Daughter Of Light- Book 1: PJO

Chapter 36: Dream Team

Raph froze. His eyes shot open. My glowing gold hands held his face for a second long. Brushing my thumbs along his cheekbones. Maybe for a split second I saw the old Raph, the cocky broody Raph before he blinked and the broken confused Raph was back.

I dropped my hands and back away, a few gold tears slid down my cheeks. I used the back of my hands to wipe them away. He didn't move, slowly he lifted a shaking hand to his lips.

I turned away, but not before I saw him staring wide eyed at the paper clutched in his hand, and his fingers running over his bottom lip. Chocking back a sob I walked away. I didn't know if I just made his Lovesickness worse or if I helped. Will climbed into the back seat with Raph on the other side and Alister and another huge orderly climbed into the front seat. Will waved goodbye and I raised a hand. Raph glanced up. But the car drove off and disappeared out the iron gates. I didn't know if I would see them again. I was willingly walking into a possible trap.

I turned, my cheeks burning red and trudged back to Apollo and ignored his inquiring look.

"Where are they?" I signed.

"An attendee said something about Triple G Ranch..."

"I've heard of that." I signed and then frowned. Where had I heard of Triple G Ranch. I rubbed my forehead. I couldn't place the name, but I definitely heard the name.

"Do you know how to get there?" Apollo asked, "it's on the other side of the country."

"Quickest way is through the maze."

"But..."

"Trust me father. Helios told me something when we first rescued him. I know what to do."

"Be safe my child."

I nodded.

"We will catch up to you at the ranch. Thalia and I have something to check first." Artimis said.

I didn't say anything instead I rolled my eyes. Figures. I'd do this side quest alone. I'd do the Labyrinth alone. Dam immortal gods. I shouldered my backpack and walked back down the path and out the gate. I saw the outside slowly disappearing, the shrubs and flowers disappearing and blending into concrete walls. The further I walked the darker it became until I was officially swalled by the Labyrinth.

🔆

I

took a steadying breath and paused at the fork in the path. Closing my eyes I knew what I had to do, I just needed to figure out how to do it. I was confident in the fresh air with Apollo and Artimis and Will ..but now that I was alone in the dark, with the silence pressing in on me, my confidence was shaken.

Awake the flame with in.

Fire flared from inside, I felt the burning tingling sensation. When I opened my eyes I was glowing gold kind of like headlights of a car. Gold light flowed through my veins. I could see a gold path before me. Before I could question it I took off down the path that had a glowing path.

I ran. Taking turn after turn, ducking under metal spikes that flew over my head. Jumping over the stone floor that was suddenly not there. I ran for a long time. I had to slow down and take a break. I was sitting in some kind of basement, it looked like an old cellar. Some kind of old underground wine cellar. I sat catching my breath and sipping water. I rested my head back.

Awake the flame within. Let me see.

A wave of heat shimmered and I watched images flicker in the heat waves. I saw Nico running, what looked like for his life. A wicked looking black sword clasped in his own hand. He turned raising his sword and swinging it in an arch. The monster dissolved in dust. I saw him sink to the floor breathing hard.