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chapter seventeen.
(  battle of the labyrinth  )
❝ hero returns, empty handed! ❞

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Cercopes are stupid. The original Kerkopes—two monkey men who were turned into the monsters they were now after stealing from Zeus—were annoying, but they weren't stupid. Their long distant cousins, are just so stupid it was sad. I have had enough of these dwarf monkeys laughing and chitter-chatting away about how they will win and serve their master and eat us for dinner. They reached no taller than my knee, with chubby little ape bodies, like chipanzees with big fluffy white beards. It was like talking to a child Santa, except I received no presents and I want to kill them right now. However, Hermes told me they would give me the answer I sought. Trust the god of thieves to send me to thieving monsters.

So yeah, I wasn't allowed to kill them.

It was Cain's idea to let them win. To let them tie us up and boil the fire they were going to burn us on. He looked like he wanted to murder them too. Will kept pulling away from them picking at his golden hair, telling them to "Shove off!"

The thing about these little pesky mongrels, is that they loved shiny things. They absolutely loved them. Their whole nest was covered with jewellery, plates, armour and swords. Hermes told us to give them shiny objects in return for answers. We each found something shiny to give them, for three questions and three answers. One; where was Nico. Two; how will I find my powers. And three was just incase we needed to ask an extra one. Because I've been in too many scenarios where we got the question we wanted answered, and then had a million more to ask that we couldn't.

At the start, we were going okay. We thought we could head in, give them the objects, ask the questions and then get out. We were in New York again, and I wanted to finally head back and say hello to Percy after his high school orientation. High school, wasn't I like eleven not long ago? I haven't thought about high school. In fact, when I told Hannah about what I wanted to do—(Not the find Nico bit, but the maybe-there's-a-way-to-bring-back-my-powers bit)—she and Cory decided that it would be better that I'd be homeschooled. Originally, they were planning it even before I told them about the quest. They had thought it best considering the amount of monsters that were showing up because of Luke and Kronos, and how strong my scent was. They sold the family home to Hannah's cousins and now we lived at Camp. Well, they did. I just did what I always did, stayed all year round, until Will, Cain and I left for our quest that we didn't know how long would take. To be honest, though, I didn't know it would take a whole summer, autumn and winter, plus spring—so yeah, a whole year. That's a long time.

It wasn't as if we were on the road for a whole year. We came back to camp every now and then. Stopped and visited Percy. Caught up with Thalia and the Hunters. We had to search out further from the New York region for Nico, which sometimes got all over the place when we got leads for other things. (Aka Light's Kin stuff).

It was a year of on and off, here and there, this quest and this quest, but it was a year.

A long year.

However, it made it easier with a key to a sun chariot just hanging around my neck.

But this might be the chance for a final answer. Everything we were being told, everything we found, was leading us back here. Where? Well, that was what we were planning on asking these guys, until Cain ruined everything.

Well, he didn't ruin it—except he did. It's complicated. We all had our objects ready to go. We entered the small, closed down café shop with high hopes, expecting this to be over and done with. These were pesky Cercopes, what could go wrong? Everything.

As soon as we entered, they ambushed us. Ten little dwarf monkey's running towards us with mini shovels and swords, chattering away. We could easily take them down, but Cain told me it would be easier to let them win, and then coax the creatures into giving us the answers with out objects. And so now we were tied up by an oven in the back kitchen when I could be outside right now, heading out to see Percy after months.

As they were chitchatting away, arguing over pots and pans and portions, Cain leaned over and whispered. "I didn't think this far."

"No," I replied back. "That's obvious."

He rolled his eyes. "Look, we can't fight them, that way they'll never want to help us."

"I also don't want my days to end by being eaten by Cercopes. Imagine the embarrassment."

Will glanced at me, horrified. "That's what worries you?"

Turning back to the small creatures who were still chattering away, I was fed up. So, I said, "Hey!"

They all froze. Each and every head turned to look at me—it was kind of creepy. "Look, you guys don't want to eat us."

One chattered, another chittered.

I was so done. I was better than this. I've faced Titans and Hydra's, and now they make me face these guys? "We're here for answers. You guys want shiny stuff?" I shuffled so I could get the bracelet out of my pocket. It was something I picked up at an op-shop, but it was shiny with rhinestones. When it fell onto the ground, the Cercopes all awed. One of them rushed forward to steal it, but I kept my foot on it so they couldn't grab it. It whined as it tried to tug it from under my sole. "Then you answer our questions and let us go."

Most of them whined, and so I pulled my foot back and the bracelet disappeared under my sneaker. "You whine? No shiny."

It was like talking to children. They whined and chattered, but after a small conversation amongst themselves, they came to a decision. They all stopped and turned to us again, awaiting our question. They sat crosslegged, awaiting like children in a classroom.

