"This way!" Rachel yelled.

"Why should we follow you?" Annabeth demanded. "You led us straight into that death trap!"

"It was the way you needed to go," Rachel said. "And so is this. Come on!"

Annabeth didn't look happy about it, but she ran along with the rest of us. Rachel seemed to know exactly where she was going. She whipped around corners and didn't even hesitate at crossroads.

I kept my hand along the wall to sense any traps. Once I said, "Duck!" And we all crouched as a huge axe swung over our heads, then Rachel kept going as if nothing happened.

I lost track of how many turns we made. We didn't stop to rest until we came to a room the size of a gymnasium with old marble columns holding up the roof. I stood at the doorway, listening for anything. But nothing. Apparently, we'd lost Luke and his minions in the maze.

Mrs. O'Leary had also disappeared at some point, but she was alive, I hadn't seen or felt her dissolve into shadows.

Ethan collapsed on the floor. "You people are crazy." He pulled off his helmet. His face gleamed with sweat.

But I was only reminded of the blood standing my clothes and hands.

Annabeth gasped. "I remember you! You were one of those undetermined kids in the Hermes cabin, years ago."

He glared dat her. "Yeah, and you're Annabeth. I remember."

"What—what happened to your eye?"

Ethan looked away, and I got the feeling that was one subject he would not  discuss.

"You must be the half-blood from my dream," Percy said. "The one Luke's people cornered. It wasn't Nico after all."

"Who's Nico?"

"Never mind," Annabeth said quickly. "Why were you trying to join up the wrong side?"

Ethan sneered. "There's no right side. The gods never cared about us. Why shouldn't I—"

"Sign up with an army that makes you fight to the death for entertainment?" Annabeth said. "Gee, I wonder."

Ethan struggled to his feet. "I'm not going to argue with you. Thanks for the help, but I'm out of here."

"We're going after Daedalus," I said. "Come with us. Once we get through, you'd be welcome back at camp."

"You really are  crazy if you think Daedalus with help you."

"He has to," Annabeth said. "We'll make him listen."

Ethan snorted. "Yeah, well. Good luck with that."

I grabbed his arm. "You're just going to head off alone in the maze? That's fucking suicide."

He looked at me with barely controlled anger. His eye patch was frayed around the edges and the black cloth was faded, like he wore it a long time. A photo of a balance system glowed in my head before I was brought back. "Your brother shouldn't have spared me, Jackson. Mercy has no place in this war."

An eye for an eye. Ethan was the son of Nemesis.

Then he ran off into the darkness, back the way we'd come.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

Annabeth, Rachel, Percy, and I were so exhausted we made camp right there in the huge room. I found some scrap wood and we started a fire. Shadows danced off the columns rising around us like trees.

"Something was wrong with Luke," Annabeth muttered. "Did you see the way he was acting?"

"What do you expect?" I asked. "He's an enemy, Annabeth. We can't see him as a friend any more."

"That's not true! There was something wrong with him. He looked. . .nervous. He told his monsters to spare me. He wanted to tell me something."

I turned and Percy and I just stared at each other before staring at Annabeth.

"He was going to kill us," Percy said. "Probably something to do with that. Or trying to turn you back to him."

"You two are impossible." She grumbled. She looked at Rachel. "So which way now, Sacagawea?"

Rachel didn't respond right away. She'd become quieter since the arena. Now, whenever Annabeth made a sarcastic comment, Rachel hardly bothered to answer. She burned the tip of a stick in  the fire and was using it to draw ash figures on the floor, images of the monsters we'd seen. With a few stroked she'd caught the likeness of dracaena  perfectly.

"We'll follow the path," she said. "The brightness on the floor."

"The brightness that led us straight into a trap?" Annabeth asked.

"Jesus fuck! I'm sick of you two acting like this." I mumbled. "I just want to go home."

Percy wrapped an arm around me and I laid my head down on his shoulder.

"I told you already, we had to go that way to get here." Rachel argued.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "There's always multiple ways, yet you chose that one."

"Lay off, both of you." Percy said. "Rachel is doing the best she can."

