The Path Of Glory (Annabeth Chase x Male Reader)

66. The Demon Dude Ranch

They finally stopped in a room full of waterfalls. The floor was one big pit, ringed by a slippery stone walkway. Around them, on all four walls, water tumbled from huge pipes. The water spilled down into the pit, and even when she shined her light, Annabeth couldn't see the bottom.

Briares slumped against the wall. He scooped up water in a dozen hands and washed his face. "This pit goes straight to Tartarus," he murmured. "I should jump in and save you trouble."

"Don't talk that way," Annabeth told him. "You can come back to camp with us. You can help us prepare. You know more about fighting Titans than anybody."

"I have nothing to offer," Briares said. "I have lost everything."

"What about your brothers?" Tyson asked. "The other two must still stand tall as mountains! We can take you to them."

Briares's expression morphed to something even sadder: his grieving face. "They are no more. They faded."

The waterfalls thundered. Tyson stared into the pit and blinked tears out of his eye.

"What exactly do you mean, they faded?" Percy asked. "I thought monsters were immortal, like the gods."

"Percy," Grover said weakly, "even immortality has limits. Sometimes . . . sometimes monsters get forgotten and they lose their will to stay immortal."

Looking at Grover's face, Annabeth knew what he was thinking of—Pan. He must be thinking about what happened to the wild god. Medusa's sisters, the other two gorgons, had passed on and left her alone. The old god Helios disappeared and left Apollo with the duties of the sun god. How terrible it must be to be so old—thousands and thousands of years old—and totally alone.

"I must go," Briares said.

"Kronos's army will invade camp," Tyson said. "We need help."

Briares hung his head. "I cannot, Cyclops."

"You are strong."

"Not anymore." Briares rose.

"Hey." Percy grabbed one of Briares's arms. "We need you. In case you haven't noticed, Tyson believes in you. He risked his life for you." He told Briares about everything—Luke's invasion plan, the Labyrinth entrance at camp, Daedalus's workshop, Kronos's golden coffin.

Briares just shook his head. "I cannot, demigod. I do not have a way to cheat at this game." He glanced at Ethan, who tipped his hat as if accepting a compliment.

"Maybe that's why monsters fade," Percy said. "Maybe it's not about what mortals believe. Maybe it's because you give up on yourself."

Briares's pure brown eyes regarded the ground. His face morphed into an expression easy to recognize—shame. Then he turned and trudged off down the corridor until he was lost in the shadows.

Tyson sobbed.

Grover patted his shoulder. "It's okay."

Tyson sneezed. "It is not okay, goat boy. He was my hero."

Annabeth would've liked to make him feel better, but there was nothing she could say.

Finally, she stood up and shouldered her backpack. "Come on, guys. This pit is making me nervous. Let's find a better place to camp for the night."

They settled in a corridor made of huge marble blocks. It looked like it could've been part of a Greek tomb, with bronze torch holders fastened to the walls. It had to be an older part of the maze, which was a good sign.

As Percy didn't seem to understand why, she explained, "We must be close to Daedalus's workshop, since it must be in the oldest part of the Labyrinth. Get some rest, everybody. We'll keep going in the morning."