Half-Blood High

XXXII

       Hazel

Getting my weapon was honestly easier then I thought.

It was a golden Roman spatha, and there were three guardians. I recognized them as karpos, the magical spirits of grain. They were about the size of basketballs, with sharp teeth and wicked claws, but the sword gave me a long enough range that I took them down with no problem.

The Atrium was been decorated with black obsidian tiles, and the walls were hung with black and silver tapestries that depicted a skull, a black helm, and a dark gem. Pluto, the Roman god of the Underworld.

I went after Leo. Frank was last. When he came out, he was holding a bow and quiver, and his face was white as a sheet. When Piper tried to ask who his godly parent was, he wouldn't say. The rest of us got the feeling he didn't want to talk about it and left it alone.

Once we all had our weapons, Lupa led us back out of the Labyrinth, out the school doors, and down to a small warehouse.

Annabeth frowned as we approached. Her gray eyes reflected the overcast sky, and had turned an intimidating steel gray. "Why are we here? This is the Shop class building."

Lupa nodded. She had turned back into a human when we got out of the tunnel, so she wouldn't scare any students who were roaming the halls. "I am aware of that, Miss Chase. Chiron is taking longer then I thought. He my need a bit of assistance with Daedalus." Annabeth nodded in understanding as Lupa reached out and twisted the knob. The door opened, and I glimpsed Chiron in centaur form, arguing with another man.

"I'm telling you I can't!" The man was shouting when we walked in. He had shoulder-length hair the color of doves' feathers, and a neatly clipped beard. When he saw us toting weapons, his eyes widened. "Dear gods Chiron, how many did you recruit?"

"Seven," Chiron answered. He looked rather weary, as though he was tired of arguing with Daedalus. "Although one of them was snatched by Kronos, and we have reason to believe he is currently inside your creation. That's why we need your help."

Daedalus threw up his hands in annoyance. "I've been trying to tell you. It's not my creation anymore!"

Lupa frowned. I think. She had turned back into a wolf, so it was kind of hard to tell. "What are you talking about?"

The inventor sighed. "Have you told them about my automaton body?"

Chiron nodded.

"Well, many years ago, when my soul took possession of this form, I realized my grip on the Labyrinth was slipping. I could no longer control it the way I used to, when I had a mortal body. I could still exert some power, but not enough to keep the whole thing secure. Without my focus, it began growing. Now, I have little hold on it. And the maze has grown under the surface of the entire world." He put his head in his hands. I suddenly felt kind of bad for the guy. It was clear he'd been dealing with this Labyrinth problem for a long time.

Annabeth frowned. "But you're the greatest inventor of all time! Surely you could figure out some way to take control again!"

He looked at her and gave a small smile. "Ah! A child of Athena. I should have known one of my brethren would be caught up in this."

Annabeth looked faint. "Well...I uh, I." She cleared her throat. "Sir, we seriously need your help. You said you still have a little control over the Labyrinth. Could you some how use that to tell us where Lu-Kronos is? Or at least guide us to the Forges?"

Daedalus seemed to be considering this. We waited in baited silence.

I had my fingers crossed that he would help us. If he didn't, who knew what could happen to our world? Jupiter Academy, Half-Blood High, it could all be destroyed.

Finally, he sighed. "Alright. I suppose I can help you. But only for her," he pointed to Annabeth, who blushed. "I owe our mother a favor, after all."

He walked over to his desk table and reached into his leather case. I thought he might be getting a flashlight or something, but instead he pulled out armor.

"What's that for?" Leo asked as the inventor strapped the breastplate on.

Daedalus raised an eyebrow. "We are going into the most dangerous maze in the world. I would like to be prepared, if you don't mind."

Leo nodded. "Okay. Cool."

Once he was ready, Daedalus walked over to a tall oak cabinet.

"Erm, Daedalus? The Labyrinth entrance is in the school." Chiron said.

Daedalus winked. "You don't think I knew that? I added my own secret entrance here."

Percy frowned. "Why? We already have like, two of them at school."

"You wouldn't believe rush hour traffic during my lunch break. This is just a quicker way around that."

"Oh." Percy nodded in understanding. "Okay. Proceed."

Daedalus opened the cabinet, cursed, and closed it again. "One moment please." He knocked on it twice, then opened it again. "There we are. One at a time now."

We filed in slowly, Daedalus in front and Chiron taking up the rear.

The Labyrinth was different from before. The ground was metal, and every few feet there was a grate in the floor. Overhead, the walls were made wholly of iron. It felt like we were walking inside a safe or something.

We had barely been going for five minutes, when our leader held up a hand. He pointed straight ahead, to a ladder that looked almost identical to the one Frank, Lupa and I used at Half-Blood high.

"Up there. I think I hear someone."

Percy volunteered to go first. He climbed up the ladder, and poked his head out.

"Uh...Guys? I don't think we're in New York anymore." His voice echoed down the tunnel.

Annabeth frowned. "What makes you say that?"

"I'm currently watching a guy do a hat dance around a sombrero."

Daedalus sighed. "You can come back down. The maze is just messing with us."

The ladder squeaked as Percy climbed down. "Where to next?"

Daedalus closed his eyes, then pointed at a metal wall. "That way."

Frank cleared his throat. "Sir, that's a wall."

Daedalus shook his head. "Trust me, I know my creation. Follow me." He walked forward toward the wall.

He stuck his hand out, and it passed through the metal. My jaw dropped as he continued forward and disappeared behind the fake wall.

Percy glanced at us. "Well, I guess we follow."
. . .
They've found the Inventor!

Thoughts?

Peace ✌️

-SilverQuillsandRoses