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DAYS IN THE SUN

chapter thirty-one
❛ 𝚒'𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚝𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞. ❜

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

AMARA WANTED NOTHING more than to put the mechanical spider on a leash. It scuttled along the tunnels faster than she could comprehend, if they didn't have Tyson and Grover's hearing it would've been lost long ago.

They raced down a marble tunnel, suddenly dashing to the left when Grover grabbed ahold of the daughters of Athena and Zeus. The satyr had saved them from almost falling into an abyss, the same being said with Tyson saving Percy.

The tunnel continued, but there was no floor for at least a hundred feet. The only thing in the room happened to be iron rings in the ceiling, one the mechanical spider was swinging from with ease.

"Monkey bars," Annabeth said, a grin appearing on her lips. "I'm great at these."

She leapt onto the first ring, swinging her way across at a fast pace. Percy gestured for Amara to go next, and she did. He went immediately after, keeping up with her pace as the satyr and cyclops trailed behind the demigods.

Annabeth had a head start, almost disappearing into the darkness if it wasn't for her blonde hair shining through the tunnels. By the time the group of four caught up to the daughter of Athena, the tunnel had opened into a room.

A blazing light shined on the quest members, showing off the skeletons that littered the floor around them. And then, Amara saw the monster.

She stood on a glittery dais on the opposite side of the room. Her body was one huge lion with the head of a woman. She would've been pretty, but her hair was tied back in a tight bun and she wore too much makeup. She had a blue ribbon badge pinned to her chest that took Amara a moment to read, This Monster Has Been Rated Exemplary!

Tyson whimpered. "Sphinx."

Annabeth started forward, but the Sphinx roared, showing fangs in her otherwise human face. Bars came down on both tunnel exits, behind and in front. Immediately the monster's snarl turned into a brilliant smile.

"Welcome, lucky contestants!" She announced. "Get ready to play . . . Answer that Riddle!"

Canned applause blasted from the ceiling up, as if there were invisible loudspeakers. Spotlights swept across the room and reflected off the dais, throwing disco glitter over the skeletons and on the floor.

"Fabulous prizes!" The Sphinx said. "Pass the test, and you get to advance. Fail, and I get to eat you! Who will be our contestant?"

Annabeth stepped forward. "I've got this." She whispered. "I know what she's going to ask."

Amara didn't argue, when it came to riddles she was terrible. If it came down to fighting? That was her specialty instead.

Annabeth stepped forward to the contestants podium, which had a skeleton in a school uniform hunched over it. With a grimace look, she pushed the skeleton out of the way.

"Sorry," the blonde apologized.

"Welcome, Annabeth Chase!" The monster cried with glee. "Are you ready for your test?"

"Yes," She said. "Ask your riddle."

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

"What? But back in the old days—"

"Oh, we've raised our standards! To pass, you must show proficiency in all twenty. Isn't that great?"

Applause switched on and off like somebody turning a faucet. Annabeth glanced at them nervously, but Amara could only offer the girl a slight smile.

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

A drumroll sounded from above. The Sphinx's eyes glittered with excitement. "What . . . is the capital of Bulgaria?"

Annabeth frowned. "Sofia." She said. "But—"

"Correct!" The Sphinx smiled so widely her fangs showed, applause flowing through the room. "Please be sure to mark your answer clearly on your test sheet with a number two pencil."

"What?" Annabeth looked mystified. Then 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 said. "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 her paw. Over by the spotlight was a bronze box with a bunch of gears and levers with a big greek letter Eta on the side, the mark of Hephaestus.

"Now," Said the Sphinx. "Next question—"

"Wait a second." The daughter of Athena protested, her hand held up. "What about, 'what walks on four legs in the morning?'"

"I beg your pardon?" The Sphinx asked, clearly annoyed now.

"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 know the answer. Now, second question. What is the square root of sixteen?"

"Four." Annabeth said. "But—"

"Correct! Which US president signed the Emancipation Proclamation?"

