Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The titan had dark red hair and ageless eyes. “You are making a mistake brother.” She told him. (A mistake? He was protecting their reigns.) “I will not support your war against your own children. Neither will our other sisters. Rhea was well loved. So are her children.”

“So will you fight against me? Like Oceanus and Hecate and Prometheus are doing?” He demanded.

“I will remain neutral. All those who wish to stay out of this war will come to me. You will not make my kingdom your battlefield, brother, and I will attempt to persuade Themis, Thetis to neutrality.”

He was beyond angry. He was their king! He had freed them from their cruel father’s rule and this is how they repaid him? But he was also smart. Patient. He would go along with it. They would regret their stance when his children were defeated and dead at his feet.

Anna woke up.

The dreams had gotten worse. She was used to the disoriented feeling when she woke up from another one of Kronos’s memories; but now there were other feelings—betrayal, love, sadness. She had never wanted to understand her enemy, never wanted to sympathise with him. Yet even when Kronos had failed to host her; he’d left some remnant of his consciousness…which led to Anna dreaming his memories, having his knowledge.

There were some advantages at least. She now knew all the languages he knew (which were almost all the languages in the world), she knew the strategies he favoured, could predict his moves better.

Best of all, she now understood how the immortals tracked demigods and could hide from them. (The trick was to use their own divinity against them. Make them think that they are sensing themselves not the demigod.)

She got up and stretched. She had fallen asleep while reading. Again. Had cricked her neck, again.

Her family would have scolded her for not taking care of herself. She could imagine Amos’s sad expression or how Sadie would chuck a self-care book at her. But she had to finish this as soon as possible.

It had been ten days since Michel’s-since he’d been gone. Anna had spent every moment going through his library to learn warding and then securing her safe houses.

If Alabaster wouldn’t protect their siblings, if Mother wouldn’t…then she would.

Her neutrality had ended the moment Atlas had made her watch as he killed her siblings and nobody had saved them. She was done with impartiality. She was in the war, and she was in it to win. Siding with the Olympians still disgusted her but at least they were easier to control. She would side with them; they would win the war and then Anna could use her position to keep her siblings safe.

Percy would help her advocate for all demigods, she was sure. Now all she had to do was make sure that the hekatites survived. Which meant having safehouses, resources and hiding from their relatives. Easier said than done. But information from Per Ankh’s libraries combined with her realisation from Kronos’s memories had helped her ward her new safehouses (which she’d gotten from a deal with Kol, so Mother didn’t know about them)

They were still less secure than a Nome or hekatite safehouse, but they were fairly God-proof and had magic to sustain it—replenishing food and water, cleaning it etc.

Already half of her remaining siblings had joined her. (Which after so many of them being killed were only 23). Anna had bought an apartment in uptown Manhattan (thank gods for the infinite money cards she’d swiped from Lotus Casino) and hidden it in the Duat.

Mother hadn’t found them yet. Maybe hadn’t searched for them. But that wouldn’t remain the case for long. Now that she had secure safehouses, they had a better chance. They could stay out of the war if they wished, have a normal life. Or they could fight against the Titans and stay safe from the retributions.

A bowl of fruits appeared, startling her from her thoughts.

Anna smiled despite herself. The house was as fussy as Michel had been. Staying here made her feel closer to him. Especially when the house randomly gave her food to eat or dimmed the light reminding her to sleep.

“Thank you.” Anna said softly.

She ate the fruits and then teleported to where her siblings were staying.

She saw Sumi first.

“Anna!” Sumi hugged her. “Where have you been? You told me you’d be gone for a week most and it’s been-”

Sumi cut off. Anna guessed she hadn’t succeeded in hiding her grief.

“I’ve been busy.” Anna cleared her throat. “I have a solution to our safehouses problem at last. Can you get everyone assembled?”

Sumi agreed.

Ten minutes later all the hekatites had assembled in the courtyard.

Anna got right into it. “I found a permanent place to stay. But before we go there, I want to go over a few things.”

She took a deep breath before continuing. “I know not all of you want to fight. Especially since it would be against our family. But as you all observed in Othyrs, the titans in charge see us as pawns. Maybe less than that. And Mother…she can’t or won’t interfere.”

“We know that, Anna.” Sumi said. “But it’s just-”

“How do we know that the Olympians are the better option?” One of them piped in.

“I’ll be completely honest,” Anna said, “the Olympians have their faults. But they won’t strike any of us down. I will ensure that. If they win, then I can get all the hekatites amnesty. And if they lose, if the titans win then Mother will do the same for you. I will take responsibility for your defection. Either way, you have a better chance of survival with me.”

Anna let them process that. She was touched to see that for so many of them the fact that she would take the blame was troubling them. The punishment for treason was brutal. They all knew that.

“Get all your possessions together and meet me here in half an hour. We’ll leave for our new home.” Anna said. “We can discuss further arrangements there.”

-------

They teleported to Queens. After a short walk they reached the safehouse Anna had in mind.

Most of the houses she’d gotten from Kol were decent sized. They were all well positioned. Four of them out of the country, two in New York, one in LA and one near San Francisco.

The one in San Francisco was out for obvious reasons. The one in LA could not hold all of them. But the one in Queens was a large mansion a little out of the city. That was the one she’d decided to use for now.   

The mansion was old styled and beautiful. It had a large garden, a library and more than fifty rooms including a music room. She could hear gasps and oohs as everyone looked around.

“Before you all retire,” Anna stopped them from rushing in, “a few more instructions. First, I want you to swear that the location of this house will remain undisclosed. You cannot tell anyone about this place. If there are some of our siblings which want to join us, let me deal with them but you cannot spread word of this place. Secrecy is our priority. Second, do not say the names of any immortals.”

They nodded.

“I want to offer you an option—to fight or to remain neutral. Everyone who wants to fight has to learn melee. Then we can work on combining melee and magic. And I’m still working for arrangements for everyone who wishes to be neutral, you know school and stuff.” Anna said.

It was a little heartbreaking how just giving them a choice was so much more than they’d expected.

“Well, settle in. You can meet me in private and tell me your decision later. Magic lessons start in the morning.” Anna told them.

Everyone dispersed leaving only her and Sumi.

Sumi sighed. “You don’t do things half-way, do you?”

“Nope.”

“How will you manage all this? And are you sure about offering them neutrality? Wars cannot be won without armies.”

How did she explain that she wanted to give her siblings the choice she’d never had? That this was the bare minimum they should’ve gotten. Lee couldn’t have done this. Neither could have Al. But she had advantages they didn’t. She had the backing of the Per Ankh. She had access to knowledge, resources they never had.

The role of the leader was one she had never wanted. Yet she had been prepared for it her whole life. She would be the best one possible. She refused to accept anything less.

Over the course of the day, she talked with all her siblings. Thirteen of them had chosen neutrality. The rest were ready to fight.

Anna had already prepared accounts for everyone in her care. She had contacted the cyclops to order new batches of weapons. There was the matter of instructors, teachers—camp half-blood was an option but…she would leave that as a last resort, for now.

Books, school for the neutral ones. But it had to be fairly remote. Monsters were hunting demigods, both for eating them and for recruitment. A neutral location would be ideal. She thought of her dream: a red-headed titan, sister to Kronos.

Who was it?

Phoebe? Themis? Mnemosyne?

Something to consider.

And then there was the other matter, something that could prove to be a blessing or a curse.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Sumi asked. She entered Anna’s office and took the seat across.

Anna smiled and set aside the papers she was looking through. “Just going over what we’ll need.”

“Weapons and Training is the priority.”

“Followed by books and tutors.” Anna agreed. “I’ve arranged for weapons. Books, I think, we can get from Mother’s safehouses. I know a spell to copy pages which would be very useful.”

Sumi raised her brow. “Impressive. I see why Lee chose you as his heir.”

“He chose both me and Alabaster.” Anna argued.

“But he preferred you.”

“Yes.” She admitted. “He preferred me.”

They sat in silence while Sumi flipped through the papers lying on the table. Maps and list of allies she could think of—witches, vampires, nature spirits and such.

“You’ve really thought this through.” Sumi said quietly. “I knew you had some ideas…But this…You really are preparing for war. Preparing to win.”

Anna played with the rings on her fingers. They were a gift from Bast, meant to replace the ones she’d gotten from her mother. After Othyrs, she couldn’t rest without having at least two dozen weapons on her at any given time. Most of them were small. All of them were concealed with magic and mist.

Everyone in Camp Half-blood was a soldier. But they were also kids. They didn’t know how it felt to be at the mercy of the enemy. They didn’t understand empathically how bad their lives could become if the Olympians lost. For her, loss meant eternal imprisonment, eternal torture and death of all her friends from camp. She couldn’t afford to lose.

The titans were immortal, had larger armies, had every advantage they could have. Their side had the prophecy hero and a few dozen demigods. It wasn’t a fair trade. So she needed to cheat.

“There is another thing I’m considering,” Anna said. “The Labyrinth.”

“No.” Sumi gasped.

“We need allies, powerful ones. The labyrinth hides Daedalus, minor gods. It could also an alternative means of transportation. You know mom can potentially trace teleportation.”

“The Labyrinth is lethal! It can’t be navigated without the string! You know this. It drives people insane.”

“It was created by Daedalus and Pasiphae. Perhaps the labyrinth will follow the orders of another daughter of magic. I have to try at least, Sumi.”

Sumi sighed. “I’m not talking you out of it, am I? Very well. But I’m coming with you.”

“I need you here. In my absence, you are the leader. I’ve got some swords, knives and archery tutors coming tomorrow—all witches or clear-sighted mortals—and you need to be here to supervise.”

“How do you even know these people?” Sumi demanded.

Anna couldn’t tell her that she had talked to Anubis who’d found them for her. Upon her request, Osiris and Anubis had let the recently dead mortals stay in the living world for long enough to train the hekatites. Since they were dead, the gods could control and order them so there was no fear of betrayal.

“I promise I won’t spend more than two days at a time in there.” Anna said instead of an explanation. “Everyone can start with melee training in the mornings and afternoons and we can work on magic in the evenings. I’ll join every alternate day.”

Sumi wasn’t happy with it but she didn’t argue.

Anna always had an essentials bag stored in the Duat. She added some food to the pack and was ready to go.

Chapter Text

Anna joined everyone for an early morning magic session. Her time with magicians had furthered her understanding of the Duat and the mist. Hekatites were always good at manipulating the mist but Anna wanted to train them further enough that everyone could use the mist to hide, protect and even transform themselves and others.

Could the mist be used for transformation? Not really. But it could be used to make one think that they had been transformed. The mist dealt with perception and that was why it was such a powerful tool.

Afterall, if one is tricked to believe they suffer from one fate when they actually suffer from another then they would waste time curing the wrong problem.

The lessons went well. Anna went over what everyone knew, found out the gaps in their knowledge. Explaining things in a way they understood was harder (especially since she had to keep the Duat a secret) but she managed.

After the lesson, she entered the Labyrinth.

The older children of Hecate were used to travelling. Both Mother and their leaders sent them on errands, quests. A lot of them had come upon at least one entrance to the labyrinth over their travels.

Anna had found the entrance when she was very young. It wasn’t long after she had learned her heritage. Standing in front of the abandoned building now…

She felt lost. Alone.

The girl who’d been here years ago had a loving mom, brother. She had been content if not happy.

Focus.

Anna touched the delta symbol on the wall. It shined blue and the walls opened.

She stepped in and immediately sensed a presence—cold, evil, amused. The Labyrinth.

Anna let her magic spread out and over the walls. Her magic resonated and the Labyrinth rumbled unhappily.

My sister created you. She told it. Guide me as you would her. Take me to Daedalus.

