A/N: I'm so excited for you guys to read this chapter! This was honestly one of my favourite chapters to write, so I really hope you guys enjoy it! Thank you to SPQR-Alan for reviewing, I always love hearing from you :) Hope you're all staying safe and well and I'll see you again next week! ~ Emma
In the city, the night sky looked like a charcoal blanket that faded into orange at the edges. It appeared riddled with small, but infrequent holes. She could never make out a constellation or a planet with the city lights hiding them from her eyes.
But that wasn't the sky Emma sat under now, in a small rowing boat far from any land. The ocean waves gently lapped at the side, as she gazed up at the beautiful array of stars. She could see them all so clearly, as if they were calling out her name. She wished she could follow them.
As the wind picked up, she wrapped her arms around herself to fend off the chill. She looked down at the thin cotton dress she wore and questioned the practicality of it.
As the winds grew, the water became rough. What had once been a friend, turned to a foe. The sea rocked the boat, water sloshing over the side as Emma grappled for the oars and found none. The boat began to fill with water. She compelled it out, but no matter what she tried it wouldn't move. Her heart hammered against her chest as awareness struck her. She had no control over the water at all. The heavy rock of fear sat on her chest, holding deep breaths at bay. She tried to push the boat with her power, but it only moved the other way. She gripped the wooden sides with all her might as it flew across the sea, thrashing against the waves that threatened to rip it to pieces.
The boat veered toward a cliff, approached it at an alarming speed. Her wet hair whipped at her cold face, leaving it stinging and sore from the sea salt. The boat made no move to dodge the rocks that chipped away at the hull. The ice reached her heart as the boat abruptly turned, careering toward a large boulder at the mouth of a cave. She reached out to the water one last time, begging for it to help her. It was too dangerous to leap out, but too dangerous to stay in. She pulled and pulled but there was no sensation in her gut, the water was lost to her. The boat struck the rock, splintering into a thousand pieces and throwing Emma into the air. There was a sickening thud as her body hit the sand like a sack of stones.
She groaned and rolled onto her back. Her face was covered in sand and her own dripping hair. Though she felt as though every inch of her skin was bruised, she agonisingly pushed herself onto her feet. She couldn't believe it; nothing was broken.
The cavern before her was a large expanse of dripping rock. The lines on the wall told her that at high tide it would be largely underwater. It felt cold and hostile, yet somewhat familiar. She moved deeper inside, each step causing a burst of pain.
Such hard work, resulting in so little. How weak you still are.
She spun around, agony blossoming at the sudden movement. She searched the darkness for a face."Who's there?"
Even when your heart thrums with fear, you cannot muster the strength to best me.
That voice. She knew that voice. Recognition teetered just out of her reach, mocking her with its proximity.
You will never best me, Emma Turner. You are a fool to try.
The last cog turned in her mind, releasing the knowledge he had tried to keep away. The voice laughed and the sound ricochet off the walls in her mind, reverberating and growing. She covered her ears but it was no use.
Choose my side. You do not have to be my sacrifice. You could lead beside me. We could take revenge on all those who have hurt you. Your stepfather, Poseidon, your oldest friend.
"Wake up. Wake up. Wake up." She whispered it over and over again, but she couldn't hear herself over Bahram. Her voice grew louder and louder as she tried to cut through the sound until she was screaming it. "Wake up. Wake up."
Hush. He cannot hear you. He cannot save you from me. Don't be a fool Emma. Choose the winning side. You have so much to lose now.
Her knees sunk into the sand and the cave shifted into the lake in LA. She saw Rory on the beach, bound and bruised. She called out and tried to run to him, but she was up to her waist in sand and sinking. When he looked up at her he didn't appear scared. He looked angry.
"Why didn't you save me?" A single tear fell down his cheek as Dameera plunged her dagger into his heart.
Blood spilled out of his lips as the light faded from his eyes. The anger was replaced with emptiness. A scream ripped its way through her chest, hot tears streaming down her face. She closed her eyes. She couldn't look anymore. The smell changed back to the cold damp air of the cave, but she couldn't stop herself sobbing as she knelt on the ground. It made her want to claw her eyes out.
He isn't the only one you risk losing should you choose wrong. I will take all of them from you.
The scene shifted again and she was at school. The corridors were deserted and empty, paper scattered around the hall. It was like a ghost town. She couldn't remember how she'd gotten there, she only knew she had to run. She tore down the corridors, throwing herself round corners, never sure what she was running away from.
She heard a whimpering noise, just out of sight. She turned the corner to see a person cowering against the lockers in a varsity jacket. Rory. She stumbled towards him, falling to her knees.
"It's okay, I'm here." She reached out, putting her hand on his shoulder.
Her eyes adjusted to the light, revealing his face. It wasn't Rory. She flinched, backing away.
"She's going to kill me." Austin's eyes were red, his cheeks wet with tears. "I shouldn't even know about this world. I don't want to die."
He must have been talking about Dameera. Emma shook her head. She should want to leave him for what he'd done to her, and to Rory. She should hate him. She should be angry. Yet all she felt was an ache in her chest that made her want to protect him. He had done bad things, but he didn't deserve to die. "I can keep you safe, Austin. I'll protect you."
