pride is an accursed feeling
but without pride,
what is humanity,
and what becomes of it?

•❅───✧❅ SIX ❅✧───❅•

THE SUMMONS COMMENCED when the moon was full. They gathered at the twenty-foot-long pit in front of the septic tank. Eurytion opted to stay inside the house, muttering something about how ghosts freaked him out. The tank was bright yellow, with a smiley face and red words painted on the side: Happy Flush Disposal Co. The words contradicted the mood they were all feeling. Their shadows grew longer the more Anastasia stared at the tank.

Andromeda sat next to Nico, muttering spells from her book. Anastasia didn't even notice she had brought a book. For every end of a sentence, Andromeda threw something in the pit and the earth trembled. Inside her spell book was a drawing of a skeleton standing inside a ring of black fire. Beside it was, Anastasia guessed, the spells written in latin.

"Minos should be here by now," Nico frowned, glancing up at the moon. "It's full dark."

"Maybe he got lost," Percy said, sounding too hopeful. Anastasia drew her bow, notching an arrow as she waited for the spirits to rise from the dead. She heard Annabeth's breath hitch next to her, and Anastasia moved an inch to shield her from the pit.

     Nico ignored him, turning to Andromeda, who finished the last incantation. When she nodded at him, Nico poured root beer and tossed barbecue into the pit, then began chanting in Ancient Greek. Andromeda's eyes went black, and her head snapped up, facing the moon. Black veins crawled against her pale skin, and Anastasia knew why Andromeda was the daughter of Hecate. Immediately, the bugs in the woods stopped chirping.

     Anastasia shivered. The night air was crisp and cold, nipping at her cheeks. She stretched the string of her bow further back as sulfurous mist seeped out of the ground. Shadows thickened into human forms. One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink.

"Stop him!" Nico said, momentarily breaking his chant. "Only Bianca may drink!"

Anastasia let the bowstring go, the arrow spiraling toward the ghosts. Percy drew his Celestial Bronze blade, and the ghosts retreated with a collective hiss at the sight of their weapons. Anastasia nocked an arrow, silently warning the spirits to back off. The first spirit, however, had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white robes. A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even in death, his eyes were alive with malice. It made Anastasia aim at him instead.

"Minos!" Nico exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

"My apologies, master," Minos muttered, bowing his head. Anastasia furrowed her brows when realized that his apology didn't sound genuine. "The sacrifice smelled so good, I couldn't resist." He examined his own hands with a wicked gleam in his eyes and smiled. "It is good to see myself again. Almost in solid form —"

"You are disrupting the ritual!" Nico protested. "Get —" He had to cut himself off when the spirits of the dead began shimmering dangerously bright; Nico had to chant again to keep them at bay.

"Yes, quite right, master," Minos said with amusement. Anastasia frowned at the tone of his voice. "You keep chanting. I've only come to protect you from those liars who would deceive you."

     He turned to Percy, wickedness dancing in his eyes. "Percy Jackson...my, my. The sons of Poseidon haven't improved over the centuries, have they?"

     "We're looking for Bianca di Angelo." Percy said, his voice tight with anger. "Fuck off."

     Minos chuckled, and Anastasia winced. "I understand you once killed my Minotaur with your bare hands. But worse things await you in the maze. Do you really believe Daedalus will help you?"

The other spirits stirred, reaching for them. Annabeth drew her knife, slashing in arc to keep the spirits away. Grover clung to Tyson, who looked equally afraid.

"Daedalus cares nothing for you, half-bloods," Minos warned. "You can't trust him. He is old beyond counting, and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods."

     Anastasia's bow drooped as she listened to Minos. "What do you mean 'guilt of murder?' Who did Daedalus kill?"

     Minos' cold eyes slid to her. "Do not change the subject, daughter of a traitor!" he spat. "You are hindering Nico. You try to persuade him to give up on his goal. I would make a lord!"

     "Enough, Minos," Nico commanded, rising to stand.

     The ghost sneered. "Master, these are your enemies. You must not listen to them — especially not the traitor's daughter! Let me protect you. I will turn their minds to madness,as I did the others."

     "The others?" Annabeth gasped. "You mean Chris Rodriguez? That was you?"

     "The maze is my property," Minos said lowly, "not Daedalus's! Those who intrude deserve madness."

     "Be gone, Minos!" Nico demanded. "I want to see my sister!"

     Minos bowed, silently trembling with bridled rage. "As you wish, master. But I warn you, you cannot trust these heroes." He glanced at Anastasia, his lips curling into a scowl.

     Anastasia raised her brows, slowly processing his words. She took a step forward. "Wait, tell me who my..." The ghost faded into the mist, and Anastasia sighed. "...father is."

     Other spirits rushed forward, but Anastasia shot her arrow to keep them back. Annabeth and Percy helped her on either side. One of the ghosts dodged Percy's swing and rushed to the food, but something stopped him in his tracks. Then something started to burn inside of him, starting at his heart and spreading out. Black flames engulfed him, and soon, only his ashes, carried away by the wind, were left. Andromeda must've enchanted the food, but Anastasia didn't know what spells she used; all Anastasia knew was that Andromeda Windsor was powerful.

     "Bianca, appear!" Nico intoned. He started chanting faster, and the spirits shifted restlessly, hissing and murmuring on the sides.

