I 038. I

𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒐𝒓𝒔

❝ shield ❞

     DISTANCE WAS SHORTER IN THE LABYRINTH. Still, by the time Rachel got them back to Times Square, Ariadne felt like they'd pretty much run all the way from New Mexico.

They climbed out of the Marriott basement and stood on the sidewalk in the bright summer daylight, squinting at the traffic and crowds.

Percy led the way into an alley, where he could get a nice echo. The Percy whistled as loud as he could, five times.

A minute later, Rachel gasped. "They're beautiful."

A flock of pegasi descended from the sky, swooping between the skyscrapers. Blackjack was in the lead, followed by five of his white friends.

"Yeah," Percy told him. "I'm lucky that way. Listen, we need a ride to camp quick

The pegasus Girdo groaned and complained, but eventually he agreed to carry Tyson. Everybody started straddling up—except Rachel.

"Well," she told Percy, "I guess this is it."

Percy nodded uncomfortably. Ariadne knew she couldn't go to camp. He glanced at then brunette and blonde, who were pretending to be very busy with their pegasi.

"Thanks, Rachel," Percy said. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"I wouldn't have missed it. I mean, except for almost dying, and Pan..." Her voice faltered.

"He said something about your father," Percy remembered. "What did he mean?"

Rachel twisted the strap on her backpack. "My dad... my dad's job. He's kind of a famous businessman."

"You mean... you're rich?"

"Well, yeah."

"So that's how you got the chauffeur to help us? You just said your dad's name and—"

"Yes," Rachel cut him off. "Percy... my dad's a land developer. He flies all over the world, looking for tracts of undeveloped land." She took a shaky breath. "The wild. He—he buys it up. I hate it. But he plows it down and builds ugly subdivisions and shopping centers. And now that I've seen Pan... Pan's death—"

"Hey, you can't blame yourself for that."

"You don't know the worst of it. I—I don't like to talk about my family. I didn't want you to know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything"

"No," Percy said. "It's cool. Look, Rachel, you did awesome. You led us through the maze. You were so brave. That's the only thing I'm going to judge on. I don't care what your dad does."

Rachel looked at him gratefully. "Well... if you ever feel like hanging out with a mortal again... you could call me or something."

Ariadne felt sick at those words.

"Uh, yeah. Sure."

Rachel knit her eyebrows.

"I mean... I'd like that," Percy said.

"My number's not in the book," she said.

"I've got it."

"Still on your hand? No way."

"No. I kinda... memorized it"

Her smiled came back slowly, but a lot happier. "See you later, Percy Jackson. Go save the world for me, okay?"

She walked off down Seventh Avenue and disappeared into the crowds."

When Percy got back to the horses !&?9 was having trouble. His Pegasus kept shying away from him, reluctant to let him mount.

"Go without me!" Nico said. "I don't want to go back to camp anyway."

"Nico," Percy said, "we need your help."

He folded his arms and scowled. The Annabeth out her hand on his shoulder.

"Nico," she said. "Please."

Slowly, his expression softened. "All right," he said reluctantly l. "For you. But I'm not staying."

Ariadne raised an eyebrow at Annabeth, like, How come all of a sudden Nico listened to you? She stuck her tongue out at the brunette.

At least they got everybody on a Pegasus. They shot into the air, and soon they were over the East river with Long Island spread out before them.

***

ARIADNE WAS GLAD BLACKJACK DID NOT CARE FOR HER AT THE MOMENT. They landed in the middle of the cabin are and were immediately met by Chiron, the potbellied satyr Silenus, and a couple of Apollo cabin archers. Chiron raised an eyebrow when he saw Nico, but if Ariadne expected to be surprised by their latest news about Quintus being Daedalus, or Kronos rising, she was mistaken.

"I feared as much," Chiron said. "We must hurry. Hopefully you hav slowed down the Titan lord, but his vanguard will still be coming through. They will be anxious for blood. Most of our defenders are already in place. Come!"

"Wait a moment," Silenus demanded. "What of a search for Pan? You are almost three weeks overdue, Grover Underwood! Your searcher's license is revoked!"

Grover took a deep breath. He stood up straight and looked Silenus in the eye. "Searcher's licensed don't matter any more. The great god Pan is dead. He had passed on and left us his spirit."

"What?" Silenus's face turned bright red. "Sacrilege and lies! Grover Underwood, I will have you exiled for speaking thus!"

