Ivy, despite more often hanging out with Annabeth in her's due to it being less crowded, had been plenty of times inside the Athena cabin.
Still, it never failed to amaze her. Especially how different it was from Dionysus'.
Cabin 6 was repleted with books, maps, scrolls and every type of "nerdy" things she sucked at. But at the same time full of every type of weapons and armor all around the room. That, she understood.
Though the most amazing was how it all remained pretty organized and tidy. She didn't know how the Athena kids managed, cause she and her brothers could not.
Cabin 12 was usually terribly messy and disorganized. Grape vines tangling everywhere, weird leopard paintings hanging in the walls, and all kinds of drinks laying on the desks. As well as many party ornaments of course.
If it weren't for the Hermes cabin, they would probably lose cabin inspections every time, which was pretty pathetic taking into account they were literally only three of them staying there.
"Hello?" She called out. Nobody answered.
She stepped in and saw Annabeth standing in the back of the room, rifling through old scrolls.
"Hey there"
The blonde girl turned with a start. "Oh, hey you. Sorry, didn't hear you."
"Well, do you ever hear anything when you're focused on your reading?" She had tried to joke, but she became worried when she saw her friend's fearful look.
"You okay?" She said as she stepped closer to the Athena girl with concern. There weren't many things capable of scaring her friend, and that only preoccupied her more.
Annabeth frowned at the scroll in her hands. "Just trying to do some research. Daedalus's Labyrinth is so huge. None of the stories agree about anything. The maps just lead from nowhere to nowhere."
"Like I told you, don't worry. We'll figure it out" Ivy tried to reassure. "We always do. You are the smartest person I know, and the 4 of us will help you in whatever you need"
Her blond hair was down, cascading around her face, and the grey eyes Ivy had always loved looked almost black.
"Well, you know I've wanted to lead a quest since I was seven," She said.
"And you're going to do awesome."
She looked at her gratefully, but then stared down at all the books and scrolls she'd pulled from the shelves. "I'm worried, V. Maybe I shouldn't have asked any of you to do this."
"Hey, we're your friends. We wouldn't miss it." Ivy grabbed her hands. "Besides, I told you I'd follow you anywhere, and I still stand by it."
Annabeth shot her a small smile but then turned sad again. "But..."
"Something about the prophecy worries you right?"
She nodded. "I'm sure it's nothing, it's just.."
"Something about the last line." The blonde lowered her gaze, confirming her suspicions. "You dont have to tell me what it was, but don't forget prophecies and their double meanings are meant to confuse you. Just try not to think about it for now."
Annabeth remained silent but then let go of Ivy's hands to wrap her arms around her waist.
She immediately hugged her back, feeling how Annabeth, being like one inch taller, lowered her head slightly to hide it in the crook of her neck.
Ivy had her arms around her shivering friend's shoulders, and used her hands to run her fingers smoothly through her curls knowing the action always calmed her down.
As she hugged her, the brunnete tried to ignore the weird warm feeling she felt inside her, as well as the distracting lemon smell of Annabeth's shampoo. The events of the day before threatening to come back to her mind.
"Chiron might be right" She muttered against her neck."It might be dangerous that I'm breaking the rules. But I don't know, V. I just feel like I need the 4 of you for this.
"Then it'll be fine. We have faced a lot of bad things together, we'll make it work." Ivy told her softly. "We are the dream team, and we never follow the rules anyway"
Annabeth chuckled at those last comments, and Ivy was growing more and more aware of their closeness as she felt her best friend's breath against her neck.
It wasn't as they had never hugged before, they had an undoubtedly touchy kind of friendship. But ever since Aphrodite had talked to her during Annabeth's rescue quest, she couldn't help but start thinking differently about her feelings towards her friend.
This happening especially in moments when they would lock eyes for way too long or do any things of the sort. Just like the moment they had shared in the bathroom the day before.
"I know, it's just... I feel like this one's different. And I don't want anything happening to you or the others."
Ivy didn't have time to answer her as she heard someone behind her clear their throat.
She turned around and was met with an akward looking and red faced Malcolm.
