A/N: Here's chapter 21. Lot's of things happen in this chapter. The Battle of the Labyrinth is the next and last of ARC II.
BIANCA landed on her feet in the garden of the Gods, and immediately peeled off the wings. She hated the feeling of being in the air. Sure it was exhilarating and it felt amazing, but it also felt dangerous, and she couldn't help but think that she was giving herself up to be at Zeus' mercy. She couldn't stop thinking about how he could strike her down at anytime if she was off the ground.
Nico landed beside her, and then Luke came next, followed closely by Zoë and Rachel. It was late afternoon and the place was empty. Hurriedly, they ripped off the metal wings and stashed them into the bushes. Bianca found herself staring in the direction they had come from, but the workshop was gone. There was no window, no smoke or fire. Just the hill.
"It's moved," Nico came up next to her, his voice impossibly soft. Bianca turned to face him slightly, smiling, that he was finally with her and safe. She reached out and pulled him into a hug once more. They didn't speak, they didn't communicate, but he hugged her just as tightly. When they finally pulled away, he spoke. "Minos tricked me into thinking Father wanted me to raise Mum from the dead. If I hadn't gone along with him Athena wouldn't have found me and Daedalus." He looked down, and she could tell he was blinking back tears. "And I fell for it because I wanted to remember. I wanted to know about my life before Westover, and I'm sorry that you all almost got killed because of me."
"This isn't your fault," Bianca said soothingly, repeating her words for what seemed like the sixth time that day. She squeezed his shoulder and said, "I also don't remember much before the Lotus Casino, but—"
"Wait, hold up," Luke's voice interrupted her. 'The Lotus Casino? That's they hotel you were in?" His face was impossibly white, and Bianca's brow furrowed in confusion. Nico nodded in response and Luke swore.
"Okay, Bianca, who's the President, now?" The son of Hermes asked.
Bianca sighed in exasperation. "Do we really have time for this?"
"Just answer the question," Luke said, voice insistent. "A couple of years ago, Annabeth, Thalia, Grover and I got trapped there. It's designed so you never want to leave. We stayed there for about an hour. When we came out, five days had passed." He paused. "So I want you to answer the question. Who's the President?"
Bianca frowned. It couldn't be possible. Time hadn't sped up when they had been in the Hotel. It had barely been a week. Folding her arms, she mentioned the correct name of the President.
"And who was the president before that?" Zoë stepped forward. Her lips were in a thin line and she looked worried.
"F.D.R," Bianca shrugged. "Franklin Roosevelt."
Luke swore. Rachel arched an eyebrow and Zoë ran a hand through her hair. "Bianca," She said, slowly. "F.D.R was the President seventy years ago."
Bianca stiffened, and she felt Nico do the same beside her. She felt her blood freeze and everything seemed to be going in slow-motion. Shock slammed into her and her mouth fell open. "That's not possible." She whirled on Zoë. "Do I look seventy to you?"
The huntress swallowed. Rachel looked as shocked as Bianca felt. Nico was standing still, surprise etched on his face. "Minos didn't mention this…" He murmured. Bianca's brother lifted his head. "So we were born eighty-something years ago. That's what you're saying."
Luke shoved his hands into his pockets. "Look, we'll discuss more when we get back to Camp. We'll have to speak with Chiron."
"How do we get back into the Maze?" Rachel spoke up, brushing a stray strand of red hair from her eyes. Bianca gazed towards Pikes Peak in the distance, still not able to comprehend what the others had told her.
"Maybe we cannot," Zoë answered her. "Daedalus' life force is tied to the maze. If he died in that battle, then it means the entire Labyrinth might've been destroyed. Maybe that will stop Annabeth's invasion."
Bianca's mind drifted to Clarisse and Grover, still trapped down there, still searching for the Lost god of the Wild. But Daedalus…she didn't know how, but she could feel that he wasn't dead.
"You feel it too," Nico spoke up, examining Bianca. She nodded and turned to the others. 'The Inventor isn't dead."
"How can you be sure?" Rachel asked.
'We're children of Hades," Her brother answered, matter-of-factly. "We know when people die. I get this feeling…like a buzzing in my ear."
"We have to get into town," Luke decided. "With Rachel's help, we can get into Camp quicker than by land."
"Or we could just take a plane," The mortal suggested.
"No," Nico quipped, voice hard. "The children of the Big Three can't mess with our godly parent's domains. We've already flown for a few minutes and we got lucky. Zeus would strike us down if we attempted it a second time."
"He is right," Zoë contributed. "The Maze is the quickest possible way."
"We need a car to take us into the city," Bianca voiced. She glanced around at them, and took note of the grimace Rachel made, as she said, "I can handle that."
"How?" Bianca queried.
"Just…trust me," She said, tiredly. "I can get us a ride."
"Okay," Luke nodded. "Okay. I'm going to buy a prism in the gift shop, to try to make a rainbow, so I can send an iris-message to Camp."
"I'll come with," Nico said. "I'm hungry." Bianca didn't want to leave her brother once again, but she offered to go with the mortal girl, while Zoë announced her intent to send a message to Lady Artemis. They split up then, Bianca and Rachel heading towards the parking lot. Rachel fiddled with her hair as she walked, the nervousness rolling off her in waves.
They walked toward a big black car parked at the edge of the parking lot. It was a chauffeured Lexus, and the driver was leaning on the hood, reading a newspaper. He wore a dark suit and a tie.
"Do you know what you're doing?" Bianca asked doubtfully. How did Rachel expect to get a lift from a random stranger?