"It's true!" Percy said. "We were there when he died. All of us."

"Impossible! You are all liars! Nature-destroyers!"

Chiron studied Grover's face. "We will speak of this later."

"We will speak of it now!" Silenus said. "We must deal with this—"

"Silenus," Chiron cut i!. "My camp is under attack. The matter of Pan has waited two thousand years. I fear it will have to wait a bit longer. Assuming we are still here this evening."

He readied his bow and galloped toward the woods, leaving them to follow as best they could.

***

IT WAS THE BIGGEST MILITARY OPERATION SHE'D EVER SEEN AT CAMP. And she had been there for nine years. Everyone was at the clearing, dressed in full battle armor, but this time it wasn't for capture the flag.

The Hephaestus cabin has set up traps around the entrance to the Labyrinth—razor wire, pits filled with pots of Greek fire, rows of sharpened sticks to deflect a charge. Beckendorf was manning two catapults the size of pickup trucks, already primed and aimed at Zeus's Fist.

The Ares cabin was on the front line, drilling phalanx formation with Clarisse calling orders. Apollo's and Hermes's cabins were scattered in the woods with bows ready. Many had taken up positions in the trees. Even the dryads were armed with bows, and the satura trotted around with wooden cudgels and shields made of rough tree bark.

Annabeth went to join her brethren from the Athena cabin, who had set up a command tent and were directing operations. A gray banner with an owl glittered outside the tent. Their security chief, Argus, stood guard at the door. Aphrodite's children were running around straightening everybody's armor end offering to comb the tangled out of our horsehair plumes.

Her brothers had found something to do. The god himself was still nowhere to be seen, but Castor and Pollux were running around providing all the sweaty warriors with water bottles and juice boxes.

Ariadne gave Percy, Chiron, Grover, and Tyson a smile before running toward her brothers. Zoe found her, along with Fang and Leo.

Her brothers gave her a large hug, and she wrapped her arms around them tightly. She took a deep breath and smelled their familiar grape scent, the one they all had underneath their shampoo.

"You're okay," Castor said. He gave her a ready eyes smile. "Gods, we don't know what we would've done without you."

Ariadne only chuckled. "I'm okay, I'm okay. I missed you guys," she said.

Pollux wiped away a stray tear. "Well, at least you're safe." He stared at his siblings. "Promise me that whatever happens, we all stay safe and make it back to each other."

Castor nodded. Ariadne bit her lip and looked at her brothers.

"I promise," she said.

Pollux held out his pinkie. They had all determined that a pinkie promise meant they were serious, and none of them had ever broken a pinkie swear.

Ariadne wrapped hers around his, and Castor followed. They all looked at their pinkies and kissed them. She hoped her brothers stayed safe, and if they didn't, she didn't know what she would do.

"Trio of Twelve," Ariadne said. "We make it out—alive. And afterwards, once this is all over, I'm definitely taking you guys out to eat in the city."

They smiled one last time.

"I love you guys," Castor said. "Don't forget that."

Pollux shook his head. "Would never dream of it," he said.

And then that was when all Hades broke loose.

The ground underneath them was trembling.

Everyone in the clearing stopped what they were doing. Clarisse barked a single order: "Lock shields!"

Then the Titan lord's army exploded from the Labyrinth.

***

     SHE MADE SURE HER BROTHERS WERE OKAY ON THEIR OWN. The first thing she saw were a dozen Laistrygonian giants erupting from the ground, yelling so loudly her ears felt like bursting. They carried shields made from flattened cars, and clubs that were tree trunks with rusty spikes bristling at the end.

One of the giants bellowed at the Ares phalanx, smashed it sideways with his club, and the entire cabin was thrown aside, a dozen warriors tossed to the wind like rag dolls.

"Fire!" Beckendorf yelled. The catapults swung into action. Two boulders hurtled toward the giants. One deflected off a car shield with hardly a dent, but the other caught Laistrygonian in the chest, and the giant went down. Apollo's archers fired a volley, dozens of arrows sticking in the thick armor of the giants like porcupine quills. Several found chunks in armor, and some of the giants vaporized at the touch of celestial bronze.

But just when it looked like the Laidgrygonians were about to get overwhelmed, the next wave surged out of the maze: thirty, maybe forty dracaenae in full battle armor, wielding spears and nets.

