𝐎, 𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄! ; Percy Jackson

25

misery

Theodore was not happy. He had never felt such abhor in his entire life. He watched as Annabeth, standing behind Nicoletta and Percy, pressed the symbol to the doors of Daedalus's workshop. They weren't touching, but he could tell something had changed between them.

His heart was no longer beating. Oxygen was not being delivered to his head. He was haunted by a powerful entity resembling one of their godly parents in the sky.

Percy leaned down to whisper into Nicoletta's ear. She glanced up at him with a gleam in her glorious eyes.

He wished she would look at him like that.

"Di immortales," Annabeth muttered. Running into a room that looked akin to an artist's studio. Half a dozen easels displayed hand-drawn diagrams of buildings and machines that looked like Leonardo da Vinci sketches. If Theodore's brain wasn't thumping with hatred he would be amazed. "He's a genius. Look at the curves on this building!"

"And an artist," Rachel marveled. "These wings are amazing!"

"Percy..." Nicoletta let out a breath. Theodore immediately glanced over to see what had caught her attention. "Look at this jewelry."

She was right to be in awe. There was an array of mother-of-pearl bracelets, rings, golden lockets, earrings, and stunning headpieces fit for a goddess.

Nicoletta picked up the heart locket encrusted with red jasper. She handed it to him so he could clasp the chain.

"It's beautiful," she looked at herself in the vintage mirror.

"You're beautiful," he kissed her cheek.

Nicoletta let out a grin. "I'm going to put your picture in this locket so I can carry you close to my heart at all times."

Theodore's jaw clenched so hard it felt as if he dislocated it. He cleared his voice. "Where are we?"

"Colorado Springs," a voice said behind them. "The Garden of the Gods."

Standing on the spiral staircase right above them, with his weapon drawn, was their missing sword master, Quintus.

Well, at least everyone was going to feel the same misery he was.

"You," Annabeth growled. "What have you done with Daedalus?"

Quintus just smiled. "Trust me, my dear. You don't want to meet him."

"Look, Mr Traitor," she fumed. "I didn't fight a dragon woman and a three-bodied man and a psychotic Sphinx to see you. Now where is DAEDALUS?"

Quintus came down the stairs with his sword at his side. Nicoletta clutched the locket at her neck and Percy stood in front of her, arm clenched.

"You think I'm an agent of Kronos," Quintus shrugged. "That I work for Luke."

"Well, no shit," Annabeth spoke impatiently.

"You're an intelligent girl," Quintus shook his head. "But you're wrong. I work only for myself."

"Luke mentioned you," Percy spoke up in his brave hero voice, still hiding Nicoletta behind him. "Geryon knew about you, too. You've been to his ranch."

"Of course," he walked over to a desk near the window. "I've been almost everywhere. Even here. The view changes from day to day. It's always some place high up. Yesterday it was a skyscraper overlooking Manhattan. The day before that, there was a beautiful view of Lake Michigan. But it keeps coming back to the Garden of the Gods. I think the Labyrinth likes it here. A fitting name, I suppose."