A web of fates | Percy Jackson and the Olympians

XVIII| the truth is finally revealed

Distance was shorter in the Labyrinth. Still, by the time Rachel got them back to Times Square, Daphne felt like they had pretty much run all the way from New Mexico.

They climbed out of the Marriott basement and stood on the sidewalk in the bright summer daylight, squinting at the traffic and crowds.

Daphne couldn't decide which seemed less real-New York or the crystal cave where she had watched a god die.

Percy led the way into an alley, where he could get a nice echo. Then he whistled as loud as he could, right 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 seven of his white friends.

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

Everybody started saddling up except Rachel.

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

Percy nodded uncomfortably. Everyone knew she couldn't go to camp. Daphne 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," Percy 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?"

"Well, yeah." "

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

"Yes," Rachel cut me 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."

"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," Percy said. "It's cool. Look, Rachel, 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 him gratefully. "Well..if you ever feel like hanging out with a mortal again..you could call me or something."

"Uh, yeah. Sure." A pause. "I mean...I'd like that," He said.

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

"I've got it."

"Still on your hand? No way."

"No. I kinda...memorized it."

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

She walked off down Seventh Avenue and disappeared into the crowds.

*•*

When Percy got back to the horses. Nico was having trouble. His Pegasus kept shying away from him, reluctant to let him mount.

"Go without me!" Nico said. "I don't want to go back to that camp anyway."

"Nico," Valentina said, "we need your help."