They dispersed in all directions. Some hit the traps the Hephaestus cabin had laid. One got struck on the spikes and became an easy target for archers. Another triggered a trip wire, and pots of Greek fire exploded into green flames, engulfing several of the snake women. But many more kept coming.

Argus and Athena's warriors rushed forward to meet them. Ariadne met up with Chiron and Percy, seeing Annabeth draw a sword and engage one of them. Nearby, Tyson was riding a giant. Somehow he'd managed to climb onto the giant's back and was hitting him on the head with a bronze shield—BONG! BONG! BONG!

Chiron calmly aimed arrow after arrow, taking down a monster with every shot. But enemies just kept climbing out of the maze. Finally a hellhound—not Mrs. O'Leary—leaped out of the tunnel and barreled straight toward the satyrs.

"GO!" Chiron yelled at Percy and Ariadne.

They drew their swords and charged.

Percy went a different direction than her.

Ariadne swiped Lunacy at a dracaena, turning her to gold dust. Wails erupted from five others and they crowded around the girl. She only smirked and flipped away from their spears.

The girl slashed Lunacy, clashing her blade against a spear tip. Her sword made a screeching sound, and the girl felt her gut tugging and knew what was about to happen.

Vines spread across the ground like lava from a volcano. All the dracaenae cried out as their bodies were ripped apart by vines and turned to dust.

A dozen dracaenae suddenly broke away from the main fight and slithered down the path that led toward camp, like they knew where they were going. If they got out, they could burn down the entire place, completely unopposed.

The only person anywhere near was Nico di Angelo. Even if she sent vines their way they wouldn't reach in time to stop the first set of flames. Nico stabbed a telekhine, Bd his black Stygian blade absorbed the monster's essence, drinking its energy until there was nothing left but dust.

"Nico!" Ariadne yelled.

He looked where she was pointing, saw the serpent women, and immediately understood.

He took a deep breath and held out his black sword. "Serve me," he called.

The earth trembled. A fissure opened in front of the dracaenae, and a dozen undead warriors crawled from the earth—horrible corpses in military uniforms from all different time periods—US revolutionaries, Roman centurions, Napoleonic cavalry on skeletal horses. As one, they drew their swords and engaged the dracaenae. Nico crumbled to his knees, but she didn't have time to make sure he was okay.

Percy closed on the hellhound, which was now pushing the satyrs back toward the woods. The beast snapped at one satyr, who danced out of its way, but then pounced on another who was too slow. The satyr's tree bark shield cracked as he fell.

"Hey!" Percy yelled.

The hellhound turned. It snarled at him and leaped. It would've clawed him to pieces but as he fell backward, his fingers closed around a clay jar—one of Beckendorf's containers of Greek fire. He tossed it into the hellhound's maw, and the creature went up in flames. He scrambled away, breathing heavily.

The satyr who'd gotten trampled wasn't moving. Percy rushed over to check on him.

Ariadne felt a presence behind her and ducked a scream ran through her body. She turned to see a half-blood, one she recognized to be from cabin eleven.

"Marley!" Ariadne said. "I know what you think you're doing is right, but it isn't.

Marley only sneered. "You don't any room to talk, Ariadne." She parried a blow from the younger brunette. "You were always the camp's favorite. The star camper. The best fighter. The rest of us never stood a chance. And don't get me started on the gods."

The brunette swiped at the girl and folded right, leaving her enough time to kick out Marley's legs. Marley went down with a yelp. Ariadne kicked away her Celestina bronze sword and dashed away, not wanting to end another camper's life.

Grover and Juniper followed her and Percy back toward the fight. Grover had a cudgel in his hand and Juniper held a stick—like an old-fashioned whipping switch. She looked really angry, like she was going to tan somebody's backside.

Just when it seemed like the battle had balanced out again—like they might stand a chance—an unearthly shriek echoed out of the Labyrinth, a sound she had heard before.

Kampê shot into the sky, her bat wings fully extended. She landed on top of Zeus's Fist and surveyed the carnage. Her face was filled with evil glee. The mutant animal heads growled at her waist. Snakes hissed and swirled around her legs. In her right hand she held a glittering ball of thread—Aria's string—but she popped it into a lion's mouth at her waist and drew her curved swords. The blades glowed green with poison. Kampê screeched in triumph, and some of the campers screamed. Others tried to run and got trampled by hellhound or giants.

