A/N
Oh my gods, I forgot a disclaimer! So here it is: I don't own Percy Jackson (sadly). All of the characters and the whole concept in general belong to the incredible Rick Riordan. So, there you have it.
This was an interesting chapter to write. It's given me some great ideas for the rest of the story! By the way, I'm planning for this to be 15 chapters or less. Anyway, enjoy!
When Calypso woke, the light of the rising sun was shining through the curtains once more. She sat up blearily, rubbing her eyes and squinting towards the cave entrance. Through the curtains, she could see a column of light headed towards the cave. It was flickering, almost like… fire!
There was only one god who travelled in a column of flame. Fear rose in her stomach. If something has happened to Leo, I'll force Zeus to let me out so that I can destroy Gaea myself! She vowed.
Throwing the blankets aside, she jumped out of bed and hurried outside. The column of flames had come to a halt several feet away from the cave entrance. Calypso turned away, shielding her face as the blistering heat assaulted her skin and pulled the moisture from her eyes. The heat faded quickly, and she spun around to face the god.
"Where is he?" She demanded, cursing herself as she heard her voice tremble slightly. "Has something happened?"
Hephaestus held up his gnarled hands in a placating gesture. "Leo is fine. He and the rest of the crew from the Argo II made it out of the House of Hades safely. They're making their way towards Athens as we speak."
Calypso let out a breath that she hadn't realized she had been holding. "Thank you, Lord Hephaestus," she murmured. "I-I just hate waiting here, knowing that there's nothing I can do to help him." She sat down hard on the edge of the fountain that Leo had repaired. "I've been trapped here for thousands of years- thousands! Haven't I been punished enough? I'm not even that powerful!"
Hephaestus shook his head. "I've told that Percy Jackson boy something very similar to what I'm about to tell you: never underestimate the power of love. It can make people do things they never thought they were capable of. Zeus knows that. He's realized what your punishment may have done to your power. After having loved four times and experiencing the pain of having each one of those lovers taken away, he is wary of what you might do if he lets you out. He worries that you will hate the gods for what they have done to you, and he fears that you will join Gaea to get revenge. He doesn't want the Earth Mother to have that kind of power. In Zeus's mind, it's much safer to have you imprisoned than it is to set you free and give Gaea the opportunity to recruit another powerful ally."
Calypso stared at Hephaestus, dumbfounded. What he was suggesting was absurd. She couldn't- wouldn't- believe it. "But I'm just a minor goddess!" She protested. "And even if I'm as powerful as you say I am, how can Zeus be sure that I would join Gaea?"
The disheveled-looking god grunted as he shifted his stance to take his weight off of his bad leg. "He can't know for certain, which is what makes you so dangerous. You could tip the scales in either side's favor, but Zeus isn't willing to take that risk."
The two were silent for a time as Calypso tried to wrap her mind around the enormity of Hephaestus's words. The lame god took several tools and some bronze pieces out of his pockets and tinkered with them for a while. When he was satisfied with his creation, he held it out to Calypso. She extended her hand and watched as a tiny bronze dove hopped onto her palm.
"I've taken the liberty of arranging an agreement with Zeus," Hephaestus said. "Hopefully, it will help you get off of this island when your need is most dire. Now, if I understand correctly, you have a seeing device that allows you glimpses into the outside world?"
Calypso nodded. She had used it to glean information about Leo's past, which was how she had managed to replicate his favorite outfit.
"Use it to monitor your friends' activities. When you feel that they desperately need your help, send this dove to Zeus. All you need to do is tell it that you wish to leave Ogygia. This will activate it to fly to wherever Zeus is. It is a symbol of your goodwill towards Olympus, and I have enchanted it so that it will only find Zeus if you really do intend to help him. He has sworn to release you once he receives this dove."
Calypso smiled as the dove hopped about in her hand. "Thank you, Lord Hephaestus. This is a generous gift."
The god cleared his throat self-consciously. "Use it well, Calypso. And remember, the fate of the world rests in your hands." With that parting message, he backed away and erupted into flames once more. Calypso watched the column of fire until it disappeared into the horizon, then turned her gaze back to the small dove in her hand. It regarded her blankly, rustling its bronze feathers and chirping sweetly.
Later that day, Hephaestus's words still rang in Calypso's ears. She didn't want to believe him, but his reasoning hit a little too close to home. The rage that she had felt at the gods when Leo had crash-landed on the beach and her anger at her own traitorous heart for falling in love yet again had stirred an ancient power deep within her. She had fought to restrain it as it fed off of her darkest emotions, begging her to unleash it upon all of those who had caused her pain.
It frightened her, knowing that she wielded this power. It made her question her every decision, wondering if it was her own mind, or the influence of that vengeful magic.
How could she trust herself, knowing that she could destroy everyone and everything she had ever cared about?
A/N
So, what do you think? I know the whole "power of love" thing has been done before *Dumbledore*, but it fit well with the plot. Please review!