A/N:Final chapter of this story...enjoy :)
Chapter 10: Fire and Water
Leo's POV:
Curiosity always seems to get the better of me. Like, one minute I was stood with everyone...the next I was face-to-face with the cup.
I ignored the groans behind me.
I was somehow entranced at how the flames flickered so freely in the water.
"Fine then." Someone sounded annoyed, but everyone seemed to follow them anyway.
The cup was surrounded by people, when I realised something was odd.
The dim light from the corridor had faded. I was alert suddenly, away from my trance.
"Congrats, Leo." Annabeth snapped.
"Well done bro." Jacob looked around. I followed his gaze. The walls seemed narrower, and more sheer. The floor was black. The ceiling seemed to be invisible. It was colder. Everything smelt strange.
"What's going on now?" Melody asked.
A laugh echoed through the room.
"I am, dearies." The woman who stepped out of the shadows could have been twenty or fifty. It was hard to tell if her hair was black or silver. Her face was pale and her features sharp. One eye was gold, and the other blood red.
"And you are...?" Alex asked, indicating a reply.
"Hecate. Goddess of Magic." She laughed again, an eerie, evil laugh, tossing her hair.
"What do you want?" Percy said.
"Oh, it's you. The one who killed my empousai a while back." She snarled these words. Percy just glared at her.
"Yeah, well answer me, what do you want?" He clicked his pen, then the bronze blade appeared to glow in the light.
"Simples. My minions-I'm not talking about those yellow things by the way-are bringing what I need. Basically, I need a type of blood mixed into this. Then I'll use all of you to help me. The potion after this blood will be strong-if you all help me make it into an atomic bomb, which you will do, Olympus will explode. There. Job done." She laughed again.
"What blood?" Percy continued glaring.
"Oh, you know, just a half-dryad." Someone stumbled-no, was pushed-out of the shadows. In the faint light, I recognised Darius. So that's what he wasn't telling us. His wrists were bound, but I saw a glint under his sleeve. He could escape, alright.
"You're crazy." Alex said.
Hecate turned on her. Darius winked at Larka as he cut his bonds.
Then he launched himself onto Hecate's back, driving the blade into her throat.
She let out a screech, then the whole room began to spiral, as if there was a hurricane.
Darius' POV:
I woke up, disorientated. We were in a dusty room. It reminded me of an attic. Sort of.
I saw somebody different in a corner. Her hair was literally on fire. She had a bronze leg, and that of a donkey.
An empousai.
Percy drew his sword. However, when she turned to face us, her eyes were purple, not red.
"Greetings. I'd suggest you put that thing away, as I don't mean any harm but if I'm hurt, I will fight back." Percy reluctantly put Riptide away, his hand still in his pocket, probably still holding the pen.
"It appears half dryad blood mixed with fire and water doesn't only destroy olympus." She remarked. "As for my creator, she'll be back in a few millenia." She turned to me. "You must have grazed yourself whilst escaping. Your blood went into the water. The room reacted, so here you are, in the labyrinth again."
"O-kay." I replied.
She sighed. "Well, I'm probably going to get killed. May I ask a favour?" She looked at Percy. He nodded.
"Can you stab me, here." She pointed at her hand. "Right through. It'll end me painlessly."
He rose, clicking the pen. Riptide elongated again. She held out her hand. He averted his eyes as the sword was impaled through her hand.
She froze, then disappeared, leaving the scent of fire behind.
I looked at Larka. She was already looking at me.
"Why hide the dryadness?"
I shrugged. "Guess some people might have laughed, comparing it to godlyness."
"I think it's special." She replied. We found ourselves nose to nose. Laughter echoed through the room.
"Snog, snog." Melody began to chant. Percy, Jacob and Leo joined her.
So we did.
Melody's POV:
Once they'd finished, everyone exchanged glances.
How would we leave?
But then, the door opened. I don't know if I was relieved or not when Clarisse stepped in, flanked by George and Dan. An unscathed George and Dan.
"There was a son of Zeus down there. No need to worry about me." Dan smirked. I felt colour rise to my cheeks.
"Well, I guess I'll have to take you back in the chariot." Clarisse rolled her eyes, touching the wall.
So here we are. On a flying war chariot, on the way back to Camp. I'm in between George and Dan. Darius and Larka are snogging (again) in the back. On film by Leo, to go on YouTube.
Well, this had been an eventful Summer.
