"Penelope, I'm here, don't give up my love, don't give up…" I sit straight up in my bed. Shouts come from the top of the ship. It rocks furiously, I run out of my room.
"Tie the sails! You idiot no! Percy look out- oo that's gonna leave a mark. Annabeth come here and help me lift this." I slowly creep to the top of the stairs. Then watch the commotion, Pearl obviously yelling orders at everyone. Percy is quickly tying knots in the rope lines. I run to help him.
"What's going on!" I scream over a loud wind tearing through the water.
"We've ran right into the middle of a storm. Go help Pearl she's trying to raise the anchor, it's enchanted our powers aren't working!" He yells. I nod quickly and run to help Pearl.
"On the count of three. One. Two. Three. Heave! Ooag that's really heavy." She gasps. An idea spreads through my brain. I wrap my vine around the anchor rail, and then force its strength to pull it up. It yanks it up and slams it down on the wet deck.
"Alright nice job team. Especially Penelope. Grover! No come here!" She runs over to help Grover tie the sails. I glance at Annabeth, her stormy eyes like double hurricanes. She and I take the anchor and drag it a bit further. We run to go find Matheus and Fiona. We run down the stairs and her desperate shouting. I rip open the door and see Fiona floating inside a blue circle her eyes a shiny weird blue. She smiles when she sees me. The bubble she floats in as tiny electric streaks running through it.
"Fiona!" Matheus shouts, "Get down come down here now."
I feel a cold finger sliver down my spine. She looks directly at me. She's a goddess…
"Matheus get down!" I scream, I grab his hand and pull him down. Fiona flares a crack of lightening at me. I run with Annabeth and Matheus at my heels. I run to the deck where Pearl and Percy try to calm the ocean but it denies them, sending tidal waves over the deck rail. Pearl looks at Percy. She slowly gives him a small smile. He realizes what she's about to do.
"Haven't done this in awhile." She looks at me then to Annabeth, waves then dives.
"Pearl!" Percy's shout echoes off the force of a giant wave building, fast. Percy grabs Annabeth, and then runs the deck rail. He gestures to me.
"No Percy this is my battle."
"What battle? Do you not see the size of those waves you're asking to be killed. Come on hurry."
"Percy, Matheus and Grover need to escape too. Go!" Percy gives me a small nod then gestures to Grover and Matheus. They run and he jumps in. I see the little bubble moving through the water. I run below, the lightening sparks from Fiona's room. I go to her, she smiles. Evil sparking at the corners.
"Try me Pan. Try me." She spats. I close my eyes and focus on a beating heart beneath the ship. A big creature is below me. I impel it to kill her. I feel it move as if it is my own blood. I feel the boards leak with water soon spraying. She looks at me smiling still. She moves her right hand then shocks me. I fall to the ground as the bolt goes through me. I feel as if I'm about to black out when I feel a new source of power come back and feel the pounding of the heart. A smile plays on my lips. Try this. I feel it, he calls into my head.
Malady I am at your command.
"Kill it…kill it now." I say, the light green glow surrounding me.
What happened next was another moment just like at my school. So fast I had no control of the creature I had forced upon her. The boat smashed apart and water sprayed everywhere, I dashed into action my breath quickly refilling. I breathed in. Gills forming on the side of my neck, I was truly becoming something of the wild. I watched in awe as a creature so large. Bigger then the Kraken arose from the deep. Diving into remains of the ship, but then an image flashed through my mind. I had raised from the 100 billion years later a sea monster from the deep. He was navy blue with slick scales, his teeth white and sharp. He was too big to put into description really. He swallowed Fiona with one gulp. He turned to me.
Have I done your service malady?
"You have." I nodded, I smiled kindly. Fear for this creature did not echo in my soul. For I was his mother, I had risen him with my own soul. He swam toward me, his long snout pressed under my butt and I sat down on him. He rose to the surface, the gills disappeared. I breathed in the salt filled air. I stood up on him, balancing myself. I stood tall. Not fearing that I would fall, because I wouldn't. I knew I wouldn't. He gently set me down on a corral reef. "Wait, Lilivinth. I may need you."
Of course malady.