"Abraham Lincoln, but—"

"Correct! Riddle number four. How much—"

"Hold up!" Annabeth shouted. "These aren't riddles."

"What do you mean?" The Sphinx snapped. "Of course they are. The test material is especially designed—"

"It's just a bunch of dumb, random facts." Annabeth insisted. "Riddles are supposed to make you think."

"Think?" The Sphinx frowned. "How am I supposed to test whether you can think? That's ridiculous! Now, how much force is required—"

"Stop!" The blonde insisted. "This is a stupid test."

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

"I'm a child of Athena." She insisted. "And this is an insult to my intelligence. I won't answer these questions."

The spotlights glared, the Sphinx's eyes glittered pure black. "Why then, my dear." The monster said calmly. "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 stainless steel. She pounced at the podium.

"No!" Tyson charged, rushing past the demigods as he tackled the monster and sent them crashing into a pile of bones. When the monster duo emerged, the cyclop's shirt had been clawed to shreds while the Sphinx growled.

Amara's sword rested in her hand, using her free arm to push the blonde behind her as Percy stood in front of the girls with his weapon drawn.

"Turn invisible." Amara instructed the daughter of Athena.

"I can fight!"

"No!" Percy yelled, never tearing his eyes off the monster in front of them. "The Sphinx is after you! Let us get it."

As if she heard them, the Sphinx knocked Tyson aside and tried to charge past them. Grover had managed to make his way over, using a skeleton's leg bone to poke her eye.

The monster screeched, giving Annabeth the chance to put on her Yankees cap and vanish. The Sphinx had managed to jump over the children of big three, landing where Annabeth had been standing.

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

The Sphinx growled, her attention turning onto Amara as she raised her claws. A grading machine flying through the air saved the brunette, sending the monster crashing to the floor as the machine broke in pieces around her.

"My grading machine!" She cried, unaware of the bars lifting from the exits. "I can't be exemplary without my test scores!"

Percy quickly grabbed onto Amara's wrist, tugging her with him as they ran for the farthest tunnel.

The Sphinx had began to chase them, but was stopped by Grover's reed pipes as roots, branches, and pencils wrapped around the monster's leg. It stalled them enough time for the bars to slam shut behind them.

"Annabeth!" Amara called, hoping her oldest friend had managed to make it through in time.

"Here!" Annabeth said, appearing right next the demigod. "Keep moving!"

With that, they ran through the dark tunnels with the roar of the Sphinx long behind them.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

They had finally arrived to Hephaestus, or his door to be exact. It reminded her of an old fashioned submarine hatch, oval, with a wheel for a doorknob. A brass plague, inscribed with a greek Eta rested in the middle.

"Ready to meet Hephaestus?" Grover asked nervously.

"No." Percy admitted.

"Yes!" Tyson said gleefully, and he turned the wheel.

As soon as the door opened, the spider scuttled inside with Tyson right behind it. She followed behind the cyclops with slight hesitation, wondering what resemblance's she'll see of Beckendorf and Jake Mason when it came to their father.

The room reminded her of a mechanic's garage, filled with multiple hydraulic lifts. It reminded Amara of the train station where Jada worked, without the bronze hippalektryon and greek war chariot.

Underneath the closest hydraulic lift, a pair of legs belonging to the lower half of a huge man in grubby pants, and shoes stuck out. The left leg was in a metal brace, one that seemed to be handcrafted.

The spider scurried, heading towards the man causing the banging to cease.

"Well, well." A deep voice boomed from under the Corolla. "What have we here?"

The mechanic pushed out on a back trolley, and sat up. She has seen Hephaestus before, during her short field trips to Olympus and the past winter. He looked as Jada always described him to be, in a jumpsuit smeared with oil and covered in grime.

His left leg creaked, clicking in the metal brace as he stood to full height. His left shoulder fell short of his right, so he appeared to be leaning despite standing up straight. His head was misshapen and bulging, his lips bearing a permanent scowl. His black beard smoked and hissed.