"Just wait here," She said, her voice oozing with discomfort. Bianca watched with an eyebrow raised as she ambled over to the driver and began talking to him. He frowned as she gestured with her hands, and then turned pale and hastily folded up his paper. He nodded and fumbled for his cell phone. Bianca watched in mild surprise as he made a call and then opened the back door of the car for Rachel to get in.
She watched in confusion as Rachel turned and pointed to her, and the driver continued nodding eagerly, like he had been handed lottery numbers. Rachel turned, and walked back towards Bianca, just as Nico, Luke and Zoë returned.
"I talked to Chiron," The son of Hermes announced. "They're preparing for battle, but he still wants us back. Did we find a ride?"
"The driver is ready," Rachel motioned towards the Black Lexus, whose driver was talking to another guy in shorts and a t-shirt.
"Lady Artemis has demanded our return too," Zoë declared. 'Athena and Aphrodite are probably going to be at the battle, along with Lelantos, and so Artemis and Apollo will be there to step in in case they interfere."
"Come on," Rachel said. She turned and led them towards the car. They jumped in, all of them ignoring the man who had rented it in the first place and was arguing with the driver. The seats were leather, and the car was extremely spacious. The backseat had a TV built into the headrests and a mini-fridge stocked with bottled water, sodas and snack. Bianca picked a bag of chips and a can of soda and began eating.
"Where to, Miss Dare?" The driver asked, hopping into the car.
"Uh, I'm not sure," Rachel said uneasily. 'Just, drive through town, I guess." The driver didn't argue. A minute later they were cruising down the road and driving through Colorado Springs.
After about an hour of driving they headed north towards Denver. The atmosphere was tense. They were losing time. Right as they were leaving Colorado Springs, Rachel ordered the driver to get off the highway. Robert, which was his name, swerved across traffic and took the exit. They drove through a road with nothing around except hills, grassland and some farm buildings. Finally, the mortal girl pointed, 'There!" Bianca's eyes travelled to a hole in the side of a nearby hill. A tunnel boarded up and chained.
'It's an old mine entrance," Nico said, stating the obvious.
"And a door to the labyrinth," Rachel announced. She thanked the driver and jumped out of the car. Bianca was after her in a second. The man didn't ask for money, or anything else. With a promise to be around whenever Rachel needed help, he drove away.
The museum seemed to be closed, so no one bothered them as they climbed up a hill to the mine shaft. When they got to the entrance Bianca spotted the Mark of Daedalus. Bianca vaguely wondered how Rachel had seen it from such a long distance. She shook her head to clear her thoughts as Luke moved forward. The son of Hermes reached out and touched the Delta. It glowed blue and the hole opened up.
In a few minutes they were back inside the Labyrinth.
-X-
LUKE followed Rachel as she raced through the tunnels. Around them the dirt was turning into stone. They wound around and split off and tried to confuse them but the mortal girl had no trouble finding their path. They told her their destination—New York, and from there they just kept running through the Maze—no breaks.
Finally, they came to a stop at a crossroads. The tunnel continued straight head, but a side tunnel T'd off to the right. Rachel was looking at both tunnels with hooded eyes. 'What's wrong?" Luke asked.
"Is it that way?" Bianca stepped forward, pointing towards the right tunnel.
"No," Rachel said. Her voice sounded shaky. Nervous.
"Why did we stop, then?" Zoë demanded.
'Wait," Nico spoke up. "Listen." Luke's ears perked up and he heard the wind coming down the tunnel, as if there was an exit somewhere close. He inhaled, and then stiffened.
"Eucalyptus trees," Zoë voiced. "California."
"There's something evil down there," Rachel said uneasily, sending shivers down Luke's spine. "Something evil and powerful."
"And death," Nico's voice was impossibly low. "The place reeks of death." Luke exchanged a glance with Zoë. They both knew what that meant. "Annabeth's entrance," The huntress guessed. "Mount Tam." Luke's mind drifted to Thalia, who had tried to kill him just a few hours ago. And Annabeth, who was about to lead a strike force through the Maze to decimate and destroy Camp Half-Blood.
"Thalia could be down there," He said, turning to glance down the tunnel. "Or-or Kronos. Or Annabeth." He turned to them. "We have to check it out." He felt uncertain, but he had to stay strong. If he could get to Thalia…if there was even a chance that she could be saved…he had to take it. He had to try everything in his power to take her back to Camp Half-Blood.
Luke led them down the tunnel. They moved swiftly, attempting not to make any noise as they walked. Before they even got to the exit they heard voices. Immediately Luke knew what they were. Telekhines.
"At least we salvaged the blade," One was saying. "Lord Kronos will reward us bountifully."
Another voice, this one more human, said, "Um, yeah, that's great and all, but if you're done with me…"
"No, half-blood!" A telekhine snarled. "You must help us make the presentation. It is a great honour!" Nico stiffened and hissed under his breath.
"That voice," He whispered. "I know that voice." It took a second but Luke realised it too. He had spoken to the boy many times before in the Hermes Cabin. Ethan Nakamura.
They crept towards the end of the tunnel. A blast of cold air hit Luke as they emerged. They were standing near the top of Mount Tam. The Pacific spread out below them, under the cloudy sky. Twenty feet downhill, two telekhines were placing something on a big rock. Something long and thin, wrapped in a black cloth. Nakamura stood awkwardly at the side, fiddling with his fingers.
Luke glanced up at the mountain's peak, where a black fortress loomed. The Titan's Palace was rebuilding itself. Above them, the sky swirled into a huge funnel cloud. He couldn't see Atlas, but he could hear him groaning and swearing in the distance.
