(Out of the Labyrinth)

Mars POV

I feel blood pool in my hands as I see Korri's realization:

Others have the same thing that she does.

But she's also... different.

I haven't told her what I know.

Hoping I'm wrong.

But... I'm probably not.

Given the fact that she just... vaporized twenty or so people at once.

And she's downright terrified.

I'm not about to put a ton of... problems that won't matter for a while in her head and have her panicking about that.

But as soon as we're out of the labyrinth I'll tell her.

Postponing.

Something I'm getting really good at.

But I'm wondering... is she the daughter of Hel? And she was adopted by humans?

Is she a goddess? Or a demigoddess?

It would depend on her dad though...

And I'm hoping I'm wrong about that, 'cause that's gonna screw up my relationship with her forever.

I'm thinking through because, well, I think—and was proven right—that she is more powerful than we realize.

And by "we" I mean EVERYONE.

The Divine, Korri, me.

And something's just WRONG with that disease.

Like those Dryads. I had seen them three days ago, and they had been perfectly well. But... but now they're nearly dead with the same poison that is taking its toll on Korri.

But she's still sane.

I look at her. "Hey, you okay?"

"Uh huh." she tenses. "It's just weird. L-like... I just... I nearly killed them."

"And that's the worst of your concerns..."

She gives me a dirty look, as if that was an asshole comment.

Which, *shrugging* I'm okay with the killing stuff. Granted, I AM the son of Zeus and Hera.

Korri looks away. "Look, I just wanna pretend I'm not about to die."

I frown. "I understand."

Things are catching up with me.

"I- I..."

A smile tugs on the corners of her lips. "You should never stammer when death is on the line."

I frown. "You based that off of Princess Bride."

"Maybe, maybe not."

"Okay, I- I apologize if this sounds absurd, or offensive, but I believe that you may or may not be the only living daughter of Hel." I say quickly.

"Okay?" She raises an eyebrow. "But why are you saying this?"

I force a smile. "Just in case we die."

She looks at me like I'm an idiot, but says nothing.

And I'm grateful.

We come up to a hallway, five doorways stand in front of us.

A sad, melancholy voice hums a sad lonely lullaby from the middle door.

"Plus," I say, "you would have heard my thoughts anyway."

Continue with your mythical , magical bullshit.

I roll my eyes, but continue, I also think that your, um, dad, is... Zeus.

"Wait." She glares at me. "Isn't he-"

Yes. It's exactly how it sounds.

But how-

Reincarnations. I frown. Otherwise known as rebirth.

She looks at me quizzically.

I would have thought that when you said you studied myth you would have gotten to that Greek one. I sigh, and follow her through another passage.

But we end up in an identical room to the one before it.

Basically, I say, when I die, um, I come back alive and restart. If that makes any sense.

The whole REINCARNATION thing makes me uncomfortable.

I dunno why though. Maybe it's the fact that I technically have billions of relatives that I've never met, and etc.

So, Korri muses. Um, when you die, you get reborn—turning into an infant, grow up, die, and repeat?

Yes, I frown. But never put it in those words ever again.

I don't think I could handle the teasing from the rest of the Divine on that one.

So you're immortal in some way.

Uh huh.

Mmm, 'kay.

"Well, which way do we go through now?"

Fifth door on the right. Korri says, and without further debate, she strides through the arched, waxen walls.

Well, Korri breathes. Your theory... It makes sense. I guess.

I keep walking, trying to hear that voice again.

What are you listening for? Korri asks.

Didn't you hear it?

Hear what?

I stare at her. I heard someone singing or something.

Was Lola there? She asks suddenly.

"What?"

Was Lola at the house when I woke up, or was I just imagining it?

She was definitely there. She insulted me just like she did on the day she left.

I'm starting to feel the bruised feeling bloom in my calf again.

DAMN YOU ADRENALINE.

WHY CAN'T YOU LAST LONGER?!

"What'd she say?"

She said, quote on quote, "for the sake of Ares".

I can do a pretty good replica of Lola's voice.

Korri smiles. Yeah, she isn't exactly the nicest person in the world.

I suddenly feel my cheeks go red. DAMN YOU APHRODITE!!!

What?

I straighten. Nuthin'.

Korri giggles. "'Kay."

We walk farther down the tunnel a few more paces, and I hear it again.

That sad song.

But this time, a cello was accompanying it.

Now do you hear it? I ask.

Well, Korri pauses. I hear a cello.

Yeah, but I hear a cello and someone singing or something.

Again, the path splits off in two different directions, but the song resonates from both.

We look at each other, hoping for someone to make the decision.

For an answer of some sort, but we find none.

Well, I say, which way do we go?

Korri grins slyly.

And now I'm terrified.

"I had a dream the other day." she breathes. "I was told I was the weapon." she looks at me, a madness in her eyes. "I can break it."

I look at her cautiously. "What? I'm seeing where you're goin' with this. But you just barely figured this shit out-"

"Uh, correction, you figured it out, not me. And I wanna try this."

I stare at her. "You'll pass out if not die. And I'm not carrying you. And, besides, only the pure blooded Divine can do such things in a matter of minutes. Hours where you basically try to commit suicide isn't time we have. Plus, you just basically weaved a death cry out of thin air in a matter of seconds."

A weird mix of sadness and happiness fills her eyes. "I need somethin' to sacrifice myself for anyway."

She closes her eyes, stilling herself.

And I hear it.

A soft, barely audible thump, thump, thump coming from her chest.

You're gonna kill yourself.

Korri grins at me viciously. "I'm gonna die anyway. You said it yourself."

"I never-"

But it's too late.

She does it.

The entire labyrinth collapses, and so does she.