As Frank stepped onto the island, he felt like this one would be different. There was something in the air, and it caused his spine to tingle. Frank placed a hand to his sword and slowly looked around. The island itself didn't seem to be that big, but it was covered in dead and dying trees.
The last three islands they visited had been nothing more than a bust. The first one was full of animals. The second was a small island with a single palm tree on it. If it wasn't for the fact that a half decaying body hung from the tree, it would have been a picturesque scene. The third island was lush and covered in trees.
This one was going to be different though. Percy seemed to think it too, as he pull their boat ashore and dropped the anchor. The boat was small and something that Percy called a ketch. Thalia seemed just as lost as Frank as Percy showed them around the small boat.
Diana was able to get them near the islands, but she said some kind of old magic blocked her from getting any closer. She told them it was magic from the Sea of Monsters, and Frank knew better than to ask the goddess any more questions. She barely seemed to tolerate Percy and clearly didn't even want to speak to Frank. Anything she said had been said begrudgingly.
Frank jumped onto the sand and felt his legs start to sink into it. He looked down and studied the gray sand. As he ran a hand through it, he realized it wasn't sand at all. It was ash. Frank slowly walked through the ash, and Thalia kept pace with him. Percy followed behind them.
There was another reason that Frank had a good feeling about the island, and it was the fact that he saw smoke rising from the middle of it. Someone was there, but the only question was if they would find their target or not. Frank wasn't quite sure what kind of fight they were in for, but he would do whatever it took to find the cure for the poison that was killing his fellow praetor.
Finding the Golden Fleece was the first priority, but Frank wouldn't forget about Reyna. He was probably the only one of the three who really cared about her, as Percy and Thalia still seemed pretty upset. Frank took a deep breath and forced himself to focus.
Frank slowly walked past the dead and dying trees. A few squirrels climbed in the trees, but they quickly scrambled along like they wanted to be anywhere but there. What kind of monster awaited them? What kind of evil had planned all of this out?
When they had first been on the boat, Frank asked if they still needed the Golden Fleece. If the poison in Thalia's tree had been combined with another and was now cured, did they really need the Golden Fleece? According to Diana, they did. She warned that there could still be leftover poison in the tree or that the tree had grown to rely on the Golden Fleece and would die without it.
As more worry hit Frank, he moved his hand to his sword. Frank expected them to be ambushed at any moment. This Junia had to know that they were coming, and she would do everything to stop them. How many people were working with her? Did she have another goddess up her sleeve? Were the squirrels part of her spy network?
As they pushed through the trees, they found the source of the smoke. A large fire was burning near a cave. The fire looked like it had been burning for a few hours, and there was a dead wolf next to it. The wolf had been skinned, and most of the meat was taken from the bones. A black pot rested over the fire, like someone was making something.
"We should be careful about this," Percy whispered. "We don't know if this cave belongs to a hermit or even some lost immortal. We have to tread carefully."
"Follow my lead," Frank whispered. He slowly walked closer to the cave. The area had been filled with the smell of cooked meat, but as they got closer to the cave, a foul stench filled their nostrils. Frank stopped walking and quickly covered his mouth. His eyes started to tear up, and he closed his eyes. It was the foulest thing that he had ever smelled in his life, and it made him want to vomit. He knew that smell though. It was the stench of death.
After a few moments, Frank forced his eyes open. He looked back at his companions. Thalia pulled a small scarf out of her pocket and wrapped it around her mouth. Percy buried his face in his sleeve. Frank tried to avoid breathing through his nose, and he kept his cape pressed close to his mouth.
A few torches hung near the cave entrance, but Frank couldn't see anything inside. He took a few steps forward and blinked to get use to the dim light. Frank spoke in a whisper, "One of us should stay by the entrance."
"Percy can do it," Thalia whispered. She grabbed her bow and carefully notched an arrow. Percy shook his head, and his sword appeared in his hand. It gave off some light in the cave, and Frank stared at the writing on the walls. Percy and Thalia slowly looked at the writing and seemed to be reading it.
"What does it say?" Frank asked quietly. From the stench in the cave, he thought that some kind of monster was deeper inside. The writing made it seem like the monster was more human than beast. It was intelligent enough to write at least.
"It vows revenge," Percy whispered. Frank stepped closer to the writing. It looked like someone had taken a sharp rock over even a bladed weapon to carve into the wall. "Each line doesn't make sense when added with another."
"It's the ramblings of a mad person," Thalia muttered. She raised her bow. "None of us should stay behind at the entrance."
"Wasn't planning on it anyway," Percy said. The two of them pressed forward. As the light from Percy's sword started to move away, Frank tried to examine the writing. He had seen the same kind of writing in some of Annabeth's textbooks, so it was ancient Greek. It still didn't tell him what kind of monsters waited within the cave.
Frank slowly followed behind his fellow demigods. As they made it further into the cave, they found more torches and more writing. The stench became even more overpowering and unbearable. Frank's eyes watered, and he blinked rapidly.
