Piper's POV
I looked over the edge of the ship at the rocky shoreline of Diomedes palace. The rocky cliffs which rose straight up. That along made it impossible to land here, and that wasn't even considering the violent waves that crashed against its side and would have shattered the ship against the rocks if we got any closer.
Ryan was looking from the captain's room and stared at the place with his usual brooding expression. He picked up his Wii remote and started to shake it up and down violently. I could hear the metallic links of the anchor dropping, followed by a loud splash.
There were about seven feet between us and the cliffside. Seven feet of roaring waves and very sharp rocks. "Why did we land here?" I questioned, looking at the rock and feeling a bit sick in the stomach. Swimming would have suicide and I doubt Aqua would be able to control the water.
Ryan leaped off the side and ran a rag across his spear, cleaning the blade until it gleamed in the dawn light. He examined it for a second before nodding and changing it back to its ring form. "Because this is the only place they won't expect us to be."
"Fair enough." I nodded and glanced around at the area, there were no guards or towers in sight, this unlike the rest of the island. We arrived two days ago and spent one of them circling the place to find a suitable entry point, all this while dodging patrols of ships and soldiers moving around. "But that still doesn't answer the question of how we get up there."
Katie appeared beside us and crouched down, the wings of her shoes flapping eagerly. She smirked at me and gave us a two-fingered salute. Ryan drew his spear slowly. "I can shadow travel us to the top, though I don't think I can bring more than one."
I nodded and made sure that my sword was properly attached to my belt. "Alright, let's go."
Ryan grabbed me by my shoulder and led us away from the sunlight towards the shade as Katie flew into the air and towards the top of the cliff. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the shadows started to move, forming a wave that begins to wash over us.
From the earth's normal speed, things sped up to light speed. Everything around us went dark as our bodies moved upwards, the shadows continued to pull us forward. My body felt frozen stiff as I tried to rub my head. When I opened my mouth to scream the words froze in my throat. Just when it felt as if my skin was starting to peel off my face, the two of us came to an abrupt stop.
I nearly fell over but Ryan caught my arm and pulled me back up to my feet. We were now standing on the cliffside, just underneath a mango tree. He looked completely unaffected by the process.
Katie appeared from the cliffside a moment later, flying a few feet above us. She dropped to a roll and looked at us. "Hey, guys."
"About time you got up here princess," Ryan remarked and ruffled her hair. "What took you so long."
"I stopped for tea," Katie replied and stuck her tongue out playfully. She started to roll her shoulders.
Ryan crouched down and looked over the edge towards the ship. "Well, I suppose I should try getting the other people up here."
Katie pulled her tongue back and frowned with concern. She squeezed his shoulder tightly. "Ryan, are you sure that you're up to that? You don't want to overextend yourself."
He grabbed her hand and twirled his girlfriend towards him. He pecked her forehead and nodded. "I'll be fine Princess. Don't worry, if I get tired I'll take a breather."
"Good." The Daughter of Hermes seemed more reassured and nodded. Still, she didn't look that pleased with the idea. "Now you better get going."
Ryan nodded and walked over to the mango tree. He closed his eyes and the shadows formed around him and dragged him to the ground. It started to move downwards like a liquid ooze.
"Holy Zeus that's creepy when you see it," I remarked and stared at him leave.
Katie was hovering a couple feet in the air. "Yes, it is. That's why I prefer to fly."
She dropped to a crouch and propped herself down on a nearby rock. I followed her and sat down beside her. Katie retracted the wings of her shoes and started cleaning the bottoms with a knife. "Do you think Ryan's ok?" She mumbled quietly.
I resisted the urge to laugh as I saw the adorable frown on her face. "Aww Katie, are you that worried about him?"
Katie nodded slowly and looked around. "He likes to overextend himself. Sometimes that boy is as stubborn as a minotaur and he won't stop till he drops."
I smiled and wrapped my arm around her shoulder. "Katie you worry too much. Ryan's a smart guy, I'm sure he'll know not to push himself too far." I patted her cheek and relaxed.