"There!" A telekhine said. "Done." He lifted the weapon and Luke turned as straight as a board. They were staring at a scythe, six-foot long with a curved blade like a cresent moon, with a wooden handle. The blade glinted in two different colours—steel and bronze. It was Kronos' scythe.
"We must purify it in your blood," A telekhine hissed to Ethan. "Then you shall help present it when the Lady awakens." Luke turned to the others. He knew similar thoughts were running through their heads. They had to stop Kronos before things got out of hand. He took in a deep breath, accepting the choice he was about to make.
They had to kill Annabeth.
Luke nodded and as one they turned and dashed towards the fortress. They raced through a dark foyer and into the main hall. The floor shined, pure black. Statues lined the walls—images of the Titans who had ruled before the goods. At the end of the room, between two bronze braziers was a dais. And on it, was a golden sarcophagus.
The room was silent. Annabeth was nowhere to be found. There were no guards. Thalia was absent.
Luke turned to glance at Zoë. The former nymph nodded at him and he approached the dais. The coffin was just like he remembered. Imposing, and pulsing, carved with detailed scenes of death and destruction. It gave off an aura of extreme cold as they surrounded it. Luke drew his weapon.
A million thoughts raced through his mind. Kronos had taken Thalia from him. He had stolen Annabeth and used his former best friend. And now he was threatening Camp Half-Blood. He was going to destroy Luke's home. He could'n't allow that to happen. Luke reached forward and touched the lid. His fingers turned blue. He pushed open the lid, ignoring the hissing voice coming from around the sarcophagus. He lifted his sword but then stopped, eyes wide, a gasp coming out of his throat.
"What?" Nico asked hurriedly. "What's wrong?" Luke blinked in shock, his sword slipping from his hand. Whatever he had expected, it wasn't this. The daughter of Athena lay in the sarcophagus meant for Kronos, hands folded over her stomach. One piece of her chest was missing—a black hole the size of a bullet wound, right where her heart should have been.
Annabeth's eyes were closed, skin pale, blonde hair around her like a halo. And she was glowing. She was glowing gold.
Luke heard a laugh from behind him and spun. His blood turned to ice, his heart clenching. At the entrance they had come from was Thalia, leaning on the wall, her spear in hand. And she was staring right at them.
-X-
ZOË let an arrow fly, and with a simple laugh the daughter of Zeus leaned back, making the shot go wide. Her arrow slammed into a wall, shattering on impact and sending sparks down the marble. The lieutenant of Artemis narrowed her eyes and notched another arrow in her bow.
"Enough of the weapons," Thalia said harshly, waving with her hand. "If I wanted you dead, you would all be dead by now." When no one spoke, she continued, "Did you really think we would be so stupid as to leave Annabeth lying around with no protection whatsoever? I mean, I would have expected the rest of you to think that, but Luke. I thought you were smarter than that."
She heard a sharp intake of breath behind her and Castellan was moving forward. "I promised you I would do whatever I could to free you from Kronos' grasp. You're coming back to Camp with us, so the gods can figure out a way to break that spell." Zoë frowned to herself. She hadn't wanted to point it out but it was clear that Thalia wasn't under anyone's control. She appeared normal enough, except the part about wanting to kill them.
Thalia let out another harsh laugh, throwing her head back. "You don't get it, do you?" She paused, spinning her spear in her hands. "There's no spell, there's no compulsion. I'm doing this because I'm sick of the Olympians. I'm tired of fighting to get their attention." There was a strange glint in her eye, one which Zoë could not read.
"I don't believe you," Luke gritted his teeth. "The Thalia I know would never do this."
"Then maybe you don't know me all that well," She announced, eyes flashing dangerously. Zoë's fingers twitched. She was itching to release her arrow. She could see it from a mile away, that Luke was in love with Thalia, and he would not accept the fact that she was willingly working for Kronos. Not until there was solid proof.
A look of hurt flashed on Luke's face and he pursed his lips. Thalia rolled her eyes, and clapped her hands. Zoë's ears twitched when she heard the footsteps. Telekhines, dozens of them, flooded the room. The daughter of Zeus didn't turn to look at them. She just motioned towards Zoë and the others, saying, "Get them away from Annabeth, and present the gifts immediately."
Thalia's spear retracted back into its mace canister as the monsters bared their teeth. Zoë spotted four of them holding out something—the scythe they had just seen. The daughter of Zeus at the entry way smiled at them, and turned to Luke once more. "Did you know, after that explosion on Mt. St. Helens, I landed on Ogygia.? Luke looked stricken, his mouth forming a small O, eyebrows raised impossibly high.
"I spent a whole year with Percy," She smiled once more, expression shifting from slightly-mad to wistful. Zoë almost gagged. She had seen that look on many young maidens, many times before. "It was just one week out here, in the mortal world," The black haired girl said, shrugging. "But it was a year on the Island, and if there's even a small chance of me betraying Kronos, it'll be if he tells me to. And we all know that's not happening because he can't get off the Island." She laughed and turned to the beasts which were quickly surrounding them. "Deal with them. No one leaves here alive."
Zoë studied Thalia more critically. The girl's eyes met hers and she smiled wryly. "Kronos attacks in a few hours, you know. Camp will be destroyed. You won't get to tell them that Aphrodite and Athena are leading the charge with a barrier to stop your first attacks. Or that Lelantos, Hecate and Eris will be there to fight. Or that the Aphrodite and Athena cabins, along with the unclaimed demigods and the children of the minor gods will be turning on everyone else in camp."
