Disclaimer: I don't own the PJO series; it all belongs to Rick Riordan. I also don't own Sophie Ross, Jay Minnus, Aeiradan, and Eira Aniuk; they belong to their respected creators. I only the things and people you do not recognize.
Aolei was gently shaken awake from her two hour nap; she opened her eyes and saw a female with grass like green eyes looking at her. Behind her were two reapers, their black hoods covered their faces; they carried bone white scythes'.
"The lord of Valdinos wishes for you to join him this evening for dinner," the girl spoke, her voice was raspy, like she hasn't spoken in months. "You are to shower beforehand Lady Aolei. The two reapers behind me are your body guards and to make sure you try not to escape. I will be your personal servant if you shall need anything."
Aolei just stared at the girl; she didn't know what to say so she just nodded her head okay. The reaper on the left walked to the side of the bed, Aolei shivered at she felt the bones of it on her wrist as it unlocked her from the bed post. Aolei rubbed her wrist gently and stared at the impressions the handcuffs left on her. She scooted to the edge of the bed, as her feet touched the ground she grew wobbly and nearly fell downed, but her servant grabbed a hold of her waist.
"What is your name?" Aolei asked the girl, as she led her to the bathroom, with the two reapers following them.
"Goria*," she answered.
The reapers followed them inside the bathroom; Aolei silently groaned to herself, she didn't want them to watch her bathe. As they walked inside the bathroom, Aolei didn't expect it to look so beautiful like it does. The walls were a solid gold color that held rows of mirrors; the floor was black as obsidian. In the center of the room was the bath that was in the ground like a pool. They walked to it; Aolei turned around and saw that the reapers stood at the door. Goria walked behind her, she pulled her straps to the Aolei's dress down, the dress felled to the floor. Aolei stepped down into the bath; she leaned back in a corner of the tub.
Goria poured lavender oil inside of the tub and began to mix it around with her hand. She got up from her knees and made her way to the gold/black marble counter top and grabbed hold of a golden pitcher that held a mixture of milk and honey, she then grabbed another golden pitcher that held rose water.
Goria sat both pitchers on the ground, she pulled her skirt of her dress up to her thighs, and she sat behind Aolei and stuck her feet in the water. She grabbed the pitcher that held the milk and honey mixture and slowly poured it into Aolei's hair. When she finished pouring the mixture in Aolei's hair, she began to give her a scalp massage, and smoothed out the mixture from her roots to the ends. She rinsed her hands off in the water before she grabbed the pitcher with the rose water.
"Close your eyes Lady Aolei," Goria instructed.
Aolei closed her eyes tightly shut, then she began to feel the cool liquid on her scalp and Goria running her fingers threw her hair. Once she felt like Goria was finished she opened her eyes, she stared blankly out the rectangle shaped window, looking out to the beautiful, yet eerie, view of the sunset.
After thirty more minutes of preparation Aolei was finally walking out of the bathroom. Her hair was in a braided bun, she had on a dark grey floor length dress with a train, with matching grey silk slippers with a curved top.
Goria and Aolei exits the bathroom first, followed by the reapers. "I need to blindfold you Lady Aolei, from the Lord of the house," Goria pulled a midnight black silk scarf from her pocket. She walked behind Aolei, maneuvered the scarf in front of Aolei's eyes and tied it behind her neck. Goria grabbed hold of Aolei's right hand with her left hand and lead her out of the bedroom and into a long hall. The walls were made of black and grey blocks, the ground was the same. The walls bore paintings the Wraith-King collected from over the years, weapons and armor that were old and/or broken. There was a glass casing that held the skulls of the women the Wraith-King had had in the past.
They walked down the winding staircase, made a sharp right, and continued to walk straight. They stopped at a twelve feet tall heavy wooden door with gold sword shaped door handle that are curved. Goria removed Aolei's blindfold before she opened the door.
The Wraith-King was already seated at the head of the table; there was no food on the table. He stood up from his seat when he saw his prize enter the room; a smirk appeared on his pale face. His golden blonde hair was tied in a knot at the base of skull; he wore all black with a blood red tie he wore loosely around his neck.