In response, the Labyrinth placed a chasm to Tartarus in her way. She supposed it was its way of saying ‘Go to Hell.’

Perhaps she should start easy.

Take me to New Orleans. She forced her magic on the walls.

There was a deep sound like a snort in response.

She gave up when she stepped out for a moment and found out two days had already passed. The Labyrinth messed with mind, magic and time. Anna knew that time travelled differently in magical places but this was too much. It had been only an hour or two by her approximation! Since she’d promised Sumi not to spend longer than two days at a time, she turned back.

I’m coming back. She told the Labyrinth. You aren’t rid of me yet.

The sudden cold wind sounded like a laugh.

The next few weeks were busy. The magic lessons were going good and so were the melee lessons. The trainers were fair and the hekatites caught up fast. With biweekly visits to the Kanes and Bast, corresponding with the cyclops, nature spirits and the expeditions in the Labyrinth, she didn’t have the time to grieve.

So her dream of Apophis and Michel really caught her off guard.

She woke up gasping, with tears in her eyes and knew that day was going to be bad. She was due a trip in the Labyrinth and a lesson to review her siblings’ training. But she was exhausted. She just couldn’t today. Not with Michel’s screams echoing in her head.

Instead, she visited Mystic Falls.

It was one of the things she’d meant to do but fell to the wayside.

There was the matter of Enzo.

Enzo had been the turning point of her life. Meeting him…or rather finding him had shaken her belief in her father, in witches. She’d tried to find him again but with all the things going on in her life she’d not forgotten but…

After Othyrs, she had gotten a taste at fates worse than death. She didn’t think of how she had gotten used to the pain, how she’d become numb. Until the day when she had prayed, begged her mom to kill her.

She materialised inside the town borders. Her old home looked peaceful in the quiet of the morning. Anna shook off her nostalgia and sneaked into the shutdown Gilbert clinic.

Nothing.

No clues, no leads, no blood.

She had searched through their records, cupboards. She extracted all the data she could find into a pen drive. But even with magic, the most she could find was sense of despair, weightlessness and then being taken far away.

Nothing that would help her get close. Or tell if Enzo was alive or dead.

She sighed.

She didn’t know anyone who could go through the pen drive and hack their way to Enzo’s location. And she didn’t have time to find and befriend some tech savvy mortal.

Enzo would have to wait.

The next thing she did was go to her father.

And of course, Mystic Falls wouldn’t be Mystic Falls if she didn’t get trapped in a house with the Originals.

‘You’re fine.’ She told herself. ‘You are in control. This flimsy excuse of a shield cannot hold you for long. You have your magic. You have your weapons. You. Are. Fine.’

Anna knew her face was in her natural disdainful-neutral expression. She lounged on the couch while the others paced. Eyes half-closed, fingers still, breathing steady. The picture of calmness.

“I’m sorry.” Her father sat down beside her. “You came here for me and now you are stuck.”

Stuck. Unable to get out. Unable to access magic—no. No. She had her magic this time. It was fine. She was choosing not to use it to conceal herself from her mother. She was fine.

“You can make it up to me.” Anna told him. That was why she was here. Not just for Enzo, but also because she needed to hide her dad from her family. The war was getting closer and…She didn’t know how far Kronos would go. “There’s something I want you to do. But you won’t like it.”

“What is it?” Her father asked.

Anna didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stood up and studied the barrier. It was woven with hints of mist. Not enough to make her suspect a hekatite had done it but enough that…

“You awakened Silas, didn’t you?” Anna sighed. “Really dad, it’s like you surpass your older, stupid decisions every time I see you again.”

Her father pursued his lips while the rest of the Mystic Falls gang yelled in outrage. The Mikaelsons wisely stayed out of the argument. Speaking of—

“Where’s Kol?” She asked. “Why didn’t he try to stop your idiocy?”

The ensuing silence told her all she needed to know. She wasn’t sure if she felt sorry for the dead Original or amused. Her lips twitched.

She thought to poke fun at the Originals but then took pity on them. She turned to her father.

“Swear that you would fulfil your favour to me.” She told him.

Her father hesitated. “Not until you tell me why you’re asking me out of the blue. And why you seem so worried.”

Anna didn’t want to get in the specifics of war, hostages. She didn’t want to hint him to the recent changes in her life, not with the Mikaelsons and Mystic fall gang watching.

But her father was like her. Stubborn, cautious even in his most trusting. The fastest way to get his vow was to answer his question.

“I picked a fight with my relatives. Mom won’t protect you if they come looking.”

“Why?” Vincent asked. Anna wasn’t totally sure what he meant. ‘Why wouldn’t your mother protect us?’ or ‘why would they come for me?’ or ‘why did you go against them?’

“Because in my family, vicious retributions are the norm.” Anna replied. Which was the truest answer she could give. “And I’m no exception.”

Her father didn’t understand completely but he still took the vow. Anna didn’t breathe out in relief because such easy tells had been trained out of her. But her shoulders untensed.

“I want you to move from Mystic Falls when I come to get you. For more than a year.” 

She was right. Her father wasn’t happy. Nor was the rest of the gang.

“You’re as selfish as always—” Tyler began.

“Please tell me you plan to deal with Silas before you go fugitive.” Damon interrupted.

“Nope,” Anna replied cheerfully, “as always I have my own problems. Have fun and tell him I said hi!”

She grabbed her father and teleported them to their house.

Vincent sighed exasperatedly. “Did you have to do that?”

Anna gave him an innocent smile. “It was funny.”

“It really isn’t. Anna, Silas is a danger to us all.”

Anna straightened. “He is a danger to Bonnie. To others? Only if they piss him off. Give him what he wants and he won’t bother you.”

Father studied her expression. Anna let him. He had known her very well, once upon a time. But Anna had trained herself out of her tells, showing emotions.

They had enough ammunitions against her. She didn’t need her body to betray her too.

“Silas is a distant relative. He, along with Qetsiyah, started the Bennet-Hekatite feud. Silas chose to spare his descendants the punishment and took it upon himself. Bennet doomed her entire bloodline.” Anna explained. “He is powerful but he is also smart. He won’t needlessly make enemies of you. I know making smart choices doesn’t naturally come to Elena, Bonnie or Tyler and Damon enjoys pissing people off. But this time they’ll have to back down. Or die. You can’t keep shielding them from the consequences, Dad.”

Vincent bit his lip unsurely.

Anna tried once more. “Please dad. You know I wouldn’t ask this of you if it wasn’t important.”

Her father’s eyes softened. Anna held herself still as he reached forward and cupped her face.

“You look tired.” He said softly. Lovingly. “Are you okay?”

“As well as I can be considering we’re at war.”

He straightened abruptly. “At war?”

Anna gave him the bare details, guaranteeing that no names were uttered. She left out a few parts—her time in Othyrs mostly—and she didn’t say a word about the Egyptians. Vincent listened intently. His face grew wearier with each word. By the time she was done he was looking at her with unbridled sadness.

“I’m sorry.” He said haltingly.

“Don’t be. Just keep your promise. Don’t let them use you against me please. Don’t make me burry you.”

Vincent nodded.

“I’ll come back for you once I have a secure location.” Anna promised. “A few days at most. Please stay out of trouble.”

Her father smirked and she was reminded that she was also his daughter. It was him she had gotten her cunning from. And her penchant for trouble.

“I’ll try.” He assured. Somehow it wasn’t that reassuring.

------

“So that’s all that’s happened.” Anna finished. She was at the First Nome. Amos, Zia, Sadie and Carter were with her.

“Giant spikes from the ceilings, spiders the size of dogs,” Carter repeated dumbly, “and you think that was just the Labyrinth playing with you. Are you sure that death trap can even be navigated?”

“Yep.” Anna said.

She had finished recounting her adventures in the maze of Daedalus. Usually, they tried to keep the topic of conversation light. And away from wars. Both of them. But she didn’t want to hide that part of her life from them anymore.

And it was the one-month anniversary of Michel’s death.

“That sounds very dangerous.” Zia remarked.

Anna shrugged. Amos patted her hand (giving her plenty of time to withdraw. She didn’t.)

“Well, I think that sounds amazing.” Sadie interjected. “And a lot more fun than diplomatic visits.”

Visits to consolidate Amos’s position as Chief Lector. Since the previous one had died.

Amos cleared his throat. “And how is training of your siblings going?”

“Fine. I’ve got a lot of experience. Though I miss teaching with Sadie and Carter.”  She answered. ‘I miss learning from Michel.’ She didn’t say.

Both the siblings hugged her. “We miss you too.”

She basked in their affection for a moment. Her visits to the Kanes, to Bast and recently to Zia, were what kept her sane. It was always a well-needed break.

After she had revealed the truth about her heritage, about the Greco-Roman Parthenon things hadn’t changed much. Sadie, Carter, Zia had taken the news well.

They were more worried about her, and very angry at her mother and her other relatives but other than that it was fine. She was really, truly fine.

She had stepped back from the Egyptian war for a while. Just until Percy’s 16^th birthday. Michel’s sacrifice had brought them time. Anna intended to use it well.

“There’s another thing,” Amos sounded sad and nervous. A clear sign that he was about to say something regarding Michel.

Anna stood up.

“Sorry, got to go.” She spoke quickly. Then she parted the Duat around her and went through.

Was it wise? No.

The Duat was dangerous, especially now that Chaos had awakened.

But she didn’t want to talk about her mentor. Didn’t want to think about him or his dying moments.

‘I love you dear. You were the daughter I never had.’ He had said.

And she’d lost him.

Just like she’d lost Lee.

“Annea?” Anubis called.

Anna blinked and noticed she was in the Egyptian afterlife. Duat travel was tricky. And she hadn’t had any fixed destination in her mind. She was lucky she was in the Underworld not in a rebel base somewhere.

“Hey.” She smiled at the god. Anubis and her had come a long way. His help and support had been invaluable. And though she didn’t exactly approve of him and Sadie…well she didn’t disapprove either.

“What’s the matter?” Anubis asked in clear concern. “Is it Sadie? Or are the deceased mortal souls causing trouble?”

“No, no everything is fine. I landed here by mistake. I was…thinking about some recently dead people.”

Anubis’s face softened. He waved his hand and a table appeared. Anna took the time to glance around the room. It had high ceiling, old Egyptian villages in background.

They sat in silence.

“Can I ask what you are doing here?” He said after a while.

“It’s ‘may I’ not ‘can I.’” At his unimpressed expression she sighed and continued. “I used the Duat to get out and landed here.”

Anubis raised his eyebrow. He didn’t remind her of the risks but instead asked why she hadn’t used her usual means of teleportation.

“Mother can sense it.” Anna replied. “And she can block it. Portals and Duat are my best chances.”

Anubis observed her intently. “…Have you heard of travelling via shadows?”

Chapter Text

Anna avoided magicians for a while after that. Instead, she spent that time with Anubis in the underworld. He taught her ‘the art of teleportation with shadows.’ Anna preferred to call it shadow travel.

The rest of her schedule remained unchanged—train with the hekatites, explore the Labyrinth. Her siblings were getting better. They had reached the stage in melee that they could fend off a decently trained swordsman. And the level of ease they had achieved with the mist was second only to Alabaster.

For the ones who wished to remain neutral, she had found a boarding school in Boston. From what Bast had told her (and from her memories from Kronos) it was firmly Norse territory. Hopefully it would keep the titans and Greek monsters out. That was the best she could do until she found the titan from her dreams.

The only thing she had made little progress in was the Labyrinth.

In fact, Anna didn’t succeed in gaining total control until she met Nico.

She had been trying for months but every time she managed to get to a desired location, the Labyrinth took her through the most twisted, long, and dangerous path. And every time she took an easy path; it brought her to a wrong location.

