When Luke came back, I knew that he had changed instantly. He felt brighter, healthier, and when he reached me he had lifted me up and spun me around like he felt he was on top of the world. I fussed over him, demanding to know what had happened and if he was alright, but he just assured me that everything had gone well and that I could try to stab him with Amaryllis as much as I liked because it wouldn't affect him at all. I scowled at this, making him laugh and poke my face, telling me that I still made funny faces. The Curse of Achilles clearly made him feel stronger, because his mood did not seem so sickly and terrified like before. I wondered if perhaps he had been made more courageous because of it, because when we returned he went straight to Kronos in order to report, though I lingered at the door, hesitant to go in. All the same, Kronos projected his voice to me as he spoke to Luke, including us both in the conversation. Well done, Luke. You have done well. The plan is in motion and soon, all preparations will be complete. I shuddered silently. And you, cursed one. Have you decided yet to join us? My patience will only stretch so far. It was horrifying to realise that Kronos was now talking to me.

"I…I am willing to stand beside Luke." I chose my words ever so carefully, because I knew if I outright refused I would be subjected to torture again, and most likely death because Kronos did not keep wasteful and useless beings around him. I could die right now if I did not appear to be loyal. "I also wish to see Olympus thrown into chaos, for the gods to learn that they are not omnipotent…but I want for my family to be safe." This was as much as I dared say, but Kronos's cruel laugh echoed like a haunting tone rising from a chasm of emptiness.

Perhaps you require a little incentive…a taste of what you might earn and achieve as one of my loyal servants. For a moment I panicked, believing he meant to hurt me again and I instinctively tensed in order to brace myself, however the pain did not come as it had before. My eyes started to burn and water, making me cry out and press my hands into them as Luke called my name and rushed to me, grasping hold of my shoulders. It was a searing sensation like being branded, but it was gone after a few moments and became only a dull throb as I blinked and removed my hands, only to realise that I could see light. It was blooming across my vision, growing stronger and stronger until the light then split into colours and shapes, fuzzy and distorted until they too sharpened and solidified. I breathed. My hands were right in front of me, smooth from Circe's treatments yet firm and tough to the touch, like they had invisible callouses. Beneath them was a carpet of soft cream, spongy and spread across the entire floor of the suite. I could see. I could see. I looked up.

There he was, bright and handsome as I had imagined, staring at me with worry and not at first noticing the scars fading from my face and my eyes brightening until even I could see them in the reflection of his own orbs like shining glass whilst mine were swimming with blue and green like a Caribbean ocean. His hands were grasping at my shoulders, asking if I was alright but I could scarcely draw breath I was so in shock until finally, I forced myself to speak. "Luke, I can see you." He froze, blinking once before then staring back at me as he finally realised that my eyes had lost their cloudy whiteness and were now full of life and colour, shining and damp with tears as I smiled at him. "I see you. I can see you Luke. Gods…your eyes are so blue!" And they were, like clear panes of glass reflecting a cloudless sky, his hair pale like sand though it was lighter than I imagined, and I wondered if it was because he had endured the weight of the sky when he'd freed Atlas and the strain had turned his hair near white. My gaze then turned to the thick white scar on his face and touched it as he in turned pressed his hands to my face and drew back my hair in order to see me clearly. "I see you Luke. I see you."

"Lily…" Luke swung his head around in order to look at the golden casket which I too could now see, and although it was a beautifully delicate work of craftsmanship, it was also ugly for its content and the horrific scenes it portrayed, almost sacrilegious to mar such an impressive container. My grip tightened upon Luke as the sinister voice crooned at us.

You see, child? I can remove your curse and return your sight. Only I have power beyond those immortals that harmed you. You could have everything you ever desired. Only join me, and I shall grant you eternal glory. Kronos knew exactly how to tempt me and I once again wavered, however Luke dug his nails so deeply into my shoulders that I could feel my own bone as he warned me to be careful, probably trying to protect me from swearing myself to Kronos and sealing my fate. I wanted to say yes, because for the first time since I was a child I could see everything around me and appreciate its physical beauty, but I knew that it would only be for as long as I became a slave of Kronos. My next words were vital, and all the more terrifying because I had to somehow trick the greatest Titan of them all with wordplay. What I wouldn't give for the wisdom of Athena, however I did my best with what little wisdom I had.

