Chapter 58

Meeting the Goddess of Maids

"Excuse me?"

"Come now, boy, you aren't hard of hearing. Up! Off your buttocks! If I want my carpets dyed red I'll hire a painter!"

It was a lot to take in, going from fighting to the death to being yelled at in just a few seconds. I stayed seated, taking in the new face.

The woman's age was impossible to pin down— she had the looks of someone in her fifties with the best supernatural skincare routine shaving off decades. Her hair was red. Her eyes, the first thing I noticed, were as blue as spring water. She was scowling. Her foot tapped against the ground, and as I watched she uncrossed her arms to wave a hand.

All of a sudden I was on my feet,. Annabeth had reacted faster and was on her feet before our host lost her temper. Scrub brushes appeared where we'd been laying, scouring the stains we left behind.

"Huh," I said. "Cool trick."

Our host sniffed. "Why I ought to…"

She waved her hand, and I wondered if I should be scared. Instead the still-bleeding cuts on my arm and torso healed in real time. If this was how she treated people she didn't like, I wondered if I should stay on her bad side.

"Oh don't give me that look," she said. "If I left you alone you'd only undo my work. Besides, this is a part of my job."

"I don't mean to offend," Annabeth said, "but what is your job? I can't imagine someone like you being here for something menial…"

"Oh look at you go." Our host smiled. "You, girl, have both good eyes and excellent manners. You could teach your friend a thing or two."

"Hey!" I protested. "My manners are plenty good."

They both looked at me.

"I think he's beyond my help," Annabeth said.

"Most likely," our host agreed sadly.

"Fine. Gang up on me. But at least explain where we are first— I've had way too long a day for this."

The redhead rolled her eyes before taking pity on me.

"My name is Hygeia," she said, chin held high. "Goddess of cleanliness, hygiene, housekeeping, and good health. Quite a list, eh? Everybody loves being healthy, which means that everybody loves me. Feel free to bow."

Annabeth smiled apologetically. "I'd love to, Lady Hygeia, but I wouldn't want to smudge the carpet you just cleaned."

"Yeah," I added. "What she said."

"I'll allow it. As for my job… You're quite correct, a goddess like me would never stoop to menial work. I am, in fact, the general manager of athlete health and hygiene for these games!"

She looked plenty proud. An imaginary wind even blew by to make the white toga she was wearing flap majestically.

"Impressive!" Annabeth said. "What are your responsibilities?"

"Oh, this and that." Hygeia giggled. She flapped her hand airily. "Countering injuries in all forms, to ensure athletes are in top condition. Overseeing production of culinary supplies. Combating the forces of grime across all lodgings. Crucial business."

"So… healing, cooking, and cleaning?" I said. "You sound like a maid."

"Of course I'm not!" she snapped. "Don't be daft."

She shuffled as she said it, pulling at the edges of her toga. She seemed a little… insecure. Combined with the glare she gave me, I decided now was a good time to stop prodding the goddess.

I shifted my attention to study the room. It was cozy. The floor was white carpet, the walls were firm clay. There was a TV in the center, not as big as the one back in the Bronze Regiment base but not far off, either. A couch faced the TV, a recliner to one side and a coffee table to the other, and two doors led out of the room on opposite sides. It reminded me of an upscale apartment.

"Lady Hygeia," Annabeth said once I was done scoping out the room, "if this is where we'll be staying, are there other competitors here as well?"

Her fingers were resting on her sword hilt. I could guess what she was getting at. Are the Proioxis about to burst in to settle the score?

Hygeia must've understood too.

"No need to worry, dear. All partnerships are being kept thoroughly separated. Just because I'm on hand to heal doesn't mean I'm eager for extra work. If you must cut each other to pieces, you'll be doing it in the arena, where it's on full display."

"Considerate," Annabeth said.

"Isn't it? In here, you've nothing to fear. Rest. Study up. On that—" she gestured at the television "—you'll find replays from the other venues. Scoping out the competition has never been easier. Ah! Make sure you don't lose track of time, either." She pointed at a strange clock I could barely make sense of, its lone hand ticking toward the word 'Showtime!' where twelve o'clock should've been. "When that strikes zero, it's time for the next event. Rather important, that."

