•as the world caves in•

•a warning•

"This was not part of our agreement!" Daedalus shouted.

"No indeed," the snake woman said. "But we already have what we want from you, and we have other agreements to honor. Minos requires something else from us in order to hand over this fine young demigod. He'll be quite useful. And all Minis asked in return was your head, old man."

"Treachery."

"Get used to it."

"Where's Luke?" Percy asked.

"Luke is... busy. He is preparing for the assault. But don't worry, we have more friends on the way. And in the meantime, I think I'll have a wonderful snack!"

After saying that, all Hades broke loose. I charged at the she-demon, Percy right with me. I couldn't get close, meaning I had to stay on the defensive side as she threw objects at us. I glanced to see Rachel grabbing wings and for once I hoped she was successful. Annabeth helped Daedalus with the giants, along with Mrs. O'Leary.

Somehow, Nico got free and was arguing with Minos, eventually ripping a hole into the floor and sending Minos to who knows where. The Underworld, hopefully.

Unfortunately, there was a still a huge fight. With that minor distraction, the she-demon jumped onto Percy, grinning. "You will taste wonderful!"

I quickly ran over and stabbed her in the back. Watching as she faded into a yellow vapor. Percy had hit his head on a table, and I helped him up. I smiled at him, for the first time in a while, but quickly turned away to see more monsters coming to us.

Rachel quickly tossed us a pair of wings. "We have to go!"

I looked to Annabeth, already fitted with a pair, along with Nico. I quickly scrambled to put mine on, helped Percy with his and went to the window.

Daedalus looked to us. "I won't leave Mrs. O'Leary, go!"

There wasn't time to argue. Nico gripped his straps. "None of us know how to fly!"

"Great time to find out!" Percy said.

We all jumped out into the open sky. I looked to Percy, he was struggling super bad. "Spread your arms! Keep them extended!"

He nodded and immediately followed my instructions, grinning as he began to fly.

Annabeth called out, "land! These won't last forever!"

We slowly began our descent, seeing some climbers against the rocks of the Garden of the Gods. We landed on the visitors center, and the place was empty. We quickly took our wings off and shoved them in a trash, the wings already melting.

"Do you think Daedalus died?" I asked. "It would be good if he did, stop the invasion."

Nico shook his head. "No, I get a feeling when someone dies, and I'm not sensing anything. It's easy with humans and half-bloods."

"We have to get into town." I said. "That's our best bet of finding a way into the Labyrinth. I'll find a prism and send an Iris-message to camp."

"I'll go with," Annabeth said.

"Me too, I'm hungry." Nico said.

"I'll stick with Rachel then. Meet you guys in the parking lot."

I glanced at Annabeth and we rolled our eyes. As we walked away Nico looked to me. "How come Percy didn't come with you? You guys are like, attached at the hip."

"He's a boy, boys are dumb." Annabeth said.

"Really bad at taking hints," I scoffed.

Nico looked confused but then realized. Then he frowned. "I'm not dumb."

"The Minos thing, you kinda were." I said, but shook his shoulder. "Otherwise, you're not. It's okay to get tricked sometimes, but make that the only one."

We got a prism from the gift shop and used water to make a rainbow. Nico thankfully had a drachmae on him and we quickly called Chiron.

"Chiron, not a ton of time to explain." I said. "So, Daedalus gave Luke the string, he's on his way to camp, right now. Huge invasion. Get ready, quickly."

Chiron paled, but nodded. "Thank you, Coriane. Not the outcome I would've liked, but we will have some time to prepare. Please, get to camp quickly." He paused. "Nico?"

"Hi Chiron."

"Chiron, get ready!" Annabeth urged. "We'll explain later!"

"Oh, yes, thank you girls and Nico!" He erased the Iris-message.

We walked to the parking lot where a limo was waiting for us. I was annoyed it was Rachel who got this limo, but that was forgotten when I saw the mini fridge full of snacks.

Rachel stared out the window until she yelled at the driver to exit the highway and we ended up at an old museum for mining. She led us to the mine entrance, and after I touched the metal padlock that melted away, we were back. Rachel hardly paused when there was more than one way.

Annabeth and I decided to make conversation, which included Rachel. We tried talking about our pasts, but Rachel avoided everything, so we talked about art and architecture instead. It was a nice conversation and I started to resent Rachel a little less.

Just a little.

When we stopped, Rachel looked down a tunnel. "Listen."

The faint noise of wind was heard. An exit. The smell of an Eycalyptus tree. Of California. Of Mouth Othrys.

"I have the look." Percy said.

"We can't." I said.

"Luke could be there, or Kronos, I have to find out."

"Then we all go." Annabeth said.

"I'll be quick." Percy promised.

Annabeth handed him her cap. Percy looked at me. The last time we parted ways, I had kissed him and we said we loved each other. All I gave him now was a brief nod and a quick, "be safe."

Time passed and we heard yelling, so we approached. Percy was being chased by Luke, and was being slowed in time, the power of Kronos.

"Percy!" Rachel shouted and threw a blue hairbrush in his eye.

"Ow!" Luke shouted. I was stunned. Luke was holding the weapon of Kronos and had golden eyes. "After them!"

"No!" Nico shouted and clapped his hands, a rock coming from the ground and causing the tunnel to collapse.

"Run!" Percy shouted, grabbing my arm as we chased Rachel.