     "Any time now," Grover muttered. Then, a silvery light flickered in the trees — a spirit that seemed brighter and stronger than the others. It came closer, and Anastasia's raised her bow to fire, but something inside of her compelled her to stop. She watched, with bated breaths, as the spirit knelt down to drink from the pit. Anastasia half-expected the spirit to turn to black flame, but when it didn't, relief seeped into her bones.

     When the spirit arose from the pit, Anastasia finally recognized the ghostly form: Bianca di Angelo.

     Andromeda gasped beside her, and Anastasia looked down. Black tears streamed down either cheek, and her eyes were as dark as midnight. When she blinked, her eyes returned back to the same green. "Bia-nca..." she rasped, heaving deep breaths. Percy knelt down next to her, taking out a baggie of ambrosia. He took out a square and broke it in smaller pieces, and he gently fed her them, wiping the blood of death with his free hand.

     Anastasia's heart clenched at the sight, and she forced herself to look away from them, trying to give them as much privacy as needed. The other spirits started to crowd forward, reaching out with their talons to the pit, but Bianca raised her arms, and they retreated back to the woods.

     "Hello, Percy," Bianca smiled faintly, her whole form flickering. She had a green cap set sideways on her thick, black hair, dark eyes and olive skin like Nico. She wore jeans and a silvery jacket, which was the outfit of a Hunter of Artemis. A bow was slung over her shoulder.

     Percy inhaled sharply, glancing at her. "Bianca." His voice was thick, like he was the one to blame for her death. Anastasia knew, in her heart, that he wasn't to blame, but she didn't know the entire story. "I'm so, so sorry."

     "You have nothing to apologize for, Percy. I made my own choice. I don't regret it." Bianca's voice was soft, like she was comforting a small child. Anastasia wondered how much time Bianca was able to be a kid, and not be a demigod and an older sister. She wondered if Bianca's godly parent was grieving for her.

     "Bianca!" Nico stumbled forward like he was just coming out of a daze. In the light of his sister's silvery form, Anastasia finally noticed the little kid that Nico was meant to be.

     Bianca turned toward her brother, the smile fading from her face. She looked as if she'd been dreading this moment. "Hello, Nico." Anastasia flinched at her soft tone. It was somehow worse than Minos's cackle. "You've gotten so tall."

     "Why didn't you answer me sooner?" Nico cried, his eyes welling up. "I've been trying for months!"

     "I was hoping you would give up."

     "Give up?" Nico recoiled, his voice cracking at the end. "How can you say that? I'm trying to save you!"

     "You can't, Nico. Don't do this. Percy is right."

     "No! He let you die! He's not your friend!" Bianca stretched out a hand as if to touch her brother's face, but she was made of mist. Her hand evaporated as it got close to living skin, but Nico still leaned into it, closing his eyes, as if to remember what it was like to have his sister ruffle his hair or caress his cheek. Bianca looked heartbroken.

     "You must listen to me," she said softly. "Holding a grudge is dangerous for a child of Hades. It is our fatal flaw. You have to forgive. You have to promise me this."

     "I can't. Never."

     "Percy has been worried about you, Nico. Both him and Andy. They can help. I let them see what you were up to, hoping they would find you."Anastasia noticed that Nico tensed at Andromeda's name, and she wondered if there was something else that was making Nico hate her, or not hate her as much.

     "So it was you," Percy breathed, grabbing Andromeda's hand absentmindedly. "You sent those Iris-messages."

Bianca nodded, glancing at Andromeda. "Nico needs you, like when we were kids. You took us in, even if you didn't have to. I sent those messages to you because you know us."

     "Why are you helping them and not me?" Nico screamed. "It's not fair."

     "You are close to the truth now," Bianca told him. "It's not Percy or Andy you're mad at." Nico looked away from her. "Nico, it's me."

     "No." He sniffed, wiping his nose on his aviator's jacket.

     "You're mad because I left you to become a Hunter of Artemis. You're mad because I died and left you alone. I'm sorry for that, Nico. I truly am. But you myst overcome the anger. And stop blaming Percy for my choices. It will be your doom."

     Annabeth opened her mouth to speak, but Anastasia grabbed her arm, shaking her head no. It wasn't her place, and neither was it hers. This concerned Nico, Bianca, Andromeda, and Percy. Not Anastasia, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson.

     "Nic-o," Andromeda broke in. "Evil stirs, and if it finds out who you are, it will try to consume you."

     "I don't care about any of that," Nico bit his quivering lip, looking up at Bianca like she was part of the moon — someone so highly regarded, but forever distant from those who love them. "I want my sister back."

     "You can't have that, Nico," Bianca told him gently.

     "I'm the son of Hades! I can!"

     "Don't try," she said. "If you love me, don't..." Her voice trailed off. Spirits had started to gather around them again, and they seemed agitated. Their voices chorused, Danger!

     "Tartarus stirs," Bianca whispered. "Your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the Underworld. It is not safe for us to remain."

     "Wait," Nico begged, reaching for Bianca's hand. When it fell through her form, Nico paused. "Please—"

     "Good-bye, Nico." Bianca smiled sadly at him. "I love you. Remember what I said." She glanced at Anastasia, and continued, as a final parting call, "Take care of Nico."

