The Labyrinth (percabeth)

Chapter 1

Annabeth

The sun streamed through the windows of my room, the glass splitting the light into prisms, casting rainbows over the carpet. I sat sulking on my bed, anger fueling up inside of me at the thought of my mother, Athena. For a goddess of wisdom, she certainly wasn't very bright when it came to her own children. As if sending me into the Labyrinth could make me happy.

Let me back up a bit.

I walked into the grand room of my mother's temple. I lived fairly close, just next door, being a daughter of Athena, my mom wanted me close to her ever since the love of her life, my father, died. My mother sat upon her throne, the very picture of royalty, looking as regal as a mortal queen. "Yes mother?" I asked. I wondered why she had called on me especially. I came here every day to train for monster attacks, but it was incredibly unusual for Athena to call on her children at all, let alone when they were in her temple. My mother straightened up more, if that

was even possible.

"Annabeth," she said, "I have a task for you. When I heard of it, I thought you were the perfect candidate to see this quest through to its completion."

My ears perked up at this. Even at 17 years, Athena children were still desperate to impress their mother. "Of course, Mother! What do you need me to do?" Athena frowned, "It is unwise to accept a quest without knowing what it is. Are you sure?"

"Yes!" I said. I needed this, no matter how dangerous this quest was. I was getting tired of being cooped up at home all day, only staying in Athens. I wanted to get out there.

"Very well. As you know, being half-mortal, demigods can do things gods cannot. Traversing the Labyrinth without causing a big ordeal is one of them."

"What?" I said, sure I had heard her wrong.

"I need one of my children to go and vanquish monsters in the depths of the Labyrinth. I cannot do this on my own, the other gods would take too much notice."

"So let me get this straight. You want me to go into the Labyrinth, the most feared place in all of Greece, to kill a monster that you can't because you're afraid of some bad publicity?!"

"This is not that Annabeth! Do not take that tone with me!" Athena snapped. "This is not just any group of monsters! It is a group of the most feared monsters in all of Greece. Two massive drakons, two Chimeras, and a King Hydra. If these monsters escape the Labyrinth, they will lay waste to all of Greece. You must do this to protect Greece!"

"You don't want me to do this for myself. You just want me to do this so you have something to brag about to the other gods!" I screamed. I knew it was true, judging by the look on Athena's face.

"Annabeth! You are by far the qualified, talented, intelligent child of mine!. If anyone can pull this off, it's you."

"And you expect me to do this by myself?" I asked incredulously.

"Of course not! You may take a few companions along with you, and you must work together to save Greece. The whole country is depending on you, so choose wisely."

"And what makes you think that I'm just going to go along with this?" I said.

Athena stiffened, then spoke and said, "If you succeed, I will let you leave Athens." This I heard. I have always wanted to leave this city, but Athena would never let me. Going on this quest would finally give me my chance to get away from Athena, and go kill monsters in the real world, like I have always wanted. "That's not all," Athena said. "You shall receive praise like no other hero, not even Hercules, has seen. Your name shall be known throughout all of Greece, living on in history forever."