"Just a little," I said.

"Bedrooms and gym are down the hall. The kitchen is the opposite direction— fully stocked, of course. Just wish for a dish and the cabinets will fill with it. Meals are provided. If you need anything else, ask, but be warned! I cannot provide anything to give you an edge over the competition. No playing favorites, you understand. Speaking of, I'd best get a move on. I've a lot of rooms to stop by."

"Don't let us keep you," Annabeth said.

"Lovely. You're just an angel, aren't you."

Hygeia faded from view with a smile on her face, disappearing into motes of vapor. And just like that, we were alone in our new room.

"Did you want to lay it on any thicker?"

"It worked, didn't it?" Annabeth countered. "You saw her. She already loves me! You never know when getting a goddess on your side will pay off."

"I guess I wouldn't know," I said. "Usually, immortals just try to kill me."

She looked curious. "Sounds like there's a story there."

Oops. My big mouth just had to go and mention something I couldn't explain— it wasn't like I could tell her about Prometheus. Or Pagomenos. Or Eurybia…

"It'd take a long time to tell," I said. "And honestly, I'm about to drop. I think I've been awake for eighteen hours straight."

We went to explore our temporary housing. Annabeth checked out the kitchen while I only had eyes for the bedrooms. There were two, both spacious with queen-sized beds and fresh sheets. I didn't stop to check out the decor. As soon as I saw an empty bed, I was under the covers and comatose.

I could've done without the dreams, but that's the thing about them— they always show up when you want them least.

I was in a corridor, dark except for torches along the walls. Two women walked with their backs to me. One was bent and nervous. The other stood imperiously straight-backed. The duo was a funny sight, like the hunchback of Notre Dame out for drinks with a Parisian fashion model.

"Welcome back, mistress," the nervous one was saying. She turned as she spoke, and I realized part of where her weird posture was coming from— uneven legs, one solid bronze, the other furry and cloven. An Empousa, one of Kelli's sisters. "I hope that your trip went well. Not that I believed there was a chance for failure, of course! I just meant—"

"How is my prisoner?" The other woman interrupted.

She was tall. Her skin was impossibly white. Her clothes, blue robes, fluttered and roiled, seeming like smoke painted to her body. I recognized her from the Theoroi's vision of the games. Maybe that was why she felt familiar.

"The prisoner? Right, the prisoner!" The Empousa shifted as she walked. "She's been docile. Really docile. She keeps asking to see you."

"And that is all?"

"Well… Demanding it might be a better word. She was growing rather upset."

I got the feeling the woman was smiling, even with her back turned. "Perfect. You've done adequately, dear. You may go."

The Empousa squeaked, blushing. She basically tripped over herself rushing back the way they'd come.

The woman reached the end of the corridor, stopping before a tall iron door. It was barred shut and coated with every type of lock you can imagine, but she waved her hand and all of it turned to mist, evaporating. The door swung open.

At first, there were no lights in the room, but a silver glow still filled it. One girl sat alone in the dark. The glow seemed to be coming from her, but I couldn't pinpoint how. She looked maybe eleven, definitely not older than thirteen. Her hair was red, her eyes silver, and she wore a simple white dress.

And she was chained.

Dozens upon dozens of manacles lined her body— ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, neck, you name it. Celestial bronze was clamped around every inch of her. She didn't seem angry about it. She sat calmly, as if she'd chosen the position and settled in on her own.

"Finally," she said. "The traitor shows herself."

"Is there a need to be hostile?" The woman asked. "I've always thought we had a lot in common."

"So did I," said the girl. "You used that to capture me."

"I don't see why that means we can't be civil. I've no patience for insult matches."

"What is it that you want, Hecate?" the girl asked wearily.

Hecate, goddess of magic. I knew her. She was one of the most famous and powerful of all the minor gods. She was in charge of the Mist, making sure that our world stayed hidden. No wonder Agon found it so easy to keep teleporting people around; he had the literal goddess of magic on his payroll.

