24. Mrs. O'Leary, Quintus and the Labyrinth.

Damian stood still for a moment, the letter trembling in his hands. He reread the words carefully, searching for a hidden meaning, a clue about who his father was. But all he found was a mix of warmth and melancholy. Even though he still didn't know the answer, that gesture made him feel like he hadn't been forgotten.

He gently set the letter down beside him and opened the package. Inside, he found a bracelet of intertwined cords, simple yet incredibly beautiful, adorned with glossy black beads that seemed to absorb the light around them. He touched them lightly with his fingertips, sensing a familiar and comforting energy emanating from the gift.

"Thank you..." he whispered softly, even though no one was there to hear him.

He fastened the bracelet around his wrist, noticing how it seemed perfectly made for him. Then he lay down on the bed, clutching the letter to his chest. Even though he still didn't have the answers, the gift made him feel closer to a part of himself he often felt was missing.

That night, Damian fell asleep with a faint smile on his face, the bracelet secure around his wrist, like a silent promise of a bond that would one day be revealed.

Damian couldn't decide what to make of Quintus. There was something unsettling about him, something that put Damian on edge. But Mrs. O'Leary was the complete opposite: enormous, yes, but incredibly sweet. Every time Damian tried to keep his distance from Quintus, Mrs. O'Leary seemed determined to foil his plans.

"Why are you always following me?" he asked one day when the gigantic creature appeared suddenly beside him, making him jump.

Mrs. O'Leary tilted her head to one side and wagged her tail, as if there could be no more absurd question in the world. Damian couldn't help but smile. He patted her head, her soft, furry ears seeming made for such attention.

"You're so strange," he murmured, without a hint of resentment.

From that moment on, Mrs. O'Leary became almost a constant presence. Damian realized that with her by his side, his fears about Quintus seemed a little less oppressive. Sure, he still watched him from a distance and hid behind Chiron or Annabeth whenever he crossed paths with him, but now he had a huge, loyal ally who made him feel less alone.

And one evening, as Damian sat sketching beside Mrs. O'Leary, the massive hellhound curled up next to him, he wondered for a moment if there was more to this unusual bond.

Damian watched Percy and the newcomer from a distance, sitting near Mrs. O'Leary. The curly-haired redhead seemed a little out of place, yet fascinated by her surroundings. Percy was leading her toward the Big House, probably to meet Chiron.

"Who is she?" Damian whispered to Gray, who had just sat down beside him.

"No idea," Gray replied with a shrug. "But she looks interesting. Maybe she's a new demigod."

Damian nodded absentmindedly, but his gaze quickly shifted to Annabeth, who was walking toward the camp's edge with Clarisse. Something was wrong. Annabeth had changed lately: she seemed distant, quiet, and above all, nervous. Damian had noticed it whenever he spent time with her. She always seemed lost in thought, her usual confident smile gone.

"What's going on with her?" Damian murmured, clutching the bracelet on his wrist—a habit of his when he was anxious.

Gray shook his head. "I don't know, but something's up. Maybe it has to do with Quintus. Percy seems worried too, but he's not saying anything."

Damian stayed silent, watching Annabeth disappear into the trees with Clarisse. A sense of unease twisted in his stomach. Maybe it was just a feeling, but he sensed that something was very wrong. And that red-haired girl... who knew what role she might play in all of this?

Percy continued to watch Damian and Mrs. O'Leary with a mix of disbelief and concern. The hellhound, enormous and intimidating at first glance, seemed completely tamed under Damian's gentle scratches, as the boy smiled softly.

"Damian... what on earth are you doing with a hellhound?" Percy asked, still struggling to process the scene before him.

Damian looked up innocently, still scratching behind Mrs. O'Leary's ears. "Oh, this is Mrs. O'Leary," he explained, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "She came here with Quintus, a new... uh, guest at camp. But she's nice, you don't have to worry."

Percy opened his mouth to argue but couldn't find the words. Hellhounds were infamous for being terrifying creatures, used by Hades and other dark entities to strike fear or attack. And yet, this enormous creature was wagging her tail like a happy puppy, resting her gigantic head on Damian's knees.

"Quintus?" Percy finally managed to ask.

"Yeah," Damian nodded. "He's a strange guy. I don't like him much. But Mrs. O'Leary is adorable."

Percy frowned, glancing between Damian, the hellhound, and the Big House where Quintus was likely staying. "And Chiron is okay with all of this?"

Damian made a face. "I don't think he likes Quintus much, but he hasn't said anything. And Mrs. O'Leary hasn't done anything wrong. She always tries to stay with me... though sometimes she shows up suddenly and freaks me out a bit."

Percy rubbed his forehead, trying to figure out how to handle the situation. "You know she's a hellhound, right? I mean... 'hell' isn't exactly comforting."

Damian shrugged. "Yeah, but look how cute she is."

Percy glanced at Mrs. O'Leary, who stared back with big, affectionate eyes, her tongue lolling out of one side of her mouth. In that moment, she didn't look threatening at all.

"Yeah, cute..." Percy muttered, shaking his head. "But I'm keeping my sword ready, just in case."

Damian watched Percy walk away with Chiron, confused and slightly worried. The adults always seemed to know something he didn't understand, and that feeling didn't sit well with him at all. He continued to scratch the ears of Mrs. O'Leary, who let out a low sound, almost like a satisfied growl.

"I wonder what they're up to," Damian murmured, more to himself than to the creature.