"Di inmortales!" Chiron yelled. He quickly aimed an arrow, but Kampê seemed to sense his presence. She took flight with an amazing speed, and Chiron's arrow whizzed harmlessly past her head.

Tyson untangled himself from the giant whom he'd pummeled into unconsciousness. He ran at their lines, shouting, "Stand! Do not run from her! Fight!"

But then a hellhound leaped in him, and Tyson and the hound went rolling away.

Ariadne ran toward Tyson and the hellhound. She left behind her friends, leaving Kampê to land on the Athena command tent, smashing it flat. Percy ran after her and found Annabeth at his side, keeping pace, her sword in hand.

The brunette hoped that they weren't touched by the two swords.

"Tyson!" she said. The Cyclops threw the hellhound off of him, and stumbled away. She ran toward the hellhound and ran it through.

Dust swirled at her feet and she panted quickly as she gazed around her. Vines followed her feet as she ran, cutting and taking down enemy monsters, fighting back for the camp.

SLAM!

Ariadne saw Annabeth and Percy on the ground. Kampê had It's forelegs on their chests, holding them down. Hundreds of snakes slithered right above them, hissing like laughter. Kampê raised her green finger swords, and she knew Annabeth and Percy were out of options.

The girl did the only thing she could think of: yelled at the psychotic monster and run for her life.

"HEY!"

Kampê swiveled around to see the young girl, a deadly look in her eyes as Lunacy twisted in her hand. The monster growled at the sword. Snakes slithered at her feet, and vines did the same to Ariadne.

The monster raised her curved swords and screeched in the air like a battle cry. She flew at the girl, and Ariadne muttered to herself, "Come on, come on."

Percy's eyes widened as he saw the girl standing there. "AIDAN, MOVE!"

Annabeth made a run for it, but Kampê made it to the girl, who leaped out of the way. Thanks to Ariadne being the best fighter at camp she was the only one eligible enough to take on a monster like that by herself.

Vines swatted the snakes who aimed for her body. Ariadne dove to the side as a sword cane her way. As she flipped around, something howled. A wall of darkness slammed into Kampê, sending the monster sideways. AMD Mrs. O'Leary was standing over her, snarling and snapping at Kampê.

Ariadne click the hate the hellhound anymore.

"Good girl!" said a familiar voice. Daedalus was fighting his way out of the Labyrinth, slashing down enemies left and right as he made his way toward her. Next to him was someone else—a familiar giant, much taller than the Laistrygonians, with a hundred rippling arms, each holding a huge chunk of rock.

"Briares!" Tyson cried in wonder.

"Hail, little brother!" Briares bellowed. "Stand firm!"

And as Mrs. O'Leary leaped out of the way, the Hundred-Handed One launched a volley of boulders at Kampê. The rocks seemed to enlarge as they left Briares's hand. There were so many, it looked like half the earth had learned to fly.

BOOOOOM!

Where Kampê had stood a moment before was a mountain of boulders, almost as tall as Zeus's Fist. The only sign that the monster had ever existed were two green sword points sticking through the cracks. A cheer went up from the campers, but their enemies weren't done yet. One dracaenae yelled, "Ssssslay them! Kill them all or Kronossss will flay you alive!"

Apparently, that threat was more terrifying than they were. 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.

"No!" Percy screamed, but he was too far away to help.

Ariadne, who had fought another dracaena, reached a few feet away from Grover. She looked at the entrance of the cave, and felt a tug in her gut, and she didn't feel as if it was vines she would be using.

The girl snapped her head toward Grover. "Grover!" He looked at her. "Panic!"

And the satyr got the message.

Grover opened his mouth, and the most horrible sound she'd ever heard came out. It was like a brass trumpet magnified a thousand times—the sound of pure fear.

Ariadne felt a snap in her gut, and she dug Lunacy into the earth before her.

The ground cracked and no vines spouted out, but a purple mist flowed from inside the earth. Everyone's vision went a little hazy.

She gave the Titan army an angry glare, and a burst of purple magic escaped her body. It snapped, broke, pierced, and cut all enemy monsters that were in the way. It went far and wide, spreading across the battlefield, like a cold feeling across the land.

Monster screamed and turned dog dust once they were hit. Campers watched in fear and amazement as Grover's powers and hers combined, showing a deadly wave of madness that made the army crumble.