Hecate knelt, bringing herself to eye-level with her captive. "You seem to have something twisted. At the moment, I have everything which I want. The one that desires something is you."

"My quarry," the girl said instantly. "Bring it to me. Cease this playing around. If you do so, I'll speak to my father for leniency."

"You Olympians." Hecate laughed, shaking her head. "You truly can't go a minute without demanding something of others. It's insufferable."

"If my asking is the problem, how is this," the girl said. "You will release me. You will bring me my prey. Because if you do not, I will tear these chains apart myself. I will slay your familiars. I will slaughter your servants. And I will chop you into a thousand pieces, transform each into a woodland creature, and hunt every last one for sport."

"From requests, straight to threats. It's as if you're parodies of yourselves." Hecate sighed. "I wouldn't, however, if I were you. After all…"

She held out her hand. A coat materialized, shining with the same silver glow as the girl. A Hunter's parka.

"The world is a large and wicked place," Hecate said. "It can be horribly dangerous for attendants robbed of their goddess's protection."

"Your illusions will not fool me twice."

"Are you so confident? Get it wrong even once, and the pain will be so very great."

The girl gritted her teeth. For a second I thought she would surge forward and throttle Hecate with her little fingers. Then, ever so slightly, she sagged.

"Good girl," Hecate said. "I knew you'd see reason."

She rose, turning to leave before stopping on the threshold. With a gesture, a screen sunk from the ceiling.

"A parting gift," she said. "Use it, please. Watch your attendants struggle and compete. If you're lucky, some might even survive."

The door shut behind her, unaided. I lost sight of the girl inside. The bar and locks reformed, coating it once more.

"Now, for you."

I jerked around, only to find Hecate staring directly at me. Her black eyes swirled like oblivion. I felt pinned to the wall.

"Do be careful, Perseus Jackson," she said. "Your enemies this time are powerful. I don't expect I need to explain that to you."

She didn't. I understood the message, and I couldn't help the way my eyes drifted to the locked door. The little girl's appearance threw me off at first, but there was only one being powerful enough to threaten Hecate who cared so much about the Hunters. It made so much sense. Why hadn't John and Lucas seen any sign of Artemis? Because she'd been captured and stashed away underground the entire time.

I forced myself not to gulp at the thought. Anybody who could trap a major goddess meant business.

Hecate nodded as if reading my mind.

"Exactly— tread carefully. I would be so disappointed to see you die prematurely."

She started to leave, only to stop again. She faced me, smiling wryly.

"Ah, right. I allowed you to see this as a warning. But dreams are an unfair advantage, so… off with you now. Back to your body."

My consciousness hurtled away, wrenched back to bed. I jerked upright, breathing hard, sheets wrapped up in my fists. I'd been sweating. Somehow, I'd discovered something more unpleasant than demigod dreams: being forcibly ejected from one. It was a long time before sleep found me again.

When I finally shook awake, it felt like morning. There was no way to know for sure in a room without windows, but that was good enough for me.

In the living room I found Annabeth on the couch having breakfast. Other than a bit of bed-head she'd cleaned up from the night before. It made her look older somehow, or at least different. Back when I'd known her, grimy was the norm. For all of us.

"What?" she asked suddenly.

I realized I'd been staring. "Nothing."

She grunted, going in for a big bite.

Hygeia hadn't been lying about the Kitchen. As soon as I entered I saw it didn't have an oven, a stove, not even a microwave, but that didn't matter with its huge double-door cabinets. I focused for just a second before grasping the handle, picturing a big bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. When the cabinet opened, there it was.

"Cool," I said.

Picking up the bowl, I found a spoon already inside. Milk sloshed to the rim without spilling over. It was perfectly chilled.

"Double cool," I said, taking a bite as I wandered back into the living room.

I took a seat in the recliner, relishing the way cool leather pressed against my calves.