The daughter of Zeus laughed out loud, and without another word, the blue eyed demigod spun on her heel as the monsters of the sea surged forward.
-X-
NICO barely took note of the battle raging around him. He jerked when he felt a hand on his shoulder and spun, swinging his sword wildly. Luke ducked under his swing as Bianca and Zoë fired arrow after arrow into the fray of monsters to keep them at bay. Rachel was practically glued to Luke's side.
Nico looked up, taking note of the determined expression of Luke's face. The son of Hermes' eyes were alight with pure anger but also certainty, and he spoke in hurried words. "You have to get me down to the golden plains."
"What?" Nico asked in confusion. He sidestepped a stray claw and stabbed forward, making a telekhine explode.
In front of him Zoë shouted. 'No! We must kill the daughter of Athena first."
"Annabeth is dead!" Bianca yelled back, although there was doubt in her voice. Nico swung once again, slashing through a monster that had been approaching her at the side. "She looks dead."
"She's not," Nico said in answer. He understood why he could feel these things and Bianca could not. Minos had trained him in the ways of Hades, and he had a stronger grip on his powers than ever before. Bianca hadn't gotten that. Nico didn't know how, but he could feel the raw and mystical energy emanating from the body in the coffin. She was alive, very much so, and she had an ancient thing inside her. Nico understood at once what it was.
"She's fused with Kronos!" He announced over the din. "You can't kill her!"
"We don't have time for this!" Luke snarled. "Do that thing with the shadows. Get me to the Apple Tree!"
"No!" Zoë fired several arrows, not taking her eyes off the monsters. She spun to Luke, eyes lit up in warning. "Do not do anything you might regret later, Luke. Ladon shall take you life! And you do not want to free the son of Gaea! We are not entirely sure who he fight for!"
"He's the only one that can help Thalia!" Luke sounded enraged now. "Nico! Get me there, now!"
The monsters were much more them now. It seemed as though everything in the castle had come to fight. Nico watched in panic as Ethan Nakamura, a boy he had shared the floor of the Hermes cabin with, once, raced forward, with the telekhines holding the scythe. "Stop them!" Zoë ordered. Rachel attempted to move, but a stream of empousa blocked her path.
"I can't get a clear shot!" Bianca sounded frustrated.
Nico could hear the words Ethan was saying now. "I renounce the gods! What have they ever done for me? I will see them destroyed! I will serve Kronos!"
The building rumbled. A wisp of blue light rose from the floor at Ethan's feet. It drifted towards the coffin and began to shimmer, as though pure celestial energy had been collected into it. It descended onto the sarcophagus.
Annabeth Chase bolted upright. Her eyes flew open, and they were no longer grey like Nico remembered from Westover. They were golden, the same colour as they coffin. The hole in her chest was gone. Annabeth leaped out of the coffin with ease and where her feet touched the floor, the marble froze like ice.
"Nico…." Luke sounded worried, and panicked.
Nico dodged a strike from a sword and impaled his assailant, a dracaena. Annabeth's eyes travelled to Ethan and then swept over the battle occurring in the room. She looked at Ethan and the demigods and monsters locked in battle, as though she wasn't sure exactly what she was saying. And then her gaze locked onto Nico and she smiled.
Annabeth held out a hand and the monster army retreated almost immediately. "Nico di Angelo and Luke Castellan," Her voice was hard but full of amusement and not at all like Annabeth's had been. "How nice of you to deliver yourselves to me." She turned to the son of Hermes, complete ignoring the others. The monsters stood still, baring their teeth at them.
"Annabeth loved you," Kronos announced. "And using that love, I turned her against you and your foolish gods. I kept her obedient. I made her crave more power. All thanks to the fact that you could never love her back."
Luke exploded, letting out a roar. He surged forward, slamming his blade through Annabeth's—or rather, Kronos'—chest. The celestial bronze weapon glanced off the the former demigod, the impact throwing Luke back a few feet. The monsters didn't move. Annabeth threw her head back in laughter and reached forward. She flicked her wrists and Luke was hurled into Rachel and Bianca.
Nico felt fear erupt inside him as Annabeth's fingers wrapped around the scythe Ethan and the telekhines held on to. She mumbled something about how the weapon was fitting and would level Olympus.
'What—what have you done with Thalia?" Luke bared his teeth at the Titan.
"You refuse to believe it when she tells you," Annabeth shrugged. "So I do not think my word will mean anything to you, son of Hermes. But Thalia Grace is here of her own free will. After I pressured her to the brink of insanity, of course."
"Liar!" Luke hissed.
Nico felt the tap on his shoulder then. He turned to glance sideways and Bianca mouthing to him, Get us out of here. He nodded subtly, interlocking his fingers with hers. He noticed Zoë, Rachel and Bianca also doing the same. Luke surged forward once more, towards Kronos. The former Athena spawn laughed and snapped her fingers.
Nico didn't know what changed in the room but it felt as if a heavy cold had descended on them. Luke was moving sluggishly, eyes wide in shock, whiles Kronos laughed.
"No!" Rachel yelled. "Luke!" Something sailed past them—a blue plastic hairbrush, and nailed Kronos in the eye.
"Argh!" It was a girl's voice this time. Annabeth's, full of surprise and pain. The son of Hermes turned, suddenly moving with lightning speed. He grabbed on to Nico's shoulder and yelled, "Now!"
"AFTER THEM!" Nico heard Annabeth yell. The son of Hades didn't think about the monsters. He called forth the shadows, and summoned the darkness. Blackness engulfed them, the yells of Kronos and his army resounding dissonantly as they disappeared.