     "Why me?" Anastasia managed to croak out.

     "Because you understand." Bianca's form shimmered, and the ghosts disappeared, leaving them alone with a pit, a Happy Flush septic tank, and a cold full moon.

     ANASTASIA STARED AT the moon that night, thinking about Bianca's words to her. She didn't even know Bianca that well; all Anastasia knew was that Bianca was a Hunter when she arrived to camp and she had a little brother. Anastasia knew that Bianca was nicer than most of the Huntresses, but that was all. She had no connection to Bianca, unlike Percy, Andromeda, Annabeth, and Grover. In fact, Bianca should've asked one of them to look after Nico, not her. She wasn't anything special. She was just a regular, unclaimed demigod.

     As she glared at the full moon, Anastasia's mind kept wandering to what Nico said about things not being fair. A part of her wanted to scoff and tell Nico to grow up. Life wasn't fair, especially their life. She wanted to tell him that there was always the inevitable death waiting for them, and that life would only begin once you're dead.

     Another part of her — the part that made Anastasia listen to it more often than not — agreed with Nico. Things weren't fair. They were children, for fuck's sake! They were children fighting gods' battles, and if they died, then there was always a replacement. Children could wake up one day and think that life was beautiful, and on that same day, they would enter Elysium.

     Maybe...

     "I thought I'd find you out here." Anastasia turned around from where she was sitting at the picnic table. Annabeth smiled at her from the doorway. It looked so normal — so fucking right — that it made Anastasia's chest ache, burdened by an unfamiliar weight.

Anastasia grinned. "Aww, you were looking for me. How sweet, meri jaan."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, and Anastasia scooted over to let Annabeth sit next to her. When she did, Anastasia gave her a smile and looked back at the ranch. The streamers were still coiled around the railings, and the balloons had started deflating. There was an occasional 'moo,' and other than the cicadas chirping, all was quiet.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Annabeth whispered softly, like she was trying not to break the void of silence. Anastasia turned her head to look at her, finding that Annabeth was looking at her the entire time. The intensity of Annabeth's grey eyes underneath the moonlight caught Anastasia's breath. When Annabeth blinked, Anastasia snapped out of the weird trance.

"Why aren't you?" she asked back, trying to steady her traitorous heart. Her eyes traced Annabeth's eyebrows, the slope of her nose, finally landing on her plump lips. They looked so soft...

"I asked first," Annabeth quirked a brow at Anastasia.

Anastasia shrugged, her eyes darting back to beautiful grey eyes. "And I asked second. Besides, isn't there a saying — 'first is the worst, second is the best'?"

"No," Annabeth said in an obnoxious voice, though it didn't sound obnoxious to Anastasia. "There's no such thing as that."

"Really?" Anastasia feigned a gasp. "I could've sworn there was a saying like that." Annabeth let out a quiet laugh, shoving Anastasia's shoulder gently. "Next, you'll be telling me how...uh...triangles are the strongest shape or whatever."

"That's because they are." Anastasia gave Annabeth an incredulous look, not believing a word that came out of her mouth. "Really. In steel or wooden bridges, you'll mostly see triangular shapes, which make up most of the bridge's structure. They allow the weight to be evenly spread throughout the structure, making it easier for heavier loads to pass through. This is called a Truss Bridge, because of its triangular shapes. And it's not just in bridges. The Truss patterns — or the triangles — are used in other forms of architecture..." Annabeth trailed off when she noticed that Anastasia wasn't responding to her. "What?"

"Nothing." Anastasia smiled knowingly, looking up at the moon again. "It's just...you'll make a great architect one day."

     "Yeah, yeah," Annabeth said, and Anastasia could hear the grin in her voice. "But what about you? What're you gonna do?"

     Anastasia shrugged, dropping her gaze to the wooden floorboards. To be honest, she didn't think that far ahead. She'd always assumed that she was either going to stay at Camp Half-Blood forever or wind up dead on a random quest. Anastasia never gave herself the chance to look beyond her good-for-nothing father and her absentee mother and think about herself. What would she like to do? Did she even know herself?

     "Sorry if it was intrusive," Annabeth's voice cut through Anastasia's thoughts. When Anastasia looked over at Annabeth, she was blushing and looking away from Anastasia. "You don't have to answer. It was rude of me —"

     "I don't know what I'd like to be." Anastasia interjected, frowning slightly. "I've always assumed that I wouldn't make it that far."

     "Well then, assuming you make it that far, what do you want to do?" Annabeth's question was different than what others had asked of her. Usually they would be asking about her past or why she didn't have a clue, but Annabeth...Annabeth was giving Anastasia hope in her question.

     Anastasia thought about her life so far. She was always running, whether it was from a monster or her mother's new travel idea. Then she was abandoned by the one person she could count on, and how that made her feel unworthy of love. Anastasia glanced at Annabeth. It was no secret that she was also one of the runaways. There were years where Annabeth wouldn't return back to her mortal family. Then, Anastasia's mind wandered to Luke. He told her, albeit vaguely, about his mother and how his father, Hermes, didn't even care about her. They were children without a...

     "Home." Anastasia breathed. She smelled in the clean air, void of horse shit and dead animals.

     "You want to be home?"