His hands were the size of catchers mitts, but he handled the spider with amazing skills. He disassembled it in two seconds, then put it back together.

"There," the blacksmith 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. "I didn't make you, did I?"

"Uh," Annabeth said. "No, sir."

"Good," The god grumbled. "Shoddy workmanship."

He studied the children of Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus momentarily before speaking again. "Half-bloods." Hephaestus grunted. "Could be automatons, of course, but probably not."

"We've met, sir." Percy told him.

"Have we?" The god asked absently, making Amara silently wonder how he won someone like Jada Beckendorf over. "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, frowning in almost disappointment. "Satyr." Then he looked at Tyson, and his eyes twinkled. "Well, a cyclops'. Good, good. What are you doing traveling with this lot?"

"Uh . . ." Tyson said, staring in wonder at the god.

"Yes, well said." Hephaestus agreed. "So, there better be a good reason you're disturbing me. The suspension in this Corolla is no small matter, you know."

"Sir," Annabeth said hesitantly. "We're looking for Daedalus. We thought—"

"Daedalus?" The god roared. "You want that old scoundrel? You dare 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 work table 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 the cyclops' shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately. Hephaestus regarded him, almost studying him. His scowl didn't change, but Amara thought she saw a 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. H—He was scared. He could not help us."

"And that bothered you."

"Yes!" Tyson's voice wavered. "Briares should be strong! He is older and greater than cyclops. But he ran away."

The blacksmith grunted. "There was a time I admired 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."

"But I thought Zeus did that to you." Percy said.

Hephaestus cleared his throat and spat into a bronze spittoon. He snapped his fingers and the robotic flacon flew back to the work table.

"Mother likes telling that version of the story." He grumbled. "Makes her seem more like-able, 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?"

Hephaestus 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."

He focused on Percy and narrowed his eyes, as if he were reading his thoughts. "Oh, this one doesn't like me." The god mused. "No worries, I'm used to that. What would you ask of me, little demigod?"

"We told you." Percy said. "We need to find Daedalus. There's this guy, Luke, and he's working for Kronos. He's trying to find a way to navigate the 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."

"Why not?" Amara asked, putting her hands in her jacket pockets as she made a mental note to ask Jada what could've made her possibly fall for the god before her.

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, even a magical steer. These I can grant you easily. But a way to Daedalus? That's an expensive favor."

"You know where he is then." Annabeth said.

"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. All right, half-blood. I can tell you what you want to know, but there is a price. I need a favor done."

"Name it," Amara said. This time the god paid closer attention to her, his eyebrows furrowed before a booming laugh escaped his lips. "You heroes," he finally spoke. "Always making rash promises. How refreshing!"

She shrugged, Hephaestus meeting her eyes. "What good is a promise, if you don't intend to make good to your word?"

The god's face fell momentarily, the words of Jada Beckendorf rushing to mind as he narrowed his coal black eyes at the brunette before him. "I know those words, demigod."

"Jada Beckendorf is a wise woman," Amara stated, the blacksmith's lips twitching to a smirk.

"Interesting for a child of Zeus to befriend sons of Hephaestus," the god murmured, as if talking to himself. "You've made good friends, daughter of the sky."

With that, he pressed a button on his work bench and metal shutters flew open along the walls. It showcased a grey mountain ringed in a forest, smoke billowing from its crest.

"One of my forges." Hephaestus said. "I have many, but that used to be my favorite."

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

"You've been there?" Percy asked.

"Looking for . . . you know, Pan."

"Wait," Annabeth said, looking at the god. "You said it used to be your favorite. What happened?"

Hephaestus 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 questioned. "Fight him?"

The blacksmith 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. 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 dares invade my territory, and if they mean to free Typhon."

"You want us to find out who it is." Amara said.

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

"Glad you noticed." Percy muttered.

"Go and find out what you can." The god said. "Report back to me, and I will tell you what you need to know about Daedalus."

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

Hephaestus clapped his hands. The spider came swinging down from the rafters, Annabeth flinching when it landed at her feet.

