ｔｈｅ ｂａｔｔｌｅ ｏｆ ｔｈｅ ｌａｂｙｒｉｎｔｈ

LUCIA FOUND HERSELF DREAMING THAT NIGHT, she stood surrounded by a verdant field, a crystal clear spring of water a few feet away. The sky above her was a gorgeous cerulean illuminating down pure golden hues of sunlight.

A boy came into view.

Lucia studied him, he had bronze skin, curly dark hair, and purple eyes. He wore a chiton and ancient kothornos'.

The boy was looking up at the sky like he was waiting for something.

The chariot was at first a speck in the sky. Then the sun grew brighter and brighter, coming up overhead, and Lucia knew who he was waiting for...

"Apollo" The boy whispered adoringly

The chariot (Which looked like a golden ancient greek chariot instead of a red sports car) landed in the field, skidding to a halt on a patch of dry dirt.

"Hyacinthus." Lucia watched as her immortal father got out of the chariot. His blonde curls framed his face, and he wore a chiton similar to Hyacinthus but unlike him, he held a golden aura that enveloped him completely, "My how is it possible you become more handsome every time we meet."

"You flatter me far too much my love"

"As I shall continue to do darling."Apollo smiled at him before the two shared a kiss.

When they pulled apart the image changed.

"Apollo! I'm ready!" Hyacinthus yelled as he ran across the field

Lucia watched as her immortal father ran forward a discus in hand. The two boys were laughing and running around throwing the discus back and forth. Hyacinthus ran to Apollo, he boldly wrapped his arms around his neck.

"I love you," he whispered

Apollo stared at him his mouth falling agape 

"It's alright, you don't have to say it..."

Apollo cupped the man's cheek "My prince you are a remarkable beauty that has filled me with endless joy. I am not frightened to say that you have claimed my immortal heart."

there was a harsh breeze. the air around them turned colder...

Hyacinthus and Apollo didn't seem to pay it any mind as they began to run off together. Apollo held the discus in hand once again. "Catch my Hyacinthus!"

"Dad! no!" Lucia cried but her voice was useless, in an instant the discus flew out of Apollo's hand.

It should have landed in his hands. Apollo knew his strength, he would not have thrown it hard enough to put his mortal lover in danger.

But the breeze returned, causing goosebumps on Lucia's skin. in a flash, the discus flew higher and ricocheted in speed. without a warning the discus hit Hyacinthus in the forehead, he collapsed, blood seeped from the crater-sized wound on his head.

Before Lucia could even exhale Apollo was by his side, cradling him in his arms.

"No no no no" He called holding him "Hyacinthus? Hyacinthus?"

Lucia watched in shock as the god wailed and tried warming his lover back to life. Lucia had never seen a god look so...human

Apollo attempted to attend his wounds. But the dying boy's face was drooped, his bent neck falling on the god's shoulder.

Even Apollo's skill couldn't fix this wound.

the chilling wind came back. this time apollo felt it.

"Zephyros."Apollo seethed "you will—"

"Apollo" a broken voice called

Apollo looked down to see the broken form of his lover. he held a hand up to his face.

"I shall go with the knowledge I loved and was loved," Hyacinthus reassured

"you shall not go." Apollo called " you shall always be with me,
and you shall dwell upon my lips. The lyre in my hand and my true songs will always celebrate you. A new flower you shall arise, with markings on your petals, you will not go Hyacinthus."

Apollo bent down placing a kiss on his lover's cheek. then he raised his hand over him and began to sing a hymn. there was a flash of light, Lucia blinked and the shape of a broken figure turned into a beautiful purple bulbous flower.

"Our love will endure between the flowers and me"

Lucia woke up in sobs, she held her chest in pain.

"Lucia?" Annabeth crawled over from her spot on the floor. it was her turn to be on watch when Lucia bolted awake. "Lucia what is it."

Lucia kept crying. Her hands tightly gripped her chest.

"b-beth" her voice broke

"It's okay." Annabeth held her cheek "I'm here. I'm here lucy. look at me."

Annabeth guided her to look up. She gasped.

Lucia's eyebrows knitted together. she sniffled. "What? what is it?"

"...how is that possible," She questioned,

Lucia could tell she was trying to decipher something but she had no idea what. "Annabeth what is it?"

"Your eyes....They're..."

"Annabeth?" Lucia pushed, her clammy hands playing with the end of her shirt to keep her calm.

"Lucia...Your eyes, they're purple."

The floor began to shake.

☼

LUCIA SHOOK PERCY'S SHOULDER IN A FRANTIC MOTION. "Percy! Percy! wake up!"