     Anastasia chuckled, nudging Annabeth's shoulder with her own. "No, meri jaan. I want to build a home for children like me, like us. Children who lost their parents and are in need of a home. Children who are abandoned by their caretakers. I want to help those kids."

     "That's...sweet." Annabeth sighed, scooting closer to Anastasia. She rested her head tentatively on Anastasia's shoulder, and a beat passed before Anastasia rested her head on Annabeth's. "I'll help you build that home, if you'll let me."

     "Of course."

     They stayed that way for a few moments, relishing each other's company while staring up at the moon. Anastasia nuzzled into Annabeth's hair, and she imagined a life with Annabeth by her side. They would be laughing at some weird, modern music on the radio, or sitting in silence, just like this, and admiring each other when the other wasn't looking. Annabeth would make a sly remark that would make Anastasia fumble for a retort, and when she wouldn't find one, Anastasia would just sigh and lean in for a kiss.

     Anastasia shut her eyes, trying to rid herself of these thoughts. It wouldn't be fair to her and Annabeth if she acted on these thoughts. She leaned away from Annabeth and looked at her. Underneath the silver glow of the moon, Annabeth Chase was ethereal.

     Annabeth looked up, with sleep written all over her delicate features. Anastasia could feel her heart speed up at the sight of her, and she swallowed harshly. She stood quickly, jolting Annabeth from her seat, and stuck out a hand for Annabeth to take. She hoped that Annabeth wouldn't be able to notice how clammy her hands were.

     "Wha—"

     "Dance with me." That was not what Anastasia was going to say. She wanted to smoothly say that she was going inside to sleep and that Annabeth should come in as well. But it seemed like her heart wanted to stay lovesick for a moment more.

     "There's no music." Annabeth pointed out, but she took Anastasia's hand nevertheless. She stood from the bench, almost face-to-face with Anastasia.

     Unable to back down now, Anastasia shrugged. "We'll make our own." Anastasia guided Annabeth to the open area of the deck.

     Anastasia grabbed Annabeth's hand, gently guiding it up to her shoulder, and Annabeth gripped it softly, as if her touch would cause her pain. Anastasia grabbed Annabeth's other hand and looped her free arm around Annabeth's waist.

     Then they let the rhythm take control of them. Every step Anastasia would take, Annabeth would follow, and every step Annabeth would take, Anastasia would follow. Anastasia could feel the warmth of Annabeth's hand pressing into her cool one, and she repressed a shiver. If the moon's glow was their light, then the cicadas and the slowed down time were the music, meant to entrance them.

     Anastasia twirled Annabeth, meeting her halfway. So this is what Orpheus had felt like when he danced with Eurydice. The silence folded around them, as gentle as the summer's rain in camp.

     "What does 'meri jaan' mean?" Annabeth looked at Anastasia; they began to sway from side to side — too tired to continue, but too happy to stop. "You called me that quite a few times."

     Anastasia's brows shot up. She hadn't even realized that she was using her mother tongue to call Annabeth something like that. Anastasia felt the tips of her ears burn. She cleared her throat, fighting the heat that was present in her cheeks. "No-nothing. It means nothing. It's just...a silly thing."

     Annabeth searched her face, and Anastasia felt a sense of deja vu at that. Then, Annabeth smiled faintly. "I like it." She rested her head in the junction between her head and shoulders, and she breathed softly.

     Anastasia smiled, resting her head atop Annabeth's. Anastasia wished this never changed. She glanced up at the night sky. Beside the full moon, a star winked down at her before it flickered away.

THEY WALKED DOWN to the cattle guard the next morning to say their goodbyes to Eurytion and Nico. Anastasia kept glancing at Annabeth, recalling the way their hands molded together perfectly and Annabeth's warm breath on her neck. She almost wanted to end the quest here so she could hang out with Annabeth more. There were so many things they needed to catch up on.

Anastasia tore her eyes away from Annabeth to look at Percy, Andromeda, and Nico. It hurt her to think about how worse Nico was looking after the night. His eyes were bloodshot and his face chalky. He was wrapped in a black robe that must've belonged to Geryon, because it was three sizes too big even for a grown man.

Andromeda rested a hand on Nico's shoulder, but he shrugged her off and trudged up the road toward the ranch house. The morning mist seemed to cling to him as he walked away. So much for taking care of him.

"He'll be all right," Eurytion promised, and Anastasia flinched. It was like he was reading her mind. The cowherd was wearing new jeans and a clean Western shirt; he'd even trimmed his beard. "The boy can stay here and gather his thoughts as long as he wants. He'll be safe, I promise."

"What about you?" Andromeda asked as her and Percy walked closer to the rest of them.

Eurytion scratched Orthus behind one chin, then the other. Orthus barked happily. "Things are going to be run a little different on this ranch from now on. No more sacred cattle meat. I'm thinking about soybean patties. And I'm going to be befriend those flesh-eating horses. Might just sign up for the next rodeo."

"Have fun?" Anastasia furrowed her brows, tilting her head to the side. She didn't know what else to say to a rancher who used to be murdering people. Eurytion waved her off, unbothered by her lack of enthusiasm.

"I will." Eurytion spit into the grass. "I reckon you'll be looking for Daedalus's workshop now."

Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Can you help us?"

Eurytion studied the cattle guard. "Don't know where it is. But Hephaestus probably would."

