Lucas adjusted the strap of his satchel and took in the morning horizon with a quiet breath. Annabeth was too focused on going over her notes to enjoy the sunrise. Her rapid reading, muttering, and flipping pages were a physical representation of her anxious and nervous mind. This was her first time leading, and even though she knew she could rely on others, the pressure was still there - the burden of leadership.
It was this pressure that caused her to spend long hours deciding on the third companion of this quest. She knew that by choosing Lucas, she couldn't bring Luke, for he wouldn't leave Thalia alone. Thalia also couldn't come because there may be danger from Olympus; this left her with four choices: the di angelos, Elizabeth, and Ethan. While the twins had an affinity for the earth, they were too inexperienced; she didn't want them to make a mistake, which would cause her to blame herself if things went wrong. As for who she chose between Elizabeth and Ethan, well, Lucas finally found out who it was.
The third companion, chosen after much deliberation, finally approached. Ethan Nakamura, sharp-eyed and confident, nodded once in greeting. A sheathed celestial bronze blade rested at his hip, recently cleaned but well-worn.
His swordsmanship was second only to Luke's. Along with his demigod's ability of balance and luck, he was the final choice for Annabeth.
Annabeth watched him for a moment." "Are you sure about this? "
Ethan smirked slightly." I'm not afraid of the possible consequences. Besides, if Lucas is willing to put his faith in you, that's enough for me."
Hearing this, a warmth spread from Annabeth's heart, before gradually turning cold as she was filled with guilt.
Lucas caught Annabeth's eye as she looked to him, and he even noticed the flicker of guilt, but said nothing about it. Instead, he focused on her quest.
"So, where to?"
Annabeth calmed her emotions, centering herself, and tried to focus on the task.
"Charleston."
...
"I don't like this place."
Ethan felt the negativity and evil intent that the labyrinth naturally radiated. For a child of Nemesis, this place was just cruelty manifested; his blood demanded it be punished, annoying him to no end.
Lucas responded. "Well, this was the easiest way to travel to Charleston, unless you wanted to take a drive, but then we would be constantly at risk of harassment from Olympus or wild monsters. So just put up with it."
But then, thinking of something, Ethan turned to Annabeth, "Speaking of Charleston, you haven't explained much about this quest. How do you even know we need to go to Charleston?"
Annabeth paused, passing the string of Ariadne she was holding to Lucas as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin, allowing it to show on her outstretched palm.
It was a silver drachma, inscribed with an owl carrying a fig, etched with ancient Greek for "Victory through wisdom."
She didn't hand it to them. She only turned it in her fingers, watching how the light bent against its edge.
"I met her," Annabeth said quietly. "My mother."
Lucas and Ethan both stopped. Anything concerning the gods was too important not to pay attention to, especially for Lucas, who was finally putting together some thoughts from when Annabeth returned with the vial of tears.
Annabeth kept her voice calm, but they could hear the sadness in her voice. "She didn't greet me like a daughter. There was no warmth, no love, no apology for never contacting me beforehand. She simply gave me a quest, informing me to start in Charleston."
She turned the coin once more, absorbed in the past.
She told me to follow the Mark of Athena. And if I failed in this quest, then I was no daughter of hers."
No one spoke for a moment.
Ethan's voice broke the silence. "That's harsh."
Lucas nodded, reaching out and rubbing her hair to show his care.
Annabeth allowed it for a second before slapping Lucas' hand away, pouting at being treated like a child when she was meant to be the leader of the three. The reaction caused Lucas to laugh, and even Ethan let out a smirk; the atmosphere that grew heavier from Annabeth's words returned to the naturalness from earlier.
Soon, the stone walls gradually faded into old brick and then concrete. They heard the rumble of a train departing from nearby, and soon saw a door in the wall. They exited the door, and where it brought them was a train station. They looked around and noticed the door they exited the Labryinth from was disguised as a janitor's supply room.
They remembered where it was in case they needed to use it again before heading to the train schedule to figure out where they were. It was from an announcement that they learnt they were in the Charleston Train Station.
"We're here, now what?" Ethan questioned
"I don't know, my mother only said her mark led me to the answer," Annabeth replied, turning the silver coin in her hand for clues. "Maybe there is something I'm missing..."
Lucas, however, had a different idea. "Why don't we ask our guest?"
That seemed to cause Annabeth and Ethan to stop studying the coin and lift their head towards where Lucas was looking.
There, standing alone with a gap from all the travelers and pedestrians, was the most beautiful woman they had ever seen. Radiating a seductive and inviting aura that made them forget about the quest and instead begin to think about how they could help her. Well, all but Lucas.
Instead of the seduction, he felt the danger this person radiated. And from the reactions of his companions and the unnatural beauty the woman had, he knew who she was.
"Aphrodite."