We followed the spider through the maze in a hurry. It scuttled along the tunnels so fast, most of the time I couldn't even see it. If it hadn't been for Tyson's and Grover's excellent hearing, we never would've known which way it was going.

We ran down a marble tunnel, then dashed to the left and Percy almost fell into an abyss. Tyson grabbed him and hauled him back before he could fall. The tunnel continued in front of us, but there was no floor for about a hundred feet, just gaping darkness and a series of iron runs in the ceiling. The mechanical spider was about halfway across, swinging from bar to bar by shooting out metal fiber.

"Monkey bars." Annabeth said. "I'm great at these."

She leaped into the first rung and started swinging her way across. Annabeth got to the opposite side and ran after the spider. Percy made sure I went next, stating so he could make sure I was safe. With a blush on my cheeks, I followed after Annabeth with Percy right behind me. Once I touched the ground, I quickly went to catch up with Annabeth.

We kept moving and passed a skeleton crumpled in the tunnel. It wore remains of a dress shirt, slacks, and a tie. Percy slipped on a pile of wood scraps. He reached out to steady himself, grabbing my hand. Once he was steady, he shined a light on them to reveal hundreds of broken pencils.

The tunnel opened up into a large room. A blazing light hit us. I brought my hand up to shield my eyes and adjust my vision it the brightness. There were more skeletons varying from age. There was a certain stench to the room, but thankfully didn't compare to the one from the ranch.

A monster stood on a glittery dais on the opposite side of the room. She had the body of a huge lion and the head of a woman. With her hair in a right bun and way too much makeup, she wore her blue badge proudly. It took me a while to read the words on the badge: THIS MONSTER HAS BEEN RATED EXEMPLARY!

"Sphinx." Tyson whimpered.

I quickly scanned for the exit.

Good news: I found the exit tunnel.

Bad news: there was only one and it was behind the sphinx.

More bad news: the mechanical spider went underneath the Sphinx's paws and disappeared.

Annabeth started forward, but the Sphinx roared, showing her fangs. Bars came down on both tunnel exits, behind us and in front.

"Welcome, lucky contestants!" She announced. "Get ready to play...ANSWER THAT RIDDLE!"

Canned applause blasted from the ceiling, as if there were invisible loudspeakers. Spotlights swept across the room and reflected off the dais, throwing disco glitter over the skeletons on the floor.

"I swear I had a nightmare similar to this." I mumbled.

"Fabulous prizes!" The Sphinx said. "Pass the test, and you get to advance! Fail, and I get to eat you! Who will be our contestant?"

"I've got this." Annabeth grabbed my arm and whispered. "I know what she's going to ask."

She stepped forward to the contestant's podium, which had a skeleton in a school uniform hunched over it. Annabeth pushed the skeleton out of the way, and ir clattered to the floor.

"Sorry." She told it.

"Welcome, Annabeth Chase!" The monster cried, though Annabeth never said her name. "Are you ready for your test?"

"Yes." Annabeth said. "Ask your riddle."

"Twenty riddled, actually!" The Sphinx gleefully said.

"Yeah, I've definitely a similar dream to this." I frowned, remembering my school days in California.

"What? But back in the old days-"

"Oh, we've raised our standards! To pass, you must show proficiency in all twenty. Isn't that great?"

Applause switched on and off. Annabeth glanced at us nervously. Percy gave her an encouraging nod while I gave her two thumbs up and a large smile.

"Okay." She told the Sphinx. "I'm ready."

A drumroll sounded from above. The Sphinx's eyes glittered with excitement.

"What...is the capital of Bulgaria?"

Annabeth frowned. My heart felt like it stopped. There is no way Annabeth was stuck on this question.

"Sofia," she said, "but-"

"Correct!" More applause. The Sphinx smiled so wide her fangs showed. "Please be sure to mark your answer clearly on your test sheet with a number 2 pencil."

"What?" Annabeth looked mystified.

A test booklet appeared on the podium in front of her, along with a sharpened pencil.

