Mia heard Hercules' yell, but before she could put on a fresh burst of speed, she felt a claw wrap around her waist and all of a sudden she was hanging in the air.
Exciting, isn't it? a deep male voice spoke in her mind. The whole disembodied voice thing reminded her of when she had spoken with Artemis. But it reminded her of something else too. She couldn't quite place her finger on the memory, since her head was still spinning from acending so fast.
Who's there? she thought wildly.
Look around. the voice commanded. Mia's gaze searched from her higher vantage point, until she saw a figure standing over by the edge of the forest. He was grinning evilly, and even though she had never seen him before, she realized where she had heard his voice before. It was the seeker, the one who had suggested that she ask Artemis for her sight. He wore elegant black leather, much too expensive for a mere seeker.
Who are you? Mia thought. What do you want?
The figure and his voice ignored her first question. I want you and Hercules dead, Mia. And watching this fish kill you will hurt Hercules as much as watching me kill your parents hurt you. After you are dead, it will be so much more enjoyable torturing little brother.
Mia wasn't listening anymore....as watching me kill your parents... She knew now that it was the God of War himself who had been using her. There was a sickening feeling in her stomach as she realized his plans...that he meant to have the fish drown her in the pond nearby...the waters that had once been so comforting would now kill her. She would not get a chance to revenge her parents now. Her shocked mind was still spinning from the height she was hanging at, and she could barely think straight. The only concept her clouded mind could grasp was that she was a failure...
"CEMIA!!!!"
Hercules' shout brought her out of her depression. She could see Hercules trying to save her, the same Hercules who had outsmarted Ares time and time again. The thought gave her hope that she would get another chance. She would not let Ares win this time. Even now she felt the claw's grip on her loosening as Hercules punched the fish. She wriggled in its grasp, and then broke free.
She hit the ground rolling until she was out of the way, and then stood up. Hercules was throwing in punches and kicks, while the fish was trying to knock him over with the claw. Mia's breath caught as the claw latched on to the back of Hercules' tunic. Then Hercules punched the fish extra hard and it went flying backward into the pond. But the monster was still holding on to Herc's tunic, and the force sent Hercules flying into the pond as well. Mia watched the fish splashdown and its legs disappear, but then it swam around and started to attack Hercules. Cemia and Iolaus could only watch, standing on the shore.
Exciting, isn't it? a deep male voice spoke in her mind. The whole disembodied voice thing reminded her of when she had spoken with Artemis. But it reminded her of something else too. She couldn't quite place her finger on the memory, since her head was still spinning from acending so fast.
Who's there? she thought wildly.
Look around. the voice commanded. Mia's gaze searched from her higher vantage point, until she saw a figure standing over by the edge of the forest. He was grinning evilly, and even though she had never seen him before, she realized where she had heard his voice before. It was the seeker, the one who had suggested that she ask Artemis for her sight. He wore elegant black leather, much too expensive for a mere seeker.
Who are you? Mia thought. What do you want?
The figure and his voice ignored her first question. I want you and Hercules dead, Mia. And watching this fish kill you will hurt Hercules as much as watching me kill your parents hurt you. After you are dead, it will be so much more enjoyable torturing little brother.
Mia wasn't listening anymore....as watching me kill your parents... She knew now that it was the God of War himself who had been using her. There was a sickening feeling in her stomach as she realized his plans...that he meant to have the fish drown her in the pond nearby...the waters that had once been so comforting would now kill her. She would not get a chance to revenge her parents now. Her shocked mind was still spinning from the height she was hanging at, and she could barely think straight. The only concept her clouded mind could grasp was that she was a failure...
"CEMIA!!!!"
Hercules' shout brought her out of her depression. She could see Hercules trying to save her, the same Hercules who had outsmarted Ares time and time again. The thought gave her hope that she would get another chance. She would not let Ares win this time. Even now she felt the claw's grip on her loosening as Hercules punched the fish. She wriggled in its grasp, and then broke free.
She hit the ground rolling until she was out of the way, and then stood up. Hercules was throwing in punches and kicks, while the fish was trying to knock him over with the claw. Mia's breath caught as the claw latched on to the back of Hercules' tunic. Then Hercules punched the fish extra hard and it went flying backward into the pond. But the monster was still holding on to Herc's tunic, and the force sent Hercules flying into the pond as well. Mia watched the fish splashdown and its legs disappear, but then it swam around and started to attack Hercules. Cemia and Iolaus could only watch, standing on the shore.