Chapter eleven – The godly housemaid

I was falling non-stop into the darkness. It was like I would never hit the ground. While I fell, I waited for the impact that was likely to never come.

"I am your worst nightmare," the voice from the enemy echoed everywhere, but nowhere. It was like it was coming from each sides, and from none sides at the same time. It was the thing that terrified me the most about that.

"Leave me alone!" I shouted. I got surprised at the sound of my own voice. I hadn't been able to talk in any of the nightmares with the voice before.

The voice laughed. It was such a cold laugh that made me shiver.

"I never leave people alone, son of lightning," the voice said. "You, from all people, should know that."

"Why me?" I asked, sounding like a little kid. "Why sending your messages to me, not to Becky or Eric?"

"You are the most vulnerable one," it said, almost melodically, in a terrifying way.

"What you mean?"

The voice didn't respond.

"I'm giving you a clue, boy," it said. "The answer is right there, right on your face, and you're not realizing it."

"I'm tired of riddles," I said. "Will I ever receive a direct answer, just for a change?"

That was when I hit the ground. I grunted in surprise, but I didn't feel any pain. I tried to stand up blindly, and the darkness was still suffocating and claustrophobic.

"Your fatal flaw is not individuality, like suggested before," said the voice. "That is the characteristic of hers."

"Hers?" I asked. "You mean, Becky's?"

"Yes. Your friend's individuality is much more fatal than yours."

I thought about that. Was Becky's individuality that had made her fight those Cyclopes? But Eric was the individual one… Or his individuality wasn't fatal?

I shook my head. That wasn't making any sense.

"What's my fatal flaw, then?" I asked the voice.

"I've already told you, silly boy. I've already told you."

"You didn't!" I complained "You just give me riddles and more riddles."

I almost could feel the voice's owner shrug, if that was even possible. "A good hero must know how to solve riddles. It's vital."

I was getting more and more frustrated.

"Who are you?" I asked. "What do you want?"

"What a fool," the voice laughed. "You haven't realized yet?"

Then I stopped breathing.

/

"Henry!" someone was screaming. "Henry, please, wake up! Wake up!"

My vision was starting to function again. I tried to remember what had happened. I was in the barn, standing, then I passed out and had this crazy vision. And apparently I had fallen during it… over Becky.

"Oh, my gods!" I exclaimed, getting up quickly. "Oh, Becky, I'm so sorry! I'm really sorry! Your ribs… I'm sorry!"

"It's... it's okay," she managed.

It was not okay. I could see it clearly. She had tears on her face, from the pain, and she was panting. But I didn't have time to feel guilty, or even to be shaken over my vision.

"You're awake," I said breathlessly. "Oh, my gods, you're awake. How are you feeling? Oh, what a stupid thing to ask. Of course you're feeling awful. But… gods, you're awake!"

Becky managed to give me a weak smile. I was so relieved on seeing her awake that I couldn't do anything properly.

I pressed the T-shirt against her head again. Then I realized it wasn't bleeding anymore.

"Oh, look," I said, cleaning the rest of the blood that remained on her head, "the terrible cut's gone. The nectar wasn't so useless after all. Ah," I added, giving her the T-shirt back, "I had to use this to stop the bleeding, hope you don't mind."

"It's a shirt Percy gave me," she said casually. "You know, just before he went to live underwater. But don't worry. I'm not angry, really. The odds were stronger."

"You're really not angry?" I asked for reassurance.

"I guarantee that I'm not."

"Good," I said in relief.

I wasn't good in first-aid, but I tried to examine her like Eric did. But I couldn't focus. I was far too happy, I couldn't stop talking.

"Eric's gone to get you some blankets, water and medicaments," I told Becky. "Oh, Becky, you don't even know how happy I am to see you breathing."

She laughed, but at the same time tried not to laugh. The result a start of a laugh then a little gasp of pain.

"You were incredibly brave," I told her. "Really. The way you went to fight that Cyclopes alone to protect us, how you resisted until you got so injured that you weren't able to continue, and how you used your very last bit of energy to help us escape! I have no words. It took nerve. It's beyond everything–"

"Stop!" Becky said, trying to rise. "Stop treating me like a heroine! I did the most stupid thing in my whole demigod life! And, in the end, you and Eric had to come to save me!"

