ｔｈｅ ｂａｔｔｌｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｌａｂｙｒｉｎｔｈ

LUCIA TRIED TO CALM GROVERS NERVES for the council hearing to the best of her abilities. But when he bit the sleeve of her cardigan off she decided it was best to give him time to breathe.

Instead, Lucia stood to the side with Juniper and Clarisse. As the hearing was about to begin she sent Grover a thumbs up, he gave her a weak smile while gnawing on the orange material.

"Have you seen Annabeth?" Clarisse asked

Lucia shook her head "No, not yet."

After a whole 9 months, Percy and Annabeth were coming back to camp for summer break. Throughout those months Lucia had spent more drachmas than she ever did dollars as she sent iris messages to the pair any time she could. Lucia and Annabeth spoke so much that they became close despite the distance and even ended up developing nicknames for each other.

"Lucy!" A voice called

Lucia turned around and squealed when she saw the familiar princess curls and grey eyes "Beth!"

The two girls ran to each other in a frenzy and before Silenus could scold them they were in each other's arms. Annabeth squeezed the shorter girl who only squeezed back. Both of them were in their camp shirts and wore leather cords around their necks. Annabeth reached out to touch the cord on Lucia, it was empty unlike hers which already had 7 clay beads and a ring.

"You got one!" Annabeth exclaimed, "Now you just need your first bead!"

Lucia was about to respond when she heard someone clear his throat behind them. The two girls turned around to see a bunch of impatient satyrs. Grover waved over to Annabeth nervously.

"Forgive us Silenus" Annabeth apologized before the both of them made their way to Clarisse and Juniper. Lucia couldn't stop herself from chuckling into Annabeth's arm.

"Shh you're going to get us in trouble" Annabeth hushed

A bunch of satyrs sat in a circle in the grass. Grover stood in the middle, facing three really old, really fat satyrs who sat on topiary thrones shaped out of rose bushes: The Council of Cloven Elders.

Grover began to tell them about his interaction with Pan or more-so lack of interactions in the past few months. He twisted the bottom of his T-shirt, shifting nervously on his goat hooves.

At that moment, Lucia heard a shift in the wind, she turned to see Chiron galloping towards them: a person riding on his back. When she saw who it was she subconsciously held on to Annabeth tighter.

Annabeth looked at her in confusion but Lucia didn't seem to notice

Chiron dropped him off next to them. Percy stood right next to Lucia when he sent her a crooked smile. His dark hair had grown longer and was messily styled. He was always taller than Lucia but now she needed to look up at him. His sea-green eyes were as enticing as ever. Something about him made her brain go haywire. she couldn't help but admit to herself that he looked—attractive.

no what's wrong with you Lucia! stop!

Lucia turned away from him,

Clarisse whispered out "Punk,"

Annabeth had her other arm around Juniper, who began to cry. She was small—petite, with wispy hair the color of amber and a pretty, elfish face. She wore a green chiton and laced sandals and was dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. She was a dryad so her ears were slightly pointed. Her eyes, instead of being red from crying, were tinged green, the color of chlorophyll. "It's going terribly," she sniffled.

"No, no," Annabeth patted her shoulders. "He'll be fine, Juniper."

Lucia looked at Percy and mouthed the words 'Grover's girlfriend'. He looked surprised.

"Master Underwood!" the council member on the right shouted, cutting off whatever Grover was trying to say. "Do you seriously expect us to believe this?"

"B-but Silenus," Grover stammered. "It's the truth!"

Silenus turned to his colleagues and muttered something. Chiron cantered up to the front and stood next to them. Lucia remembered he was an honorary council member, but she'd never thought about it much. The elders didn't look very impressive. They reminded her of the goats in a petting zoo—huge bellies, sleepy expressions, and glazed eyes that couldn't see past the next handful of goat chow. Honestly, she wasn't sure why Grover seemed so nervous.

Silenus tugged his yellow polo shirt over his belly and adjusted himself on his rosebush throne. "Master Underwood, for six months—six months— we have been hearing these scandalous claims that you heard the wild god Pan speak."

"But I did!"

"Impudence!" said the elder on the left.

"Now, Maron," Chiron said. "Patience."

