-Addie-
I knew what she was doing. She was giving me an awful choice. Of course, she knew I would ask for the doors, but then that left my poison situation to them. They would do it, and I was worried about what task she would want to be done.
"What is the task?"
"I just want some water. However, I cannot drink from the Cocytus. You will have to get some from the urns of the Danaids." I glared at her, and she just smirked serenely back.
"Give us just a moment, my lady."
She shrugged her shoulders and started examining her nails. I turned towards Percy and Annabeth, dragging them a little farther away.
"You are not doing it," I said to them.
"And why not?" Percy said, crossing his arms across his chest.
"Because doesn't this seem a little too easy to you? When something seems too easy, that is because it is," I sighed.
"Addie is right," Annabeth said. I nodded my head earnestly, but she looked a little guilty. "That does not change my mind. I still want to do it. I want to help you, Addie."
I looked at both of them, trying to stare them down. Urban said I have this immortal thing about me: When I get angry or need something done, I get the same stern expression the gods always seem to give. I tried it on both of them, but they both just looked determinedly back at me.
"There is nothing I can say to stop the two of you, is there?"
They both shook their heads no, and I sighed in frustration.
"Fine, but the minute it gets hairy, we are out of here, you understand me? Cure or not!"
"Understood," Annabeth amended.
I turned back towards Phoebe. There was a plotting look in her eyes. She had us right where she wanted us.
"Please, tell me the words that created the doors of death, the words that will close them. This is what I request as my favor, Lady of Mystery." She examined me for a moment like I was an experiment in a test tube for her.
"Thánatos gia ti zoí," she muttered offhandedly. "Now for your task, demigods. Thýella, come stand by me, we have a lot to discuss."
Percy and Annabeth walked towards the Danaids, both of them leaving their weapons at their sides. I was nervous for them. They stopped to talk to one of them, and she immediately blew them off.
"Growing to care for more mortals, Euadne? Is that smart, with your reputation?"
She patted the trunk beside her, and I sat down, not wanting to offend her.
"If you make a move to hurt them, I will have to act," I warned her. She put her arm around me, and I felt the necklace flutter against my chest. Her other hand grazed my cheek, but I kept my eyes on the two of them. Percy and Annabeth had split up, each of them asking different girls.
"I have no intention on hurting them. I just wanted time to talk to you. That necklace… it belonged to my daughter, no?"
I nodded my head, and her fingers grabbed my chin, turning my head towards her.
"Who gave it to you?"
"Apollo," I whispered.
"Ah, my dear grandson. He is not one to meddle, but he seems awfully interested in you," she noted with humor.
"When you have been around the gods as long as I have, friendships form."
"Like the one you have with Ares?"
Shame flooded my cheeks, and I turned away. It had been a very long time since Ares had touched me. Her words brought memories to the surface, memories I tried so desperately to forget. I wish the Lethe could erase specific memories instead of your whole mind.
"That is not friendship. I'm nothing more than a stupid girl to do what he wishes with, nothing more," I said blankly back to her.
"Hmm," she murmured stroking my hair. She pulled it from its tie and ran her fingers through my hair, letting it fall down around my face. She stood up and walked around me so that she was now behind me. Percy had motioned Annabeth over, and they were talking to one of the Danaids. I could feel my hair cleaning itself, and then Phoebe began to braid it again.
"I want to learn your mystery, Thýella. Immortals are attracted to you, like a moth to a flame. It is very interesting what you bring out in them. What do you really think about the gods? They cannot hear you down here; no repercussions will happen to you."
I thought about that for a minute as I watched Percy and Annabeth. Annabeth whispered into Percy's ear, and he nodded his head. He motioned to the girl to try and pour into the tub again. This time, when she did, no water spilled out of the bottom. She clapped her hand in delight, her other sisters starting to notice.
"I do not trust most of them, but for a few, I value their friendship. They have tried to make amends, to improve my situation."
"Why do you think they do that?"
"Out of pity," I said without thinking. But my voice sounded so sad and forlorn.
"Oh no, daughter of Poseidon. They actually do care, surprisingly. The reason they gods act the way they do is mostly out of guilt."
The water in the tub was starting to fill, and I could see the strain increase on Percy. He was managing and taking deep, even breaths. Water in Tartarus was a lot harder to control than water on earth. Annabeth was motioning to the girl they first talked to.
I was in a state of surprise. Why would they feel guilty? Was it because they never stopped Ares? Because they were too harsh with their punishment?
"The poison is a ploy by my mother. She thinks she understands you, but it is apparent to me that she does not. Even if it kills you, you will not go to her. You are a very selfless person. The poison is a rare type, and Arachne's was heightened by my mother," she said as she put the tie back into my hair. She placed her hands on my shoulders, now watching Percy and Annabeth with me. "It will slowly kill you, and your powers will continue to fade. If you wish to make it out of here alive, I have a proposition for you."
"And what is that?" I asked carefully.
"I can heal you, mostly. It will put your aliment back at the time just after you got bit. But be warned, you will deteriorate faster. More time comes at a price."
"And what's that? I know you will not give it to me for free."
She thought about that for a minute. I could feel her fingers thrumming on my shoulders. Annabeth had borrowed the urn, bringing it to Phoebe.
"Here," she said breathlessly. Phoebe walked back around me, took the urn in her hands and drank deeply. She handed it back to Annabeth, a smile on her face.
"Go give it back to the Danaid, and tell your boyfriend to come back over here."
Annabeth did as she was told, and then she grabbed Percy, dragging him towards us. The tub started leaking again, small sprays. The danaids started filling it up faster, trying to get it to the top.
Phoebe turned towards us, mirth in her eyes.
"The poison can only be cured in two ways. One, by the one who cast it, which is Gaia herself. You have already said that you will not do that. The only other way is by a god of healing. This has to be a close friend, someone who knows you quite well. See the poison feeds off of your deepest fears. They have to know what they are; you cannot tell them. Only with that knowledge will that person be able to heal you."
That sneaky, traitorous bitch.
I was dead, and she just confirmed it. I guess the prophecy was going to be true. What god would know enough, pay attention enough to me to know what my deepest fears were? Hell, even I did not know what my deepest fears were! It would not even matter unless I got out of here alive. Apollo was the only one I could think of, and I knew he would not know my deepest fears.
Despair rocked me, and it took all I could not to just give up. Why were the fates so cruel to me? Why did my luck suck so badly?
Percy and Annabeth were both looking at me. The Danaids were starting to groan and complain behind us, but I was having trouble hearing them. My own heartbeat was in my ears. I thought hope was supposed to cling?
She held out a vile in her hand, which was palm up.
"I do not want anything for it, Euadne. I just want to solve your mystery. I'm anxious to see what you will choose."
I did not have a choice.
I was going to die either way.
And I was going to take Gaia down with me if I could.
"Uh, Addie?"
I turned towards Percy, and I could see now that the tub was leaking at its normal rate. The Danaids were staring at it in horror, their ghostly wails filling the cavern.
I turned back towards Phoebe, the ghost of a grin on her face. I snatched the vile from her, and I drained the contents.
If I was going to help them, I needed to be there to do it.
The Danaids were now yelling at Percy, and he backed up into me.
"Addie, I think we need to go," he shouted anxiously.
"Your brother is right, Euadne. And taking the potion was a wise choice."
I grabbed their hands, and we jumped over the creek, running in the opposite direction. I felt good, in fact, better than good. I felt amazing! But I felt like a drag racer. The gas would quickly work its way out of me, just like she said.
I felt her touch my mind and her voice echoed in it as we ran from the grotto.
You chose exactly as I thought you would.