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. The tunnel rumbled shut, and the battle was over. The clearing was quite except for the fires burning in the woods, and the cries of the wounded.

Percy helped Annabeth to his feet before they met up with Ariadne. The blonde gave her a punch in the shoulder, the girl's purple eyes still glowing with power, and when Percy held her hand, it only amplified.

They ran to Chiron.

"Are you all right?" Percy asked.

He was lying on his side, trying in vain to get up. "How embarrassing," he muttered. "I think I will be fine. Fortunately, we do not shoot centaurs with broken... ow!... broken legs."

"You need help," Annabeth said. "I'll get a medic from Apollo's cabin."

"No," Chiron insisted. "There are more serious injuries to attend to. Go! I am fine. But, Grover, Ariadne... later we must talk about how you two did that."

"That was amazing," Percy agreed. Grover blushed. Ariadne only shrugged, as if her impressive powers were no big deal. "I don't know where it came from." Juniper hugged Grover fiercely. "I do!" Before she could say more, Tyson called, "Percy, come quick! It is Nico!"

***

THERE WAS SMOLE CURLING OFF HIS BLACK CLOTHES. His fingers clenched, and the heads all around his body had turned yellow and died.

Percy rolled his over as gently as he could and put him his hand his chest. "Get some nectar!" he yelled.

One of the Ares campers hobbled over and handed Ariadne a canteen. She tricked some of the magic drink into Nico's mouth. He coughed and spluttered, but his eyelids fluttered pen.

"Nico, what happened?" Ariadne asked. "Can you talk?"

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

Percy and Ariadne helped him sit up and have him some nectar. He blinked at all of them, like he was trying to remember who they were, and then he focused on someone behind them.

"Daedalus," he croaked.

"Yes, my boy," the inventor said. "I made a very bad mistake. I came to correct it."

Daedalus had a few scratches that were bleeding golden oil, but he looked better than most of them. Apparently his automaton body healed itself quickly. Mrs. O'Leary looked behind him, surrounded by a group of awed campers and statues. He looked kind of bashful, but he was signing autographs on armor, shields, and t-shirts.

"I found the Hundred-Handed One as I came through the maze," Daedalus explained. "I seems he had the same idea, to come help, but he was lost. As so we fell together. We both came to make amends."

"Yay!" Tyson jumped up and down. "Briares! I knew you would come!"

"I did not know," The Hundred-Handed One said. "But you reminded me who I am, Cyclopes. You are the hero."

Tyson blushed, but Percy patted him on the back. "I knew that a long time ago," Percy said. "But, Daedalus... the Titan army is still down there. Even without the string, they'll be back. They'll find a way sooner or later, with Kronos leading them."

Daedalus sheathed his sword. "You are right. As long as the Labyrinth is here, your enemies can sue it. Which is why the Labyrinth cannot continue."

Annabeth sheathed his sword. "You are right. As long as the Labyrinth in here, your enemies can use it. Why is why the Labyrinth cannot continue."

Annabeth stared at him. "But you said the Labyrinth is tied to your life force! As long as you're alive—"

"Yes, my young architect," Daedalus agreed. "When I die, the Labyrinth will die as well. And so I have a present for you."

He slung a leather satchel off his back, unzipped it, and produced a sleek silver laptop computer—one of the ones she'd seen in the workshop. On the lid was the blue symbol Δ.

"My work is here," he said. "It's all I managed to save from the fire. Notes on projects I never started. Some of my favorite designs. I couldn't develop over the last few millennia. I did not dare reveal my work to the mortal world. But perhaps you will find it interesting."

He handed the computer to Annabeth, who stared at it like it was solid gold. "You're giving me this? But this is priceless! This is worth... I don't even know how much!"

"Small compensation for the way I have acted," Daedalus said. "You were right, Annabeth, about children of Athena. We should be wise, and I was not. Someday you will be a greater architect than I ever was. Take my ideas and improve them. It is the least I can do before I pass on."

"Whoa," Percy said. "Pass on? But you can't just kill your self. That's wrong."

He shook his head. "Not as wrong as hiding from my crimes for two thousand years. Genius does not excuse evil, Percy. My time has come. I must face my punishment."