"Patience, indeed!" Maron said. "I've had it up to my horns with this nonsense. As if the wild god would speak to...to him."

Juniper looked like she wanted to charge the old satyr and beat him up, but Annabeth and Clarisse held her back. "Wrong fight, girlie," Clarisse muttered. "Wait."

"I'll join you Juniper" Lucia mumbled as she glared daggers at the old-timey goats

Annabeth turned to look at her with a scowl "Don't be a bad influence, Lucy."

Lucia held her hands up in defense "Just saying."

"For six months," Silenus continued, "we have indulged you, Master Underwood. We let you travel. We allowed you to keep your searcher's license. We waited for you to bring proof of your preposterous claim. And what have you found in six months of travel?"

"I just need more time," Grover pleaded.

"Nothing!" the elder in the middle chimed in. "You have found nothing." "But, Leneus—"

Silenus raised his hand. Chiron leaned in and said something to the satyrs. The satyrs didn't look happy. They muttered and argued among themselves, but Chiron said something else, and Silenus sighed. He nodded reluctantly.

"Master Underwood," Silenus announced, "we will give you one more chance."

Grover brightened. "Thank you!"

"One more week."

"What? But sir! That's impossible!"

"One more week, Master Underwood. And then, if you cannot prove your claims, it will be time for you to pursue another career. Something to suit your dramatic talents. Puppet theater, perhaps. Or tap dancing."

"But sir, I—I can't lose my searcher's license. My whole life—"

"This meeting of the council is adjourned," Silenus said. "And now let us enjoy our noonday meal!"

The old satyr clapped his hands, and a bunch of nymphs melted out of the trees with platters of vegetables, fruits, tin cans, and other goat delicacies. The circle of satyrs broke and charged the food. Grover walked dejectedly toward them. His faded blue T-shirt had a picture of a satyr on it. It read GOT HOOVES?

"Hi, Percy," he said, so depressed he didn't even offer to shake his hand. "That went well, huh?"

"Those old goats!" Juniper said. "Oh, Grover, they don't know how hard you've tried!"

"Yeah! what do they know! all they do is sit on their butts all day you've accomplished more than they have their whole lives!" Lucia agreed, when she saw his frown unwavering she sighed "Here you can eat the rest of my cardigan."

Grover accepted the ripped cardigan with a sniffle "Thanks Lulu"

"There is another option," Clarisse said darkly.

"No. No." Juniper shook her head. "Grover, I won't let you."

His face was ashen. "I—I'll have to think about it. But we don't even know where to look."

"It should be the very last option, if at all." Lucia shuddered

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked.

In the distance, a conch horn sounded.

Annabeth pursed her lips. "We'll fill you in later, Percy. We'd better get back to our cabins. Inspection is starting."

☼

"SO HOW WAS THE SCHOOL YEAR." Lucia smiled, she and Percy walked towards the common area.

"Well...I might have blown up another school." He scratched the back of his head

Lucia's eyes widened "What happened now"

Percy meekly explained that cheerleaders with one donkey leg, a bronze leg, red eyes, fangs, and flaming hair attacked him. But what caught Lucia's attention was when he mentioned the mortal Rachel Elizabeth Dare.

"Oh?" Lucia stopped walking "You didn't tell me you two were going to go to the same school."

"I-I didn't know until today," He said

Lucia's eyebrows knitted together when she looked down to see markings on his arm, she grabbed onto it and held it close to her face "Is this her number?"

Percy gulped "Yes. She told me I should call her and explain everything going on."

Lucia raised an eyebrow "Are you? I thought you said she was annoying..."

Percy opened his mouth and closed it again "I think after she covered for me I kind of owe it to her. Whether I find her annoying or not."

"So you don't?" Lucia asked

"what."

"Find her annoying?"

"I don't know, she seems kind of cool now."

Lucia felt her stomach twist "hm." 

"Luz? you okay?"

Lucia just walked forward. Taking longer strides. "Go to your cabin. Inspections are now and I'm sure it's a pigsty."

"hey!" Percy easily caught up with his long legs "I'm the only one in the Poseidon cabin, and I just got here."

"That's exactly why you should go."

