THE BATTLE OF THE LABYRINTH Percy Jackson ... - No one's invited.

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“No.”
“You’re mad because I left you to become a Hunter of Artemis. You’re mad because I died and left you
alone. I’m sorry for that, Nico. I truly am. But you must overcome the anger. And stop blaming Percy for
my choices. It will be your doom.”
“She’s right,” Annabeth broke in. “Kronos is rising, Nico. He’ll twist anyone he can to his cause.”
“I don’t care about Kronos,” Nico said. “I just want my sister back.”
“You can’t have that, Nico,” Bianca told him gently.
“I’m the son of Hades! Ican .”
“Don’t try,” she said. “If you love me, don’t…”
Her voice trailed off. Spirits had started to gather around us again, and they seemed agitated. Their
shadows shifted. Their voices whispered,
Danger!
“Tartarusstirs,” Bianca said. “Your power draws the attention of Kronos. The dead must return to the
Underworld. It is not safe for us to remain.”
“Wait,” Nico said. “Please—”
“Good-bye, Nico,” Bianca said. “I love you. Remember what I said.”
Her form shivered and the ghosts disappeared, leaving us alone with a pit, aHappy Flush septic tank,
and a cold full moon.
***
None of us were anxious to travel that night, so we decided to wait until morning. Grover and I crashed
on the leather couches inGeryon’s living room, which was a lot more comfortable than a bedroll in the
maze; but it didn’t make my nightmares any better.
I dreamed I was with Luke, walking through the dark palace on top of Mount Tam. It was a real
building now—not some half-finished illusion like I’d seen last winter. Green fires burned in braziers along
the walls. The floor was polished black marble. A cold wind blew down thehallway, and above us
through the open ceiling, the sky swirled with gray storm clouds.
Luke was dressed for battle. He wore camouflage pants, a white T-shirt, and a bronze breastplate, but
his sword, Backbiter, wasn’t at his side—only and empty scabbard. We walked into a large courtyard
where dozens of warriors anddracaenae were preparing for war. When they saw him, the demigods
rose to attention. They beat their swords against their shields.
“Issssit time, my lord?” adracaena asked.
“Soon,” Luke promised. “Continue your work.”