Slamming Leo in the chest with the Archimedes sphere was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do, and that's not just because of his pained expression when it knocked the air out of his lungs. Under different circumstances, I probably would've found it amusing the way that his features contorted in discomfort.
Instead, I just felt even more like a failure as a demigod, a partner, a person.
Watching Leo try so valiantly to save us both when I knew we were doomed all along was worse than torture. Honestly, I'd let Gaea live in my head rent free for the end of time if it meant that Leo would never have to go through so much despair again. Hell, I could practically hear the Earth Mother's evil laughter bouncing around my brain as I watched Leo and the sphere soar away towards the island in the distance. The sound of him crying my name in anguish, shattered my heart into pieces. I heard it in my ears long after he disappeared from sight.
My hair whipped around my face wildly as I fell, spinning headfirst like a rocket zooming to the ocean's surface. The water glimmered in the daylight. It couldn't be more than fifteen seconds before impact.
So this is how it ends for me, I thought glumly.
I always thought I'd go out swinging for the fences, ya know? Slain in battle was the honorable way for a warrior to die. But I supposed there was some honor in sacrificing yourself for the one you love. There's gotta be.
Huh. I guess I finally truly understand the ending to Romeo and Juliet. Now those crazy kids knew the true meaning of love. But I swear if Leo commits seppuku after my totally heroic and selfless deed, then I'm going to kick his scrawny ass in the afterlife.
About ten seconds left maybe, I thought distantly.
A melancholy smile graced my features for a moment. That's right, I'll be able to see him again one day. Hopefully it isn't for a while— I want him to live a long, happy, fulfilling life of course. But when it's all over, I'll be there waiting for him in Elysium. Something tells me that even if decades have passed, he'd still remember me. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking on my part. I sighed.
I just hope I hit that stupid bronze basketball with enough juice to get Leo to shore.
My eyes widened as realization dawned on me. Bronze! Celestial Bronze, to be exact. That's the reason I was able to help Leo, because I could control the magical metal and send it flying. By that logic...
I grabbed the Imperial Gold sword at my hip and winced. My hands were still tender from being burned by the sphere, but I was still able to grip the weapon's hilt with purpose. It wasn't Celestial Bronze, but that's never stopped me from bending it to my will before. The blade seemed to sense my distress, and I felt it humming excitedly as it absorbed my excess energy.
If I can make weapons fly to me, then who's to say that I can't make them fly with me? At this point, what did I have to lose?
The glittering green sea below was so close that I could see the details of the crashing waves below, eager to swallow me whole.
Ah, right. I could lose my life if this goes tits up.
I pointed the golden blade to the skies and grit my teeth, pouring as much magic into the sword as I could. The hilt of the weapon trembled and shook in my grasp, but I was still falling helplessly to my end.
"Come on!" I screamed desperately at the shining tool of destruction. "Do as I say! Fly!"
My reflection glared back at me from within the blade as nothing happened. Only five seconds until my face got acquainted with the ocean's surface. The waves intensified just below me, churning into a vicious whirlpool. Were those sharp teeth appearing in the water? It can't be— Charybdis?! The sea really was trying to eat me! I screamed in panic and waved the sword around in a crazed, directionless manner.
"FLY!" I commanded, my chest bursting with energy.
Then something incredibly strange happened. A surge of heat washed over my body from head to toe. The Imperial Gold blade glowed with an intensity so bright that it had me squinting my eyes. The weapon's hilt shuddered to life with only moments to spare.
Unfortunately, the sword decided to obey me when I was frantically waving it parallel to the ocean's surface. It zoomed to the side, and I screeched in fright as I was carried away right along with it. Just a foot above the shimmering sea, the salty water sprayed me angrily, surely furious that it was conned out of a tasty demigod treat.
Even I couldn't believe that I was alive right about now, but there was no time to celebrate. If I lost my grip on the sword, I'd fall into the water and surely drown.
The blade jerked and changed directions wildly, practically dragging me across the sky like a rag doll. Although its path seemed random, I was grateful that the sword was at least leading me away from that terrifying whirlpool that had formed in the middle of the ocean. Still though, that didn't stop me from continuing to scream my head off as my own sword took me for the joyride of my life.
