Ch40
Why don't you ask Percy Jackson or Alabaster Torrington? Hera's counsel was still Annabeth's mind and it made her blood boil every time it replayed in her head. She didn't need their help, she was her mother's daughter. They ran down the corridor of the labyrinth just having barley escaped from another trap in the labyrinth. Her patience with this place was really running thin and the worst part they were not making any progress at all. "A-Alright that should be it," She grunted as her heart raced in her chest.
The labyrinth was even more difficult than she imagined. Everything was dark and they already faced countless monsters and traps along the way. With each step the anxiety swelled inside of her as another bead of sweat formed on her brow. With each step she took she wanted to scream and throw something at the walls. Her eyes darted around the halls as he anxiously awaited another trap or monster to attack them.
Clarisse and Bianca let out groans as they slouched against the walls and took a few deep breaths. "You know you could've asked Percy and Alabaster for those torches they supposedly used," Bianca muttered.
"We don't need their help!" She snapped causing Bianca to recoil. Her shoulder throbbed as her vision turned a bit dizzy. Why did they want to ask them of all people? She was more than capable of handling their present quest.
Stupid seaweed brain and stupid extras they would just hold me back anyway. This was her quest and she would see it through the end. I'll save camp and save Luke. Resting against the wall she thought of the son of Hermes. We're a family now and always. She just hoped she could make him see it.
"Don't worry wise girl we'll find this Daedalus and whoever tortured Chris." Clarisse gripped her spear tightly. "I'll teach them a lesson myself."
After eating some ambrosia and a quick break they continued their journey. "Hey Bianca have you heard from your brother lately?" Clarisse asked.
Bianca shook her head her face turning paler. "He is brainwashed by Kronos and vows to save her from the hunt. He's trying to find me, trust me I know he'll find us one way or another. It's possible the enemy knows my family's secret."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
Bianca avoided her gaze. "I-It's nothing. If I quickly shadow traveled to the camp do you think Percy would be willing to help?"
"Lou and her siblings are nice enough," Clarisse said. "We could use some of their guidance too.
"We are strong enough as it is," She said curtly. Stupid seaweed brain cannot see good company and good help if it hit him in the face. What the son of Poseidon saw in those children of Hecate and Nemesis' kid was beyond her. They couldn't do much and their parents weren't even major deities in the pantheon. How could he be foolish enough to side with Hecate and Nemesis over Athena?
She clenched her fists. "But we'll be saving it by completing this quest." I won't be outdone by him. Just like how Athens chose her mother the camp would see how much better she is than the son of Poseidon.
With that they continued to travel through the maze, eventually reaching a large metal door.
"This must be it," Clarisse said as she knocked on it. Surprisingly, the door creaked open loudly. "Come on, lets see Hephaestus."
Finally. Her heart raced as she saw the door creak open. We'll need his help. I got this, I got this. Soon the quest will be done and I'll make everyone proud.
They walked into what appeared to be a large factory with tons of equipment and models of all sorts of things scattered around the place. Hephaestus sat at his desk tinkering at some robot intently.
Her heart raced in her chest as she bowed. "Lord Hephaestus we have come seeking your guidance."
The god didn't appear to hear her at first, she thought of saying it louder but eventually the god turned to her. "Demigods eh? What brings you here?"
"We are looking for Daedalus," She said. "Please any information about him would be useful."
The god frowned and threw something in a pile of scraps. "Daedalus! That bastard? Why do you need him?" Hephaestus asked. "You're better off without him."
A shiver went down her spine. "Please sir we need to find him immediately."
The god sighed and stroked his beard. "Fine but first you need to do something for me."
"Anything," she said immediately.
"My workshop in Mt. St. Helens has been tampered take out whatever is there, and I'll help you," Hephaestus said in a matter of fact tone.
"I'll do it. How do we get there?"