Percy gave her a grin, he stared at her as they walked side by side "Your hair got lighter."

Lucia's hand found a strand of her hair "It did?"

"Yeah, it's a lighter brown now. You have more freckles too." Percy poked her cheek. He became bashful when she looked up at him. "You look—nice."

"Are you trying to butter me up to help you clean your cabin?" Lucia snipped, she took a deep breath to calm her beating heart.

"No" Percy shook his head, his eyes widened in realization "But would you? "

Lucia rolled her eyes. she poked at his chest "Go to your cabin. clean as fast as you can."

"It was worth a try."

They ran toward the commons area, where the twelve cabins—one for each Olympian god—made a U around the central green. The Demeter kids were sweeping out theirs and making fresh flowers grow in their window boxes. Just by snapping their fingers, they could make honeysuckle vines bloom over their doorway and daisies cover their roof, which was totally unfair. Lucia didn't think they ever got last place in the inspection. The guys in the Hermes cabin were scrambling around in a panic, stashing dirty laundry under their beds and accusing each other of taking stuff. They were slobs, but they still had a head start on Percy.

Over at the Aphrodite cabin, Silena Beauregard was just coming out, checking items off the inspection scroll. Percy cursed under his breath. Silena was nice, but she was an absolute neat freak, the worst inspector. She liked things to be pretty. Lucia knew when it came to rooms Percy didn't do "pretty."

"I can almost feel my arms getting heavy from all the dishes I will have to scrub tonight." Percy sighed in defeat

"She's still on the other row. you have time!" Lucia pushed him

Percy looked at her "I'll see you later?"

"Yes." Lucia nodded "Go go go."

"Are you mad at me?"

"What? no!" Lucia shook her head "Percy you're wasting precious time!"

"Okay okay." Percy nodded before enveloping her in a quick hug "I missed you."

Lucia smiled, the scent of saltwater filling her senses "Me too."

The Poseidon cabin was at the end of the row of "male god" cabins on the right side of the green. It was made of gray shell-encrusted sea rock, long and low like a bunker, but it had windows that faced the sea and it always had a good breeze blowing through it.

Lucia watched as he dashed inside

"Lu!!!" Aurora shrieked from their cabin "Hurry! the fairy lights died! what are we going to do without fairy lights!"

Lucia chuckled before running over to her cabin to save her siblings from dead fairy lights.

☼

LUCIA SPENT MOST OF HER AFTERNOON IN THE INFIRMARY. She took her time shelving herbs and patching up a couple of Ares kids that took Volleyball a little too seriously. After learning some more hymns she was excused by Will for the rest of the day.

Lucia spent time with Ethan in the forest before meeting up with Annabeth at the canoe lake. They spent time catching up and talking about the situation with Clarisse when Percy came.

That's when she was introduced to Tyson, Percy's half-brother. 

"New friend!" He bellowed, 

His single calf-brown eye was full of excitement. His teeth were yellow and crooked, and his hair was a rat's nest. He wore ragged XXXL jeans and a tattered flannel shirt over his tall frame. Lucia quickly thought him to be a darling.

With instructions from Percy to be gentle, he wrapped her up in a hug. Lucia was a lot smaller but she managed to hug him back. He put her down, grinning like crazy. "You're shiny."

Lucia looked down at her body watching the golden hue coming off her from the sunlight "Yeah I am."

Tyson grinned "Lucia, shiny friend."

Lucia laughed, she didn't hate the sound of that

Annabeth was really glad to see Tyson as well, but Lucia could sense she was being distant. 

She kept looking over at the forest like she was thinking about Grover's problem with the council. Lucia couldn't blame her. Grover was nowhere to be seen, and she felt really sorry for him.

Grover had told her that finding the lost god Pan had been his lifelong goal. His father and his uncle had both disappeared following the same dream. Last winter, Grover had heard a voice in his head: I await you—a voice he was sure belonged to Pan—but apparently, his search had led nowhere. If the council took away his searcher's license now, it would devastate him. 

"What's this 'other way'?" Percy asked them both. "The thing Clarisse mentioned?"

It sounded like he wanted to ask more, like, since when were you two and Clarisse friends?