Annabeth stood. "The fire's getting low. I'lol go get some more scraps while you  guys talk strategy." And she marched off into the shadows.

I reached out and was able to feel her walking through the dark. She was saying something, but I couldn't make it out. She bent down and picked up a bigger piece of scrap before turning back to the fire.

"Kiera?"

I brought my head up. "Huh?"

"Gods you're deaf." Percy laughed.

"Shut it, fishface."

"You're my sister, so you're also fishface."

I pushed off the ground and cracked my back. "I need to go do something, I can't just sit here."

Percy frowned. "Can't you just sleep?"

"No, I'm gonna go see if I can find anything to make." And with that I walked into the darkness.

My eyes adjusted, but I could hear Rachel and Percy talking back at the fire.

"Boys," Rachel muttered. "Totally blind."

I snorted, you don't know the half of it.

Annabeth was walking back and was about to run into me when I grabbed her shoulders. She yelped, dropped the scraps, and slashed her dagger at my shoulder.

Unfortunately, I wasn't ready to be attacked.

"Bitch!" I hissed, my hand flying up to my arm. "What was that for?"

"You scared me! I can't see you in the dark." She scowled. "How can you even see?"

Good point.

"Um. . .I don't know, actually. But that wasn't nice, still."

"Whatever." Annabeth picked up the wood and other flammable objects, but I stopped her again.

"Don't be like that." I said.

She looked up at me, her gray eyes trying to make out my facial details. Once she was able to see well enough, her eyes narrowed.

"Like what?" Annabeth asked.

"You know Percy only has eyes for you." I mumbled. "Trust me. He doesn't like Rachel, he's just stupid as fuck and doesn't know how to act around girls."

"Are you sure?" She asked, an emotion in her eyes I couldn't make out.

"Yes, Annie." I smiled softly. "While we travel, try and hold his hand or something. He only likes you, my brother's just an idiot."

She sighed. "You are right about that."

We walked back to the fire and I tossed our sticks into the fire.

Annabeth was about to sit down in her previous spot, but I shoved her towards Percy.

"You two get some sleep. I'll take first watch." I said.

Annabeth blushed as she glared at me, her eyes saying something like: If I wasn't already over here I'd stab you.

I grinned and took off my wrench charm and a square of ambrosia popped into my hand. When it touched my tongue, I felt the memory of Mom's blue cookies at Montauk.

Percy laid back and closed his eyes. Annabeth went down next to him, but I noticed their hands were intertwined, and they were close enough together.

Even though I wanted to be happy, I couldn't help but be reminded of Lee at camp.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

When it was my turn to sleep, I fell asleep once my head was on my shadow pillow.

My scene shifted, and I realized I was back at Camp Half-Blood. Except, there was not a single person there. The silence was kind of nice, but it wasn't something I was used to at camp.

A warm hand landed on my shoulder and I spun around. My fist connected with their cheek, sending them sprawling onto the floor.

"Oh gods!" I yelped as I saw Leo on the floor, hand rubbing his cheek. "I'm sorry."

He smiled as I helped him up. "It's not your fault, all the ladies want Leo."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, Mr. McShizzle."

"I like that one," He grinned goofily. His smile showed off all of his teeth, and dimples formed on his teeth. I noticed he had a slight tooth gap, but that only made the smile more adorable. 

"Like what you see, mamacita?" Leo asked.

I felt a blush rise up my face as I turned away. The night air was cold, but next to him it was the perfect temperature, like he was a personal heater.

I grabbed his hand and led him to Cabin Three again. "Come on, idiot."

Just like last time, I hit the severest button and ladder rungs sprouted up the back of my cabin and to the roof. Once we were up there, we laid down just like the first night, and I had an idea.

"Since we're apparently gonna be friends,"  I said. "We have to know more about each other."

"'Kay." Leo said.

"What's your favorite color?" I asked.

"Maroon. What's yours?"

"Navy blue, although, maroon does come in at a close second."

And it went like that for a while. I asked his favorite hobby, he said crafting things and listening to music. Mine was figure skating and music. Leo loved the night, as did I. Leo's favorite animal was a tiger, mine is a shark. My dream job was a marine biologist or mechanic, his was a mechanic too.

