mastermind - percy jackson

x. bianca

"this is an insult to my intelligence!"

They did their summons after dark, at a twenty-foot-long pit in front of the septic tank, which was bright yellow and had a smiley face on it.

It didn't match the vibe.

The moon was full. Silver clouds drifted across the sky.

"Minos should be here by now" Nico said, frowning. "It's full dark."

"Maybe he got lost" Percy said, hopefully.

Nico poured root beer and tossed barbeque in the pit, then began chanting in Ancient Greek. Immediately the bugs in the woods stopped chirping.

"Make him stop" Tyson whispered to Percy, who was gripping her hand, beside her.

The first spirits appeared. Sulfurous mist seeped out of the ground. Shadows thickened into human forms. One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink.

"Stop him!" Nico said, momentarily breaking his chant. "Only Bianca may drink!"

Cassandra tapped her bracelet and her sword appeared. The ghosts retreated with a collective hiss at the sight of the silver blade. But it was too late to stop the first spirit. He had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white robes. A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even in death, his eyes were alive with malice.

"Minos!" Nico said. "What are you doing?"

"My apologies, master" The ghost said, not sounding very sorry. "The sacrifice smelled so good, I couldn't resist" He examined his hands and smiled. "It is good to see myself again. Almost in solid form—"

"I could go without seeing him" Cassandra mumbled.

"You are disrupting the ritual!" Nico protested. "Get—"

The spirits began to shimmer dangerously bright, and Nico had to take up the chant again to keep them at bay.

"Yes, quite right, master" Minos said with amusement. "You keep chanting. I've only come to protect you from these liars who would deceive you." 

He turned to Percy as if he were some kind of cockroach. "Percy Jackson... my, my. The sons of Poseidon haven't improved much over the centuries, have they?"

Cassandra glared, "We're looking for Bianca di Angelo" She said. "Which isn't your name. Get out of here."

Minos ignored her, still focused on Percy. "I understand you once killed my Minotaur with your bare hands. But worse things await you in the maze. Do you really believe Daedalus will help you?"       

The other spirits stirred in agitation. Cassandra raised her sword again to keep them away from the pit. 

"Daedalus cares nothing for you, half-bloods" Minos warned. "You can't trust him. He is old beyond counting, and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods."

"The guilt of murder?" Percy asked. "Who did he kill?"

"Do not change the subject!" The ghost growled. "You are hindering Nico. You try to persuade him to give up on his goal. I would make him a lord!"

"Enough, Minos" Nico commanded.

The ghost sneered. "Master, these are your enemies. You must not listen to them! Let me protect you. I will turn their minds to madness, as I did the others."

"The others?" Cassandra asked, gripping her sword tighter. "You mean Chris Rodriguez? That was you?"

"The maze is my property" The ghost said, "not Daedalus'! Those who intrude deserve madness."