"Lux!" Sylvia screamed, pelting the lion with arrows as it pounced on the child of Apollo.

Until it was suddenly thrown away from Lux, landing on bottom floor, right next to Percy, who immediately forced some packaged food thing in its mouth.

Or something. Sylvia wasn't really sure of anything that was happening that wasn't within a 1-foot radius of Lux and, apparently, her. Somehow, her feet had carried her over to her sibling without her even realizing it.

Please, please be okay, Sylvia thought as she took a cautious step forward, only to be stopped in her tracks by some invisible wall.

Huh? She tried a different spot, only to get the same results. She circled all around Lux, trying to find a place she could break in, to no avail. 

"Well, that explains what happened to the lion," she muttered, staring at her sibling, who was curled up in a tiny ball and unconscious. They looked to be shaking, though. "Their brain must've triggered the photokinesis...or something."

Something landed on her shoulder, making her jump and re-load her bow, only to lower it as her eyes focused on a glowing, flame-coloured bird.

Oh, hey! Wait, have you been here the entire time? she asked.

Fawkes shook her head. I just managed to find a partially-open window and fly in.

Sylvia looked at her feet. I'm sorry. I completely forgot you went to search above.

No matter. You need to help Lux, Fawkes told her.

I'm trying, but I don't know how! Sylvia said, exasperated.

Call out to them, Fawkes suggested. With their full name. First, middle, and last.

I don't know that! I just met them, like, a few days ago! I'm not even sure if I was ever told the last name, much less the middle! Sylvia protested.

Lux Mars Morin.

"Lux Mars Morin?" Sylvia said, her French accent coming out without her realizing.

Like that, but with more confidence.

"Lux Mars Morin." 

More...musical. Sing it, Fawkes instructed.

Sing it? How will that help?

Just do it.

"Lux Mars Morin," she said in a sing-song tone. A song she hadn't heard in years popped into her mind, and her lips involuntarily moved themselves, forming the lyrics. "Wake me up before you go-go. 'Cause I'm not planning on going solo."

Lux's eyes immediately flew open, Sylvia's eyes doing the same as she realized she did that. She took a step forward, momentarily forgetting about the forcefield, but, to her relief, it was gone.

"Sylveon? What---what happened? Am I dead? Is this the Underworld? Does that mean you're dead, too?" Lux asked, rubbing their eyes. It took Sylvia a moment to register the fact that they were speaking in French.

"No, honey. You're alive. Your photokinesis must've went into self-defense mode or something. It created some sort of shield for you," Sylvia explained.

Lux blinked. "Why are you speaking French?"

"Because you were," Sylvia replied simply, grabbing their hand and gently pulling them up.

"Oh. Huh. I didn't mean to do that."

"Don't worry, I've done that very same thing so many times." Sylvia grinned at them as they picked their crossbow up.

"Wait...what happened to the lion?" Lux asked, suddenly completely alert.

Sylvia tensed. She'd completely forgotten about it. Then a voice from behind her said, "It's...been taken care of."

Sylvia whirled around and loaded her bow, only to realize it was Thalia who'd spoken.

The daughter of Zeus put her hands up. "Whoa, don't kill me, please."

Sylvia lowered her bow, pursing her lips. "Sorry. I didn't realize it was you."

Thalia just shrugged. "Oh, by the way, I need your help. Zoe, Grover, and Percy all want Percy in on this quest. Since you're the co-leader, they might listen to you. Emphasis on might."

Sylvia narrowed her eyes and stormed over to the first floor, where the three aforementioned people were standing, waiting for her, plus Bianca.

Before you say anything, Sylvia, Fawkes started, he may be useful. He is a son of Poseidon, after all.

Yeah, yeah, son of Poseidon who isn't supposed to exist yet everyone worships, saviour of camp, whatever. I've heard it all before, Sylvia grumbled. He'll also attract many monsters.

Fair enough, Fawkes admitted. You mustn't let your bias stand in the way of this, though.

Sounds like something Dad would say.

Sylvia reached the middle of the floor, Lux and Thalia right behind her. "He's not going."

"Thou art outnumbered," Zoe said, raising her head high. "Four against three."

"We--we don't have time to argue," Bianca broke in, glancing up nervously. "They'll catch up to us any minute now."

"Who's 'they?'" Sylvia grabbed Fiendfyre.

"Luke and the rest," Percy replied. Sylvia finally looked at him, something she'd been avoiding doing since she descended the staircase. He had some weird coat on that he didn't have before.

"What's that jacket?" she asked, pointing to it. It was a full-length golden-brown duster.

"The Nemean Lion pelt," he replied smugly.

Sylvia rolled her eyes. He's gonna turn into another awful Heracles, isn't he? He basically is already, though.

That isn't fair, Fawkes said.

"The security guards will also be here soon," Grover interjected. "I'm not sure how long the songs we used on them will last."

Sylvia pursed her lips and nodded, shooting a look up towards the guards, who were scrambling in every direction except theirs, like they were madly searching for something. A few were running into the walls or each other.

"The security guards are not our biggest worry, though," Zoe said. "Bianca was correct. Look."

Through the glass walls of the museum, Sylvia could see a group of men walking across the lawn. Gray men in gray camouflage outfits. They were too far away for her to see their eyes, but she could feel their gaze aimed right at her."

"Go," Percy said, surprising Sylvia. "They'll be hunting me. I'll distract them."

Always the hero, Sylvia thought, clenching her teeth. I guess camp will be mad at me if I let him die, though. 

"No," Sylvia said, not looking happy about it at all. "We go together."

Thalia looked at her in disbelief. "Excuse me, what?"

Percy stared at her. "But you said--"

Sylvia put a hand up to silence him. "I know what I said. And yes, I wish I could leave you here to die in agony. But apparently doing that would make Poseidon come after me or something, so you may as well come."

Zoe nodded begrudgingly. "You are a part of this quest now. I do not like it, but there is no changing fate, as the daughter of Apollo knows quite well. You are the seventh quest member. And we are not leaving anyone behind."

"Unless we need to sacrifice someone," Sylvia chimed in. "Then you're the one dying."

I've been working on and off on this chapter for like a month, and voila! It's done!

Sorry I took so long to update lol. School's catching up to me.

Honestly can't remember if this is edited or not so I'ma just say it is...

QOTD: Hydra or Nemean Lion

A: Hydra, cuz they're omni culture

Anygays, love y'all, and cya!

-Aspen