I was moving so fast that I could barely see my surroundings. My vision was a blur of blue skies and green seas as the blade slung me around without a care. This must be what riding an electric bull was like, except maybe multiply that by 100. I was yanked to the right and caught a flash of white sand, green trees.
"There!" I shouted over the howling winds and got a mouthful of my own hair. "Pbbtf! Bleh! Take me to that island, sword!"
The sword's hilt pulsed, almost like it was responding to me. But that was crazy, right?
The blade lurched upwards suddenly, soaring up and away from the ocean. I was being wrenched and jolted with such speed that tears prickled at my eyes, and I feared that I might suffer from some severe whiplash if this kept up any longer.
"Would you fly straight already?!" I shouted in exasperation.
The golden hilt pulsed again. Two times is still just a coincidence, though. The pulsing could very well be coming from the throbbing in my burned hands.
The once disobedient sword followed my directions and leveled out its flight path. However this new streamlined position helped the blade pick up even more speed, and it was now making a beeline right for the island at a breakneck pace. Within seconds, there was sand below me instead of bottomless ocean. I would've been relieved if my damned sword wasn't still dragging me through the air at Mach 20.
The blade sliced through the air, heading deeper and deeper into the island. Sand gave way to thick grassland. The tall palm trees that dotted the coastline were nothing compared to the mighty cedars that ruled over the hilly landscape inland. The sword weaved between the thick foliage lazily, as if mocking me for requesting a straighter path. Branches slapped me in the face harshly, and I spit up leaves that found their way into my wide open, screaming mouth.
"Where are you taking me?!" I cried. "Just stop!"
The sword's hilt pulsed in response. Okay, that's three times now. Even I can't deny it— everyone knows three times is a pattern.
The sword stopped on a dime, and inertia sent me flying forward right into the trunk of a massive cedar tree. The impact knocked me out cold for a few minutes. When I came to, my head was pounding, and I was probably sporting a sizable knot on my forehead.
I was laid out underneath a shady tree in a small clearing in the forest as my memories came flooding back to me. I heard a rhythmic crunching of leaves, as if someone was pacing through the thick woods nearby. Anxiously I looked around and what I saw was so completely insane, I was fully convinced that I was still dreaming.
My Imperial Gold sword was hopping around on its own, blade end down. As crazy as this sounds, it appeared to be standing guard, patrolling around the tree that I had passed out underneath. If I was unconscious before, then how the hell was that sword moving by itself?! It couldn't have been me controlling the thing. Seriously, it wasn't possible for this to be happening.
And yet, there it was. Happening. Plain as day.
My ears registered a rustling among the fallen leaves. I gasped in surprise when an ant the size of a full grown house cat poked its way through the underbrush. The huge ant's beady black eyes locked onto me, and its pinchers twitched menacingly.
Wow. Surf, sand, giant insects. This place has it all!
Before I could even react, there was a golden blur slicing across the ant's body once, twice, three times. The forest was quiet and still once more. Then the ant's body fell apart. Its head had been severed, and its abdomen and thorax were sliced clean through. All six legs had been removed right at the joint. My jaw dropped as the Imperial Gold blade twirled in the air triumphantly. It seemed to notice my conscious state and flew in front of me, hopping happily at my feet like a proud puppy.
I wasn't sure if I should be grateful or completely freaked out right now. This sword seemed so... alive. It was eerie as hell. Although to be fair, the living weapon had clearly protected me just now.
How could this have happened?
I thought back to when I was falling from the sky. Just seconds from my death, I had felt a surge of warm energy. Only once before have I felt that same sensation, like honey being poured into my veins. It was so long ago, that first night I arrived in Camp Jupiter, but I could never forget it even if I tried. I was probably going to die that night, too, if my father hadn't lent me his strength. But things were different now than they were all those nights ago. My dad is in no position to be giving anyone his strength— whether I'm his daughter or not.
Frustratedly, I blinked back bittersweet tears. I had a horrible, gut wrenching feeling about the consequences of his actions down the line. Now I could only hope and pray that by saving me, Anastasios hadn't dug his own grave.
