I've been looking forward to posting this chapter and seeing reactions so I hope you guys enjoy!
Replies:
InfiniteShadow3: I'm glad you enjoyed!
RuthTheRavenclaw: well I hope you enjoy this one too!
Undeath9087: Hehehehe. Oh you have no idea. T his should be fun.
"I know." Percy met Quintus' gaze, tilting her head very slightly. "I know the way the world works Quintus. I've lived in it for long enough. And if I didn't know my dream would have reminded me of that much." She snorted.
"Dream?" The man tilted his head a little, raising an eyebrow.
"Long story." Percy waved a hand, "Something that happened a very long time ago I think. Part of it was a father being threatened using his son. I know that the people I care about could be used against me-" there was a strange look in Quintus' eyes, a glimmer of suspicion had entered his gaze when she mentioned the dream. That was… curious. "Kronos used Luke against me on the beach last time I saw him. Not in that way but- I know that my enemies will use my loved ones against me."
"Ah yes." Quintus shook himself very slightly.
"You've met the King of the Titans in person. You are the reason he's bound in a mortal form are you not?"
"Yep. Guess so." Percy tilted her head back a little, looking up at the sky. "I just wish I'd killed him on that beach. I really do sometimes I dream of doing it but…"
"You protect your people." Quintus finished. "You are admirable Persephone. Your loyalty is something you should feel very proud of. And your kindness from what I have heard. The son of Hermes is very lucky to have fallen into your hands."
"Ugh." Percy let out a laugh, "Please call me Percy. I only get called Persephone when shit's getting serious. It makes me go all stressed. Especially when I get full named."
"Of course Percy." Quintus chuckled, "I must say I rather like your name though. Persephone Ariadne. Your namesakes were impressive women in their own rights."
"My mom loved their stories." Percy's gaze shifted back to the water, "Lady Persephone got her happy ending with Hades. And Ariadne- her story was sad but she also ended up as happy as anyone could hope to be I think."
"Yes." Quintus' gaze went distant, "Ariadne, the brave girl who left behind everything she knew to help a handsome prince. Clear sighted of course. She saw things as they were. Such a brilliant mind she had too, you almost remind me of her. She stood up for what she believed was right also with no care for her own safety."
"You talk like you knew her." Percy laughed despite herself- but there was something in his eyes, just a flash and Percy felt her breath catching in her throat as her eyes widened.
And Quintus stiffened, clearly realising his slip because his eyes widened too- locking with hers for a long moment.
Then Percy had Riptide out and the tip of her blade pressed to his throat in a fluid motion.
"Who are you?"
"You don't want to do this Miss Kane-"
"I'll be the judge of that." Percy's grip was steady, her gaze fierce. "Who are you? Chiron doesn't trust you and I think he's right not to because you are not what you appear to be. You're old. Very old."
"I don't want to harm you Persephone-"
"I am the one with a sword pointed at your throat." Percy pushed it forward just a little harder, "You gave yourself away when you said you thought that the Egyptian gods had faded. No modern demigod would even consider them having existed. You knew they had- that means you- you were around a long long time ago."
"You magicians live for Centuries- why I know Iskander lived for over two thousand years. He was a good man. If somewhat… firm in his distrust of the gods."
Percy's mouth dropped open in shock, her blade lowering. "You-" she swallowed hard. "You knew Iskander?" her voice was suddenly small.
"Yes. I did. I met him many times when we were younger men- well, he was young."
Iskander was young? Percy remembered the old man. How frail he'd looked when she knew him, even his skin had looked as if it would tear at the slightest touch. She remembered those eyes. Milky and yet so so ancient and wise. It was hard to imagine a time when he'd been young, though she knew that there must have been one. And even harder to imagine Quintus already being old when they met. Not when he looked so young in comparison. He didn't look like he could be older than his fifties. None of it wanted to fit in her mind. She couldn't seem to piece the strange puzzle together in a way that made sense. She was missing something. Or.. or something was just out of reach that her mind couldn't, or didn't want to grasp.
"Who are you?" there was a tremble in Percy's voice. Not of fear but of uncertainty.
"Who did you dream of my child?" Quintus tilted his head. "If you wish for me to answer your question then you must answer mine."
"I-" Percy swallowed hard, realisation sinking in. "You know. You know who I dreamed of. You're here because-" she opened and closed her mouth before shaking herself, "You know what Kronos is planning don't you? You know how Demigod dreams work so you know that what I dreamed of is connected to… oh gods. Why are you here?"
"I came to observe. Tell me, you dreamed of me did you not?"
Percy felt a little sick. "How are you still alive? Even with an extended lifespan you… I've known people who were old but that- and you don't look old-"
"I'm afraid I needn't answer that question. Or any that you ask Percy."
