Daughter of Hera
A/N: So my lovelies, not much left now! One more chapter, an epilogue and we're done! So, thank you for all who've been with me since this little project started, and I hope you continue enjoying everything I write in the future. I only wish that my other story: I Run To You would be as appreciated. Do check it out, all right? Thanks! Now for some responses-
The Invisible Pretender: Ha, I'm glad you enjoyed this but don't worry, I won't have her fall for Nico too, I have too much on my plate anyways!
ButterLover2345: Thank you! And I'd never forget to be awesome, it's built in!
JLover97: I updated!
WiseChic: Thank you for telling me that! I hope you enjoy this one!
ckies: THANK YOU!
KabraPotterJackson: Thank you for being such a staunch supporter and a regular reviewer!
Disclaimer: Been a while since I did this so, no I don't own it… sadly enough…
The giant grinned grotesquely and boomed, "Welcome to your doom demigods. I am Poryphyrion, King of the Giants!"
"King of the Giants? Isn't that supposed to be Polybotes?" Jayda blurted out and caused Annabeth to face-palm. Porphyrion didn't seem to notice and continued, "Bah! Polybotes is always going around saying he's the King. I did suspect that Mother liked him best." He sniffed indignantly. "But I'll show him, I'll bring over one of the most powerful demigods of this century over to my side. Then we'll see." He grinned, showing off his rotting teeth.
"So, my dears, I suppose you want to know how I managed to do it, don't you."
"Do what?"
"Get them over to my side! The Hyperboreans? You know, big blue people, usually neutral in wars, live beyond the Riphean Mountains and behind the abode of Boreas? No? Ah well…" Something clicked in Jayda's mind. She had seen the Hyperboreans outside, looking utterly miserable as they polished armor and carved swords and spears out of ice. The child of love must travel north… Neither by foot nor ship… Find the land of never-dying life… Of the people who live far from strife… Beyond the abode of wind of north… Along the way, must face danger and ice… Must face the challenge with companions two… Retrieve what was stolen…Give back what was rightfully of the sea.
She'd flown all the way here, she'd found Hyperboreas, where these Hyperboreans lived, who were apparently the immortal and peace-loving people Porphyrion had brought over to his side. They lived beyond the Riphean Mountains and the abode of Boreas, the North wind; she'd definitely faced danger and ice. What was stolen that she had to return to the sea? That was the only missing piece of the puzzle.
Her thoughts were brought to a close as she, Nico and Annabeth were bound together by their wrists. "My dear, I have a proposition for you. Join me and I will make you queen of heroes. Fight against me and you shall be burnt to ashes. Consider well, I am being generous. You could say I used to have a… thing for your mother." She was filled with revulsion as he leered at her. "I'd rather die than join you," she spat out and he shrugged. "Suit yourself."
They were dragged along to a chamber within the tent, dark except for a ray of light leaking in through a crack. Stripped of their weapons, except for Jayda's as they looked completely ordinary, they were
thrown in and the curtains were shut and sentries posted outside. "Jayda?" a raspy voice probed. She whirled around to see Jeff crawling towards her, his clothes tattered, bruises blooming on every visible surface, and a broken arm cradled with the other. "Gods, Jeff, did they do this to you?" she ranted and fumed with anger. He coughed and she saw a nasty slash across his chest, which was infected.
"Doesn't matter… you have to get out of here. There are ways, I saw them. There's a forest of ice boulders just north of here. You can escape and hide there."
"What do you mean 'you'? You're coming too." She saw his intention in his eyes. "Jeff no, you can't be seriously thinking that!"
"Look at me Jayda! I probably won't survive all the way back to Camp! This cut is infected badly and every second I can feel the pain spreading in my body!"
Jayda looked close to tears. "N-No, th-this c-can't be h-happening! Y-You c-can't b-be dying!" Jeff let her cry on his shoulder and both Annabeth and Nico looked plain uncomfortable. Her cries reduced to sobs gradually and she fell asleep.
