I groaned and shook my head. My head was pounding. My body hurt. I managed to roll onto my side. My eyes were blurry but the more I blinked, the clearer my vision became. I pushed up onto my elbow, and then sat up. I pulled my helmet off and shook my head again. I saw a huge body laying in a crumpled heap not that far from me.

Panic. That's all I felt, just full raw panic. Raph. He lay unmoving.

I dropped my helmet and scrambled over to him. I gently pulled his helmet off and focused on his vitals. He was bloody, bruised and unconscious. I felt a broken rib or two, but I didn't detect any internal bleeding. He was unconscious but he would be okay, physically. Not sure how he was mentally still.

Glancing around I saw an odd looking creature scooping rocks and boulders with about a hundred hands coming from every part on his upper body. He was throwing them at Kampê, burying her.

I saw Quintus and Miss O'Leary fighting. Tyson was swinging his fists pounding another giant to literal dust.  A cheer went up from the campers as the last boulders slammed over Kampê. Effectively sending her back to tarderus.

They took care of that problem. A dracaenae stood in front of the demands and monsters and pointed and screamed something. Apparently it was something scarry enough to send them forwards. I grabbed my helmet, slamming it onto my head I leapt to my feet.

The giants surged forward in a last desperate attempt. One surprised Chiron with a glancing blow to the back legs, and he stumbled and fell. Six giants cried in glee and rushed forward. Glitter was beside me and I swung myself up onto her back. We surged forwards, back towards the fight.

That's when it happened I saw Grover open his mouth and something happened, something scared these blood thirsty monsters. As one, the forces of Kronos dropped their weapons and ran for their lives. The giants trampled the dracaenae trying to get into the Labyrinth first. Telekhines and hellhounds and enemy half-bloods scrambled after them.

However the problem was Raph lay unconscious right in front of the Labrynth exit. Glitter and I were only a few feet from him. They all had to get passed me. And I was angry. These monsters had invaded my home. They had hurt my friends, killed my family. They didn't just get to leave.

As they scrambled towards me and Glitter, I calmly pulled the Pheonix feather off my bracelet. I held the beautiful feather and felt the hot tingle in my fingers, the feather ignited immediately, sending flames over my body. Bringing my arms close into my chest for a second, gathering all the power, hear and fire. I inhaled and as I exhausted, I let everything out. All the anger and sorrow, the fear of loosing those I loved. The relief of knowing some of my loved ones still were alive.

I realised all my emotions with the fire blast. Gritter reared back, up on her hind legs, kicking her flamming gold hooves. She slammed down into the ground at the same time. My fire exploded with the impact. It was like a bomb going off. Like a shook wave rippled outwards. Tongues of fire wrapped around and shot through each and every human, monster and mythical being.

Each monster erupted in a flash of fire and was gone. The fiery shock wave was almost instantaneous. Leaving those from our side unharmed. A few of the unconscious campers sat up looking around. How the flame could tell the difference between Kronos's army and us, I wasn't sure. I didn't question it. The feather stopped burning and I saw it was signed at the edges and the tip. I had four more uses. I wasn't sure if that meant on the fifth time I would die, or I just didn't have this ability, but I wasn't going to worry right now. I clipped it back into my bracelet.

Only then did I look up and see every camper in the area looking at me in awe or fear. I wasn't on fire anymore, but I still glowed, and I guess that was weird. I sat up on the back of an actual sun fire and war horse. I patted her back.

"Thank you friend."

"Yes my lady. It was an honor."

"We make a pretty good team, you and I."

"We do indeed."

I swung my leg over and slid down landing nimbly on the ground. I just pulled my helmet off when I was slammed by someone. Arms wrapped around me and held me tight. I recognized the salty sea smell. I wrapped my arms around him and held Percy tight. I could feel his chest rumbling with the vibration of his talking. He was trying to talk to me. I pulled away and signed slowly and simply and mouthed the words from him.

"Can't hear. Deaf. Mute. Long story."

His sea green eyes just searched my face.

"Are you okay?" He asked, exaggerating the words and making sure he was slow so I could lip read.

I nodded. "Fine. Head hurts. Tired." I sighed simple and slow so he could understand. I saw Annabeth standing awkwardly behind him.

"Thank you." I signed to her. She had pulled me out of that poison sword. She gave me a weird look, but I didn't have time to explain that I would have had a nasty poison sword wound. Will ran up and bedore he could hug me I held a hand out a d sighed.

"You're okay? Not hurt?"

He shook his head.

"Good!" I pulled him into a tight hug and crushed him tight. We pulled away and signed together,

"Wounded."

He chuckled.

"Great minds." He singed and I nodded.

"I'll help."

Will nodded and turned to Percy and Annabeth and related the message of help the wounded. They nodded and took off. I grabbed Will's arm, he turned to look. I let go and bitting my lip and a fresh wave of tears filling my eyes I sighed.