The Imperial Gold sword nudged me with its hilt, almost like it was trying to comfort me. The metal was usually cool to the touch, but now it radiated warmth the same way that Festus would. I realized then that the sword truly was alive— as much as Festus or Buford the table was alive, anyway. The weapon had become no different than an automaton.
I couldn't help but think of Gram when I gazed at its shimmering golden surface. She was as real as ever to me when we were together. Anastasios had made her for me, so that he could be with me in his own way. He breathed life into Celestial Bronze and Imperial Gold. Was it so farfetched to believe that I had the same power, to a lesser degree?
Sweat pooled on my lower back as my body and mind just now registered the climate. It was sweltering, and I was still dressed in layers underneath a thick coat. I began to strip down until I was in just jeans and a thin sweatshirt. I could cut the sleeves off later, but my first priority was finding Leo. If I was able to make it to the island, then there was no doubt in my mind that he had to be somewhere around here too. The only question was where?
Operation: Find Leo and Get the Hellhound Off This Island was under way.
The beach seemed like a good place to start my search, but thanks to my sword's crazed flight pattern I wasn't sure which direction to go. I was deep in the woods, but I figured this island couldn't be too big. I'd happen upon the coastline eventually, right?
It had been about an hour since I crashed onto the island, and I was still lost in the thick forest. I called Leo's name periodically as I traversed the lush green landscape, with my sword hopping alongside me or floating above my head on its own. It didn't have a face or anything, but I got the feeling that it was very happy to be alive. It made me happy, too. Though it was merely a hunk of metal, I felt a tiny bit better that I wasn't completely alone.
Damn, finding companionship with a sword. I really am the weirdest person I know.
In an act of defiance over my misguided feelings, I grabbed the sword from the air and hacked away at some overgrown branches that blocked my path forward.
It's just a tool, I told myself sternly. Nothing more.
I released the blade and it floated a few feet away, suspended in the air like an astronaut's wet dream. I could hear the sound of crashing waves in the distance and picked up the pace. The thick grass beneath my feet was growing more sparse and sandier as I got closer to the beach. When I spotted the first palm tree, I broke out into a full blown sprint.
*CACAW! CACAW!*
I looked up and stopped dead in my tracks. Just above the line of palm trees was a flock of a dozen or so birds circling overhead. Even from this distance, I could tell that they were each about the size of a pit bull. With the way they were cawing and circling in formation, something told me that they were hungry.
"What is this place, Texas?!" I asked myself in disbelief. "Why's everything so damn big?!"
I dashed back into the forest to get some cover under the thick canopy of trees. Breathing heavily, I waited and listened for any indication that the horde of steroid junkie hawks had spotted me. The Imperial Gold sword hopped around, breaking twigs and crunching leaves seemingly for no reason other than its own pleasure.
I snatched it up like a scolding mother. "Shh!"
That's when the ground started to rumble. I followed the sound with my eyes and considered pinching myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. Honestly though, I'm not sure even my damaged psyche could come up with something like this.
From deep within the forest emerged over a hundred giant ants ready for war. Their beady little eyes were full of animosity, and I guessed that they were here to avenge their fallen comrade. Loyal little things, eh? Even more reinforcements were digging their way from beneath the ground, causing the earth's surface to break and tremble. They charged right towards me, pincers snapping ferociously. I wasn't particularly frightened of bugs, but I'd be lying if I said those massive hairy legs didn't make my skin crawl.
The Imperial Gold blade nudged my knuckles, as if saying 'Well what are you waiting for? Let's fight!'
"R-Right," I can't believe I'm seriously talking to a sword, but that's where we are now.
This is who I am now. I had a sneaking suspicion that every living thing on this island wanted to kill me, but hey— I should be used to that by now. I'd somehow brought a sword to life, and it was one of the only things around with a consciousness that was actively trying to keep me alive. Why fight it?
The sword glowed faintly in my hands as the giant ants surrounded me on all sides. The small inkling of fear I felt melted away. My weapon and I were bonded like nothing I've felt with any other blade. I wondered if this was how Anastasios felt when he picked up a sword for the first time.
The first ant pounced, and I sliced it in half with ease.
This is who I am now.
"Let's do this."