Hephaestus took out a disk from his desk and tapped it. Her eyes widened as it turned into a large spider. "AHHH!" She nearly leaped into Clarisse's hands.
"I'd hurry up it goes fast," The god said going back to his desk.
"Come on wise girl we can do this," Clarisse said patting her on the back.
Her body shook. I can't lose. I won't lose. I've trained hard for this. They chased after the spider as it ran down the corridors of the labyrinth.
"Look out!" Clarisse pulled her back as a large figure appeared in front of them.
It had the face of person and the body of a lion and other animals. "I am the sphinx if you wish to pass you must answer my three riddles."
This is it. Her heart raced as she stepped forward. "I will gladly answer your riddles."
"What is the capital of Romania?" The sphinx asked.
"Bucharest." She frowned, that was more trivia than anything else.
"What year did Colombus land in the Americas?"
"!492 but-" Her anger began to boil how could these questions be so easy? They weren't riddles.
"What is-"
"Hey what is this!" She yelled these aren't riddles they are basic trivia.
Clarisse and Bianca stared at her dumbfounded. "Come on Wise Girl just answer the sphinx's questions!"
However, the sphinx let out a low growl its gaze turning dangerous as it lunged at them. Bianca fired a few arrows at it while Clarisse charged with her spear. She gripped her knife and sunk it into the sphinx's side. Clarisse sunk her spear into the sphinx's eye and the monster turned to golden dust.
"Wise Girl don't ask questions next time," Clarisse said as she pulled out her spear.
She frowned at the ground. "They were too easy?"
Clarisse frowned but Bianca stepped in between them. "Come on it's getting away."
They all chased after the mechanical spider. Her heart raced in her chest as she watched it as if her life depended on it. Eventually it stopped at another large metal door.
"This must be it," she said looking at the metal doors that had Hephaestus written in Greek on it.
Clarisse gripped her spear. "Come on lets be careful."
They all gripped their weapons tightly as they entered through the doorway a wave of heat hit them. Gripping her knife tightly a bead of sweat formed on her face as they walked past a bunch of machinery and other contraptions.
"This is the forge of Hephaestus," Bianca muttered as she eyed the area carefully. "Something is right, it's too quiet."
They walked into the middle of a metal platform where the heat was so strong it made sweat form on her brow. Suddenly a series of low growls reverberated throughout the area making the hairs on her neck stand up.
"Demigods yummy demigods," Came dozens of raspy voices.
"Telekhines!" They all gripped their weapons as a hoard of monsters immediately surrounded them.
"Damn it! We're surrounded," Bianca said as she knocked an arrow. "Guys get close I can shadow travel us out of here and take us back to camp."
"What!" She shook her head. Her heart raced in her chest as she saw the monsters. "No I can't go back until we finish this quest." Her blood boiled, she couldn't end it here and return to camp with her tail between her legs.
Suddenly loud clapping echoed throughout the area followed by a maniacal laugh. "I found you my precious Bianca!" It was like a child's voice mixed with a demonic psychopath.
Bianca's face turned pale. "Nico."
The telekhines stepped aside for a young boy with pale skin and dark black hair that matched his dark outfit. His gaze was maniacal and his grin looked like it belonged in the psych ward. So this is her brother? She could barely see the resemblance, Nico looked half deranged his gaze sent a chill down his spine.
Nico held out his hand. "Bianca," he said softly like a young kid at a park. "Come on we'll be together forever. Lord Kronos will make sure the gods are punished for what they did."
Bianca slowly shook her head. "Nico he's lying to you."
Nico laughed like a maniac. "Lying to me? It is the gods who have constantly toyed and played with our lives?" His gaze hardened like a sheet of ice. "They killed our mother all because of our father. Then they separated me and you. I mean look at you! Those evil hunters brainwashed you to serve them!"
Father? She looked at Bianca whose face turned a shade paler.
