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ALL TOO WELL

THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH
[ K E L L I   T H E  
C H E E R L E A D E R ]

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NATALIA FLYNN HAD thought things couldn't get any worse. Newsflash: they did. After Percy had been blown up and disappeared for two weeks, Hephaestus said they needed a mortal that could see through the Mist to navigate them through the Labyrinth to Deadalus' workshop. And who was better for the job than Rachel Elizabeth Dare, the girl Percy and Natalia had met last year at the Hoover Dam?

A dam mortal. (Natalia could not resist the pun, though her heart broke when she remembered it was Zoë Nightshade who had started the joke unintentionally). A dam fucking mortal. It was official, the Gods were out of their minds.

They had just run away from an earthquake. Rachel led them to a stainless steel hallway. Fluorescent lights shone from the ceiling and the floor was a metal grate. Natalia squinted, not used to the light. She glanced around. They all looked pale in the harsh illumination.

"This way," Rachel ordered while she began to run. "We're close!"

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

Her voice faltered. They had arrived at a set of metal double doors. At their eye level, a large blue Greek Delta triangle was inscribed in the steel: the mark of the Labyrinth.

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

Annabeth pressed the symbol. The doors hissed open.

"So much for ancient architecture," Percy commented.

Annabeth scowled at him. Natalia let out a small laugh. With that, they all walked inside together.

Natalia stepped into the room, her eyes widening. "Holy shit."

Daylight illuminated through giant windows, which was a little surprising since they were in the heart of a dungeon. The workshop looked like an artist's studio since it had tall ceilings and industrial lighting. Polished stone floors and work benches decorated the room. A pretty spiral staircase rose to meet a second story loft. Six easels displayed diagrams drawn by hand for buildings and machines. Multiple laptops were scattered across the tables. Greek fire in jars lined a shelf. There were multiple machines Natalia couldn't make sense of — a bronze chair with electrical wires attached to it, a huge metal egg, a grandfather clock made entirely of glass, and several sets of bronze and silver wings.

"Di immortales," Annabeth muttered, running to the nearest easel to look at the sketch. "He's a genius. Look at the curves on this building!"

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

They looked more advanced than the story of Icarus told. The feathers were tightly woven, and instead of wax, self-adhesive strips ran down the sides. Despite all of the cool stuff, Natalia couldn't help but feel uneasy. She glanced around while tucking her bow tightly into her side. The workshop looked like it had been used recently. Screen savers from the laptops glowed brightly. A blueberry muffin and a coffee cup rested on one of the work benches.

Percy nudged her arm with his elbow. She glanced at him curiously to see him nod his head at a window. They walked up to it to see an amazing view. Natalia spotted the Rocky Mountains in the distance. The workshop sat high up in the foothills with a valley spread below it.

"Where are we?" Percy wondered.

"Colorado Springs," a voice spoke behind them. "The Garden of the Gods."

Natalia turned around. On the spiral staircase, the missing swordmaster from Camp Half-Blood, Quintus, was standing there with his weapon drawn.

For a long moment, nobody said anything.

"You," Annabeth began. "What have you done with Daedalus?"

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

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

He walked down the stairs with his sword by his side. Quintus was dressed in jeans, boots, and a counselor's t-shirt from Camp Half-Blood. Natalia took that as an insult because it was now revealed that he was a spy. She didn't know if any of them could beat him in a fight, even Percy, but they had to at least try. He couldn't get away so easily.

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

"Well, duh," Annabeth replied.

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

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

"Of course. I've been almost everywhere. Even here." Her walked past Percy and Natalia like they were no threats to him and stood by the window. "The view changes from day to day. It's always some place high up. Yesterday it was from a skyscraper overlooking Manhattan. The day before that, there was a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. But it keeps coming back to the Garden of the Gods. I think the Labyrinth likes it here. A fitting name, I suppose."

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

"Oh, yes."

