In which Percy is gonna need a five hour long shower.
Replies:
Undeath9087: I really hope so.
Outis02: I don't think so I'm afraid- writing this much has been pretty impressive I think lol.
Thickneck: It's definitely been a lot of writing and a lot of time dedicated to it.
Oujiswan: Thank you!
Guest: She's good at playing people. And yeah, but I mean, some of the Orion stuff isn't so bad. It leads to some good stuff.
ArachnidHiveMind: Don't worry he's not coming back- and yeah Annabeth is not impressed with that creep touching her Percy.
Antinous scowled at the other ghosts words, "Eurymachus-" and oh that was very interesting- he'd been the smarter of the two leaders of the suitors, more manipulative- if she could play them against one another that could work very well in her favor. "You're nothing more than a whining coward." Antinous continued, "You never stood a chance with Penelope. I remember you blubbering and pleading for your life with Odysseus. Blaming everything on me."
"I was not blubbering. You oaf, I was trying to manipulate him." the bald man glared- back straightening slightly when Percy cast him a curious look from across the table, tilting her head slightly, making sure to look interested. "And I'll have you know that if you hadn't been there I could have won her over- subtlety is far more effective."
"Did your attempts work?" Percy asked innocently, fluttering her eyelashes at the man.
"Hah, Odysseus had no mercy." he lifted his tattered shirt, revealing an inch-wide hole in the middle of his spectral chest.
"Odysseus shot me in the heart, just because I wanted to marry his wife! It wasn't as if any of us even knew he was alive."
"Of course. It was Penelope's duty to remarry. She was very foolish, not choosing one of you." and Eurymachus' gaze was focused on Percy now, taking her in just as eagerly as Antinous had- which made the man who's lap she was sat on growl lowly, pulling her back against his chest, his hand resting flat on her stomach.
"Of course she was pretty one." his voice was low and Percy had to force herself not to pull away when she felt his breath against her neck, "But that's all the better for you now isn't it?"
"I'd hope so my lords." Percy gave him a sweet little smile. "And what spoils would I get?"
"Oh you'd be decked out in jewels my pretty one." Antinous declared, "See we've gathered now for a much bigger prize. Once Gaea destroys the gods, we will divide up the remnants of the mortal world!"
"Dibs on London!" yelled a ghoul at the next table.
"Montreal!" shouted another.
"Duluth!" yelled a third, which momentarily stopped the conversation as the other ghosts gave him confused looks.
"Oh." Percy blinked, "But there's so many of you-"
"Yes." Jason spoke up, "What about the rest of these... guests? I count at least two hundred. Half of them are new to me."
Antinous's yellow eyes gleamed. "All of them are suitors for Gaea's favour. All have claims and grievances against the gods or their pet heroes. That scoundrel over there is Hippias, former tyrant of Athens. He got deposed and sided with the Persians to attack his own countrymen. No morals whatsoever. He'd do anything for power."
"Thank you!" called Hippias."
"That rogue with the turkey leg in his mouth," Antinous continued, "that's Hasdrubal of Carthage. He has a grudge to settle with Rome."
"Mhhmm," said the Carthaginian.
"And Michael Varus –"
Percy's eyes widened very slightly- she definitely recognised that name, and she could vaguely remember a ghost amongst the army of them back in Alaska, with the praetors cloak- one of the many she'd drowned.
Jason didn't hide his shock as well as she did, he almost choked, "Who?"
Over by the sand fountain, the dark-haired guy in the purple T-shirt and legionnaire armour turned to face them. His outline was blurred, smoky and indistinct. And yep, yep she was sure she'd seen him before. That could be bad.
But Antinous waved dismissively, "He's a Roman demigod. Lost his legion's eagle in … Alaska, was it? Doesn't matter. Gaea lets him hang around. He insists he has some insight into defeating Camp Jupiter. But you, Iros – you still haven't answered my question. Why should you be welcome among us?"