"Nico you can't listen to him," Bianca begged. "Please just come with me and we'll go somewhere safe. I promise we can talk"
A bone chilling smile spread across Nico's face as he shook his head. "I'm going to be a real hero," he said with a childlike glee. "Just like Luke, just like in Mythomagic! Those evil gods will get what they deserve!"
Luke! She stepped forward. "Where is he? Where is Luke?"
Nico looked her over and his face contorted in disgust. "What's it to you?"
"We are basically family," she said softly.
Nico's gaze hardened his gaze turning to daggers. "What do you know about him? You abandoned him for those pathetic gods, You don't deserve him!"
She recoiled at the venom in his voice. What did she do to deserve the hatred in Nico's eyes aimed at her. Yet the boy's gaze was anything but friendly almost as if she had taken something from him and bothered him.
Bianca stepped forward. "Nico please you can't listen to him. Think of our father he-."
"NO!" Nico drew his sword. "Our father locked us up to be his own pawns." The boy slammed his fist into the rock and the earth began to shake. "I'll take you back, soon we'll be free from the evil gods."
The ground began to shake as various skeletal warriors emerged from the ground. "What are these?" She said as she and Clarisse gripped their weapons tightly as various warriors emerged from the ground.
No we can't lose her. Her body shook as she looked at the monsters and the hoards of undead. Mother please.
"I'll give you a chance Bianca," Nico said softly. "Your friends can live only if you come to me and swear to Kronos. Artemis isn't family and our father Hades…He never cared for us."
Hades? Her eyes widened as she looked at Bianca who had tears falling down her face. Oh gods another child of the Big Three.
"Nico please don't do this," Bianca begged.
"You give me no choice then," Nico said as he raised his sword. "For Kronos!"
No. Tears formed down her face as the monsters and the hoard of undead fell upon them. She stabbed one only to be stabbed in the side by another. Her eyes widened as she let out a scream.
"Wise girl!" Clarisse stabbed a few with her spear but she was already being overpowered. "Hold on I'm-"
A telekhine lunged at her and bit Clarisse on the neck while two more stabbed her. "Clarisse!" The daughter of Ares fell to the ground as more Telekhine's fell upon them. Clarisse roared in anger as she threw the monsters off her and stabbed them.
"We should retreat now!" Clarisse yelled as she repeatedly struck at the enemies that came near her.
No please we can't die here. Her heart raced in her chest as she did her best to fight off the hoard of enemies. This was supposed to be my quest, my chance to show them all.
"Wait I'll try to distract them," Bianca said as she fired her arrows at the monsters. Bianca's body began to glow an unearthly aura and suddenly the ground began to shake. Bianca swore as she fell to her knees, rocks falling around them. More undead emerged from the ground that formed a protective barrier around them. "Annabeth we really should retreat."
"NO! We can't!" Tears fell down her face as she avoided a rock that fell near her. The ground was shaking hard, whatever Bianca did it this volcano would soon erupt.
"Annabeth we can't take them all," Bianca coughed up blood as she fired another arrow. A telekhine tried to sneak up on her but the daughter of Hades stabbed it with a hunting knife. "My brother means business."
Up ahead Nico laughed and did a taunting dance as if he were the Joker. "Bianca my precious just come to me and it'll stop."
This is my quest. Tears fell down her face, she couldn't face the camp like this. She could see their jeers and taunts how could she face them like this. No! No! I can't! A telekhine stabbed her, she fell to the ground and coughed up blood as Bianca took it down with an arrow.
"Yo dead girl a shadow travel would be nice," Clarisse coughed up blood as she stabbed a telekhine with her spear. The daughter of Ares roared in anger as she slowly made her way to a control panel and hit a big red button.
A siren went off as the entire area shook. "Clarisse look out!" She yelled as an undead warrior tried to sneak up the daughter of Are but Clarisse easily took care of her.
