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

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The spirits of the dead began shimmering dangerously bright, and Nico had to take up the chant again to
keep them at bay.
“Yes, quite right, master,” Minos said with amusement. “You keep chanting. I’ve only come to protect
you from theseliars who would deceive you.”
He turned to me as if I were some kind of cockroach.“Percy Jackson…my, my. The sons of Poseidon
haven’t improved over the centuries, have they?”
I wanted to punch him, but I figured my fist would go right through his face. “We’re looking for Biancadi
Angelo,” I said. “Get lost.”
The ghost chuckled. “I understand you once killed my Minotaur with your bare hands. But worse things
await you in the maze. Do you really believe Daedalus will help you?”
The other spirits stirred in agitation. Annabeth drew her knife and helped me keep them away from the
pit. Grover got so nervous he clung to Tyson’s shoulder.
“Daedalus cares nothing for you, half-bloods,” Minos warned. “You can’t trust him. He is old beyond
counting, and crafty. He is bitter from the guilt of murder and is cursed by the gods.”
“The guilt of murder?”I asked. “Who did he kill?”
“Do notchanged the subject!” the ghost growled. “You are hindering Nico. You try to persuade him to
give up on his goal.I would make him a lord!”
“Enough, Mions,” Nico commanded.
The ghost sneered. “Master, these are your enemies. You must not listen to them! Let me protect you. I
will turn their minds to madness, as I did the others.”
“The others?”Annabeth gasped. “You mean Chris Rodriguez? That wasyou? ”
“The maze is my property,” the ghost said, “notDaedalus’s ! Those who intrude deserve madness.”
“Be gone, Minos!” Nico demanded. “I want to see my sister!”
The ghost bit back his rage.“As you wish, master. But I warn you. You cannot trust these heroes.”
With that, he faded into mist.
Other spirits rushed forward, but Annabeth and I kept them back.
“Bianca, appear!” Nico intoned. He started chanting faster, and the spirits shifted restlessly.
“Any time now,” Grover muttered.
Then a silvery light flickered in the trees—a spirit that seemed brighter and stronger than the others. It
came closer, and something told me to let it pass. It knelt to drink at the pit. When it arose, it was the
ghostly form of Biancadi Angelo.