As the tunnel opened into a cavern, Frank heard soft, almost demonic whispering. It was broken, and every other word seemed to be a stutter. What kind of evil ritual was this? Frank slowly followed the wall of the cavern, until he was facing the middle. He stared at the scene in front of him.
A girl wearing blue jeans and a tank top stood in front of a large stone. Her arms were covered in black lines. They were too far away to see if it was the same as the writing on the wall. There was a silver aura around her, like a Hunter of Diana. Frank took a single step forward. His foot crunched on something, and the girl tensed.
Frank's eyes moved passed the girl and focused on the stone. He stared at the golden glint that came from it: the Golden Fleece. Their goal was in sight. All they needed to do was grab it. Frank spoke, "It's the end of the line, Junia."
"They said it could heal anything," Junia said. She slowly straightened and turned towards Frank. Out of the corner of his eye, Frank could see that Thalia had raised her bow, and Percy was slowly starting to move to the opposite of Junia. "Why is it not healing her?"
Frank took another step forward and tried to examine the rock. The Golden Fleece gave off a gentle, golden light, but it didn't do much to illuminate the room. It almost seemed like there was something between the rock and the Golden Fleece.
"Chelsea, you have ruined enough. This is over," Thalia said. Junia looked at Thalia. Her gaze then moved towards Percy, and for the first time, she seemed to realize that she was surrounded. "Step away from the Golden Fleece."
"I will not give up on her," Junia said. She turned her head to the right, but she wasn't looking at Percy. "I will not give up on you. I swear it."
"Give up on who?" Percy asked. Junia looked at them and slowly unsheathed her sword. She turned towards Percy and held her sword out to him. Her other hand was held out in front of the air. It almost seemed to be a protective gesture.
"The Golden Fleece belonged to your camp. You should know about its powers," Junia said. She glared at Percy. "How do I unlock the healing powers?"
"It works automatically," Percy answered after a moment. He slowly lowered his sword. "Who are you trying to heal?"
"I read about it on the island," Junia said. She shook her head and looked behind her. "You showed me, didn't you? We hid away into the witch's library and read that ancient book. You thought it was just a story, but it has to be true."
Frank lowered his weapon. He expected a cornered animal, one who would fight to the death for her revenge. This was a difference kind of cornered animal though. Junia was fighting for something, or for someone. Frank slowly grabbed onto Thalia's bow and lowered it. She gave him a look, but he just ignored it.
"The witch is Circe, right? You were on her island," Frank began. Junia slowly looked at him and glared. She took a step backwards. Her arm was still held out to the side, like she was holding someone back. "But, it wasn't just you."
"We were on that island," Junia said. She glanced to her right. Then, she focused on Frank. "Until, the pirates were unleashed. We were kept as their slaves. Boy, do you know what they did to us? The strong rose to the ranks of pirates. The weak were made to be like toys."
"I can't imagine what it was like," Frank said. He slowly took another step forward. "I know that your sister died, and she was thrown overboard by the pirates."
"She's not dead," Junia snapped. A small, almost nervous laugh left her. She turned around completely and raised her hands. Junia held her hands out in midair, and her hands seemed to hold onto thin air. "You are not dead. We will heal your condition. I swear on the gods themselves."
"She's insane," Thalia whispered. Frank nodded as he slowly came to the realization. Junia was talking to the air, like she thought someone was there, and he had a bad feeling about who she thought it was.
"If your sister is not dead, what is she?" Percy slowly asked. Junia looked at him and sneered.
"She is in a coma," Junia snapped."But, she is strong. She has been able to guide me and to tell me what I need to do to save her."
"But, you can't get the Golden Fleece to work," Percy said. He placed his cap to Riptide, and it turned back into a pen. Percy slowly walked towards Junia. She held her sword out towards him and took a step backwards. Percy stopped walking. "I can help you."
"You just want your precious fleece back. It is mine!" Junia yelled. She grabbed the Golden Fleece and tore it from the rock. Frank stared at the pile of bones on the rock. It was laid out in the shape of a skeleton, but all of the flesh had rotted away. The bones were discolored, but as Frank stared at the skeleton, he realized it belonged to a young child. Assuming there skeleton was completely intact, it had to belong to someone who was only five or six years old. "I will heal my sister."
"There is no sister to heal," Thalia said. She raised her bow and walked towards Junia. "Drop the Fleece. Then, we'll get you the mental help that you need."
"You won't do anything," Junia snapped. She raised her sword and held it to the Golden Fleece. As the light from the Golden Fleece caught the sword, Frank could see that the blade was tinted green. It almost looked rusted. It was definitely ancient. "I will destroy it if you don't back off!"
"We just want to talk," Percy began. He raised his hands and took a step backwards. Percy looked at them. "Thalia, lower it."
