[luceo non uro]

Somehow, Tessa's erratic heartbeat managed to stop, if only for a moment. She'd known grief—with her mother, with her best friend, with her old life in general—so the feeling wasn't foreign to her. But in a way, hearing that Reese was severely injured managed to spur up all of the old emotions that she thought she'd mastered after seeing her best friend die before her.

"What do you mean?" She found herself asking, her voice deadly calm.

Kaya's dark eyes were plagued with turmoil, like she'd been asked to run a mile while being chased by monsters and still deliver the news. She kept flicking her gaze around them, like she was keeping an eye out for something.

"We can't discuss this here," The praetor responded, stepping backwards. She issued a command in Latin, causing Luci, Vinny, and the other authoritative figures around them begin to usher the legionnaires back to the barracks. "Come."

"Kaya, you have to tell us!" Kaden demanded, his emerald eyes electric with intensity.

Kaya turned back around, her violet cloak snapping in the wind. Maybe it was Tessa's imagination, but the weather around them was beginning to grow ominous, like a storm was about to break.

"I can't," The daughter of Trivia grit out. "Now come."

Kaden and Dale began to protest, their voices crowding over one another, but Kaya kept brushing off their questions. Tessa narrowed her eyes at the praetor before her, feeling a sort of power dwell in her veins, like a sleeping monster within her was beginning to awaken. The next thing Tessa knew, she'd unsheathed Tempest and stabbed it into the ground to get everyone's attention.

However, the glimmer of her blade wasn't what snagged their focus. The shockwave that erupted from where Tessa had stabbed her sword into the earth did.

Everyone around them fell silent, and while Tessa was utterly confused by what she'd just done, she forced herself to stare Kaya down. "What you'll tell us in there, you can tell us now. You were serving as referee alongside Alex, you must have seen him get injured. Now, I'll ask you again. What happened?"

For a few moments, the two girls stared one another down. Tessa, with her bronze breastplate on and sword before her, hair falling out of her ponytail in fragile wisps; Kaya, with her billowing cloak, golden armor, and intense expression. The tension building between them was enough to match that of the darkening clouds above them, intensifying, growing, until the storm between the leaders of these two camps would burst.

"He was hit by an arrow." Kaya revealed, still scanning around them. Tessa followed her gaze skeptically; what on earth was she looking for? "Now, he wants to see you. He has something...rather pressing to tell you all."

This time, the praetor didn't wait for them to catch up. She stormed off, the crowd of Romans around them parting to let her through.

Tessa glanced beside her at Kaden and Dale, who only watched her tentatively. She turned back around, snatched Tempest out of the ground, and bolted after Kaya. She heard Kaden and Dale's footsteps in her wake, which only alleviated some of her apprehension.

As Tessa walked, she couldn't fight the questions flaring up within her. What had she done back there? Whatever it was, this new...earthquake power, it hadn't been the first time she'd done it. Back in the Battle of New Rome, she'd triggered a tremor that led Mark away from killing Kaden.

Tessa forced the thought from her head, and as she marched after Kaya with her friends in her wake, she listened to the rolls of thunder above the barrier surrounding them. If a girl could cause an earthquake, she only wondered what was happening to incite the storm above.

~~

The infirmary was surprisingly vacant. When Tessa, Kaden, Dale, and Kaya arrived, they were surprised to see just how few patients there really were. Children of Apollo darted back and forth, delivering medicine and treatments and aid to the sick and injured. However, in a separate room, rested Reese.

The son of Apollo was reclined in a hospital bed, an IV hooked up to a monitor at his bedside. Sophia and Dale flanked either side of the bed, with the former pacing the floor and the latter sitting at his bedside.

"Reese," Tessa breathed, taking in her friend. "What happened?"

Reese's blue eyes flicked to register Tessa and the rest of their friends. He waved them in, and Kaya shut the door behind them as they entered.

"Glad you could come see me in this glorious state," He said, sitting up with a wince. Everyone rushed to tell him to lay back down, but naturally, he didn't listen. "I suppose you want a diagnosis." He glanced at Kaya, who was looming in the corner of the room, watching them all sadly.

