{1} Princess - P. Jackson 🔱

"Dream On- Kratos's version."

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"This way!" Rachel yelled.

"Why should we follow you?" I 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 and I was feeling angry, but we ran along with the rest.

Rachel seemed to know exactly where she was going. She whipped around corners and didn't even hesitate at crossroads. Once she said, "Duck!" and we all crouched as a huge axe swung over our heads.

Then we kept going as if nothing had 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. Percy stood at the doorway, listening for sounds of pursuit.

Then I realized something else: Mrs. O'Leary was gone. I didn't know when she'd disappeared. I didn't know if she'd gotten lost or been overrun by monsters or what. My heart turned to lead. She'd saved our lives, and I hadn't even waited to make sure she was following us.

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

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

He glared at 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.

"Thank you." I said, "For untying me."

"Yeah, you should thank your boyfriend, he asked." Ethan nodded and pointed at Percy.

Percy's ears started to get red, they were all staring at us. "I'm not her boyfriend." "He's not my boyfriend." Ethan only shrugged.

"But thank you, anyway." I stepped to the side, sitting on the floor and opening my bag. I got my camera out and focused on Percy standing in front of Ethan, who was seated on the floor. Annabeth was near him, her arms crossed and Rachel stood more to the side, looking at the three demigods. I snapped a picture of them without them noticing.

Percy straightened his posture, "You must be the half-blood from my dream," He said, changing the subject. "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 with 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?" I 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," Percy said. "Come with us. Once we get through, you'd be welcome back at camp."

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

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

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

I stood up and grabbed his arm. "You're just going to head off alone into the maze? That's suicide. Stay at least for the night."