AN: Tell me how to improve! I thrive on reviews! R&R
Punching Bags, Harpies who Love Turkeys, and a few Not-So-Amazing Grace Encounters
Okay. I'll admit. I was caught off guard by how angry Lucky looked. Probably practiced that mean snarl of his.
"What are you looking at, Sweethearts?" the son of Iris drawled, "Can't a guy work in peace?" He hung his gloves up on the rack and glared at us. Didn't bother to fix the punching bag before moping off to do whatever it was he normally did. I turned to Phoenyx, who had a comical look on her face.
"Well," she sighed. "That was . . . interesting."
"Lucky fits that description," I muttered. "Do you think we could fix it?" Wondering about the bag on the ground, I inquired. She chewed on her lip and scrutinized the equipment.
"Most likely. Looks like the chain link just opened too wide." Her hand waved me over. "I'll lift, you close the link with the rest of the chain. I saw some pliers on the ground over there." I searched the grass and my fingers ran over something cold and hard. I pick it up and stuck it in my belt loop. Phoenyx cracked her back and fingers, and I jumped up to grab hold of the beam above my head, swinging my legs up to turn myself rightside up. I gave Phoenyx the thumbs up. She grunted and righted the bag so it stood on its bottom, and heaved upward. Reaching down, I took the end of the chain and placed it through the open end of the link. I strained to pull the metal ring together again. Just when I thought I had it, a familiar voice called out. Phoenyx cursed.
"Nico!" Jason called. My sister dropped the bag and barely managed to avoid being crushed by its weight by stumbling backwards and landing on her butt. Jason appeared smiling. "Hey. Need a little help?" The grin died when his eyes met Phoenyx, who bristled and stood up nervously. I slid down off my perch onto the ground. Phoenyx scowled at Jason.
"Praetor."
"Its actually Pontifex Maximus now," he replied coldly, meeting her steely gaze with his electric blue eyes.
"Demoted?" she snorted.
"Technically, pro-moted."
"Whatever. Sucks to be under you." My eyes flicked nervously back and forth during the exchange and a bad feeling crept over me.
Jason folded his arms. "We thought you died in the explosion." I stepped between the son of Jupiter and my sister.
"How do you know each other?" I asked, watching both of them warily. Pheonyx fingered a throwing knife, her eyes never leaving Jason, whose glasses were annoyingly crooked. For the umpteenth time I had to resist righting them.
"Unfortunately." He cleared his throat. "This person caused quite a ruckus at Camp Jupiter two years ago." His voice was icy. "She was an enemy of Rome, presumed to be dead." I scowled at the ground.
"Well, 'this person' is my sister, and I expect you two will be civil to each other." Phoenyx's eyes flashed angrily.
"I wouldn't expect civility from him," she pointed at Jason. It was his turn to bristle.
His voice was a low growl I had never heard come from him. "Oh, really? You think so? I'll show you civility, you barbarus!" He took the coin from his pocket and flipped it. The coin morphed into a Imperial Gold gladius. Phoenyx brandished her Stygian Iron sword, and summoned a skeleton.
"Stop! Right now!" I ordered, pushing Jason back and dispelling the undead with snap of my fingers. Phoenyx glared at me.
"Nico," she warned, "stay out of this. He's Roman, for the god's sakes! He tried to have me executed!"
"I don't care if he's Roman or Venezuelan, or Egyptian," I snapped, "He's my friend."
"Well, your 'friend' here, wants me dead."
"You committed treacherous acts against the Senate, and attacked a Praetor. Isn't that reason enough?" Jason argued. My voice went dangerously low.
"No one is killing or hurting anyone. I don't care if you've had spats, you'll have to go through me." The Pontifex was the first to relent.
"Fine," he mumbled, returning his sword to coin form. Phoenyx glared at him, but sheathed her blade and crossed her arms.
"Now," I sighed. "What's this all about?" Phoenyx popped her fingers.
"I was passing through California, when I met a few demigods from Camp Jupiter. Against my will I was taken to their headquarters, and detained. I attempted an escape, and accidentally maimed a guard, who died a few hour later. I then was put on trial for murder, but ended up breaking loose and escaping. Unfortunately, a Praetor was in the way of my exit, and I fought her. An archer tried to shoot me-"
"But hit a gas tank and caused a large explosion that killed ten good legionnaires, plus a Senator," Jason finished hotly.
"I myself escaped be the skin on my teeth," added Phoenyx, motioning to her mouth. I rolled my eyes in exasperation.
"This is ridiculous. Can't you just shake and forget about it?" Phoenyx gave a harsh laugh.
"I'd eat a hellhound first," she growled.
"For the god's sakes! Just get over it! It sounds to me like a colossal misunderstanding!" Jason shook his head.
"Oh, we understand each other, all right." I looked at Phoenyx desperately.
"I think you've held this grudge for too long. It's our fatal flaw. Just let it go," I pleaded, and immediately got a song stuck in my head. Ugh. I really really dislike Frozen. Elsa reminds me too much of myself. Okay, that sounded weird. "Jason," I said, turning to the Pontifex, "Come on. It was a misunderstanding. Can't you just start fresh?" His face softened and he readjusted his glasses. Thank the gods. I was soooooooo tempted to help him out and just shove them up his nose where they belong! Phoenyx says I'm OCD.
"I suppose there isn't any other way, except for duking it out," Jason finally said. Phoenyx stared at the ground for a few seconds before looking up and shaking his hand.
"Phoenyx Rubidoux, daughter of Hades."
"Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, Pontifex Maximus." I let go of my breath. I couldn't hold it back anymore. Grrr. Another Frozen reference.
Well, at least I didn't have to drag Piper over here to convince them not to kill each other. "If you don't mind, I'm gonna sit down for a second," I announced, and sat down on a nearby bench.
"Okay. Let's get this thing back up," Phoenyx nodded to the punching bag Lucky had pulverized. She climbed up to the place where I perched earlier to rehook the broken chain link and pull it back together. Jason had an easier time lifting the bag than Phoenyx did. Naturally. He had a whole foot on her. Once it was set, Phoenyx swung down next to me.
"What next?" she asked, as she sat down on the bench beside me. I looked at the new skull watch on my wrist, a gift from Hazel, and the shorter crossbone pointed to ten.
"It's only five till ten, but Jason probably needs help our help moving things for the new altars and shrines."
He nodded. "I could always use some more muscle." I snorted.
"Well, in that case, I'll be about as much help as a salt shaker. I'm going to take a nap."
As soon as I plopped into my bunk, a dream launched.
A small boy was sitting by a crib smiling down at a baby. He didn't seem to notice the yelling from the other room, coming from his parents. I recognized Hades' voice.
"Eleanor Jane!" argued the woman, "I thought we agreed on that, Pluto!" Hades' eyes flashed and he shook his head and straightened his old fashioned suit lapel.
"Now you think I'm Roman again! I am Hades, Carole dear, the Lord of the Dead. Not some petty Roman god of wealth." Carole threw her hands in the air.
"That is beside the point. You promised we would name her Eleanor, and now you wish to name our daughter name could be better than the one we chose?" she demanded.
"Phoenyx," Hades said proudly. "Phoenyx Eleanor Rubidoux."
"It's- it's-hideous!"
"Well I fancy it!"
"To think I once fancied you!" Carole slapped my father across the face. His pale features darkened.
"This is a very dangerous rope you are walking," he warned. My sister's mother looked aghast.
"You would not." Hades' expression softened.
"I suppose you are right. I could not. We must compromise. Eleanor Phoenyx?" