Maze of Memories

The battle

Distance was shorter in the Labyrinth. Still, by the time Rachel got us back to Times Square, I felt like we'd pretty much run all the way from New Mexico. We climbed out of the Marriott basement and stood on the sidewalk in the bright summer daylight, squinting at the traffic and crowds.

I couldn't decide which seemed less real—New York or the crystal cave where I'd watched a god die. Percy led the way into an alley, where he could get a nice echo. Then Percy whistled as loud as he could, five times.

A minute later, Rachel gasped. "They're beautiful!"

A flock of pegasi descended from the sky, swooping between the skyscrapers. Blackjack was in the lead, followed by four of his white friends.

"Yeah," Percy told him. "I'm lucky that way. Listen, we need a ride to camp quick."

The Pegasus Guido groaned and complained, but I didn't know why. Everybody started saddling up—except Elise.

"Well," she told Percy and me, "I guess this is it."

He nodded uncomfortably. We both knew she couldn't go to camp. I glanced at Annabeth, who was pretending to be very busy with her Pegasus.

"Thanks, Rachel," Percy said. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"I wouldn't have missed it. I mean, except for almost dying, and Pan..." Her voice faltered.

"He said something about your father," I remembered. "What did he mean?"

Rachel twisted the strap on her backpack. "My dad...My dad's job. He's kind of a famous businessman."

"You mean...you're rich?" Percy asked.

"Well, yeah."

"So that's how you got the chauffeur to help us? You just said your dad's name and—"

"Yes," Rachel cut him off. "Percy...my dad's a land developer. He flies all over the world, looking for tracts of undeveloped land." She took a shaky breath. "The wild. He—he buys it up. I hate it, but he plows it down and builds ugly subdivisions and shopping centers. And now that I've seen Pan...Pan's death—"

"Hey, you can't blame yourself for that." Percy said.

"You don't know the worst of it. I—I don't like to talk about my family. I didn't want you to know. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said anything."

"No," I said. "It's cool. Look, Elise, you did awesome. You led us through the maze. You were so brave. That's the only thing I'm going to judge you on. I don't care what your dad does."

Rachel looked at us gratefully. "Well...if you guys ever feel like hanging out with a mortal again...you guys could call me or something."

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Percy said.

She knit her eyebrows. Percy did sound a little unenthusiastic. I knew that he just wasn't sure what to say with all of us standing around. And I guess his feelings had gotten pretty missed up the last couple of days.

"I mean...I'd like that," He said.

"My number's not in the book," she said.

"He got it." I said with a smirk.

"Still on your hand? No way." She looked at Percy in disbelief.

"No. I kinda...memorized it." He said awkwardly.

Her smile came back slowly, but a lot happier. "See you later, Percy Jackson. Go save the world for me, okay?"

She held her fist out to me and I gave her a fist bump. "Til next time?" I said and she nodded enthusiastically.