"Tyson—Tyson's in trouble!" Percy awoke. "We have to help him!"

"First things first," Annabeth said. "Earthquake!"

Sure enough, the room was rumbling.

"Rachel!" He yelled.

Her eyes opened instantly. She grabbed her pack.

Lucia struggled to stay upright. her legs unable to support her with all the motion. "Go! I can't!"

No one responded when Percy picked her up, throwing her over his shoulder.

"I'm not a sack of potatoes!" She protested

"Now you are!" He retorted as the three of them ran. They were almost to the far tunnel when a column next to them groaned and buckled. They kept going as a hundred tons of marble crashed down behind them.

Lucia gasped.

They made it to the corridor and turned just in time to see the other columns toppling. A cloud of white dust billowed over them, and they kept running.

"You know what?" Annabeth said. "I like this way after all."

"b-blood is rushing to my b-brain" Lucia complained at the bumpiness of her ride

It wasn't long before they saw light up ahead—like regular electric lighting.

"There," Rachel said.

They followed her into a stainless steel hallway. Fluorescent lights glowed from the ceiling. The floor was a metal grate. Percy and Rachel both looked pale in the harsh illumination.

"I can walk now Perseus!" Lucia hit his back

"Now I'm never letting you down."  He said matter-of-factly

"Percy! Kelp head!"

Percy nodded in satisfaction, setting her down.

Lucia steadied herself, she glared at the boy but she only partially meant it.

"Lucia. your eyes—"

"This way," Rachel said, beginning to run. "We're close!"

"I'm not running." Lucia insisted

Percy motioned to his arms, a teasing grin plastered on his lips. Lucia's heart slammed against her ribcage.

She rolled her eyes and limped forward. only allowing the teensiest smile grace her lips when he wasn't looking.

"This is so wrong!" Annabeth said. "The workshop should be in the oldest section of the maze. This can't—"

She faltered because they'd arrived at a set of metal double doors. Inscribed in the steel, at eye level, was a large blue Greek ∆.

"We're here," Rachel announced. "Daedalus's workshop."

☼

ANNABETH PRESSED THE SYMBOL ON THE DOORS AND THEY HISSED OPEN.

"So much for ancient architecture," Percy said.

Annabeth scowled.

Lucia elbowed him.

Together they walked inside.

The first thing that struck Lucia was the daylight—blazing sun coming through giant windows. Not the kind of thing you expect in the heart of a dungeon.

Lucia rushed (as much as she could) forward. "Gods I needed this."

The workshop was like an artist's studio, with thirty-foot ceilings and industrial lighting, polished stone floors, and workbenches along with windows.

A spiral staircase led up to a second-story loft. Half a dozen easels displayed hand-drawn diagrams of buildings and machines that looked like Leonardo da Vinci's sketches.

Several laptop computers were scattered around on the tables. Glass jars of green oil—Greek fire—lined one shelf. There were inventions, too—weird metal machines Lucia couldn't make sense of. One was a bronze chair with a bunch of electrical wires attached to it, like some kind of torture device. In another corner stood a giant metal egg about the size of a man. There was a grandfather clock that appeared to be made entirely of glass, so you could see all the gears turning. And hanging on the wall were several sets of bronze and silver wings.

"Di immortals," Annabeth muttered. She ran to the nearest easel and looked at the sketch. "He's a genius. Look at the curves on this building!"

"And an artist," Rachel said in amazement. "These wings are amazing!"

The wings looked more advanced than the ones Lucia had seen in her dreams. The feathers were more tightly interwoven. Instead of wax seals, self-adhesive strips ran down the sides.

Percy kept his hand on Riptide. Apparently, Daedalus was not at home, but the workshop looked like it had been recently used. The laptops were running their screen savers. A half-eaten blueberry muffin and a coffee cup sat on a workbench.

Lucia walked to the window. The view outside was amazing. She recognized the Rocky Mountains in the distance. They were high up in the foothills, at least five hundred feet, and down below a valley spread out, filled with a tumbled collection of red mesas and boulders and spires of stone.

"Where are we?" Lucia wondered.

"Colorado Springs," A voice said behind them. "The Garden of the Gods."

Standing on the spiral staircase above them, with his weapon drawn, was their missing sword master Quintus.

☼

"YOU,"  Annabeth said. "What have you done with Daedalus?"

Quintus smiled faintly. "Trust me, my dear. You don't want to meet him."

"Look, Mr. Traitor," she growled, "I didn't fight a dragon woman and a three-bodied man and a psychotic Sphinx to see you. Now, where is DAEDALUS?"

