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Annabeth and Clarisse spearheaded the council. Quintus and Chiron settled before in the weapons rack, wearing solemn expressions. Raiden individually pointed out and quietly named the rest of the council: Lee Fletcher, older brother of Leila Fletcher and son of Apollo; Charles Beckendorft, son of Hephaestus; and Silena Beauregard daughter of Aphrodite (I scoffed at this). Travis and Connor Stoll and Argus, the one-hundred-eyed security guard were also there, but I knew them already.

Lee approached Raiden and I, looking anxious and excited. "Hi. You two are Hunters of Artemis, right?"

"That's right." I tapped my silver circlet.

"Oh, so you're Artemis's...daughter?"

"Yes."

"Guess that'd make you my cousin," Lee muttered. "Anyway, I wanted to know how my sister's doing. She Iris messaged me a few weeks ago, but I still wanted to ask."

"She's good," Raiden said, although she wasn't looking at Lee. She was staring at the air above his head. "She helped us defeat a few Laestrygonians a couple of days ago."

Lee relaxed. "That's great. Well, I'd better go. Thanks!" He hurried over to sit beside Beckendorf.

"He's nice." Raiden was slightly pale, still staring at Lee's head. "He always was to me, despite my...y'know."

"Yes," I agreed. I considered asking what she saw, but I decided against it. She couldn't tell me either way. "He isn't bad for a male."

Annabeth cleared her throat, and everyone fell silent. "Luke's aware of the Labyrinth entrance," she said. "He was no stranger to the camp."

Juniper, Grover's girlfriend (according to what'd I heard from several messenger birds), leaned forward. "That's the thing I was talking about yesterday. The cave opening has been here for a while now. Luke used the thing a lot before."

Raiden laced her fingers. "That's not a good sign."

Quintus nodded. "It certainly isn't, and you truly think that this young man, Luke, would dare to invade camp via the Labyrinth?"

"Absolutely," Clarisse said. "It's an ideal plan. He can just come into camp with all his forces without bothering with the magical borders. He could easily destroy us all. He has to have been plotting this for months."

"Luke's been using scouts," Annabeth said. "We discovered one."

Chiron sighed. "Yes, we did. Chris Rodriguez. The one who..." He looked at Quintus.

Quintus nodded again. "Yes."

"Anyway, Luke's been searching for Daedulus's workshop in the Labryinth's center," Raiden said. "It's his only chance to navigate because Daedalus is the maze's creator, so he'll know the way. That, or Aridane's string. If Luke can convince Daedalus to join him, then he can go anywhere. That is a problem, to say the least."

Everything was quiet, excluding the squeaking of the huge rubber toy that Agro, in her cart horse form, and Mrs. O'Learywas tugging on.

At last, Beckendorf shattered the quiet. "Hang on, Raiden. What do you mean by 'convince Daedalus?' How could that be possible if he's dead?"

"He's not dead." I whistled.

Agro raced over, reducing back to her regular size. What do you need, Chief?

"Agro, what do you know about Daedalus?"

Agro growled. Several things.

"She said she knows several things about him," I translated, my voice steady.

"How's that possible?" Percy asked. "Isn't Agro only, like, seventeen? About as old as you?"

"Actually, she's over four thousand years ago," I said.

Everyone stared at me.

"How—"

"She was one of the four original red hounds given to my mother by Pan," I explained. "The original hounds are all immortal."

"Pan! You knew Pan?" Grover exclaimed.

Yes, Agro barked sadly. I did once. He was there when I was a pup. He was the one who granted my twin brother and I immortality.

"That is so cool."

Agro bared her fangs in agreement. Anyway, what I know about Daedalus is this: he didn't die. He vanished back into the Labyrinth right before he died. I smelled his scent once when the Hunters stumbled upon an entrance to Labyrinth in...what was it....44 B.C.E.? A lot of strange stuff happened that year. So, the point is, that's how I know for sure that Daedalus is still alive. For some reason, she glanced at Quintus.

I translated. Everyone still looked shocked and slightly uncomfortable that this wolf before them was older than a few of the Olympians. Quintus in particular was eyeing my wolf with suspicion and fear. He rubbed his throat, which I thought was weird.