"You won't get a fair trial," Ariadne said. "The spirit of Minos sits in judgement—"

"I will take what comes," he said. "And trust in the justice of the Underworld, such as it is. That is all we can do, isn't it?"

He looked straight at Nico, and Nico's gave darkened.

"Yes," he said.

"Will you take my soul for ransom, then?" Daedalus asked. "You could use it to reclaim your sister."

"No," Nico said. "I will help you release your spirit. But Bianca had passed. She must stay where she is."

Daedalus nodded. "Well done, son of Hades. You are becoming wise." The he turned toward Percy and Ariadne. "One last favor, Percy Jackson, Ariadne Phoenix. I cannot leave Mrs. O'Leary alone. And she has no desire to return to the Underworld. Will you care for her?"

They looked at the massive black hound, who whimpered pitifully, still licking Daedalus's hair. Ariadne missed Beckett in that moment, but she couldn't help but feel better for the hellhound, and the girl had to take care of her.

Percy said, "Yeah. Of course we will."

"Then I am ready to see my son... and Perdix," he said. "I must tell them how I am sorry."

Annabeth had tears in her eyes.

Daedalus turned toward Nico, who drew his sword. At first I was afraid Nico would kill the old inventor, but he simply said, "Your time is long since come. Be released and rest."

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.

Mrs. O'Leary howled. Percy adopted her head, trying to comfort her the best he could. Ariadne scratched behind her ear. The earth rumbled—an earthquake that could probably be felt in every major city across the country—as an ancient Labyrinth collapsed. Somewhere, Ariadne hoped, the remains of the Titan's strike force had been buried.

Percy looked around at the carnage in the clearing, and the weary faces of his friends.

"Come on,' he told them. "We have work to do."

Then, there was a bloody scream.

The group looked around as campers gathered, and there were voices of anger and sadness as they neared.

Ariadne reached the small cluster of campers after her friends. Annabeth stifled a sob, placing a hand over her mouth as she faced her sister. Percy pushed Ariadne back, trying to get her away from the group.

"Percy," she said, "what's going on."

Percy shook his head. "Nothing. Just... just stay back," he urged her, but she resisted.

"Move."

She pushed past him. Her heart dropped, and she felt all the blood drain from her body.

There, sobbing and holding a body, was Pollux, who's purple eyes were hazy and full of tears. His body shook as he held their brother tighter. Pollux fought against everyone else, and strawberry vines created a ring around them.

The girl ran forward and pushed back everyone else. She fell to her knees beside her siblings, tears in her eyes. She gripped Castor's limo hand, which was cold.

Pollux looked at her, eyes crazy. "He's dead. He's..." His voice trailed off by sobs that shook the ground.

Ariadne couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak. The ground rumbled, and more vines sprouted from the earth.

"Aidan," Percy said. "You—you need to get out of here. You and Pollux, you both need to go."

The girl felt her heart shattering in a million pieces. Ariadne directed her glee towards the group. "Leave," she growled.

Percy reached toward her but a vine smacked him in the hand. At first, he believed it to be Ariadne, but Pollux's glare told something different. His purple eyes dug into everyone's brains.

"Go away," Pollux said weakly.

Annabeth shook her head. "Pollux..." she tried.

"Go away." His voice was harsher.

"Pollux," Percy said. "Calm—calm down. It'll be okay."

"No it won't," he said softly. "My... my brother is dead. And now... I need all of you to GO AWAY!"

Ariadne gripped his hand and held Castor's, and all of the power she had against the Titan army transferred to her brother, who gave a final scream and the ground erupted in flurries of vines and purple waves of power.

Pollux surrounded them in a shield of their own making. And everyone realized the line of the prophecy: Daughter of the Vines may curse the land. But the quest team were reminded of what Hera had said, that it may be someone else that curses the land, but it would be her doing.

And all the campers watched and listened to Pollux's sobs, and Ariadne vows to destroy the Titan army with her bare hands.

The Trio of Twelve were no more. But the last two children of Dionysus were out for blood, and that would change the tides of the war.

authors note:

Castor's gone. Let me just cry for a minute.

Also, two chapters in one day and me on a lot of pain meds! Lucky you guys.

I'm on season six of CM and let me tell you something, Spencer has never been hotter with his hair cut, I'm sorry Imma simp HARD over this one. 

Thank you guys for reading. Tell me what you think will happen next and what you guys love about this chapter.

As always:

I love you guys!