It was infuriating.

She doubly thought so when the Labyrinth sent Kampe in her way.

“Fuck.” She muttered.

“You can run but you can’t hide.” Hissed Kampe.

Anna didn’t bother responding. She ran, taking random turns in the passageways.

Bring me to a large circular room. She willed the Labyrinth.

Spikes shot from the ceilings instead.

I am the daughter of Hecate. The daughter of MAGIC. YOU WILL OBEY ME.

Anna was so focused on forcing her will onto the Labyrinth that she missed the boy until she ran into him.

“Wha-Nico?”

Black hair, black eyes, olive skin. The kid looked older, more burdened than she’d remembered but it was him. Nico Di Angelo.

Nico was just as surprised to see her but then he scowled. Anna grabbed his arm and pulled him along before he could argue.

“Hey!” Nico protested.

“Sorry love,” Anna said distractedly. She was once more concentrating on the Labyrinth. “No time to chat. We have a monster on our tail.”

Kampe’s screech silenced whatever Nico was about to say. The labyrinth grumbled as she forced it to take her where she wanted. But finally, it obliged.

The next room they entered was large, circular and had a small exit.

Anna wasted no time in surrounding Kampe with Greek fire. Then she intoned a divine word. Nico and Anna ran outside as the room collapsed.

“Is it dead?” Nico panted.

“Probably not. But the goal wasn’t killing her, it was injuring her to the point she won’t trouble us for a while.”

Nico nodded uncertainly. Anna lit a small flame. In the flickering green light, he seemed younger than before. Anna hadn’t really given thought to him. She’d had too much going on. But she had heard that Bianca had been on the quest to save Artemis and that she’d died.

Gods. Nico was only eleven years old. Anna had assumed he was staying at camp but…

“What are doing in the Labyrinth?” Anna asked.

Nico scowled. “What do you care?”

Anna only blinked slowly at him. Nico crossed his arms.

“Nico, I was just concerned. The Labyrinth is a horrible and dangerous place. It has driven people, especially those alone, insane.”

Nico bristled. “I can handle myself.”

Anna went over the facts. Fact, Nico lost his sister few months ago. He was a grieving, young boy who ran away from camp. He was also scouring the Labyrinth alone.

“Do you need help getting out?” She ventured.

“NO.” He yelled. “I’m fine. Leave me alone!”  The shadows swished angrily around him. The ground cracked and a skeleton climbed out.

Fact: Nico was a son of Hades.

Nico paled as the dead soldier raised his musket and aimed at her. “Stop! Don’t hurt her!” He ordered them. The skeleton paused for a moment but then resumed.

Nico was powerful but he couldn’t control his powers yet. So why was a young, untrained, grieving son of death scouring the Labyrinth alone?

When Nico realised that he couldn’t control the Spartoi, he yelled at her to run. Anna instead took out her sword and chopped the skeleton and pushed away the bones.

“They-they won’t remain that way for long.” Nico said. “They can’t be killed.”

“Oh, they can.” Anna replied. “Here, let me show you.”

She set the Spartoi on fire. Greek fire was always hot. But Anna had once wanted to burn Atlas with it. Titans are more immune than cyclops to things like fire. So, Anna had made her fire hotter. It hadn’t worked on him but the Spartoi disintegrated within seconds.

“That’s so cool.” Nico muttered under his breath.

Anna internally smiled. He sounded just like had when he’d rambled about Mythomagic back at Westover. Just like the kid he was despite not getting a chance to be.

“Do you want to work together?” Maybe that was what made her offer. She didn’t have the time to help him through his grief. And she knew he wouldn’t go back to camp (not that she could blame him) But this much she could do.

“You don’t even know what I’m doing.” Nico said suspiciously.

“You’re in the Labyrinth. I’d wager you wish to find Daedalus.”

Nico startled at the son of Athena’s name. So he was searching for the creator of the Labyrinth. The question was: why?

“Okay.” Nico was still suspicious but he agreed. “Let’s go.”

--------

She learned many things travelling with Nico. The first was that he had absolutely no plans, self-preservation, or sense.

“That’s the ghost of Minos.” Anna tried not to snap. Usually, she had better self-control but the kid was wearing her down. “Ghosts have their own agendas. This one so obviously wants revenge and is using you.”

“Master, don’t mind what the demigod says. I am but your humble servant.” Minos said. “Have I not guided you, taught you your powers? You cannot trust this mortal. She is the one wo wants to use you.”

Anna sighed and then waved her hand. She had spent a lot of time with Anubis recently. He had taught her shadow travel and the basics of necromancy. Minos’s form dissolved into mist.

“What did you do?” Nico demanded.

“Relax, I simply sent him back to the underworld for a while.” Anna answered. “We are going to take a break from exploring and work on your training.”

Nico grumbled but Anna poked him until he got into a defence position.

“Let’s see how well you can use your emo sword, kid.” She spoke.

Nico squawked.

Anna didn’t let him get a word in before attacking.

“You’re good.” Nico said grudgingly.

“You’re not so bad yourself.” Anna grinned back.

“I didn’t even last a minute in an all-out spar.”

“Nico darling, I’ve been training for more than a decade. You’ve been training for a few months at most.” Anna said patiently. “That you lasted this long speaks to your talent. Now if you last more than two minutes against me, then you can handle most monsters and demigods.”

Nico shrugged but she could tell he was pleased.

“Keep doing the drills I taught you, with increasing speed, and you’ll get better.” She continued. “For now, I think we should find a hotel to rest.”

“We can camp in the Labyrinth.” Nico argued.

Anna sighed mentally.

“The Labyrinth drives people insane,” she reminded him, “giving it access to our vulnerable minds doesn’t seem a good idea.”

Nico pouted. Anna didn’t coo but it was close. Even decked in black and stinking of death magic the kid managed to be cute.

“In fact, why don’t we take a one-day break from the death maze?” Anna said casually. “We want to be in good shape when we face Daedalus.”

Nico stared unblinkingly while he thought. Anna didn’t rush him or back away. Finally, after a few minutes he nodded.

“Okay.” He agreed.

“Great! Let’s go in the city and get some supplies.” By which she meant ‘lets buy you new clothes, food and get you a shower.’

Nico didn’t seem to enthused but let her drag him to a mall.

The next thing she learned about Nico was that he was pretty out of touch with the modern world.

He knew most common facts. But his knowledge between two years ago and the 70s was…spotty. Anna had many theories that could explain it but she decided not to focus on it. They spent the day with her introducing random useful concepts of the twenty first century.

“A mobile phone is very handy for communications. But any sort of technology tends to attract monsters.” she told him under her breath as she bought a phone. “I’m buying you a full year plan and I’ve already saved my number. You can use it to contact me or google things, listen music etc. Just be careful, okay?”

She had also saved Mrs Jackson’s, Annabeth’s and the CHB landline number. But he didn’t need to know that yet.

If Nico was overwhelmed, he didn’t show it. He asked many questions. They tried out multiple cuisines, bought new clothes. It was the most relaxing day she’d had in a long time. No monsters, no gods or titans.

At night they stayed at a cheap motel at the edge of the city. She’d chosen the place because of the blue delta on the door of the broom closet. Anna wasn’t comfortable sleeping so close to an entrance to the Labyrinth, but she wanted Nico to settle.

He had been happy but his face twisted in guilt and despair often. She knew that feeling. After Lee had died, she couldn’t laugh without guilt crushing her for days. Sadie and Carter had pulled her out of that all-compassing grief. And now after Michel’s death there was the war to keep her from losing herself.

The Labyrinth would keep Nico focused. It wasn’t healthy in the long term but for now his quest would stabilize him. Hopefully.

She was standing by the door when Nico sneaked in. He had the backpack full of stuff and he held his black sword in hand.

“Hey Nico.”

Nico froze.

“I was just—" He started and then trailed off when she didn’t say anything. Nico fidgeted while she studied him.

He was powerful, enough to attract the titan’s attention. And he was young, grieving and…

Anna sighed. “You know, I also have siblings. Even younger ones. And the war has taken a lot from all of us.”

She waited for him to get angry, to scream that she didn’t understand. It didn’t come.

“Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself.” She moved out of his way. “Call me if you’re in trouble.”

Nico was surprised. He edged forward slowly and then opened the entrance. Anna didn’t stop him. She had many responsibilities already and Nico, as much as she wanted, couldn’t be one of them. They had trained. He had potential and with little practice he would get better. That had to be enough.

Nico looked back before going in. Anna gave him a reassuring smile. He didn’t smile back but his next steps were steadier. Then he was swallowed by the maze.

-------

Anna didn’t get a chance to go into the Labyrinth until early June. There were many things to do—training, war preparations, securing the safehouses—and she wanted to be done with most of them before leaving for camp. She even squeezed in a visit to the Romans.

It had been a long time since she’d been to camp half-blood. More than two years. She wondered how much had changed. And how much had not.

Summer was creeping close and Anna suspected that it wouldn’t be a peaceful one. What better way to weaken the defence than by taking out the demigods now? It was partly why she had insisted that her siblings not join her. The battle this year would be an important one; but they would lose the element of surprise. Especially with the spy at camp.

She took a deep breath before touching the symbol. It glowed and the door opened. She had controlled it when she’d been with Nico. She could do so now as well.

Take me to the heart of the maze. She willed her magic and the Labyrinth. Take me to Daedalus.

The maze obliged.

Chapter Text

Dedalus’s workshop was unguarded. And unlocked. Was it arrogance? Sincere belief that no one would get past the labyrinth? She supposed it didn’t matter.

The workshop was designed like an artist’s studio. A high celling (about ten metre), industrial lighting, polished stone floors and workbenches. A spiral staircase led up to a second-storey loft.

Half a dozen easels displayed hand-drawn diagrams, blueprints for various buildings and machines. Several laptop computers were scattered around on the tables. Bottled Greek fire lined the shelves. There were half-finished projects and inventions lay about the room.

There were no visible traps. Anna walked around cautiously. Her magic didn’t sense any adverse spells and there didn’t seem to be any trip wires or mechanisms. There was also a distinct lack of the inventor.

Well. More time for her to observe uninterrupted.

She got out her phone and recorded the entire floor. In addition to pictures, she used a spell to copy the plans, blueprints diagrams. Only when she was done casing the room twice did she climb up the stairs.

Upstairs was a studio apartment style bedroom. It was tastefully decorated with pieces of art from all kinds of periods. There was a shelf with books of different languages, subjects. Anna repeated the process of recording, spelling a copy until she reached his journal.

She hesitated. She was beyond violating his privacy, sense of safety by snooping around. And reading his journal was a new low. But this was war and she had to take every chance she could to understand her allies or enemies. No matter how lowly it made her feel.

She levitated the journal and studied the cover. It was a drawing of a bird—a partridge—with broken wings and the backdrop of black flames.

Interesting.

She knew a little about the man’s history. He had worked for Minos, built the Labyrinth. He had helped Ariadne and Theseus escape and had been hunted for the rest of his life. His son had died flying too close to the sun. His was a cautionary tale.

The drawing was detailed. Personal. Maybe it was a reminder of his son’s flight?

When she attempted to open the journal, it released a mechanical hiss and then poison started leaking from the cover. Finally, a trap.

Anna waved her hand and dissipated the liquid. Then she brought the journal closer and studied it carefully. There were tiny, almost invisible wires running over it. More traps. Maybe even a self-destruct option? It was what she’d have done.

Judging the journal as a lost cause, she placed it back where she found it and climbed down.

Before leaving, she grabbed two laptops from the table. No alarm or trap activated so she kept in her storage in Duat. The absence of the computers would let Daedalus about the intrusion. But then again, he would’ve realised it if he was observant enough. She hadn’t been obvious but she hadn’t concealed her presence either.

