[1] something new | pjo

xxix. twenty nine

"MY DEAR,"

Chiron said. "You made it."

Annabeth looked at Percy first. Daphne couldn't tell if she was trying to warn them, or if the look in her eyes was just plain fear.

Then she focused on Quintus. "I got the prophecy. I will lead the quest to find Daedalus's workshop."

Nobody cheered.

Chiron scraped a hoof on the dirt floor. "What did the prophecy say exactly, my dear? The wording is important."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "I, ah...well, it said, you shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze..."

They waited.

"The dead, the traitor, and the lost one raise."

Grover perked up. "The lost one! That must mean Pan! That's great!"

"With the dead and the traitor," Percy added. "Not so great."

"And?" Chiron asked. "What is the rest?"

"You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand," Annabeth said, "the child of Athena's final stand."

Everyone looked around uncomfortably. Annabeth was a daughter of Athena, and a final stand didn't sound good.

"Hey...we shouldn't jump to conclusions," Silena said. "Annabeth isn't the only child of Athena, right?"

"But who's this ghost king?" Beckendorf asked.

No one answered. Daphne thought about the Iris-message she'd seen of Nico summoning spirits. She exchange glanced with Percy who seemed to have an idea about that specific line of prophecy.

"Are there more lines?" Chiron asked. "The prophecy does not sound complete."

Annabeth hesitated. "I don't remember exactly."

Chiron raised an eyebrow. Annabeth was known for her memory. She never forgot something she heard.

Annabeth shifted on her bench. "Something about...Destroy with a hero's final breath."

"And?" Chiron asked.

She stood. "Look, the point is, I have to go in. I'll find the workshop and stop Luke. And...I need help." She turned to Percy. "Will you come?"

Percy didn't even hesitate. "I'm in."

"Grover, you too? The wild god is waiting."

Grover seemed to forget how much he hated the underground. The line about the "lost one" had completely energized him. "I'll pack extra recyclables for snacks!"

"And Tyson," Annabeth said. "I'll need you too."

"Yay! Blow-things-up time!" Tyson clapped so hard he woke up Mrs. O'Leary, who was dozing in the corner.

"Daph?"

"What? Me?" Daphne pointed her finger at herself, "No, absolutely not! I think last winter adventure is enough for a lifetime,"

"You deny adventure, are you scared?" mocked Travis.

"Well, my dear Travis, if I lead you to a certain death under the ground in gods know where are you willing to follow me?" Daphne asked as she saw Travis pursed his lips, "exactly my point,"

"Please Daph, I'll need you,"

"No you don't, you've got what you need," Daphne said, "actually why are you picking me? We're more like enemy right? I don't even know what am I doing here present in the council,"

"Well, for a starter you found the entrance..."Percy tried to make a point, but closed his mouth as he watched Daphne glared at him.

"Just...please,"

Between watched Annabeth's pleading eyes and Percy's hopeful one, Daphne doesn't have the heart to reject them.

"Okay, fine, whatever," she snapped.

Annabeth smiled.

"Wait, Annabeth," Chiron said. "This goes against the ancient laws. A hero is allowed only two companions."

"I need them all," she insisted. "Chiron, it's important."

"Annabeth." Chiron flicked his tail nervously. "Consider well. You would be breaking the ancient laws, and there are always consequences. Last winter, six went on a quest to save Artemis. Only three came back. Think on that. Three is a sacred number. There are three fates, three furies, three Olympian sons of Kronos. It is a good strong number that stands against many dangers. Five...this is risky."

Annabeth took a deep breath. "I know. But we have to. Please."

Daphne could tell Chiron didn't like it. Quintus was studying them, like he was trying to decide which of us would come back alive.

Chiron sighed. "Very well. Let us adjourn. The members of the quest must prepare themselves. Tomorrow at dawn, we send you into the Labyrinth."

Daphne walked to her cabin to sleep. Or maybe to ask Clarisse what happened when she was inside the Labyrinth. If she's lucky Clarisse would answer after a few yelling, if not... maybe she'll beat her to death in the swords arena.

"Have you've seen Clarisse?" she asked her fellow Ares cabin.

"No,"

"She's been in the big house almost every day, every time,"

"Do you know anything about her Labyrinth quest?"

"No one dared to asks her," Ellis said.

"Okay,"

"Daphne," Sherman called her, "I wish you came back alive in one piece,"

Daphne laughed, "of course,"

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