I had spent a majority of the night catching my brothers up with what happened. We brainstormed ideas off each other about the maze and what we knew due to dad. It seemed we would need to talk to our stepmom about it as well whenever we can. Once I fell asleep, dreams of being lost in the labyrinth kept me awake most of the morning. One particular dream focused on my stepmother using a string to guide her through the maze before it transitioned to me using the string and being lost.

The next morning, the war council was called by Chiron.  Percy, Annabeth, Clarisse, Tyson, Grover, Juniper, the Stolls, Beckondorf, Lee Fletcher, and Argus were present. I was the only one from the Dionsyus cabin due to dad not wanting us to be involved in the war council meetings and because I was in the labyrinth. I could only imagine how upset dad will be once he comes back from talking with all of the minor gods. Now he has two reasons to be upset with me: Percy being my partner last night and now being a part of the council today. 

I had a cup of coffee in front of me, staring at the steam rise into the air. My  head rested on my fist as I tried to stay awake. Percy was sat beside me, nudging me softly when he saw me starting to doze off.

"You okay?" He softly asked as Annabeth started to talk.

"Couldn't sleep." I gave him a small smile.

"I can tell. The bags under your eyes are horrendous." Percy smirked, lifting his finger to lightly touch my under eyes.

I rolled my eyes and smacked his finger away. He snickered and leaned back into his chair.

"Luke must have known about the Labyrinth entrance. He knew everything about camp." Annabeth stated with a hint of pride in her voice.

I frowned, knowing that Annabeth still liked Luke. Wether it was because they grew close and consider each other family or because of the crush she has had on him, the pride of how smart he was bothered me. It bothered me because she could do so much better than him and save her feelings. She's only going to get hurt in the end. Especially with him on enemy lines.

"That's what I was trying to tell Percy and Ivy last night." Juniper glanced towards the both of us. "The cave entrance has been there a long time. Luke used to use it."

"You knew about the labyrinth entrance, and you didn't say anything?" Silena questioned with a frown.

"I didn't know it was important." Juniper's face turned green. I nursed the warm cup in my hand before taking a sip of coffee. "I don't like yucky old caves."

"She has good taste." Grover said.

"I wouldn't have paid any attention except...well, it was Luke." Juniper blushed.

"Forget what I said about good taste." Grover huffed as he crossed his arms.

"Interesting." Quintus polished his sword. "And you believe this young man, Luke, would dare use the labyrinth as an invasion route?"

"Wouldn't put it past him." I mumbled against my cup, ignoring the look of irritation Annabeth shot me.

"Definitely. If he could get an army of monsters without having to worry about our magical boundaries, we wouldn't stand a chance." Clarisse stated. "He could wipe us out easy. He must've been planing this for months."

"He's been sending scouts into the maze." Annabeth said. "We know because...because we found one."

"Chris Rodriguez." Chrion named, sending a meaningful look at Quintus.

"Ah. The one in the..." Quinuts glanced towards me. Disappointment flared in my chest as I was reminded of my failed attempts to try and help Chris with the madness he was fighting with. Just showed I wasn't strong enough. Percy followed his gaze and I slumped in my chair, placing my cup of coffee on the table. "Yes. I understand."

"The one in the what?" Percy eyed me as I fiddled nervously with the loose string on the bottom of my shirt.

"The point is," Clarisse quickly reflected the question and glared at Percy, "Luke has been looking for a way to navigate the maze. He's searching for Daedalus's workshop."

"The guy who created the maze." Percy stated.

"Yes. The greatest architect, the greatest inventor of all time." Annabeth started. "If the legends are true, his workshop is in the center of the labyrinth. He's the only one who knows how to navigate the maze perfectly. If Luke managed to find the workshop and convince Daedalus to help him, Luke wouldn't have to fumble around searching for paths, or risk losing his army in the maze's traps. He could navigate anywhere he wanted-quickly and safely. First ti Camp Half-Blood to wipe us out. Then...to Olympus."

The arena was quiet as we all process what Annabeth said. The hellhound played with her toy as it release a high pitch squeak. I tapped my fingers on my thigh, debating if I should just inhale my coffee now or enjoy it.

"Back up a sec." Beckondorf placed his hands on the table. "Annabeth, you said 'convince Daedalus'? Isn't Daedalus dead?"

