With the map in hand, they had no reason to stay. Unfortunately for them, the agreed-upon time for the ferry to pick them up wasn't until another hour. Seeing this, Annbeth decided to give an impromptu tour to both Lucas and Ethan, explaining the history and design choices of the Fort that she had studied in the past.
Eventually, with the sun setting, the ferry eventually arrived. They spoke little as the ferry carried them across the harbor, each absorbed in private thoughts. Annabeth sat near the railing, eyes fixed on the map tightly rolled in her hands. She had studied it, looking for any extra information or clues, but the map only pointed to Istanbul, just as Aphrodite had shared with them, making the map pointless.
As it would soon be night, instead of journeying, they decided to spend the night in Charleston; they stayed in a small motel on the outskirts of Charleston, a nondescript building where the rooms were worn down and the bed sheets frayed at the edges, color drained from many washings.
Lucas stood outside on the narrow balcony of their shared room, breathing the salty, warm air.
Ethan joined him, leaning against the railing, his expression thoughtful.
"I'm sorry," Ethan finally said quietly," for earlier, you know."
Ethan sighed, hand rubbing his hair into a mess as he tried to voice his thoughts. "Ever since I found out about my mother, I've always wanted her praise, but I have never accomplished anything. Even the single task she gave me was to meet you and help, but I haven't brought anything to the table; I've always just followed, never contributing. Then, after meeting Aphrodite, not only was I too infatuated to engage, but I also allowed my emotions to control me, causing you to have that little counseling session with me to stop me from collapsing under my own stupidity."
Ethan turned his gaze to Lucas, eyes full of gratitude. "Thanks"
Lucas gave a small smile and clapped Ethan gently on the shoulder.
"We look out for each other. That's how this works. I'm sure after this quest is successful, you will gain the praise you want from Nemesis."
Ethan nodded, eyes on the distant horizon, but his focus was on his thoughts, thinking of what Lucas just said. Inside, Annabeth lay on her bed, listening, with a small smile, and let herself drift off to sleep.
...
The next morning, they headed towards the nearest airport. After discussion, it was decided they would fly to Istanbul instead of taking the labyrinth. It was unknown just how long it would take to walk such a distance, and time wasn't on their side if what Aphrodite said was true; there were already campers sent on a quest with the same goal as them. As for why a plane instead of a boat? Well, they agreed that traversing under Zeus' domain was less dangerous compared to the risk of drawing Poseidon's eye, especially for Lucas.
They sat together on the flight, Lucas by the window watching clouds blur past while Annabeth quietly flipped through a book of Turkish history, her eyes flickering thoughtfully over each page. Ethan sat across the aisle, trying unsuccessfully to rest in order to pass the time they spent in the cramped seats on the journey.
Hours passed quietly as oceans and land rolled beneath them, until eventually the plane started descending, allowing the trio to get a glance at Istanbul.
The city stretched endlessly beneath them. Minarets and domes reflected the sunlight, historic buildings were scattered across the city, and clusters of various-sized homes huddled together forming small alley-like streets that secretly spread throughout Istanbul like veins, bustling with crowds visiting the street markets. They landed smoothly, stepping out into the warm Turkish night, air thick with spices, coffee, and even fresh bread.
"Welcome to Istanbul," Ethan muttered softly. It feels… different here."
Lucas silently agreed. The streets were so narrow that people had to push and shove through the crowds. Some individuals even set up small shops on these streets, spreading out their wares on a carpet and bartering with anyone who came to inquire. The smells, along with the distant sound of prayer, really created the exotic atmosphere they had expected from a place with such rich history.
...
Across the street, hidden atop a high, crumbling building, someone watched.
"They've arrived," the hidden figure murmured.
Their eyes were trained keenly on the three figures moving through the market stalls below. The observer made sure to study the leader, the one who caused his instincts to warn him of his danger. These instincts had been honed over centuries of battle; he trusted them without question. But that danger didn't make him cautious or fearful; instead, he was looking forward to when he could actually meet them, but for now, his job was just to observe.
As he watched, two more joined him, hidden in the shadows as they saw the demigods wander through the street. One of the newcomers turned to the first.
"Don't forget the plan, we will kill them afterwards, but until then, they are not to be touched."
With that said, they gave one last glance at the demigod trio before turning and disappearing into the shadows. However, what they didn't see was that when they gave one last glance, Lucas felt the killing intent, allowing him to turn and see where they were spying from and watching as the three vanished into the city.