"That's what Hera said," Annabeth agreed, and Anastasia rolled her eyes at the mention of that goddess. It wasn't that Anastasia didn't like her...it was just that Anastasia hated her. "But how do we find Hephaestus?"

     Eurytion pulled something from underneath the collar of his shirt. It was a necklace — a smooth silver disk on a silver chain. The disk had a depression on the middle, like a thumbprint. He handed it to Annabeth.

     "Hephaestus comes here from time to tim," Eurytion said. "Studied the animals and such so he can make bronze automaton copies. Last time, I-uh did him a favor. A little trick he wanted to play on my dad, Ares, and Aphrodite. He gave me that chain in gratitude. Said if I ever needed to find him, the disk would lead me to his forges. But only once."

     "And you're giving it to me?" Annabeth asked, looking at the device with awe in her eyes. It made Anastasia melt inside.

     Eurytion blushed. "I don't need to see the forges, miss. Got enough to do here. Just press the button and you'll be on your way."

     Annabeth pressed the button, and the disk sprang to life. It grew eight metallic legs, almost resembling a spider. Annabeth shrieked and dropped, grabbing Anastasia's shoulders and hiding behind her. Anastasia bit her lip from smiling. She was Annabeth's first choice to protect her...

     "She's, um, a little scared of spiders," Grover explained. "That old grudge between Athena and Arachne."

     "Oh." Eurytion looked a little embarrassed. "Sorry, miss." The spider scrambled to the cattle guard and disappeared between the bars.

     "Well, let's go!" Andromeda said, gesturing for them to move quickly. "The thing isn't going to wait for us."

     Anastasia could tell Annabeth was anxious about the spider and delving into the maze, so, with a lot of mental pep talks, Anastasia grabbed her hand. She brushed her thumb over Annabeth's knuckles, fighting the shiver that ran through her own spine. Annabeth glanced down at their conjoined hands and trailed her eyes from there to Anastasia's eyes. Annabeth smiled, thanking her with those beautiful grey eyes, and Anastasia nodded, smiling back.

     They dropped back into the maze together; their hands never letting go.

They ran together, side-by-side, chasing after the mechanical spider. It scuttled along the tunnels, dashing left and right and left again. If it wasn't for Tyson and Grover's sharp hearing abilities, they would've never known which way the spider was going and would've ended up being lost.

They ran down a marble tunnel, trying to catch up with the spider. Anastasia would've laughed at the scene of them stumbling over every twist and turn the spider made if she wasn't actively participating in running after the mechanical spider. It dashed to the left, so they followed. In front of them was a giant abyss that they almost fell into. Anastasia skidded to a stop, pulling Annabeth close to her. Seeing her and Annabeth stop, the others stopped as well. Everyone except for Percy. Tyson grabbed Percy by the collar of his shirt and hauled him back before he could fall. Anastasia glanced at the tunnel in front of them. It still continued, but there was no floor for about a hundred feet; there was just gaping darkness and series of iron rungs in the ceiling. The mechanical spider was about halfway across the abyss, swinging from bar to bar by shooting out metal web fiber.

Anastasia let go of Annabeth's hand, already missing the warmth of her skin. She rested both hands on her knees and heaved heavy breaths. Sweat dripped down the side of her face, and Anastasia was extremely grateful for putting on a fresh pair of clothing that morning.

"Money bars!" Annabeth grinned. Anastasia wished she could enjoy Annabeth's glee, but tiredness had seeped into her marrow. "I'm great at these."

"That's great and all, but –" Anastasia started, but Annabeth head already leaped onto the first rung and started swing her way across, unafraid of potentially falling to her death. "Oh, there she goes."

Annabeth got to the opposite side and ran after the spider. Anastasia followed, trying to keep her head up high so she wouldn't look down at the darkness. Once she managed to hit solid ground, she ran after Annabeth, not looking back to see if the others were okay with getting across. She knew that they would find a way, even if they couldn't swing on the monkey bars. She caught up to Annabeth, and soon enough, the others caught up to them. They passed a skeletn crumpled in the tunnel. The only remains were the dress shirt, slacks, and a tie. The spider didn't slow down, and neither did Anastasia. Although, it was weird seeing a skeleton so formally dressed. There were also hundreds of pencils, broken in half, scattered about in the tunnel, which was also very weird.

The tunnel opened up into a large room. A blazing light shone directly into Anastasia's eyes, and she slowed to a stop, covering her eyes. Blinking away the dots in her vision, Anastasia spotted two main parts that made up the room. The first were the skeletons littering the room; some were old and bleached white, and others were more recent. The latter stenched up the room, almost as bad as Geryon's stable. Almost. Anastasia curled her lip in disgust, tearing her eyes away from the gross skeletons. Anastasia turned her attention to the other main part: the monster, also known as the Sphinx. She 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. Anastasia found her really pretty, but she shook herself out of that, trying to tell herself that this was a monster who wanted to eat them. The Sphinx had a blue ribbon badge pinned to her chest with something that Anastasia couldn't read. She didn't even bother to try reading it, unlike Percy who was squinting at the Sphinx, like he needed glasses.

Tyson whimpered. "Sphinx."