"Um.. sorry" He said. "Archery practice is starting, Annabeth. Chiron said to come find you"
The girls stepped away from each other, and Ivy thought she saw Annabeth blushing. "Tell Chiron I'll be right there," She said, and Malcom left in a hurry. Weird.
She rubbed her eyes. "You go ahead, V. I'd better get ready forarchery." She then locked eyes with her and smiled one last time. "And thank you, I really needed it."
"You know I'm here for you. I'll go pack now, but tell me if you need anything" Annabeth nodded and smiled more genuinely at her.
And with that, Ivy left in her cabin's direction, unaware of the look in the grey eyes watching her leave.
∆ ~•••••••••••••••••••••••~ ∆
Morning came faster than Ivy had wished, and she started to dread going into the labyrinth more and more.
She had expected to at least get a good night sleep to start the quest well rested. But with her luck, as you may imagine, she was wrong.
Ivy, just like most demigods, was used to having weird dreams or nightmares most of nights. Nevertheless, that night's dream was definitely something else.
It was really dark, yet she could still see all types of plants and vegetation growing around the cold room.
She instantly knew there was something wrong. And the weird voice, which she couldn't even tell where was coming from, didn't help much either.
'You have to find me Ivy Thatcher' It said 'You have to be quick, you are more important in the future than you think'
The scenery of the dream then changed, it was still the same dark room but the plants were all gone.
It was hard to focus with all the noises around her. She knew they belonged to monsters lurking in the darkness, waiting for the time to come out of the shadows. She could see glimpses of their silhouettes from time to time.
There was something else, but it was hard to explain. Like a looming feeling of death heaving down through the room while a weird humming buzzed inside her head.
The feeling of a hand on her shoulder startled her as she quickly turned around, only to come face to face with a pair of blinding gold eyes looking straight at her.
She woke up with a start after that, the only sounds coming from her two sleeping half brothers.
She didn't know who the eyes belonged to, but it was definitely someone powerfull. And not the good kind.
It was safe to say Ivy didn't fall back to sleep that night. She stayed up trying to figure out what the hell the dream meant, yet coming with no answers and deciding better to think nothing of it.
∆ ~•••••••••••••••••••••••~ ∆
Just after dawn, the quest group met at Zeus's Fist.
Ivy actually sucked at packing, so she was extremely thankful for Castor and Pollux filling a bag for her.
They had obviously put ambrosia and nectar inside, as well as a few drachmas, cause you could never know If you would need them, and some bandages. They also included a few snacks, an extra change of clothes, a knife just in case, and a flashlight.
Of course, Ivy had her sword in ring form and her magic hot chocolate bottle. She was pretty sure it would've been more practical if it refilled with water instead, but she hadn't made the rules.
Juniper had come to say goodbye to Grover. It was obvious she had been crying again, but trying to keep it together for Grover's sake.
Chiron, Quintus, and Mrs. O'Leary stood with the other campers who'd come to wish them well, Dionysus' sons standing among them to say goodbye to their sister.
"Be careful sis. I'm not going to tell you how dangerous the stories about the labyrinth are because you already know it, but please come back in one piece" Castor told her after wrapping her in a big hug.
"Yeah yeah, don't worry, I know you wouldn't survive more than a week without me" She said as she then hugged Pollux.
"Good luck, you'll do great" He told her. "See you when you get back".
Ivy then said goodbye to the others, Annabeth hugging Malcom a few feet from her.
All the campers left and the 3 quest members stood next to Chiron and Quintus, waiting for Percy and Tyson.
The two Poseidon children finally came over and Annabeth frowned at Percy. "Percy, you look terrible."
Ivy snorted. "What a way you have with words, Annie. Though seriously, you okay, Aquaman?"
"He killed the water fountain last night," Tyson confided.
"What?" Annabeth asked.
Before he could explain, Chiron trotted over. "Well, it appears you are ready!"
It was clear he was trying to sound upbeat, but it was easy to hear the anxiousness in his voice.
Percy spoke as they were about to leave. "Hey, uh, Chiron, can I ask you a favor while I'm gone?"
"Of course, my boy."
Percy then looked back at them."Be right back, guys."
"What's he up to?" Annabeth asked.
"No idea, but it's Percy, so I kinda don't even want to know." Ivy said.