"We have to enter," Annabeth declared. "We must pinpoint the workshop ahead of Luke. If Agro is right and Daedalus is alive, we persuade him to aid us instead of Luke. And if Ariadne's string is still there, we ensure Luke never gets it."

"Hang on," Percy said. "If there's the threat of an attack, why don't we destroy the entrance?"

"It won't work like that, idiot," snarled Clarisse. "We did that with the one we found in Phoenix. It failed."

Annabeth nodded her agreement. "Percy, because the Labyrinth is magical architecture, we'd need huge power to close off even one entrance. Our best course of action is to stop Luke from mastering the Labyrinth."

"Why don't we fight them?" Lee Fletcher suggested. "We just need to watch and establish a defensive perimeter, and then we'll get them with our bows."

"We shall certainly fortify our camp," Chiron conceded. "However, I am afraid Clarisse is correct. Although the magical barriers have defended this camp for centuries...should Luke succeed in invading camp with a sizeable army of monsters, avoiding our defenses...we may be unable to stop them."

Everyone scowled at his pronouncement if they weren't already. I was the only one who appeared impassive.

"We must reach the workshop before Luke," Annabeth argued. "Make sure he can't get Ariadne's string."

"But if nobody's able to navigate the thing," Percy said, "then what chance do we have?"

The pair of them began to quarrel. Raiden and I exchanged a glance. I knew we were both wondering how these two weren't dating yet or how Annabeth hadn't punched Percy.

Chiron cleared his throat to interrupt them. "It is clear that we require a quest. An individual needs to journey into the Labyrinth, locate the workshop, and counter Luke's attempts to utilize the maze for an invasion."

"Annabeth should lead," I declared.

"No question," Raiden agreed.

Annabeth shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe Clarisse should come to. She's done as much as I have."

Clarisse declined with a head shake. "No. I won't go back in there."

Travis Stoll sniggered. "You're not scared, Clarisse?"

The daughter of Ares leaped to her feet, and I thought she was going to punch Travis, but instead, she shakily said,"You're clueless, punk. I'll never set foot in there again. Ever!"

She stormed out. Chiron said firmly to halt any further conflict, "Now, are we all in agreement that Annabeth should lead this quest?"

Everybody nodded, besides Quintus. He frowned as though in disapproval.

"Alright," Chiron addressed Annabeth. "My dear, it is your time to consult the Oracle. Supposing you return unscathed, we will converse about our next course of action."

                                    ***

While we awaited Annabeth, Raiden, Agro, and I went to the pegasi stables. Being in the company of animals always helped calm my nerves, and given my twitching eye, I needed to calm down.

My favorite pegasus, Sunny, perked her ears up as we entered. Hello, lady! How are you?

I stroked her nose. "Fine, thanks. How're you?"

Fine, thanks. Why are you here?

I was about to explain the situation when Raiden spoke. "My father is planning something. My dreams lately have been getting worse."

My stomach dropped, and I fought to maintain my composed demeanor. "Mine too."

She looked at me. "What'd you see?"

"Nothing important." My voice was an octave higher than usual.

Raiden was alarmed. She gripped my wrist very hard. "What did you see?"

Before I could answer, we heard Chiron call: "War Council, please return the sword arena."

I looked at Raiden. "Here we go."

We all gathered in the sword arena once again. I concentrated and was almost overwhelmed by the sound of several racing heartbeats that pounded in my ears.

"My dear, I am glad you have returned," Chiron said.

Annabeth's stormy grey eyes were anxious and angry. "I acquired a prophecy. I am the quest's leader."

Chiron nervously hoofed the floor. "What precisely did the Oracle say? The specifics are important."

Annabeth inhaled deeply. "Uh...You shall trek into the shadowy maze's turns..."

Everyone waited.

"The viper, the dead, and the lost one return."

Grover livened for a moment. "The lost one, meaning Pan! This is great!"

"The viper..." Raiden's face was tinged green. She clutched her arm—where her snake tattoo was. "The viper...oh, gods, I'm gonna be sick! Move!"

She pushed past Quintus to vomit outside the arena. My pulse was racing, and I felt sick myself. The darkest maze...that sounded like there would be shadows and darkness. This time, in the maze, I wouldn't be able to escape. I wouldn't be able to wake up. They would come for me. My legs quaked.