Austin shook his head, his lips pressed together so hard they paled. "No. No you won't. No you won't."
Each time he repeated the words he grew more hysterical.
"Shh, Austin you have to be quiet. It's okay. It'll be okay, just please be quiet." Nothing she said calmed him down. She glanced around. They would be coming soon. "We have to go. Austin, we have to go."
She reached for him, tried to help him up but he struggled against her. She gripped him harder but he started to lash out.
"We don't have time for this." She slung his arm over her shoulder but he shoved her hard.
She fell and Austin's full weight landed on top of her. A strangled cry came from his lips and she felt hot liquid start to pour over her right hand. Only then did she realise that she was holding her dagger, with its blade firmly wedged in Austin's stomach.
"No. No. No. No." She pushed him off, rolling him over. She tore a long strip from her dress, balling it up and holding it down on the wound. "Austin, stay with me."
"She's going to kill me." His voice was weak and his eyes flickered. "Emma's going to kill me. I don't… want to..."
His chest stopped rising. Horror washed over her as she looked down at her shaking bloody hands. She never wanted him dead. She never wanted to kill him. He deserved her anger, but not this. Not this.
She didn't cry. She didn't scream. She just stared at her hands until the school swirled around her, morphing back to the cave, where Bahram's presence hung over her like a stench.
It wasn't real. None of this was real. Rory was alive. Austin was alive. She tangled her hands in her hair, pulling at the roots. If only the pain could bring back her sanity. She wanted to scream, but she didn't know how.
If you do not join me, their blood will be on your hands. I will rid the world of every being you have ever cared for.
"You will do so anyway." She shook her head, rocking back and forth on her heels. It wasn't real. None of it was real. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
You have worse fears than of his death.
"Don't tell me of my fears." She roared, snapping her head up. Each limb protested as she stumbled to her feet, raising her chin high. "My greatest fear is not doing all I can to make sure you stay where you belong. Nothing you can say will ever make me choose your side. Now get out of my head."
She shouted the word with all her might, grasping at the water and forcing it to obey her will. He was stronger, but she just needed one opening. She filled the cavern with water, right up to the ceilings, and let it fill her lungs. She could feel him fighting back but she held it now and she wouldn't let go. He tore at her control, trying to rip it from her but he was too late. The dream was already fading to black.
Emma sat up gasping for air and fighting the sheets that tangled her limbs. She pulled herself into a ball, grasping either side of her head with tight fingertips. Her eyes were blurry and her body stiff. No amount of air was enough.
"Emma." Rory reached out to touch her but she flinched away. "Emma it's okay. It was just a dream. It was just a dream."
She listened to his voice, latched onto it like a lifeline. His soothing tone and familiar accent. She slowed her breathing gradually, until the tears were nothing more than ghost tracks down her cheek.
She shook her head. "No. It wasn't just a dream. It was him. I thought he wouldn't come back. He's been gone for so long, but he was there. It was him."
She let her body fall into Rorys, his arms coming up to catch her. He pressed his lips to her hair. "He can't win on dreams. They're not real."
The tension flowed out of her body wherever he touched her, but she drew back to meet his gaze. There wasn't a trace of fear in his face. Just concern. It reminder her of the lake. At what point did his lack of fear cross the line from bravery to stupidity?
"And we can't win at all. He's growing stronger. He has your tears. He wants me, but any demigod and mortal will do. He will rise and we still don't have a way to stop him."
"Yes. You do." His lips held a small smile while his eyes were full of foolish hope. "Look."
Rory reached over and plucked her necklace from the bedside table, twisting it over and over until it stopped. Held it out to her and her eyebrows drew together as she took it.
Emma looked at the pendant and turned it, watching the story play out. She saw the sword being forged, getting passed to a young man, him training with it. Then there was a lake and a monster and a ritual. She didn't want to believe what she was seeing as a black cloaked figure rose out of the water. The man fought bravely, slicing Bahram at every small opportunity, but he looked weary even from the start. Bahram fought with water the same way she or Percy would, each blow knocking Tacitus down. She knew how this story ended. Bahram dissolved as Tacitus fell down and died. Alone.
"This sword… is Sugraphe?" she asked, though she knew it was true. In her hands lay the one weapon that could ever defeat Bahram. A dark laughter started in her hollow chest. "The armoury. That's what it meant by 'among her kind.'"
She dropped her hand into her lap. The look of hope was still held in every feature of Rory's face. Emma didn't share the sentiment. She was filled with dread. Why did she have the sword? What good would it do her while she lay dead? Even if she survived, she wasn't skilled enough to beat him. Her powers would be useless against the son of Styx. She should give it to Percy or Annabeth—they would be able to kill him, not her. But that would put them in danger. Bahram was strong, maybe stronger than any of them. If history was to repeat itself, then she prayed the gods let it be her. This was her duty, the will of the fates and a strong reminder that she was nothing more than a pawn in the game of the gods. She was, and always had been, disposable.
"Even if he can rise, you can kill him." Rory pushed her hair behind her ear and cupped her face. Warmth flowed through each of his gestures, but they were nothing against the lingering chill.
She sighed, leaning into him anyway. "I can try."