Ch22
Nemesis wasn't expecting Hera to come appear in front of her. "My Lord Husband wishes to see you again," The Queen of Olympus said firmly.
Her posture went rigid, a part of her considered fleeing but that would just make her appear even more guilty if they accused her of anything. Calm down I've done nothing wrong.
She politely bowed. "Of course."
With a flash of light she followed Hera and found herself in the bright shiny halls of Olympus. Such a nice place, Bitterness flared in her heart as she followed Hera down the illustrious buildings. Yet I can only see them when I'm invited up here.
Hera led her to a small building where they found Zeus sitting at the table with a goblet in his hand. "Ah Nemesis have a seat."
She bowed before carefully sitting across from Zeus. Hera went to her husband's side her face calm. "Lord Zeus to what do I owe this summons?"
Zeus frowned. "I noticed you were frequenting Lady Amphitrite's luncheons and I can't recall the last time we had such a meeting." His voice betrayed a hint of irritation like a man who found out the girl he used to like was going out with the guy he didn't like.
Oh so this is what it's about. If there was one thing she knew about Olympian gossip it was that Zeus did not like to lose to his siblings or their wives.
She carefully sipped the goblet that was placed in front of her. Alright lets see what I can get out of this. "Well Lady Amphitrite is kind and it isn't often an important deity recognizes me. Goddesses like me must do with what we have."
Zeus frowned as he relaxed in his chair. "Remember in the old days when I had you punish people in my name?"
"I do. I punished Narcissus for his arrogance against the gods." It was one of her many proud moments.
"You did a lot of us," Hera said calmly. "Perhaps we could use your services again?"
She paused and looked up at the Queen of Olympus and her husband. "Really? After all this time?" A part of her was suspicious but another was interested into seeing where this could go.
Zeus nodded his gaze eerily calm. "I know you don't have a throne but that is something that can be worked on, if you are willing to help."
"With that?"
"The Titan Lord Kronos is rising," Hera said. "We'll need all the help we can get." The Queen's gaze flashed. "Think wisely Nemesis, Olympus rewards those who help it."
"If you wish for a throne I'll consider it. If anyone should give you a throne it is me not my brother." For a moment Zeus' eyes flashed with irritation
She looked at both and slowly nodded while contemplating their words. Another throne and a potential ally for them. She was no fool to the politics on Olympus or to accept things outright. "A throne?"
Hera nodded. "Think wisely Nemesis, we could offer you a lot if you help us out."
She folded her arms, the air was tense and she had to play things carefully. "It is something I wish to consider, but for too long people have disrespected me and my children."
Zeus stood up. "They won't anymore! I'll have you punish all forms of hubris again." The lord of Olympus stared at her. "I have to prepare for the solstice, I hope to see you there." With that he disappeared leaving her alone with Hera.
"Why?" She asked the Queen of Olympus. "Why take such an interest in me?"
Hera gave her a polite smile. "A queen has to do all she can to make sure her realm is in order. War is coming and we will need all the allies we can get." The queen sipped her teacup and set it down before looking at her with a firm gaze. "If you help us I swear on the River Styx that you'll have my vote for a throne along with my help to get one."
The thunder rumbled overhead. She stared at Hera cautiously, the Queen of Olympus always had her own agenda.
Hera smiled at her. "Don't forget I can be very persuasive."
Percy sat in the front seat of his mother's car as she drove him and Ethan to the meeting place. "Thanks Ms. Jackson," Ethan said from the back seat.
His mother nodded as she parked the car in front of an old warehouse where Alabaster and Lou were speaking to each other. "No problem both of you be safe ok?"
"We will thanks mom," he said as they got out of the car.
Lou came up to them with smile on her face. "Hey guys thanks for coming."
He nodded. "No problem. So is there like an entrance here or something?"
Alabaster came towards them wearing his usual outfit of a marked up camp t shirt and bulletproof vest and jeans. "Yeah come on in, Aunt Medea is getting things ready."
Inside the warehouse, they found a firepit with a dark green flame in the middle along with some other children of Hecate. Medea came up to them with a smile on her face. "Percy Jackson Ethan Nakamura a pleasure it is to have you here."
"Thanks mam," he said. Ethan nodded gripping his supply bag tightly.
Medea handed each of them a torch. "Alabaster has been given a quest, the labyrinth is a difficult place but Lady Hecate is the goddess of paths she'll be able to guide you all."