"Nico Di Angelo," I said. "Where is he?"

Blink. And then chatter. Seconds after, two Cercopes rushed over to their huge piles of shiny objects. Grabbing a few, they scrambled back over. They dumped them at my feet. One object was a miniature wooden carving—it looked ancient, as if it really was from Ancient Greek times—of a man falling. Obviously, he wasn't falling, but you could get the idea for his hand was outstretched, waiting for someone to grab ahold of it and catch him. He had wings, no clothes—the usual greek mythological statue.

I knew who it was. I frowned at the creatures. "What's Icarus got to do with Nico's whereabouts?"

They chattered amongst each other, and one came closer. It pointed to the second object on the floor at my feet. An old drawing. There was nothing on it except a small symbol to one side of the page, a delta: Δ

My blood went cold. I only had one question left, I knew I wanted to ask about the answer to getting my abilities back, but ... "That's Daedalus's symbol," I told the others. "Are you saying Nico is in the Labyrinth. Where?"

Will muttered, "Wait! What about you're--?"

"Where is the closest entrance?" I asked again.

The Cercopes chattered. Finally, one went towards the pile and pulled out a necklace. I recognised that necklace. It was a Camp Half-Blood necklace.

I pulled my foot off the bracelet. They scampered towards it, grabbing and pushing to be the one who could get it. I told the others to give their objects too. Will was reluctant. "But ... but what does that mean? What's the Labyrinth? Where's Nico? What about you?"

"Just give them the object, Will," I told him, and he sighed before kicking out a kid's ring.

The Cercopes kept their word, and let us go. We walked a few blocks, not talking until I came to a stop by a public bus stop.

Why was Nico in the Labyrinth? What was he doing? Why was there an entrance at camp? And where at camp? Has there always been one and I never realised? Was that how he disappeared and we could never find him?

"What was that?" Cain asked, frowning. "I don't know any of this stuff. What's a labyrinth—who's Icarus? And Daedalus?"

I pursed my lips. I sighed and checked the time. I cursed. I had to meet up with Percy in thirty minutes. "Look, guys, head back to camp, tell Chiron what we saw this time. Don't mention Nico, or the Labyrinth at all."

"Why?" Will asked. "Why can't we tell him about the labyrinth?"

"Because if Nico's in there..." I sighed, shaking my head. "I gotta go and meet up with Percy. I'll talk to you guys later when I get back to camp. I'll explain then."

"Why can't you just explain now?" Cain seemed a little bit hurt.

"Look," I said. "If you want to know about Icarus and the Labyrinth, ask Annabeth. But I have to go."

"You have to go see your lover boy—"

I pointed a finger at Will. I knew there was a blush on my cheeks, even if I couldn't feel anything but cold. "Shut up—he is not. I will kick Michael off Zeus's Fist for telling everyone that, watch me."

Will just grinned. "You guys are going to see a movie."

I rolled my eyes. "And?"

"Just the two of you ... isn't that like a date?"

I flicked him on the head. Will cried out, pouting up at me. "It's not a date."

"Sure," Cain smirked. "Well, enjoy you're date with lover boy—" he jumped away before I could hit him. "We'll see you at camp. I'll chat with Annabeth—if she doesn't kill me."

I laughed, "Why are you so scared of Annabeth? She isn't going to bite."

Cain blushed. "She—she—she just scares me, okay?!"

I rolled my eyes, "You've been on multiple quests over the year, Cain, and Annabeth scares you more than the monsters you've faced."

"When she looks at you it's like she's trying to just decipher you and it freaks me out!"

I just laughed again. "Whatever. I'll see you soon. Talk to Chiron and Annabeth, just don't mention anything about Nico."

Cain one-finger saluted. "Yes, boss."

I left them there, walking the streets of Manhattan alone to where Percy's high school he wanted to attend was. This is giving me such a deja-vu to where I followed him to his middle school before we went to the Sea of Monsters. I just hope I don't arrive and he's blown it up. Was it too much to ask for just a normal day where I can go to the movies with my best guy friend ... that I might like but that's not the point! It's not a date!

As I walked, I continued to dwell on what the Cercopes told us. I didn't get to ask what I really wanted, but I got sidetracked. Nico and the Labyrinth—it seemed like a mini nightmare. Was that kid in that horrible place? Alone?

What was that kid getting himself into?

° ° °

I ran into Percy.

Well, more like he ran into me.

Like full on. He rammed into me and the both of us went tumbling down onto the pavement.

"Ow!" I said, rubbing the back of my head.

Percy, who had fallen down beside me, sat up. "Oh, sorry—hang on," he helped me up, and soon enough, the two of us were standing face to face.