Just in case…She got out a piece of chalk and drew multiple hieroglyphs all over the room. She made sure they were invisible and blood activated. Her blood. It wouldn’t do for some other hekatite or half-blood to accidently spring her traps. It probably wouldn’t be of use. But if she ever came here again and fought Daedalus in his own terrain, then a few extra tricks up her sleeves wouldn’t hurt.

It was a useful trip, even if she hadn’t met the inventor himself. She could take the closest exit to camp half-blood and be on her—

Was there a direct route to camp?

She cursed herself for not thinking of it sooner. If she had thought to use the Labyrinth then so must have Kronos or the other titans.

Take me to Camp Half-blood. She ordered the Labyrinth.

The Labyrinth gleefully agreed. Suspicious. Most likely trap. One she couldn’t even avoid if she wanted to get to her destination.

She sighed and followed the route.

An arena. That’s where the Labyrinth took her. A Colosseum ruled by a fucking giant.

Anna hid herself in the mist. She observed as monsters, demigods fought each other while those in the stands yelled. There were demigods from both sides of the war. She saw a pair of dracaenae drag a prisoner and throw him in the arena. Watched as he killed his opponent—a demigod from the titan’s side—and then be murdered himself.

It was nauseating.

It was what she’d have been forced to do if they hadn’t trapped Atlas. What both the camps would be reduced to, if the Olympians lost.

She took a deep breath. Focus. Released it. Once she was sure everyone was sufficiently distracted, she sneaked in the halls under the arena.

They weren’t dungeons as she expected but instead quarters. Might as well explore them. A glance through the Duat showed that there were no immortals around. And she was fairly certain she could handle the average demigod or monster.

It would have been strategic to wait for somebody else to approach, to open the doors and for her to follow them invisibly. But she didn’t have the time. And every moment she waited, there was a chance that the giant or some titan would come.

Here goes nothing.

The first two chambers were empty. And the occupants in the third were pre-occupied. She was about to leave them to their…activities, when one of them broke apart.

“Stop.” He spoke.

Luke.

Anna found herself getting closer, almost without thought.

The other figure was an empousa. She wore a satin white dress and had curly brown hair. The mist hid her mismatched donkey legs, flaming hair and red eyes.

The empousa pouted. “C’mon Luke, don’t be shy.”

She attempted to pull him down for another kiss but Luke stepped back.

“Thanks, but no thanks.” Luke said.

“Most males would beg for a chance with me.” The empousa glowered. “Don’t you think I’m beautiful?”

Then her expression turned sly. The mist rippled until she looked like—

“Perhaps you like this form better?” The monster wearing Anna’s face said. “The traitor child of my mistress.”

Luke’s eyes widened. His expression betrayed surprise and wistfulness before it hardened. “I don’t care what you—"

The empousa pushed him against the wall and straddled him.

“Don’t be like that. You don’t want to hurt me, do you?” it was weird seeing such a pathetic, doe-like expression on her own face. And Anna was sure she never sounded so sickly-sweet.

Luke swallowed roughly as the empousa began peeling off her dress. Anna decided she’d had enough. The decision to send the monster crashing to the floor was thought-out. The decision to stomp her face was personal.

“I hope you weren’t planning on having sex with my demonic look-alike.” Anna said flippantly. “That’s a new low. Even for you.”

Luke stared at her. She couldn’t decipher his emotions.

“Annea.” His voice was low, reverent.

“In the flesh.”

Finally, he reacted. He turned away and slumped against the wall.

“You aren’t…this can’t be real.” He whispered.

Anna impulsively reached for him. He let her hold his hand, press a kiss on his knuckles.

“Do you dream of me?” She looked up through her lashes. Her voice was soft, seductive. Unlike whatever that bitch was attempting.

Luke shivered and cupped her face. He hesitated and Anna made the decision for him. She leaned in slowly, giving him a chance to stop her. He didn’t. The press of his lips against hers was familiar and welcome.

Luke groaned and deepened the kiss. Anna let her hands slip under his shirt. His muscles were taut and hard. Anna arched as his hands touched a sensitive point. They were both gasping when they broke apart. 

“You’re here.” Luke sounded awed.

She wasn’t entirely sure why. She wasn’t the one who fell off a cliff. Well. She didn’t fall off a cliff and disappear.

Anna trailed her fingers over his torso. She had known he was going to try for the curse of Achilles. Kronos had ordered him. The feel of his skin—hard as iron—confirmed it. Confirmed that he had survived the first step.

“So you’re really going to do it.” She murmured.

Luke made a broken sound. Anna opened her arms and Luke stepped right into them. It wasn’t smart. Anyone could walk in. The empousa could wake up. But this could be the last time she saw him. The last time his body would be his. The next time they would meet, a monster would be wearing his face, his body.

They held onto each other for a long time.

“Why are you here?” Luke’s voice was muffled. His face was pressed into her hair and he seemed content.

Anna was once again hit by the feeling of unfairness. Why did it have to be him? She knew, she knew, that this was the sum of his decisions. But gods. Luke was the first to fully, truly seen her and love her. All of her. She loved him, understood him.

“I could ask you the same.” She murmured.

“I’m here for Aridane’s string.” Came the reply. “There will be an attack on camp half-blood by the end of the summer.”

Anna stiffened. They stepped back from each other. She had suspected it but…

“Are you supposed to be telling me this?” She asked lightly.

Luke looked away. “I want my siblings to have a surviving chance.”

Because he couldn’t offer them that.

“I won’t let them die by your hand.” Anna promised. “Not directly, at least.”

Luke shuddered and nodded thankfully.

“I need to go. The empousa will wake up in a few hours.” She turned to leave. Then grabbed him and pulled him for one last kiss. Luke kissed back just as desperately.

She left the labyrinth ignoring the tears.

Only when she was sure her face betrayed no sorrow, did she appear outside Brooklyn House.

It was her final visit before the end of the war. After this, all her attention would be on the coming battles with the titan’s army. And planning for the war and what came after.

Lou was already at camp; Sumi was with the others. Anna had been to New Orlean and gotten her order of armours, protective clothing and potions from Julika. This was the last place she had to go to before joining the war efforts.

Anna greeted the ankle-biters first. They were the youngest trainees. Most of their training included channelling magic through drawings or light spells but they were pretty good at it. Julian, Paul were lying on the couch but jumped up to meet her. Anna laughed feeling lighter. Then she remembered how her last conversation with the Kanes had ended and her cheer died.

“Hey, have you seen Sadie and,” she began but was interrupted by Bast hugging her. Anna squeezed her back.

Bast looped their arms and took her to their training room. Anna basked in the familiar sight. She and Bast had spent many days and nights here—training, making plans or just talking. Her improvement in weaponry, in speed could largely be credited to Bast.

“Sadie and Carter are visiting a Nome.” Bast said. “They’ll be sad to miss you.”

Anna didn’t sigh. But Bast knew her well enough to read her emotions from her non-existent body language.

“I could call them—”

“No.” Anna interrupted. “Its alright. And hey at least I get to see you before…”

Anna trailed off. Bast hugged her again. They joined the others, ate marshmallows, and just relaxed for a while. Soon it was time for her to leave.

“Anna,” Bast pulled her aside. “I have something for you. A gift from all of us.” She gave her a moon pendant hanging from a golden chain.

Anna studied it carefully. It was obviously magical. And a weapon of some sort. “What is it? And when you say ‘from us all’…?”

“It’s from Horus, Isis, Osiris, me, Set,” Bast hesitated before taking the last name. “And Khonsu.”

Anna almost gave it back then and there. They had lost Bes because of Khonsu. And maybe it couldn’t be entirely blamed on him, but he was still a ruthless, uncaring asshole.

“It has six forms,” Bast hurriedly continued. “Sword, khopesh, spear, dagger, staff and pendant. I know you don’t like Khonsu, and for good reason, but his help was necessary. This will be useful.”

“I... this is…I don’t know what to say.”

It was a very valuable gift. Made by the power of six gods, capable of channelling magic and for the purpose of fighting.

“We owed you.” Bast put up a hand to stop her protests. “I know you don’t consider helping the Kanes a favour to us. But you, Sadie, Carter saved the gods. Twice. The first time we repaid them by repairing the Nome. Which now that I think of it isn’t such a great gift when Set was the one to destroy it in the first place—”

“You were also part of the gift.” Anna interrupted. “Your presence, helping us, training is a gift.”

Bast smiled. “Thank you, Anna. And this is our gift to you. You do not owe us any additional help or favour in return for it. Let our blessings be with you.”

There was nothing she could say to that except- “Thank you.”

“Of course.” Bast hugged her again. “Come back to us alive.”

“I will.” Anna swore.

No matter who won, she would be back. And she would face Chaos with them. She refused to accept any other possibility.

Lee, Michel and so many others had sacrificed themselves so she could be here. She would not join them without ensuring the defeat of Apophis. Oh, and the titans too.

Chapter Text

Anna took a cab back to Manhattan. A portal would be faster, or teleportation. But portals, Duat travels had become risky with Apophis gaining strength. And Hecate could possibly track magic-teleportation via cards. She could shadow travel, but she wanted to keep that a secret, a last resort.

Her resolve lasted until midtown Manhattan. It had taken three hours—three—just to get to the city. Traffic was murder. She had caught up on her sleep. But being stuck in a place was making her restless and wary so she got off there and shadow travelled directly to Thalia’s tree.

It was weird to say the least. Exhilarating, she supposed. Like going on a rollercoaster in the dark. When Anna’s vision cleared, she was standing on Half-blood hill with two others.

“Di immortales!” A demigod jumped.

Chiron on the other hand was as calm as usual. “Hello Anna.”

“Hey Chiron,” she replied but most of her attention was on the newcomer. The mist rolled uneasily around him as if he was familiar but not a child of the mist. Then he extended his hand and his shirt collar shifted to show that mark and she knew.

“Hello, I’m Quintus,” said Daedalus. “I’m the new swords-instructor.”

Anna showed none of her thoughts or revelations. “Hi. I’m Annea, Daughter of Hecate.”

Quintus startled. It was nothing big or obvious but Anna had spent weeks studying people’s body languages, their tells. Daedalus had heard about her.

“I was expecting you back sooner.” Chiron said. “No matter. I’m glad you’re here now.”

Anna shrugged. “I was planning to come sooner but you know how things are. So what have I missed?”

“We found a scout.” Chiron answered. “A former camper. Perhaps you might recognise him. Clarisse nursed him back to life but he’s…”

“Disturbed.” Daedalus suggested.

Chiron grimaced but didn’t object. They walked into the Big House. Without Dionysus around the place seemed strangely empty. Who knew she would miss the useless, drunkard fool? There were voices coming from the basement.

Chiron was in his centaur form and didn’t attempt to walk down the stairs. Anna and Daedalus (‘Quintus’ as he called himself) went down. Amidst the stockpiled cases of ambrosia and strawberry preserves, two figures sat. One was Clarisse. The other—a teenager in tattered camouflage combats and a dirty black T-shirt, matted blond hair and Hispanic features—Chris Rodriguez.

Chris was hugging his shoulders and crying while Clarisse cupped his face and comforted him. Daedalus cleared his throat and Clarisse sprung apart.

“Clarisse,” Anna greeted politely.

 “Anna.” Clarisse’s ears were burning but she managed not to sound too flustered. “Quintus.”

Daedalus nodded back. “Chiron wants you to rest. He sent Anna to watch over and perhaps help the young demigod.”

 Clarisse narrowed her eyes. “Tell him I don’t need rest. And you think you can heal Chris?”