Lucia looked at him "Oh you better tell her."

Quintus came down the stairs, holding his sword at his side. He was dressed in jeans and boots and his counselor's T-shirt from Camp Half-Blood, which seemed like an insult now that we knew he was a spy.

"You think I'm an agent of Kronos," he said. "That I work for Luke."

"Well, duh," said Annabeth.

"You're an intelligent girl," he said. "But you're wrong. I work only for myself."

"Luke mentioned you," Percy said. "Geryon knew about you, too. You've been to his ranch."

"Of course," he said. "I've been almost everywhere. Even here."

He walked past Percy like he was no threat at all and stood by the window near Lucia.

"The view changes from day to day," he mused. "It's always some place high up. Yesterday it was from a skyscraper overlooking Manhattan. The day before that, there was a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. But it keeps coming back to the Garden of the Gods. I think the Labyrinth likes it here. A fitting name, I suppose.

"You've been here before," Percy said.

"Oh, yes."

"That's an illusion out there?" Percy asked. "A projection or something?"

"No," Rachel murmured. "It's real. We're really in Colorado."

Quintus regarded her. "You have clear vision, don't you? you remind me of another mortal girl I once knew. Another princess who came to grief."

"Enough games," Percy hissed. "What have you done with Daedalus?"

Quintus stared at him. "My boy, you need lessons from your friend on seeing clearly. I am Daedalus."

☼

THERE WERE A LOT OF ANSWERS LUCIA EXPECTED FROM PERCY "I knew that" to "LIAR!" to "Yeah right, and I'm Zeus."

But the Kelphead said, "But you're not an inventor! You're a swordsman!"

"I am both," Quintus said. "And an architect. And a scholar. I also play basketball pretty well for a guy who didn't start until he was two thousand years old. A real artist must be good at many things."

"That's true," Rachel said. "Like I can paint with my feet as well as my hands."

"Could I see that?" Lucia hummed curiously

"You see?" Quintus said. "A girl of many talents."

"But you don't even look like Daedalus," Percy protested. "I saw him in a dream, and..." Suddenly a horrible thought dawned on her.

"Yes," Quintus said. "You've finally guessed the truth."

"You're an automaton. You made yourself a new body."

"Percy," Annabeth said uneasily, "that's not possible. That—that can't be an automaton."

Quintus chuckled. "Do you know what Quintus means, my dear?"

"The fifth, in Latin. But—"

"This is my fifth body." The swordsman held out his forearm. He pressed his elbow and part of his wrist popped open—a rectangular hatch in his skin. Underneath, bronze gears whirred. Wires glowed.

"That's amazing!" Rachel said.

"That's weird," Lucia said.

"You found a way to transfer your animus into a machine?" Annabeth said. "That's...not natural."

"Oh, I assure you, my dear, it's still me. I'm still very much Daedalus. Our mother, Athena, makes sure I never forget that." He tugged back the collar of his shirt. At the base of his neck was the mark Lucia had seen before—the dark shape of a bird grafted to his skin.

"A murderer's brand," Annabeth said.

"For your nephew, Perdix," Lucia guessed. "The boy you pushed off the tower."

Quintus's face darkened. "I did not push him. I simply—"

"Made him lose his balance," She snapped. "Let him die."

Quintus gazed out the windows at the purple mountains. "I regret what I did, Lucia. I was angry and bitter. But I cannot take it back, and Athena never lets me forget. As Perdix died, she turned him into a small bird—a partridge. She branded the bird's shape on my neck as a reminder. No matter what body I take, the brand appears on my skin."

Lucia looked into his eyes, and she realized he was the same man she had seen in her dreams. His face might be different, but the same soul was in there— the same intelligence and all the sadness.

"You really are Daedalus," Percy decided. "But why did you come to the camp? Why spy on us?"

"To see if your camp was worth saving. Luke had given me one story. I preferred to come to my own conclusions."

"So you have talked to Luke," he observed

"Oh, yes. Several times. He is quite persuasive."

"But now you've seen the camp!" Annabeth persisted. "So you know we need your help. You can't let Luke through the maze!"

Daedalus set his sword on the workbench. "The maze is no longer mine to control, Annabeth. I created it, yes. It is tied to my life force. But I have allowed it to live and grow on its own. That is the price I paid for privacy."

"Privacy from what?"

"The gods," he said. "And death. I have been alive for two millennia, my dear, hiding from death."

"But how can you hide from Hades?" Lucia asked. "I mean...Hades has the Furies."

"They do not know everything," he said. "Or see everything. But I believe you already know that Lucia."

She fell silent.