"I would hope so." Quintus grunted. "He lived, what, three thousand years ago? And even if he were alive, don't the old stories say he fled from the labyrinth?"

"That's the problem, my dear Quintus. No one knows." Chiron clipped restlessly on his hooves. I took another sip from my cup. "There are rumors...well, there are many disturbing rumors about Daedalus, but one is that he disappeared back into the labyrinth toward the end of his life. He might still be down there."

"We need to go in. We have to find the workshop before Luke does. If Daedalus is alive, we convince him to help us, not Luke. If Ariadne's string still exists, we make sure it never falls into Luke's hands." Annabeth turned to face me. "Ivy, do you know anything about your stepmother's string? Where it could be? Where it was last seen?"

"I'll have to ask her." I nervously tapped my fingers on the desk. "My brothers and I are researching on where it can be. It's kind of hard without dad here to ask questions. And we can assume Luke is already looking for it, so he already has a head start."

"Wait a second." Percy interrupted. "If we're worried about an attack, why not just blow up the entrance? Seal the tunnel?"

"Great idea! I'll get the dynamite!" Grover eagerly agreed.

"It's not so easy, stupid." Clarisse growled out. "We tried that at the entrance we found in Phoenix. It didn't go well."

"The labyrinth is magical architecture, Percy. It would take huge power to seal even one of its entrances." Annabeth explained. "In Phoenix, Clarisse demolished a whole building with a wrecking ball, and the maze entrance just shifted a few feet. The best we can do is prevent Luke from learning to navigate the labyrinth."

"Well, we need to do something soon. Like I mentioned earlier, Luke already has a head start." I reminded them. "We don't know how far he is into his plans."

"We could fight. We know where the entrance is now." Lee said. "We can set up a defensive line and wait for them. If an army tries to come through, they'll find us waiting with out bows."

"We will certainly set up defenses." Chiron agreed. "But I fear Clarisse is right. The magical borders have kept this camp safe for hundreds of years. If Luke manages to get a large army of monsters into the center of camp, bypassing our boundaries...we may not have the strength to defeat them."

The room seemed to darken at his words.

"We have to get to Daedalus's workshop first." Annabeth insisted. "Find Ariadne's string and prevent Luke from using it."

"But if nobody can navigate in there what chance do we have?" Percy questioned.

"I've been studying architecture for years. I know Daedalus's labyrinth better than anybody." Annabeth told him.

"From reading about it."

"Well, yes."

"That's not enough!" Percy argued. At this point, we were all looking back and forth between the two best friends had they had their argument.

"It has to be!"

"It isn't!"

"Are you going to help me or not?" Annabeth asked him.

"First things first."  Chiron cleared his throat. "We need a quest. Someone must enter the labyrinth, find the workshop of Daedalus, and prevent Luke from using the maze to invade camp."

"We all know who should lead this." Clarisse glanced at the blonde haired girl. "Annabeth."

Everyone agreed with Clarisse. Annabeth was the best option to lead the quest.

"You've done as much as I have, Clarisse. You should go, too." Annabeth suggested.

"I'm not going back in there." Clarisse quickly shook her head.

"Don't tell me you're scared. Clarisse, chicken?" Travis laughed.

Clarisse shot up to her feet. I sat straight in my chair, ready to step in if a fight broke out. The labyrinth and Chris Rodriguez were sensitive topics for Clarisse.

"You don't understand anything punk." Clarisse said with a shaky voice. "I'm never going in there again. Never!"

She stormed out of the room. I started to get up when someone placed their hand on my arm. I turned to see Percy give a shake of his head. I frowned and sat back down.

"Let her cool off." Percy uttered.

"I didn't mean to." Travis sheepishly said.

"The poor girl has had a difficult year." Chiron raised his hand to cut off Travis. "Now, do we have agreement that Annabeth should lead the quest?"

Everyone had nodded except from the new swordsman. He folded his arms and stared at the table. I narrowed my eyes at his absence on answering Chiron's question.

"Very well." Chiron turned to Annabeth. "My dear, it's your time to visit the Oracle. Assuming you return to us in one piece, we shall discuss what to do next."

🍇

It had been a long while of waiting for Annabeth to return. The others talked amongst themselves. Percy had started to pace the room before leaving due to the nerves. I finished my coffee and tapped my foot on the ground. Percy came back a few minutes later and sat next to me. He seemed to be pondering on a thought, his knee bounced as he pinched his lip with his fingers in concentration.