And Percy could see how uncertain he looked- Jason was struggling, Michael Varus had distracted him. So Percy shifted, giggling. "Oh I think he could be useful my lord." She leaned in close to him, "After all you won't have me with you on the field of battle- won't you want reminders of what's waiting. To bolster your spirits." she pulled back slightly, and the ghouls grin was lecherous to say the least.
"Ah, but to let him carry such messages, I wouldn't want to share any part of you my pretty one." he hand started to slide up- and suddenly Annabeth was at Antinous' shoulder.
Percy forced herself not to react, not to panic as Annabeth gave a false smile, a gleam of fury in her eyes. "More wine my lord? Ooops-" she spilled the contents of a silver pitcher down the back of his neck, and Percy gasped loudly, almost falling off of his lap as his back arched from his shock.
"GAHH! Foolish girl." his gaze snapped to Annabeth, "Who let you back from Tartarus you pathetic girl?" and Percy was sure that his fury was enhanced by the fact that he'd just been embarrassed in front of her. And Eurymachus laughed- and Percy giggled, a very fake giggle as she met the ghosts gaze.
That only made Antinous more mad- though his anger was directed at Eurymachus. "Oh you find that funny do you fool?" he smacked his fists down on the table- and Eurymachus nodded.
"Yes, yes I do you brute,"
"Antinous-" Percy pressed her hands to his cheeks, "My lord- calm down please-" she gave him a wide eyed look, "Calm down. For me." And really, he was the same type of man as Alabaster- so was Eurymachus, so very easy to manipulate if you knew how.
But as a plus Jason looked like he'd pulled himself together, she caught his eye and he gave a very small nod before he picked up the nearest steak knife and stabbed it into the table, which made the ghosts around him jump, and made Eurymachus and Antinous turn to him.
"Why should you welcome me?" Jason growled, "Because I am still running messages you stupid wretches. I've just come from the House of Hades to see what you're up to." And Percy could see that made Antinous hesitate. The ghoul glared at Jason, grip on Percy tightening again. "You expect me to believe Gaea sent you, a beggar to check up on us."
Jason laughed. "I was among the last to leave Epirus before the Doors of Death were closed! I saw the chamber where Clytius stood guard under a domed ceiling tiled with tombstones. I walked the jewel-and-bone floors of the Necromanteion!"
Around the table ghosts started to shift and mutter at that.
"So Antinous." Jason jabbed a finger at the ghoul, "Maybe you should explain to me why you're worthy of Gaea's favor. All I see is a crowd of lazy, dawdling dead folk enjoying themselves and not helping the war effort. What should I tell the Earth Mother?"
"I'm sure my lords have much to credit them." Percy spoke up, shooting wide eyed looks between the two rival suitors, "Don't you my lords?"
Antinous's nails dug into Percy's hips through the fabric of her dress. "Of course sweet one." he seemed offended at Eurymachus being included by her, though the Bald man was smirking. "If you come from Gaea you must know we are here under orders. Porphyrion decreed it." he declared. "You do know Porphyrion?"
"The mighty king of the giants." Percy made her voice sound impressed, "My lord you must truly be important, see messenger?"
"You think you're the only one to know the Giant king?" Jason asked, playing it up, "Green skin, forty feet tall. White eyes, hair braided with weapons. Of course I know him. He's a lot more impressive than you."
Antinous looked startled at that, but Eurymachus was much quicker to hide his surprise as he draped an arm over Jasons shoulder, "Now now friend. I'm sure we didn't mean to question your credentials. It's just, well, if you've spoken with Porphyrion in Athens, you know why we're here. I assure you, we're doing exactly as he ordered!"
Athens. Well wasn't that interesting.
"The Acropolis." Jason recovered quickly, "The most ancient temples to the gods, in the middle of Athens. That is where Gaea will wake."
"Of course" Eurymachus laughed. The wound in his chest made a popping sound, like a porpoise's blowhole. "And, to get there, those meddlesome demigods will have to travel by sea, eh? They know it's too dangerous to fly over land."
"Which means they'll have to pass this island." Jason said smoothly.