Andromeda rubbed Tyson's arm, her face contorting into one of pity. Anastasia tilted her head, but she didn't question it. His secrets were his to tell, not hers to find out. She turned her attention back to the Sphinx. Annabeth started, but the Sphinx roarded, showing her red-stained fangs. Bars came down on both tunnel exits, behind them and in front. Anastasia grabbed Annabeth's wrist, halting her in her tracks. Immediately, the monster's snarl turned into a brilliant smile. Anastasia frowned at it, feeling her gut turn. Something was off about the Sphinx. (Probably because she was a monster).

"Welcome, lucky contestants!" she announced. "Get ready to play...Answer That Riddle!" Canned applause blasted from the ceiling. Spotlights, varying in their color — red, blue, green, swept across the room and reflected off the dais. There was also disci glitter being sprinkled over the skeletons on the floor.

"Fabulous prizes!" the Sphinx gave them a feline grin. "Pass the test, and you get to advance! Fail, and I get to eat you!" Anastasia nearly let out a groan. She knew that this would lead them to their deaths. The Sphinx asked a riddle, something that makes one think, but she sucked at riddles. "Who will be our contestant?"

Annabeth let go of Anastasia's hand. "I've got this," she whispered to the five of them. "I know what she's going to ask." Anastasia gave her a nervous grin, trying to be positive about all of this, even though there was a ton of shit to be worried about. She didn't want to see Annabeth getting devoured by the Sphinx, but she would be the best one to try.

Annabeth stepped forward to the contestant's podium, which had a skeleton in a school uniform hunched over it. She pushed the skeleton out of the way with one hand, and it clattered to the floor. Annabeth cringed at the sound. "Sorry."

"Welcome, Annabeth Chase!" the Sphinx cried. Anastasia inhaled sharply. "Are you ready for your test?"

"Yes," Annabeth replied, sounding confident. "Ask your riddle."

"Twenty riddles, actually!" the Sphinx said gleefully.

Oh shit.

"What? But back on the old days —"

"Oh, we've raised our standards! To pass, you must show proficiency in all twenty. Isn't that great?" There was the canned applause again, and Anastasia really wanted to rip out the invisble speakers.

Annabeth glanced back at them, anxiety written all over her features. Anastasia gave her reassuring smile. Grover gave her a thumbs up while Tyson waved enthusiastically over to her. Percy gave her an encouraging nod, and Andromeda mouthed, "You're doing so well!"

     "Okay," Annabeth told the Sphinx. "I'm ready."

     A drumroll sounded from above. The Sphinx's eyes glittered with excitement, and Anastasia crossed her fingers. "What...is the capital of Bulgaria?"

     Annabeth frowned. "Sofia, but —"

     "Correct!" Anastasia and Percy cheered, giving each other high-fives. Andromeda grinned, and it widened when Percy threw an arm around her. The Sphinx smiled so widely, her fangs showed. "Please be sure to mark your answer clearly on your test sheet with a number 2 pencil."

     "What?" Annabeth didn't look so happy with getting that question right. She 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 instructed. "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. When Annabeth answers all of the questions right, they would be able to go straight through the maze to Hephaestus.

     "Now," continued the Sphinx, "next question —"

     "Wait a second," Annabeth held up her hands, stopping the Sphinx. Anastasia tried to signal to Annabeth to just answer the questions. "What about 'What walks on four legs in the morning'?"

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

     "Annabeth, maybe just answer the questions," Andromeda chimed in, biting her lip in worry.

     Annabeth ignored Andromeda. "The riddle about the 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 riddle 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?" That one Anastasia knew.

     "Four." Annabeth shook her head. "But —"

     "Correct! Which U.S president signed the Emancipation Proclamation?"

     "Abraham Lincoln, but —"

     "Correct! Riddle number four: How much —"

     "Hold up!" Annabeth shouted. Anastasia shook her head, trying to signal to Annabeth to continue the questions. The quicker she answers those foolish questions, the quicker they could leave. Safely. From the looks on both Andromeda and Percy's face, they were thinking the same thing as well.

     "These aren't riddles," Annabeth said.

     "What do you mean?" the Sphinx snapped. "Of course they are. This test material is specifically designed —"

     "It's just a bunch of dumb, random facts," Annabeth insisted. "Riddles are supposed to make you think." Well, she wasn't wrong there.

     "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 protested. "This is a stupid test."

     Andromeda clicked her tongue. "So, are we fighting or running?"

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

     "I'm a child of Athena." Annabeth crossed her arms. "And this is an insult to my intelligence. I won't answer these questions."

     At this point, Anastasia couldn't hold back any more. "And your pride is going to kill us, meri jaan." Percy hummed, agreeing with her.

     The spotlights glared. The Sphinx's eyes glittered pure black. "Why then, my dear," the monster said calmly. Anastasia reached a hand up to her throat, ready to yank on it to fight if they had to. "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 steel underneath the spotlights. She pounced at the podium.

     "No!" Tyson charged. Anastasia yanked her necklace off, notching an arrow, just as Tyson tackled the Sphinx in midair. They crash sideways into a pile of bones. This gave Annabeth just enough time to gether her wits and draw her knife. Tyson got up, his shirt clawed to shreds. The Sphinx growled, looking for an opening. Anastasia let an arrow go, watching as it pierced through the air and struck the monster's cheek. Ichor dripped from its cheek, but even then, the Sphinx was looking for a way to attack Annabeth.