It seemed like minutes later that she woke up from yet another dream. Another dream about him, Percy, only this time Leo and Jeff had been there as well with looks of betrayal on their faces as she kissed Percy. She shook her head. No way would Percy ever be interested in her when he had Annabeth. But… he'd been the one making advances so was it possible? Then she thought of her predicament. She was glad Kyra had managed to escape.
She looked over at everybody else. They were all asleep as she suspected, Nico mumbling something indecipherable. She sighed. They needed to get out of here and for that. She needed to complete the goddamn quest. What could be of the sea? Then dread pooled in her stomach. Of the sea- that was Poseidon. What could be so important to him? Only one thing: his trident. Oh fuck.
(Line break)-
She woke up again to the sound of shuffling. An empousa shuffled in. "Master wants to see you." She dragged them up and pushed them out, even Jeff who was in no condition to walk. They entered the same room as yesterday. "Good morning demigods! Today, you die! Fun, isn't it?" Porphyrion said gleefully. "Yeah, totally. I'm just dying with anticipation." Nico drawled out, sounding a lot like Hades.
Jayda's eyes widened in panic. She sent a signal to Annabeth: bust out now. She nodded and they counted down together. Three, two, one… "Charge!" yelled Jayda and slammed the butt of her sword into the demigod who was holding her back, making him crumple to the ground. Annabeth and Nico fought back to back, cutting through the monsters around them, Celestial Bronze and Stygian Iron whirling through the air. Jayda activated her sword, daggers and shield, and rendered herself invisible. She snuck out Jeff, the other two following and all of them slicing through monsters. The, she saw it: the trident, glowing and giving off a powerful aura. She took it and as soon as she touched it, she felt like she had the entire majestic, untamed ocean at her control. It was exhilarating.
A growl got her attention. Kyra jumped over the trench and into the fray, snarling and looking like vengeance personified. She tore through the ranks of monsters, guarding the demigods and running after them.
They ran towards the ice boulders and hid in between. They evaded the monsters running after them and hid among the boulders, hunched down on their knees, not making a sound.
A rumbling sound was heard. Annabeth and Nico gasped and scrambled back but the other two were too late. A huge block of ice fell downwards and Jayda froze like a deer caught in headlights. Jeff shoved her to the side and disappeared under the mass of snow. Jayda seemed to gather her wits. "NO!" she shouted and began digging through the snow. "No, no, no, no… this can't be happening…" Her eyes filled with tears as she finally caught sight of him, eyes closed and breathing shallow. He coughed and his eyelids opened a little. "Jayda?" he whispered. "Jeff, I'm here, wait a minute, Annabeth has some ambrosia and nectar. Annabeth!"
He gripped her hand weakly. "No, Jay, this is what was supposed to happen. You can't heal me now. Please, let me go."
Nico looked over with a pained look on his face. "Jayda, I can feel him passing over. Let him go, you're anchoring him here and prolonging his misery. Make his last moments easy." She sobbed wildly, wondering why this was happening. She gave Jeff a sweet, sad smile. "Jeff, I'll never forget you. Don't you dare get reborn okay? I'll come for you someday. I swear." He returned a smile full of pain, sadness and love. "They say that at death, all things become clear. I know one thing for sure now. I love you…" He closed his eyes and breathed for the last time.
Jayda lost it. She shouted and screamed and yelled, kicking and crying. Annabeth and Nico left her alone and IM-ed the Camp, knowing this had to happen. Finally, Kyra stepped in. Jayda, he lived a good life; honor his memory by fighting against Gaea. Crying won't help, you need to be brave. If not for everybody else, then for him.
That doesn't make it any easier Kyra. She buried her face in Kyra's fur, wetting it with her tears. She managed to collect herself soon and got up. "Come on, let's go. I don't want to stay here any longer than absolutely necessary." They walked towards the Pegasi and took off silently, Nico flying on Porkpie. For days, they travelled over land and water as the daughter of Hera grieved for her fallen love.
A/N: You don't hate me do you? Please don't, I'm still crying. It was necessary. Review please…