"Are you hitting on me or something?" She giggled playfully as she finished picking dirt out from her sneakers. I glanced down and saw some moss stuck on my boot. She handed me her knife and I started to go to work. "Cause you know I'm already taken."
Rolling my eyes, I scrapped a little bit off and flicked it towards the ground. "Oh don't flatter yourself, you'd be lucky to land a girl like me."
"Ya, a girl who can manipulate me into doing whatever she wants." Katie pointed out and stamped her other foot on the ground.
"If I could, you'd be wearing a nice blouse instead of that stupid hoodie." I retorted, pulling the hood over her head.
I finished cleaning my boots when Katie looked at her other foot and wrinkled her nose in annoyance. "I could have sworn I just cleaned this."
Piper looked at her own boot and scowled. Like what Katie said, there was a fresh layer of moss now clinging to it. She used her dagger to scrape some of it off. The moss was fresh, almost as if it just grew at the moment.
"I think we can help you with that missy." A voice suddenly called out from the forests. The bushes in front started to rustle as someone started to approach. Katie and I had our swords out in an instant and pointed at them.
"Whoever you better tread carefully, you don't wanna know who you're messing with," I warned and got to my feet cautiously, adding a bit of Charmspeak into my voice.
The footsteps suddenly slowed down as three figures emerged out from the forest. The Satyrs raised their hands and advanced with measured steps as if walking through a minefield. Katie winked at me and held a sword and dagger in her hands. "Which one of you guys wants to die first?"
The one to the left, who had a set of reed pipes in his hands quickly shook his head. He smiled apologetically at us. "No need for violence moss. Pardon us for disturbing a couple of fine ladies like yourselves," His two companions snickered. " I and my friends were just practicing our music. Allow me."
He placed the pipes back into his mouth and started to play a rapid-fire tune. Katie lifted her sneaker up and the moss peeled right off like a sticker. She nodded, satisfied and relaxed her sword arm a fraction.
The trio was visibly relieved by this and one with a long goatee spoke up. "See, no need for unnecessary bloodshed, just a little misunderstanding is all."
"Indeed it was." I agreed and lowered my sword after a moment. "Sorry for the threats. We're not really used to magic being harmless."
The reed pipes guy put his pipes away and chuckled. "Aye, and we're not really used to having company around save for that whinny king Diomedes and his buddies. Especially not lovely girls like you." He added with a wink.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as the shortest one cleared his throat. "Speaking of which, what brings you two here anyhow? A couple of witches or something."
That last sentence was laced with a bit of fear as they backed away a step. Judging by Katie's face, she looked half-tempted to just go along with that excuse and say she was a sorceress.
"We're Demigods on a quest," I spoke up and shot Katie a quick look while she rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"And what exactly is your quest?"
"To find the Titans and kill them," Katie said firmly. "At least I hope so."
They all nodded to each other and whispered amongst themselves. Mr. Goatee was the first one who turned and faced us. "Oh well, then I and my friends must be obligated to help you and your friend on your quest."
I surprised by the news. "Really now? Well, that would indeed be very helpful. I and my friend here would be very grateful for any assistance."
They all started to let out wide, toothy grins. "Then it looks like we're in business. We just need you and your friend to come with us to the forest so we can sneak you into the palace."
Katie placed her hand in front of me and drew her dagger with the other. "Into the dark, creepy forest? Ya, I don't think so."
Shorty grinned at her. "C'mon miss, don't tell me you're scared of a few trees. A couple of powerful Demigods like you should be able to deal with us no problem if we betrayed you."
"True enough, but there's a difference between fighting a pickpocket and giving him your wallet." Katie retort with a smirk of her own. "I'd know."
The reed pipes guy sighed with disappointment. "I was hoping to do this without bloodshed, but oh well."
He suddenly played another tune, this time just whistling it. The limp moss suddenly sprung to life and wrapped around our feet, expanding in size rapidly like a sponge in water and soon wrapped around our legs.
"Hey, what the heck!" Katie cried out in surprise as she tried to struggle free. Her gaze fell onto the Satyr playing the reed pipes. She flicked her wrist and hurled her dagger forward at them.