     Anastasia stepped in front of Annabeth, pulling out another arrow from her quiver. "Stay back."

     "I can fight!"

     "I know, meri jaan," Anastasia shot another arrow at the Sphinx. "But not now. The Sphinx is after you! Let us get it."

     "Annie's right, Annabeth!" Black fireballs launched toward the Sphinx. Andromeda glanced over, her lips pursed into a thin line. "Turn invisble!"

     The Sphinx knocked Tyson aside and tried to charge past Anastasia and Percy, almost proving Anastasia's point. Grover poked the Sphinx's eye with a leg bone, and the monster screeched in pain. Annabeth pulled out her Yankees cap and vanished. Anastasia had so many questions, but now was not the right time to ask. The Sphinx pounced right where she'd been standing, but came up with empty paws.

     "No fair!" the Sphinx wailed. "Cheater!"

The Sphinx, now that Annabeth was gone, turned on Anastasia and Percy. They raised their weapons, ready to charge together, but before they could do anything, Tyson ripped the monster's grading machine out of the floor and threw it at the Sphinx's head, ruining her hair bun. It landed in pieces all around her. Anastasia grinned. It was amazing having Tyson on their side.

"My grading machine!" she cried. "I can't be exemplary without my test scores!" Maybe that's what was on her blue ribbon. Before Anastasia could think more on that, the bars lifted from the exits. Anastasia and the others bolted for the far tunnel. The Sphinx started to follow, but Grover raised his reed pipes and began to play. Suddenly, the broken pencils remembered they used to be part of trees, and they collected around the Sphinx's paws, growing roots and branches, wrapping around her legs. The Sphinx ripped through them, but it brought them enough time to enter the tunnel. Tyson pulled Grover into the tunnel, and the bars slammed shut behind them.

"Meri jaan!" Anastasia yelled.

"Here!" she said, taking off her cap. She was standing right next to Anastasia, who let out a sigh of relief. "Keep moving!"

They ran through the dark tunnels; the roars of the Sphinx faded away behind them. As they ran, Anastasia had the horrible thought that they lost the mechanical spider. Fortunately, Tyson heard a faint pinging sound, and they followed him through the tunnels. They eventually found the spider banging its tiny head on a metal door.

The door looked like an old-fashioned submarine hatch — oval, with metal rivets around the edges and a wheel for a doorknob. It looked sort of cool to Anastasia, who leaned closer to inspect it more closely. There were large fingerprints on the wheel. She let out a hum, leaning back to look at the door again. Where the portal should've been was a big brass plaque, green with age, with a Greek Êta inscribed in the middle. Anastasia exchanged glances with the others.

"Ready to meet Hephaestus?" Grover said nervously.

"No," Percy and Andromeda admitted in usion.

"Yes!" Tyson said gleefully, and he turned the wheel, forcing the others to follow him into the room.

Anastasia's first thought of the room was that it was enormous. It looked like a mechanic's garage, with several hydraulic lifts. Some had cars on them, which was the most normal thing Anastasia had seen today, but others had weird things: a bronze hippalektryon with its horse head off and a bunch of wires hanging out its rooster tail, a metal lion that seemed to be hooked up to a battery charger, and a Greek war chariot composed entirely of flames. Smaller projects cluttered a dozen worktables. Tools hung alng the walls. Each had its own outline on a Peg-Board, but nothing seemed to be in the right place. The hammer was over in the screwdriver's place. The stable gun was where the hacksaw was supposed to go. An organized chaos that reminded Anastasia of her bed in the Hermes cabin.

Under the nearest hydraulic lift, which was holding a car of some sort, a pair of legs stuck out — the lower half of a huge man in grubby gray pants and big shoes. One leg was in a metal brace. The spider scutted 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. Anastasia furrowed her brows as she took in the god before her. His jumpsuit was smeared with oil and grime. Hephaestus, 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, which made it seem like he was leaned even when he was standing up straight. His head was misshapen and bulging, and he wore a permanent scowl. His black beared smoked and hissed. Every once in a while, a small fire would erupt in his beared the die out. HIs hands were the size of catcher's mitts, but he handled the spider delicately. He disassembled it in two seconds, then put it back together.

"There," he muttered to himself. "Much better." The spider did a happy flip in his palm, shot a metallic web at the ceiling, and went swinging away.

Hephaestus glowered up at them, and the glare in his dark eyes made Anastasia take a step back. "I didn't make you, did I?"

"Uh," Annabeth responded, "no, sir."

"Good," the god grumbled. "Shoody workmanship." Anastasia narrowed her eyes at the god, but she didn't say anything to contradict him.

Hephaestus studied the four kids in the front. "Half-bloods," he grunted. "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." He looked at Grover and frowned. "Satyr." Then he looked at Tyson, and his black eyes twinkled. "Well, a Cyclops. Good, good. What are you doing traveling with this lot?"

"Uh..." Tyson never completed his thoughts. He simply stared 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." So that's what the car was called.

"Actually, sir," Andromeda started hesitantly, "we're looking for Daedalus. We thought —"

"Daedalus?" the god roared. Anastasia gripped her bow tightly in her hand. "You want that old scoundrel? You dare to seek him out!" His beard burst into flames and his black eyes glowed.