"Make sure you bubble each answer clearly and stay inside the circle." The Sphinx said. "If you have to erase, erase completely or the machine will not be able to read your answers."

"What machine?" Annabeth asked.

The Sphinx pointed with her paw. Over by the spotlight was a bronze box with a bunch of gears and levers and a big Greek letter Êta on the side, the mark of Hephaestus.

"Now," said the Sphinx, "next question-"

"Wait a second," Annabeth protested. "What about 'What walks on four legs in the morning'?"

"I beg your pardon?" The Sphinx said, clearly annoyed now.

"The riddle about man. He walks on four legs in the morning, like a baby, two legs in the afternoon, like an adult, and three legs in the evening,  as an old man with a cane. That's the fiddle you used to ask."

"Exactly why we changed the test!" The Sphinx exclaimed. "You already knew the answer. Now second question, what is the square root of sixteen?"

"Four." Annabeth said. "But-"

"Forever! Which U.S. President signed the Emancipation Proclamation?"

"Abraham Lincoln, but-"

"Correct! Riddle number four. How much-"

"Hold up!" Annabeth shouted. "These aren't riddles."

"What do you mean?" The Sphinx snapped. "Of course they are. This test material is specially designed-"

"It's just a bunch of dumb, random facts." Annabeth insisted. "Riddles are supposed to make you think."

"Think?" The Sphinx frowned. "How am I supposed to test whether you can think? That's ridiculous! Now, how much force is required-"

"Stop!" Annabeth continued. I started to grow nervous. "This id a stupid test."

"Um, Annabeth." Grover cut in nervously. "Maybe you should just, you know, finish first and complain later?"

"I'm sure there's a rate my testing experience afterwards." I quickly added.

"Im a child of Athena. And this is an insult to my intelligence. I won't answer these questions."

"Ah great." I muttered as I saw the Sphinx's eyes glittered pure black.

"Why then, my dear." The monster said calmly. "If you won't pass, you fail. And since we can't allow any children to be held back, you'll be EATEN!"

The Sphinx bared her claws, which gleamed like stainless steel. She pounced at the podium. I quickly plucked a grape from my necklace.

"No!" Tyson charged and tackled the Sphinx midair.

They crashed sideways into a pile of bones. This gave Annabeth just enough time to gather her word and draw her knife. I quickly stood in front of her and held out my sword. Tyson got up, his shirt clawed for shreds. The Sphinx growled, looking for an opening. Percy drew his sword and joined me in front of Annabeth.

"Turn invisible." Percy told her.

"I can fight!"

"No!" Percy yelled. "The Sphinx is after you! Let us get it."

The Sphinx knocked Tyson aside and tried to charge past Percy and I. Grover poked her in the eye with somebody's leg bone. She screeched in pain. I gave Annabeth a look to turn invisible now. She put in her cap and vanished. The Sphinx pounced right where Annabeth had been standing, but came up with empty paws.

"No fair!" The Sphinx wailed. I slashed my sword at her ribs, leaving a deep gash. She growled and turned to face me. I twirled my sword. "Cheater!"

Percy raised his sword to join the fight, but Tyson ripped the monster's grading machine and threw ir at her head. It landed in pierces all around her.

"My grading machine!" She cried. "I can't be exemplary without my test scores!"

The bars lifted from the exits. We all dashed for the far tunnel. I hope Annabeth was already following along. The Sphinx started to follow, but Grover raised his reed pipes and began to play. Suddenly the pencils collected around the Sphinx's paws, grew roots and branches, and began wrapping around the monster's legs. I aided by having vines weave in between the branches and roots.

The Sphinx started to break through then, but we bought ourselves some time to get to the tunnels. Tyson pulled Grover into the tunnel while Percy grabbed my hand. Then the gate slammed shut behind us.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled.

"Here!" She said right next to us. "Keep moving!"

We ran through the dark tunnels, listening to the roar of the Sphinx behind us as she complained about all the tests she would have to grade by hand.