Tessa followed Reese's gaze, watching the praetor carefully. Kaya lifted her gaze, her lips pressed together tightly.

"Poison arrow to the back," She spoke, her voice gravelly.

"You allow poison arrows in a recreational activity?" Sophia hissed, her gray eyes wide with disbelief.

"Of course not," Kaya snapped. She took a ragged breath, fiddling with the ends of her hair. "We suspect it was someone who has...less than friendly intentions towards members of the task force."

"Who's 'we'?" Kaden asked. He'd picked up the clipboard at Reese's bedside, scanning the analysis of his injuries.

"Alex and I," Kaya responded softly. "Given recent events, we suspect it to be the traitor."

Tessa's blood ran cold inside of her veins. She tore her gaze from Kaya once her words registered, and with a reignited determination, turned back to Reese. "You have some serious explaining to do."

"Hey, watch it with the forcefulness." Imogen snapped, glaring at Tessa with venom in her eyes.

Tessa wasn't fazed. "Sorry, sweetheart, but your boyfriend here just got attacked by someone who could very well have the power and connections to kill us all. Excuse me for not showing much manners."

The blonde girl clamped her lips shut, but Tessa felt her icy glare as she returned her gaze back to Reese. "Talk."

Reese sighed, lifting a hand to brush the hair out of his eyes. "The game had just started, right? Imogen, Sophia, and I took off into the central combat like we'd planned, and I got to my part of the deal pretty quickly. No one was really going for me—like seriously, who goes for the archer with a close-combat weapon? The answer is no one—which is what gave me that sense of familiarity that I normally got at camp."

"So the attack was unprecedented," Dale folded her arms, her eyebrows taut with concentration.

Reese nodded. "Totally," He said, clearing his throat. "But the next thing I knew, I felt this blazing pain in my back and I began to panic. It felt like my skin was burning, and the next thing I knew, I was out."

"Reese, you felt a whole lot more than your skin burning," Kaden clarified, looking up from the clipboard. "Feelings of panic, paranoia, infection, and heart failure."

"Heart failure?" Tessa echoed. "You died? And then came back?"

"Yeah, after you tried it, I wanted to give it a shot," Reese deadpanned, but it turned into a cough. Once his throat was clear, he looked back up—but this time, with guilt flashing across his cerulean irises.

"There's something I haven't told you guys," He spoke, his voice hoarse. "Something I've kept secret since this summer." He surveyed the faces of those before him, and Tessa's heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come. The next thing she knew, Reese was speaking again.

"The night before the quest to defeat Deimos, I bailed on camp. As soon as curfew was called, I booked it and headed into the city. A few of the Hades kids had mentioned an entrance into the Underworld in Central Park, so that's where I went. It's called the Door of Orpheus, and as soon as I approached it, it opened for me...like it was waiting for me. Before I could doubt my decision, I went down.

"I'd never been to the Underworld, but given the circumstances I was under, I didn't really focus on all of the dead people or the general feeling of dread that seemed to encompass me as I went under. I managed to make my way to the River Styx after that." Reese took a shallow breath. "This was my first quest that I'd been on, and after what Tessa had told us about what it had to deal with, I needed to be ready. After looking up the enchantment in countless records of the infirmary, I decided that what I needed was the Curse of Achilles."

Everyone erupted into an outcry. Imogen, Dale, and Kaden were throwing countless worries towards the blond boy; Sophia's eyes looked to be on the verge of bulging out of her head; Kaya stood like the Grim Reaper in the corner of the room, like she already knew everything the Curse entailed. Tessa, while incredulous, only silenced the others.

"That's why you looked out of sorts the next morning," She realized silently, her voice muting the others.

Reese nodded, a silent thank-you in his eyes. "In order to get the Curse, you have to submerge yourself into the River Styx and anchor yourself somehow to the mortal world. There's a mortal point on your body from that point forward—the Achilles heel—but also a person or thing that has to keep you connected to your old life. I never revealed the location to these things afterwards; if I did, I wouldn't be sure who would betray me or not.