Percy's gaze focused to a spot on his neck. A tiny bead of golden liquid from where her blade had broken the skin. "What are you? A god?" the gold would suggest that. She could remember how the Ichor had looked dripping down Zeus' cheek but… but that didn't feel right.
"No. No I'm not a god." Quintus- no… no. Daedalus shook his head. "No, not anything nearly that special child. I am something else altogether. I'm not nearly that powerful, though intelligence is a power in it's own right, I am sure you'd agree."
"What do you mean you came to observe."
"To decide if your camp has a chance." He said it so simply that it made Percy want to punch him in the face. "To see if it is worth saving. To see which side of the war would be wisest for me to support."
"And what's your assessment?" Percy spat the words, blade shifting up again, pointing towards his throat once more. "Do you think that a camp filled with fucking children is worth saving? Or would you rather lead a bunch of bloodthirsty monsters and a Titan right to our doors?"
"That remains to be seen child."
"Don't call me child I am not a child-" Percy hated it- hated the way he said it. As if she was some little kid who didn't understand the tides of war.
As if she hadn't ever had to truly fight.
"You are." Daedalus almost looked sad as he said that, "A child who Kronos himself wants dead. You may be powerful girl but you are still, when all is said and done, a mortal child, half good yes but not immortal. Not all powerful. You may be the manifestation of the most powerful force in all of existence but it is bound within your fragile form I fear. You can still die."
"Where's Ariadne's string? Do you have it? If Kronos' army are looking for it-"
"Do you believe I would be foolish enough to bring it to your camp?" Daedalus shook his head, "No. No I am no fool Persephone. My string is safely hidden in my workshop. Though it is not the only way to navigate the Labyrinth."
"What the fuck does that even mean Daedalus?"
"You're a smart girl miss Kane. I'm sure you'll figure it out. Hopefully before I make up my mind one way or another-"
"No, no you will tell me Daedalus and you'll take me to-" Percy didn't finish that sentence, because she was being snatched up from behind.
Fuck. She'd forgotten about Mrs. O'Leary, who managed to grip the back of her pyjamas and swing her up and fling her backwards across the beach, sending her flying through the air and hitting the sand hard, too stunned to even react enough to cast a spell to soften the blow- not fun since she landed at an angle and actually flipped head over heels, her head and shoulder screaming out in pain from the impact even as she rolled up and onto her feet- and Daedalus was moving- already disappearing into the woods, Mrs. O'Leary bounding after him.
Percy cursed loudly under her breath, ignoring the pounding pain in her head as she took off.
If she could focus enough she'd have transformed into a bird- she'd be better able to pursue him then but as it was she knew that the splitting pain from her head would make that impossible.
Within minutes she was in the woods- which were even darker than the rest of camp, the trees enhancing the darkness all around her, making it hard to see more than a foot in front of her.
All she could do was follow the noises from Mrs. O'Leary.
Percy cursed violently under her breath, tripping over roots and branches that littered the ground a dozen times, cutting into her feet with thorns and stones on occasion, which did not help the pain in her shoulder when she had to grab at trees to stop herself falling.
She felt herself turn an ankle at one point before she managed to focus enough to summon up a light- and she could see a trail of broken branches that led the way too- fuck. Oh fuck.
"DAEDALUS!" Percy screamed the name, "Don't you fucking dare!"
He was going for the Labyrinth, of course he was headed for the Labyrinth- she managed to speed up now that she could see, leaping over the branches ignoring the way her ankle protested and wanted to give out beneath her. "Get back here!"
And then she was bursting into the clearing that held Zeus' fist and- and Daedalus and Mrs. O'Leary were gone.
They had to have gone into the Labyrinth.
Percy didn't hesitate, didn't think it through she rushed to the rocks, slipping into the gap that was the entrance to the Labyrinth, the light bobbing down with her.
She didn't even get the chance to look around, to take stock of her surroundings. She really should have expected an ambush. But Daedalus had seemed so desperate to get away from her that she hadn't expected him to be waiting, hadn't expected the blow from behind, a sharp thwack with the base of his sword to the back of her head.
Percy cried out, falling onto her hands and knees, catching herself just in time as she twisted, her gaze focusing on Daedalus- who was stood above her, sword pointed at her- though her swimming vision made that hard to make out.
"Believe it or not Miss Kane I wish you no harm. But the decision must me mine and I have not made it yet. And it seems you saw through me much quicker than I expected."
And if it wasn't for the head injury she'd have been able to stop him. She knew she would but her vision was so fuzzy and her head was hurting.
She didn't have the time to focus enough to do anything before Daedalus' foot was hitting the side of her head and she felt her arms giving out beneath her, her body slumping.
And as the darkness swallowed her she heard Daedalus' voice.
"Stay with her girl. Make sure no harm comes to her." And there was a sad bark, and the footsteps moving away, fading into the distance.