He took the torch and looked it over. "Thanks."
Lou came up to him and smiled. "Don't worry all of us support you guys. This is a big deal of us, a child of Hecate being called on a quest." She patted her brother on the back. "Good luck Al."
Alabaster nodded as he gripped his torch in his hand. "Remember our goal."
He nodded. "Right." To find a possible entrance to the camp and any signs that the enemy is using this labyrinth. It had been all he could think of during these past few months. The fact that this was a secret mission he thought was pretty cool.
Ethan nodded. "How do we go into this place."
Medea smiled and beckoned them to follow her. "Right this way." They were lead to a backroom with a large rusted metal door, squinting his eyes he could see some sort of triangle on it.
Medea raised her hand and began to chant in Ancient Greek. A green aura enveloped the door as it began to creak loudly. With a flick of her wrist the flung open. "Good luck all of you, may Lady Hecate guide you all to greatness."
Alabaster took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks auntie." The son of Hecate turned to them, "Come on lets go."
With that they descended down the steps and into the darkness. They activated their torches which produced a small green flame that lit their path. As they reached the ground level he noticed the walls looked as if they were made of cement. "So this is it?"
Ethan looked around cautiously and gripped his spear in his free hand. "This place gives me the creeps."
"Come on we won't find the entrance if we just stand here," Alabaster said.
They both nodded and followed him down the corridor. It didn't take long for them to get lost. They walked and walked and the path only seemed to go on forever. Occasionally they would pass by a dead body but the feeling of unease only grew stronger as they continued forward.
"This place goes on forever," Ethan muttered as he carefully examined the walls around them. "Are you sure we can find this place?"
The flame in Alabaster's hand flickered. "My mother will guide us I know it." His green eyes burned with determination as they looked down the corridor.
He carefully scanned the walls as they continued their way down the never ending halls. Suddenly a series of growls made them stop.
Alabaster held up his torch to see a series of humanoid dog figures with dog heads and claws. "Yummy demigods," The monster hissed.
"Telekhines," Alabaster said as they drew their weapons.
He drew Riptide. "Ethan come on, Alabaster support us from back."
Ethan gripped his spear tightly as Alabaster held out his hand and muttered something in Latin. A light green energy flew from the torch and enveloped him and Ethan. Suddenly he felt a rush of energy and confidence as if he were the strongest man in the world.
"Lets go!"
The monsters let out a series of barks as he and Ethan charged at them. Ethan stabbed one with his spear while he sliced off the hand as if it were nothing. Then the corridor lit up as green fire fell upon the remaining monsters.
The telekhines yelped and howled in pain as the three of them pressed forward. Ethan stabbed the one while he took care of the last few turning them into golden dust with a few slashes of his sword.
As the green light dissipated a bit of fatigue hit him. "Well that was something," He sighed as he looked around and saw no more monsters.
Alabaster stepped forward with his torch in hand. "Telekhines usually work in forges, strange that they would be here. Come on lets get going."
As they continued down their path he noticed Ethan anxiously eyeing the area. "You ok Ethan?"
"Oh yeah just nervous," Ethan said as he anxiously looked around. "I never went on a quest before. I doubt a child of Nemesis has been on a quest in a while if at all."
"Don't worry you'll do fine," he said. "It may seem a lot at first, but you'll get used to it." He remembered his first quest and how he was nervous and scared. "Besides me and Alabaster have your back."
"Thanks," Ethan said. "I want to make mom proud."
He nodded. "I'm sure you will."
Sometimes I forget that their parents aren't recognized. It wasn't right and he wanted to fix it, he had the privilege of having Poseidon as a father. People in Camp at Olympus would respect him and his father but for Ethan and Alabaster, they didn't have that privilege. I won't just back and watch others be mistreated.
As he looked down the dark halls of the labyrinth he frowned. I'll change that and make sure they get the respect they deserve. No ones' mother would be disrespected on his watch.
Annabeth got out of the van with Clarisse and Thalia by her side. "Thanks Argus!" The van then drove off leaving them at Westover Hall, a private school that was covered in snow.
"What does goat boy need?" Clarisse asked as she carefully scanned the area for any potential threats.
"He said he needed our help," Thalia said as they entered the dreary looking building.
