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chapter twenty.
( battle of labyrinth )
❝ into the labyrinth! ❞

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      Waiting for Annabeth to return down from the attic was torture. Percy left after a little while, and I watched him walk away. I didn't expect him to wait the whole time, he had started to fidget. We always would fidget on a daily basis, the art of sitting still was something kids with ADHD can't experience. When you add anxiety and anticipation to the mix, it was impossible not to shake and tremble. Percy was a powerful demigod. The energy and power in him made him high-scale ADHD, and it showed. For me, I still had trouble sitting still, but I usually spaced out. I'd be in a conversation, and then something would catch my eye and then the person would get angry at me for not listening. I swear I had been listening I just—

      Even then, I jerked every now and then when I sat still for too long. I waited for Annabeth the entire hour, trying to distract myself from the feeling of my stomach in twists by counting the amount of scratches on the stone by my shoes—however, I'd always end up going back because I could never remember how many I counted after ten. I know what comes after ten, but then like, was I up to ten? Or like had I skipped eight? I don't remember saying eight. Or five, for that matter.

      In the end, I gave up. Percy returned after a little while, looking pale. I wanted to ask him what happened, but the look he gave told me: later. And so I nodded. When Annabeth finally arrived back at the sword arena, she sat down on a stone bench and stared at the ground.

      "My dear," Chiron said. "You made it."

      "Well?" then asked Quintus.

      I met Annabeth's startling grey eyes, and I wasn't sure whether she was trying to warn me, or if the look in her eyes was fear—complete fear. She focused on Quintus. "I got the prophecy. I will lead the quest to find Daedalus's workshop."

      Nobody cheered. Okay, like, we all liked Annabeth; we were all happy that she got a quest ... but ... after Chris Rodriguez, what Clarisse told us and the very little I had seen ... this was dangerous—too dangerous.

      Chiron scraped a hoof nervously, "What did the prophecy say exactly, my dear? The wording is important."

      Annabeth's breath shuddered, "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!" Grover perked up. "That must mean Pan! That's great!"

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

     "And?" Hannah spoke up. "Is there more?"

     "Servant of the Dead, beware the titan's rage..."

     I shared a glance with Percy. Servant of the Dead. That title could fall on two people that I knew. Nico or me.

     "...Fear, light and water, together, start the last stage..."

     "That doesn't sound promising," muttered Castor. I gave him a look.

     "You shall rise and fall by the Ghost King's hand," Annabeth pursed her lips. Her grey eyes glanced back down. "The Child of Athena's final stand."

      Everyone looked around uncomfortably. Annabeth was a daughter of Athena, and that final stand ... no. I shook my head, "That doesn't mean anything—we shouldn't jump to conclusions. Annabeth isn't the only child of Athena."

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

     There was a frown on Percy's face that made me want to ask what he knew.

     "Are there more lines?" Chiron asked. "The prophecy does not sound complete."

     Annabeth hesitated. "I-I don't remember exactly."

     Bullshit. I know Annabeth, she can remember everything. She never forgot something she had heard. She shifted on her bench. "Something about ... Destroy with a hero's final breath."

      "And?"

     Witch clenched fists, I knew Annabeth was shutting us away. She stood up. "Look, the point is, I have to go in. I'll find the workshop and stop Luke. And ... I need help," she turned to me and Percy. "Will you come?"

       Without hesitation, Percy and I said, "I'm in."

      She smiled for the first time in days. "Grover, you too? The wild god is waiting."

     Grover seemed to forget how much he hated the underground. He jumped up. "I'll pack extra recyclables for snacks!"

      "Tyson," Annabeth turned to the cyclops. "I need you too."

     "Yay! Blow-things-up time!" Tyson clapped so hard he woke up Mrs O'Leary, who was dozing in the corner.

     "And I need Cain," she finished. I frowned. Why would she want Cain to join her? Not only that, but that made the group of us come up to six demigods.

      Chiron seemed to realise this too, "Wait, Annabeth. This goes against the ancient laws. A hero is allowed only two companions. I've allowed three in the past ... but any more than that—"

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

     And so the conversation ended. It was decided: tomorrow, at dawn, we were to descend into the Labyrinth.

° ° °

    "Why does she want me?" Cain looked very nervous when Percy and I walked to the Hermes cabin to speak to him about it. "We never talk."

