“And I love that for you!” Hazel said, laughing.
“I also recognize that this does not mean my journey is ‘done,’ so to speak. And I do not think you should view your own life that way either. We have the rest of our lives to choose our paths, to be in community with others, to spread joy and love. It is not fair, Hazel, to hold yourself to a standard that is impossible. We are not perfect, and we can never be perfect. As for this cage…I have been in many. And I believe all cages are meant for breaking. We will survive this.”
“Thank you for saying that,” she said. “Gods, now I want to get everyone out of here even more.”
“I do too. But for now…rest, Hazel Levesque. You have done amazing work, even if others do not see it.Isee it. And I hope you know…you’ve made a friend for life in me.”
She reached out and took his hand. “I’m glad I let you into Camp Jupiter. You’re the best.”
Hazel lay back on the bench as she was overcome with lightheadedness. She focused on slowing her heart rate, but it was easier said than done. Her mind wouldn’t let go of the realization that was growing within her: the oxygen in this prison was running out.
Asterion remained at her side as she drifted in and out of consciousness. She wasn’t sure she ever fully fell asleep, but when she next opened her eyes, it was because she heard two voices. Asterion was standing now, talking in hushed tones with Arielle.
“Did you get any details?” Asterion asked the empousa.
“Not many,” Arielle admitted. “I was just sparring with a dracaena named Sssssandra, teaching them how to stab an enemy if we ever got the chance—which was very satisfying, by the way. And they said—”
Hazel sat up. “What’s going on?”
Arielle turned, her fiery hair guttering in the thinning air. “Hazel. Sorry to wake you, but I thought you should hear this. One of our newest arrivals just told me something Pirithous was bragging about during their trial. I think I know how Pirithous has gotten all those minor deities on his side. And why he wants to make your father appear when the Mist breaks.”
Hazel groaned. “How much am I going to hate this?”
Arielle’s face twisted up. “Apparently, he has a secret weapon—something specifically designed to trap a god.”
Orcus swooped down to join Nico, Will, and Deion just before they entered the tunnel on the Camp Jupiter side. The griffin landed on Deion’s shoulder.
“I am practicing my surveillance,” he announced. “I did not see any others following the human. Also, I did not get stuck on the highway this time!”
“Great job, buddy!” Deion said. “So…you’re sure this person is a human?”
“She seems to be,” said Orcus. “Apparently, she took an Uber to Tunnel Road, right above the sentry post, and walked down the side of the hill from there. She nearly scared our sentries to death. But perhaps this is the Mist again, and we’re about to be tricked!”
The griffin sounded weirdly excited by the possibility. Maybe he really was getting comfortable being part of Camp Jupiter.
“We’ll see,” Will said. He looked down at Loneliness, who was harnessed in the special pouch on Will’s chest. “You all right there, little guy?”
The fuzzball cooed at Will.
As they headed into the tunnel, the rest of the Puffs bobbed along behind them, jostling and wrestling with one another. Nico felt like his nerves were doing exactly the same thing inside him: chaotically bouncing up and down. Were they about to be fooled again? Was this another trap from Laverna or Pirithous?
He recalled his father’s recent words:Continue to trust your instincts.
That would’ve been great advice if Nico felt like hedidtrust his instincts. Instead, he was constantly second-guessing himself. Or was he second-guessing an instinct he should pay attention to? Or…
Nico decided to shelve that internal conversation. It would get him nothing but a headache. He was trying to guard against this human visitor without knowing anything about them, which wasn’t helpful at all. He reached for Will’s hand.
“Everything okay?” Will asked quietly.
Nico hooked his index finger around Will’s pinkie. “It will be.”
Still, the walk through the tunnel itself was nerve-racking. The closer they got to the double doors, the more furiously Nico’s heart beat.
“We’re going to find Hazel,” said Will. “No matter what.”
Nico nodded mutely.
When they reached the western doors, Deion flung them open, and light filled the tunnel. Nico saw the outline of someone standing just outside. It took him a moment to make out Frank.