"My creation will show you the way." The god explained. "It is not far through the Labyrinth. And try to stay alive, will you? Humans are much more fragile than automatons."

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

This time around, they had managed to stay atop of the spider and not lose sight of it, until they hit the forest. Grover had stopped dead in his tracks, staring off into a tunnel that had been dug from raw earth and covered in thick roots.

"What is it?" Amara asked, nearly crashing into the satyr from his sudden stop.

The son of the wild didn't move, only staring open mouthed into the dark tunnel. His curly hair rustled in the breeze.

"Come on!" Annabeth said. "We have to keep moving."

"This is the way." Grover muttered in awe. "This is it."

"What way?" Percy asked. "You mean . . . to Pan?"

The Underwood boy looked at Tyson. "Don't you smell it?"

"Dirt," Tyson said. "And plants."

"Yes! This is the way. I'm sure of it!"

Up ahead, the spider was getting farther down the stone corridor. It would only take a few more seconds, then they'd lose it completely.

"We'll come back," Amara promised. "On our way back to Hephaestus."

"The tunnel will be gone by then." Grover said. "I have to follow it. A door like this won't stay open!"

"But we can't," Annabeth said. "The forges!"

"I have to, Annabeth," their protector looked at the demigods sadly. "You understand?"

But the daughter of Athena looked desperate, like she couldn't understand the satyr at all.

"We'll spilt up." Percy stated.

"No!" Annabeth said. "That's way too dangerous. How will we ever find each other again? And Grover can't go alone."

Tyson put his hand on the satyr's shoulder. "I—I will go with him."

"Tyson, are you sure?" Percy asked.

The cyclops nodded. "Goat boy needs help. We will find the god person. I am not like Hephaestus, I trust friends."

Grover took a deep breath. "Percy, we'll find each other again. We've still got the empathy link. I just . . . have to."

Amara couldn't find it in herself to blame him. This was his life's goal. If he didn't find Pan on this journey, the council would never give him another chance.

"I hope you're right." Percy said.

"I know I am." She had never heard him sound so confident about anything, except maybe that cheese enchiladas were better than chicken enchiladas.

"Be careful." Percy told him. Then he looked at Tyson. The cyclops gulped back a sob and gave Percy a hug that just about squeezed his eyes out of their sockets. Then he and Grover disappeared through the tunnel of tree roots and were lost in the darkness.

"This is bad." Annabeth said. "Splitting up is a really, really bad idea."

"We'll see them again." Percy said trying to sound confident. "Now, come on. The spider is getting away!"

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It didn't take long before the tunnel grew hot, the stone walls glowing as the air began harsher and reminding Amara of when Jada first opens the oven after cooking.

The tunnel slopped down, a loud roar shaking the corridors while the metal spider continued on. The daughters of Zeus and Athena spared a look between one another, before ultimately shrugging and staying on the machine's tail.

"Hey," Percy called to the duo. "Wait up."

Annabeth glanced back, sending Amara a look as the latter never stopped her pace. "Yeah?"

"Something Hephaestus said back there . . . about Athena."

"She swore never to marry," Annabeth said. "Like Artemis and Hestia, she's one of the maiden goddesses."

Percy blinked. "But then—"

"How come she has demigod children?"

The Jackson nodded, his cheeks pink. The sight alone amused Amara, who had to keep her head straight to contain her smile.

"Percy, you know how Athena was born?" Annabeth asked.

"She sprung from the head of Zeus in full battle armor or something." He answered.

"Exactly. She wasn't born in the normal way. She was literally born from thoughts. Her children are born the same way. When Athena falls in love with a mortal man, it's purely intellectual, the way she loved Odysseus in the old stories. It's a meeting of minds. She would tell you that's the purest kind of love."

"So your dad and Athena . . . so you weren't . . ."

"I was a brain child." Annabeth said. "Literally. Children of Athena are sprung from the divine thoughts of our mother and the mortal ingenuity of our father. We are supposed to be a gift, a blessing from Athena on the men she favors."