They waited for him, discussing quietly a few details about the labyrinth they should all keep in mind before entering.
Annabeth grew impatient, so she took Ivy's hand and dragged her to where their friend and Chiron were talking.
"Hey, Ariel, you're gonna take all day?" Ivy asked him.
Percy shook his head, signaling he was finished with his talk.
They thanked the centaur who wished them luck and then the three of them went back to the crack between the boulders.
"Well," Grover said nervously, "good-bye sunshine."
"Hello rocks," Tyson agreed.
And together, the four of them descended into darkness, Annabeth reaching for Ivy's hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze.
∆ ~•••••••••••••••••••••••~ ∆
As expected, it was dark. But like, extremely dark.
Ivy's instincts were screaming at her to get out immediately. The same feeling she had felt in her dream of monsters constantly lurking behind the shadows was weighting down her chest. That didn't make her feel any better.
She was glad she brought her hoodie with her, cause even despite it being summer, the air was chilly and thick.
The tunnel was nothing like the hole she and Annabeth had fallen in. This one looked more like a round sewer made of red brick with iron-barred portholes ever ten feet.
And again, as expected, it all went downhill in a matter of minutes.
Her blonde friend was doing her best to guide them, but the labyrinth was not an easy thing to navigate.
"If we keep one hand on the left wall and follow it," Annabeth said, "we should be able to find our way out again by reversing course."
Ivy had no idea what that meant, but still followed suit.
Unfortunately, as soon as she said that, the left wall disappeared and they found themselves in the middle of a circular chamber with eight tunnels leading out.
"Um, which way did we come in?" Grover said nervously.
"Just turn around," Annabeth said.
They all turned around, each of them facing a different direction.
"No wonder how people get lost in here" Ivy pointed out, trying her best to hide the uneasiness feeling so trapt was bringing her. "Not even five minutes and it's already toying with us."
"Left walls are mean," Tyson said, Ivy nodding in agreement. "Which way now?"
Annabeth swept her flashlight beam over the archways of the eight tunnels. As far as Ivy could tell, they were identical. "That way," She said.
"How do you know?" Percy asked.
"Deductive reasoning."
"So...you're guessing."
"Yeah, but she said it in a fancy way" Ivy told him.
"Just come on," She said, rolling her eyes amusedly at her.
The tunnel she'd chosen narrowed quickly. The walls turned to gray
cement, and the ceiling got so low that they were hunching over, forcing Tyson to crawl.
Grover's hyperventilating was the loudest noise in the maze. Then Ivy finally had enough of the sound. "Okay, sorry Grover, but could you stop breathing so loud?"
"Sorry, I just can't stand it anymore," He whispered. "Are we there yet?"
"We've been down here maybe five minutes," Annabeth told him.
"It's been longer than that," Grover insisted. "And why would Pan be down here? This is the opposite of the wild!"
Ivy thought the same, but she didn't want Grover to give out hope yet, so she kept quiet.
They kept on going forward, the narrow tunnel changing into a huge open room. Cause apparently, that made sense.
By that point, the only thing Ivy could still be sure of were Annabeth's fingers still interlocked with her's as the blonde girl drew circles with her thumb on the back of Ivy's hand to ease her nerves.
They used their flashlights to look at the room they were in.
"Woah" Percy made out.
"What the hades is this place?" Ivy said, looking at the pictures covering the walls. They showed the Olympian gods at a feast, but they didn't look like how she remembered them.
She, as an artist, really appreciated art, but those paintings were just creeping her out. Still, she couldn't help but feel something weirdly familiar about them.
"It looks—" Percy started.
"Roman," Annabeth said. "Those mosaics are about two thousand years old."
"Ohh, so that's why my dad suddenly looks so fit" Ivy thought out loud.
"But how can they be Roman?" Percy asked. Ivy wondered the same.
She wasn't that great in ancient history, but she was pretty sure the Roman Empire never made it as far as Long Island.
"The Labyrinth is a patchwork," Annabeth explained. "It's always expanding, adding pieces. It's the only work of architecture that grows by itself."
"How pretty," Ivy said sarcastically. "an alive maze."
A groaning noise echoed from the tunnel in front of them.