"She caused for my tree to be poisoned. She put everyone in danger," Thalia said. "She tried to destroy our world. We can't let her get away with it."
"It is not our job to play the judge here," Frank said. Thalia slowly looked at him. "Just lower the bow."
After a few moments, Thalia lowered her bow. Frank looked back at Junia and spoke, "We just have some questions. We can try to help you."
"You're lying," Junia said. She took a step backwards. "You are all liars. I know you do not want to help me. That is what Reyna said. She said that she wanted to help me, but she knew what I was going to do. No one wants to help me. That is why I had to invoke her."
"Astraea," Frank said. Junia looked at him and smiled coldly. "Why her? Why would you not invoke another goddess of revenge?"
"I didn't want a goddess of revenge. I don't want revenge. I want justice," Junia snapped. She glared at Frank. "People call it an eye for an eye. In my day, we called it lex talionis. It is a law of retaliation that is very exact. My home was destroyed by two bastard Greeks; therefore, justice demands that their home is destroyed as well."
"Which is why you tricked Reyna into meeting you," Frank said. Junia studied him and didn't say a word. "A goddess got into Reyna's head and convinced her that the Greeks were going to destroy her home. She stole the Golden Fleece and buried it for you. Then, she poisoned the tree and almost completely covered the tracks of where the fleece had gone."
"It's all on her hands," Junia said. She closed her eyes for a small moment, and a sad smile came to her face. "It's not fair to pay her back that way, but we all must make our sacrifices for justice."
"Do you not care that Reyna is going to die?" Thalia questioned. "Or, do you just care about your own need for revenge?"
"Astraea is going to get justice for me one way or another," Junia said. She smiled. "Have your borders already fallen yet? Have monsters fallen upon you?"
"No. The tree is healing," Percy said. Junia frowned and slowly looked in between the three of them. "Astraea has been stopped. Your plan failed, Junia. We just need two things from you: the Golden Fleece and your blood."
"Why would you need my blood if the tree is healing?" Junia demanded. Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step backwards. "No. No. Reyna was suppose to use my blood for the poison. Did she not use my blood?"
"She didn't," Frank answered. He tried to take another step forward, but Junia pressed the sword back against the Golden Fleece. It seemed to almost cut into it slightly. "We can help you, Junia."
"No one can help me. No one can help us. We were suppose to have justice," Junia snapped. "When we went to Circe's island, we did it to get away from war. Circe took us in, and she shared her power to give us immortality. We were a family, and you Greeks threw that away. I will take your home from you, just like you took mine!"
As Junia went to either move her sword and continue speaking, an arrow tore into her throat. She gasped and stumbled backwards. Percy rushed forward and slammed into Junia. He easily took the Golden Fleece from her and quickly backed away. Junia fell backwards and grabbed at her throat. She stared at them in shock.
After a few moments, Frank slowly lowered his bow. Thalia turned to stare at him, and Percy did as well. Frank just closed his eyes. He felt sick to his stomach, and it seemed like he was only seconds from losing his last, meager meal. Frank heard someone rush to Junia's side, but he didn't open his eyes.
Junia was going to destroy the Golden Fleece, and Frank couldn't allow that to happen. He wouldn't allow it to happen, and they had been unable to talk Junia down. She would not stopped. Junia woud have destroyed the Golden Fleece. Frank took a shaky breath. The goddess had warned him about this in his dream, hadn't she? He thought it was a threat, but it was just another cryptic prophecy.
Blood had to be repaid in blood. It wasn't just the blood of his fellow praetor or Alfred that had been repaid but also the blood of Darriah. Junia's blood was paying for the destruction that she had caused. It was unfair and cruel. Junia just wanted to bring her sister back. She just wanted to restore the innocence of her world, and she soaked herself in blood to do it. Astraea told Frank that was how one would restore their innocence, but it seemed like the goddess was wrong.
Junia was dying, and her sister would never come back. They had the Golden Fleece, and it would be returned. Frank would bring the cure for the poison that was killing Reyna, but in the end, the Senate would find out what had happened. They would punish his fellow praetor terribly, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Frank took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked down at Percy and Thalia. They were both kneeling by Junia, but they were doing very difference actions. Percy was just staring down at Junia, and Thalia was trying to stop the blood that poured from her throat. Frank slowly spoke, "Can you save her?"
"No," Thalia whispered. Frank swallowed painfully. He had fought his fair share of monsters and even fought some of his fellow demigods. The only lives Frank had actually ended belonged to monsters or those who truly didn't deserve to live. Junia was insane, broken by what happened to her sister, but that wasn't her fault.
Junia was going to die, by Frank's hand. His hands were no longer innocent. He had done something terrible, and there was no way to make up for it. At the end of the day, they had gotten the Golden Fleece back, but they had paid a terrible price for it. Frank just hoped that the price Camp Jupiter had to pay to Camp Half-Blood for what had happened wouldn't be any worse than this.