"But—"

"Percy, the spider and Amara's getting away. Do you really want me to explain the exact details of how I was born?"

"Um . . . no. That's okay."

"That's what I thought," with that, the Chase girl raced back to the brunette's side as they left a flustered Percy behind.

The closer the trio got, the louder the roaring became. It only took another half mile, before the demigods emerged in a cavern the size of a football stadium. Hephaestus' mechanical spider stopped in its track, curling into a ball as it revealed they reached the forges.

There was no floor, just lava that bubbled every second a few feet below. She stood on a rock bridge, one that circled the entire cavern. A network of bridges spanned across it, but, at the center was a platform filled with machines, cauldrons, forges, an anvil, and several creatures that moved around the platform.

"We have to get closer," Amara said. "But we can't unless we want to be seen."

Annabeth picked up the metal spider and slipped it into her pocket. "I can, wait here." She slipped on her Yankees cap and turned invisible.

"Come on," Percy whispered, his hand held out from the Grace girl to take.

Amara raised a brow, thanking the gods the red in her face could easily be blamed on the heat coming from the volcano. "Beth told us stay put, Percy."

It was his turn to raise a brow, an amused expression on his face. "Since when do you listen the first time?"

Her voice became stuck in her throat, knowing the Jackson boy had gotten her there. He grinned, taking her hand in his and he pulled her with him to crept along the outer rim of the lava lake.

The heat was horrible, in no time she had became drenched with sweat and her eyes stung from the smoke. They continued moving, managing to stay away from the edge until a cart on metal wheels blocked their way.

Amara lifted the tarp, finding it was half filled with scrap metal. She was about to squeeze her way around, when a voice up ahead stopped her in her tracks.

"Bring it in?" One asked.

"Yeah," Another said. "Movies just about done."

She froze. Her head quickly turning to Percy, a panic look resting on her face. "Get in!" He hissed, quickly picking her up and helping the Grace girl get inside the cart before joining her.

She grabbed the tarp, throwing it over their bodies as the cart suddenly lurched forward.

"Oi," A gruff voice said. "This weighs a ton."

"It's celestial bronze," The other said. "What did you expect?"

They turned a corner, and from the sound of the wheels echoing against the walls she guessed they had passed down a tunnel and into a smaller room. She mentally prayed to the gods, hoping the creatures didn't decide to dump the cart into the lava.

Amara could hear lots of talking, chatting voices that didn't sound human paired with an old fashioned film projector and narrator.

"Just set it in the back," A new voice ordered from across the room. "Now, younglings, please attend to the film. There will be a time for questions afterward."

The voices quieted down, and she could hear the film.

"As a young sea demon matures," The narrator said. "Changes happen in the monster's body. You may notice your fangs getting longer and you may have a sudden desire to devour human beings. These changes are perfectly normal and happen to all young monsters."

Excited snarling filled the room. The teacher told the younglings to be quiet, and the film continued. She didn't understand most of it, and she didn't dare look. Occasionally she would meet glances with Percy, but the boy could only offer a tight lipped smile as they listened. The film kept talking about growth spurts, acne problems, and proper flipper hygiene that the monsters needed to know if they would be working in the forges. With that, it was over.

"Now, younglings." The instructor said. "What is the proper name of our kind?"

"Sea demons!" One of them barked.

"No. Anyone else?"

"Telekhines!" Another monster growled.

"Revenge!" Several shouted.

"Yes, yes. But why?"

"Zeus is evil!" One monster said. "He casted us into Tartarus just because we used magic!"

"Indeed," The instructor said. "After we made so many of the god's finest weapons. The trident of Poseidon, for one. And of course—we made the greatest weapon of the Titans! Nevertheless, Zeus cast us away and relied on those fumbling cyclops. That is why we are taking over the forges of Hephaestus. And soon, we will control the undersea furnaces, our ancestral home!"

"And so, younglings." The instructor continued. "Who do we serve?"