"Anyways, when I got out of the river, I felt stronger. I knew that with this blessing, I could get through the quest. What I didn't know was just how paranoid it would make me of death...it became my greatest fear." Reese fell silent, as if he were living over the hardest decision of his life all over again.

Dale's golden irises widened. "The cave."

Tessa glanced at the girl in confusion. "What?"

"Back in Crystal Cave, after we helped Mark," Dale's voice cracked, but she forged on, "Reese collapsed. That must have been why. Your greatest fear: death."

Solemnly, Reese nodded. His blond hair fell over his eyes, and he took a moment to gather himself before continuing his story. "That arrow was meant to hit my Achilles Heel."

"But you aren't dead," Kaden said bluntly.

"I know that," Reese took a breath. "Had the arrow pierced my skin, I would have been a goner. However, thank the gods, all that was able to happen was a transfer of the poison on the arrow."

"Which explains how you felt the symptoms of dying but didn't actually die," Sophia reasoned, running a hand through her fiery hair.

Reese nodded. "I'm lucky to be alive, but this means something a lot bigger than my Achilles Heel. If the mole was able to find out where it was and somehow still evade discovery—"

"We have more of a deadline than we thought." Kaya concluded. Her words shut everyone up, and for a moment, the only noise in the room was the sound of the monitor beeping with Reese's heartbeat.

"What do you mean?" Imogen asked, her voice small.

Kaya sighed, stepping forward. "Imogen, I'm sorry for bringing you into this, but what you hear in this room goes under the same rule as what you heard in the Senate Meeting a few days ago. None of it can leave the confidence of those confined to it.

"I'm afraid that as demigods, Greek or Roman aside, we all are under attack from this force that the traitor is working with. The Regiment is serving as a rebellion, dedicated to taking out both camps and turning all half-bloods against the Olympians which sired them. This group is succeeding in their wishes, and I'm afraid, their tactics are more advanced than we had originally anticipated. The attack on New Rome, the Labyrinth, Reese's failed murder attempt—"

"Thanks for calling it that," Reese croaked, looking squeamish.

"Sorry," Kaya said, but continued on. "Regardless, all of these are connected. We must be diligent and swift in locating the entrance to the Labyrinth which the Regiment is using to invade camp. It's highly likely that the traitor is running back and forth, delivering and receiving information from their leader on who to hit."

Tessa racked her brain. In her mind, three out of the five members of the task force had been attack by a member of the Regiment: herself, Kaden, and Reese. That only left Dale and Sophia, and if the traitor was out to try and take them out, that did not bode well.

"I want a detail outside the residence hall," She turned to Kaya, intensity in her eyes. "Whoever this guy is, he's going after members of our task force to rile up discourse among our two camps."

Kaya nodded. "If the camps get to a civil war, they'll have enough time to sweep an army into the valley."

Tessa took a shaky breath, turning to Dale and Sophia, who watched her carefully. "You two," She said. "Go nowhere at night, and nowhere alone. Understood?"

The girls nodded begrudgingly. Tessa turned back around and faced Imogen, whose icy glares had melted over. "You're a centurion, right?"

"Correct."

"Keep an eye on your cohort, and on your coworkers as well." Tessa ordered. "We have to be careful about who we can trust."

Imogen nodded, and Tessa took a deep breath. "We'll be fine," She said, looking back to Kaya. "Do you have any information on the keycard? If we can figure out where it came from, we can zero in on the Regiment's base."

Kaya shook her head. "Not yet, the results are supposed to come in tomorrow."

"When they do, let me know." Tessa turned to face the group. "I know that what's been happening is becoming a lot to bear, but we're on the right track, I can feel it. We'll find the entrance to the Labyrinth and cut off the Regiment before they can strike. But until we can, I want you all to be ready. Train, study up, and train again. Go nowhere alone, and trust only those who you must."

"Aye, aye, captain," Reese wisecracked from his place on his cot. He gave Tessa a weak smile, and Tessa returned it. In that moment, she made a silent vow to herself: this group of cowards wasn't going to take another person she cared for away from her again.

Or else whatever her new groundbreaking ability was, she'd make the epicenter their bodies.

