Rising Heroes Book Four: The Sands of Ouroboros

Chapter Eighteen: What Once Was Mine

Disclaimer: I don't own HOO or VE

Chapter Eight: What Once Was Mine

The Labyrinth, sometime in the past

"What?" Beth took a step back, stumbling into Seb.

"What is it?" Seb asked. The rest of the group had continued to move forward, and Annabeth pulled them after them while still keeping a bit of distance.

"I know who you are," Annabeth repeated. "Last winter, when I was captured by the Titans... there was another girl with me. Ciara."

Seb glanced at the demigods up ahead. He gestured for Byron to come back. "Do you know someone named Ciara?" he asked.

Byron nodded. "She's friends with my sister."

Beth snapped her fingers. "The shadow-traveler. Maverick mentioned her."

"What about it?" Byron asked.

"Annabeth met her," Beth said.

"So where is she?" Seb asked.

"We sent her and her friends back in time," Annabeth said. "I don't know where they ended up."

"What?" Beth stopped in her tracks, and Seb pushed her forwards. "How?"

Annabeth glanced forward, but Percy was still preoccupied with the others. "We found the Kronos Immortie on Mount Othrys. I hid it at Camp Half-Blood afterwards, but it was damaged."

"So we have to go back to camp to get it," Byron said, shoulders sagging.

"Not necessarily," with a wicked grin, Annabeth pulled the clock out of her pocket. "I was thinking... who better to repair it then Daedalus?"

"You're a genius," Seb said, grinning. "We can use this to get home."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As they approached the workshop of Daedalus, Beth pulled Seb to the side. "Why did you do that?" she demanded.

"What?" Seb asked.

"You know what," Beth said. When Seb didn't answer she huffed and rolled her eyes. "Why did you... why did you kiss me?"

"Oh," Seb said. "I thought it would be the best way to transfer my power."

Of course he knew that wasn't true. But Seb had grown up with a mother on the run, one who looked out for only herself. She had split multiple times, and every time Seb had gone after her. But when she disappeared after Leviathan... well, he had told himself he wasn't going after anything ever again.

And then there was Beth.

They were good partners. She was smart, a great fighter, loyal to the last. Sometimes a bit of a downer, but a blast when she was drunk. And behind all that he knew there was that sensitive side that she was scared to show, a girl who wanted to have fun but wouldn't let herself.

Seb liked that about her; how bossy she was, even if he acted like he didn't. He had slept with plenty of girls since meeting her, but in the last three months something had shifted.

Maybe it was the fact that they had hunted every day. Maybe it was her crying into his arms, saying she didn't know how to be a daughter. Or maybe it was that fierce look in her eyes when she had just returned an exile and their eyes met, and simultaneously they both smiled. Or maybe it was her freckles and the way he wanted to trace them. Maybe it was nothing at all, and everything, and just her.

Grigori partners weren't supposed to date. They weren't supposed to fall in love. But Seb had never been one for following rules. 

"It was just a kiss," Seb said, because even though he did love her, he loved her enough to want to be the one to keep her safe. And he would do that at all costs, even if it meant not being with her.

Beth almost looked... disappointed, but she said nothing as she turned away to follow Annabeth.

As they entered the master workshop, Waverly stopped to gasp. The floor to ceiling windows showed a breathtaking view of cliffs and trees. "The garden of the gods," a voice said from behind him.

The group turned to find a middle-aged man standing behind them. "Quintus," Percy said, something like suspicion coming across his face.

"Who is this joker?" Maverick asked. 

"He worked at our camp," Annabeth said. "You're... you're Daedalus?"

"I'm sorry, my dear," Daedalus said. "But you're too late."

"You already helped Luke," Carmen realized.

"You betrayed your fellow demigods!" Evan said.

"No," Quintus shook his head. "I had to save myself. For helping Kronos, I will get my son, my nephew..."

"You aren't a true son of Athena," Annabeth accused.

"Maybe," Daedalus agreed. "But I do know about your friends." His gaze turned to Seb and Beth. "It's been a long time since I've seen Grigori."

Beth stiffened. "How do you know about us?"

Quintus chuckled. "I've helped angels as well as gods. And I know a time traveler when I see one, too. Broken your Kronos Immortality, have we?"

Percy's eyes widened as Annabeth brought out the watch. "What is that?" Percy asked.

"Do you remember Ciara, and Dustin, and the others?" Annabeth asked. Percy nodded. "They all came from the future."

"So they're alive!" Evan glanced at Waverly. "We must have all gotten scattered in time."

"There's more," Annabeth said. "I think in the past, we met other time travelers too. My memories are fuzzy, but they're starting to come back."

"Time is actively changing," Quintus said. "Surrender, and I will fix your watch. Luke has promised he will not hurt you if you join them."

"He's going to attack our camp!" Annabeth said. 

Suddenly another person burst through the door- a tiny, scrawny boy with pale skin and black hair. "They're coming," he said.

"Nico!" Percy exclaimed.

"Who's coming?" Rachel asked.

"Minos betrayed me," Nico's face was twisted with fury. "He's planning to exchange his soul for Daedalus's."

"What?" the inventor looked shocked. "But... we had a deal!"

"This is what Luke does," Annabeth said. 

There was a banging sound from outside. "Minos has brought them here," Nico said, unleashing a dark sword.

Daedalus pulled out his own sword and swung it in front of him. "Defend my workshop," he said, "And I'll fix your watch."

Another bang, and the door fell down. Two giant Cyclops lumbered through, followed by a trio of empousai as well as Minos and a hoard of snake-women. 

"Defend my workshop," Quintus repeated.

"Yeah, right," Maverick muttered. "I'm more worried about staying alive."