      "Obviously she needs you for something," I said as we made our way to the infirmary to stock up on nectar and ambrosia.

      "But what?"

      Percy and I both shrugged, and Cain sighed. "Right ..." he muttered. He kicked the grass with his shoe. "So, like, this labyrinth ... she told me a little bit about it—it's dangerous—"

      "—very," I corrected. He nodded.

      "W-what was it like?" he then asked. "I-I know you and Percy were only in there for an hour, but..."

      "It was dark, wet, and cold," said Percy. "Bring a jumper."

      I arched a brow at him. He was being rather irritated as we talked to Cain. I don't know why, but he was tense around him. Cain seemed to notice this too. He went red. "Right ..."

      "You'll be fine," I instead told him, giving Percy an annoyed glance. "We faced a bunch of shit together on the search for Nico. This is just another quest. We'll find Daedalus's workshop, stop Luke, and save camp—the usual."

       It wasn't the usual, but it seemed to make Cain feel a little bit better. "There's gonna be six of us..." he then said. "On the quest to save Artemis, there was six of you and two of you died—"

       Percy stopped, and Cain nearly stumbled into him. He stopped himself before he could, however. "We'll be fine," he told the undetermined demigod through clenched teeth. "We're leaving at dawn, meet us at Zeus's fist. Make sure you take what you need."

      Cain shuffled back, staring up at Percy with wide, scared eyes. I frowned at Percy. I took a step forward and tapped his arm, wondering why the hell he was being so terrible to Cain.

      "I-I—yeah, you're right," said Cain, before he hurried on. He gave me a glance over his shoulder before he entered the Big House, his hoodie thrown over his head.

      As soon as he couldn't see him, Percy relaxed. But then he saw my look, and he tensed again. "What?"

      "What was that?" I asked him. "Why were you so mean to Cain?"

      "I wasn't."

      I arched a brow, he faltered. With a sigh, Percy lowered his voice, "Look, Claire, I just ... I don't—I mean—he's ... I don't trust him."

      "Why?"

      "I don't know there's just something about him!" Percy threw his hands up. "It's like—I get this same energy off of him. Like—like whenever I'm in a small space or ... or ..." he swallowed hard, his fingers hovering over his shoulder like he was remembering pain that was no longer there. "Or Gabe—"

         I didn't want to make him continue. I know his ex-step father was not someone he liked to bring up often if he could help it. "He makes you scared," I said. And he nodded, muttering a quiet, "Yeah."

        It was quiet between us for a short while. In the end, I said, "Cain won't hurt you. He hates hurting a fly—"

        "I know," Percy pinched the bridge of his nose. "I know, I know, I just—"

       "I know," I sighed.

       "Yeah..."

       I tucked the grey strand of hair behind my ear. Percy's eyes caught it, and his fingers itched at his own that curled at the nape of his neck. "I ... I have to tell you something."

       His voice made me jump slightly, "Hmm?"

      "I saw Chris and Clarisse ... he—he really is insane..."

      I pursed my lips, "Let's hope that doesn't happen to us, huh?"

      Percy nodded. He glanced down at the grass, brooding. Then, the left corner of his lip quirked up into a slight smirk. "You're already insane. The maze ain't going to change any of that."

      I gaped and shoved him. "Screw you, Jackson."

     He chuckled slightly, holding his arm where I shoved him. "You love me, Sunshine."

     "I would pick Polyphemus over you."

     "Ouch."

     We laughed. It felt good to laugh despite everything. Our camp was under threat, we were about to go on a deadly quest, but at least we could still laugh. Then, a thought crossed my mind.

     "Percy," I said.

     "Mmm?" he grinned, thinking I was going to throw another insult at him.

      "I have to tell you something too."

      Realising it was serious, the smile fell off his face. "Yeah?"

     We had made it back towards the cabins. I stopped and eyed cabin seven, rather dark in the moonlight. "Claire?" Percy said, and I pursed my lips, looking at him.

      "You ..." I sighed and closed my eyes. "You know that prophecy that I—like—got after the quest to save Annabeth and didn't really—like—tell anyone about?"

      Percy shoved his hands in his pockets. His sea-green eyes were calm, but full of concern. There was no storm, but there was deep waters; I was looking into the deep end. "Yeah, the one that you said might—well, you think says that you'll get your powers back?"