"You are indeed mighty and all powerful, O Kronos, Lord of Time, Greatest of all Titans. I will do all that is necessary to achieve all that I desire. In that, you may depend." My sight remained and I was not struck to ashes or overcome with unimaginable pain and suffering, so I allowed myself to think that perhaps this was enough as Kronos's cold, empty laugh filled our ears before then falling silent, signalling that we were dismissed. Luke spirited me away so swiftly that I hardly even remember leaving the room, but next thing I knew he was pulling me aside and into a closet. I couldn't help it. My heart jumped out of my chest.

"Are you crazy? You can't swear yourself to him, Lily, I am not going to let you become like me!" Luke hissed and his expression was fascinating to watch, because until now I had only imagined what he might have looked like when speaking. Right now he was distraught, the lines of his face twisted and creased as if strained to their limit, and for a few moments I was too focused on staring to think to actually respond.

"But I didn't exactly swear my loyalty, did I?" It was alright to speak for now, because usually after Kronos makes a command or does something, he falls back asleep in order to continue gathering his strength. He won't wake again until someone approaches the casket. "I'll be fine Luke, but look! I can actually see you! Let's go, I want to see everything! I can finally play poker!" Clearly my enthusiasm did not settle Luke's concerns, however he allowed me to pull him back out of the closet whereby I ran to explore the entire ship and stare at the ocean, to meet everyone all over again so that I could put faces to names, even the monsters, but best of all was seeing Snowstorm. She truly was magnificent, seeing her standing on the balcony deck trying to groom herself as her coat shimmered in the sunlight in the palest golden cream with an iridescent shimmer with a cascading mane which at its longest length came to her knees. "Snow!" I sprung for her and at first she did not realise that I could see her, until I turned to her face and smiled. "You have such warm brown eyes. Shall I help you brush your coat?" She gasped in my head before then prancing and dancing around me with her wings flapping, circling me repeatedly as she squealed.

'My lady can see! How is this possible? Is it a miracle from your father, the Great Lord?' I did not tell her at first that it was actually a gift from Kronos, but she pestered me so much that I had no choice but to tell her otherwise I would have no peace of mind. Instantly she grew still and silent as stone. 'Be wary, my lady. A gift from a foul evil such as he does not come without a price. He may attempt to use this against you somehow.'

"I know Snow, I'll be careful but for now, I want to enjoy being able to see. Right now, I want to see you. I'll brush your coat for you, maybe I can even have a go at braiding your mane." This placated Snow so I grabbed a brush from inside as I had borrowed some things from the stables for Snow and started to groom her steadily, talking away with her as I smiled from ear to ear. I even combed through her mane and tail though I wasn't successful at first with the whole braiding thing, I kept trying until I started to make rather even and smooth braids, figuring out different styles and working away until we'd spent hours together. When I was done she had a thick rope of her glimmering snow white mane running down her neck with the rest falling freely in creased ripples which were then woven into a waterfall braid halfway down which she had described to me and I had somehow managed to achieve, adding a few more smaller braids to finish the design. She checked out her reflection in the mirror I brought her and decided that from now on, I would be doing her mane every day. Snow insisted that I should dress up and go down to the main deck to join in the evening parties and games, to fully enjoy myself whilst I still could and I decided this was an excellent idea.

I took a shower then dressed myself in the dress that had been given to me on Circe's island and took a moment to look at my reflection. Whatever she and her followers had done to me was still lasting, because my skin was as clear and smooth as milk with noticeably dark lashes framing my eyes which only drew further attention to them. I stared at them for a very long time, my frame looking rather resplendent in the dress that actually did look like shifting water with my raven hair rippling down my back as I lifted and twisted it, wondering if I should try to put it up. The door opened and Luke came in, making me turn to look at him only as he had started to speak he froze and stared at me, mouth dropping open slightly in shock. We stood there, frozen as we stared at one another until finally I released my hair and turned towards him with a slightly embarrassed smile. "I felt like dressing up a bit. You know. For the celebrations?"

"Oh…uh…" Seeing Luke speechless was definitely a treat so I laughed as I went towards him, thinking that he was just stunned to see me in a dress.

"I'll see you down there, okay? Save me a dance if you have the time, boss." Then I spirited myself away with eager excitement, heading down where I was greeted with a rush of noise and cheers, people grabbing at my hands in order to pull me towards their tables or their games, and I spent the evening completely basking in the dazzling array of colours and lights, soaking it all in in case tomorrow I would wake up and find myself blind once again.