🍇

Luckily, Tyson was able to hear the spider. We made a few turns, backtracked a few times, and eventually found the spider banging it's tiny head on a metal door. The door was oval with metal rovers around the edges and a wheel for a doorknob. There was a big brass plaque, green with age, with a Green Êta inscribed in the middle. We all looked at each other.

"This is it." I said.

"Ready to meet Hephaestus?" Grocer said nervously.

"No." Percy admitted.

"Yes!" Tyson said gleefully, and he turned the wheel.

As soon as the door opened, the slider scuttled inside with Tyson right behind it. The rest of us followed, not quite as anxious. The large room looked like a mechanic's garage, with several hydraulic lifts. There were some cars on them along with a bronze hippalektryon with the horse head off and hanging wires to list some of the items.

There were smaller projects cluttering a dozen work tables. Tools along the walls. Each had its own outline on a Peg-Board, but nothing seemed to be in the right placed the hammer was over the screwdriver place. Under the nearest hydraulic lift that held a Toyota Corolla, a pair of legs stuck out. One leg was in a metal brace. The spider scuttled straight under the car and the sounds of banging stopped.

"Well, well," a deep voice boomed from under the car. "What have we here?"

The mechanic pushed out on a back trolley and sat up. He wore a jumpsuit smeared with oil and grime. His name was embroidered over the chest pocket. His leg creaked and clicked in its metal brace as he stood, and his left shoulder was lower than his right when standing up straight. Hephaestus wore a permanent scowl. His black beard smoker and hissed. He handled the spider with amazing skill and he dissembled it in two seconds and then put it back together.

"There." Hephaestus muttered to himself. "Much better."

The spider did a happy flip in his palm, shot a metallic we r at the ceiling, and went swinging away. I had to hold back from saying 'Aw!'.

"I didn't make you, did I?" Hephaestus glowered up at us.

"Uh," Annabeth said, "no, sir."

"Good." The god grumbled. "Shoddy workmanship." He studied Annabeth, Percy, and I. "Half-bloods. Could be automatons, of course, but probably not."

"We've met, sir." Percy told him.

"Have we?" The god asked absently. "Well then, if I didn't smash you to a pulp the first time we met, I suppose I won't have to do it now."

"Okay..." I breathed out.

"Satyr." He looked at Grover and frowned. Then he turned to Tyson and his eyes twinkled. "Well, a cyclops. Good, good. What are you doing traveling with this lot?"

"Uh..." said Tyson, staring in wonder at the god.

"Yes, well said," Hephaestus agreed. "So, there'd better be a good reason you're disturbing me. The suspension on this Corolla is no small matter, you know."

"Sir," Annabeth said hesitantly, " we're looking for Daedalus. We thought-"

"Daedalus?" The god roared. "You want that old scoundrel? You dare to seek him out!"

His beard burst into flames and his black eyes glowed. I almost took a hesitant step back if it weren't for Grover being right behind me and Percy holding my hand.

"Uh, yes, sir, please." Annabeth said.

"Humph. You're wasting your time." He frowned at something on his work table and limped over to it. He picked up a lump of springs and metal played and tinkered with them. In a matter of seconds, a bronze and silver falcon flew around the room. Tyson laughed and clapped his hand. The bird landed on his shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately. "I sense you have something to tell me, cyclops."

"Y-yes, lord." Tyson's smile faded. "We met a Hundred-Handed One."

"Briares?" Hephaestus nodded, looking unsurprised.

"Yes. He-he was scared. He would not help us."

"And that bothered you."

"Yes!" Tyson's voice wavered. "Briares should be strong! He is older and greater than Cyclopes. But he ran away."

"There was a time I admired the Hundred-Handed Ones." Hephaestus grunted. "Back in the days of the first war. But people, monsters, even gods change, young cyclops. You can't trust 'em. Look at my loving mother, Hera. You met her, didn't you? She'll smile to your face and talk about how important family is, Eh? Didn't stop her from pitching me off Mount Olympus when she saw my ugly face."

