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THE METAL DOOR WAS PARTLY CONCEALED BEHIND A LAUNDRY BIN. the stench of dirty hotel towels filled her nostrils as rachel showed them where to look, and andromeda recognized the faint blue symbol.

"it hasn't been used in a long time," annabeth noted.

"i tried to open it once," rachel said, "just out of curiosity. it's rusted shut."

"no." annabeth stepped forward. "it just needs the touch of a half-blood."

as soon as she put her hand on the mark, it glowed blue. the metal door unsealed and creaked open, revealing a dark staircase leading down.

"wow." rachel looked calm. she'd changed into a ratty museum of modern art t-shirt and marker-colored jeans, her blue plastic hairbrush sticking out of her pocket. her red hair was tied back, but she still had flecks of gold in it, and on her face. "so. . .after you?"

"you're the guide," andromeda pressed. "lead on. you have three armed and trained half-bloods behind you for protection."

the stairs led down to a large brick tunnel. the daunting dark called for light. and as soon as percy and andromeda switched some on, rachel yelped.

a skeleton was grinning at them. it was at least ten feet tall. it had been chained up by its wrists and ankles. the single black eye socket in the center of its skull made andromeda's blood go cold.

"a cyclops," annabeth said. "it's very old. it's not. . .anybody we know."

it wasn't tyson, she meant. but that didn't unnerve her less.

rachel swallowed. "you have a friend who's a cyclops?"

"tyson," percy said. "my half brother."

"your half brother."

"hopefully we'll find him down here," percy said. "and grover. he's a satyr."

"and evander," annabeth added.

"is he a giant?"

annabeth fixed her with a look. "no. he's a half-blood."

"oh." rachel said in a small voice. "well then, we'd better keep moving."

she stepped under the skeleton's left arm and kept walking. the other three followed with looks at each other. after fifty feet, a crossroads came. ahead, the brick tunnel continued. to the right, the walls were made of ancient marble slabs. to the left, the tunnel was dirt and tree roots.

percy pointed left. "that looks like the tunnel the others took."

annabeth frowned. "yeah, but the architecture to the right — those old stones — that's more likely to lead to an ancient part of the maze, toward daedalus's workshop."

"we need to go straight," rachel said.

the more andromeda thought about it, the more her instincts agreed. crossroads was her thing, and the fact that rachel could make the same decisions as her made her slightly more comfortable.

"that's the least likely choice," annabeth said.

"you don't see it?" rachel asked. "look at the floor."

andromeda saw nothing except well-worn bricks and mud.

"there's a brightness there," rachel insisted. "very faint. but forward is the correct way. to the left, farther down the tunnel, those tree roots are moving like feelers. i don't like that. to the right, there's a trap about twenty feet down. holes in the walls, maybe for spikes. i don't think we should risk it."

the three of them looked to her. they all had different answers, andromeda realized her's would be the deciding vote. "left and right both radiate strong magic." she explained. "straight doesn't. so maybe. . ."

annabeth looked like she wanted to argue, but she waved at rachel to lead on. together they kept walking down the brick corridor. it twisted and turned, but there were no more side tunnels. they seemed to be angling down, heading deeper underground.

"no traps?" percy asked anxiously.

"nothing." rachel knit her eyebrows. "should it be this easy?"

"it wasn't before," annabeth said. "but i suppose that's the advantage of a guide."

"so," andromeda began. "rachel, where are you from, exactly?"

"brooklyn,"

"aren't your parents going to be worried if you're out late?"

rachel exhaled. "not likely. i could be gone a week and they'd never notice."

"why not?" annabeth asked.

but before rachel could answer, there was a creaking noise in front, like huge doors opening.

"what was that?" annabeth asked.

"i don't know," rachel said. "metal hinges."

"oh, that's very helpful." andromeda scoffed. "she meant, what's coming?"

footsteps shook the corridor — coming toward them.

"run?" rachel asked.

"run," percy agreed.

they turned and fled the way they'd come, but they didn't make it twenty feet before they ran into two dracaenae in greek armor, their javelins at their chests. standing between them was an empousa in a cheerleader outfit.

