I remember thinking just how beautiful the view was as I fell to almost certain death.
It felt as though I was falling in slow motion, and I was able to take in all the sights before me one last time. The sky was painted a dark blue, that mysterious and dusky shade that hinted the sun would be waking soon. The dips and curves of green hills looked quiet and still except for the delicate grass blades that swayed in the gentle sea breeze. It almost looked like they were waving goodbye. Even the ocean in the distance, as much as I might hate it, was gorgeous— a dark expanse that reflected the bright multicolored lights of the city. Not a bad last sight before I leave this cruel world if I do say so myself.
My heart leapt into my throat during free fall as we screamed and flailed our limbs wildly.
Wait a minute— we. I remembered Leo, his hand still gripping my own firmly, and I spared a glance in his direction. His eyes were wide with alarm, and his curly hair blew upward like he was standing underneath a high powered hair dryer.
Of course. It's not over till it's over. And I couldn't just give up while Leo needed me, while the world needed me. I squeezed his hand tightly, an affirmation that we were in this together till the bitter end.
We crashed into the icy water, and my legs felt like they'd turned to mush. Numbly, I found that I was able to wiggle my toes. So no broken bones, that's useful. Now if only I can just learn to swim in the next thirty seconds, and everything will be gravy. The pool was insanely deep, which probably saved us from hitting the bottom and dying quickly— but it left me surrounded by water, dying slowly.
Enjoy your last few hours on my planet, Omega scum, Gaea's words rang through in my mind.
I was sinking fast, like a balloon that had been filled with stones instead of helium. Not only that, but my lungs were burning as if the air inside was desperate to escape, begging to be released. On land I could hold my breath for a couple of minutes no problem, but down here was different. Fatally so. The effects weren't as rapid as when I nearly drowned in the ocean, but I knew this was Poseidon's curse all the same. Once my head was submerged, it was like all the water was pressing against my heart, my lungs, my brain, weighing me down to the point that I could barely move my arms without feeling incredibly fatigued.
I was so sleepy all of a sudden... maybe I could just take a rest at the bottom of the pool. Yes, that sounded nice, that sounded relaxing. Just a quick nap.
I sunk faster. My eyes began to close, and I exhaled tiredly— dispelling a burst of bubbles from my nostrils as the last of my breath left me. Chlorinated water flooded my senses eagerly. I jerked violently, clutching my nose, trying to prevent any more water from filling my lungs. But it was hopeless.
My body wanted to drown.
Black spots danced in my vision just as I felt strong arms around my waist. I was dimly aware of my body being pulled upwards as I struggled to remain conscious.
It's pointless, said the dark thoughts. Just give up. Aren't you tired? Rest. Sleep forever.
When my head breached the surface, I choked and spluttered, my lungs doing their best to exchange the chlorinated water for fresh air. Water droplets clung to my lashes, obscuring my view. But I was drunkenly regardful of the boy with wet curls plastered to his face dragging me alongside him as he swam to the edge, doggedly tired himself.
I was dizzy and my brain lacked oxygen, but I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. Did I know him? He was kind of pretty... in a mischievous, boyish sort of way— like he was often up to no good. Did he go to St. Luke's School for Wayward Boys? I hiccuped and coughed as he pushed me out of the water, onto the rough sandstone poolside. Where am I? I hate pools and beaches. They're dirty cesspools full of strangers' bodily fluids. Why am I here?
My chest was heaving, racking my body with shuddering gasps. I coughed up water over and over again as the boy pulled himself out of the pool. He was at my side instantly with a concerned look that didn't quite suit his elvish features. He put his hands on my chest and pushed down hard, making me cough up even more chlorine. I tried to push him away, but my arms were so weak.
"Be still, Peri!" he said urgently, doing chest compressions on my shaking body. "I might have to give you mouth to mouth."
How does this hottie know my name?
"Trying to make out with me, huh?" I wheezed. "Pervert."
"Pervert? I—" He looked confused, but a lopsided smile crossed his face that made my heart stumble over itself. "Gods... well if you're talking then you don't need CPR."
"Well, it wouldn't hurt..." I muttered under my breath.
He laughed to himself before bending down and pressing his lips to mine. My eyes widened in shock at his boldness before my memories came flooding back to me like a dam breaking. Camp Jupiter. The quest. My old man. The Argo. Leo. Ogygia. Gaea. Everything hit me like a whirlwind, and I gasped for air as he released me with a gentle smack of his lips.
Leo looked at me curiously. "You good?"
I inhaled deeply. My lungs still burned, but at least I could breathe somewhat normally again. Note to self: drowning in seawater fills me with despair, but drowning in a pool grants temporary amnesia. Neither is very fun.
I nodded. "I'm good. Thanks for bringing me back."
Leo seemed puzzled by my choice of words, but someone else cut in before he could make a rebuttal.
"Omega-Blood!" screeched a feminine voice from afar.
Leo and I snapped our necks to the hotel where a half a dozen monsters were pouring from our former room's terrace. The empousa held a rolled up fashion magazine like a conductor's baton, and I realized with a start that she was the receptionist from before. She must've smelled us the moment we'd arrived and spent the night gathering forces to take us down. Winged beasts took to the skies, some monsters climbed down from patio to patio with the ease and agility of a monkey, while others simply leapt from the third story to the ground with sickening crunches of concrete.