"Lee is dead."

I saw his face morph into sorrow. Tears filled his eyes and he nodded.

"We- we all knew this could happen. And we chose...we chose to stay." His hands shook as he signed. My heart was heavy. "He will be given a heros reward."

I nodded. I turned my head to wipe my tears and saw a body laying face down. I took a step and then hesitated. I glanced at Will who had knelt by Raph. He was awake and talking to Will. I saw him staring at me. But when he noticed that I was watching he started shaking his head and mumbling, he frowned and furrowed his eyebrows like he was trying to remember something. I glanced at Nico again. He hadn't moved.

"Go." Will signed.

I ran to Nico. There was smoke curling off his black clothes. His fingers were clenched, and the grass all around his body had turned yellow and died. I knelt down and rolled him over as gently as I could. I held him in my lap and put my hand against his chest. His heart was beating faintly, but this time I could feel the struggle. I wasn't going to loose another person I cared for. Not my emo little grandpa buddy. I had become very attached to the boy.

I could feel the tingle in my finger tips. The warmth of healing powers flowing. I sent it from my chest, my heart and soul, and down my arm and into my hand. I forced the power into Nico. I could feel his strength return. His heart jumped, like I jump started it like a car battery boost. His eyes flew open for a second and then fluttered shut. He coughed. I shut off the power and just held his head in my lap. I watched as his eyes fluttered open. His dark eyes settled on my face.

"Nico?"

"Nora!"

"I told you I'd see ya soon. Are you okay?"

He nodded weakly. "Never tried to summon so many before. I- I’ll be fine."

I helped him sit up, and when he was up he did something that took me by complete surprise. He twisted and hugged me. Without thought I hugged him back. It wasn't long or tight or anything, but that small bit of physical contact, I could feel how touched starved he was and how much he craved it, but refused to give into it. My heart hurt for him. But when he pulled away, I let go.

Someone handed him a Nectar Aid Juice Box, it was Percy. He blinked at us, like he was trying to remember who we were, and then he focused on someone behind me. I looked around. Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson, Will and Raph. Who was up, yet leaning heavily on Will. But the questing groups all stood together, and-

"Daedalus," he moved his mouth and spoke in my head. His voice was shaky and croaky.

The swordsman from camp nodded his head and his mouth moved and so did his hands. He spoke choppy sign launguage. But I appreciated it. How he knew I was deaf, I don't know.

"Yes."

"Wait. Deadalus? Quintus was...is Deadalus?"

"This is what happens when you go off alone."

"I was kidnapped and held prisoner."

"No excuses."

I rolled my eyes affectionately at the boy.

"I made a very bad mistake. I came to correct it." The inventor was saying.

"Mistake?" I signed back. "Mistake? I stood up, the anger was flowing through me again. I could feel the fire glowing right beneath the surface of my skin.

He said something and looked around. Will looked slightly uncomfortable but Nico struggled to his feet and spoke.

He looked back at me.

"He has limited sign. I'll translate. Have at 'er."

I signed and spoke in my head for Nico to relay the message.

"He says a mistake. Siding with a sick twisted lunatic, a mistake?! Giving a way to navigate the Labyrinth knowing what they were going to do... Yes whoops, a silly mistake. How long did you think on it you selfish jerk! What promise did that psycho Luke promise you? A sorry doesn't fix the devastation done here. You can't fix death, Deadalus. Because your mistake, my brother is dead. Because of your mistake, how many more are dead? You think quite highly of yourself thinking you could just correct a mistake like that. You can't fix what you did."

I paused, breathing hard. Will looked stricken but everyone else looked blankly and turned to Nico.

"Got it all?"

"Yep."

"Word for word. Maybe drop a few bad words in there for me."

"You got it."

Nico spoke, giving them what I said. Annabeth looked like I punched her grandma and looked like she wanted to protest and then hit me. I forgot she had some weird brotherly yet weird crush thing on Luke; who was now body sharring with an evil Titan phsyco. Daedalus lowered his head.

"I'm going to help the wounded. Nico your okay?"

He nodded. I looked at Percy, I patted my chest and pointed to a camper not not far away holding her bleeding head. He nodded in understanding. I left the group to deal with our old sword master. I was too angry and hurt to be there. I walked over and knelt down beside the girl. She had blood trickling down her face. I smiled and indicated to her head. She was looking at me nervously. Someone plopped down beside me and gave me a one arm hug.

I looked around to see Kayla. I yelped silently and threw both arms around her.

She pulled away, "Will said your deaf and might need a translator." She signed. I nodded.

Kayla turned to the girl and spoke. She smiled and indicated to me and then her bleeding head while she talked. The girl glanced at me and said something to Kayla. Kayla clenched her jaw and rolled her eyes.

"She wants to know if your going to burn her."

"Tell her only if she's stupid and won't let me help, but then she'll bleed to death and I won't have to."