"You have encountered them, Percy. You know this is true. A clever man can hide quite a long time, and I have buried myself very deep. Only my greatest enemy has kept after me, and even him I have thwarted."

"You mean Minos," Percy said.

Daedalus nodded. "He hunts for me relentlessly. Now that he is a judge of the dead, he would like nothing better than for me to come before him so he can punish me for my crimes. After the daughters of Cocalus killed him, Minos's ghost began torturing me in my dreams. He promised that he would hunt me down. I did the only thing I could. I retreated from the world completely. I descended into my Labyrinth. I decided this would be my ultimate accomplishment: I would cheat death."

"And you did," Annabeth marveled, "for two thousand years." She sounded kind of impressed, despite the horrible things Daedalus had done.

Just then a loud bark echoed from the corridor. Lucia heard the ba-BUMP, ba-BUMP, ba-BUMP of huge paws, and Mrs. O'Leary bounded into the workshop. She licked Percy's face once, then almost knocked Daedalus over with an enthusiastic leap.

"There is my old friend!" Daedalus said, scratching Mrs. O'Leary behind the ears. "My only companion all these long lonely years."

"You let her save me," Percy said. "That whistle actually worked."

Daedalus nodded. "Of course it did, Percy. You have a good heart. And I knew Mrs. O'Leary liked you. I wanted to help you. Perhaps I—I felt guilty, as well."

"Guilty about what?"

"That your quest would be in vain."

"What?" Annabeth said. "But you can still help us. You have to! Give us Ariadne's string so Luke can't get it."

"Yes...the string. I told Luke that the eyes of a clear-sighted mortal are the best guide, but he did not trust me. He was so focused on the idea of a magic item. And the string works. It's not as accurate as your mortal friend here, perhaps. But good enough. Good enough."

"Where is it?" Annabeth said.

"With Luke," Daedalus said sadly. "I'm sorry, my dear. But you are several hours too late."

With a chill, Lucia realized why Luke had been in such a good mood in the arena. He'd already gotten the string from Daedalus. His only obstacle had been the arena master, and Percy had taken care of that for him by killing Antaeus.

"Kronos promised me freedom," Quintus said. "Once Hades is overthrown, he will set me over the Underworld. I will reclaim my son Icarus. I will make things right with poor young Perdix. I will see Minos's soul cast into Tartarus, where it cannot bother me again. And I will no longer have to run from death."

"That's your brilliant idea?" Annabeth yelled. "You're going to let Luke destroy your camp, kill hundreds of demigods, and then attack Olympus? You're going to bring down the entire world so you can get what you want?"

"Your cause is doomed, my dear. I saw that as soon as I began to work at your camp. There is no way you can hold back the might of Kronos."

"That's not true!" she cried.

"I am doing what I must, my dear. The offer was too sweet to refuse. I'm sorry."

Annabeth pushed over an easel. Architectural drawings scattered across the floor. "I used to respect you. You were my hero! You—you built amazing things. You solved problems. Now...I don't know what you are. Children of Athena are supposed to be wise, not just clever. Maybe you are just a machine. You should have died two thousand years ago."

Instead of getting mad, Daedalus hung his head. "You should go warn your camp. Now that Luke has the string—"

Suddenly Mrs. O'Leary pricked up her ears.

"Someone's coming!" Lucia warned.

The doors of the workshop burst open, and Nico was pushed inside, his hands in chains.

"Nico!" Lucia limped forward

Then Kelli and two Laistrygonians marched in behind him, followed by the ghost of Minos. He looked almost solid now—a pale bearded king with cold eyes and tendrils of Mist coiling off his robes.

He fixed his gaze on Daedalus. "There you are, my old friend."

Daedalus's jaw clenched. He looked at Kelli. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Luke sends his compliments," Kelli said. "He thought you might like to see your old employer Minos."

"This was not part of our agreement," Daedalus said.

"No indeed," Kelli said. "But we already have what we want from you, and we have other agreements to honor. Minos required something else from us, in order to turn over this fine young demigod." She ran a finger under Nico's chin. "He'll be quite useful. And all Minos asked in return was your head, old man."

Lucia's hands started to spark, she made her way past Percy. "If you know what's good for you. you'll get your hands off of him.

Kelli laughed "I'm not scared of you."

Lucia's head tilted to the side. A spark of light fell from her fingertips. Kelli yelped backing up as a hole melted into her bronze leg.

"You should be."

Daedalus interrupted. His face turned paler. "This is treachery!"

"Get used to it," Kelli said.

"Nico," Percy said. "Are you okay?"