"Let's not talk about it being alive," Grover whimpered. "Please?"
"All right," Annabeth said. "Forward."
"Down the hall with the bad sounds?" Tyson said. Even he looked nervous.
"Yeah," Annabeth said. "The architecture is getting older. That's a good sign. Daedalus's workshop would be in the oldest part."
"Always through the creepiest places." Ivy muttered, fiddling with her ring just in case she had to change it into her sword quickly. "Once we get out of here, I'm making you watch horror movies with me".
Annabeth just chuckled and tugged on her hand which she was still holding, the five of them advancing down the hall.
The labyrinth didn't take long to start messing with them again. The walls changed to spray-painted cement with graffiti, a neon tagger sign read MOZ RULZ. Whatever that meant.
"I'm thinking this is not Roman," Percy said helpfully.
"Yeah, no shit" Ivy told him.
Annabeth took a deep breath, then forged ahead.
Every few feet, the tunnels twisted and turned and branched off. The floor constantly changed material with no sense to any of it.
They stumbled into a wine cellar that looked like a completely closed basement. Ivy was certainly not pleased about that, growing even more restless.
She had a bad experience with basements.
After all the nights she had to spend locked in her house's dark and dirty one because her mother thought that was what all caring mothers should do to their daughters, being in a magic and evil one wasn't making her feel any better.
Annabeth of course took notice of it, and since she knew the reason behind Ivy's fear, pulled her closer to her so that their shoulders were touching each other.
Later, the ceiling turned to wooden planks, and Ivy could hear voices and the creaking of footsteps above them. It was reassuring to hear people, but then again, they couldn't get to them. And it also kind of became annoying after a while.
Then, to make things even better, they found their first skeleton.
"A milkman," Annabeth said.
"What?" Percy asked.
"A dead milkman" Ivy corrected.
"They used to deliver milk." Annabeth explained.
"Genius, Annie."
"Yeah, I know what they are, but...that was when my mom was little, like
a million years ago. What's he doing here?" Percy said.
"Some people wander in by mistake," Annabeth said. "Some come exploring on purpose and never make it back. A long time ago, the Cretans sent people in here as human sacrifices."
"Lovely" Ivy said, still looking wearily at the skeleton like she was expecting it to suddenly start moving and attack them.
Grover gulped. "He's been down here a long time." He pointed to the skeleton's bottles coated with white dust.
"Only bones," Tyson said. "Don't worry, goat boy. The milkman is dead."
"The milkman doesn't bother me," Grover said. "It's the smell. Monsters.
Can't you smell it?"
Ivy certainly couldn't smell them, but she could feel them walking around.
She wasn't sure if it was because of the madness they radiated, or if it was thanks to the slight ivy that was running through some walls, but she could almost sense how close the monsters were.
Tyson nodded. "Lots of monsters. But underground smells like that. Monsters and dead milk people."
"Oh, good," Grover whimpered. "I thought maybe I was wrong."
"We have to get deeper into the maze," Annabeth said. "There has to be a
way to the center."
She led them to the right, then the left, through a corridor of stainless steel
like some kind of air shaft, and they arrived back in the Roman tile room with the fountain.
This time, they weren't alone.
∆ ~•••••••••••••••••••••••~ ∆
The "person" was dressed like a New York City doorman. Two faces were jutted out from either side of his head, staring over his shoulders, his head much wider than it should've been.
"Well, Annabeth?" Said his left face. "Hurry up!"
"Don't mind him," Said the right face. "He's terribly rude. Right this way, miss."
Annabeth's jaw dropped. "Uh..I don't..."
Tyson frowned. "That funny man has two faces."
"It just had to get even weirder" Ivy said.
"The funny man has ears, you know!" The left face scolded.
"And severe split personality" She muttered below her breath. The weird guy either didn't hear her, or just chose to ignore her comment.
"Now come along, miss."
"No, no," The right started. "This way, miss. Talk to me, please."
The two-faced man regarded Annabeth out of the corners of his eyes. It was impossible to look at him without focusing on one side or the other. And Ivy realized he wanted Annabeth to choose.
Behind him were two exits, which Ivy was sure weren't there the first time they passed. She wasn't the most observant person, but those were hard to miss.