I swam toward the shore, where my friends were. They all sat in the sand. Sadness ruled over each of their faces. Percy and Annabeth cuddled together, more likely she cried into his shoulder and he held her close. Pearl and Grover sat in the sand motionless. Matheus the worst of all, his tears flowed from his black eyes.
"Penelope...you're alive! We thought you were dead." She ran and flung herself around me. I felt that wasn't the first time she had said that. I hugged her tightly feeling the warmth of her body spread through mine. I had really thought as well I was going to die killing this goddess/monster thing. AKA Fiona. I looked at Matheus, anger and sadness in his eyes. I gave a look of sorrow. He shook his head. Grover ran over and hugged my knees.
"Well I'm alive aren't I?" I smiled at both of them. "Matheus…I'm so sorry. But she was-"
"I know a goddess…Zeus had relations with our mother. Zeus only allowed my sister to become a goddess. He took away my own powers. Then raised my sister of full power and vengeances towards every demigod, every god, every powerful being."
"But she was so sick, so weak, and so ready to give up."
"That's because she wasn't on fresh water. Fresh water is what makes her thrive."
"That's weird as hell." I said.
"Then wait-who gave her freshwater?" I looked to Matheus he sighed and nodded. "She was my sister do you expect me to watch her die! You would do the same thing if it was your position." He looked directly at me. I wasn't to keen on the fact that he had given her the water, but I probably would have done the same thing for Jake. If you love them, you would do it for them. I nodded.
"Its fine Matheus, I don't exactly line up with your best friend list either. I apologize for the death of Fiona."
"You're forgiven. She was going to die anyway I'm sad to say." He looked down. "Your friend, Phoenix, was that his name? I know where he is, but only you can go. I've seen what you can do…in my dreams. I knew you were coming. I can help you, but if you can't find it, he may be lost forever I'm sad to say."
"I can find it. I'm not one of the people who give up." He walked away from the group. Led me into the beach grass and pulled out a locket. But it was shaped like a compass. He opened it and a picture filled the screen. Phoenix he was locked in iron cage. He lay on the bottom from either unconsciousness or sleep. I wasn't sure. I had to rescue him.
"Where do I find him?" I asked, nothing would stop me from finding him.
"My mother's throne…it's in, well I don't know if you want to know. It's hard to find, only the most powerful can find it. But you killed my sister a minor goddess herself. You must, to some extent be powerful."
"Because I am. You don't want to know what I can do to make life miserable. Tell me Matheus."
"It's on top of Everest, you have to be brave, only idiots who want to be killed go."
"I'm not the smartest but I'm sure not an idiot. Try me Matheus."
"Fly to the highest point a diamond will lay under soft newly fallen snow. If you find it, you may have a chance. If not well…" He trailed off.
"Phoenix dies. K I understand the terms lets do this."
"I'll entertain them, but you have to get out of here now. Penelope?"
"Yeah?"
"This is going against your prophecy. I've dreamt about you, your prophecy, I know exactly who you are to be. But if you do this Zeus will be more infuriated then he is now."
"Great gramps isn't the best out there he can have the not so best granddaughter. Matheus, my sea dino is out in the coral reefs swim to him and he'll protect you. Meet me in Greece, I'll return." I grew my wings and the green rushed through my veins. I turned one last time he nodded, I waved and bent down and jumped down I soared through the air. I caught a glimpse of my friends one last time then became immersed in the beauty of the grey ocean. It's waves white capped and looked like a sea of iron. I saw Lilivinth's form through the water. But only for a mere moment I was speeding through the air like a sea bird. My eyes became dangerously sharp, and my sense became more in depth. But my hearing, I could hear up to three miles it seemed like. I flew past the ocean to a land. Europe. I rose higher into the air and soon enough I was high enough to see the whole continent. Higher then planes. My speed increased as I urged on. Nightfall came and I was beginning to grow tired. My wings weakening. I soared down and then coasted off to a small island.
I settled down in a clearing in the middle of a unknown forest. I felt safe and warm. I must have been fairly close to Greece. On the island of Crete, I fell asleep. My dream of my mother, she lay on a black leather couch. She was dressed in a beautiful black silk dress. Her curly blond hair in an elegant updo. Another beautiful woman, with dark hair and blond streaks in it. Sat on the chair next to her. She patted my mother's knee.