He nodded morosely. "I—I'm sorry, Percy. Minos told me you and Lucia were in danger. He convinced me to go back into the maze."

"You were trying to help us?"

"I was tricked," he said. "He tricked all of us."

Lucia glared at Kelli. "Where's Luke? Why isn't he here?"

The she-demon smiled like we were sharing a private joke. "Luke
is...busy? He is preparing for the assault. But don't worry. We have more friends on the way. And in the meantime, I think I'll have a wonderful snack! starting with you!" Her hands changed into claws. Her hair burst into flame and her legs turned to their true form—one donkey leg, one bronze.

"Percy," Rachel whispered, "the wings. Do you think—"

"Get them," He said. "I'll try to buy you some time."

And with that, all Hades broke loose. Annabeth and Percy charged at Kelli.

The giants came right at Daedalus, but Mrs. O'Leary leaped to his defense.

Nico got pushed to the ground and struggled with his chains while the spirit of Minos wailed, "Kill the inventor! Kill him!"

Lucia in an instant was by his side.

"Lucia." he said, "I'm-"

"Don't worry." Lucia hushed him softly"don't worry. let's get these chains off you neeks."

Looking at Nico, Lucia could still see the little kid who would force her to play mythomagic and wedge himself in between her hugs.

She would do anything to make sure that little kid and the boy that sat in front of her now were safe.

Lucia grabbed the chains, the hot metal dripped down her hands.

Rachel grabbed the wings off the wall. Nobody paid her any attention. Kelli slashed at Annabeth. Percy tried to get to her, but the demon was quick and deadly. She turned over tables, smashed inventions, and wouldn't let them get close. Out of the corner of Lucia's eye, She saw Mrs. O'Leary chomp her fangs into a giant's arm. He wailed in pain and flung her around, trying to shake her. Daedalus grabbed for his sword, but the second giant smashed the workbench with his fist, and the sword went flying. A clay jar of Greek fire broke on the floor and began to burn, green flames spreading quickly.

"To me!" Minos cried. "Spirits of the dead!" He raised his ghostly hands and the air began to hum.

"No!" Nico cried. He was on his feet now.

"You do not control me, young fool," Minos sneered. "All this time, I have been controlling you! A soul for a soul, yes. But it is not your sister who will return from the dead. It is I, as soon as I slay the inventor!"

Spirits began to appear around Minos—shimmering forms that slowly multiplied, solidifying into Cretan soldiers.

"I am the son of Hades," Nico insisted. "Be gone!"

Minos laughed. "You have no power over me. I am the lord of spirits! The ghost king!"

"No." Nico drew his sword. "I am."

He stabbed his black blade into the floor, and it cleaved through the stone like butter.

"Never!" Minos's form rippled. "I will not—"

The ground rumbled. The windows cracked and shattered to pieces, letting in a blast of fresh air. A fissure opened in the stone floor of the workshop, and Minos and all his spirits were sucked into the void with a horrible wail.

The bad news: the fight was still going on all around them, and Lucia let herself get distracted. Kelli pounced on Percy so fast he had no time to defend himself. His sword skittered away and he hit his head hard on a worktable as he fell.

Kelli laughed. "You will taste wonderful!"

She bared her fangs. Then suddenly her body went rigid. Her red eyes widened. She gasped, "No...school...spirit..."

Kelli fell to the ground, revealing the two arrows now protruding from the center of her back. With an awful screech, Kelli dissolved into yellow vapor.

Lucia did her best to help Percy up.

Percy was clearly still dazed, but they had no time to lose. Mrs. O'Leary and Daedalus were still locked in combat with the giants, and Lucia could hear the shouting in the tunnels. More monsters were coming toward the workshop.

"We have to help Daedalus!" He said.

"No time," Rachel said. "Too many coming!"

She'd already fitted herself with wings and was working on Nico, who looked pale and sweaty from his struggle with Minos. The wings grafted instantly to his back and arms.

"Now you!" she told Percy.

In seconds, Nico, Annabeth, Rachel, Percy, and Lucia had fitted themselves with coppery wings. Already Lucia could feel herself being lifted by the wind coming through the window. Greek fire was burning the tables and furniture, spreading up the circular stairs.

"Daedalus!" Percy yelled. "Come on!"

He was cut in a hundred places—but he was bleeding golden oil instead of blood. He'd found his sword and was using part of a smashed table as a shield against the giants. "I won't leave Mrs. O'Leary!" he said. "Go!"

There was no time to argue. Even if they stayed, Lucia knew they couldn't help.

"None of us know how to fly!" Nico protested.

"Great time to find out," Percy said. And together, the five of them jumped out the window into the open sky.