The two-faced doorman held a silver key, passing it from his left to his right hand.
Ivy glanced quickly behind her shoulder, but the doorway they'd come through had disappeared. Such a horror movie move.
"The exits are closed," Annabeth said.
"Duh!" The left face said.
"Where do they lead?" She asked.
"One probably leads the way you wish to go," The right face said encouragingly. "The other leads to certain death."
"Of course it does" Ivy mumbled as she put her hands inside her pockets.
"I—I know who you are," Her best friend said.
"Oh, you're a smart one!" The left face sneered. "But do you know which way to choose? I don't have all day."
"Why are you trying to confuse me?" Annabeth asked.
The right face smiled. "You're in charge now, my dear. All the decisions are on your shoulders. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
"I—"
"We know you, Annabeth, We know what you wrestle with every day. We know your indecision. You will have to make your choice sooner or later. And the choice may kill you."
That last comment didn't sit well with Ivy, and all she wanted was to tell the stupid doorman that he knew nothing about Annabeth. However, she couldn't help but think there was something else behind it. Something that he knew but Ivy didn't.
Annabeth paled and Ivy grew more worried. "No...I don't—"
"Leave her alone, funny man" Ivy said as she glared at him.
He was getting on her nerves, and patience wasn't a virtue she had.
She clenched her fists, the urge to draw her sword and chop his heads off was growing bigger everytime he uttered one more word on Annabeth's direction.
"Yeah, who are you, anyway?" Percy asked.
"I'm your best friend," Right face said.
"I'm your worst enemy," Left face said.
"I'm Janus," Both faces said in harmony. "God of Doorways. Beginnings. Endings. Choices."
"Yeah? And how many times did you rehearse that presentation?" Ivy told them.
"I'll see you soon enough, Ivy Thatcher. You have something waiting ahead for you." Said the right face.
Ivy scoffed. "Good to know"
He ignored her an turned to the boy. "And you too, Perseus Jackson. But for now it's Annabeth's turn." He laughed giddily and Ivy seriously wanted to strangle him with her grape vines. "Such fun!"
"Shut up!" The other face said. "This is serious. One bad choice can ruin your whole life. It can kill you and all of your friends. But no pressure, Annabeth. Choose!"
That only made Ivy feel worse. 'Child of Athena final stand' she remembered. Gods, she really hated prophecies.
She took a defensive step in front of Annabeth. "Don't do it, Annie."
"I'm afraid she has to," Right face said cheerfully.
Annabeth licked her lips. "I—I choose—"
Before she could, a brilliant light flooded the room.
When the light died, a woman was standing at the fountain.
She was tall and graceful, with long chocolate hair braided with gold ribbons, and wearing a simple white dress but still welding the presence of a queen.
A goddess.
Though she wasn't entirely sure that was a good thing for them. The gods had never really been her favorite persons.
"Janus," She said, "are we causing trouble again?"
"N-no, milady!" Right face stammered.
"Yes!" The other said.
"Shut up!"
"Excuse me?" The woman asked.
"Not you, milady! I was talking to myself."
"I see, You know very well your visit is premature. The girl's time has not yet come. So I give you a choice: leave these heroes to me, or I shall turn you into a door and break you down."
"What kind of door?"
"Shut up!"
"Because French doors are nice, Lots of natural light"
"Shut up!" Right face wailed. "Not you, milady! Of course I'll leave. I was just having a bit of fun. Doing my job. Offering choices."
"Causing indecision," She corrected. "Now be gone!"
The left face muttered, "Party power," then he inserted the key into the air and disappeared.
Ivy sighed in content that the annoying yelling between the two faces had stopped. However, her relief faded quickly when the woman turned towards the demigods.
Her eyes shined with dangerous power, and Ivy was sure she was way worse than Janus.
But then the woman smiled. "You must be hungry," She said, though Ivy thought she saw the goddess give her a weird look when her eyes sat upon her. "Sit with me and talk."
She waved her hand and the fountain began to flow. A marble table with sandwiches and lemonade appeared.
"Who...who are you?" Percy asked.
"I am Hera." She responded with a smile. "Queen of Heaven."