Annabeth picked up a stone and skillfully skipped it across the lake. "Something Clarisse scouted out. Lucy and I helped her a little this spring. But it would be dangerous. Especially for Grover."

"Goat boy scares me," Tyson murmured. 

Lucia stared at him. Tyson looked like he could snap Grover in half. "Of Grover?"

"Why are you scared of him?" Percy asked

"Hooves and horns," Tyson muttered nervously. "And goat fur makes my nose itchy." 

And that pretty much ended their Grover conversation

☼

LUCIA SAW THE DARK SHORE OF A RIVER. Wisps of fog drifted across black water. The beach was strewn with jagged volcanic rock. A young boy squatted at the riverbank, tending a campfire. The flames burned an unnatural blue color. Then she saw the boy's face. It was Nico di Angelo. He was throwing pieces of paper into the fire—Mythomagic trading cards, part of the game he'd been obsessed with last winter.

Lucia frowned

Nico was only ten, or maybe eleven by now, but he looked older. His hair had grown longer. It was shaggy and almost touched his shoulders. His eyes were dark. His olive skin had turned paler. He wore ripped black jeans and a battered aviator's jacket that was several sizes too big, unzipped over a black shirt. His face was grimy, his eyes a little wild. He looked like a kid who'd been living on the streets. Lucia wanted to reach out to him, tell him to keep the cards he loved so much, to come back...but she couldn't move or say a word.

Nico tossed another trading card into the blue flames. "Useless," he muttered. "I can't believe I ever liked this stuff."

"A childish game, master," another voice agreed. It seemed to come from near the fire, but Lucia couldn't see who was talking.

Nico stared across the river. On the far shore was black beach shrouded in haze.

"I've failed," he muttered. "There's no way to get her back."

The other voice kept silent.

Nico turned toward it doubtfully. "Is there? Speak."

Something shimmered. Lucia thought it was just firelight. Then she realized it was the form of a man—a wisp of blue smoke, a shadow. if she looked at him head-on, he wasn't there. But if she looked out of the corner of her eye, she could make out his shape. A ghost.

"It has never been done," the ghost said. "But there may be a way."

"Tell me," Nico commanded. His eyes shined with a fierce light. "An exchange," the ghost said. "A soul for a soul."

"I've offered!"

"Not yours," the ghost said. "You cannot offer your father a soul he will eventually collect anyway. Nor will he be anxious for the death of his son. I mean a soul that should have died already. Someone who has cheated death."

Nico's face darkened. "Not that again. You're talking about murder."

"I'm talking about justice," the ghost said. "Vengeance."

"Those are not the same thing."

The ghost laughed dryly. "You will learn differently as you get older."

Nico stared at the flames. "Why can't I at least summon her? I want to talk to her. She would...she would help me."

"I will help you," the ghost promised. "Have I not saved you many times? Did I not lead you through the maze and teach you to use your powers? Do you want revenge for your sister or not?"

the maze Lucia panicked

Lucia didn't like the ghost's tone of voice at all.

Nico turned from the fire so the ghost couldn't see him, but Lucia could. A tear traced it's way down his face. The sight of it made her want to cry with him. "Very well. You have a plan?"

"Oh, yes," the ghost said, sounding quite pleased. "We have many dark roads to travel. We must start—"

The image disappeared, and Lucia's eyes fluttered open, only to realize two hands were on her shoulders shaking her awake.

"Lu." Will tried "Get up, Put your armor on."

Lucia quickly stood. Through the skylights, she saw the sun wasn't out yet. Apollo kids don't rise until the sun does. "What's wrong?"

Lee yelled from the front of the door as he placed his breastplate on himself. Aurora stood on the other side slinging her quiver over her shoulder

"Aethiopian drakon at the border!" He yelled loud enough for Everyone to hear. "Everyone who can pull themselves out of bed, armor up, and get to the top of the hill now! Lucia..."

Lucia stood up from her bed, She flicked her wrist to the left watching as her bracelet fell into her hand and transformed into a golden bronze bow. She grabbed her quiver from under her pillow before taking a breastplate that hung on the wall. "I'm going."

Lee looked at her proudly "Let's go."