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

"Humph. You're wasting your time." He frowned at something on his worktable and limped over to it. He picked up a lump of springs and metal plates and tinkered with them. In a few seconds he was holding a bronze and silver falcon. It spread its metal wings, blinked its obsidian eyes, and flew around the room. Tyson laughed and clapped his hands. The bird landed on Tyson's shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately.

Hephaestus regarded him. The god's scowl didn't change, but there was a much kinder twinkle in his eyes. "I sense you have something to tell me, Cyclops."

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

Hephaestus nodded, looking unsurprised. "Briares?"

"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."

Hephaestus grunted. "There was a time I admired the Hundred-Handed Ones. 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." Anastasia agreed with him. Hera did seem like kind of a bitch.

"But I thought Zeus did that to you," Percy pointed out.

Hephaestus cleared his throat and spat into a bronze spittoon. He snapped his fingers, and the robotic falcon flew back to the worktable. "Mother likes telling that version of the story." he grumbled. "Makes her seem more likeable, doesn't it? Blaming it all on my dad. The truth is, my mother likes families, but she likes a certain kind of family. Perfect families. She took one look at me and...well, I don't fit the image, do I?" He pulled a feather from the falcon's back, and the whole automaton fell apart.

"Believe me, young Cyclops," Hephaestus said, "you can't trust others. All you can trust is the work of your own hands."

Anastasia narrowed her eyes at the god. How selfish could this god be? She knew what it was like for one's family to hate them, but to believe that no one could be trusted was too far. Then again, was Hephaestus wrong, or was he simply a god who was abandoned, just like her, and this was how he survived? Her mother abandoned her, her father abandoned her, and the gods, the very beings that should be helping them on their quest, had abandoned her. Was this her fate? To be left alone, uncared for and unloved?

She glanced at Annabeth in the corner of her eyes. Did Annabeth even like her, or was that simply just the adrenaline speaking? She looked at Andromeda, Percy, Grover, and Tyson. They were friends before her, and some part of her knew that she didn't belong with them. If she left, no one would miss her, and that was truly the most devastating part about going on this quest.

"Oh, this one doesn't like me," Hephaestus mused, looking at Percy. "No worries, I'm used to that. What you would you ask of me, little demigod?"

"We told you," Percy said. "We need to find Daedalus. There's this guy, Luke." Anastasia flinched at the name of her old friend. "And he's working for Kronos. He's trying to find a way to navigate teh 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."

Andromeda tilted her head, her brows scrunched together. "Why not?"

Hephaestus shrugged. "Some of us get thrown off mountainsides. Some of us...the way we learn not to trust people is more painful. Ask me for gold. Or a flaming sword. Or a magical steed. These I can grant you easily. But a way to Daedalus? That's an expensive favor." Anastasia knew there was a price. She shook her head in disappointment. Even if what they were doing was saving the world, the gods always have to be the center of it all.

"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."

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

"Athena."

"Figures." He sighed. "Fine goddess, Athena. A shame she pledged never to marry." Anastasia wrinkled her nose in disgust. It was weird hearing the god admitting that he had a crush on her crush's mother. "All right, half-bloods. I can tell you what you want to know. But there is a price. I need a favor done."

"Name it," Annabeth blurted before Anastasia could ask what favor. She shot a warning look to Annabeth, but she ignored it.

Hephaestus laughed — a booming sound like a huge bellow stoking a fire. "You heroes," he chortled, "always making rash promises. How refreshing!"

He pressed a button on his workbench, and metal shutters opened along the wall. It looked like a huge window. Anastasia stepped closer to it to get a better look at a gray mountain ringed in forests. Smoke rose from its crest, whorling in the air before it disappeared.

"One of my forges." Hephaestus answered after seeing the confused looks on their faces. "I have many, but that used to be my favorite."

"That's Mount St. Helens," Grover murmered. "Great forests around there."

"You've been there?" Percy asked.

"Looking for...you know, Pan." Anastasia forgot that Grover was with them to find the Lord of the Wild, and not participate in the quest.

"Used to be your favorite?" Andromeda asked, glancing at Hephaestus. "What happened?"

"Hecate, right?" he gruffed. When Andromeda nodded, he grunted a sound of displeasure, but he didn't say anything else about it. He scratched his smoldering beard. "Well, that's where the monster Typhon is trapped, you know. 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?" Percy asked, twirling his pen in his hand. "Fight him?"

Anastasia honestly didn't know what was running through his head. That was the stupidest thing he had ever said.

Hephaestus snorted. "That would be suicide. 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 sensed intruders in my mountain. Someone or something is using my forges. When I go there, it is empty, but I can tell it is being used. They sense 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 dates invade my territory, and if they mean to loose Typhon."

"You want us to find out who it is," Percy completed, furrowing his brows.

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

"No shit, Sherlock," Anastasia muttered, but Hephaestus didn't acknowledge her. Not like it was anything new.

"All right," Annabeth nodded. "How do we get there?"

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. It is not far through the Labyrinth." He looked at all of them. "And try to stay alive, will you? Humans are much more fragile than automatons."

a lil dance before the end of the world. also, the gods ignoring anastasia is so sadd like my girl is struggling idiots and ur not making it easier.

also, updates are thursdays (this can and will be broken to update more frequently)