Heroes with Wands

Chapter 42

Annabeth

I knew I had to figure something out. There was no way I was jumping-or that I could jump. The wizards would figure out some spell to make their way down safely. Percy could control the water and simply float down. Hazel's underground senses would lead her to find another way down.

Frank could turn into a bird and fly down. Jason and Thalia could summon the winds to carry them down. Leo would build something from his tool belt to do the job. Even Piper-she could probably charmspeak the water to carry her safely down.

And what did I have? A bronze knife, a cursed coin, ambrosia, and a few matches. "You've got your intelligence," I reminded myself. Intelligence. Wisdom's daughter walks alone.

No, not just by myself and without any people. Without any special powers. I turned back to the tunnel. I squinted. Something caught my eye. Crates.

I excitedly bustled over to the crates. Kite strings and plastic swords. An idea popped into my head-such a stupid idea, I laughed out loud.

My hands set to work. The memory was a blur. That happened sometimes, like when I helped Leo with machinery or when I worked on my architecture. Within minutes, I'd created a makeshift ladder with swords as hand and footholds.

I tied one end of the ladder to the entrance. I threw the ladder over the edge and made sure it was secure. Taking a shaky breath, I began to climb down.

The water below me roared. The further down I got, the stronger the water lapped against my feet and my calves. I gritted my teeth, adjusting my grip on my backpack.

The ladder twisted. A low sound came from my throat. I stopped. I closed my eyes and inhaled sharply. I looked down at the ten feet of water below me.

I kept climbing.

Finally my feet hit the shallow water. Chilly liquid seeped into my sneakers. I held up my dagger and looked around. The channel went along narrow tunnel. A lump formed in my throat.

It looked an awful lot like the labyrinth. What if someone was really trying to recreate it? I decided not to dwell on the thought and focus on my quest.

I dug around in my backpack for string-an old trick, but a reliable one. I tied one end to the ladder, securing it tightly, and wound along the spool as I walked.

With the glow of my dagger, I saw a short drop in the ground, enough for me to jump. I did. The room had stress fractures along the ceiling, and an arch in the nearest doorway with the capstone cracks in half. The place was probably two thousand years old, and with my luck, I had two minutes tops before it caved in.

On the floor, there was a long mosaic with seven pictures in a row. Animals and Roman warriors with weapons. The pictures were damaged and covered in dust.

There was an altar I wanted to get a better look at. I took a step forwards and heard a crunching sound. I looked down-my foot had gone through a human rib cage.

I swallowed back a scream. The floor, clear moments ago, was littered with bones. The rib cage crumbled to dust as I removed my foot.

I looked up at the statue on the altar. I was guessing all these bones were from kids just like me-kids on a quest for their mother, trying to overcome the Mark of Athena.

The statue earned itself a glare from me. "I will not be a skeleton on your floor." I'd hoped I sounded brave. I didn't feel it.

Whispering voices echoed around me. A girl, a voice in my head rang out. Girls are not allowed.

A female demigod, another said. Inexcusable.

My heart hammered in my chest. The chamber rumbled. Dust fell from cracks in the ceiling. I tried running out the way I came, but the entrance was sealed off. My string was severed. I was trapped.