Anna glanced at Chris, this time looking through the mist. There were faint traces of a curse surrounding him—madness inducing curse—but it was weak. Whatever damage his mind had suffered was mostly trauma, with the curse making it worse.

“I can try.” Anna said. “But I can’t guarantee that I will succeed.”

“Do it.” Clarisse almost begged.

Anna gestured at them to give her space. She sat before Chris and placed three fingers (forming a triangle) on his forehead. She called upon her magic slowly. Heal.

The curse weakened and Chris’s eyes began to clear.

“A-annea?” He muttered. But then Clarisse pushed her way forward and he recoiled.

“Mary, no.” He wailed.

Anna dropped her hand and sighed. The curse was mostly gone but his mind was far too messed.

“No, no, no.” Clarisse shook Chris lightly but he was muttering incoherently. “It was working! Damn it.”

“Do it again.” Clarisse yelled.

Daedalus squeezed Clarisse’s shoulder but she shook it off.

“There’s nothing I can do without hurting his mind.” Anna said gently. “I already got rid of the curse. The rest can only be cured by sleep and rest. But love, he must want to get better.”

Chris had backed away but stopped muttering.

Anna leaned forward and took his hand. “Chris, listen to me. You still have people who care about you. Don’t give up, please.”

Chris stared unblinkingly.

Anna let go and stood up.

She and Daedalus left the room. They walked in silence for a while.

“Do you think he can recover?” Daedalus asked when they joined Chiron.

Anna shrugged. “Minos’s curse made things worse but it’s also his own ordeal that caused the hallucinations and all. He could heal. But Mr. D is more suited to help him than me.”

Chiron grimaced. “Let us hope Chris can hold on until Dionysus returns.”

But Daedalus wasn’t paying attention to what Chiron said. His face was pale, eyes unfocused.

“Quintus?” Chiron asked in concern.

Daedalus blinked and then smiled shakily. “I’m alright,” he said. “But…how…what makes you say the curse is of Minos?”

Anna smirked. “I know a lot of things I’m not supposed to. Secrets are how I’ve survived.”

Daedalus opened his mouth and then shut it. They made their way to the training halls.

She knew Daedalus was subtly observing her. He was smart enough to pick up on her hints. He was likely wondering if she knew his secret. Anna let him stew in silence.

The swords arena was busy. Campers were training, sharpening their skills and weapons, slashing at the dummies, and trying to keep away from the large, black dog playing with a huge bronze toy. “What is a hellhound doing here?”

“That’s Mrs. O’Leary,” Daedalus’ voice and face had gone soft, “She is my pet.”

Anna glanced at Chiron who shrugged helplessly.

“Would you like to spar?” Daedalus asked her. His body language was casual but his eyes were wary, assessing.

While learning her maybe-ally-maybe-enemy’s fighting style would be useful…“Actually, I’d like to check in with Cabin 11 and the other counsellors first.”

Daedalus nodded and joined the others.

“You don’t trust him.” Chiron’s voice was low.

Anna hummed. Should she reveal Quintus’s true identity? Or should she wait and try to win his allegiance? Truth or leverage? Choices, choices.

“He’s certainly suspicious,” Anna said, “He knows more than he lets on.”

“So do you.” Came the quiet reply.

“Yes. But you can be sure of my allegiances.” Anna pointed out. “His are not so clear.”

“But,” she continued, “I suppose I’m paranoid. We should give him a chance before condemning him, right?”

Chiron gazed at her for a few seconds. Most people forgot or ignored that he too was the child of the Crooked one. Chiron had received her message—he’s useful but not completely trustworthy.

“What are your plans for today?” He changed the subject.

“Meet with the counsellors, check on our war preparations,” Anna answered, “I want to work with Cabin 11 to prepare them to work as a unit. Oh, and I have some bad news.”

Chiron pursued his lips. “Should we find a quieter place?”

Anna waved her hand. “It won’t take long. I’ll leave it up to you whether to share it with the others or not. Kampe is free.”

Chiron took a sharp breath.

“I met her in the maze. We can be sure that she will have some part in the coming battle.”

“I see.” Chiron aged before her eyes.

“You should see if you can ask the gods for some aid.” She added.

Chiron scrubbed at his face in despair.

“Anyways,” Anna continued with fake-cheer, “see you around.”

Then she went off to find her old cabinmates.

Cabin 11 was emptier than usual but no less rowdy. Anna greeted several old friends and acquaintances. Conner told her that Travis was with Katie on border patrol. “We’re taking turns patrolling the labyrinth entrance.” He explained.

That was smart. And considering that the Labyrinth entrance could not be destroyed or moved, this was the best they could do.

“Anna!” Her sister ambushed her with a hug. Anna limited her reaction to a jerk but nothing more. She didn’t want to accidently stab Lou.

“Hey Lou,” Anna smiled. “It’s good to see you.”

It really was. Anna had asked Lou to stay and train at camp. Truthfully, the trainers Anna had arranged for the rest of her siblings were better (despite being dead). But she needed someone to keep an eye on the camp and ensure that the rest of the hekatites were welcomed.

Who better to win them over than her most charismatic sister?

Lou had kept her updated while she was with the Kanes and Sumi and the others. She had passed on Anna’s messages, weapons to Travis and Conner. And hopefully, she had made friends.

“I’m glad you’re finally here Anna.” Lou squeezed her tighter. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” She whispered. “C’mon,” Anna said pulling her sister along, “I want to catch up with Travis. You can show me the entrance.”

They waved at the others before leaving the cabin. Once in the forest, Lou slowed down.

“We had Capture the flag four days ago.” Lou filled her in. “Percy and Annabeth were gone for hours. At first, we thought that they were, you know…But it turned out that they’d found the entrance and had gone into the Labyrinth. A quest was issued; they’ve been gone for three days now.

Percy, Annabeth, Grover and Tyson. Annabeth’s leading. Oh, and the prophecy is: ‘You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze. The dead, the traitor and the lost one raise. You shall rise or fall by the ghost king’s hand, the child of Athena’s final stand.’ And something about ‘destroy with a hero’s final breath.’ Annabeth didn’t share the rest.”

Anna squeezed Lou’s hand in thanks.

“And the other thing?” She asked.

Lou played with her dagger. “I checked it out. It was in the Aphrodite cabin. Among the counsellor’s things.”

Silena.

Anna had asked Lou to keep her eyes open and try to identify the titan’s spy. They could find the spy by searching for a communication device. She had thought it would be an unclaimed demigod or a Herme’s kid but…

Silena was the spy. One of her oldest friends at camp. The only one (other than Percy) who had comforted her about Luke.

Anna wondered when Luke started seducing the Aphrodite girl. Was it even after their break-up? Or had he been flirting with her before she joined camp in the summer? Had Silena ever meant any of the words she made to Anna. Any of her promises?

While most of her mind was racing to find ways to use this, there was a part of her that was…

Jealous.

Even though this was so much bigger than her. Even though she knew Luke loved her.

It rankled. That even after all this there was a part of her that was just a teenage girl.

Atlas would’ve called it a weakness. Then again, he had always advised her to accept and feel all her emotions so maybe not.

“Are you okay?” Lou asked softly.

 “Not really.” Anna sighed.

“What do you plan to do?”

“For now? Nothing other than keeping them away from our traps.” Anna said with finality. Regardless of who the spy was, the plan had been the same: let them be for now, use them to trick the titan army during next operations and the final war. “We’ll use them against the titans later.”

“And if they become too much of a problem?”

Anna met her sister’s gaze steadily. She would not risk their siblings any more than she had to. “Kill them.”

They continued walking.

Anna found Travis, Lee Fletcher and Katie at an outcrop of rocks. They were guarding the entrance. Or at least one of them was. Lou cleared her throat. Travis and Katie scrambled away. Anna let an amused smile show when Lou began teasing the couple.

“They are such teenagers.” Lee Fletcher joined her. They watched the three joke around, laugh. Katie and Travis were blushing and Lou was cackling.

“They are teenagers.” Anna replied softly.

They were all teenagers. Even her and the son of Apollo, who were the oldest in camp were just 19. And yet none of them had ever had the chance to just be children.

Fletcher blinked back tears and Anna changed the subject.

“What is the battle plan?”

Fletcher outlined the current plan. It was simple enough. They were to surround the entrance, swordmen at the front and archers shooting from trees. They would bottle in the invaders and kept them away from the heart of the camp.

“A lot of our enemies were campers. They know this forest as well,” Anna pointed out. “And they outnumber us.”

“We have to do our best.” Fletcher said.

What a naïve sentiment.

What a true statement.

But if they were to win, ‘their best’ had to be better. Their opponents had all the advantages. They had to use every trick to win. And Anna couldn’t afford to lose.

“Want my input?” she asked. And when he nodded- “We could set up a few traps, use our home field to our benefit.”

Everybody agreed so they got to work. They dug a deep trench just around the entrance and Katie covered it with newly grown leaves and grass. Fletcher placed a few arrows traps like smoke arrows, sonic arrows.

“We can get Cabin 11 to set up bear traps.” Travis suggested. “And other sneak attacks!”

“Ares Cabin has mines.” Lou added. “Though…actually never mind, that’s too risky.”

Anna briefly squeezed her sister’s shoulder. “It’s a good idea. Let’s see if we can reduce the danger.”

“What about the nature spirits?” She continued. “Can we count their help?”

“I guess our cabin can ask them,” Katie said uncertainly, “but they’re not fighters, are they?”

“We shouldn’t underestimate them.” Anna answered. “Camp is their home too; they might wish to defend it. As for being fighters…everyone wants to survive. Just ask them, they might surprise you.”

Katie nodded. “I’ll ask them.”

“And we should keep this between us.” Fletcher said catching her gaze. So he was also wary of their plans reaching the wrong ears. Good.

“What? Why?” Travis exclaimed.

“We don’t want to lose the element of surprise.” Lou explained. Fletcher agreed. Travis looked at Anna then gave his assent. Katie bit her lip but finally relented.

Lou decided to keep Travis and Katie company (her exact words were ‘chaperoning’) so Anna found herself walking alongside Fletcher on the way back.

They kept up a superficial banter. Fletcher stopped at the archery centre. Anna was tempted to join him. It had been a while since she used the bow and arrow. But she still had to talk with Beckendorf, Pollux and…Silena.

“I’ll see you at dinner.” She told Fletcher.

The next few days passed in a blur of war preparations and training. Everyday Anna woke up and met up with Chiron. He would assign her tasks. It was usually morbid things—death reports, messages from nature spirits. When she was done with that, she checked in with her siblings. Then after lunch she visited Chris. Afternoons and evenings were for training.

Fletcher oversaw archery. Daedalus had taken over her usual job. Annabeth preferred to take the dagger and knife training workshops but as she was on her quest… That left knife fighting to her.

Daedalus observed quietly as she corrected the technique of a newbie. Her own style was varied (to say the least) but she stuck to the traditional Greek styles while at camp. If the inventor wished to gauge her fighting pattern, then simply observing her at camp wouldn’t work. Not that she told him that.

She had left him alone. Too busy to bother with him. But whatever he’d heard about her or whatever conclusions he’d come to kept him from underestimating her.

“You favour the old ways.” He noted.

Anna raised an eyebrow.

“The techniques you use are the ones used by the original Greek heroes.” He elaborated. “They’ve been modified, lost. And yet you know them well enough to teach them.”

They stood a little farther from the others. Nobody seemed to be listening in. Still, Anna opted for a vague response.

“I learned from ghosts. And you know, titans.” She smirked slightly. “Though your own knowledge of ancient warfare is remarkable. Is it inherited from your mother?”

Daedalus stiffened. “I’m not sure what you meant.”

She smirked just long enough to unnerve him. Then continued casually. “You’re an Athena kid, aren’t you? The blond hair and greyish eyes plus a love for war strategies gives it away.”

