A/N:Haven't updated in ages, sorry! This chapter was interesting to write. Oh and by the way the bull leaping part was an idea from an episode of a series called 'Atlantis' that I've been watching on TV recently, which is set in Ancient Greece and I thought it would link in well with this story.


Chapter 9: Impossible

Melody's POV:

I was lost in thought, when footsteps echoed down the corridor.

I quickly was alert, and hid beside a small table in the corner. In walked two people. There was a girl and a boy, a little older than I.

"She said, get the half-dryad." The girl hissed. "Yes, I know, smarty-pants." Snapped the boy. I felt cold as I realised the girl was another child of Athena. "Well how are we supposed to know which ones which?"

I weighed up my options. I could just scream out to wake them all up, so these would be outnumbered. I could stay hidden in the shadows and listen to find more information. I could creep up behind them, and knock them out.

I opted for my third choice.

Unfortunately, I didn't realise the metal bunks were reflective. As I neared, they saw my reflection in the metal. Both whipped around, and grabbed me. With two blades at my throat, I ran through my options again.

I screamed as loud as I could, hoping my friends would wake up before they could use the blades.


Dan's POV:

We were all relieved when light appeared ahead of us after walking for ages.

"Don't screw up. It's probably going to be a challenge. If we get through, we'll be catching up." Clarisse gruffly said.

Before we could argue with her, a hand grabbed each of us. Some guards dressed in leather armour were suddenly behind us. As light appeared, I could see a Greek amphitheatre.

Clarisse cursed as she looked through the wooden grating door onto a dusty pitch. I knew then this was no theatre play.

"Bull leaping." Clarisse said. "Try use the head as a spring board. Whatever. Just make sure you jump over the whole bull. They'll let us go then."

The crowd roared as we were pushed into the dirt of the amphitheatre.


Percy's POV:

Out of the habit of being alert and practically ready for battle straight after waking up, I was able to jump out of bed quite quickly and knock the boy and girl away. Annabeth, Leo and Jacob were also just as ready, but the others took longer to wake up. However, eight of us cornered these demigods (unfortunately, both were).

That was before the boy whistled through his fingers.

Six more demigods came running into the room. "One on one with all of you, how's that for fair?" A girl smirked.

Fine by me. Something about that girls smirk annoyed me, so I ended up fighting her.


The fights extended to a further dim-lit labyrinth corridor. Everyone was well-matched, so it took ages. But after I knocked the girl out, I turned to see how the other battles were going.

Leo had singed the hair of a girl, who'd scurried away, probably mortified at how un-female she looked without hair. Everybody seemed to have won somehow, by either knocking their opponent out or sending them fleeing. I watched as Larka finished her fight by hitting someone around the face with her huge dragon sword. They collapsed with a bruised jaw. The narrow corridor was littered with unconscious bodies at our feet.

A small blade glistened in the leg of a demigod, in a muscle that's supposed to instantly send someone to sleep. That's when we all realised.

"Where's Darius?" Larka asked.


George's POV:

The bull charged. I could feel my pulse beating. I calmed myself, trying to focus.

Three...

...The bull was nearing...

...Two...

...It was lowering it's head...

...One...

...I stepped forward and used it's head as a springboard, powering myself over its body and landing just behind it. Relief flooded through me. I'd made it! I hurried across to the other side, where a guard stopped me.

"All of you must suceed." He grunted.

So I watched as it charged Dan, one of the people I cared about most.


Dan joined me beside the guard. His arm was limp. He looked like he was in pain.

"Ouch." I said when I looked at it. It was clearly broken from his landing on it awkwardly.

I had no doubts about Clarisse jumping the bull. She'd trained enough.

When she joined us, she growled at the guard. "Let us through, or feel the wrath of Ares."

We stepped back into the maze.


Alex's POV:

Everyone dragged their feet as we walked along. The mood was glum. We didn't bother to examine the next room-most of us, anyway.

"Look." Jacob said.

Everybody followed his gaze to where he was pointing.

In the middle of the empty black room, there was a small jet altar. On the altar stood a cup.

The strange thing was, the cup was full of fire and water. Both at the same time, fire burning underwater.

"That's impossible." I whispered.