-X-
LUKE let go of Nico immediately his feet hit the ground. Around them the Hesperides shimmered into existence and the dragon Ladon awoke. Luke paid them no heed. He rushed forward, reaching out with his hand and thanking the gods that Nico had taken them right under Hera's apple tree, where the sword sat.
He didn't have time to double think it. He couldn't afford to waste any more time. He just had to act, no matter the consequences. He had seen it when Thalia had spoken, and although it was a hard pill to swallow, he knew that he couldn't save Thalia alone. She would only leave Kronos if Percy asked her to, and Luke was about to take a risk. He didn't know if Percy would choose to side with her against the gods or if he would try to convince her otherwise, but he didn't care. Any chance to bring back his best friend, even if she was in love with the Titan of the Earth, he would take it.
Percy was their best shot at saving Olympus from Kronos, and saving Thalia. Luke's fingers curled around the sword. It glowed golden, calling out to him as it had many months ago. Without hesitation he pulled out Soul Reaper.
-X-
PERSEUS sat bolt upright when the bed he was lying on dissolved. He shot to his feet, heart pounding in his chest when the earthquake started. He knew he hadn't caused it. Whatever was happening, he didn't know. He raced out of the cave, just in time to see the beach fade out of existence and into dust. Around him the Island was turning to mist, everything was disappearing, and Perseus felt a sudden apprehension and trepidation take hold of him.
What was happening? He spun on his reel, racing back inside the cave. He grabbed Anaklusmos from its place at the wall just as the entire cave shimmered out of existence. The earth shook, and he looked up. Thunder boomed and clouds were gathering up ahead. It was raining, and lightning struck.
Perseus turned around in a circle. Whatever was going, it was either the end of the world, or the beginning of a new one.
He shut his eyes and let the rain wash over him, feeling himself dissolve as the water hit his face.
The Titan of the Earth reappeared in a familiar golden plain. He glanced around quickly, eyes widening when he spotted Luke, holding his former sword by the hilt. He heard a roar and spun, spotting the hundred rearing heads above him. He caught sight of Zoë, and the two di Angelos, and another girl, with red hair, dodging heads of the dragon assaulting them.
Above them roars were coming. Perseus looked up, and swore when he saw the monster army streaming down the side of the Mountain from a familiar black fortress. "You have to get out out of here!" Luke's voice snapped him out of his thoughts and the Titan didn't nodded quickly. The demigod had saved him and the least he could do was make sure he lived.
Perseus raised his hands, calling to the power of the Earth. He felt energy and pure power engulf him, something he hadn't felt in millennia. He let out a primal roar and the ground around him split into two. Perseus' voice reverberated across the entire plain as he shouted, "Jump in!" A hole was forming out of the ground and he watched as Luke dived in, closely followed by the daughter of Atlas. Nico and his sister jumped in next, and last, the redhead girl leaped into the hole.
Perseus looked up, feeling the wind against his skin and the sunlight shining on him. His eyes travelled to the fortress, the Palace he had resided in years ago. He caught sight of the girl standing on a balcony, her golden eyes filled with rage and fury, blonde hair billowing in the wind. Kronos stared down at him, as if daring him to oppose him.
Without waiting to see what his brother would do, Perseus lowered his hands, and jumped into the hole.
XMX
PERSEUS and the mortal girl, Rachel, guided the others through the Labyrinth. He had opened a path for them through the hole and they had run until they were exhausted. Rachel, who had no magical powers whatsoever managed to steer them away from traps and monsters, although he did not understand how. When they finally came to a stop, everyone was panting, except Perseus, who was feeling refreshed.
He leaned against a wall and folded his arms. The others hadn't acknowledged him much in their escape from Othrys. All of them had remained silent, focusing on running, but now he was finally going to get some answers, it seemed. Luke approached him before the Titan could speak, however, handing Soul Reaper to him hilt first.
The others stiffened, and the son of Gaea could feel their gazes on him, trying to see what he would do next. He could feel the power rolling off the sword in waves, and yes, he had missed it so so much, but now, looking at it, being handed over to him…
"I don't want it," He said, voice barely audible.
Luke looked confused. "What?"
Perseus shook his head, reaching out and closing Luke's fingers around the sword. "You pulled it out. So you keep it."
"But, it's your- It's your symbol of power," The son of Hermes looked genuinely astounded.
"Which I do not want anymore," Perseus arched an eyebrow at the demigod. Was English that hard to understand? "Keep it," He repeated. "I have this." At that he motioned to the sword at his side, and saw recognition flash in Zoë's eyes. She didn't speak however, just nodded to him.
Perseus folded his arms now. "I'm not going to question why you did it," He said, glancing around at each of them in turn. 'But I need to know what happened. I thought you swore never to release me."
"I did," Luke agreed. "But things have changed."
"How so?" Perseus was burning to ask the question which had been nagging at him since they had started running. Where was Thalia? He knew, that wherever Luke went, the daughter of Zeus was always nearby. And he missed her, terribly. It had been about two months on Ogygia since se=he had left.
Luke took in a deep breath, and Perseus frowned when he saw the defeat but acceptance in the demigod's eyes. When Luke looked up, he said, "Thalia is working for Kronos." At that Perseus blanched. He turned stiff, eyes going impossibly wide. Shock engulfed him.
"What?" His voice was harsh. "This isn't the time for jokes, Luke."
"He does not joke," Zoë spoke up. "The Prophecy child has allied with our family."