Daedalus didn’t untense. “That was quite a leap of logic.”

“And you have that condescending arrogance I usually associate with her children.” Anna added. “No offence.”

“None taken.” He replied just as blandly. “You are very observant. For a child of Hecate.”

Anna laughed. Daedalus gave an apologetic smile. One that he didn’t mean the slightest.

“I must ask you to keep your speculations to yourself.” His voice lowered. “Some things are better left in the dark. I’m sure you understand.”

A threat? How noble.

 She hummed. She could threaten him in turn. Or twist his words to make him the fool. Or…

“Engage in a thought experiment with me.” She spoke.

Daedalus rose his brows. Anna guided them in a secluded corner. A swish of her fingers erected a silence ward.

“Impressive.” He remarked.

“You know of Annabeth’s quest.” Anna said. She continued at his confused nod. “How would you convince Daedalus to help in her place?”

He appeared thrown. “What?”

“Hypothetically, if you were leading the quest into the Labyrinth.” Anna said slowly. “Then how would you convince Daedalus to not aid the side of his mother’s enemies? I understand getting him to join his brethren’s side would be difficult. But surely, he could be persuaded not to give Ariadne’s string to the titan army. Right?”

She wondered if she was being too obvious.

“Why ask me?”

“You are a child of the wisdom goddess, same as him. And you’ve lived long enough to understand the price of surviving.” She shrugged. “I asked Chiron but he doesn’t completely understand. I wanted your opinion, fellow demigod to other.”

Quintus stared at her. She had given enough hints. But not completely. She could follow his thought process: He didn’t know if she knew. Not for sure. But if she did know then he had to be careful not to let her know.

“They say he escaped death by hiding in that labyrinth.” Quintus said slowly. “He must have gone insane.”

“But if was sane…? What could the titans offer? Or better yet, what could we offer him?”

Quintus scratched his chin. He made to reply but they were interrupted.

“Think about it.” Anna said before parting.

----

That evening she found herself at the beach.

The last time she was here…was with Luke. They had had a midnight picnic. Breaking curfew, hiding from the Harpies, smuggling in drinks. They had been happy. Carefree.

She sighed and plopped on the sand. Then blinked as the mist formed an image.

“Nico! Hi.” Her smile dimmed at his appearance. Nico looked horrible. His eyes were red and his face was pale and blotchy.

“Are you in any immediate danger?” She asked. “Where are you?”

Nico shook his head.

Anna knew better than to demand answers. Even if she really wanted to.

“Nico, love, please. Please let me help.” She said softly.

“Triple G Ranch.” He mumbled.

Finally, a location. Not one she knew, but she would find it.

“Alright. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She promised.

She couldn’t magically teleport to his side. Even if she used her magic tele-cards, the user needed to have an idea of their destination. Duat was the last resort. That left shadow travel.

She recollected his surroundings. It wasn’t much darker there (same time zone?). So, it was probably in America. And a Ranch, so it was the countryside.

There were far too many places that fit. It would take too long to check out each of them. But maybe Iris could help.

A wave of her hand formed a misty rainbow. She threw a few drachmas. “Oh, goddess Iris,” she prayed. “Please show me the location of Triple G Ranch.”

The image didn’t change for about a minute. Then it changed and showed her the Texas border board. The image zoomed in swiftly until she could see Nico from a distance.

“Thank you, my lady.” She let out a relived breath.

Anna closed her eyes. Visualized the place Iris had shown. Then in a blink of shadows she appeared next to Nico.

“Ahhh!” Nico screeched.

Anna bit back a smile. She surveyed their surroundings while Nico caught his breath.

“How?” Nico breathed.

“Magic.” Anna smirked.

Nico mustered a smile but it didn’t last. His lips wobbled. Anna spread her arms and Nico jumped in. He let out a sob. Anna simply held him until his sobs subsided, until he calmed.

“Do you want hot chocolate?” She asked seriously.

“W-what?”

“It’s a ranch. They’ll have milk. And hot chocolate is a cure-all. Unless you’re lactose intolerant...?”

“No.”

“Good.” She put her arm around his shoulder. “Then come on.”

Nico watched in silence as she found the kitchen and the milk. She procured some chocolate mix and marshmallows from the Duat. Nico murmured appreciatively when heated the mixture using her own fire instead of a stove. After they were both seated with mugs in their hands, she put up a few (dozen) protection spells and wards.

Nico regained his strength as he sipped his drink. She didn’t ask. But after a while he started speaking. He told her how he’d felt his sister’s death. He had run away and found Minos. Minos had helped him learn his powers, had shared the secret of a-life-for-a-life. Daedalus’ life in exchange for Bianca’s.

“That kind of magic has a price.” Anna said quietly.

Minos must have had his own agenda. He didn’t care about a few kids of Hades. But even if Nico had somehow succeeded, Minos would’ve tried to use it to his benefit. Tied his life to Bianca’s, perhaps.

“Bianca said that she didn’t want to come back that way.” He answered equally quiet.

Anna hugged him again. This time he only let her hold on for a few minutes.

“I don’t know what to do.” He admitted. “I’m so…so angry at Percy. But it wasn’t his fault. I don’t know who to blame.”

“I can’t promise you that it will get better. But for now…maybe find another purpose. Before, your anger and hate directed you. Now find something else to help you hold on.”

Nico opened his mouth then shut it. He nodded. “Do you want to spar?”

------

Nico agreed to join her at camp. Just for a while.

“Nobody wants me there. I don’t belong.” He had argued.

“Fuck what anybody else says.” She had replied.

He had been too tired to argue further. And that was that.

She understood why he wouldn’t want to come. Camp Half-blood wasn’t the most welcoming place. It gave far too much importance to who they considered ‘the major gods.’ The campers could be judgmental, cruel.

But they could also be kind. And not everyone amongst them was like that.

Most importantly, Nico needed people. Being around only ghosts was not healthy. Nor safe. Maybe camp wasn’t his home. But it could be a safe place, somewhere to fall back on.

That was if the camp didn’t alienate him. (Like they had Percy after he was first claimed) Well. They would come around. And even if they didn’t, Anna could think of at least four people who would be happy to see him.

Two of whom were waiting at the camp borders.

Connor and Travis were overjoyed to see them. “Nico!” They greeted him with a hug.

Nico appeared baffled.

“I contacted camp ahead to let them know we’re on our way.” She said, purposely misinterpreting his confused gaze.

“We’re so happy,” Travis began.

“That our little Mythomagic geek is safe and sound.” Connor completed.

“I don’t play that game anymore.” Nico said.

“We were worried, kid.” They said in unison. “And now that you’ve seen the light, we can move onto more important matters!”

“Seen the light?” “What important matters?” Anna and Nico spoke at the same time.

“We can finally teach you poker!”

….

Never change, Stolls.

“The Stolls can help you settle in.” Anna told Nico. “You can tag along them or you can join me in my knives/daggers class.”

“Actually, Chiron wants you to take some Greek lessons.” Travis said.

Greek lessons in midst of war?

Then again, the children needed some normalcy. With the end of summer approaching, they needed something to boost morale.

“Alright. See you later?”

Nico nodded and let the sons of Hermes pull him along. Anna headed to the Apollo cabin to borrow some books. If she was conducting some language lessons then she was going to do a damn good job of it.

Chapter Text

Anna didn’t see Nico until breakfast the next day.

Her classes and then war duties had gone until late night. She had taken Greek lessons, then helped Fletcher out in the infirmary and finally worked with Beckendorf and an Athena kid to make plans for a magic shield. By the time that wrapped up, they had missed dinner. Nico was settled in the Big House for the night, so they didn’t meet at the cabin.

“Good morning.” Anna greeted.

He looked better. He’s eyes weren’t bloodshot, his face had more colour and he had actually laughed at a few of Lou’s jokes. She was glad her sister was getting along with the kid. She hadn’t doubted it. But it was still gratifying to be proved right.

“What’s your plan for today?” Nico asked. He had taken only a few fruits but was stealing some toast off Travis’s plate. Herme’s cabin’s influence.

“Chiron has a list of things for me to do.” And most of the things would keep her away from the swords arena and wherever Daedalus hung out. She wondered if it was deliberate. She wondered if Daedalus had put Chiron up to it.

“Speaking of, I want to introduce you to someone.” She gestured him to follow. Fletcher was the one to give her the idea. “This is Will, he’s just starting basic healer training. I think you should join him.”

“You want me,” a son of hades went unsaid “to join a son of Apollo in healing classes?” Nico deadpanned.

“You need to know the basics, Nico.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s useful.”

“Do you have a problem with healing?” Will demanded.

Nico spluttered out a denial. Will harrumphed. Anna left them to it. She had many things to do, including dropping by in her safehouse. The sooner she was done, the better.

-------

“Have you told him yet?” Fletcher leaned against the wall.

Anna turned away from where Nico and Will were chatting. Will was as bossy as ever and Nico’s glower clearly didn’t scare him. She was glad the kid was socializing.

“Told him what?” She asked absentmindedly.

Usually, she wouldn’t be so lax. But it was a good day. Nico had enjoyed his time at the forge; her siblings had finished their training. And she trusted that she would be safe here. She trusted Fletcher. Not like he could do anything to her.

“That he’s your new sibling.”

Anna mentally re-evaluated him. Lee Fletcher—son of Apollo, great with medicine and archery. And observant and smart.

Anna raised a brow.

Fletcher grinned. “I may not know you as well as your sisters and brothers. But we have known each other for years. I can tell when you’ve mentally adopted a new one.”

“Really?” She drawled.

Fletcher smirked. His golden hair sparkled in the sunlight. He had clearly gotten his looks from his father. But Apollo’s smile was blindingly perfect. Lee had a crooked grin. Like Percy. Except his smile awoke feelings that she didn’t associate with Percy.

Then Annabeth appeared.

Annabeth was sobbing. Her hair was messy, muddied with soot. Chiron galloped to where she stood. The other campers began to gather.

“Annabeth dear, where are the others?” Chiron asked and Anna wanted to kick him for asking such a stupid question. Especially in front of everyone. “Where’s Percy?”

“Excuse me.” She told Lee and ran to Annabeth’s side.

She elbowed Chiron and dragged them to the Big House. Most of her attention was on them. But she noticed Lee ordering the others back to their position and Nico running after her.

Annabeth recounted her tale.

Chiron aged a decade more. “Then he is dead.” He said heavily.

“No!” Annabeth protested. “He’s just lost. He can’t be-”

“Annabeth we’ve heard the news of St Helen’s explosion. An eruption of that size—” Chiron began.

“He’s not dead.” Nico interrupted. He avoided everyone’s eyes. “I would feel it if he died.”

Anna angled herself in front of the kid. Chiron wouldn’t hurt Nico, but no need to make him nervous.

Chiron studied him silently. Finally, he nodded. “We’ll hold off from announcing him dead. Percy has survived many things. We’ll wait.”

Annabeth nodded fervently. Then timidly asked Nico. “Can you tell if Grover and Tyson…?”

Nico shook his head. “It’s different. I don’t completely understand my powers yet; but I think I can only sense mortal souls. Mostly those which I know.”

Anna placed her hand on the kid’s shoulder. “That’s fine. We believe you.” She sent a look at Chiron and Annabeth that said ‘you better believe him.’

“Nico, you should take Annabeth to the infirmary. Will and Lee will want to check her over.” She added.

Usually at this point Annabeth would make a fuss; remind them that Anna had no real authority. The fact that she didn’t was spoke how exhausted she was.

Anna put up a sound barrier.

“I can find out their whereabouts.” Anna spoke as soon as they were alone.