Annabeth had the TV on. We watched for a bit in silence as figures rushed around an arena similar to the one we'd fought in the day before. I didn't recognize any of the competitors but still winced every time a nymph or demigod went down. Some sights I'd never enjoy.

"That satyr yesterday was right," Annabeth said eventually. "These games are an embarrassment. This… This isn't sport. It's just violence."

"I thought this was how things used to be," I said. "Don't people always talk about how rough the Olympics used to be?"

"Rougher, sure. In some events, you could even kill your opponent if you didn't break any rules. But that's just it, there were rules. Only a handful of people died in all the years they were held. But this?" She gestured at the TV. "It's a fighting pit!"

I didn't want to admit it, but part of me felt relieved. I was an alright athlete, but I didn't stand a chance against anybody who really knew what they were doing. Fighting, on the other hand…

Annabeth changed the channel. There were only six, one for each venue Agon had mentioned, but the next one was grayed out. There was nothing but static, as if the recording camera had been blown to bits.

"Technical difficulties?" I said.

Annabeth frowned. "Weird."

We'd come in just after introductions, just in time to see a lightning bolt split the screen. Annabeth sucked in a breath.

"Thalia!" she said. "Thalia made it! She reached the games!"

She sure had. She looked a little worse for wear — her shirt was missing a sleeve, and bits of her hair were charred — but mostly she seemed angry. Aegis was out, and her spear swept around the room, spewing volts like an inverted lightning tower at impossibly pale targets…

No, they weren't just pale. They were bone white. Skeletons.

One got close enough that Thalia had to bring Aegis around to block it. The second her shield was busy an arrow ripped out of the crowd. Thalia barely bent out of the way.

"Get out of the crowd and face me!" Thalia shouted. "Or are you as much a coward as your titan masters?"

The only answer she got was another arrow and a fresh batch of skeletons.

"A daughter of Hades, working for the Titans," Annabeth muttered. "Of course! It makes so much sense!"

"What does?"

She glanced at me. "Nothing you'd care about. An answer to a riddle that I heard a while back."

"That's vague."

"Are you telling me you actually want to hear more about a riddle?"

"Put that way," I said, "probably not."

At another time I might not have let it go, but I was feeling pretty good. It wasn't only Bianca. Toward the edge of the screen, I could see Victoria and Po back-to-back, watching each other's blind spots. If those three were there, the others must be too. I wouldn't have to handle things alone.

Speaking of handling things alone…

"Earlier, you said you were here on a quest," I said. "Obviously, Thalia came with you. Who's the third?"

I didn't expect to know them. There were two campers I'd met, and I already knew both of them were here. Somehow, Annabeth's answer still surprised me.

"We don't have one."

"You don't… I thought that was the whole gimmick! Three is a sacred number, anything else is super unlucky, do it this way or die a horrible death. A whole tradition."

"Athena doesn't teach her children superstitions," Annabeth said. "We use trial and error, verifiable results. I've tried doing things with three before. I didn't find a single fortunate thing about it."

She was gripping her toast tightly enough to spray crumbs. I wanted to press for more, but I guess maybe she sensed that. Suddenly she was facing me.

"What about you?" she asked. "What were you doing wandering the Labyrinth?"

I knew that question would come eventually. I'd thought a lot about the best way to answer.

"Remember, back when we were seven, how I came from the Labyrinth?"

Annabeth nodded.

"And, when Alecto attacked us, how desperate she was to catch me? To make sure I couldn't hide again?"

A frown, but another nod.

"The truth is, I spent a lot of time in the Labyrinth. Lived down here, even. I found a safe house, a place beyond monsters that kept me alive."

Annabeth stared. Then she snorted. The snort grew into a giggle, which became a full laugh.

"You don't believe me," I said.

"Of course I do," Annabeth disagreed. She had to set her plate aside to keep from spilling, but managed to get her laughter under control. "Percy, we figured that out years ago. You gave us Ariadne's String as a gift, and there's only one place that could've been. You found Daedalus's workshop."

My mouth opened and closed a few times. "Oh. I guess that makes this easier."