      "Yeah ..." I played with my fingers. Percy's hand rested on my shoulder, and it send shivers down my body as his fingers dropped to my hand, holding it and telling me that he was there. My breath hitched, but I pushed through it to say. "I had a dream about it."

       "Oh?"

      "I was back in the labyrinth and—and I could do it. I conjured up a ball of light in front of me."

       "That was it?"

      I nodded. My grip on his hand tightened. "I ... I think the Labyrinth is the answer. I think I'll find a way to get my powers back in there."

      Percy looked nervous. "A-are you sure?" he asked me.

     I looked straight back into his deep water eyes. "I am sure."

     He thought about it for a second, before nodding. "Then I'm sure too."

     My heart fluttered, but I didn't hate it. I smiled. I held my arms out for a hug, and Percy—a little surprised—eventually came in closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. He smelled like the sea, and it was calming. I think I was blushing, but I'm happy he couldn't see it. (Little did I know he was blushing too).

     We went our separate ways after that. We had to pack and get ready for the morning, and no matter how much I knew I could stay in Percy's arms forever, that was weird and I want to make sure I wasn't going into a deadly maze without any resources. I went into the cabin, quietly and careful not to wake anyone.

      When I made it to my bed and opened my chest to look for my backpack, something glittered on the bed. I frowned and closed the chest, the bag in my hand. I walked around and stared at the object dumped on the duvet.

      It was my key necklace, except it wasn't. It wasn't gold, but it was as dark as the night. With tender fingers, I reached for the note that was beside it.

      Will you stop whining now? You praying to me all the time is starting to get annoying. Whatever. Just do the job this time, Claire Moore. And do it right. Help him.

     As soon as I finished reading, the paper in my hands disintegrated into dust and blew away.

     I picked up the necklace. With a glance at my sleeping siblings, I quickly spun it in the air and stared, amazed as a midnight black bow appeared in my hand, morphing from the shadows. I felt the weight of the quiver on my back. I reached for an arrow, and gaped at the black, sharp stygian iron tip.

     In my head, I heard the voice of Hades, as sooth as the iron on the tip of my arrows. "Remember, Claire Moore, as you travel into the maze. Remember the traitor, and remember what the prophecy said: ...the dark side of the sun is just as perilous as its twin."

° ° °

   Before I left the cabin the next morning, Will had managed to wake everyone up so they all were there to wish me good luck. I hugged my siblings goodbye. Well, most of them. Dean Morrow (He's the 'Apollo screwed my dad' guy) stood off to the side, looking very uncomfortable.

      "Do you have everything?" Lee fretted. "Ambrosia, nectar—"

     "Yep—"

      "—Extra clothes, extra weapons—?" Michael Yew added.

      "—Yes—"

     "—You got your thermos, right?! Drachmas? Mortal cash? And at least four water bottles—"

     "Yes, Kylie," I sighed, exasperated with them (however, I was quite the opposite). "I've done this before, I'll be fine."

      "But this is the Labyrinth," Will frowned. He stood by the youngest, Kayla Knowles, holding her hand. I saw myself in the little red-head. She was exactly my age when I arrived here at camp.

      I pursed my lips and ruffled my little brother's hair. Will frowned and ducked away. "I'll be back sooner than you can say 'where's she gone?'."

     "I'm going to wait a few seconds afterwards considering you have Percy with you."

     I considered this, "Uh ... yeah, right, maybe a few seconds after you say 'where's she gone?'."

     Seamus Derry announced, "All of us will be praying to our father every day until you return."

      "And if you don't," Lee crossed his arms. "He's going to get an earful from us."

     I smiled. "That's if he doesn't get an earful from me."

     Lee smiled back and held out his arms. I hugged my older brother again, and the others joined again. I wanted to stay here forever, but I had to get to Zeus's fist before dawn, and so, reluctantly, I pulled away and repositioned the strap of my bag over my shoulder.

     Before I left, to the back of the group and sitting by himself on his bed, Dean Morrow spoke up, "Good luck, Claire."

     I gave him a tiny smile. "See you soon, Mr Apollo Screwed My Dad."