No it can't end like this. Please mother help me. Tears fell down her face as they were slowly pushed in by the enemies. She stabbed a telekhine that bit into her arm while another hit her on the head with a wrench. she didn't have time to register the pain as Bianca grabbed her. "No please," she spat out blood. "Please we can't retreat."
I can't go back like this. Tears fell down her eyes, the camp needed her. Mother chose me, I can't let her down.
Clarrise stabbed a few more telekhines as they slowly retreated back. "This isn't the time for pride!" The daughter of Ares staggered as she stabbed a few more telekhines. "Dead girl take u"-"
A hoard of Telekhine's stabbed Clarrise in multiple areas of her body. The daughter of Ares' eyes widened as she fell to her knees.
"Clarisse!" She screamed, tears falling down her face as the daughter of Ares fell to the ground.
The daughter of Ares let out a loud roar as she stood up her legs shaking as she threw off a few telekhines. She stabbed the monsters near her and pushed them back. "Finish this quest and save camp wise girl."
"Clarisse!" She screamed her name as she pulled away from Bianca just as a powerful blast ripped through the area. A powerful wave of heat and steam threw her back as her skin burned; she screamed in pain calling out for Bianca and Clarisse.
Clarisse. Bianca. Tears fell down her face as the heat burned her. Then her senses went dark.
Alabaster stood in his mother's hall with his Aunt Medea. He had never seen her look scared but the way she avoided his mother's gaze made him wonder what was going on.
Hecate looked down at her with a hardened gaze. "Medea what were your dealings with this Triumvirate Holdings?"
Triumvirate Holdings? He had never heard of it but his aunt shifted uneasily under his mother's gaze. "Mother what's going on?"
Hecate cut him off with a stern look. "Your aunt has been having side dealings, I thought I could ignore them."
"My lady I swear I did mean to betray your trust," Medea said quickly. "The Triumvirate, they were very persuasive and just wanted information and products. I swear I would never betray you or your family. All my interactions were strictly business."
"Wh-Who are these people?"
His mother's gaze flickered with anger. "You will give me a full account of your dealings with them later. Make sure none of your products have been sold to the enemy. We will discuss this later."
Medea bowed deeply. "Yes mam."
He stared at his aunt in shock, he had never seen her so sad before he really wanted to hug her but the atmosphere was very tense. Whoever these people were his mother was not happy with them.
His mother waved her hands over the fire pit her form flickered in his eyes. "The time for the battle is drawing near, be prepared."
"We will show the world we can do," he said firmly. "I've been working with Percy and Ethan to make plans to defend the camp. The other campers will see what your children can do, what you can do."
The atmosphere calmed down as the flames danced in front of him "You all make me proud." She then turned to the flames. "The enemy is growing reckless, the labyrinth is giving them more trouble than they anticipated and Daedalus is still in hiding."
He frowned. "We still haven't seen him."
Hecate's gaze flickered with the flames. "Daedalus is a tricky man. However, he is very calculating for his own safety and his own well being." With a flick of her wrist, the flames grew larger and shapes took form in the fire.
He saw the Princess Andromeda at sea riding through the waves. "That ship…Percy said we may have to fight on two fronts." His mind began calculating the implications. He took a step back, "Damn it a two front battle is never easy."
"Battles are never set in stone," Hecate said calmly. "Old Oceanus is even more wary of helping his brother this time around."
He looked at his mother wondering what she could have been doing with Oceanus. Percy mentioned Triton was helping him train. Maybe there is more diplomacy going on than I know. Whatever it was he hoped things would work out.
"I've been making all the preparations I can," Medea said softly. "I swear the enemy shall suffer dearly if they decide to march on the camp."
"There are many factors to a battle," Hecate said calmly. "Do all you can to prepare."
"We are," he said firmly. "Auntie and Circe have been doing all they can to prepare the camp. Everyone will know how strong our family is."
The fire flickered casting a shadow on the room. "Oh there is one more matter," Hecate said calmly. "The enemy may have a spy in the camp."