He pushed back his seat and glided towards Aolei, he held out his hand, Aolei took it, trying not to flinch from his touch. He pulled out a seat on the right of him for her, as she sat down he pushed it in. "You look beautiful my dear Aolei," he whispered into her ear, his lips moved across her neck. She shivered from how close he was, he chuckled lightly, "You have no reason to be scared just yet my dear sweet Aolei."
He moved from the back of her into his seat, Aolei turned to look at him and forced a smile upon her face. "I have to say my lord you look very handsome."
He laughed, once he finished he smiled gently at Aolei. "My dear I would like to believe what you just said but I'm afraid I cannot. We both know that you don't mean what you told me, but thank you anyways."
"My lord, may I ask you a question?"
"Ask a way my dear."
"Why did you choose me, and not anyone else?"
He frowned; he didn't expect her to ask that question, he didn't know how to respond to that. Heck he didn't know himself why he choose her, he had a few others he could choose from, much older one, but he wanted her. There was something about her that drew him to her, it was partially her blood that drew him to her, but there was something else that he couldn't put his finger on yet. He decided to tell her what he knew, "I chose you because of your blood, I was drawn to it."
Aolei nodded her head okay, "I have just one more question my lord."
He cocked an eyebrow, "Just one more?"
"Yes my lord."
"Fine, ask your question."
"When will you do whatever you do, to me?"
"Why do you wish to know that?"
"I'll like to be prepared for it, to get my head ready for it."
"It will happen tonight."
Aolei gulped but nodded her head okay, trying to push back her tears, but to no avail. A tear escaped from her eye and slid down her check. She bit her bottom lip to keep from balling like a baby. She didn't expect that answer, she thought he was going to say tomorrow night or two days from now. She had no time to prepare her nerves at all. More tears escaped, her body began to shake, she let out a tiny squeak, and her breathing was becoming heavy.
He watched her, he expected this to him, it always happened when he told them when they asked him. He didn't expect to be affected by her tears; he leaned over and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now dear don't you cry, you should have known that this was going to happen? Why do you think I invited you down here to eat and have you washed up? I will only take a little from you tonight, nothing to drastic. Would you like it if I did it now and get it over with, then you can eat before you go back to your room?"
Aolei let out a deep sigh, wiped the tears away from her face, she squared her shoulders, and looked him directly in the eyes, as she nodded her head yes.
The Wraith-King moved behind her seat once more, he pushed back a loose curl from her neck. He leaned down, first he licked her neck to get it ready it began to pulse a pale pink color, then it became a bright red. He bared his fangs; at first he rested it on her neck, before he bit down. As he bit down, piercing through her flesh, Aolei let out a very loud scream. Her eyes were closed tightly, her body began to convulse. It felt like hot coals were inside her body before it felt like she was outside in the snow without anything warm on.
Sophie Ross was seated in the back of the camp van with Percy, Jay and Eira was seated in the middle seats, and Prince Aeiradan was in the front directly behind Argus. "Can you step on it, something is not right," Aeiradan told Argus, as he rubbed the left side of his neck.
"How about you leave him alone and let him drive us there safely?" Eira looked at Aeiradan.
"Last time I check Halfling I was talking to him, not you, so mind your damn business," Aeiradan growled, not bothering to turn around to look at Eira.
Sophie sighed to herself, what did she get herself into? She only came on this quest, because some part of her wanted to know if she can handle such a big task like this. She also wanted to show people at camp that she is done with being pushed around by them.
She turned to look at Percy, he was staring out the window, watching the scenery past by them, fingering his camp necklace. Sophie wondered why Percy volunteered for this quest, but then again Percy was a nice guy, so maybe he wanted to help Aeiradan find his sister.
Twenty minutes later they were finally at the dock. Argus stopped the van and the five of them loaded out. Argus handed Percy a duffle bag and note before he went back to the van. Percy waited for Argus to drive off before he read over the note.
"What does it say?" Jay asked.
"Just telling us where the boat is docked at, the coordinates, and what's inside the bag," Percy answered.
"So what's in the bag?" Questioned Eira, standing next to Sophie.
"Just some ambrosia and nectar, drachmas, mortal money, and some bandages."
"Where's the boat?" Sophie spoke up, they jumped they forgot that she was there.
"Not that far from-" Percy stopped when heard a noise he didn't feel like hearing.
A/N: Hope you guys liked it so far. Review.