"Stay still," I warned her, pressing her shoulders to make her lie down again. "You're too agitated. Relax, OK? And you were brave. Don't deny it."

"Henry, I don't want to stay still," she complained. "And yeah, wow, I helped us a lot. We're gonna get late just because of me and my supposed bravery. I'm always messing things up! The thing with the plane was my fault too. I obligated you to fly. Maybe if we had gotten the bus, none of this would be happening."

"None of these are your fault," I told her "And stop talking! Every word must make you feel pain."

"Breathing makes me feel pain," she said bluntly. "So it doesn't matter."

She had a point.

"What happened to you when you fell over me?" she asked, and I was relieved she changed the subject. "You were out for a really long time. I tried to wake you up, but it was impossible. Just like last time, back at camp. What did you see? Was it the voice again?"

"Oh, I'm sorry again for falling over you. Anyway, I had this crazy vision."

I did my best to tell her everything about the vision. I tried not to miss anything. When I finished, she took a moment to think about that.

"These visions are getting more and more frequent," Becky said thoughtfully. "So that's why the voice only talks to you! But you're not vulnerable, of course," she added quickly.

"Yeah."

That was all I said. Now that I was thinking about that, maybe I indeed was the most vulnerable of the three. But I decided not to torture myself with that thought.

"Becky," I said, "do you know who the enemy is?"

She hesitated for a moment, seeming truly scared. It was another not-so-Becky thing I had seen in the mission.

"Well…" Then she shook her head like she was washing away the thought. "No, it can't be. I'm not sure, Henry."

It was a lie. Becky hadn't fooled me. She did know who the enemy was, but didn't want to tell me. I could tell she was too afraid of the answer to admit she was right about the enemy.

"One more thing," I said. "About the fatal flaws–"

The barn's door opened. Eric went inside. He was carrying a blanket over his shoulders, a first-aid kit on one hand and a water bottle in the other. He was checking the things.

"Hey, man," Eric said, without looking up. "There's a farm two minutes from here. The old man was very kind. He almost gave me every supply there was."

He was so distracted that when he saw that Becky was awake, the things he was carrying fell on the ground. He stared at her for a moment, then grabbed the things from the floor, approached and gave me the water bottle.

Not saying a word, he dropped the first-aid kit and covered Becky with the blanket, in a way to imitate a bandage for her ribs.

"You're lucky I'm happy to see you alive, or I'd probably punch you in the face," Eric finally said.

"I know," Becky said. "You can yell at me if you please. I won't argue. I know I deserve it. I'm sorry, guys."

I helped Becky drink from the water bottle.

"Let's not yell at anybody," I said. "But Becky, he has a point. You owe us big time. An explanation would do."

She took several sips from the water bottle to avoid answering immediately.

"Very well, then," said Becky, taking a deep breath. "I was on my duty and I fell asleep. I should be ashamed, but given everything I did, it's nothing in comparison. Anyway, I woke up hearing the thumps. The first thing that came to my mind was that there were giants. But it was impossible to have giants there. So I realized there were Cyclopes, and that they were near. They were too close. I simply didn't think. I didn't want them to get you."

"So you simply went to fight two Cyclopes by yourself when you had two friends to help you, because you didn't want us to get injured?" asked Eric.

Becky looked at him. "Yeah, sort of," she said. "Like I said, I didn't think. If I hadn't gone to fight, they would probably find our clearing, and it would be our end. The three of us would die."

It sounded like she was telling that more to console herself than anything else. Or maybe to convince herself.

Eric seemed as though he was trying really hard not to say something like: 'You're impossible.'

"Anyway," Becky continued, "the thing was going well at first. I led them far enough from you, but I wasn't counting with another clearing near the other. It was their clearing. They corralled me. I felt it wouldn't end up well, but I had to choose between surrender and fighting until the end. I chose the second option."

I made an effort not to let my mouth drop open. She had chosen to fight, even if it was most likely that she was going to die. She was disposed to die to protect Eric and I. Sure, I would do the same thing for them if I was in her place.

Wouldn't I?

"They nearly killed me," Becky told us. "I still don't know how I managed not to die. They pain was unbearable. My conscience kept coming and going. And Latipes and Aculeatus kept talking to me, and I was obligated to answer, or Latipes squeezed me, like Henry saw."

"So he did it more times?" I asked.

Becky nodded.