Once we were out of questions to ask, we just decided to listen to some music and enjoy each other's company.

If I was dying on my knees

You would be the one to rescue me.

"I love looking at the stars," I murmured.

And if you would drown at sea, 

I'd give you my lungs so you could breath.

Leo smiled and pointed up at one of the constellations I always looked for in the sky. "That one looks like a girl with a bow."

A pang of sadness and grief rolled over me as I remembered her. I never said her name, it hurt too much. It always worked like that, just remembering hurt.

"It is." I said.

"Really?"

"Yes. Her name was Zoë Nightshade. She was a Hunter of Artemis." I recalled.

I wanna go party, I wanna have fun

I wanna be happy, could you show me how it's done?

"Were you close?"

I let out a small laugh. "I guess."

You look so pretty, pretty like the sun

I could watch forever while you shine on everyone.

"I guess?" Leo asked. 

"We were friends, but we barely knew each other" I whispered as if talking aloud would tell someone else. "She was great."

You look so pretty, pretty like the wind

Every time you touch me, I feel adrenaline

"I'm sorry for your loss, Kiera." Leo said faintly. "I know what it feels like."

"Who did you lose?" I asked

"My mother." 

It's Black Friday, end of the week

You take my hand an hold it gently up against your cheek.

He told me the whole story, but I could tell he was leaving out a small factor. His mom was in a machine shop and told Leo to get to the car. When he was out there, it locked, and he noticed a fire was spreading. His mother was killed in the fire.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Leo." I turned to him.

Leo's eyes watered, and a tear slid down the side of his face. I wiped it and he looked at me. "Thanks."

We sat in silence, sometimes stealing glances at each other. His amber eyes looked dulled in the cold night, even if he was warm. Leo's curls were slightly longer in the front, and they rested right above his eyebrows, covering the tops of his imp-like ears.

Leo turned to face me, his lips slightly parted, just enough for me to see his teeth gap. I felt a small smile form on my face as he started to grin.

You're too sweet for me

I take my whiskey neat

The cold air seemed a lot warmer, and as I studied Leo closer, I could see his veins faintly glowing. Like liquid fire was flowing through him instead of mortal blood.

My coffee black

In my bed at three

In the dimly lit night, Leo looked godsent. His face resting ever so slightly as his fingers tapped and drew shapes over his knees. Those fiery eyes studying my face as well. The grin reminded me of the Hermes kids at camp, who they all had from their father, the mischievous kind. For all I knew, Leo could've been a god.

"Take a picture, it would last longer." He laughed.

I felt warmth on my face once more as I turned my face away, hoping he didn't see it.

Where's the fire

What's the hurry about?

Why didn't I feel that way with Lee?

You better cool it down 

Before you burn it out.

 Why wasn't I always giddy around him like I am Leo?

Stop Kiera! Gods, you can't like Leo. You have a boyfriend. He's waiting for you at camp.

The dream started to fade and Leo looked at me again.

"This was fun, we should do it some time again." 

I couldn't help my smile form to a grin. "Obviously."

The last thing I saw was his eyes set on my lips.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

I woke with Annabeth shaking my shoulder. "Kiera, wake up!"

"Wha—what's going on?" I said.

"Tyson is in trouble!" Percy shouted at me.

"First things first," Annabeth said. "Earthquake!"

Sure enough, the room was rumbling. "The fuck?"

"Rachel!" Percy yelled.

Her eyes opened instantly. She grabbed her pack, and the four of us ran. We were almost to the far tunnel when a column next to us groaned and buckled. We kept going as a hundred tons of marble crashed down behind us.

I was immune to the shakes off balancing me, but the others weren't.

We made it to the corridor and turned just in time to see the other columns toppling. A cloud of white dust billowed over us, and we kept running.

"You know what?" Annabeth said. "I like this way after all."

I looked at her hand and saw it was still in my brother's. Not now, Kiera. Bring it up when you're safe.

It wasn't long before we saw light up ahead—like regular electric lighting.