"What does it matter?" Percy asked innocently, "I'm sure Lady Gaea has her plans to stop the foolish demigods."
Eurymachus nodded eagerly. He removed his arm from Jason's shoulders and dipped his finger in his wineglass. "Oh yes my dear, you see at that point, they'll have to make a choice, eh?"
On the tabletop, he traced a coastline, red wine glowing unnaturally against the wood. He drew Greece like a mis-shapen hourglass – a large dangly blob for the northern mainland, then another blob below it, almost as large – the big chunk of land known as the Peloponnese. Cutting between them was a narrow line of sea – the Straits of Corinth.
Percy forced herself not to scowl. After all, this could be leading to what they needed to know. To where they needed to go. Which rout to take.
"The most direct route," Eurymachus said, shooting Percy a smile, "would be due east from here, across the Straits of Corinth. But if they try to go that way-"
"Enough," Antinous snapped. "You have a loose tongue, Eurymachus." and now that was interesting, it seemed there was a bit of intelligence in there.
"But my lord." Percy fluttered her eyelashes at Antinous, "I was listening- I've never been allowed to listen to such serious talk. It fascinates me-"
"See Antinous!" Eurymachus declared, "And I was hardly going to tell him everything, just about the Cyclopes armies massed on either shore. And the raging storm spirits in the air. And those vicious sea monsters Keto sent to infest the waters. And of course if the ship got as far as Delphi –'
"Idiot!" Antinous lunged across the table, this time Percy did fall to the floor with a startled cry, and he grabbed the ghost's wrist. A thin crust of dirt spread from the ghoul's hand, straight up Eurymachus's spectral arm.
Percy's mouth opened in horror as Eurymachus yelped, "Please! I- I only meant-" and he screamed the dirt covered his body like a shell, then cracked open, leaving nothing but a pile of dust.
Eurymachus was gone.
Antinous brushed himself down, reaching down towards Percy, and she forced down her fear as she took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. "Sorry pretty one." his smile was a cold one, "But Eurymachus said too much. I'm sure you understand pretty one. Some things are not to be spoken of." he sat down, dragging her with him- and it took all of Percy's willpower not to struggle- she could see the terror on Annabeth's face when she spotted her girlfriend over the ghouls shoulder.
"And I apologise to you too, Iros. All you need to know is this – the ways to Athens are well guarded, just as we promised. The demigods would either have to risk the straits, which are impossible, or sail around the entire Peloponnese, which is hardly much safer. In any event, it's unlikely they will survive long enough to make that choice. Once they reach Ithaca, we will know. We will stop them here and Gaia will see how valuable we are. You can take that message back to Athens." and okay- okay that was... well, it was the information they needed, even if none of it was reassuring.
She could see Annabeth tapping her hand against the side of her leg, once, twice, three times. That was their signal, they needed to extricate themselves, of course, that might be easier said than done. For her anyway- but she was good at getting out of trouble. Besides, there was clearly more information they were missing, she wanted to see if she could get it. She met Jason's eye across the table and he gave a very, very slight nod, pushing aside his plate of food.
"Sounds like everything is under control. For your sake, Antinous, I hope so. These demigods are resourceful. They closed the Doors of Death. We wouldn't want them sneaking past you."
Percy giggled, despite the fear churning in her gut. "I'm sure that's not possible. They'd need a miracle. Even an oracle couldn't help them. You'll defeat them my lord.
"Hah." Antinous chuckled, "No risk of them getting that type of help- even if they could get to Delphi it's no longer in Apollo's control."
And okay, that did not sound good- Percy hoped May was okay.
"Lady Gaea truly is brilliant." Percy declared, "Their ship doesn't stand a chance. They'll never get past you."
"And if they do?" Jason's eyes were narrowed, "We must be prepared for everything. If they sail the long way, around the Peloponnese?"
"You worry too much. That journey is never safe for demigods, and it's much too far. Besides, Victory runs rampant in Olympia. As long as that's the case, there is no way the demigods can win this war."