A wooden slab suddenly flashed in between the two of them and stopped the dagger a few inches from Reed Pipes face. He smirked and Mr. Goatee lowered his wooden shield that he summoned of nowhere and pulled out a long dagger. The short Satyr did the same advanced.
Katie grinned and prepared to meet them, but the first goatman casually whistled another tune. Suddenly something started to push out from the moss. It was a strange white and lilac flower bud. It was almost as big as my fist and started to grow out until it was facing her directly.
It started to bloom out into a flower, causing a look of part confusion and part worry to cross Katie's face. From its stigma, the flower blew a burst of dark purple pollen directly at her. She would have taken a step back but her legs were still bound by the moss. Instead, Katie blinked several times to try and clear her eyes as her body started to sway back and forth, then she fell. The moss peeled away and Katie crumpled to the ground.
Shorty walked over to Katie's fallen body and easily her hoisted her over her shoulder. His friends formed a loose circle around me. I was about to open my mouth to scream, but the Reed Pipes guys placed a finger on my lips. "Don't scream, and there's no need to worry about your friend, she's not dead. That flower was just a special little concoction we made for our hostages."
"Hostage?" I growled and kept my sword ready, causing the Satyr to dance back.
"Yes," The short one added. "You'll see."
"Come on girlie, don't be stupid." The one with the goatee said. He was the one closest to me and took another forward, his knife flicking against my chin. "The last thing we want to do is ruin that cute face of yours."
I felt a sense of fear clamp around my chest as I felt the cold steel pressing against my flesh. Taking a deep breath, I swallowed back that fear that was slowly building up. I nodded and lowered my sword.
Mr. Goatee nodded smugly and ripped the sword from my grasp. Reed Pipes pressed a fire hardened spear against my back. "Then you better start marching then." He let out a quick whistle and the moss disappeared from my legs. Instead, it crawled up my jeans, leaving them slimy and stained. Before I could scream it leaped into my arms and binding them together. I tugged at it twice, testing the strength but it was stronger than glue.
Slowly, I started to walk forward, staying in the middle of their small group as they made their way into the forest. The branches above us shook as two more Satyr's dropped down and held their spears ready. I glanced at my friend and felt as if a cold washcloth was dropped over my neck. Katie was twice as good a swordfighter than I was, if she was awake then maybe we might have been able to take them, but not alone.
Ryan was still nowhere to be seen along with the rest of our group. He must have been too tired to transport everyone else. The Satyr suddenly shoved me to the ground over some leaves and Shorty unceremoniously dropped Katie beside me.
I took a deep breath and looked around at my captors, trying to get a hold of everything that was happening. The situation didn't seem as bad as it seemed at first. None of them seemed exceptionally prepared for this capture and an only two remained to guard the two of us, Shorty and one of the newcomers. The rest went up the tree or went about their business.
Still, fighting was out of the question, I swung a decent enough sword, I could take two or three of them but the rest would eventually overwhelm me, especially considering that they actually have some potent magic. The only thing I could really do was buy time.
"Well, I'm your prisoner," I said, throwing her hands up in the air. "Now that I'm your prisoner could you guys at least tell me what you're going to do?"
The other guards rolled his eyes and raised his cudgel above his head. Shorty shook his head and told him to take a step back. "Now, now she does make a good point, I suppose we can tell her. We're going to ransom you to King Diomedes and get some assurances that he doesn't bother us and maybe a couple Drachmas."
"And what makes you think he'll actually keep his word after you hand me over?" I questioned.
The two Satyrs looked at each other, their eyes blinking once, then twice. Clearly, neither of them had fully considered that possibility. Finally, one of the Satyrs rested his club on the ground and glared at me. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it, in the meantime, you and your friend will still make us a handsome ransom."
"Yes, but it's not like you'll be able to spend it." I persisted and glanced at the two of them. "I bet the as soon as you hand us over to King Diomedes he'll send his soldiers after you."
Both of them looked a lot less sure of themselves now. "She's right." Shorty pointed out and slowly got to his feet and readied his club as if expecting someone to jump out and attack him.
"Sit down," His friend commanded sternly. "Diomedes is nothing but a wrinkled old ghost, the same thing with his soldiers. Besides, there's five of us and one of him."