"well, well," the empousa mused.

the three half-bloods pulled out their weapons, but the empousa pounced on rachel. her hand turned into a claw and she spun rachel around, holding her tight with her talons at rachel's neck.

"taking your little mortal pet for a walk?" the empouse asked. "they're such fragile things. so easy to break!"

andromeda tried to yank her away with her magic, but the empousa bared her claw deep in her throat.

"ah-ah," she said smugly. "it won't work on me, i serve your mother, i know your tricks."

behind them, a huge form appeared — an eight-foot-tall laistrygonian giant with red eyes and fangs. he licked his lips when he saw them. "can i eat them?"

"no," said the empousa. "your master will want these. they will provide a great deal of entertainment. now march, half-bloods. or you all die here, starting with the mortal girl."

andromeda was prepared to use her magic on the giant, but a dracaena gained on her, a blade to her throat. andromeda gulped, a shiver ran paralyzed her body. cuffs came around her wrists, her weapon was taken away.

"we were warned of your trickssss," she hissed. "we came prepared."

she struggled under the metal, but whatever luke had charmed them with made her senses cloud. she couldn't access her magic. they marched down the tunnel, flanked by dracaenae, the empousa and the giant in back in case they tried to run for it. up ahead were bronze doors. about ten feet tall, emblazoned with a pair of crossed swords. from behind them came a muffled roar, like from a crowd.

"oh, yessssss," said the dracaena pointing her weapon at andromeda's back. "you'll be very popular with our hossssst."

andromeda tried to focus on something other than the sting of the blade at her back, the hissing of the dracaena, the panic surging through her own body. she had to remind herself she was that ten-year-old girl in the wood in camp. but that was becoming increasingly difficult.

"who's your host?" percy asked.

the dracaena hissed a laugh. "oh, you'll sssssee. you'll get along furiousssly. he'ssss your brother, after all."

"my what?"

the giant pushed past them and opened the doors. he picked up annabeth by her shirt. "you stay here."

"hey!" she protested, but he was twice her size and had confiscated their weapons.

the empousa laughed, her claws still at rachel's neck. "go on, percy. entertain us. we'll wait here with your friends to make sure you behave."

percy looked at rachel. "i'm sorry. i'll get you out of this."

she nodded, or tried to, atleast. "that would be nice."

the other dracaena prodded him toward the doorway at javelin-point, and he walked out onto the floor of an arena.

the arena was pretty spacious, there was a fight between a giant and a centaur in the centre of the circular dirt floor. the centaur looked panicked, galloping around his enemy, using sword and shield, while the giant swung a javelin and the crowd cheered.

the first tier of seats was twelve feet above the floor. plain stone benches wrapped all the way around; every seat full. there were giants, dracaenae, demigods, telekhines, and things that she couldn't identify.

skulls ringed the edge of the arena's the railing. three-foot piles of them decorated the steps between the benches, some hung on chains from the ceiling. some looked very old — nothing but bleached-white bone. others looked a lot fresher. flesh glued to the bone, an eye or two popping out, and andromeda wanted to puke out her chocolate shake.

"luke," annabeth whispered.

andromeda followed her line of vision.

right in the middle of the arena, proudly displayed on the side of the spectator's wall, was a green banner with the trident of poseidon in the center. above it, sitting in a seat of honor, was luke, smiling coldly in his camouflage pants, white t-shirt, and bronze breastplate, but not his sword, which andromeda thought was strange. next to him sat a fifteen feet tall and three seat wide giant in loincloth, skin dark red and tattooed with blue wave designs.

"antaeus," annabeth gasped.

"who?" rachel asked.

"another son of poseidon," annabeth explained.