I expected Percy to be excited. I haven't seen him since last summer. But even then, that was rather quick. He had to go on a quest to retrieve some chariot—the usual, all the god's chariots seemed to just go missing every second week—and I was to return on my quest after I got another lead. I was actually hoping he'd be really, really excited. I mean, I was.

I grinned at him, completely forgetting about the Cercopes and Nico and the Labyrinth. "Hey, look where you're going Water Boy."

Percy had grown since the last time I saw him. Like, he was taller last summer, but he had grown even more. It didn't make sense, for I used to be taller than Percy for ages. But now, he caught up, and he was winning. His hair was still as messy as ever, looking like it seriously needed a trim just to tame it. But, it did look like he had had a cut recently. Percy always had a habit of whipping his head so his hair would fall out off his eyes, it only just made him look like a weird version of Justin Bieber. I was glad that he had cut it so it wasn't falling over his eyes. It still stuck up at the back and looked suspiciously like he hadn't run a comb through it at all today, but he wasn't going to be doing anymore whipping action during practice when he couldn't see where he was swinging his sword.

"What's up?" I frowned at the anxious look on his face. "Look, I know I look a bit battered, I had a run in with these Cercopes and stuff but I shouldn't be too bad that the movies will kick me—" I was cut off when a voice called out.

"Percy! Wait up!"

This random red-head came running towards us. Dressed in patched jeans splattered with paint and a band tee-shirt was a big statement, but her hair was the biggest. Red, curly, frizzy and absolutely covered in monster dust. I then noticed the smoke that was billowing out behind her. I looked up, and the school that Percy was meant to be attending orientation was in flames.

"What did you do this time?" I asked him, crossing my arms. My good mood was gone. I sent a glare at this girl. "And who is this?"

"Oh, Rachel—Claire. Claire—Rachel. Um, she's a friend. I guess."

A friend?

"Hi," said Rachel. Why is she so pretty? Why is Percy's friend pretty? She turned to face him. "You are in so much trouble. And you still owe me an explanation!"

I frowned. Rachel sounded familiar. Police sirens wailed on FDR Drive.

"Percy," I snapped. The movie plan was over, now, "we should go."

"I want to know more about half-bloods," Rachel insisted. "And monsters. And this stuff about the gods," she grabbed Percy's arm. Immediately, I went to stop her, but she whipped out a permanent marker and wrote a phone number on his hand. Are you serious?! "You're going to call me and explain, okay? You we me that. Now get going."

"But—"

"I'll make up some story," said Rachel. "I'll tell them it wasn't your fault. Just go!"

She ran back towards the school. I wished I could burn holes in her back. Why was Percy's friend so pretty. Why does she have pretty red hair—why can't I have pretty red hair? I sent a glare at Percy before storming off down the street.

"Hey!" Percy jogged after me. "There were these two espousai," he started to explain. "They were cheerleaders, see, and they said camp was going to burn, and—"

"So you told another mortal girl about half-bloods?" The word girl came out much more bitter than I meant it to.

"What? No," Percy said. "She can see through the Mist. She saw the monsters before I did—she's the girl I met at Hoover Dam—"

"Oh, so it's her."

"Um, yeah," Percy frowned, managing to come to a stop at the same pace beside me. "So, I didn't tell anyone else. She was just there and she recognised me—"

"She's kind of cute," I muttered, narrowing my eyes. I watched the blush cross his cheeks, and my stomach fell. So he likes her. Great. Just great. He likes a mortal girl. A mortal girl with red hair and not me.

"I-I never thought about it."

Sure. I kept walking towards York Avenue.

Percy rambled, "I'll deal with the school," he promised. "Honest, it'll be fine."

I didn't want to look at him. I didn't want him to see how upset I was over him knowing a mortal girl. We've been through everything together, and he likes a girl who he hardly knows? Did she die on a boat to save her friends? Did she hold up the sky with him? We've been through so much. I know what I feel, now, but ... I just thought Percy would feel the same way. I thought—deep down—that maybe this was going to be a date.

But it doesn't matter now, does it?

"The afternoon's off, I guess," I muttered, shoving my hands into my short pockets. "We have to get you out of here, now the police will be searching for you. I gotta head back to camp anyway, I have to talk to Chiron about what Will, Cain and I did the last month."

Percy frowned, faltering a little bit. "Y-yeah, you're right. We have to get to Camp Half-Blood. Now."

*

     a/n: AHHHH PART TWO HAS STARTED!!
     get ready for a wild ride, y'all. Also, I did something called 'poetic licence' where I changed a little bit of Greek mythology to fit my story. Hey, if you wish to come at me, remember that Rick does the same thing with the mythology already in Percy jackson so ... sorry not sorry 🤷🏼‍♀️