     He flipped me off and I grinned. I waved goodbye to all of my siblings, before exiting Cabin Seven. It was cold for a summer morning, hazy and dark as the sun was just only peaking over the trees.

     I went to make my way to Zeus's Fist when Lee suddenly burst out of the door, "Claire! Claire, wait!"

     I stopped and glanced over my shoulder. He rushed over to me, and I frowned. "Lee, what's up?"

     "I—I just..." he frowned himself. "This quest—it's really dangerous. Look, I ... you're my little sister ... just, take care of yourself."

      "Don't I always?" I cracked a smile. He didn't return one.

     Lee Fletcher held out his hand and dropped a camp necklace into my palm. My heart tightened as I recognised it to be Jay's.

      "He left it here before he ran," Lee muttered. "Look, I know you have a lot to worry about with everything and stuff, but ... if you see Jay in the maze somewhere just, just remind him he's always welcome at cabin seven. We're a family—a family of misfits with a father who doesn't care about us, but we make up for it by being there for each other. Tell him that in the end, this isn't about the gods anymore. Tell him this is about saving his home, and his true family who would never leave him. Just ... just remind him of that."

      I enclosed my fist, the necklace hidden in a tight grip. "I'll try, Jay. But ... I can't promise anything."

     "I know," he breathed.

     "I gotta—uh—go..."

      Lee nodded, "Yeah, yeah. Good luck."

     "Make sure the cabin doesn't get burnt down while I'm away."

     He scoffed, "You have so much faith in me, Claire."

     "I do," I grinned. "I have a lot of faith in you. However—"

     "If you're bringing up that summer in 2004–"

     "I'm not bringing up anything," I grinned before waving. "See you soon."

     "See you."

      When I arrived at the Fist, it was already filled with other campers wishing us goodbye. However, it didn't seem like there was much goodbye and more of 'wishing us well' before going back to building a defensive line of spikes and trenches, and setting up tents for guard duty. Grover was with Juniper off to the side. She looked ready to cry, but holding it off for his sake. She dusted off his jacket and fixed up his Rasta cap. Annabeth was doing a last minute check of her supply pack, while Cain was awkwardly holding some maps beside her that she must have pulled out and handed over to him.

     Percy caught sight of me and made his way over, "You're late..."

     In retaliation, I told him, "You look like shit, what happened?"

     Tyson, who was with him, said, "He killed the water fountain last night."

     Now, as a demigod, a lot of things weren't considered out of the normal, but that... "What?"

     Percy looked ready to explain, but Chiron trotted over, "Well, it appears you are ready!"

    He tried to sound upbeat, but he was anxious—his tail swung back and forth and his hooves pawed on the ground. Percy gave me a glance, and I frowned. "Hey, huh, Chiron, can I ask you a favour while I'm gone?"

     "Of course, my boy."

    "Be right back, guys," he nodded towards the woods, and he and Chiron walked out of earshot.

     I frowned, a little hurt on why he couldn't tell me what was on his mind. Tyson headed back over to where Annabeth and Cain were, not as affected as I was, it seemed. I followed, annoyed.

     "What are they talking about?" Cain asked.

      I crossed my arms, "I don't know."

     "He didn't tell you?" Cain then frowned and I gave him a glare.

    "No," I said through clench teeth and Cain took a step back.

     At this, Annabeth gave me a look and took the maps from Cain and stuffed them back in her bag. "He doesn't have to tell you everything."

     "I know that," I said. She's right, he doesn't have to tell me anything. I just found myself hurt because he told me everything. He told me about his dreams, about his worries and theories of the quests. He told me what he was going to tell Chiron, and what he wasn't. What was so different this time that he couldn't trust me with this secret?

       In the end, I gave up. He was taking too long. We had to go. I walked over to where they were talking and awkwardly interrupted. "Um, Percy, are we ready to go?"

      He nodded. Chiron sighed, "Take care," he said. "And good hunting."

     "You too," Percy nodded at him.

      He walked over to me, and together, we returned to the main group, standing by the boulders. I stared at the small crack between the two boulders, taking a deep breath. Percy tensed beside me.

      "Well," Grover said. "Good-bye, sunshine."

      "Hello rocks," Tyson agreed.

      Cain blew air out of his cheeks. "Well, let's go..."

      And so, together, the six of us descended into the Labyrinth.