"You okay?" I nudged my knee against his. He snapped out of his thought and turned to look at me. "You seem to be thinking a little bit too hard there."

"What do you know about Chris?" Percy asked me, ignoring my jab. A frown quickly set on my face. Percy stood up straighter when he saw my reaction. He slightly narrowed his eyes at me. "Ivy..."

"When Clarisse brought him back to camp...we learned that the labyrinth had, uh, messed with his mind." I uttered, looking at the table in front of me. Percy waited for me to continue. "All we know is that he was driven insane while he was in the maze. My brothers and I tried to help cure him from the madness, but it's strong. I wasn't strong enough to remove it. I think the only one to cure him would be my dad."

"Hey, you tried your best." Percy nudged his shoulder against mine. I glanced up at him to see him giving me a playful smile. "I can't heal madness. Maybe you just need more practice."

"Percy, you bring the madness." I breathed out a chuckle. He rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure you drive everyone insane."

Percy went to retort something, most likely a witty comment, when Annabeth stepped into the room. The room fell quiet.

"My dear, you made it." Chiron announce. Annabeth  sat on the bench and stared the the floor. Percy and I exchanged nervous looks.

"Well?" Quintus asked.

Annabeth looked at Percy first. Her eyes were hard to read, but there was some fear in them. Her eyes then traveled to focus on Quintus.

"I got the prophecy. I will lead the quest to find Daedalus's workshop."

"What did the prophecy say exactly, my dear? The wording is important?" Chiron questioned.

"I, ah...well, it said, You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze. The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise."

"The lost one! That must mean Pan! That's great!" Grover interrupted.

"With the dead and the traitor." Percy added. "Not so great."

"And? What is next?" Chiron probed.

"You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand, the child of Athena's final stand." Annabeth stated.

The room fell quiet as everyone looked around uncomfortably. No one liked how the last sentence sounded.

"Hey...we shouldn't jump to conclusions." Silena quickly tried to cheer everyone up. "Annabeth isn't the only child of Athena, right?"

I gave a meek nod in agreement. Silena sent me a thankful smile.

"But who's this ghost king?" Beckondorf asked.

"That doesn't sound like a full prophecy." I uttered under my breath as I tried to recite the words in my mind. Annabeth shot me a look to shut up. "What? It's true."

"Are there any more lines?" Chiron questioned, hearing what I stated.

"I don't remember exactly." Annabeth hesitantly said. I furrowed my brows. She's not one to forget anything. She shifted in her seat. "Something about...Destroy with a hero's final breath."

"And?" Chiron pressed on.

"Look, the point is, I have to go in." Annabeth stood to her feet. I eyed her warily. Why isn't she staying the full prophecy? What did it say to have her so shaken up? "I'll find the workshop and stop Luke. And...I need help." She turned to Percy. "Will you come?"

"I'm in." Percy gave her a curt nod.

"Grover, you too?" Annabeth smiled. "The woods god is waiting."

"I'll pack extra recyclables for snacks!" Grover responded.

"Tyson. I'll need you too." Annabeth told the cyclops.

"Yay! Blow-things-up time!" Tyson clapped.

"Ivy, I'll need you as well." Annabeth face me with a soft smile.

"Me?" I pointed at myself in confusion. "Why me?"

"You've been in the labyrinth before already." Annabeth started. "And I think with your powers and who your stepmom is, it would be beneficial for you to be with us."

"Wait, Annabeth." Chiron frowned. "This goes against the ancient laws. A hero is allowed only two companions."

"I need them all. Chiron, it's important." She insisted.

"Annabeth. Consider well." Chiron flicked his tail nervously. "You would be breaking the ancient laws, and there are always consequences. Last winter, five went on a quest to save Artemis. Only three came back. Think on that. Three is a sacred number. There are three Fates, three Furies, three Olympian sons of Kronos. It is a good strong number that stands against many dangers. Five...this is risky."

"I know. But we have to. Please." Annabeth took a deep breath.

"Very well." Chiron sighed. "Let us adjourn. The members of the quest must prepare themselves. Tomorrow at dawn, we send you into the labyrinth."

The small interactions between the two

Also, who has watched the Percy Jackson series on Disney + ?