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

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

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

Natalia raised an eyebrow. "Okay, how about we cut the shit and get to the point. Where is Daedalus?"

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

Natalia blinked in shock.

"But you're not an inventor!" Percy exclaimed. "You're a swordsman!"

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

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

"You see? A girl of many talents."

"But you don't even look like Daedalus," Percy protested. "I saw him in a dream, and . . ."

He suddenly froze.

"Yes," Daedalus confirmed. "You've finally guessed the truth."

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

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

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

"The fifth, in Latin. But—"

"This is my fifth body."

He held out his forearm. When he pressed his elbow, a rectangular hatch on his wrist popped open. Underneath it, bronze gears whirred and wires glowed.

Natalia shook her head. "Oh my Gods, I'm so over this fucking shit," she said to herself.

"That's amazing!" Rachel cried.

"That's weird," Percy spoke.

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

"Oh, I assure you, my dear, it's still me. I'm still very much Daedalus. Our mother, Athena, makes sure I never forget that."

He tugged on his shirt collar. On the base of his neck, the shape of a bird was inked onto his skin.

"A murderer's brand," Annabeth answered.

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

Daedalus' expression darkened. "I did not push him. I simply—"

"Made him lose his balance. Let him die."

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

Percy looked into his eyes for a moment as if he was trying to find his soul. "You really are Daedalus. But why did you come to the Camp? Why spy on us?"

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

"So you have talked to Luke."

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

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

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

"Privacy from what?"

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

"But how can you hide from Hades?" Percy questioned. "I mean . . . Hades has the Furies."

"They do not know everything, or see everything. You have encountered them, Percy. You know this is true. A clever man can hide quite a long time, and I have buried myself very deep. Only my greatest enemy has kept after me, and even him I have thwarted."

Natalia plucked her bowstring. "Minos?"

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

"And you did," Annabeth continued. "For two thousand years."

Despite the horrible things Daedalus had done, she still sounded kind of impressed.

Suddenly, a loud bark echoed from the corridor along with the padding of huge paws. Natalia looked up to see Mrs. O'Leary the Hellhound bound into the workshop. The dog quickly licked Percy's face and leaped at Daedalus enthusiastically, almost knocking him over.

Daedalus scratched the Hellhound behind the ears. "There is my old friend! My only companion all these long lonely years."

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

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

Natalia slowly slid her bow off of her shoulder. "Why would you feel guilty?"

"Because your quest would be in vain."

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

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

"Where is it?"

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

Natalia realized with chilling certainty why Luke was in such a good mood at the arena: he already had Ariadne's string. The only obstacle that had been in his way was the arena master, whom Percy had killed.

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

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

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

Natalia's eyes flashed silver. "Don't underestimate Camp Half-Blood."

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

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

Daedalus merely hung his head. "You should go warn your Camp. Now that Luke has the string—"

Mrs. O'Leary's ears suddenly pricked up. Natalia tentatively grabbed a Celestial Bronze arrow from her quiver.

"Someone's coming!" Rachel warned.

The doors of the workshop burst open. Nico di Angelo, bound in chains, was pushed inside. Natalia's eyes widened and she sent him a worried glance, but he only shook his head. Then Kelli the Empousa, still in her cheerleader outfit, marched in behind him with two Laistrygonian Giants. Following them was the ghost of Minos, who looked almost solid now.

Minos glared at Daedalus. "There you are, my old friend."

Daedalus clenched his jaw and looked to Kelli. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Luke sends his compliments," the Empousa replied. "He thought you might like to see your old employer, Minos."

"This was not part of our agreement."

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

Daedalus' face paled. "Treachery."

"Get used to it."

Natalia let out a breath. "Oh Gods, Nico. Are you all right?"

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

"You were trying to help us?" Percy asked.

"I was tricked. He tricked all of us."

Natalia looked at Kelli with a murderous silver glare. "Why isn't Luke here to fight us himself? Is he too much of a coward to show up?"