Perseus felt as though the wind had been knocked out of him. He shook his head, and said, "You're going to have to explain every thing to me. Now." And so they did. They told him, everything about their quest, and their encounters with Kronos and Thalia, and Daedalus. Finally, Luke voiced, "Thalia said the only way she'll come back to Olympus' side was if you asked her to. And so I pulled out the Sword." He was staring at the Titan now, critically. "It's time for you to make a decision."
Perseus didn't bat an eyelid. "I'm remaining neutral in this war," He bit his lip, "Thalia knows that."
"And yet she said only you can convince her not to help Kronos destroy Olympus," Bianca di Angelo said, eyes narrowed. Perseus couldn't wrap his head around it. He and Thalia had discussed this so many times. He had told her to ally with Kronos to stop her dreams and visions and she had refused. When she was leaving she had said she had to face her fears. She had said she couldn't help the others if she stayed with him. So how could she just switch sides like that?
He finally came to a decision, turning to look the blond haired demigod in the eyes. "We need to get to your Camp. I have to speak with Chiron."
"We need to find Thalia," Luke said adamantly.
"No—" Zoë snapped. "We almost died because you wanted to see Thalia. We have to go help in the coming battle."
"But—"
"Guys," Nico's voice cut through their arguments. He was standing a few feet away from them, in front of a tunnel, eyes trained on something on the ground. A clump of red fabric.
"Grover," Luke's sounded horrified.
"What?" Perseus frowned in confusion.
"We have to go," The son of Hermes said. "Grover and Clarisse are down there. We have to find them." Perseus didn't argue. Mind still filled with doubt and uncertainty, he followed them into the darkness.
-X-
CLARISSE looked up when she heard the footsteps. Heart pounding she removed her left arm from around the satyr and reached for her spear. They couldn't deal with monsters. Not now. Not when they were too weak to fight back. The water gushed behind them, and Clarisse turned stiff, waiting for whatever was coming their way again.
Her eyes widened when she spotted the blond haired son of Hermes darting into the cave. Luke was quickly followed by Nico, then his sister Bianca, Zoë Nightshade, a redhead girl Clarisse had never seen before, and the Titan who had given them Hermes' message all those weeks ago—Perseus.
Clarisse felt herself relaxing, something she found she hadn't been able to do since they had gotten separated from the daughter of Hades.
"Clarisse!" Luke yelled her name and raced for them. The daughter of Ares felt relief engulf her. She adjusted her body, so the satyr was lying in her lap. He was trembling all over, as though he had fallen into icy water, which he definitely hadn't.
"What happened?" Bianca sounded panicked as they gathered around Grover and Clarisse. Clarisse shook her head, involuntarily flashing back to everything that had happened since they had entered that dirt tunnel.
"So many things," She murmured. "A basilisk. Cynocephali. Dogs. Swordsmen. We got close to here, and Grover got excited. He ran and we reached this room and he fell on the rocks and lost consciousness." Clarisse had been told, that the last time Grover had passed out, he had felt the presence of the Lost god.
She looked up as the redhead shined a flashlight around the cavern. The rocks were glittering and at the far end was the entrance to another cave, flanked by diamonds.
"Grover," Luke knelt down and gently shook the satyr. "Grover, wake up." The satyr moaned, mumbling incoherently. Clarisse had been trying to wake him up for what felt like hours now. He hadn't responded.
"Let me," A voice said. The daughter of Ares looked up as the Titan shouldered his way next to her. She tensed, expecting him to attack—he was a Titan, after all. And none of them ever had good intentions. But the green eyed being didn't do anything of the sort. He bent next to Grover and began murmuring in a language Clarisse did not know.
He reached out, laying a hand on the satyr. The man's hands glowed green. Grover's eyes flew open and he sat up with a gasp.
"What? Luke? Bianca? Where—"
"You passed out," Clarisse said flatly, dropping him.
Grover's head hit the rock once more and he yelped in pain. Clarisse rolled her eyes standing. She folded her arms and glanced to the side, where the entrance to the second cave was. Relief flooded her once more. Grover was okay. "We have to go down that," Perseus' voice broke her out of musings. "Pan is down there. I can sense him."
-X-
GROVER barely paid any attention as Luke made the introductions. He leaned on Luke and together, they all waded across the river and towards the entrance to the cave.
"We're in Carlsbad Caverns," Zoë spoke up, teeth gritted. "An unexplored section."
"How do you know?" Clarisse queried. Grover would honestly never forget
everything that had gone down. Clarisse had protected him at every turn, and saved his life too many times to count. He wasn't a fighter, and if it hadn't been for the daughter of Ares, he had a feeling he would have been a bush or flower or plant by now.
"The hunt was here, once before," Zoë said, shrugging. "We were pursuing a drakon which had an underground lair. Also, Carlsbad is in New Mexico. That would explain last winter." Luke nodded in understanding. They got out of the water and continued moving. The diamond pillars loomed closer and the satyr felt anticipation and expectancy fill him. He knew that it had been more than one week, but he had to be the one to bring back Pan. If he didn't, his searcher's license would be revoked and he would never get the opportunity to do so again.
Grover's skin tingled. He could feel the power emanating from the cave, and could feel himself growing stronger. The scent coming from the cave smelled of trees and flowers and a warm summer day, and wet earth after rain, like how the Titan with them smelled.
He whimpered in excitement. When they stepped into the cave, Luke let out a whistle of appreciation. The walls glittered with crystals of different colours. In the strange light, plants grew—orchids, star-shaped flowers, vines bursting with orange and purple berries. The floor was covered with green moss. The ceiling was higher than a cathedral, and glittered like stars. In the centre of the cave sat a bed, gilded wood shaped like a U, with velvet cushions. Animals lounged around it—a dodo bird, a wolf-tiger hybrid, a huge guinea pig and a wooly mammoth. On the bed lay an old satyr.