"There's one thing that is bothering me, though," she said. "How did you find me? I thought that I was dead for sure, because you wouldn't find me, but at least you were safe. So, how…?"

I told her about the vision I had about her.

"But this is exactly what happened!" Becky said. "All the details! OK, this is creepy."

"And the voice spoke again," I said, trying my best to exclude the accusation tone. "It said something about your fatal flaw."

She stayed silent for several minutes. I could tell she would give anything not to talk about that.

"That was what Chiron was worried about," she simply said.

I remembered vaguely when we talked to Chiron, just before the mission. The conversations seemed to have happened ages ago. He had said he was worried, that our fatal flaws were particularly difficult to manage.

"Henry, forgive us, all right?" Becky said, truly sad. "When you told us about the dream, that one that said about your fatal flaw, we knew something was wrong. You see, my fatal flaw is revenge." She said that so casually I didn't have time to be surprised. "There's a lot of individuality in that. Eric and I talked, and we concluded that was not your fatal flaw."

"But what is mine?" I asked. "And why that voice from the dream lied to me? It was female, and seemed nice. And–"

I didn't continue the sentence. I had never admitted to myself, but I had hopes… The voice in the west, not the enemy's, was very similar to my mother's. I missed her a lot.

"Unless…" I said with a little hope. "Unless… Can fatal flaws change with time?"

"Don't think so," said Becky, looking at me with an apologizing expression. "I mean, it can happen, of course, everything changes. But it's exceptionally rare. It's something so unique. Know what I mean? It's not something that can change suddenly and so easily."

I sighed sadly. The beautiful voice of that woman couldn't have lied to me. I was sure about that.

"Henry, we know nothing about your fatal flaw," said Eric. "Really."

"But I want to get some things straight," I said. "It's not very common for a half-blood to know what is their fatal flaw, right? So how you guys know yours?"

"We are in camp for so long that we've had interesting journeys," said Becky. "We were told about our fatal flaws. By our worried fathers."

I felt the weight in those words. Poseidon and Hades had been worried about Becky and Eric, so they talked to them. Gods didn't do that frequently. I knew it well.

I thought about my father for the first time in ages. There I was, going to save him, even if he hadn't ever showed any affection for me. He hadn't ever talked to me. Nothing. Like a complete stranger.

"Right," I went forward before I could backtrack. "In my second vision–"

"Another vision?" asked Eric.

"It was right after you were out," I said, turning to face him. "It said that my fatal flaw wasn't individuality, that it was Becky's. But you are the most individual one. Aren't you?"

I wished to take that back as soon as I said. Luckily, Eric didn't get angry or anything.

"In fact, I am," he said.

"Then what…?"

"But my individuality isn't fatal," said Eric. "Yeah, in the past, it was, kind of. When I wanted to join Jamie and everything… But my real flaw, the one that is the most fatal, is exceeded caution."

I looked at him. I wasn't expecting to hear that without warning. It was like Eric had thrown a bomb to me that had the countdown in three, two, one…

"When I was a kid, I was too impulsive," said Eric, seeming totally relaxed now. "You can possibly tell. After Jamie, I started to be more careful… too careful. You must know situations here in the mission that my fatal flaw was in action."

The answer had been there all the time and I didn't realize it. First, in the airport, when Eric hesitated too long and didn't get his sword in time, he could have died. Then, in the plane, during the attack of the Furies. I didn't see it, but the reason of his injury must have been excess of hesitation too.

"Oh."

That was all that I was able to say. I spent a minute to absolve the information, then turned to Becky. "You say your fatal flaw is revenge. The voice said it had individuality, and you said that too. But I don't see the connection between that and revenge. It's not very clear."

Becky became suddenly nervous. She wasn't as relaxed as Eric. Maybe it was because we knew his full story. I didn't know a thing about Becky's.

"Sorry, Henry," she said, avoiding my eyes. "I'll have to organize my thoughts before telling you."

"Oh," I said, slightly disappointed. "Oh, OK, then."

Eric, in order to diffuse the tension, turned to the first-aid kit he had brought, looking for something.

"How're you feeling?" he asked Becky. "Do you need anything?"

"I'm okay," she said. "Just a little cold."

"I have bandages here somewhere," said Eric, still looking in the first-aid kit "I can replace the blanket and you can use it."