Kayla snorted and turned back to the girl who went pale and I could see her swallowing hard. I rolled my eyes and swatted her hand away. Placing my own hand over the bloody gash I sent the warm healing into her. The wound stopped bleeding and started knitting back together. The girl looked at me in fear.

I stood up and with Kayla as my translator we went from wounded camper to wounded camper. Some of the less wounded started to bring the more injured to us. Michael and Will and a few other healers in our cabin got a good system going. Dealing with some of the minor wounds here, triaging what needed more intense work. Michael and a few other had races back to the Infirmary to set up for the wave of campers that would be coming.

I watched as Will lead Raph back to the big house, he was starting to get bad again. He kept staring at me and muttering to himself when he noticed me looking. I felt the knife in my chest. I hoped Mr D would show up and help. Every time I looked at him he visibly panicked, and I didn't want to make it worse. I didn't want to make it harder on his broken mind if I got any closer. I could still remember his screams of terror and the fight he had in the hospital room, the night I was cursed. So I kept my distance, even though I wanted nothing more then to throw myself into his arms.

Kayla tapped my shoulder. I turned around back to the camper, he had nodded, indicating I could help. After healing two smashed Phoenix wings, this broken leg was simple. But I could feel my energy dipping drastically. I needed to stop and rest. My pounding head was worse, like a constant hammer to my skull. Kayla sat me down and shoved a Nectar Aid into my hands.

I watched as a few of the Hephaestus cabin boys rigged up a sleigh to some of the Pegasus so we could transport the more perilous wounded back to the big house.

I sat against a tree sipping the juice as I watched what was happening around me. I saw Tyson talking with the many armed creature. I saw Daedalus handing something from his bag over to Annabeth. They were talking about something.

I looked back around me. Campers were staring at me and when they saw me looking they pretended not to be. Many of them walked in a wide berth around me, like if they got too close I'd burn them up. I blinked the sadness away and focused on what was happening with Nico and Percy. They were talking to Daedalus now.

Daedalus turned toward Nico, who drew his sword. At first I thought Nico would kill him but he simply spoke.

A smile of relief spread across Daedalus’s face. He froze like a statue. His skin turned transparent, revealing the bronze gears and machinery whirring inside his body. Then the statue turned to gray ash and disintegrated.

Nico sagged.

"Hey Death boy! Come sit with me."

He looked up and around. He spotted me and staggered over and sunk down. We sat leaning against the tree. I had finished my juice and leaned my head back against the tree closing my eyes. Nico hesitantly laid his head on my shoulder.

"What happened?" I asked.

"That was actually still Daedalus, he had somehow figured out a way to cheat death, by having his soul in the bodies of those anamatrons."

"Weird!"

"Yes. But you can't cheat death. I've ..I've learned that now. There is no escaping death. It comes to us all one way or another, he was just prolonging the inevitable."

"That's very mature of you, Ghost King."

"Why does it sound like your mocking me when you say it?" I could feel the eye roll and huff, the annoyance from him made me smile

"Cuz your like 6 and call your self a king." I teased and elbowed him gently.

"I'm like 79. Respect your elders. Gods, kids these days!"

I laughed. Silently of course, but I laughed none the less. And I maybe saw a slight lip twitch, meaning he was smiling, and not one of his twisted sinister ones, a genuine actual smile.

"You released his soul?"

Nico nodded.

"Not a soul for a soul?"

He shook his head.

"No. Bianca has passed. She must stay where she is."

"Again, your becoming wise my King."

He rolled his eyes and elbowed me back. He was quiet for a moment, I could feel the sadness radiating off of him.

"Still miss her though. So much it hurts."

"And you always will. She was your sister. She was family. And you loved her."

He nodded.

"I wished I could say goodbye."

"Me too."

🔆

There were too many good-byes that night. It was the first time I actually saw not only my first burial, but also my first camp burial shrouds used on bodies, and it was not something I wanted to see again.

My siblings and I wrapped Lee's body in a golden shroud without any decoration. I laid my head on his chest and let the tears fall.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I wasn't fast enough. I'll train harder. I'll get better. I won't let this happen again."

I felt like a hand was laid on my shoulder, but no one was there. Maybe it was Apollo. Maybe I needed sleep. Will stepped up beside me along with the rest of my siblings. I reached out a hand and laid it on his chest. Closing my eyes I called on the pain, the ache of a dead loved one, and ignited the fire. Once the pyre was burning I pulled my hand back and we all backed up.

Among the dead was the son of Dionysus who’d gone down fighting an enemy half-blood, he was wrapped in a deep purple shroud embroidered with grapevines. His name was Castor. His twin brother, Pollux, tried to say a few words, but he choked up.

The amphitheater, where the rows of our fallen campers; our fallen brothers and sisters. Within seconds the row of shrouds was engulfed in fire, sending smoke and sparks up to the stars.

Too many goodbyes.

🔆