Chiron pursued his lips. “Anna, I’ve already lost three campers to the maze. And the last time you were in the maze, the She-Dragon—”

“I escaped her once.” She reminded him. “In fact, I left her injured and buried. And as for the labyrinth, I’ve already been exploring it. I can navigate it. Chiron, I need to do something.”

Camp was good. But with the battle approaching…it was the calm before the storm. And she was so sick of just waiting. Of training kids who would die before the month was out, mapping out strategies which wouldn’t be a match for the sheer number of the other army.

They needed some advantage; some trick up their sleeve that would help them survive.

And she needed to find her friend.

Chiron sighed heavily. “Very well. You may search for a week.”

“One week for the search. And another for other avenues.” She stated.

Chiron didn’t argue. He knew he couldn’t control her.

“Young Nico will want to follow you. He won’t stay at camp when you’re not.” Chiron said instead.

Anna was aware. Nico was discovering he had people who liked him, wanted him around. But he didn’t trust them yet. He had come because of her (and Percy, though he didn’t admit it.) “I know.”

“You’re our best strategist and warrior. And the son of hades is powerful despite his age.”

“I don’t want camp to be destroyed either, Chiron.” Anna frowned. “I chose my side. You know better than anyone that our family doesn’t take betrayal lightly. I will not run from the fight.”

“I do not doubt that,” said Chiron, “I’m just…”

“Worried.” She finished.

They stood in silence.

“I might have ideas about allies. Minor gods, nature spirits mostly.” She admitted. “I won’t ask them to participate in the war efforts; I can’t when the Olympians have been…less than respectful towards them. But a little unseen help will also go a long way.”

Chiron nodded thoughtfully. “That is true. And you feel they will listen to you?”

“I have been a part of Mother’s court since I was twelve. I’m familiar with a lot of them. And we do have something we can offer them: worship, sacrifices, respect from the campers.”

Chiron smiled. For the first time in the conversation, he had hope in his voice. “I admit I hadn’t even thought of that. If you can convince them Anna, we might have a chance. Perhaps you can start with the Lady of the Rainbows? She and I have been friends for centuries. She’ll hear you out.”

“We’ll leave at dawn. Where do we go?”

------

“Lady Isis has a shop?” Nico asked, bewildered.

Anna studied the piece of paper Chiron had given. Tilted her head. Reread it. It didn’t change. The paper still read ‘Rainbow Organic Food & Lifestyle.’ She wasn’t dyslexic, she had no reason to doubt her eyes and what she read. But really—

“I think she has multiples shops,” she said absentmindedly, “this is the one she allowed us to visit.”

Nico eyed the building sceptically. She understood the feeling. They had left early morning. Chiron had given her a name and address. Nico had insisted on coming with her.

Not even the reminder that he was hardly trained stopped him. (Not that she’d expected it to) So here they were in North California, at the early hours of the morning. They were waiting at some distance from the described address.

“Should we go in?” Nico asked after a while.

Anna nodded firmly. This was it. After more than a year of avoiding court, she was back into politics. Joy.

“Let me do the talking.” She ordered. “Observe but do not interfere. Be polite and respectful.”

When he agreed she linked their arms and entered the building.

The shop was a something between a witch’s occult shop and a thrift shop. Mist (the non-magical kind) and rainbows were everywhere. As they stepped through the door, lights came on. Flute music started up. The wide aisles were lined with magical flowers and clothing racks with tie-dyed shirts and modern-greek and roman dresses. The ceiling was covered in wind chimes. Along the walls, glass cases displayed crystal balls, and a variety of other occult related objects.

They were welcomed in by a bubbly cloud nymph. (Bubbly? Gods Carter was infecting her with his stupid puns) The nymph—'call me Fleecy’—brought them to an inner room where Iris waited.

Iris wore a white chiton and had her hair braided in a typical style favoured by the Greek gods. That Anna had expected. The rest of her outfit was more…unique. She wore amber necklaces and turquoise rings and a ROFL apron which had ‘Rainbow Rules’ or something similar to that written in an older language. (one she didn’t recognize but could read, thanks Kronos)

“Hello!” Iris clapped. “I’m Iris. Welcome Anna, lovely to finally meet you. And you must be Nico, son of Hades?”

Nico startled. “How do you—”

Anna elbowed him into silence. Then she executed a perfect bow. It had been years since she’d met an immortal in the formal capacity, but the lessons hadn’t been forgotten.

“Oh, that’s not required,” Iris waved off the formalities, “come sit with me then we can talk. Fleecy, can you bring us some herbal tea?”

Once they were settled in with tea, the goddess continued the conversation.

“To answer your question Nico,” the goddess said, “I know your name and lots of different things. Being the messenger goddess…well, I do learn a lot, hearing all the communications from the gods and so on. And both your sister and Anna prayed to me about you.”

Pain flashed across his face at Bianca’s mention. Anna smoothly turned the discussion to the main topic. “That was what we were hoping to discuss, my Lady. I understand that—”

----------

The talks veered well into afternoon. Iris was siding with the Olympians. Though she didn’t plan to get involved in the fighting itself, she had agreed to pass on important information to them. Fleecy would gather the information and contact Anna.

Iris had offered them lunch but Anna had declined, citing the need to search for Percy.

“I would help with that but he seems beyond my reach.” Iris said.

“How is that possible?” Nico asked. “I mean, are there places beyond your reach?”

Nico had warmed up to the goddess over the course of the conversation. He was not quite the excitable young boy he once was, but he asked plenty questions. Iris was charmed; she could tell.

“Oh there are many places where I can’t reach, just ask Anna.” Iris explained. “Most of the time, she’s beyond my reach.”

Anna ignored their questioning gazes. “We really need to leave. Thank you, my Lady, for all your help over the years.”

“Of course.” Iris smiled warmly.

Both Anna and Nico bowed. He was a quick study.

Nico exited before her but Anna stopped a moment to study the magic surrounding the shop.

“Annea,” the goddess called. No longer were her eyes twinkling. She sounded serious and ancient. “The titans don’t often use IMs, but the things I’ve heard…They have plans for you. Be careful.”

Anna acknowledged the warning with an incline of her head. It was worrying but by no means was it surprising. She already knew she couldn’t afford to lose or be captured. But the goddess’s concern was appreciated.

--------

They shadow travelled to Mt. Helens.

Well. Anna shadow travelled them.

“How can you even do this?” Nico exclaimed.

“My mother is the goddess of magic” Anna shrugged. “As for the process. Stand still. Feel the shadows. Let them reach for you. Then just picture your destination and go through them.”

“That doesn’t even make sense!”

“Stop applying logic to divine powers. It doesn’t work beyond a point.” Anna drawled. “Just relax and try. NOT NOW. Later. First, we have a friend to find.”

“Percy is not my friend.” Nico muttered.

Anna ignored him.

They didn’t climb. Couldn’t, what with the still-hot molten rocks and smokes-ash coming from it. The eruption had happened three days ago, but the volcano was still bubbling.

Anna and Nico went as close as they could. They looked around but everything was buried under layers of molten lava. Wherever the labyrinth entrance was, it had either been buried or had moved.

Mostly, Anna looked through the mist.

There were faint traces of a god’s presence. But it could be Hephaestus’s. According to what Annabeth said, this had been one of his favoured forges. But it could also be another god’s.

Posiedon? He would want to save his son. But the ancient laws would restrict his interference. Maybe he sent someone?

“Did you find anything?” Nico asked.

Anna hummed. “Maybe. But we’re not getting anything more out of this place.”

Just then the mountain shook. A wave of—

Anger. Power. Destruction. Storm. Danger.

“—Anna. Anna!” Nico was next to her. He was holding her and. She had fallen down. Whatever—whoever—was in the mountain…

Typhon.

“We need to leave.” She got up.

Nico supported her while she called the shadows. In a blink they were a few cities away.

“What happened?” He asked once she’d caught her breath.

She pushed down the terror. Masked all the emotions. “An old foe almost awakened.”

“Who?”

She stared him dead in the eye. “You don’t want to know.”

Nico nodded shakily.

“I need you to go back to camp for a while.” She said finally.

Nico glared. “I’m not leaving you.”

“I need to meet the next few gods on my own.” She explained. “Your presence won’t help. I’m sorry.”

“Is it because I’m a son of Hades?” Nico worried his lip.

“Yes.” A pause. “But not in the way you think. Your father is an Olympian. They’re kind of assholes. I’ll be better received. And I have some favours to call in, secrets to trade. Secrets I can’t share.”

“Okay.”

“I shouldn’t be gone long. If it has been more than a week, then you can team up with Lou and find me. If you want.”

Nico’s reply was a bit more satisfied this time. “Okay.”

“Till then you can train. Lou can teach you a little about mist and you have healer training with Will.” She smirked when he grumbled. “Learning to treat wounds is important, Nico. I learned it. Its been very useful. Anyways, call me if you need me? And if you get any further leads.”

“What do I tell Chiron?”

“Tell him that there’s a chance that there was godly intervention. And tell him the gods’ greatest enemy stirred.”

Nico nodded.

Then he fidgeted. “Uh…how do I get back?”

Anna laughed.

---------

Anna wasn’t there when Percy came back from the dead. Crashed his own funeral. But Chiron IMed her about it. She was so fucking relieved. She hadn’t doubted Nico, she hadn’t. But so rarely did things go well for her. She had lost so many people already. Thank gods Percy wasn’t one of them.

Anna called Nico and they met outside the entrance where they had once parted.

“How are we going to find them?” Nico asked once they were in.

The labyrinth chuckled evilly until it realised it was her. Then his presence got an almost-childish pout feeling.

Anna smirked and chose not to answer. Instead, she willed the Labyrinth to take them to Daedalus. They found the questers—Percy, Annabeth and a mortal girl with Quintus (who was clearly mid-reveal)

Anna put up some alarm wards and entered the workshop. Nico followed her in.

“Hello Daedalus.” She said pleasantly.

Daedalus stiffened minutely but his smile didn’t drop. “Ah. Hello Annea. I wondered if you knew.”

“You knew?” Annabeth demanded.

Anna shrugged. “I had suspicions. I’m guessing you already gave up the string?”

Daedalus stared back mournfully.

While Annabeth denounced her ancient brother, Percy shuffled over.

“It’s good to see you.” Anna squeezed his hand. “Alive.”

Percy grinned back. Then smiled at Nico who blushed. “Hi Nico. I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Whatever.” Nico grumbled.

Anna didn’t smile at the scene. But she was amused. Both at Percy’s obliviousness and Nico’s crush. The mortal also joined them.

Daedalus was still defending his choices. Anna could have scoffed. His naiveite was pathetic. So was his desperation.

He had made a deal with the crooked one and not even got it bound in magic or word. He thought that he could control dead mortal souls. What was the guarantee that either Perdix or Icarus hadn’t chosen rebirth and left? How did he even know that the underworld would survive the war?

She would have asked. Taunted.

But then her wards blinked out.

“We have company.” She murmured.

Percy and Nico immediately drew their swords. Annabeth and Daedalus stiffened. The door of Daedalus’ workshop slammed open.

“There he is as promised!” Minos’s ghost bellowed. He looked almost solid now – a pale bearded king with cold eyes and tendrils of Mist coiling off his robes.

Luke and Kelli followed him in.

“Indeed.” Luke Kronos said.

It wasn’t obvious. His eyes were blue (for now) and he dressed the same as ever. But the mist moved away from him, his eyes were cruel and ancient and she had known this was coming.

“What is the meaning of this?” Daedalus demanded.

“Luke sends his compliments,” Kelli said. “He thought you might like to see your old employer, Minos.”

“This was not part of our agreement,” Daedalus said.

