Ch25

Annabeth felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, literally. "L-Luke," she muttered as the weight of the world fell on her shoulders. "Please." It was all she could say, beg her former friend and family to help her.

Luke looked down at her his face calm. "Don't worry your reprieve will come soon, I'm counting on it."

"What?" She looked up at him wondering what he could mean.

The son of Hermes knelt and met her gaze. "Annabeth we haven't talked in a long time. We were a family, we still are if you want to be."

Tears formed in her eyes. "Luke he's using you."

"Then come and join me," Luke said as he took out a tissue and cleaned the tears off her face.

Her heart almost skipped a beat, she could feel her face redden as Luke cleaned it with a tissue. "Why?"

"The gods have never cared for us," Luke said solemnly. "You and Thalia can join us, it'll be the three of us against the world just like the old days." There was a croak in his voice, his eyes betrayed fear as if he were begging her to help him.

Her eyes began to tear up again. "Kronos is lying to you. Please snap out of it."

Luke sighed. "Annabeth the gods are corrupt, look how they let Thalia suffer." He paused his posture turning rigid. "They've made our lives hell enough as it is. Don't be fooled unlike the camp your talents will be recognized and appreciated here."

"I'd never betray the camp," she said as the weight of the sky fell on her back.

"I hear how you've been treated," Luke said calmly. "Passed up on quests that should've been yours. You should've had one already but instead, Alabaster Torrington got one before you."

She did her best to not appear irritated, yet she'd be lying if she said it didn't bother her. "I-I don't' know what you're talking about."

Luke looked at her sympathetically. "Did Chiron tell you about this secret quest? It should've been yours, you deserve it more than anyone else. Why do you let the gods underappreciate you?"

Her face reddened as she avoided his gaze. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The son of Hermes looked at her calmly. "I know you've been mistreated. They never could see your potential. Kronos does and will. How much longer will you suffer to be humiliated by Percy and Alabaster?"

"Luke he's a liar you can't trust him!" She yelled as she fought the negative emotions inside of her. Right now she couldn't afford to have negative thoughts, she had to be strong.

"You deserve better," Luke said calmly. "You have so much potential, much more than Percy Jackson and Alabaster Torrington. You can build the best monuments and craft the best plans, I know you can." Their gazes met, Luke's eyes looked as if he were pleading. "Help me. You'll be recognized for your efforts much more than the gods would ever be able to."

"Luke the camp was our home," She said softly trying anything to change the subject.

"We'll create a new one, just the three of us." Luke looked at her his gaze pleading. "He is very persuasive. I'm sure he'll be able to convince you."

Suddenly a tingle went down her spine as a cold presence washed over her. "Annabeth Chase," said a cold smooth voice that reverberated throughout the area. "I can make you great. Join me and you'll be my personal architect."

Her eyes went wide as visions filled her head. Marvelous statues and buildings filled her vision. Castles and palaces more grandiose than anything anyone could've thought of filled her mind, and they were all created by her.

She stood proudly, the strongest of Athena's children had created things that others could only dream of creating. No one doubted her. No one doubted her creative genius. No one took her for granted. Even Percy Jackson was crying on his knees begging her for a snippet of her wisdom and pleading for her forgiveness.

She tried to resist but the power of the Titan Lord was strong and deep down she liked what she saw. "No," she muttered.

Kronos laughed. "Make the right choice daughter of Athena. I could put your talents to good use, unlike those at the camp."

Luke looked down at her. "Annabeth it'll be just like the old days, I promise."

Tears fell down her face. "Luke I can't."

The son of Hermes frowned, he looked both hurt and disappointed. "I know you'll make the right choice. When Thalia gets here she'll help convince you." Luke turned around. "If she lived she would be here with me."

A pit formed in her stomach as she watched Luke leave. Thalia please be safe. Whatever Luke and Kronos were planning she knew it wouldn't be for her benefit.

Alabaster raised his hand as the arrows flew at them. "Scutum!" A large green mandala shield blocked the attack. With a flick of his wrist, his deck of cards flew at the enemy. "Ignis!" His cards shot flames at the enemy demigods and monsters causing them to duck for cover.