"It's alright, Lona. Just think she's growing stronger."
"Persephone, you don't understand. I'm her mother; you don't just leave your children behind like that!"
"You were almost killed Lona! Your lucky Daddy was watching."
"Daddy? Really that's what you call him?"
"He made you a full goddess again come on show a little love."
"My dove, I think you should join your mother in the pantry she's driving me insane with a migraine." Hades said walking in.
"Oh I'm sorry love." She leaned in and kissed my mother's pale pinkish cheek. Then got up took Hades hand held in for a minute and placed another kiss on his forehead. Then she walked out.
"So Lona, since your going to be living with us for a few eons I think we should lay down some ground rules. One I don't-"
"Hades, I appreciate you taking care of me. But I'm going to find her. Penelope needs me. Zeus will tear her apart once he finds out what she can do."
"You have to stay here, your in confinement." He smiled at her flashing his white teeth.
"Yes, I know, but as you know, I'm not one to follow the rules am I? Hades you should know." She smiled at him, she got up slowly and walked a bit clumsily over to a doorway.
"It's to dark in here! Get some blinds or something. Have Apollo put in a sun! Seriously you expect a bunch of people who prefer life, to live in a place like this! I'm off to plant some flowers, that garden is hideous. Especially that apple tree. It's ridiculous!" She started to walk as briskly as she could but then Hades thundered at her.
"Stop! What are you doing? What apple tree? No- NO LONA!" I heard shouts. Then my mother's giggle. Then a screech from Hades.
I sat straight up in the clearing my heart pounding. Mom was alive bothering Hades. MOM WAS ALIVE BOTHERING HADES TO DEATH! Wait wasn't Hades dead? Uhh, uncomfortable question… But it didn't matter I was so happy she was alive I could hardly contain myself. I grew my wings and jumped off into the air. I flew straight into the view of a plane coming head on, and fast! I flew upward quickly. I flew right of the plane feeling its hot engines, and it's force. But my wings were stronger and I flew faster. But my muscles were sore from flying so much yesterday. I had to make sure no one saw me so I soared higher, but the plane's turbulents still cutting through my flight pattern. I then started to float and catch my breath it was hard work trying to fight wind patterns.
I continued on for Tibet where Everest was located. I had never in my life been past my home island, let alone had gone to another state the whole experience was new to me. Flying up there made me rethink my whole life. I wasn't just Penelope Rondervin, I was goddess. I could either accept it or abandon the billions of people out there who needed my guidance. I needed to think of them for once besides my self. Percy was a boy I was girl, things were meant to happen. But not with him, someone else was waiting for me. It may be a god, or maybe even a human. Or maybe I was just meant to become a virgin goddess. I wouldn't mind that. It would be hard, but something was bound to happen. I'm a demi-goddess, things always happened.
I flew through the clouds and into the new born sun. Reaching Asia by noon. I coasted off the winds and looked for a high mountain. It wasn't hard how tall was Everest? 30,000? Maybe a little less. I flew closer to the level of the mountains out of the way of mountain climbers who felt particular brave that day. I found Everest within the hour and landed on the rocky surface. I could see the whole world. The distant lands of Russia and China. The blue crisp winter sky was gorgeous as it always was.
I started to look around. As Matheus had said the snow had just fallen. I brushed off a lumpy piece and found just a rock. I tossed it down the mountain top. I then scraped more off and then found a smaller rock. But it was different then the others. Like someone had deliberately glued on lumps of smaller rocks to make it look like a regular old rock. I pulled off the glued rocks and found just a plain old rock. I hurled it against a rock. Then it broke in two revealing it was still an old stinking rock! Ug! This was so frustrating!
I was about to give up when a flicker caught my eye. I turned around and dug in the place where I had seen the flicker. I found a small old box that was weather beaten; it had suffered a few tough years with the water stains. I opened it and found a glittering glistening colorless diamond that sparkled in the midday sunlight. I picked up and studied it, when something heavy hit my head and I fell to the ground. My thoughts twisting together until I was slowly gripping onto consciousness and a face a familiar figure's face appeared and then-