Lily's POV
This is it, the home stretch. We are officially one more day from Sostis Island. We've been preparing nonstop since yesterday morning. We're all freshened up, from the bathroom extension of our boat, we'd found out about yesterday. Annabeth's been sharpening our daggers and weaponry. Percy's been going over his personal plan of attack for when we hit the shores. I have been staying close to the windows, leaving them open so I could practice my water technique.
"The weather's been great this afternoon." I say, trying desperately to make small talk. For the last few hours I've been trying to keep a singular conversation going, because even though we're all ready for it, I don't want to think about the fight until it actually begins.
"Yeah," Percy replies, focusing more on the sea outside of the window more on me. Silence.
"And the waters have been calm…It's a beautiful day," I try again.
"Uh-huh," Annabeth mumbles, scraping her dagger across the sharpener, back and forth, back and forth.
How about you, Venus? Wanna chat?
No response.
"You guys wanna listen to music? Music could be fun," I continue.
"Sure, what genres do you have?" Annabeth pipes up at last. I smile, pulling out my iPod. Pressing Play twice allows you to play music out loud on the speaker, without having to put in headphones.
"Hmmm, here. Just play whatever you like," I hand her the iPod. She scrolls for a while, and finally presses play.
My Instrumentals Only playlist.
So now we're virtually back to silence…Ugh.
I see you've yet to figure it out. She startles me, like normal.
Venus?
They're hiding something from you, Lily. She starts.
Well look at that. The Pegasus that lies to me about why she came to watch me, claims that the two people I've known since I first came to camp are liars.
Right, I am a Pegasus. Percy may not realize it, but he's been poor at keeping his thoughts private. Talking in riddles has always been her favorite thing to do.
You've been eavesdropping on his thoughts? I hope you know that's a bit creepy.
I told you from the start I was here to help.
I know what you told me. I know that Hera's the only one who thinks I can do anything for myself. But that does not mean I'm going to stop trusting Percy and Annabeth for her. All they've ever done is support me.
Their support is going to jeopardize your quest.
Whatever, Venus. Goodbye. And I tune her out.
I make the mistake of sighing out loud. Both of them turn to me.
"You alright?" Percy asks.
"Now you guys want to talk?" I reply harshly, turning away from their stares. They say nothing, though I'm sure they're just holding back. I hadn't meant to be rude, Venus brought that up.
I look out of the window. The shore…
"Guys, look!" I shout, pointing out towards the sliver of land in the distance. Annabeth's face lights up.
"That's it, Sostis Island. It looks about-"
"Five hours, seven minutes, and thirty-three seconds directly north at 37° North, 20° East." I blurt out, sheepishly clasping a hand to my mouth. Percy can't seem to hold back his laughter.
"Wow," He pauses, laughing some more, "I was about to say that same thing, but you beat me to it!"
"Whatever," I grumble, suddenly defensive. Annabeth positions herself between us.
"Chill out guys," She grins.
For two or three hours we finally hang out for the first time in the last two days. We put on music with lyrics, open all the windows and the sunroof so we can blast it. We talk about random things, we play made-up games.
It's wonderful…
But then everything becomes silent, again, uncomfortable even. As the sliver turns into an island, they stop talking. Annabeth turns off the music and hands back my iPod. Percy returns to his staring, out into the ocean, towards the growing island.
"Oceanus could be planning to strike any minute now," I whisper, reaching up to shut the sunroof half way. None of them say anything.
"We were having so much fun, guys. Why the cold shoulder all of a sudden," I wonder aloud.
"They're hiding something from you, Lily…"
"Guys, tell me Venus was wrong." I blurt out, finally earning their attention.
"What?" Annabeth questions, shifting.
"Venus, my Pegasus. She and I were speaking earlier. She thinks you two are-"
"Hey, you ordered a Super-Sized McShizzle?!" Leo's voice comes from above, all of us looking up to the sunroof, where Leo, Piper, and Jason hover above.
"How are you guys here?!" I shout, watching as they float out of view, and up to the glass door on the side of our mini-boat. Annabeth lets them in.
"We went back to Camp first, to get these," He pauses to take off and show off his bat-wings. "I knew I couldn't fly all three of us here the entire way. Then, I just harnessed the winds to guide us here,"
"But why?" I ask, but as soon as I say it I know exactly why.
Percy and Annabeth asked them to be here, now, the moment we approached the shore.
"You don't trust me. None of you do."
"Lily it's not like that," Percy tries, but I turn away.
"Yes it is, you can't stop me from going on my own quest. My quest! I thought you understood that," My voice rises. I feel someone's hand on my arm, but I pull away.
The island is getting closer.
"We just want to keep you alive," Annabeth continues.
"Lily, don't fight us." Piper speaks up. I relax at her words, but the anger doesn't fade.
"Jason, we're almost there." I hear Percy whisper behind me, and then I feel Jason grab my arms. I don't pull away.
"Let go of me!" I shout, but Jason doesn't move.
"Lily, its ok, just calm down." Piper says again, soothing me.
I look out the window again, the shore is probably a hundred feet away now.
"Please…" I beg this time. Leo stands in front of me, blocking my view out to the island.
"Don't worry, at least this way you'll get to hang out with the most awesome guy you'll ever meet!" He smiles, casually taking a seat on the first bench.
The boat stops, and I turn to the door, where Annabeth and Percy are collecting their things.
"No, how could you guys do this?" I whimper, my anger starting up a futile struggle against Jason again. Piper walks over to stand next to Jason, placing an arm on my shoulder.
"Lily, don't fight us. Just let Jason hold you back." She says. I watch the door behind her open and shut.
"No…"
And the boat starts shaking ferociously; when we hit the floor I glance outside to see the shore erupting.