"but he's a giant," andromeda countered. "so his mother. . ."

annabeth looked at her with panic.

he's horrible. . .that son of poseidon. . .andromeda remembered chris saying. had he passed through here on his journey? luke was here, perhaps chris had been too. maybe he was sent into the arena. maybe that's what his nightmares were showing. . .

there was a cry from the arena floor, and percy jumped as the centaur crashed to the dirt beside him.

he met his eyes pleadingly. "help!"

percy dug into his pocket, no doubt searching for his sword.

the centaur struggled to get up as the giant approached, his javelin ready. the centaur couldn't get up. one of his legs was broken. the giant put his huge foot on the horseman's chest and raised the javelin. he looked up. the crowd cheered, "death! death!"

the giant — antaeus, arose. he smiled down at the centaur, who was whimpering, "please! no!"

then antaeus held out his hand and gave the thumbs down sign.

the gladiator giant thrust his javelin. and the centaur disintegrated to ashes. all that remained was a single hoof, which the giant took up as a trophy and showed the crowd. they roared their approval.

a gate opened at the opposite end of the stadium and the giant marched out in triumph.

in the stands, antaeus raised his hands for silence. "good entertainment! but nothing i haven't seen before. what else do you have, luke, son of hermes?"

luke rose calmly to his feet. his eyes glittered. he seemed to be in a pretty good mood. "lord antaeus," luke said, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "you have been an excellent host! we would be happy to amuse you, to repay the favor of passing through your territory."

"a favor i have not yet granted," antaeus growled. "i want entertainment!"

luke bowed. "i believe i have something better than centaurs to fight in your arena now. i have a brother of yours." he pointed down. "percy jackson, son of poseidon."

the crowd began jeering at him and throwing stones, most of which andromeda hoped he had dodged.

antaeus's eyes lit up. "a son of poseidon? then he should fight well! or die well!"

"if his death pleases you," luke said, "will you let our armies cross your territory?"

"perhaps!"

luke didn't look too pleased about that. he glared down at percy.

"luke!" annabeth yelled. "stop this!"

luke seemed to notice her for the first time. he looked stunned for a moment. "annabeth?"

"let him go!" andromeda shouted, and the javelin of the dracaena behind her dug into her back.

"enough time for the females to fight afterward," antaeus interrupted. "first, percy jackson, what weapons will you choose?"

the dracaenae pushed him into the middle of the arena.

andromeda's feet moved before she could stop them, and she started walking toward him, but the dracaena put the javelin tip at andromeda's leg, it made a little gash when she took a step. deep enough for her legs to weaken.

"sssstay sssstill," the dracaena warned, pointing the blade at her.

she pondered making a run for it inside, but her leg throbbed even as she stood. so she had no choice but to heed her.

percy stared up at antaeus. "how can you be a son of poseidon?"

"i am his favorite son!" antaeus boomed. "behold, my temple to the earthshaker, built from the skulls of all those i've killed in his name! your skull shall join them!"

percy stared around the underground.

"percy!" andromeda called. "his mother is gaea! gae —"

the tip of the dracaena's javelin dug deeper, and her knees buckled underneath her. her eyes watered from the pain. the cuffs of her jeans were wet with blood.

"andro — mmmh!" annabeth called, but her laistrygonian clamped his hand over her mouth.

"you're crazy, antaeus," andromeda heard percy say. "if you think this is a good tribute, you know nothing about poseidon."

the crowd screamed insults, but antaeus went on, and they silenced.

"weapons," he insisted. "and then we will see how you die. will you have axes? shields? nets? flamethrowers?"

"just my sword,"

laughter erupted from the monsters, but immediately some of the voices in the crowd turned nervous. riptide the bronze blade glowed with a faint light in percy's hand.

"round one!" antaeus announced.

the gates opened, and a dracaena slithered out. she had a trident in one hand and a weighted net in the other. she jabbed at him experimentally. she threw her net, but he sidestepped easily, sliced her spear in half, and stabbed riptide through a chink in her armor. with a painful wail, she vaporized into nothing, and the cheering of the crowd died.

"no!" antaeus bellowed. "too fast! you must wait for the kill. only i give that order!"

percy glanced over at them, and andromeda made an effort to give him an encouraging smile. he seemed to relax, and gave her one back.

"nice job, percy." luke said, catching his attention again. "you've gotten better with the sword. i'll grant you that."