"Come on Ethan!" Percy said.

"Confirma!" Focusing the spell on Ethan and Percy their bodies glowed green as they charged at the telekhines and descended upon them like madmen.

With his strengthening spell one's strength was increased by double along with their speed and reflexes. As a result Percy and Ethan fell open their enemies with a frenzy they slashed and hacked at their enemies with the strength of ten men.

These things keep coming; do they have some kind of layer? Raising his hand he guided his cards in the air as fire fell the enemies causing them to break their formations and flee. Once the enemies were gone he sighed and summoned his cards back to him. "I wonder if they have a base down here or if they have multiple bases up on the surface and are trying going from there."

Percy shrugged. "It could be both. Are we any step closer to finding an entrance to the camp?"

Raising up the torch he looked into the flames his heart racing in his chest. Oh mother guide us to our destination. The flames flickered as he saw the faint image of an arrow pointing up ahead. "It's says to go down that corridor. Sorry it can't be anymore accurate."

"Well at least we can take down the enemy along the way," Ethan said. The son of Nemesis looked up at the ceiling. "We've been here for ages."

"Yeah. I wonder how the camp is?" Percy muttered.

"Don't worry we'll return there when we finish our quest," He said as he stepped forward with his torch in hand. I won't return with failure. His determination still burned inside of him even after everything. We'll return with honor.

The flames from his torch indicated they should head forward. Percy gripped his sword tightly as he walked by his side while Ethan gripped his spear his gaze oddly solemn. They moved down the hallway, his torch providing an ominous glow of comfort for them as they made their way down the hall.

Suddenly Percy stopped and raised his sword. "Wait what's that?"

Raising his torch he saw a large black figure play with a telekhine in its mouth. "Mrs. O'Leary?"

The large hellhound turned to them with wide eyes and dropped the monster before letting out a happy bark as she stomped the telekhine to dust. "She seems friendly enough," he muttered.

Percy lowered his sword and motioned for the hellhound to come closer. Mrs. O'Leary rolled over exposing her belly. "Good girl," Percy said as he gave her a belly rub.

The hellhound made a pleasing noise as she sat up and let out a playful bark, her tail wagging playfully as she turned around. "Woof!" She then began to walk down the tunnel before stopping again and turning around.

"Does she want us to follow her?" Ethan asked.

He looked at the dog and then at his flame which was vaguely pointing towards where the hellhound was. "Might as well." Perhaps Quintus is nearby? Something about the man was off, not in a bad sense but enough to raise his curiosities.

He spoke of mother as if he knew her? Yet the man didn't seem like a usual follower of his mother.

Mrs. O'Leary led them to a large room with bookshelves lining the walls and a few tables. Quintus sat at one of the tables sipping a cup of coffee as his dog went up to him. "You three seem tired. Here have some coffee and snakes and we can have a parley."

They looked at each other and shrugged, it had been a while since they had a break. They sheathed their weapons and sat down. "So what do you do down here exactly?" Percy asked.

Quintus smiled as he set an antique looking mug in front of each of them and poured them coffee. "You could say I look after this place. I'm a creator you see and am in need of constant inspiration." Quintus pushed a plate of croissants in front of them. "Help yourselves."

"So tell me how is your quest coming along?" Quintus asked.

Percy finished a piece of his croissant. "Good. We've been literally all over the US but so far no luck."

Ethan nodded. "But we won't give up hope. We won't let the enemy find our camp before us."

Quintus looked at each of them calmly as he sipped his coffee. "I see." He set his cup down. "Tell me what is your camp like?"

"It's a great place, well it's the only place safe for demigods," Percy said. The son of Poseidon looked down. "We train and prepare for the world. Of course it has its problem as all places do but it's a good place."

Quintus nodded and turned to him. "What about you son of Hecate? How do you enjoy the camp?"

He looked down and thought of what he could say. Frankly, the camp was the safest place he had been in ages. He hadn't been in a single place for so long since the time with his father. "It's the safest place I've been at, you could almost call it my home."

"I see," Quintus nodded and turned to Ethan. "What about you boy?"