He frowned at the pyre. "We've been discussing that theory but who would want to betray the camp."
"A wolf in sheep's clothing who tries to appear weak," Hecate said. "Find the spy."
He bowed deeply. "Yes mother."
"I won't let this spy get away with what they are doing," Medea said firmly. "I too have had my suspicions." She paused. "But we must make sure before we act."
Hecate nodded. "Coordinate it with Chiron."
When he woke up in the Poseidon Cabin he noticed Percy was already up. "Couldn't sleep?"
Percy looked at the water in the fountain and gently ran his hand through it. "Just nervous." They've been training the campers non stop the past few days. Despite being nervous about it at first Percy was getting better at it and the morale at camp was getting a little higher as they trained everybody.
"Don't worry you're doing fine," he said. "We can only do our best." Standing up he went over to the fountain and looked into the waters with Percy. "My mom spoke to me," he said softly. "The sea invasion is most likely going to happen along with a land invasion."
Percy's face darkened. "Great. I don't know if I can take them all out by myself even in the ocean."
He stood up and patted the son of Poseidon on the shoulder. "Don't worry we'll figure something out."
After they got ready for the day they went to the training field where they found his older brother Balthazar battling Ethan while a small crowd of campers watched in the distance. Ethan's katana flew through the air with precision as he blocked Balthazar and slowly pushed him back. Their swords glistened in the sun as they both tried to get the upper hand over the other. Eventually, Balthazar lunged at Ethan who barely had enough time to counter. Their swords clashed against each other causing them both to stumble.
"Alright good job," Percy said.
Balthazar pulled back and sheathed his sword. "Not bad. You manage to wield your katana very well."
Ethan nodded. "Thanks." The son of Nemesis then turned to Percy. "What are we doing today?"
Percy eyed the campers. "Malcolm Pace. Sherman Yang."
The son of Athena and the son of Ares stepped forward. Percy eyed them up and down. "Both of you will work with Alabaster. I want you both to work with Alabaster here, take a group of your siblings, and make a detailed list of strategic locations around camp that would be important in combat."
Sherman Yang nodded. "Got it."
"We'll um do our best," Malcolm said.
Ok here I go. He looked at both of them. "Alright lets gather our things and get going."
The two other demigods looked at him and nodded. After gathering their supplies they quickly went to the border where some of his aunt's skeletal sentries stood.
"Hey does your aunt have like an unlimited amount of these?" Sherman asked while some of his siblings looked at the guards with curiosity.
He nodded. "Yeah she makes a lot of them."
"Sick can we get some?" One of Sherman's siblings asked.
"Sure I'll ask," he said as he took out his deck of cards and shuffled them. "Alright lets find our camps strategic places and then make a map of them for the camp to use."
Malcolm nodded. "Got it. We'll do our best to make a good one."
The sound of the woods calmed his senses as he explored the border region of the camp. "You know we could set up traps and do guerilla warfare," Sherman suggested as they looked down from a small hill. "The woods would be a great place to do hit and run tactics." He scanned the area carefully. "Lets find good places to set up traps."
Malcolm and Sherman nodded as their siblings began to examine the area that could be used to set traps.
He nodded and shuffled his cards. "True. My aunt and sister have a lot of nasty traps they could use." His mind drifted to his aunt and their meeting with his mother. Auntie what did you do behind her back? He hadn't seen his mother that angry in a long time, a part of him honestly feared he would hurt Medea.
His aunt was a businesswoman a successful one and despite her unethical practices he knew she was fiercely loyal to his mother and their family. We all mistakes. Hopefully whatever she didn't doesn't blow up in her face.
They continued to make their map he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Turning around he saw Silena watching him. Her face paled when their eyes met. "Oh uh I was just checking if Charlie was here?"
He raised an eyebrow. "He should still be at the forges."
Silena's eyes darted around as she awkwardly avoided his gaze. "Oh I see. Thank you." With that she scurried Something is definitely up with her.