"Kronos!" They shouted.

"And when you grow to be big telekhines, will you make weapons for the army?"

"Yes!"

"Excellent. Now, we've brought in some scraps for you to pratique with. Let's see how ingenious you are."

Electric blue met sea green, their eyes frantic as they quickly pulled out their weapons. Just as Amara's sword finished morphing, the tarp was thrown back.

She jumped up, hopping to her feet as she raised her weapon only to be met with a bunch of . . . dogs.

Well, their faces at least. The creatures had black snouts, brown eyes, and pointy ears. Their bodies were sleek and black like sea mammals, with stubby legs that were half flipper, half foot, and human like hands with sharp claws.

"Demigods!" One snarled.

"Eat them!" Yelled another.

But that's as far as they got before Percy slashed his sword in a wide arc, vaporizing the entire front row of monsters. Amara rested her sword on her shoulder blades, her head tilted as blue electricity sparked around her sword handle.

"Back off!" Percy yelled at the rest. Behind them stood their instructor, a six foot tall telekhine with Doberman fangs snarling at them.

"New lesson, class." He instructed. "Most monster's will vaporize when sliced with a celestial bronze sword. This change is perfectly normal, and will happen to you right now if you don't back off!"

To her surprise, it worked. The monster's backed up, but there were at least twenty of them. Percy jumped out of the cart first, holding his hand out for Amara as she landed back on the floor. "Class dismissed!"

With the son of Poseidon's words of farewell, the children of the big three took off running for the exit.

The monsters charged after them, barking and growling that resembled a dog's. Once the duo managed to slip through a door leading to the main cavern, Amara was quick to slam it shut and turn the wheel to lock the creature's out.

"We blew it," she murmured, earning a slight eyeroll from Percy as they ran towards the platform at the center of the lava pool.

"Annabeth!" Percy yelled. An invisible hand clamped over his mouth, wrestling him behind a bronze cauldron. Amara could only follow, trying to resist the urge to grin at the sight she just witnessed.

The son of Poseidon reached wildly behind him, tearing off Annabeth's Yankees cap once he managed to find it. The blonde shimmered into existence in front of them, a scowl on her lips that matched Hephaestus with her ash, and grime streaked face.

"Percy," she hissed. "What is your problem?"

"We're going to have company!" He explained quickly about the monster orientation class. Annabeth's eyes widened.

"So that's what they are." She said. "Telekhines. I should've known. And they're making . . . well, look."

They peeked over the cauldron. In the center of the platform stood four, fully grown eight feet tall sea demons. Their black skin glistened in the firelight as they worked, sparks were flying as they took turns hammering on a long piece of blowing hot metal.

"The blade is almost complete." One said. "It needs another cooling in the blood to fuse the metals."

"Aye." A second said. "It shall be ever sharper than before."

"What is that?" Percy whispered.

Annabeth shook her head. "They keep talking about fusing metals. I wonder—"

"They were talking about the greatest Titan weapon." Amara said. "And they . . . they said they made Poseidon's trident."

"The telekhines betrayed the gods." The blonde explained. "They were practicing dark magic. I don't know what exactly, but Zeus banished them to Tartarus."

"With Kronos."

Annabeth nodded. "We have to get out—"

No sooner had she said that the door to the classroom exploded, the young telekhines pouring out. They stumbled over each other, trying to figure out which way to charge.

"Put your cap back on." Percy said. "Take Amara with you and get out!"

"What?" Amara's eyes were wide, her head shaking faster than she realized. "No, I'm not leaving you!"

"I've got a plan. I'll distract them. You can use the metal spider, maybe it'll lead you back to Hephaestus. You have to tell him what's going on."

"You'll be killed!" She argued.

"I'll be fine. Besides, we've got no choice."

Annabeth put a gentle hand on the brunette's shoulder, but she shrugged her off. "I'm not leaving you, Percy."

His sea green eyes locked with her electric blue, a small smile lacing his lips as he nodded. "Go."