And that was only one problem. The dead return? I'd died once already and returned. Did that mean....no, I couldn't think about that. It was too terrifying, and I was already scared out of my wits.

"Ainsley...you good?"

I looked up. "W-what?"

"Are you good?" Percy repeated. "You're really pale."

"I'm fine," I snapped, wiping sweat off my forehead. "Keep going, Annabeth."

Raiden returned at that moment, wiping her mouth. Her tank top was soaked in sweat. "Yeah...yeah, please keep going, Annabeth."

Annabeth nodded. "Okay, okay. You shall triumph or fail at the Ghost King's command, A child of wisdom's ultimate stand."

There was a collective sharp inhale. Everyone was anxious. Annabeth was a child of wisdom, a daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. She was spearheading this quest, and it sounded like a child of Athena was going to die.

"Hey....we shouldn't just assume," Silena Beauregard reassured. "Annabeth's not Athena's only child, right? It could be someone else."

I didn't even bother to reply scathingly. I didn't have the energy.

"Who is the Ghost King, though?" Charles Beckendorft wondered.

Nobody answered, although Percy appeared to be thinking hard.

"What...what comes next, Annabeth?" I asked.

"You're not going to like it," she replied. "Not you or Raiden."

"What is it?"

"The Golden One's sacrifice shall finish the tests, and the Hunter Queen's true emotions shall manifest."

Annabeth was wrong. I didn't just dislike those words. I despised them, but I couldn't allow anyone to see that. I forced down my anger and remained impassive, while Raiden went even paler.

"The Golden One," Connor Stoll repeated. "That sounds like Kronos, but...a sacrifice? Is he gonna sacrifice one of our campers or somehow get his hands on the Ophiotaurus? And what tests are we talking about here? It sounds like they'realready ongoing."

Nobody responded. My stomach churned. I remembered what Artemis had told me on the Winter Solstice when I'd asked what was coming: Tests of your strength and loyalty, my daughter. I'd been suffering since she'd departed...was this the test she'd been referring to? And how would a sacrifice from Kronos finish my tests? And how...how would that sacrifice reveal my true emotions?

"Are there any further lines?" Chiron asked Annabeth. "The prophecy seems unfinished."

She hesitated. "I forgot."

Chiron furrowed his brow, aware of Annabeth's lie.

Her eye twitched. "Vanquish with a hero's ultimate words...that's all I remember."

"Are you sure?" Chiron persisted.

Annabeth stood up. "Look, it doesn't matter. I must enter the maze. Somebody has to stop Luke. And...I can't do it alone." She faced Percy. "Will you join me?"

"Yes," he replied automatically.

"Grover, will you come? Pan is waiting."

The satyr nearly jumped joyfully into the clouds. "Absolutely! I'll pack the snacks!"

"Who else?" Lee Fletcher asked.

Reluctantly, I spoke up. "Agro, Raiden, and I."

"Why you?"

"Artemis ordered both of us to come here. Besides, Raiden has inside information on Kronos. And I can help. I'm a powerful demigod. Also, I'm the 'Hunter Queen' mentioned in the prophecy, so, we need to come."

Annabeth nodded in agreement. "I also want Tyson to come."

Chiron shifted anxiously. "Annabeth, this violates the ancient laws. Six members on a quest? That is two teams for one quest. There are punishments for violating these laws."

"All of them need to come," Annabeth insisted.

"Think well, my dear. Three is very common throughout Greek mythology. Six members are extremely dangerous."

"Every quest is dangerous, Chiron," Raiden reminded. She was still green, but she spoke firmly. "Anyway, Artemis specifically ordered us to come here, remember?"

Annabeth inhaled deeply. "I'm aware of the dangers, Chiron, but we need to do this. Please."

Chiron didn't appear happy whatsoever, but we didn't have a choice, so he just sighed. "Fine. The quest members need to ready themselves. Dawn tomorrow, we will send you into the maze."

We exited the sword arena. I beckoned to Raiden, and she followed me to the edge of the woods.

"You heard the last line of the prophecy, didn't you?" she asked.

I stared at the sunny sky. "Yes."

"What was it?"

I shivered. "And sacrifice a love to one absurd."

I didn't know then that this words applied to me, too.