𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 | 𝐩. 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

Minos beats up an old man

It wasn't long before they saw the light ahead—like regular electric lighting. "There," Rachel said.

They followed her into a stainless steel hallway. Fluorescent lights glowed from the ceiling. The metal grate. Evangeline had to blink a few times to adjust to harsh lighting. 

"This way," Rachel said, beginning to run. "We're close!"

"This is so wrong!" Annabeth said. "The workshop should be in the oldest section of the maze. This can't—"

The blonde faltered because they had arrived at a set of metal double doors. Inscribed in the steel, at eye level, was a large blue Greek ∆.

"We're here," The Dare girl announced. "Daedalus's workshop."

With a touch of hesitancy, Annabeth pressed the symbol on the doors. The metal panels hissed open. "So much for ancient architecture," Percy murmured.

Evangeline shot him a look as she caught sight of Annabeth's scowl. Instead of saying anything, the daughter of Athena walked inside.

The first thing that caught her attention was the daylight—the blazing sun coming through giant windows. The workshop was like an artist's studio, with thirty-foot ceilings and industrial lighting, polished stone floors, and workbenches. A spiral staircase led up to a second-story loft. Half a dozen easels displayed hand-drawn diagrams of buildings and machines that looked like Leonardo da Vinci sketches.

Several laptop computers were scattered around on the tables. Glass jars of green oil—Greek fire—lined one shelf. There were inventions, too—weird metal machines Evangeline couldn't make out. There was a grandfather clock that appeared to be made entirely of glass, so every gear was visible. Hanging on the wall were several sets of bronze and silver wings.

"Di immortales," Annabeth muttered. She ran to the nearest easel and looked at the sketch. "He's a genius. Look at the curves on this building!"

"And an artist," Rachel said in amazement. "These wings are amazing!"

Evangeline didn't like the feeling she was getting from the place, it was like her mind was telling her to be prepared for anything. It was much less her mind more of her mother's voice.

The laptops were running something that Will explained to her: screen-savers. A half-eaten blueberry muffin and a coffee cup sat on a workbench. She stayed close to the giant windows, recognizing the scene below them' the Rocky Mountains. They were high up in the foothills, and down below a valley spread out, filled with a tumbled collection of red mesas and boulders and spires of stone.

Percy nudged her shoulder. "Where are we?"

"Colorado Springs," Evangeline spoke in unison with a voice behind them. The children of the Big Three snapped their heads in the direction of the voice.

"The Garden of the Gods," Standing on the spiral staircase above them, with his weapon drawn, was the missing sword master, Quintus.

Evangeline discreetly grabbed her necklace and hid it behind her back ready to press the snake if needed. "You," Annabeth said. "What have you done with Daedalus?"

Quintus smiled faintly. "Trust me, my dear. You don't want to meet him."

Then it clicked in her mind like a piece being fit into a puzzle.

"Look, Mr. Traitor," the daughter of Athena growled, her grey eyes holding a swirling storm. "I didn't fight a dragon woman and a three-bodied man and a psychotic Sphinx to see you. Now—where is Daedalus?"

Quintus came down the stairs, holding his sword at his side. He was dressed in jeans and boots and his counselor's T-shirt from Camp Half-Blood, which made Evangeline grip the pendant tighter.