Eric finally found the bandage. I grabbed the blanket and he involver her ribs.

"The bones are starting to straighten," Becky told us. "Very slowly, but I can feel it."

"Good," said Eric, finishing the bandage. "Then you keep still for it to be faster to heal."

"Very funny," she said, while I covered her with the blanket. "I'm not moving that much."

"But you can't stop talking, can you?" I said jokingly.

"All right, all right," she said. "I'll stop. But first, I have something to tell you."

"Spill it out," said Eric.

"I got a bunch of information from Latipes and Aculeatus," Becky told us. "I mean, if I hadn't got anything, then I would've felt terrible. But I got some drachmas and valuable information."

"That's good," said Eric. "So, tell us."

"They said something about a place where heroes got transportation," said Becky, "in St. Louis, and that now some guy is guarding the place."

"That's our next stop, then," I said.

"But first we need Becky to recover herself enough," said Eric. "We won't move a finger until she can."

Becky didn't exchange looks with any of us. I could tell she was still feeling awful about the whole situation. She didn't like to feel useless, nor liked the thought that she was responsible for our delay. But I didn't know how to tell her that we didn't blame her at all.

"I think you guys should sleep," Becky said. "You must be tired. I'll stay alert. Don't worry," she added grudgingly. "I can't even move, so how am I supposed to do anything stupid?"

"Henry and I will divide the duties," said Eric. "It's more guaranteed."

Becky didn't like the idea at all. But she made no objections, because she knew it was the right thing to do.

"I'll get the first watch," I said promptly. "You can sleep, Eric."

He didn't object either. He got a pile of hay and fell asleep immediately.

I sat down next to the pile of hay where Becky was lying, in order to give her company. She didn't seem like someone who was going to fall asleep so quickly.

"What's stopping you?" I asked her. "From sleeping, I mean."

She didn't answer at once. I felt a movement, like she was trying to turn around, but she remembered she couldn't.

"The guilt is killing me," Becky said.

"Guilt of what?"

"Everything! For making you choose the plane over the bus, for being dumb and going to fight those Cyclopes, for almost dying, for making you guys save me, for delaying our quest… I'm the one with most experience here. I was supposed to be rational."

"Everyone makes mistakes," I told her. "I personally do that a lot. It's just… When you're a demigod, your mistakes are considerably bigger."

She laughed without much humor. "You're right. Very right, Henry."

There was silence. I took that to pay attention in case I heard any strange sound – any monster sound. But I could only hear the birds and cars passing on the main road near the barn. It must be almost midmorning.

Becky didn't talk to me again, and I didn't either. I had to focus, though it was very unlikely that there was a monster nearby.

Yet, monsters could be anywhere. All demigods knew that. Even in the most remote places, we had to be ready to fight.

I didn't know how much time I stayed there, just listening. It could've been hours. But then my eyes were led to the T-shirt Percy had given Becky, and that reminded me something.

"Hey, Becky?" I asked.

Only then I thought I could have woken her up. But, when she answered me, she didn't seem sleepy at all.

"Yeah?"

"You know, when we were leaving for the quest, and it was Percy's turn to say goodbye, he told me something."

"What was it?"

"He told me to take care of you. Take very good care of you, in his words. He made me give him my word."

Becky sighed. "Percy," she said, almost like a mother who talked about her naughty child, "always trying to protect everybody."

"Ahn…" I said. I didn't know if I should ask her what she meant. Thankfully, I didn't need to.

"Percy doesn't understand my fatal flaw as well as Eric," Becky told me. "He knows I can take care of myself, but you must've realized my bravery makes me do stupid things. Percy was just being caring, I suppose."

I didn't answer. She interpreted well my silence.

"Henry, don't be frustrated with me," she said, almost in a pleading tone. "I really want to tell you everything about my past. I'm under pressure, now that Eric has already done it. But some things in life are just too hard to talk about."

I made an effort to be understandable. I really did. But, at the same time, the selfish Henry was starting to show himself again. I was tired of waiting. And no, I'm not proud to admit it.

"Talking helps, you know," I said. "Talking to a friend about your problems removes the weight over your shoulders and you feel more capable to deal with everything."

Becky hesitated, then smiled at me. "I'll consider your advice."