"But I thought Zeus did that to you." Percy said.

Hephaestus cleared his throat and spat into a bronze spittoon. He snapped his fingers, and the robotic falcon flew back to the work table.

"Mother liked telling that version of the story." He grumbled. "Makes her seem more likable, doesn't it? Blaming it all on my dad. The truth is, my mother liked families, but she liked a certain kind of family. Perfect families. She took one look at me and...well, I don't fit the image, do I?"

I frowned at what he was saying. He pulled a feather from the falcon's back, and the whole automaton fell apart.

"Believe me, young cyclops. You can't trust others. All you can trust is the work of your own hands." Hephaestus focused on Percy and narrowed his eyes. "Oh, this one doesn't like me. No worries, I'm used to that. What would you ask me, little demigod?"

"We told you." Percy said. He tightened his hold on my hand to keep himself from saying something he shouldn't. "We need to find Daedalus. There's this guy Luke, and he's working for Kronos. He's trying to find a way to navigate the Labyrinth so he can invade our camp. If we don't get to Daedalus first-"

"And I told you, boy. Looking for Daedalus is a waste of time. He won't help you."

"Why not?"

"Some of us get thrown off mountainsides." Hephaestus shrugged. "Some of us...the way we learn not to trust people is even more painful. Ask me for gold. Of a flaming sword. Or a magical steed. These I can grant you easily. But a way to Daedalus? That's an expensive favor."

"You know where he is, then." Annabeth pressed.

"It isn't wise to go looking, girl."

"My mother says looking is the nature of wisdom."

"Who's your mother, then?" Hephaestus narrowed his eyes.

"Athena."

"Figures." He sighed. "Fine goddess, Athena. A shame she pledged never to marry. All right, half-blood. I can tell you what you want to know. But there is a price. I need a favor done."

"Name it." Annabeth said.

Hephaestus laughed loudly.

"You heroes always making rash promises. How refreshing!" He said. He pressed a button on his workbench and metal shuttered opened along the wall. It looked like either a huge window or a big screen TV. There was a gray fog in forests. Smoke rose from its crest. It was a volcano. "One of my forges. I have many, but that used to be my favorite."

"That's Mount St. Helens." Grover said."Great forrest around there."

"You've been there?" Percy asked.

"Looking for...you know. Pan."

"Wait." Annabeth looked at Hephaestus. "You said it used to be your favorite. What happened?"

"Well, that's where the monster Tuphon is trapped, you know." Hephaestus scratched his smoldering beard. "Used to be under Mount Etna, but when we moved to America, his force got pinned under Mount St. Helens instead. Great source of fire, but a bit dangerous. There's always a chance he will escape. Lots of eruptions these days, smoldering all the time. He's restless with the Titan rebellion."

"What do you want us to do? Fight him?" Percy asked.

"That would be suicide." Hephaestus snorted. " the gods themselves ran from Typhon when he was free. No, pray you never have to see him, much less fight him. But lately I have sense intruders in mountain. Someone or something is using my forges. When I go there, it is empty, but I can tell it is being used. They send me coming, and they disappear. I send my automatons to investigate, but they do not return. Something...ancient is there. Evil. I want to know who dares invade mt territory, and if they mean to loose Typhon."

"You want us to find out who it is." Percy said.

"Aye. Go there. They may not sense you coming. You are not gods."

"Sounds fun." I frowned.

"Glad you noticed." Percy muttered.

"Go and find out what you can." Hephaestus said. "Report back to me, and I will tell you what you need to know about Daedalus."

"All right. How do we get there?" Annabeth questioned.

Hephaestus clapped his hands. The spider came swinging down from the rafters. Annabeth flinched when it landed at her feet.

"My creation will show you the way." Hephaestus said. "It is not far through the Labyrinth. And try to stay alive, will you? Humans are much more fragile than automatons.

If you see any Grocers instead of Grover, let me know. For some reason autocorrect likes to change Grover to Grocer 😂😂