Grover tensed in expectancy and pushed away from Luke. He hobbled forward, eyes wide. The satyr watched as he approached, blue eyes focused on them. His curly hair was white and so was his pointed beard. Even the goat fur was grey. His horns were huge, glossy brown and curved. Around his neck hung a set a reed pipes.
Grover fell to his knees in excitement. "Lord Pan," He whispered reverently.
The god smiled, kindly, but his eyes were sad. "Grover," He wheezed. "My dear, brave satyr. I have waited a long time for you."
"I—" Grover's throat clogged up. His eyes brimmed with tears. It was finally happening. "I got lost."
Pan laughed, the melodious sound—like the first breeze of springtime, filling the whole cavern. The tiger-wolf sighed. The dodo bird pecked at Pan's hooves affectionately. Grover's eyes moved back to the Lost god's face. He looked tired. His whole form shimmered as if he were made of Mist.
Grover glanced around him. Luke, Zoë, Bianca, Nico, Clarisse and even Rachel were kneeling. The Titan stood over at the side, arms folded, an expressionless mask on his face.
"My Lord," Grover said. "You must come back with me. Please. The Elders will never believe it! They'll be overjoyed! The wild can be saved!"
Pan placed a hand on Grover's head and ruffled his curly hair. The satyr smiled sadly. "You are so young, Grover. So good, and true. I chose well."
"Chose?" His chest constricted. He wanted to make Pan sit up and teleport them back to Camp. "I—I don't get it."
Pan's image flickered, momentarily turning to smoke. The giant guinea pig dove under the bed. The mammoth grunted. The dodo her head under her wing. Then the god reformed.
"He's fading," Perseus' voice reached Grover's ears. "His time in this world has come to a close."
"You are correct, my dear old friend," The god said, voice weary. "It is a pity, that we did not get to fight one last time, even if it was on the same side." He turned back to Grover. "I have slept for many eons. My dreams are dark. I wake, but each time it is shorter. Now the end is near."
"What?" Horror filled the younger satyr. No…Pan couldn't be dying. Gods couldn't die! "No!"
"My dear satyr," Pan said softly. "I tried to tell the world, years ago. I announced it to Lysas, a satyr much like yourself. He tried to spread the word."
"Yes," Zoë spoke, tilting her head to the side. 'I was there, at the time. We heard a voice crying from the shore, "Tell them the great god Pan is dead.""
"But that wasn't true!" Grover argued, turning to glare at her. "Pan didn't die!"
"Your kind never believed it, yes," Pan said. "You refused to accept my passing. And I love you for that, but you only delayed the inevitable. You prolonged my long, painful passing. It must end, one way or another."
Grover felt a hand on his shoulder. It was soothing and reassuring. He was trembling all over as the meaning of Pan's words reached him. "You must accept the truth," Pan said. "Your companions, Nico, Bianca, and Perseus. They understand."
"He's dying," Perseus repeated. Grover realised that it was his hand on his shoulder. "He should have died long ago. This..this is a mere memory." He paused. "You have to accept his passing, and move on."
"But-gods can't die," Grover refused to accept it. He couldn't. Not when he had come so close.
"They can fade," Perseus continued, "When everything they stood for is gone. The same with Titans. When they cease to have power, or their sacred places disappear." He glanced towards Pan, continuing, "Even on Ogygia I could feel it. When I came to the modern world through the dreams…I saw what was happening. The wild is connected to the earth, and therefore apart of my realm. I could feel it decimating over the eons. It is so small now, so shattered, that no god can save it."
"He is correct," Pan said. "My realm is gone. That is why I need you to carry a message. You must go back to the council. You must tell the satyrs, and the dryads, and the other nature spirits, that the great god Pan is dead. Tell them everything you have witnessed here. Because they must stop waiting for me to save them. Each of you must take up my calling."
"No!" He was whimpering now, clutching at straws. If Pan was gone, who would protect the wild? Who would save the earth?
"Be strong," Pan continued, "You have found me. And now you must release me, and carry on my spirit. It can no longer be carried by a god. It must be taken up by all of you." His gaze swept across the entire cavern.
"Luke Castellan," He turned to the son of Hermes. "I know what you think you had encountered today. But there is a reason everything happens and there is a reason your friend allied herself with the Titans. Do not give up on her and do not be quick to judge her."
He focused on Zoë and Bianca. "Continue doing what you have been sworn to do. Continue to protect what is left of the wild. Your time will come soon, and you will each play a great role. Daughter of Hades. You will not be ruled by fear. And handmaiden of Artemis, the role you play will be of the utmost importance, though it may not be the one you imagined."
The atmosphere was subdued and morbid. He turned to Clarisse. "Brave Warrior, the clash of swords call to you. Do not despair. The one you love still has hope, and can still be saved. You must not fight so hard to please those who will not acknowledge you. It is what led Athena's daughter into Kronos' trap. Follow your heart, and your weapon shall go with you. Your name shall live among the demigods for generations."
"And Miss Rachel Dare," He paused and Grover saw the mortal girl flinch. She backed up like she was guilty of something, but Pan smiled. He raised his hand. "I know you believe you cannot make amends. But you are just as important as you father."
"I—" Rachel looked miserable. A tear fell down her cheek. "I know you don't believe this now. But opportunities will come."