Within that moment, her head was swirling and her heart racing faster than her mind could comprehend. She didn't hesitate, reaching forward she wrapped an arm around his neck as she dragged him down to her height.

Taking his face in her right hand, her lips smashed into his. His arm wound around her waist, attempting to tug her closer until she pulled away and prevented him from doing so. The kiss hadn't been very long, a few seconds at most, but she could feel her stomach erupt with butterflies.

"Come back to me," she breathed out, her eyes locked on Percy who held a dazed look. "You promised me, Seaweed Brain."

"I'll come back to you," Percy promised. "No matter what."

His arm unwound from her waist and she pulled away her arm. Annabeth grabbed her hand, pulling her along as Percy watched them go.

The daughters of Athena and Zeus ran, never looking back nor stopping until they reached the tree roots at the bottom of the mountain.

Momentarily, the duo stopped to collect their breaths and Amara's eyes landed back on the mountain with uneasiness. "Something's wrong, Beth."

Annabeth shook her head, her breath finally back as the blonde stood to her full height. "Percy's coming," she promised. "He said he would, you have to trust in that."

The brunette nodded, trusting her friend's words until the volcano exploded. Amara fell to her knees, her eyes wide in disbelief as lava poured down the mountain side.

"Amara," Annabeth tried, pulling on the Grace girl's arm to get her back up. "We have to go, Amara, please."

This time, she allowed the blonde to pull her to her feet. She was dragged along, running alongside the daughter of Athena as she felt her heart began breaking into pieces.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

It had been two weeks since Amara and Annabeth emerged from the Labyrinth. Two weeks, since the brunette returned to camp a different person than she was when she left.

She hardly left her cabin, Beckendorf never leaving her side. The first time he walked in, he made a mental note to thank Zeus for the upgrade knowing his daughter had been needing one for years now.

He had found the family picture of the Grace family, but he never asked. He knew there was a reason Amara never spoke of that little blond boy, so he would wait until she was ready.

Instead, he put a family picture of his own right next to it. It was one they had taken for her birthday, Jada demanding it.

Amara sat on a chair tilted to the right, she had a small, but genuine smile on her lips. Beckendorf stood behind her legs, his right hand holding hers as he held a grin. Jada stood behind the chair, a loving look resting on her face as she eyed her children.

Her son's arm was wrapped around her, the older woman returning the gesture while keeping an interlocked hand on her daughter's shoulder with the younger girl's hand.

Amara never said anything, but she was grateful for Beckendorf giving her the picture. It was a small reminder, she would always have the two sides of her.

Jada had been informed, of course, the moment Annabeth and her stumbled into Camp Half-Blood's trees. The Apollo cabin had nearly shot the two girls, but luckily Jake Mason recognized them and prevented the archers from releasing their arrows.

The older woman knew she wasn't much help, considering she wouldn't be able to get past camp border's. So she opted to Iris-messaging everyday, but she was never able to get a word out from the Grace girl.

It's how the last two weeks had dragged on, Silena and Charles taking shifts to who stayed with Amara when the other couldn't. Occasionally, neither one would be able too so she was left alone. A feat, she liked more than she should've.

But today, was the day she'd been dreading for the past two weeks as she sat front row to Percy Jackson's funeral.

"I never thought I would have to lead this funeral so early on. Percy Jackson, the son of Poseidon was a hero to all. He sacrificed himself so that Amara Grace and Annabeth Chase could escape. There was much hope that after the explosion that he had survived, but now that the two week mark has passed, we must assume he is dead. After so long of silence, it it unlikely our prayers will be answers. I have asked his two closest friends to do the final honors, but one has kindly refused."

Amara watched as Annabeth took a long silk burial cloth, embroidered with a trident, and set it on the flames. Beckendorf wrapped his arm around the brunette and she gripped his arm, unconsciously digging her nails into his skin.

The Chase girl had finally turned to face the audience, and she looked terrible. Her stormy grey eyes were red, her face puffy but she continued on. "Percy, he was probably the bravest friend I've ever had. He . . ."