"Five of him and the Titans," I said offhandedly, checking my nails for dirt.
The short Satyr's eyes widened in horror as he dropped his spear to the ground. He burst into a run and started dancing off into the trees, quickly vanishing from sight.
Once he was gone I looked up at the remaining guard and smiled innocently. "Nice friend you got there."
He threw his hands up in frustration and leaped to his feet. His dagger was suddenly in hand as he pointed it at me. "That's it girlie prepare to lose that pretty face of yours."
He flicked it around and pulled his arm back, preparing to cut me when another hand grabbed him by the wrist. He blinked in surprise as Ryan glared at him with his cold stare. The Satyr shrunk back in fear as Ryan moved. He easily shoved him forward towards one of the trees.
The Satyr stumbled forward and tripped on a root, slamming into a tree hard enough to cause it to shake. He barely managed to utter a soft shriek as he rolled to the side. The roots of the trees suddenly started to wrap around him and pull him towards it.
Without warning the three Satyrs dropped from above, weapons raised as they wasted no time in attacking Ryan. He dropped to a crouch and quickly started to defend himself against them, parrying their attacks with his spear. It quickly became clear that Ryan wasn't in the best shape as he was quickly forced back, just barely being able to defend himself from their attacks. One club swing even managed to hit his shoulder, jarring his arm enough to cause him to drop his spear. The others pressed in to capitalize on their attack.
The one with reed pipes backed away a step and pulled the instrument out from his pouch. Just as he was about to play something, an arrow sprouted at the back of his head and exited through his open mouth. He let out a choking sound before collapsing to the ground.
His body instantly started to change, dirt wrapping around it like a burial shroud and pulling him deeper into the earth. As he vanished from sight, a few flowers started to sprout from the ground.
Sam appeared from the edge of the forest with a bow in hand and a deadly look on his face as he notched another arrow. Ryan took this distraction as an opportunity and jabbed his spear into the gut of Mr. Goatee who let out a quick beat before dropping onto the ground as well and being replaced by a fresh patch of daisies. The last Satyr backed away nervously, he barked angrily at us as he swept his club in wide arcs to keep the two of them from getting any closer.
"Back, I said ba-ACKKK." A whip cracked and he suddenly clawed at his throat, gasping choking for air as the watery chord tightened around his throat. With a strong tug, he fell to the ground. Aqua and Mike stood over him with the latter leveling the barrel of his gun at him.
He quickly raised his hands in surrender. Aqua released the whip and left him flopping in the dirt like a fish.
"How did you guys all get up here?" I asked, slowly getting up and showing my bound hands. Sam walked over to me and swiftly cut it with his sword.
"Ryan helped us out." He said, jerking his head to the Son of Hades who was now leaning against one of the trees. Sam frowned when he saw him like that. "That teleport took a lot out of him."
He shook his head but Aqua prevented him from doing anything else. "I'm fine." Ryan insisted, looking at the Satyr. His gaze fell to Katie who was still slumped against the tree. "Is she…"
"She's fine," I assured him and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "She was just knocked out."
He bent down towards the surviving Satyr and grabbed him by the shirt. "Talk. Who do you work for?"
"We don't work for anyone!" He gasped and quickly shook his head. The Satyr's hooves slipped and stumbled against the dirt.
Ryan grabbed him back the back of his head and shoved him towards me. "Then tell me what the hell you were planning to do with them."
"We were planning to ransom them!" He squeaked quickly nearly fell over. The Satyr frantically pointed at the castle in the distance. "Get them to King Diomedes and maybe get assurances for him to leave us alone."
"That's what he told me," I informed Ryan who threw him onto the ground. He tapped his foot and suddenly a pair of ghostly hands grabbed onto his shoulders and held him back. "That should keep you busy for a while."
With that done, Ryan turned to the rest of us. "We better get going."
The winds suddenly started to blow in different directions, sending bits of leaves flying towards us as a voice crackled above us. A winged dragon suddenly flew overhead, its green scales gleaming in the light as its rider laughed and waved a broadsword almost as tall as me in the air.
"So we meet again." Pallas sneered at us.
