chapter 22: departure

"Wise Girl," Percy whispered.

"What?" she asked. Morning light shone through the windows, a golden haze over the bed where Annabeth lay—a beautiful setting when Percy was about to tell her some not-so-beautiful news.

He climbed in next to Annabeth and told her everything: Hoa's upcoming death, telling the girl that they were dating, and their new parental relationship with Hoa.

Annabeth blinked. "Wow. Damn."

"Such wise words from a Wise Girl," Percy teased lightly. Deep down, he was upset, but he didn't want his unhappiness to rub off Annabeth.

Annabeth stopped speaking for a second, making Percy concerned. "Hey," he said, pecking her cheek. "Wise Girl?"

She was completely silent, staring off into space. When she finally spoke again, her voice sounded broken and scared. "Why does she have to die?"

Percy frowned. "Her vision keeps telling her that she'll die, so unfortunately something is about to happen."

"Are we sure? Because these dreams can sometimes be very deceptive and such and could be very vague—"

"The dream was first person. In the dream, she spoke, saved a life, and died. Not that I want her to, but she's probably dying."

He didn't mean to sound so pessimistic, but Annabeth narrowed her teary eyes at him. "Recently, I've had a dream where I saw Hoa running around a field of white chrysanthemums with Nico, and they looked pretty happy. S—"

"Back up. I don't know what that is, nor how to say it."

She rolled her eyes. "Flowers similar to dahlias. They represent death—"

"Very encouraging."

"Will you shut up?"

"Sorry."

"They represent death but can also represent support and encouragement. Whether it's option one or two, we don't know, but let's hope it's two."

He didn't realize that he was crying until Annabeth wiped a tear from his cheek, also shedding tears. Her voice choked as she spoke. "Let's have faith in our strong little girl, okay?"

He hiccupped. "O-okay."

They hugged and cried for another few more minutes before Annabeth pulled back. "We should get ready."

Percy nodded, extending a hand out to her. "Well, then. Let's get going, Wise Girl."

She slapped his arm. "Stop it, Seaweed Brain."

He grinned. "Nope," he said, helping her up. He planted a sloppy kiss on Annabeth's cheek, making her shriek.

"Percy!"

~•~•~

Percy's group walked down to the cattle guard and said their goodbyes. "Nico, you could come with us," Percy blurted.

Nico shook his head. Hoa looked at him carefully. Everyone was sleep deprived, but he looked sleep starved. His eyes were red, and his face was chalky. He was wrapped in a black robe that must've belonged to Geryon because it was three sizes too big even for a grown man.

"I need time to think." His eyes didn't meet Percy's, letting Hoa know he was still angry. The fact that Bianca had come out of the Underworld for Percy and not for Nico didn't seem to sit well with him.

"Nico," Annabeth tried. "Bianca just wants you to be okay."

She put her hand on his shoulder, but he tensed, then pulled away and trudged up the road toward the ranch house. Maybe it was her imagination, but the morning mist seemed to cling to him as he walked.

Why is he so handsome? Wait, no, stop fangirling over your friend. That's weird. She cringed at her thoughts.

Should I go after him? She questioned herself when the door slammed. Nah, he needs some time alone to think. I'll come back for him.

"I'm worried about him," Annabeth told them. "If he starts talking to Minos's ghost again—"

"He'll be alright," Eurytion and Hoa spoke up at the same time.

The cowherd had cleaned up nicely. He was wearing new jeans and a clean Western shirt, and he'd even trimmed his beard. He'd put on Geryon's boots.

Eurytion glanced at Hoa before continuing. "The boy can stay here and gather his thoughts as long as he wants. He'll be safe, I promise."

Hoa narrowed her eyes. "By extension, that means me too, right?"

Eurytion chuckled. "Yes, missy, that includes you."

"What about you?" Percy asked. "What are you planning for the ranch?"

Eurytion scratched Orthus behind one chin, then the other. "Things are going to run a little different on this ranch from now on. No more sacred cattle meat. I'm thinking about soybean patties. And I'm going to befriend those flesh-eating horses. Might just sign up for the next rodeo."

Percy visibly shuddered. "Well, good luck."

"Yep." Eurytion spit into the grass. "I reckon you'll be looking for Daedalus's workshop now?"

Annabeth's eyes lit up. "Can you help us?"

"Whoa, wait," Hoa said. "Since when are you guys visiting Daedalus?"

"Oh," Annabeth realized. "We never really told you why we're here, did we?"

Hoa stared at her incredulously. "...no?"

Grover coughed for attention and then proceeded to explain their quest: having to find Daedalus to get Ariadne's string in order to prevent the Titan Army from infiltrating camp as well as Grover's side quest to find Pan. He told her of the events that already occurred and what they had to do next.

Hoa stared at them. "And you didn't think to mention that earlier?"

The demigods and satyr side-eyed each other while Tyson sat down, playing with the grass. "No?" Annabeth said.

Hoa sighed. "Fine."

Eurytion coughed uncomfortably. "Anyways, don't know where it is. But Hephaestus probably would."

"That's what Hera said," Annabeth agreed. "But how do we find Hephaestus?"

Eurytion pulled something from under the collar of his shirt. It was a necklace—a smooth silver disk on a silver chain. The disk had a depression in the middle, like a thumbprint. He handed it to Annabeth.

"Hephaestus comes here from time to time," Eurytion said. "Studies the animals and such so he can make bronze automaton copies. Last time, I—uh—did him a favor. A little trick he wanted to play on my dad, Ares, and Aphrodite. He gave me that chain in gratitude. Said if I ever needed to find him, the disk would lead me to his forges. But only once."

"And you're giving it to me?" Annabeth asked.

Eurytion blushed. "I don't need to see the forges, miss. Got enough to do here. Just press the button, and you'll be on your way."

Annabeth pressed the button, and the disk sprang to life. It grew eight metallic legs. Annabeth shrieked and dropped it, much to Eurytion's confusion.

"Spider!" she screamed.

Percy and Hoa laughed while Tyson looked confused as Grover tried to explain to Eurytion. "She's, um, a little scared of spiders," Grover said. "That old grudge between Athena and Arachne."

"Oh," Eurytion looked embarrassed. "Sorry, miss."

The spider scrambled to the cattle guard and disappeared between the bars.

After Percy got over his amusement, he spoke. "Hurry," he said. "That thing's not going to wait for us."

Hoa gave a sad smile. "This is where you leave, right?"

Annabeth hugged her tightly. "Unfortunately."

Annabeth wasn't anxious to follow the spider, but they didn't have much choice. They said their goodbyes, Tyson pulled the cattle guard off the hole, and they dropped back into the maze.

She stared a minute longer before heading back to the house.

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hi im madi, your loyal author ♥️

noooo now i actually have to come up with original parts of the story i wanna be lazy

ok enough of my complaining onto the other books

check out muse! its a jax x reader (from tadc--the amazing digital circus) and doesn't have many chapters yet, but still! plsplspls take a look.

and that one murder drones book is popping off.

anyways

how was the chapter?

also, what are some questions of your own?

anyways, tysm for reading this crappy book! 😃