"Nico di Angelo," He smiled kindly at the boy. "Your father will be proud of the person you will become. You shall have success in everything you attempt. And as for your past…you shall discover everything when the time is right. Do not despair."
"Perseus," He addressed the Titan. "I know you have regretted your actions and seek no conflict. And for that I thank you. Your heart is in a good place now, and I hope that you shall continue to be good to all demigods as you have been since last winter. I hope you shall continue to protect Thalia Grace and her friends from your family." Perseus nodded stiffly.
Pan finally turned back to Grover. "My dear satyr," He managed. "Will you carry my message?"
Grover felt tears blur his vision. He shook his head, still trembling in refusal.
"I—I can't."
"You can," Pan said. "You are the strongest and the bravest. You have believed in me more than anyone ever has, which is why you must bring the message, and why you must be the first to release me."
"I don't want to."
"I know," the god said. "But my name, Pan...originally it meant rustic. Did you know that? But over the years it has come to mean all. The spirit of the wild must pass to all of you now. You must tell each one you meet: if you would find Pan, take up Pan's spirit. Remake the wild, a little at a time, each in your own corner of the world. You cannot wait for anyone else, even a god, to do that for you."
Grover wiped his eyes, resignation filling him. He had to accept that Pan was gone. He had to fulfil his last wishes and carry his message. He had to let everyone know. Then slowly he stood. "I've spent my whole life looking for you. Now...I release you."
Pan smiled. "Thank you, dear satyr. My final blessing."
He closed his eyes, and the god dissolved. White mist divided into wisps of energy, and it filled the room. A curl of smoke went straight into Grover's mouth, filling him with energy. He watched as it sailed through the others too, except Perseus, making them all glow softly. The crystals dimmed. The animals gave them a sad look. Then they all turned grey and crumbled to dust. The vines withered. And we were alone in a dark cave, with an empty bed.
"Are...are you okay?" Luke asked him.
He shook his head, a sad smile etched on his face. Grover reached out, and took his cap from Nico, brushed off the mud, and stuck it firmly on his head.
"We should go now," he said, voice impossibly low. "and tell them. The great god Pan is dead."
-X-
PERSEUS followed behind the others as they ran through the maze, his skin tingling at the display he had just seen. And also the nagging thought that he, a Titan, was being led to Camp Half-Blood for whatever reason. And, the fact that Thalia had apparently turned evil and he would have to decide whether to fight against her or for her.
When they got back into the daylight, he squinted, glancing around in confusion. Trying to pinpoint their exact location was hard. He stared as cars moved past and people walked around them, everyone shooting them confused glances. Luke led them into an alley, and then whistled loudly, five times.
A few seconds later Perseus spotted the pegasi shooting towards them out of the sky. The mortal girl marvelled at their beauty as they landed. The horse-birds were familiar. He had seen a couple of them the last time he had been with Thalia and her friends.
"We need a quick ride back to camp, Blackjack," Luke murmured to the inky black pegasus. "Are you up for it?" The horse neighed something about payment in sugar cubes and when Luke gave the signal, everyone saddled up, except Rachel and Perseus. Nico sat behind his sister on one horse, and Clarisse and Zoë were on another. Luke and Grover saddled up onto the black steed.
Perseus wasn't sure exactly what he was supposed to do. He wasn't sure if he would be welcomed in a safe haven for the children of the gods.
"Well," The redhead said. "I guess this is it."
Luke nodded, and his eyes looked a little sad. The son of Hermes glanced at Zoë, then back at the girl. "Thank you so much, Rachel. We couldn't have done this without you."
"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," She smiled. "I mean, except for almost dying, and Pan…" She trailed off, looking down. Perseus tuned them out as they continued talking, and glanced around at the city skyline. Once more he was reminded of how far the world had come and how much everything had changed.
Even he had changed, and he didn't know how to feel about that. Years in solitude had made him different. He desired war no more. He just wanted to see the world and stay somewhere far away from the gods and the Titans. After years and years of being abandoned by the heroines who came to Ogygia, he just wanted someone to be able to share his thoughts with.
He had access to his full power now. He could reawaken skills that had been dormant for thousands of years, and powers that had been repressed for millennia. He was full of the power, but there was also something about him that felt weird. Something that felt very very different. He seemed the same, but…twisted, in some way, on the inside. Foreign.
Yes, he was finally free. But there was a war on the horizon and the gods sure as hell didn't trust him, even after last time. Neither did the Titans, for that matter. He wanted to go into hiding, to avoid all of this, but every time the thought had crossed his mind, he had been reminded of Thalia, probably on her way to her death. He couldn't allow that to happen. He had to see her, one more time, at least to clear the air and ask why she had convinced Luke to free him and why she had sided with his brother.
He was finally free to roam the world and catch up with everything he had missed. But none of the two factions would allow that. He would have to pick a side, soon, and make a decision.
After a few minutes Rachel was gone and everyone's attention was on him. "So what now?" He asked, cocking his head to the side. "I'm remaining neutral in this war, as I've said already. You couldn't possibly want me for anything anymore, and I doubt the gods would appreciate leading me to your camp."
"I don't care what the gods think," Luke said, somewhat fiercely. "Only you can convince Thalia not to stand against Olympus, or at least, not to lead Kronos' forces into the maze to kill us all. You're coming with us."
Perseus didn't know what to think anymore, if he was being honest. On one hand, there was Thalia to consider. On the other, if he asked her to forsake the Titans, it was basically a declaration of him standing against his family, and therefore with the gods.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts. Maybe everything would become clear when he saw her again. Maybe, just maybe, he would now have a chance to be with Thalia after all.
:)