"round two!" antaeus yelled. "and slower this time! more entertainment! wait for my call before killing anybody. or else!"

the gates opened again, and this time a young warrior came out. he looked about sixteen. he had glossy black hair, and his left eye was covered with an eye patch. he was thin and wiry so his greek armor hung on him loosely. he stabbed his sword into the dirt, adjusted his shield straps, and pulled on his horsehair helmet.

him and percy exchanged a few words, but then,

"hey!" a monster jeered from the stands. "stop talking and fight already!" the others took up the call.

with only a few words more, the warrior charged. his sword met percy's in midair and the crowd roared.

the warrior was good. it was apparent he'd been trained. he parried percy's strike and almost slammed him with his shield, but percy jumped back. the warrior slashed, percy rolled to one side. andromeda could see percy try to keep on his blind side, but it seemed like he'd been fighting with only one eye for a long time, because he was excellent at guarding his left.

"blood!" the monsters cried.

percy's opponent glanced up at the stands. he yelled an angry battle cry and charged, but percy parried his blade and backed away, letting him come after him.

"boo!" antaeus said. "stand and fight!"

the warrior pressed him, but percy defended well, even without a shield. the warrior was dressed in a heavy armor and shield, making it hard to offend. percy was a softer target, but also lighter and faster. the crowd yelled complaints and threw rocks, growing impatient for blood.

then, the warrior tried to jab at percy's stomach, and percy locked his sword hilt in his and twisted. his sword dropped into the dirt. before he could recover, percy slammed the hilt of his sword into his helmet and pushed him down. due to his heavy armor, he fell on his back, dazed and tired. percy put the tip of my sword on his chest.

the warrior said something.

percy looked up at antaeus. his red face was stony with displeasure, but he held up his hand with a thumb down.

percy sheathed his sword. he offered the warrior his hand. reluctantly, he took it and let percy help him up.

"no one dishonors the games!" antaeus bellowed. "your heads shall both be tributes to poseidon!"

percy looked at his opponent, said something, then turned back to antaeus. "why don't you fight me yourself? if you've got dad's favor, come down here and prove it!"

"percy!" andromeda called in a warning. "don't you dare —"

"sssssilence!" the dracaena intervened. "sssstay quiet, you inssssolent girl!"

the blade dug deeper into her wound, and andromeda presses her eyes close in pain. for those prolonged moments, she could feel nothing but agonizing throbbing in her leg.

when she blinked her eyes open, she saw percy staring at her. he was clenching his sword hilt so hard, she was surprised it didn't mould. his haze trailed down to the blood flowing from her skin, and a storm raged in his eyes.

percy pointed his sword, turning to face antaeus. "winner takes all! i win, we all go free. you win, we die. swear upon the river styx."

antaeus laughed. "this shouldn't take long. i swear to your terms!"
he leaped off the railing, into the arena. cracking his knuckles, he grinned.

"weapons?" he asked.

"i'll stick with my sword. you?"

he asked this as if they were ordering food at a restaurant rather than dueling in an arena before spectators. antaeus held up his hands and wiggled his fingers. "i don't need anything else! master luke, you will referee this one."

luke smiled down. "with pleasure."

antaeus lunged. percy rolled under his legs and stabbed the back of his thigh.

"argggh!" he yelled. but where blood should've come out, there was a spout of sand. it spilled into the dirt floor, and the dirt collected around his leg, when it fell away, the wound was gone.

he charged again. percy dodged sideways this time and stabbed him under the arm. his blade buried to the hilt in his ribs. then it was wrenched out of his hand when the giant turned, and he was thrown across the arena, weaponless.

antaeus bellowed in pain. but groped for the hilt, pulled out the sword, and tossed it behind him. more sand poured from the wound, but again the earth rose up to cover him. dirt coated his body all the way to his shoulders. as soon as it spilled away, antaeus was fine.

"now you see why i never lose, demigod!" antaeus gloated. "come here and let me crush you. i'll make it quick!"

antaeus stood between percy and his sword. he tried to skirt around the giant, but antaeus anticipated the move. he blocked percy's path, chuckling. percy looked up at the chains hanging from the ceiling, looking like he had one of his insane ideas that somehow worked.

he feigned to the other side. antaeus blocked him. the crowd jeered and screamed at antaeus to finish him off, but the giant was having too much fun.