Ethan's posture stiffened. "Well I've had my ups and downs there but I enjoy it." The son of Nemesis paused. "My mother Nemesis isn't recognized there and I want to be a part of the change that brings her recognition."

"What a noble cause," Quintus said. "Olympus was never always fair."

"True but we can't just sit by and do nothing," Percy said. "We'll fight for the change we want."

Quintus looked at all of them, his gaze unreadable. "Don't we all want change." The man cleared his throat and went back to his coffee. "You three could stay here the night, I swear no harm will come to you."

He looked the man over, Quintus didn't appear to be a threat but he could tell the man wanted something from them. "We appreciate it."

Such peaceful boys. Daedalus watched the three young demigods sleep on the floor. In a way, a pang hit his heart as he thought of Icarus. As his gaze drifted to the torch of Hecate that sat upright an idea came to him as he stared at the otherworldly flame.

"Father!"

He froze as he slowly turned to the flame, he recognized that voice anywhere. No must be mistaken. Yet his heart told him he was not.

He stared at the flames and for a moment nothing happened. However, a chill ran down his spine as the flame grew larger and the astral form of a person took shape. His eyes widened as tears formed in his eyes, and his body shook as he looked at the image of his son Icarus.

His son was as handsome as the day he had lost him so long ago.

"Father it's been a while," Icarus said solemnly.

"Icarus," He raised his hands but the astral form moved away. "I missed you so much." His body trembled at the sight of his son, if he could he would tear up yet he removed tear glands from himself a few models ago.

Icarus gave him a small smile. "As do I father."

There was so much he wanted to say but as he struggled with the words he could only mutter a pitiful. "I'm sorry."

"What happened is already in the past," Icarus said softly. "If you really want to make it up to me, do good in the world and when you are done join me here."

He looked down his heart aching in his body. "I've cheated death for so long. I won't be given a fair trial."

His son looked at him, his gaze unreadable. "Father you know you're only delaying the inevitable."

"I was given an offer by the Titan Lord." He paused not able to look his son in the eyes. "He says there is a way for us to be together again." A shiver went down his spine as he thought of the Titan Lord, his emissaries have been trying to woo him into giving them the key to transversing the labyrinth.

"Father he is a liar," Icarus said coldly. "You cannot trust him."

There was a hint of disappointment in Icarus's voice that made his heart sink. "I've let you down so many times."

"Then make it up to me by doing the right thing," Icarus said before his form began to dissipate.

"Icarus!" He nearly lunged at his son but only managed to grab smoke. "No!"

His son smiled at him. "I know you'll make the right decision. Please don't disappoint me."

As soon as his son's form disappeared he let the tears fall as he sank into the ground. All his life he avoided his death, as much as he wanted to escape it, he knew there would be an inevitable end. Mrs. O'Leary nudged him and whimpered with concern. "Come on girls lets go."

Lou Ellen sat next to Bianca and Grover as they rode the train westward. "Don't worry we'll find him," She said reassuringly.

Bianca looked to the ground as she sharpened her knife. "It just happened so quickly. One minute he was by my side and the next that thing took him." She sighed. "He was always annoying but I hope he's ok."

"My brother is out there too," she said as she took out her cards and began to shuffle them. "Siblings can be annoying but they can also work on their own."

Bianca smiled at her and nodded. "True."

Her gaze drifted to Grover who was calming eying the torch her mother gave him. "How are you doing Grover?"

The satyr looked at the torch in his hands and gently turned on the green flame that lit the area up with her mother's glow. "Your mother has been guiding me…I have a hunch I might find some sign of Pan on this quest."

She smiled. "My mother always guides those who seek her out. Just be patient, I'm sure you'll eventually find your goal."

Grover nodded as his eyes flickered in the flames of the torch. "Pan is out there I know it." The satyr looked up at her. "Your mother and Pan were friends back in the day."

"Of course! My mom was friends with lots of people, especially those that are forgotten," She said. "That is why she endures to this day."

"I can feel his presence every once in a while," Grover said softly. "It's as if he's calling me."

Mother guide us on our quests.