After making sufficient plans he went over to his aunt's tent where he found her looking into the flames. "Uh Auntie we made a copy of a few strategic places. Would you like to see them?"
Medea looked up at him her face hiding pain. "I see. Thank you Alabaster."
He handed her the plans. "Are you ok? Whatever you did we won't get angry. I'm sure mother will calm down."
His aunt looked at him with a pained look that broke his heart. She stroked his hair gently. "Oh Alabaster my heart is something that cannot be healed." She shook her head her gaze appeared almost watery. "I still see them sometimes. My father and brother…along with my children and their screams." Her posture turned rigid. "I gave that man everything yet the world views him as a hero."
"Not everyone," he says softly. "We know what he really was like. Even Chiron knows and deep down who knows, maybe the Olympians know as well." Sorrow mixed with anger inside of him. As far as he was concerned Jason was nothing but scum for what he did to Medea.
Medea sighed. "True." She paused and looked at the flames. "Sometimes I wonder what my children would have been like if they had grown up, I know they would have been great men."
"They would have had a great mother," he said softly. "Don't allow your pass to define who you are."
His aunt smiled at him. "Oh Alabaster you have so much potential. I know your future will be bright." She turned around. "I'll work on some plans. We'll speak to later."
He looked at Medea and nodded before leaving. Auntie I hope one day you can find peace.
As he walked to the beach he noticed a few pillars of water shooting from the sea into the air. "Good job Percy!" Lou called out as the son of Poseidon began to manipulate the water and summoned a wall of spears.
Not bad. He walked over to his sister and Percy then exited the water. The son of Poseidon seemed a bit calmer and a bit more at ease. Water dripped down his tanned body as his muscles seemed to shimmer in the light. He had to admit Percy looked good, really good.
"You learned a few tricks," he said.
Percy grinned. "Thanks." He then willed the water off him. "My immortal brother taught me a few things. Hey Alabaster it's strange but in the water I feel much more at home than usual." His sea green eyes seemed to shimmer in the sun and he had this very appealing aura to him. "I feel much more energized than unusual."
"Well I'm sure you'll get the hang of it," he said. "Anyway I made a decent map of strategic places; my aunt is looking them over."
"Good." Percy ran his hands through his hair. "We'll figure out a good defense once it's done."
"I'm sure you'll make a good plan," Lou said with a smile. "You're smarter than you think you are."
Percy's face reddened. "Th-Thanks."
He awkwardly looked away. Deep down he didn't know how to feel about Lou and how she sometimes checked Percy out. Percy was a good guy and all but he just didn't know if Percy was really into her or if his sister just had a small crush on him.
Percy must have noticed him staring at them because he quickly looked away. "Anyway I'm going to swim again."
Lou smiled. "Have fun."
"Yeah have fun," he said.
There was an awkward silence as Percy quickly ran back into the water.
AN: So for those that don't know the Triumverant Holdings who are the main antagonists of Trials of Apollo actually worked with Medea in canon so for this story I decided to reveal some of her side dealings. It's a little disappoint that Rick made her a villain without any reflection on what happened to her. Even the main sources we have for Medea's story often recognize that what Jason did to Medea was horrible.
I hope you are all enjoying villain Nico as much as I am. I'm still thinking of how I will end his arc. Just to be clear this isn't a nico bashing story, I just think Nico has the potential to be a fearsome antagonist.
Also I may just keep this story gen so Percy won't be shipped with anyone though he will be close with other characters like Alabaster, Ethan, and Lou
As for the Hecate book, Personally I was disappointed by it. Frankly I know this trilogy is basically a slice of life trilogy used to advertise the show but I personally didn't care for the book. Also I don't know it it's just me but in this new trilogy Rick hardly describes Percy and Annabeth? There are no mentions of Annabeth having blonde hair or Percy having sea green eyes.