"We know you didn't attack Aphrodite."
"Archie, come out."
"Just leave him in there."
"Neil!" Theresa cried.
"What? After what he did to Aphrodite? What did she do to..."
"Shut up, Neil!"
A lightning bolt suddenly shot through the door. Neil jumped out of the way as the bolt struck the wall. Atlanta glanced through the hole. Archie was nowhere to be seen. The Huntress reached through the hole and unlocked the door.
"Archie?"
"I'm losing control."
Atlanta stepped into the room cautiously. Archie was sitting in the far corner of his room. Atlanta closed what was left of the door and walked over. Herry stepped in front of the door to keep the others out. Atlanta went over to Archie's side.
"Archie?"
"I don't know what's happening to me," Archie whispered, without looking up.
Atlanta sat down next to her best friend. "Archie, this isn't your fault. Erebus is doing this to you."
"Chiron said one half wasn't as strong as the other. So, why am I having difficulty controlling this thing?" Archie asked.
Do you really need an answer, mortal?
"Get out of my head!" Archie hissed.
"Archie, you're scaring me. I don't know what to do."
"Don't do anything, Atlanta. If something happened...if you got hurt, I would never forgive myself," Archie explained.
He finally looked up. His grey-blue eyes glistened with tears.
"Archie, you know I can't just stand by while you slowly lose yourself. You have friends that will help you," Atlanta said.
"Except Neil and Jay," Archie mumbled.
"Neil's just being a jerk and what is it about Jay that has you so up-tight?" Atlanta asked.
"Something's not right with him. Trust me, being a human shadow I have the power of perception and I can sense when something or someone is playing the deceiving game," Archie explained.
"Persephone said so herself, Jay is back to his old self," Atlanta pointed out.
"I just don't trust him right now," Archie said.
"Oh. It's the sword thing, isn't it?" Atlanta asked.
"How do you trust someone who tried to kill you?" Archie replied.
Atlanta looked down and slipped her fingers under Archie's hand.
"I wish I could feel," Archie whispered.
"I have something to tell you," Atlanta said.
"What is it?"
"Come closer."
Archie lend forward.
"Little more."
When Archie was where she wanted him, Atlanta pulled him into a kiss. Archie felt a strange sensation wash over him. He felt...warm. He could suddenly feel Atlanta's hand in his. Archie pulled away and looked at his hand. He wasn't a shadow anymore. A smile slipped across Archie's face.
"What's so funny?" Atlanta asked. Her eyes reflected the same excitement Archie felt.
"Remember what Neil said about using a really big flashlight?" Archie asked.
"Yeah."
"I think we've just found that flashlight," Archie answered.
"A kiss?" Atlanta asked.
Archie shrugged.
"Guys, what's going on in there?" Theresa asked.
The others walked in. Theresa gasped when she saw Archie.
"Archie, you're...you're..."
"Normal," Neil finished.
"Thanks," Archie said.
"I think it's time you changed out of your pj's, Arch," Herry pointed out.
"I think so, too," Archie agreed.
Don't think I'm gone, mortal.
Archie shook his head. This was not the time. Okay, Erebus was still in his head, but at least he wasn't a human-shadow anymore.
"So, who's up for pizza? My treat," Archie offered.
"I'm game," Herry chimed.
"I'll ask Jay," Theresa said. She ran out of the room.
"Count me in," Odie piped up.
"You know I'm going," Atlanta answered.
Everyone looked at Neil.
"What?"
"I think you owe Archie an apology," Herry said. "Or am I gonna have to get persuasive?"
Neil glanced over at Jay's bedroom door, the last thing that Herry had to get "persuasive" with.
"No, no. Uh...Arch, I'm sorry for what I said eariler," the Charm apologized.
"Apology accepted, Neil," Archie answered, trying to hide a grin.
Theresa ran up. "Jay's in," she announced.
"So, let's party," Atlanta said.
"It's true what they say then, 'love conquers all things'," Jay said.
The gang was at The Diner enjoying an extra large pizza. They joked around and told stories of what was happening at school.
"Archie, slow down, no one's going to take it from you," Theresa said as Archie gulped down another piece of pizza.
Archie pointed at Herry. "He might," he said. "And besides, I haven't eaten in almost a month."
"It's been that long since you've eaten?" Jay asked.
"You should know how gross food tastes to a shadow," Archie muttered.
Jay looked away.
"Come on, we're here to enjoy ourselves, not dwell on Erebus," Atlanta pointed out.
That's what she thinks.
Archie hit the side of his head.
"You okay?" Odie asked.
"My ears are ringing, that's all," Archie answered.
Keep telling yourself that.
"Get out of my head!"
Arrogant mortal.
"Archie, are you sure okay?" Odie asked.
"Yes, Odie, I'm fine," Archie replied through clenched teeth. "I'm just getting a headache."
He got to his feet and stepped out of the booth.
"I'm going to go pay for the meal."
He walked away. Jay watched his friend's retreating back. The last time that happened he had thrown his sword at his friend. He got up and stepped out into the isle.
"What is it, Jay?" Theresa asked.
"Nothing serious. Just need to wash my hands," Jay replied. He headed for the restrooms.
You had the perfect chance.
"The others would've known."
He is weak. He must perish.
"But, Master, if he dies, a part of you will die as well."
Fool, I'm a god! The part of me that is in Achilles' descendant will rejoin the more powerful shadow.
"How am I supposed to kill someone who cannot die?"
How was Achilles killed in the Trojan war?
"But, Archie never takes his brace off."
Then, get him alone and make him take it off.
"Jay?"
Jay whirled around. Archie was standing behind him, a suspicious fire burning in his eyes.
"If you're sane enough, we're leaving," the Warrior said.
"Okay, thanks. I'll be right out," Jay replied.
With a growl, Archie left the restroom.
Do whatever is necessary.
"I will not fail. Not again."
Jay walked out of the restroom and headed for the door. He would think of something to get Archie alone. He was the leader after all.
(sigh) That took almost as long as the last chapter. We have Archie/Jay rivalry coming up pretty soon.