~~

"Remind me what I'm looking for," Charlie's voice chimed throughout the Archives—the fancy name for the red and gold name within the Principia, Tessa found.

Tessa pulled a book off of the shelf, dusting off the cover and flipping it over in her hands. "Something on the Labyrinth," She called.

"We already have, like, six books on it, though." Charlie retorted.

"And we need more." Tessa responded simply, stepping out of her aisle and to the other side of the bookshelf. Charlie was rifling through the shelves, a funny look on his face as he did. He caught Tessa's gaze and leant against the shelf.

"Look, that makes seven." He pointed to her lazily, a matter-of-fact look on his face.

"Congratulations, you can count!" Tessa said sarcastically, a laugh in her voice. "Back to work, come on."

Charlie groaned, turning back to his bookshelf. "I don't see why we have to do this."

"You said if I needed anything, I could come to you." Tessa turned on her heel. "This qualifies as 'anything'."

"Does it?"

"Look!" Tessa laughed over her shoulder, walking back to the worktables where Sophia was seated, scanning the various scripts before her. "Anything?"

The daughter of Athena looked up, a bleary look in her eyes. "Aside from the basics," She sighed. "The Labyrinth, created by son of Athena, Daedalus, was created under order of King Minos to confine his son, the Minotaur. Every seven years, fourteen youths of the Minoan kingdom would be selected as tributes for the monster within the maze."

Tessa made a face. "Did you memorize that?"

"It's literally everywhere," Sophia blinked. "And I'm getting sick of it." She shoved a few books out of her way.

Tessa sat back and sighed. "How many entrances do we know of?"

Sophia got out of her seat, walking over to the maps they'd hung on the wall: one of the United States, one of the state of California, and one of San Francisco.

"We assume that there's at least one entrance in every major city within the country: New York, Chicago, L.A," Sophia pointed to the thumbtacks representing the entrances on the national map. "And as for California, at least one in each major city as well."

"So there could be more in San Francisco?" Tessa folded her arms, eyeing the thumbtack over Alcatraz Island on the map of the city.

"Most likely," Sophia chimed. "But what use are they to us now? Whatever entrance the Regiment is using, it's leading them straight into Camp Jupiter."

Tessa pressed her lips into a thin line, scanning the map repeatedly as if the answer would be written before her. She whirled back around and faced the map that rested on one of the tables, the one of Camp Jupiter that reflected just about everywhere within the Roman valley.

"If I were a Labyrinth entrance, where would I hide?" She mused, surveying the parchment.

Sophia glanced over her shoulder, but with a quick jab to the side, Tessa glanced up and rolled up the map of the camp. Charlie emerged into their line of sight, carrying two more books.

"You're a lifesaver," Tessa sighed, grabbing the books from the son of Vulcan.

"I'm a demigod, it's what we do," He winked, and Tessa rolled her eyes with a laugh. "Can I ask what you guys need all of these books for?"

Tessa blinked. She glanced at Sophia, who thankfully, was able to cover for her. "I have a project on mythology due at my school when I get back."

"They think she's on an extended vacation in the Caribbean," Tessa added quickly.

"So I was able to get an extension." She cleared her throat.

Charlie knit his eyebrows together. "Wouldn't you know all about it regardless though?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the guy who invented the Labyrinth is a son of Miner—I mean, Athena." He met Sophia's gaze. "Surely, you guys must know all about it."

Sophia blinked, taking a quick breath. "Yeah, well, he's pretty much the only guy who's been in it, but given that he's been dead for a couple millennia, it's hard to get an interview."

The realization dawned on Tessa instantly, and she grasped for an excuse to send Charlie away. "Charlie, do you mind finding us one more book? We have nine and we want to make it an even number."

The son of Vulcan sighed sarcastically, but walked further into the Archives. "Anything for you, Brennan." He called.

"Thanks!" She called, and as soon as he was out of earshot, she whirled to face Sophia. "Theseus."

Sophia's eyes widened. "Of course! But where is he?"

"In San Francisco," Tessa was practically leaping up and down with excitement. "I met him on the quest. If there's anyone who can tell us about what the Labyrinth is like, or how to maneuver it, or where the other entrances are, it's him."