"Go, minions of Gaea!" The empousa cried. "Prove your allegiance and kill those two worthless demigods in the name of the Earth Goddess!"
"Or don't," Leo tried for a winning smile. "You guys could totally, like, not do that! I'm sure Gaea would be cool with that, too."
The monsters paused briefly, as if considering the son of Hephaestus's suggestion. It was just enough time for me to spot my Imperial Gold sword that floated patiently over our ditched threads. I waved my hand, willing the blade to take flight with a single thought on my mind. Attack. In a flash of gold, the weapon zoomed through the air and decapitated a harpy who exploded into dust before her head could fall to the ground.
"FOOLS!" The empousa's fiery hair grew larger as she angered. "The boy is no child of Aphrodite! Don't listen to him! Kill them both!"
The monsters spurred into action, apparently more frightened of their demoness leader than of us. That would be their downfall. I held out my hand, recalling my sword which flew into my palm after a couple seconds.
"Come on, let's get out of here!" Leo said.
"No way," I said. "Even if we outrun them, they'll just terrorize the mortals instead of us. I can handle this—"
"Nuh-uh," Leo said, his hands bursting into flame. "We stay and fight together."
"Okay." I fought the goofy grin threatening to spread across my face. "Let's head to the hills and make our stand there."
Leo blasted the pool with columns of fire, creating a wall of steam that disguised our position just long enough for me to grab our clothes. The monsters growled and roared in confusion, bumping into each other and lashing out in frustration. We hopped over the wrought iron fence that surrounded the pool area and dashed to the hills, discarding our robes and slipping into our clothes as quickly as we could. Leo tripped and fell while tugging on his pants, spitting out a mouthful of grass and mooning me with his pale little butt.
"You idiotic— there!" The empousa screamed into her magazine tube like a megaphone. "They're over there! On the hills!"
"Ah!" Leo grunted in discomfort as he buttoned his jeans. "I hate going commando."
"How do you think I feel running without a bra?" I said while pulling my head through my shirt.
Leo's eyes darted down. "Uh, bouncy?"
"Ha, ha, ha," I said dryly despite my grin.
A pair of Cyclopes lumbered through the blanket of steam, advancing on us with Stygian Iron blades. A six armed Earthborn wearing nothing but a loincloth was a a few yards behind them.
"Um, since when did those guys upgrade from club status?" Leo asked.
"Guess they sprang for the VIP membership," I said through gritted teeth.
It angered me that these filthy creatures thought that they were worthy of wielding Stygian Iron. Ever since Nico told me about its origins, Stygian Iron had become a sacred metal to me— even more so than Celestial Bronze or Imperial Gold. These worthless minions of Gaea had no business touching Pluto's creation, the Lord of the Dead's blessing. How dare they?
"Take one more step," Leo said, igniting his palms. "And you'll be barbecue."
"They don't deserve any mercy," I growled and charged forward.
My sword grew in my hands before I realized, perhaps my fury subconsciously spilled into the blade. It didn't matter. They were going to pay. I would ensure it.
The first Cyclops looked surprised that I was attacking head on, and he yelled something stupid about the taste of my flesh that I didn't bother to listen to. I was more focused on the trajectory of his downward swing with the Stygian Iron sword, slow and predictable. I parried with my blade and punched the monster in the gut with my free hand. Then I spun around and sliced its hand off, the black blade falling to the ground as the creature wailed in agony.
"You don't deserve this," I spat venomously as I picked up the Stygian Iron sword for myself.
As soon as it was in my grasp, I felt a rush of renewed strength. The slight fogginess that clouded my brain after my dip in the pool dissipated completely. The first Cyclops swung at me furiously, but I just chopped its other hand off with ease. The second Cyclops was busy chasing after Leo who blasted its feet with fireballs as he ran around the grassy field. The large monster with six arms was only a stone's throw away. As much as I wanted to make these creatures suffer, I knew it was time that I stop toying with my prey.
*Slish! Slash! Swoosh!*
"This one is for Hades!" I declared, admiring the H shaped carvings I'd made in the smelly Cyclops's chest before impaling it in the eye.
"For Pluto!" I threw my golden sword like a javelin at the other Cyclops, the blade soaring through the air at its target with purpose.
The creatures exploded almost simultaneously in huge puffs of golden dust that rained down onto the grass blades. The Earthborn roared in outrage, and I raised the Stygian Iron sword high into the dawn sky.
"And you will fall in the name of my father, Anastasios!" I shouted and rushed the beast.
The hardest part of this fight was staying on the right side of the Earthborn's loincloth. Bleh! As I set to work chopping its arms off one by one, I was dimly aware of other battles taking place nearby. Goldie sliced through the air like a beam of golden light, cutting down winged monsters that tried to approach. Leo and the empousa fought bitterly, fire and bronze flashing brightly in my peripheral.
The Earthborn's sixth arm fell to the ground with a thud, and it bellowed miserably with its bloody stumps. With a kick to send it off balance and a quick stab at its heart, the fight was over unceremoniously. There was another high pitched shriek nearby, and I turned to see Leo sweating heavily in a pile of golden dust. He had a gash underneath his eye, but he gave me a bright smile and a thumbs up.
He handed me the other discarded Stygian Iron sword. "So much for Gozo being quiet, huh?"
I sheathed the two black blades at my hip. "Let's just hope the Argo picks us up soon. I'm ready to get off the ground."