Annabeth stopped, her eyes locking in the distance as her face lit up. "He's right there!"

"Percy!" Beckendorf grinned, having turned around faster than Amara could comprehend. Little did she know the older boy only did it to make sure it was in fact the son of Poseidon, not wanting his little sister's hopes to get destroyed.

When Amara finally turned, sea green met electric blue as she studied him. He wore cleaner clothes, and they suited his frame well. His body was tanner, and healthier looking than before Mount St. Helens.

The campers began to crowd around him, a couple clapping him on the back as Chiron made his way over. Finally, the Grace girl got to her feet and she wordlessly made her way towards him. Beckendorf followed closely behind, keeping an eye on the girl.

"Well." Chiron spoke, his tone filled with obvious relief. "I don't believe I've ever been happier to see a camper return. But you must tell me—"

"Where have you been!" Annabeth interrupted, shoving aside the other campers. She hugged Percy fiercely before she seemed to realize she was making a scene and pushed him away.

"What'd you do?" Amara asked, earning the son of Poseidon's full attention. "Go incognito and take a vacation?"

A frown tugged at the boy's lips, he knew the daughter of Zeus was better at hiding her pain and sadness physically than anyone. But her eyes were a giveaway to him, they always had been.

"Amara," he hesitated, trying to figure out the right way to explain what happened. "I'm sorry, I got lost."

"Lost?" Annabeth yelled. "Two weeks, Percy? Where in the world—"

"Annabeth," Chiron cut in. "Perhaps we should discuss this somewhere more private, shall we? The rest of you, back to your normal activities!"

Without waiting for them to protest, he picked up Amara, Annabeth, and Percy. The centaur slung them onto his back with ease, and galloped towards the Big House.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

After Percy explained how he caused the explosion at Mount St. Helens and gotten blasted out of the volcano, Amara couldn't find herself getting better. Not even after he explained he'd been marooned on an island until Hephaestus found him, in fact the island part seemed to tick her off even more.

"You've been gone two weeks," Annabeth explained with a huff. "When we heard the explosion, we thought—"

"I know," Percy said. "I'm sorry. But I figured out how to get through the Labyrinth, I talked to Hephaestus."

"He told you the answer?"

"Well, he sort of told me that I already knew. And I do. I understand now."

He then explained to them about how they should use a mortal who could see through the mist as a guide in the Labyrinth.

Annabeth's jaw dropped. "Percy, that's crazy!"

Chiron sat back in his wheelchair and stroked his beard. "There is a precedent, however. Theseus had the help of Ariadne. Harriet Tubman, daughter of Hermes, used many mortals on her Underground Railroad for just this reason."

"But this is my quest." The blonde argued. "I need to lead it."

Their camp director looked uncomfortable. "My dear, it is your quest. But you need help."

"And this is supposed to help? Please! It's wrong. It's cowardly. It's—"

"Hard to admit we need a mortal's help." Percy admitted. "But it's true."

A scoff escaped Amara's lips, not believing the Jackson boy came back from the dead for a . . . a mortal to be his first concern. Her chair fell back against the floor, earning the trio's attention as electric blue met sea green. Tears welled up in the former's eyes, Percy's heart dropping at the sight knowing he caused them.

"Ama—" she didn't bother to hear the son of Poseidon out, storming out of the big house as she made a bee line for her sister's tree. Not caring to explain where she was going.

It seemed she didn't need too, Beckendorf had been leaning against the Big House railing when his younger sister stormed past. Wordlessly, he followed behind the girl.

When he arrived at Thalia's old tree, he was surprised by the sight that greeted him. Jada Beckendorf and Silena were already with the young girl, the daughter of Aphrodite standing by as the older women comforted Amara as she silently cried into the mother's chest.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

12-24-24

     hello hello, merry christmas eve ! i hope you all enjoyed this chapter and stay safe while having a good holiday and i'll see you on thursday!