Grover sounded urgent just what could he have needed? Yet a small part of her was asking a different question. Percy is his friend why wasn't he called? A bit of indignation hit her. Am I not good enough to work with him? She shook her head as she watched Thalia manipulate the mist around the receptionist and argue with a mean looking man named Dr. Thorn.
"He gives me the creeps," Clarisse muttered.
"Just play along we can't fight until we know the situation," she said softly.
The daughter of Ares stiffened up but nodded not taking her eyes off Dr. Thorn. "There you guys are!" Said a familiar voice. Grover came up to them with a tense look on his face. "Come on the party is this way."
"Yes," Dr. Thorn said coldly. "Please hurry along."
They quickly followed Grover down the halls. "What's going on?" Thalia asked.
"I found two demigods of unknown parentage," Grover said quickly his voice barely above a whisper. "They have a strong scent but I'm having trouble getting to them."
"Why?" Clarisse asked as they entered the dance floor.
The sound of music blared in the room as the mortal students danced and had fun. "That Dr. Thorn has been keeping an eye on them," Grover said. "They're over there."
She looked up and saw a girl and boy in the corner keeping to themselves. Must be siblings by the way she watches over him. "Oh Grover why didn't ask Percy for help?"
Grover froze and avoided his gaze. "Oh uh he's busy." He said it so quickly she knew he was covering for something.
"Oh I see," she said curtly. So am I just a second choice for when seaweed brain is busy?
"Alright Grover lets dance," Thalia said. "Clarisse you and Annabeth try to blend in."
"I don't see why we can't just grab them and run for it," Clarisse muttered as they awkwardly tried to blend in with the crowd. Most of the people eyed them with curiosity or with apathy as they made way for them.
"We don't know if the enemy is eyeing them too," she muttered. It was hard for her to keep her mind focused with all that was going on in her life.
"Everything ok wise girl?" Clarisse asked.
She avoided the daughter of Ares' gaze. "Oh yeah. My mortal father is just moving." As much as she tried not to think about it the thoughts still came to her head. Why do I even care? I haven't seen him in years. Yet when she got the letter in the mail it shook her on the inside.
"I see. Were you close with him?" Clarisse's question was genuine and her eyes didn't show any hostility.
She frowned and shook her head. "No. He didn't want me and got a new family. My stepmother hated my guts and saw me as a threat to her children." The bitter memories of her childhood began to resurface, she quickly suppressed them and shook her head. "Not that I care though, he's moving away probably to remove the stain of me being with him."
It took all her willpower to not show any emotion in front of her Clarisse. Maybe I should move on too and forget about it. Yet deep down he was still her father and it was easier said than done.
Surprisingly she saw a bit of sympathy in the daughter of Ares' eyes. "Must have been hard." Clarisse paused and looked up. "Shit where did they go?"
She turned around and saw that the twins were gone. "Damn it lets go."
Clarisse immediately ran for the nearest exit to where those twins were standing at. Clarisse unzipped her bag and took out her spear as she kicked down the door to the outside.
Drawing her knife they ran into the cold outdoors and that was when she heard a child scream. "What are you doing!" Bianca yelled.
Dr. Thorn's form began to change it grew larger and more feral. "Calm down children soon you'll be safe."
"Oh gods the manticore," She said.
Clarisse swore. "Lets go. For Ares!"
"Hey wait!" But it was already too late. Clarisse stabbed the manticore only to be struck with its tail.
"Clarisse!" She swore as the daughter of Ares hit a tree and quickly got up.
The boy Nico began to scream and cry as the manticore grabbed him with her tail. Her instincts and training took control, she lunged onto the monster's back and wrapped her hands around it. "Clarisse kill it now!"
The daughter of Ares let out a fearsome cry just as a helicopter began to encircle them and to her horror began to fire at Clarisse.
She screamed her name and the rest happened so fast. Arrows flew and hit the manticore causing him to fall back. As she struggled to hold on, she saw Thalia and Grover come to them with their weapons in hand.
"For Zeus!" Thalia yelled
Come on we have to kill this thing. She gripped the manticore and tried to stab it with her knife as Nico balled and screamed in the air.
Suddenly more arrows flew at her, the manticore roared in irritation as it stumbled back. More and more arrows came and the next thing she knew she was falling off the cliff as she heard Nico scream bloody murder in the hands of Dr. Thorn.