"puny boy," he said. "not a worthy son of the sea god!"

percy charged straight ahead, crouching low to roll between his legs again, antaeus stooped, ready to catch him, but percy jumped, kicking off his forearm, scrambling up his shoulder, he placed his shoe on the giant's head.

he straightened up indignantly and yelled "hey!" percy pushed off, using his force to be catapulted toward the ceiling. he caught the top of a chain, the skulls and hooks jangled beneath him. he wrapped his legs around the chain, and drew riptide to saw off the chain next to him.

"come down here, coward!" antaeus bellowed. he tried to grab percy, but he was just out of reach.

"come up and get me!" percy challenged. "or are you too slow and fat?"

the giant howled and made another grab. he caught a chain and struggled to pull himself up. percy lowered his sawed-off chain, hook first. in two tries, he snagged antaeus's loincloth.

the giant yelled. percy slipped the free chain through the fastening link on his own chain, pulling it taut, and secured it. antaeus tried to slip back to the ground, but stayed suspended by his loincloth. he flailed around to the other chains with both hands to avoid getting flipped upside down. percy scrambled around the chains, swinging and cutting. he made loops with hooks and metal links. and within a couple of minutes the giant was suspended above the ground, hopelessly snarled in chains and hooks.

percy dropped to the floor, panting. he was sweaty, his hair stuck to his face, his eyes were wild a furious focused look at the giant tangled in chains. and andromeda thought he had never looked more handsome.

"get me down!" antaeus demanded.

"free him!" luke ordered. "he is our host!"

percy uncapped riptide. "i'll free him."

holy shit.

and he stabbed the giant in the stomach.

he bellowed, and sand poured out, but he was too far up to touch the earth, and the dirt did not rise to help him. antaeus dissolved, pouring out bit by bit, until there was nothing left but empty swinging chains, a loincloth on a hook, and a bunch of grinning skulls dancing like they had finally had something to smile about.

andromeda, despite dizzy with the blood loss, couldn't help but be impressed. it was moments like these where she was amazed by his duality. in this instance, he looked like percy jackson, son of poseidon more than percy, her friend.

she was even more amazed that she found both endearing enough.

"jackson!" luke yelled. "i should have killed you long ago!"

"you tried," percy reminded him. "let us go, luke. we had a sworn agreement with antaeus. i'm the winner."

"antaeus is dead." luke hissed. "his oath dies with him. but since i'm feeling merciful today, i'll have you killed quickly. spare the blonde." his voice quavered just a little. "i would speak to her before — before our great triumph."

andromeda thought she heard a sliver of a slip up in there. but she blinked, and he was a starue again.

every monster in the audience drew a weapon or extended its claws. they were trapped. hopelessly outnumbered.

then percy took out a whistle from his pocket and blew it. it made no audible sound as it shattered into shards of ice, melting in his hand.

luke laughed. "what was that supposed to do?"

something came from behind, pushing the dracaena and laistrygonian away.

"arooof!"

the empousa screamed as a five-hundred-pound black mastiff picked her up like a chew toy and tossed her through the air, straight into luke's lap.

mrs. o'leary snarled, and the dracaena that was guarding percy backed away. for a moment the monsters in the audience were caught completely by surprise.

"let's go!" percy yelled at them. "heel, mrs. o'leary!" he cut through the cuffs, and andromeda's wrists were free.

"the far exit!" rachel cried. "that's the right way!"

annabeth helped andromeda up.

"your leg. . ." percy frowned. "climb up." he tilted his head toward mrs. o'leary.

"what?" andromeda gave him a look. "no. i'm fi —"

"rome." annabeth said with a warning.

andromeda didn't get a chance to argue as percy hauled her up by the waist, setting her on the hellhound's back. mrs. o'leary gave a bark of approval. together they raced across the arena of disheveled monsters and out the far exit with the warrior.

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i cannot explain to you guys how much i loved this scene. percy is like fifteen here. he's so op. AND he's smart i hate it sm when people say percy would be nowhere without annabeth.

and omfg that comment in house of hades about percy not being able to make his way out of a paper bag without annabeth. i wanted to tear that page so badly.