"Then we have to find him!" Sophia exclaimed, grinning.

"Find who?" A feminine voice called, her voice reverberating off the walls.

Tessa whirled around, and standing in the entrance to the Archives was a girl with dark skin, her dark hair tied back into a ponytail. She wore shorts and a purple camp shirt, and she smiled meekly at Tessa and Sophia.

"Tessa, this is Alexia," Sophia smiled sheepishly. "A...friend of mine."

"I'm here to escort Sophia to training," Alexia chimed. "If that's alright."

Tessa met Sophia's gaze, and tried to fight her smile. "Go on ahead," She nodded at Alexia. "I'll finish up here."

Sophia started forward, but whirled back around. "Are you sure you'll be okay? Given the you-know-what?"

Tessa nodded. "I'll be fine," She said. "Besides, I've got Charlie here to keep me company."

"Oh, gods."

"I heard that!" Charlie exclaimed from within the bookshelves.

Tessa laughed. "Go on, you crazy kids."

Sophia mouthed a 'thank you' and hurried to Alexia's side. Together, the two girls disappeared out of the Archives, and Tess turned back around to the table behind her.

Should Fate be kind, she'd be able to find Theseus in San Francisco and ask him about the Labyrinth. Her brother would have to know something about the various locations, and even if he didn't, they'd at least have somewhere to start.

Tessa took a marker and quickly turned the map of Camp Jupiter over. Her turquoise eyes fell back upon the spot that was charted as the city of New Rome, and with her marker, she put x's over the frontal part of the city. After all, the explosion had been nearby the Forum; maybe the entrance was somehow located within the city and the explosion was a front to distract the citizens?

"Whatcha got there?" Charlie piped up.

Tessa leapt a few feet in the air in surprise, scrambling to cover the map, but Charlie had already grabbed it. "Give it!"

"Nope," The son of Vulcan said, scanning the paper. "Is this a map of the valley?"

"Charlie, I'm serious, that's really important!" Tessa tried snatching the paper out of the air, but the son of Vulcan was too quick.

"And I'm really curious," He gave her a smirk and surveyed the map. Tessa leapt up for it, and cursed herself for only being 5'5. Charlie had at least half a foot on her, and it was proving difficult to get the map from him.

She tried again, and found herself nearly nose to nose with the son of Vulcan. Charlie was holding the map high into the air with one hand, Tessa's outstretched arm in the other.

"Nice try," Charlie smirked. "Now, what could this be so crucial for?"

Tessa hesitated. "I have my own work to do here, Charlie. I'm apart of a task force dedicated to keeping both camps safe, and given what happened in the Forum last week, I'm working on fixing it."

Charlie gave her a look, but sighed. "Alright, I believe you." Tessa lunged for the map, and he held it higher above him. "But you gotta give me something in return for the map."

"Like what?" Tessa said. "What could you possibly want?"

Charlie leant in towards her ear, his breath tickling her skin. Tessa's breathing hitched, and she forced herself to keep her eyes on the prize...which proved difficult, with a very attractive boy's lips only millimeters away from a weak spot.

"I'll give you a hint," He whispered in her ear, pulling back with an innocent, yet somehow seductive smirk on his lips.

Tessa blinked, heat rushing to her cheeks. The son of Vulcan moved in, but before his lips could even get close to hers, a voice cut them off.

"I hate to interrupt," Kaden's voice drawled, laced with venom. "Actually, I don't. I don't hate to interrupt at all. Back off, man."

Tessa whirled back around, her eyes wide. Kaden stood in the doorway, one arm propped up on the doorway. His emerald eyes shimmered maliciously in the dim light of the Archives, a similar light on the hilt of his golden sword.

"Kaden," Tessa breathed, her heart squeezing painfully.

"Tessa," Kaden acknowledged, although he was too busy staring daggers at Charlie to look at her.

"What do you—"

"Why are you even trying here, man?" Charlie exclaimed, a twisted look on his face. "You trick this girl into thinking you care about her, then go and cheat on her, and then try to win her back?"