"There," Rachel said.

We followed her into a stainless steel hallway, like I imagined they'd have on a NASA station or something. Fluorescent lights glowed from the ceiling. The floor was a metal grate.

I was so used to being in the darkness I had to squint. Annabeth, Percy and Rachel all looked pale in the light.

"This way," Rachel said, beginning to run. "We're close!"

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

She faltered because we'd arrived at a set of metal double doors. Inscribed in the steel, at eye level, was a rage blue Greek Delta.

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

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

Annabeth pressed the symbol on the doors and they hissed open.

"So much for ancient architecture," I smirked.

Annabeth scowled. Together we walked inside.

The fist thing that struck me was the daylight—blazing sun coming through giant windows. Not the kind of thing you expect in the heart of a dungeon. The workshop was like an artist's studio, with thirty-foot ceilings and industrial lighting, polished stone floors, and work benches along with windows. A spiral staircase led up to a second story loft. Half a dozen easels displayed hand-draws diagrams for buildings and machines that looked like Leonardo da Vinci sketches. Several laptop computers were scattered around the tables. Glass jars of green oil—Greek fire—lined one shelf. There were inventions, too—with machines I wanted to snatch off the table. One was a bronze chair with a bunch of electrical wires attached to it, he was trying to recreate the chair that Hephaestus trapped Hera in. In another corner stood a giant metal egg about the size of a man, that opened up and would detoxify the entire room if need be. There was a grand-father clock that appeared to be made entirely of glass, so you could see all the gears turning. And hanging on the wall were several sets of bronze and silver wings.

"DI immortales,"Annabeth muttered. She ran to the nearest easel and looked at the sketch. "He's a genius. Look at the curves on this building!"

"Holy shit!" I sprinted over to one of the open laptops, there was a label on it that read: MECHANICAL DESIGNS and open was a sword that was curved to catch a blade perfectly and shatter it. "Oh my gods! He also does mechanics!"

"And he's an artist," Rachel said in amazement. "These wings are amazing!"

I peeked over at them and my jaw dropped. The feathers were tightly interwoven. Instead of wax seals, self-adhesive strips ran down the sides. The strings connecting were woven in such an intricate way, Athena might have even overseen it.

Percy watched me run around the around, looking at every thing I could get my hands on and explain. He kept his hand on Riptide. Apparently Daedalus was not home, but the workshop must have been recently used. The laptops—other than the mechanical design one—were running their screen savers. A half-eaten blueberry muffin and a coffee cup sat on a workbench.

Percy walked to the window as Annabeth tackled me in a hug. We joined hands and squealed about everything in the room.

"Did you see—"

"Oh my gods, YES! Oh! What do you think about—"

"AHHHH!"

Rachel was looking at all of the easels and I couldn't help but feel rejuvenated by all the machinery around me. I was bouncing on my toes slightly as I went back to the computer and sorted through the files. There were hundreds on here. If I could get it to camp. . .

"Where are we?" Percy wondered.

"Colorado Springs," a voice said behind us. "The Garden of the Gods."

Standing on the spiral staircase above us, with his weapon drawn, was our missing sword master Quintus.

————————☁︎ ✯  ☾ ✯ ☁︎————————

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

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

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

Quintus came down the stairs, holding his sword at his side. He was dressed in jeans and boots and his counselors T-shirt from Camp Half-Blood, which seemed like an insult. I didn't know if I could beat him in a sword fight. He was pretty good. But I figured I would have to try.

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

"Well, duh," said Annabeth.

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

Gears started to click in my head as my left hand closed around the wave charm on my bracelet.

"—The Labyrinth likes it here. A fitting name, I suppose." Quintus was saying.

"Sorry, I kinda zoned out. I missed your Villain entry about how you're going to kill us and whatever, can you say it again?" I asked.

"Villain? I am no enemy of yours." He said.

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

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

I looked out the window. "We're talking about the scenery?"

Everyone ignored me—as usual.

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

"Enough games," Percy said. "What have you done with Daedalus?"

Quintus stared at him. "My boy, you need