Mrs. O'Leary wagged her tail enthusiastically, causing the ground around them to vibrate. Damian chuckled, trying to shake off the dark thoughts that had been haunting him. Still, the unease that had followed him since Quintus arrived at camp lingered.

With a sigh, he rested his head on the soft back of the hellhound. "I wish they'd stop keeping secrets," he muttered. "Wouldn't it be better if we all knew what was going on?"

Mrs. O'Leary responded with a slight bark, as if expressing her disapproval. Damian smiled weakly, affectionately stroking her muzzle.

"At least you're not hiding anything from me, right?"

The hellhound licked his face in response, making him laugh. For a moment, Damian was able to forget his doubts and focus solely on the company of that gigantic, but incredibly sweet, creature.

Mrs. O'Leary trotted up, her big wagging snout near Damian. Annabeth had a firm grip on his arm, her gaze fixed on his injured side. "Are you all right?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Damian grimaced but nodded. "It's nothing... just a scratch." He tried to stand up, but the pain took his breath away.

Annabeth shook her head. "Not just a scratch. Stay still, I need to check how bad it is."

Meanwhile, Percy stayed alert, his nervous gaze scanning every corner of the dark place they had fallen into. "We need to get out of here, fast. I don't like this place at all."

Damian, holding back a grimace of pain, reached out to Mrs. O'Leary. "You can get us out of here, right? Please, Mrs. O'Leary."

The hellhound tilted her head, as if considering, then barked energetically. With a leap, she trotted over to the three of them, crouching beside Damian. Percy watched the scene in confusion. "Wait, you mean she'll take us away... how? Vanishing into the shadows?"

"Probably," Annabeth replied, helping Damian climb onto Mrs. O'Leary's back with swift but gentle movements. She then climbed up as well, casting a determined glance at Percy. "Get on, we don't have time to waste!"

Percy hesitated for just a moment, casting a worried look at the rocks above them and the dark tunnels surrounding them. Then he climbed behind them, gripping the hellhound's collar tightly. "Okay, Mrs. O'Leary, take us out of here!"

Mrs. O'Leary shook her large body and, with a deep bark, dashed toward a nearby shadow. The world around them suddenly grew dark and silent, as if they were enveloped by nothingness. Damian closed his eyes, holding Annabeth tightly to avoid falling.

In a moment that seemed eternal, the darkness dissipated, and the three found themselves outside again, the sun casting a reassuring warmth on the camp. Mrs. O'Leary carefully set them down on the grass, then sat quietly beside them, wagging her tail as though nothing had happened.

"Never again!" Percy exclaimed, stepping off the hellhound with a dazed expression. "No more shadows!"

Annabeth turned to Damian, studying his side closely. "We need to take you to the infirmary. No arguments."

Damian nodded slowly, the relief of being out of that place outweighing the discomfort of his injury. He looked at Mrs. O'Leary with gratitude. "Thank you, Mrs. O'Leary... you're amazing."

Mrs. O'Leary responded with another energetic bark, her enthusiasm drawing a smile from Damian despite everything.

In the Big House, Damian collapsed onto one of the armchairs, clutching his bandaged side. Percy leaned against the edge of the table, while Annabeth, standing in front of Chiron, explained everything with her usual precision and determination.

"There's no doubt," Annabeth said, pointing at the map spread out on the table. "We've found the entrance to the Labyrinth under the Fist of Zeus. It's just like in the myths: vast, constantly expanding, and impossible to map without Ariadne's thread or an expert guide."

Chiron rubbed his forehead, visibly concerned. "This complicates everything. If the Labyrinth can be used to enter the camp, then our shelter is no longer safe."

Damian shifted in the chair, watching Annabeth. "So... the Labyrinth is like a shortcut for the enemies? They can get here without being seen?"

Annabeth nodded. "Exactly. It's a system of tunnels that spans the entire world. But the problem is, it's not just enemies who can use it; the Labyrinth itself can play nasty tricks. It's alive, in a way. It adapts, changes, deceives."

Percy crossed his arms, his expression serious. "And now? What's the plan? We can't just close that entrance, can we?"

"No," Annabeth replied, determined. "If we try to seal it, the Labyrinth will find another way to open. The only solution is to find the heart, Daedalus's room, and figure out how to stop or control it."

Chiron nodded slowly. "That explains why you were chosen for this mission, Annabeth. But it's a risky task. No one knows what lurks in the depths of the Labyrinth. Daedalus himself designed it to be deadly."

Percy huffed. "Danger is our second name." Then he turned to Annabeth. "But if we decide to go, we need to be ready. And we won't let you go alone."

Annabeth looked at him, a spark of gratitude in her eyes, but also worry. "Percy, this isn't a simple mission. I'm not even sure Damian should—"

"I shouldn't," Damian interrupted, cutting her off. "I don't even want to go into that Labyrinth. But if you need me, if I can help, I won't back down."

Chiron observed the group closely. "Before making any rash decisions, we need to prepare and gather anyone necessary for this mission. Annabeth, you will lead it, but we must consider every risk."

The centaur moved toward the window, gazing at the sunset that painted the camp in gold. "You'll rest tonight. Tomorrow, we'll decide how to proceed. For now, be cautious... and stay united. The Labyrinth is only one of the many dangers that await us."

Damian nodded slowly, his hand pressing against his bandaged side. He knew the days ahead would be anything but peaceful.