I understood that our conversation was over. I jumped on my feet and woke Eric up for his duty. I lied on the pile of hay he had been sleeping on. I hadn't realized how tired I was, but I slept as soon as I leaned over the pile of hay.

/

I dreamed about big cities.

It wasn't Denver. It was a city I didn't recognize. Becky and Eric weren't there, and I hadn't got my sword either.

Then I heard it. The voice I wanted most not to hear. It just lost the first place for the voice of the enemy.

Son of lightning, we have met once again.

It was just like the first time, when the female voice spoke when I dreamed about Denver. None of the people around seemed to be paying attention to the voice that was echoing everywhere, or to me.

The words son of lightning made me shiver. The enemy called me son of lightning too. That thought made my suspicions grow even more.

"What do you want?" I asked the voice.

I sense a slight of distrust. The son of lightning does not trust me anymore. What can I do to change that thought of yours?

"You could start by showing yourself!" I suggested angrily.

The next moment, a beautiful lady was standing before me. If youth was a person, then it would be her. She was motherly, but juvenile at the same time.

"I am Hebe," said the lady, with a voice identical to my mother's.

I frowned at her. "Isn't Hebe the gods' servant? You know, like Olympus' housemaid?"

Okay, so that wasn't the kind of appropriate comment. But, you know, ADHD and all…

"I no longer answer to that title," Hebe said very coolly. "I prefer to be recognized as the goddess of youth only."

"Sorry, sorry," I managed, bowing respectfully to the goddess. "So, all right, you're Lady Hebe, the goddess of youth, wife of Hercules."

"That is better," said Hebe approvingly. "Now, son of lightning and half-brother, what causes this distrust towards me?"

I didn't answer immediately. Hebe was a goddess. That should have made me give up on my suspicions and trust her, but I did the exact opposite. It was like the fact of her being a goddess made her even less trustworthy.

"You lied to me," I said. "In the first dream you talked to me, you said my fatal flaw was individuality. You lied."

"No, no, I did not lie, Henry Clarke," said Hebe. "Without your friends, you will certainly die."

"Yeah, but individuality's not my fatal flaw!" I insisted.

She smiled. "Sweetheart, I never said it was your fatal flaw."

My heart sank. That was true. She had said without Becky and Eric I would die, but she didn't tell me individuality was my fatal flaw.

"You might not have said that," I said stubbornly, "but you suggested it. You instigated me think that was my fatal flaw. You did that to distract me from discovering my real one."

Hebe studied me carefully, clearly avoiding the accusation. "You are a very interesting boy, Henry Clarke."

"What makes you think that?" I asked.

Again, she evasively studied my face.

"What do you want with me?" I said, already losing my patience.

"I have come to warn you," said the goddess. "You shall not go to St. Louis."

I stared at her. "But I have to. St. Louis is the closest city, and we have to get a ride to Denver. My friends and I are going there anytime soon. We don't have time to waste."

"If you care about yours and your friends' security, you will not go to St. Louis. Way too many problems are related to that city."

"And why should I believe you?" I asked.

Hebe raised her eyebrow. "I have the habit of attaching too much to youthful people, Henry Clarke, and you are one of them. I would not lie to a person so full of youth like you."

She smiled at me, but it was a kind of strange smile, a smile that frightened me. The first thing that came to my mind was that youth brought irresponsibility. Would that apply to the goddess of youth too?

/

"Henry, time to go."

"Wha–what?"

The old and abandoned barn focused once again. Eric was leaned over me. He had been shaking my shoulders.

Another voice, not Eric's, said, "You have a very deep sleep."

I looked around. Becky was standing by the door of the barn, with her backpack over her shoulders.

"You got better!" I said to her, jumping to my feet.

"Yeah," she said, smiling. I could see how happy she was. "An extra dose of nectar and I'm as good as new. Well, kinda."

I could see two red spots on her cheeks, which suggested she had a bit of fever. That was what happened when a demigod drank much nectar. But Eric wouldn't have let her drink more if he wasn't sure it was safe.

"We're ready to go," said Eric. "You all right?"

I thought about Hebe, the godly housemaid. She had said there were way too many problems related to St. Louis. Was she telling the truth?

I have the habit of attaching too much with youthful people, Henry Clarke, and you are one of them, she had said. Had she really meant it? Or was she trying to use me?

"Yeah, I'm OK," I said. "Let's go. Next stop, St. Louis."