A muscle twitched in Kaden's set jaw. "If I were you, I'd watch your mouth."

Tessa took a breath. Red flags and alarms were flaring all around her, and she needed to put a pin in the situation. Fast.

"How about you both get a—"

"You know, that's just really pitiful." Charlie spat. "And actually, I'm glad Tessa was able to get out from under you. You don't deserve a girl like her."

"You don't think I know that?" Kaden retorted, his eyes flaring dangerously. "No one does. Including you, mister knight in shining armor. Now step away."

"How about you come over here and make me, huh?" Charlie said, spreading his arms challengingly.

"Boys!" Tessa shouted, cutting off both of their voices. Charlie and Kaden, both with fire in their eyes, turned to Tessa. "Get a grip. Both of you. I'm no one's prize, and frankly, I don't want to be anyone's right now so if you both could stop being princesses, I'd really appreciate that."

That shut them up. Charlie huffed a breath, but what Tessa assumed was an attempt at an apologetic look, he smiled at her. "I'll see you later," He said, shoving past Kaden on his way out of the Principia.

And then there were two. Tessa glared at Kaden, whose eyes dimmed with the fires that were burning within them.

"So he was mad," He spoke.

"Oh, please," Tessa scoffed, turning on her heel and rolling up the map of Camp Jupiter that Charlie had set back down. She set it on the desk where it belonged, turning back to face Kaden.

"Tessa, do you not see how he looks at you?" Kaden tried, his voice reverberating across the walls.

"I do," Tessa snapped. "And you know why I recognize it? Because you used to look at me that way too."

Kaden pressed his lips into a thin line. He shut his eyes, sighing. "I screwed up,"

"And who's surprised? No one." Tessa snapped. She ran a hand through her hair, forcing herself to calm her rapid heartbeat. "Why are you here?"

"Kaya wants to see you in the Senate House."

"See ya, Kaden." Tessa shoved past him, but he grabbed her hand and turned her back around.

"You need an escort," He said, a hopeful look in his shattered green eyes.

"I'd like to see anyone or thing try to so much as trip me given the mood I'm in," She retorted, shutting him down.

Kaden sighed, letting go of her hand. "Okay." He whispered. "I'm sorry."

Tessa stormed out of the Principia, stopping in her tracks as she reached the door. The rational part of her, the one that wasn't just overshadowed by rage, forced her to turn back around. Kaden was still where she'd left him, staring at his shoes like he had nothing else to do.

"So am I," She responded, giving him one last lingering look before flying down the steps.

~~

The Senate House was eerily quiet when no one was within it, which Tessa shouldn't have been surprised of. Kaya had requested they meet there, and after a messenger ran past and told Tessa that she still needed a few more minutes to gather the results on the keycard's place of origin, she found herself alone with her thoughts.

Tessa paced the dais of the amphitheater-like room, lost in thought.

She shouldn't have blown up at Kaden like that. But then again, he didn't have a claim to her anymore. But then again...ugh. She could practically feel the apathy she was giving herself and the situation.

Tessa sighed. Charlie was a good friend, but he had been wrong to try and make a move on her like that. Besides, no matter how hard she tried to deny it, she still loved Kaden.

Tessa would have been wound up further in her thoughts had it not been for the clatter that came from further into the Senate House. She glanced around, feeling her senses sharpen as she drew Tempest from its sheath.

Her first thought: why did she deny Kaden's company to keep her safe until Kaya arrived, and even if, why hadn't she requested that someone else stay with her?

Her second thought: she had to stop following creepy noises in empty buildings. Seriously, this was how people in horror movies got killed.

And yet, Tessa found herself moving through the hallway at the back of the Senate House. She moved carefully, keeping her eyes and ears trained for any sign of an invader or ambush. Her heart pulsed in her chest, timing her venture as she found a small set of stairs leading down, as if the Senate House had a basement.

Carefully, Tessa descended, flashing back to the sector of Alcatraz that held the entrance to the Labyrinth. Thankfully, the basement of the Senate House had no possible historic torture champers...but what she did find at the end of it scared her even more.

A glimmering steel door, with a glowing blue delta imprinted right on it.