Annabeth couldn't help it. She relapsed into giggles, and this time I joined her, as much from relief as anything else.

"A Theoroi came to me," I said eventually. "You know them, right? Those creepy bodyguards of Agon's with the weird shifting faces?"

"It's magic," Annaebth said confidently. "I don't know who's casting it, but I'm sure. Their disguises are made from Mist."

"Makes sense," I said. "Can't be too hard when the goddess of magic is working with them."

Annabeth's smile fell. "Explain."

I described my dream, every detail. I was already keeping too many secrets without adding to them. By the time I finished, Annabeth looked as pale as the skeleton's Thalia was electrocuting.

"No wonder the hunters are here," she said. "It makes sense. Too much sense."

On the TV I caught my first sight of Bianca. Thalia had gotten close, and the fight was turning on its head. Without the space to use her bow, Bianca had to fall back on a sword she'd nabbed from somewhere. Fighting against Aegis and Thalia's spear, she was on borrowed time.

On the heels of a vicious shield bash, Thalia smirked. "Is this the best Kronos can do? You're nothing without your bow."

"You have a Boy Scout haircut," Bianca spat back. Shattered skeletons reknit, swarming to their master's aid.

"How does Thalia know she's with the Titans?" I wondered.

"It was probably in her introduction," Annabeth said. "A demigod that powerful doesn't appear from nowhere."

Maybe she was right. Maybe it was in Bianca's introduction. But then, why was it skipped in mine? Unless Hecate…

I shook myself. Making guesses now wouldn't help, not until we knew more.

As Thalia and Bianca traded blows, most competitors were staying out of the way. Too many volts and corpses to be worth the trouble. Only, there was something both of them had lost track of. The timer was ticking down.

Ringing filled the arena, followed by Agon's voice.

"Time!"

Like it did in our arena, Mist swept in. Just before it swallowed them, Thalia and Bianca spun toward the viewer's box.

"Wait, I can't work with her!" they shouted in unison, before glaring at each other.

Like Agon said, there were no do-overs. The Mist reached them and they were whisked away as a newly minted duo.

"Curses," Annabeth muttered, watching the spot Thalia had been with raw worry.

"Hey," I said, "it might not be all bad. I mean, that daughter of Hades looked powerful. She could help Thalia survive."

"You don't get it!" Annabeth snapped. "You can't trust them, not an inch! Any chances you give they'll use to bury a blade in your back."

I was caught off guard by the heat in her voice. "By 'them' you mean…?"

"The Titans, of course. And every last one of their sniveling little servants!"

I opened my mouth, then closed it. Luke's words came back to me, ones he'd spoken over Arke message during my Feat. He'd said that once Thalia switched sides, Annabeth would get over her 'silly grudge' to join us.

But this? It didn't seem like a silly grudge. It was raw hatred, the type that drove someone on, shaped their life until it was let go of— if they ever let it go at all. This sort of hatred could be life-long.

These weren't feelings that grew from nothing. It took something personal.

"What in the world happened?" I asked.

At first Annabeth didn't answer. She played with her knuckles, popping them in silence.

"You've been gone a long time," she finally said. "Too much happened. Luke left, and he didn't stop there. Like always, that traitor went above and beyond. Mark my words, when I track him down, I'm going to run him through. Same with every last one of his nasty little underlings."

I was suddenly very glad I hadn't tried to share my loyalties. With a long-suffering sigh, Annabeth rose from the couch.

"I'm going to exercise a bit," she said. "Clear my head. Come get me when the next event is coming up."

She marched from the room. I watched her go, still wrapping my head around the outburst. Collapsing back, I let my head loll against the recliner.

Luke said to talk to Annabeth and Thalia. He told me to make sure they were ready to change sides when he swooped in with an army at his back. But this? It was beyond anything I expected.

"Gods dammit, Luke," I said. "What is it you expect me to do?"

I ran my hands through my hair, thinking without coming up with much at all. And, through it all, the clock on the wall ticked down, hands swinging slowly toward the next event just a short five hours away.

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