“No indeed,” Kelli said. “But we already have what we want from you, and we have other agreements to honour. Minos required something else from us, in return for the son of hades.” She turned to where the others stood. “Of course, the son of Poseidon is a lovely bonus. All we need from you know is your head, old man.”

“Luke you can’t do this!” Annabeth stepped forward. Kronos tilted his head and observed her with a small smile. “Camp will be…”

Anna tuned her out. She instead focused on the room. There were four sets of wings on the other wall.  Nico Percy, Annabeth and their mortal friend had to get the wings and flee using the window.

Five minutes.

She could buy them five minutes.

The room was covered in still invisible runes. A few feet to Kronos’s left, there was a freeze hieroglyph. It wouldn’t hold back an immortal for long. But in a mortal’s body…

“Get the wings.” She whispered to the mortal. “Wait for my signal.”

Kronos turned at her voice. Their eyes met.

“Annabeth.” She spoke without breaking eye contact. “Get back. Now.”

The mortal took her cue and ran. Percy and Annabeth charged at the empousa. Nico attacked the ghost of the old king. Anna drew her knives and strode towards him.

Kronos watched her approach. She couldn’t decipher his expression.

“Annea.” He spoke. “We are not enemies.” He spread his hands as if inviting her to join his side. “You know I love you.”

Was he buying time? It was in her benefit, so she would take full advantage. But why did he hesitate? Was Luke…was Luke in control?

“You let Atlas torture me.” She tested him.

Luke Kronos didn’t flinch. “I’ll punish him. When we win. Please my love...”

Daedalus interrupted them by attacking. He swung his sword and almost took off Kronos’s head. Or he would’ve if Kronos’s mortal body didn’t have the curse of Achilles. Or if the titan was any less skilled.

“Don’t listen to him! Luke is only trying to trick you. You can’t betray camp.” Daedalus, the hypocrite, said.

Anna rolled her eyes. But if Daedalus wanted to take over distract-the-titan she would oblige. She ran to Nico’s side, who was struggling with Minos.

“To me!” Minos cried. “Spirits of the dead!” He raised his ghostly hands and the air began to hum with death magic.

“No!” Nico swung his sword.

“You do not control me, young fool,” Minos sneered. “All this time, I have been controlling you! A soul for a soul, yes. But it is not your sister who will return from the dead. It is I, as soon as I slay the inventor!” Spirits began to appear around Minos – shimmering forms that slowly multiplied, solidifying into Cretan soldiers.

“I am the son of Hades,” Nico insisted. “Begone!”

Minos laughed. “You have no power over me. I am the lord of spirits! The ghost king!”

“No, you are not.” Anna said calmly. She recalled Anubis’s instructions and dispelled the spirits.

“I am the son of Hades.” Nico stated. “I am the ghost king.”

He stabbed his stygian blade into the floor, and it cleaved through the stone. The ground rumbled. The windows cracked and shattered to pieces, letting in a blast of fresh air. A fissure opened in the stone floor of the workshop and Minos was sucked into the void with a horrible wail.

“Enough!” The titan roared.

Kelli was dead and Rachel was fitting the wings on Percy and Annabeth. Daedalus lay crumpled at Kronos’s feet. (He couldn’t even last two minutes) He was bleeding golden oil and his breaths were shallow. Daedalus’ hound growled and prepared to attack the titan. Apparently, she was loyal. Unlike her master.

“It’s over, Luke. You’re outnumbered.” Percy’s voice was steely.

“Go with Percy. I’ll hold him back.” Anna told Nico.

“I can’t leave you—”

“Go.” She ordered.

 He swallowed but ran to Percy’s side. Rachel began weaving the wings on him.

Anna threw her knives at the titan’s back. He dodged most but one hit him. It didn’t hurt him. But it did bring all of his attention onto her.

Blue eyes met green.

“You’re not Luke.” She spoke.

His eyes turned golden.

“I am not.” He said softly.

“What?” Percy whispered. Anna could kill him. Here she was working to distract the titan and that idiot drew his notice.

“This body has been well prepared.” His voice was like a razor blade running over her skin. He had given up playing Luke’s part. Every inch of him was now the time lord. “Don’t you think so, Percy Jackson?”

She didn’t give Percy time to reply. She tackled the time lord. It was like hitting a stone wall. But Anna had put in divine power behind her push. Kronos was caught off guard. They went down. Hard. Anna rolled off him.

“Go!” She ordered them. She drew her knives and stabbed at Kronos, who was stuck underneath her.

“You think you can hurt me?” He sneered. “I’m invincible! No blade of yours can—”

He cut off with a howl.

Good to know a knife to the eye was painful even with the curse of Achilles.

She jumped back as he pulled out the knife and aimed it at her. But instead of attacking with melee, he used magic.

He called onto his dominion over time.

And Anna froze.

Not because of his power.

But because his powers pulled at her. And she could feel something within her singing in recognition. Reverberating.

Kronos idly swirled her knife as he stepped towards Percy, who was struggling against the time spell. Nico and Annabeth were staring in shock.

Move. She told herself. His powers aren’t affecting you. Do something and save Percy.

The mortal was first to react. She threw something at the time lord. A…blue hairbrush?

“Ow.” For a moment it was only Luke’s voice, full of surprise and pain. Anna pushed him towards the freeze hieroglyph. It activated with a few drops of her blood. Kronos tried to whirl around but was paralysed mid-turn.

Percy broke out of the spell. The mortal, Annabeth and Percy jumped out of the window, pulling Nico with them. Within seconds, Anna had called onto Greek fire and then she used the god’s gift to channel a divine word.

Ha-Di.

The room trembled. Stones fell out, Greek fire consumed everything in its path. Then a wall fell onto him and Kronos’s frozen form disappeared under the rubble.

With luck, one of the rocks would hit his mortal point and kill him.

She prepared to shadow travel but was pulled out before she could.

Chapter Text

As soon as her feet hit solid ground, Anna moved.

Daedalus’ hound growled but her attention was solely on the inventor. He blinked at the blade pushed at his throat.

“I saved your life.” He croaked.

“No. You did not.”

He fell silent seeing whatever was on her face. (Nothing. No emotion, no expression. Whenever she was really, truly focused she became this. An unfeeling, unfaltering weapon. Othrys hadn’t broken her. But her uncle had gotten his wish.)  

“The Labyrinth’s life is connected to yours.” She said neutrally.

She could kill him. It would greatly damage the maze and delay the army. Maybe even destroy a significant part of it. And trap Kronos in its depths.

But…her siblings were in there.

“Yes.” Daedalus made no move to defend himself. “And you single-handedly took down a titan.”

And Daedalus was smart. He had hidden from Death for centuries. Whatever spell he had cast must protect his soul even when his automaton body was destroyed.

“The time lord isn’t dead. All I’ve done is slow him down. And bring his wrath upon myself.” Anna said.

She pulled back her blade. Daedalus stood on shaky feet. He gazed at her in unbridled curiosity. And fear. She looked back. For once there were no masks between them.

He knew she could kill him. That she was faster than him and had magic. That killing him could win them the battle.

“Your dog can run through shadows.” Anna glanced at his pet monster.

Daedalus smiled tightly. “Yes. She is a hell hound. They can do that.”

Anna hummed and then walked away from him.

“You.” Daedalus blinked. “You’re not going to kill me?”

“No. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my friends.”

“Wait. Let me…let me come with you.”

Anna turned to him. He looked worn down but determined. “You wanted the gods brought down. You spied on camp and gave the titan army the golden string. Why the fuck should I take you with me?” She asked, ignoring that he could use his dog to get there if he wished.

“I need to make this right.” There was nothing but sincerity and regret in his voice.

“And how do you plan to do that?” Her tone was even but her expression conveyed her disdain.

“I have plans and resources back in my workshop. I need to get back there—”

Ah. That explained why he needed her.

“The workshop that was on fire?” She asked. “What do I get out of this anyways? Other than another enemy to watch my back against.”

Daedalus winced. Then his face smoothed out. “You can trust me. If I don’t do this Minos will have me anyways. And…if you help me, I’ll share some of my resources with you. You are smart enough to use them to maximum effect.”

She didn’t tell him that she had already swiped two laptops. It would be beneficial to learn from him anyway.

“This might be a waste of time.” She sighed. “But alright. Find me an entrance to the maze. I’ll take you to your workshop.

------

They found a Hekatonkheires on the way.

Briares had been trying to find his way too. He was happy to join them. The trio made their way to Daedalus’s workshop first.

It was still burning. Greek fire took long to die down. Longer if it was cast with powerful magic like hers. Anna willed the fire to go out. Most of the room was destroyed, but the inventor got out a safe which had somehow survived. It opened up to a laptop, tablet and a few spreadsheets.

He scribbled somethings on a few pieces of papers. Passwords and instructions and such. Anna stored it all in the Duat with a promise to cede it to his siblings later.

Then she shadow-travelled them to camp.

-------

The aftermath of the battle was terrible.

There were so many dead. Not as many as they’d have been if she, Daedalus and Briares hadn’t made it on time. But still…terrible.

A son of Dionysus, seven from Athena cabin, five from Ares cabin. One from Apollo. Hermes cabin had lost the most- eight people in total. So many satyrs, dryads had been trampled, burned.

Lee Fletcher was dead.

They hadn’t been close (‘so when are you going to tell him?’ ‘we’ve known each other for years’) but it still hurt.

They burned the shrouds for two days.

The enemy dead were given burials. Nico had insisted upon it. A few had tried to protest but then Anna and Lou had used magic to get the job done within seconds.

Grover addressed the council on the third day after the battle. Dionysus returned the same day. Anna hadn’t attended the meeting but Nico had recounted their encounter with Pan. She wasn’t impressed. The god hid from the world for eons, didn’t take responsibility and then addressed everyone—even a mortal—except Nico?

“I’m going to leave tonight.” Nico stated. Shoulders back, jaw tight—defensive. Why? There were many half-bloods who only came during summer.

“Okay.”

Nico blinked, caught off-guard.

“You are planning on staying in touch, right?” Anna confirmed.

“Yeah, of course.” Nico agreed. “I just thought you would protest.”

“I want you around.” She caught his hand. “But I also want you happy and safe. I understand camp won’t be that for now. It’s the same reason why I hadn’t brought most of siblings with me. But…you know you have me. Yes?”

Nico nodded. Then he threw his arms around her. “This is goodbye.”

“For now.” She warned.

Nico smiled. “For now.”

Chapter Text

Kronos sat alone in the throne room.

Krios and Koios had left. The others were still imprisoned. He had ordered the rest of the army away.

‘The remaining of the army.’ A part of him hissed.

He wasn’t yet sure if it was him or Castellan.

The demigods were more resourceful than he’d expected.

Annea was more resourceful than he had expected.

Perseus, he had known. The son of Poseidon had been a thorn in his side for years. But Annea…

When he’d seen her, he had frozen. Hesitated. Luke loved her. And he hadn’t yet achieved complete control over this mortal body.

A possession was such a lowly technique. He had taken inspiration from the Egyptians. But he had severely underestimated how pathetic it felt being in a mortal’s body. How had they borne it?

But he couldn’t place the full blame on Castellan. His love and reluctance to hurt his former paramour may have slowed his hand; but he was the one to offer her truce.

The girl would be an asset.

She was powerful, manipulative and cunning.

He understood now why Atlas wished to spare her, why Luke worshipped her.

She had trapped him. Him, a titan old and powerful beyond measure.

Oh, he would not allow that impudence to pass. But there was no reason why he couldn’t have her by his side. It would appease his mortal host until he didn’t need this body. And he would have her.

He would order Hecate’s other children to hunt her down. And the monsters too.

It would be his prize. Olympus teared down, his children defeated as his feet. And her.

War was near. And so was his victory.