace "There. May my mother's protection be with you. We will prove our worth this summer one way or another. Come back safely all of you."

"We will thanks for everything," he said.

With that he along with that they descended into the labyrinth. Grover's face was tense while Tyson remained calm. Malcolm kept fidgeting as they walked down the tunnels of the labyrinth. "Don't worry we can do this," he said trying to reassure his companions.

"Thanks. I'm just nervous since this is my first quest," Malcolm said looking at the walls around them.

"I get that. I was nervous too my first quest," he said. "The trick is to just go with how things are, you have to be prepared for everything." He felt sympathy for Malcolm, he still remembered how nervous he was on his quest. "We'll have to watch out for each other don't Grover also is experienced."

This is first quest. Hopefully I can do my best to guide him through it.

Malcolm gave him a small smile. "Thanks. I know our parents have their differences but I hope we work together."

"Me too. Poseidon created the horse and Athena the wheel so just like a chariot we could work together," he said as they walked down a dark tunnel. "Just to let you know we may run into a hunter of Artemis named Bianca. She is special and searching for her brother."

"Good to know," Malcolm muttered. "I take it we'll also run into Luke and Annabeth?"

He detected the bitterness in Malcom's voice. "I imagine we would," he said softly.

"Good. If I see my sister I hope to share a bit of wisdom with her," Malcolm said crossly. "Mainly on how she betrayed our mother and left us to face the consequences of it."

"Be careful they are both strong," he warned. "Especially Luke, if we face them leave him to me."

"Got it. Gods this place goes on forever," Malcolm muttered.

"Just go with it," he said walking past the skeleton of a milk man. He knew that they were lost but he decided it would be best to keep his cool since this was Malcom's first quest. "So what does your dad do?" He asked wanting to distract Malcom from any worries he might have.

"Oh he is an architect," Malcolm said. "He built many big buildings here in the US and overseas. My mom was impressed by his designs and helped him construct a few buildings for a few Middle Eastern nations."

"Cool like Dubai?" He asked not that he knew anything about Dubai except that it was rich.

Malcolm nodded his face lighting up. "Yeah he built a lot of things there. I kind of would like to be an engineer and build cool things."

"That sounds nice I'm sure you'll do a good job," he said.

"What about you?" Malcolm asked. "What's your mother like?"

"My mom is the best," he said as they followed another dark corridor. "She could see through the mist and caught my dad's attention. She is seeing another guy, he seems cool."

"I hope it works out for all of you," Malcolm said. "For me it worked out with my step mom but for others like Annabeth it didn't."

"So I hear," he said as they entered what looked like a Roman room.

On the other side of the room was what appeared to be a man with two heads watching over two doors. "I'm the god Janus my right side is a liar," the left head said.

"No don't listen to him," The right head said. "The path that you seek is my door, the left head is a liar."

"Great which door is it," Malcolm said.

"Janus there you are," an elegant female voice said. A female appeared in front of them in an elegant gown. "Don't tell me you are causing any trouble again."

"L-Lady Hera sorry," Janus said his faces turning panicked.

"Don't cause us any trouble," Hera said as Janus fled. She then turned to face them. "Hello Heroes I am Hera queen of Olympus, let us have a chat."

Malcolm looked at him and he nodded as Hera snapped her fingers causing a table with food to appear in front of them. "Come let us eat together," she said with a smile.

They all sat across from Hera and ate the food she gave them. "So Lady Hera what brings you here?" He asked.

"You are heroes on an important quest and I want to help you," Hera said as a glass of wine appeared in her hand.

"W-We are grateful for your services my lady," Malcolm said politely.

Hera smiled at Malcolm. "You are welcome dear. A lot of people are riding on your quest, I know you'll do well and not disappoint us."

Malcolm nodded. "My lady we need a way to better navigate this labyrinth do you have an idea of how we can do it?"

Hera smiled at him. "You are such a polite boy. I believe deep down Percy may have the answer but you both should visit my son Hephaestus, he would also be of great help to you."

"Th-Thank you my lady," Malcolm said. "We will follow your council."

"You are a smart boy," Hera said with a smile. "I can see why Athena gave you this quest, a shame what her other daughter did and continues to do. A great embarrassment if I do say so myself."

Malcolm nodded. "I'm not my sister, I intend to give her a piece of my mind if I see her." He could detect the anger Malcolm was trying to hide, it wasn't a good idea to get angry around Hera.

Hera nodded. "We are a family us Olympians. We should look after each other and support each other."

"Yeah thank you," he said.

Hera smiled at him her eyes calculating as she stared him up and down. "Percy Jackson last winter I voted to save you, I hope I didn't make the wrong choice."

"Uh ok I'll try to not let you down," he said.

Hera smiled at them and stood up. "It's the left door you both need to go down."

"Thank you Lady Hera we appreciate your help," Malcolm said as he got up and bowed.

"What a polite boy I'll let your mother know she as a good son," Hera said with a smile before disappearing.

"Wow I never thought that I would meet Lady Hera on my first quest," Malcolm said rubbing his head. "I thought I would do something stupid."

He laughed, "Don't worry you did fine. Come on we should get going."

Malcolm nodded and with that they headed down the left door.

Thalia kissed Luke one last time before getting dressed for the day. "Well today is the day I leave for California."

Luke nodded his gaze betraying the sorrow in them. "Lord Kronos didn't reveal to me what you are doing but please be safe."

She nodded. "I will. When this is all over we'll be together again."

Luke nodded and said nothing as they got dressed. She winced as pain from her stomach sent a wave of nausea throughout her body.

"You ok?" Luke asked.

"Yeah just tired," she said wincing at the wall. Maybe it was something I ate? Her stomach had been acting weird this last month and she had been feeling oddly tired.

After grabbing her things they went out and found Annabeth. The daughter of Athena looked thinner than she last saw her. "Are you sure you have to leave?" Annabeth asked softly as the two hugged each other.

She held Annabeth tightly. "I'll be back I promise. We are a family don't forget that."

Annabeth nodded her eyes no longer had that luster to them that they had when they were young. After saying her goodbyes she entered the dark car and drove off.

"Thalia Grace you will soon do a special mission and you will be reunited with the one you lost," Kronos said in her head.

She winced but nodded. Jason if you are out there I will find you and keep you safe from harm.