She smiled, which only made Natalia angrier. "Luke is . . . busy. He is preparing for the assault. But don't worry. We have more friends on the way. And in the meantime, I think I'll have a wonderful snack!"

Kelli changed into her true form as an Empousa. Her hands formed into claws, her hair burst into flames, and her legs turned to one donkey leg and one bronze leg.

"Percy," Rachel whispered urgently. "The wings. Do you think-"

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

And that's when all hell broke loose. Natalia, Percy, and Annabeth charged at Kelli. The Giants went straight for Daedalus, but Mrs. O'Leary leaped to defend him. Nico fell to the ground and began to struggle against his chains. Rachel got the wings off of the wall with nobody noticing her at all.

"Kill the inventor!" Minos wailed. "Kill him!"

Natalia focused on her fight with the Empousa. Kelli slashed at Annabeth. Percy waved Riptide and Natalia let arrows fly, but Kelli was quick and deadly. She did everything she could to not let them get close, which included turning over tables and smashing inventions.

Out of the corner of Natalia's eye, she saw Mrs. O'Leary chomp her fangs into a Giant's arms. The Giant roared in pain and tried to shake her off. Daedalus made a grab for his sword, but the second Giant smashed his fist on the workbench, making the sword go flying. A jar of Greek fire broke onto the floor, making green flames begin to spread quickly.

"To me!" Minos demanded. "Spirits of the dead!"

He raised his hands and the air began to hum.

"No!" Nico cried, now on his feet and free from his shackles.

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

Shimmering spirits began to appear around Minos and solidify into Cretan soldiers.

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

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

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

He stabbed his black blade into the floor like it was butter.

"Never!" Minos refused, his form rippling. "I will not—"

The ground rumbled, making the windows crack and shatter to pieces. A blast of fresh air that Natalia was so glad to feel filled the room. On the stone floor, a fissure opened, and Minos and all of the spirits were sucked in with one last horrible wail.

Some good news: the fight around them was going fantastic. And some bad news: Natalia and Percy allowed themselves to get distracted.

Gods, you're so fucking stupid, Natalia, she scolded herself.

It was no time to yell at herself. Kelli pounced on Natalia and Percy so fast that they had no time to defend themselves. Riptide skittered away while Natalia's bow clattered out of her hands. She hit her head hard on a work table and fell onto the ground. Natalia blinked and saw the blurry image of Kelli above her.

Kelli laughed. "You will both taste wonderful!"

She bared her fangs. Then suddenly, she gasped, her body going rigid and her eyes widening.

"No . . . school . . . spirit . . ." Kelli choked out.

Annabeth removed her knife from the Empousa's back. Kelli dissolved into yellow vapor with an awful screech.

The blonde helped the two up. Natalia was still extremely dizzy, but she picked up her bow and tapped it, putting her bracelet back on. They had no time to spare. Mrs. O'Leary and Daedalus were still fighting with the Giants and shouting was heard from the tunnel, which meant more monsters were coming.

"We have to help Daedalus!" Percy exclaimed.

Rachel shook her head. "No time. Too many coming!"

A pair of wings was already strapped to her back. She was helping Nico into his, who looked drained from his encounter with Minos. The wings immediately fit onto his back and arms.

"Now you!" Rachel told him.

Within a matter of seconds, Natalia, Annabeth, Percy, Rachel, and Nico were all fitted with the coppery wings. Natalia already felt herself being lifted off the ground by the wind coming from the open windows. When she glanced back, Greek fire was spreading across the workshop.

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

The inventor was cut in a hundred places, bleeding golden oil instead of blood. He had his sword his one hand and a smashed table acting as a shield in the other in his fight against the Giants.

"I won't leave Mrs. O'Leary!" he called back. "Go!"

They had no time to argue.

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

"Great time to find out," Percy responded.

And together the five of them jumped out of the window into the open sky.

★彡

nobody:

natalia in the labyrinth: I hate it here ❤️