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

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“One way to find out.You said you’re not afraid.” I turned to Eurytion. “We’re going to need a pit, like a
grave. And food and drinks.”
“Percy,” Annabeth warned. “I don’t think this is a good—”
“All right,” Nico said. “I’ll try.”
Eurytion scratched his beard. “There’s a hole dug out back for a septic tank. We could use that.
Cyclops boy, fetch my ice chest from the kitchen. I hope the dead like root beer.”
TEN
WE PLAY THE GAME SHOW OF DEATH
We did our summons after dark, at a twenty-foot-long pit in front of the septic tank. The tank was bright
yellow, with a smiley face and red words painted on the side: HAPPY FLUSH DISPOSAL CO. It
didn’t quite go with the mood of summoning the dead.
The moon was full. Silver clouds drifted across the sky.
“Minos should be here by now,” Nico said, frowning. “It’s full dark.”
“Maybe he got lost,” I said hopefully.
Nico poured root beer and tossed barbecue into the pit, then began chanting in Ancient Greek.
Immediately the bugs in the woods stopped chirping. In my pocket, the Stygian ice dog whistle started to
grow colder, freezing against the side of my leg.
“Make him stop,” Tyson whispered to me.
Part of me agreed. This was unnatural. The night air felt cold and menacing. But before I could say
anything, the first spirits appeared. Sulfurous mist seeped out of the ground. Shadows thickened into
human forms. One blue shade drifted to the edge of the pit and knelt to drink.
“Stop him!” Nico said, momentarily breaking his chant. “Only Bianca may drink!”
I drew Riptide. The ghosts retreated with a collective hiss at the sight of my celestial bronze blade. But it
was too late to stop the first spirit. He had already solidified into the shape of a bearded man in white
robes. A circlet of gold wreathed his head, and even in death his eyes were alive with malice.
“Minos!”Nico said. “What are you doing?”
“My apologies, master,” the ghost said, though he didn’t sound very sorry. “The sacrifice smelled so
good, I couldn’t resist.” He examined his own hands and smiled. “It is good to see myself again. Almost
in solid form—”
“You are disrupting the ritual!” Nico protested. “Get—”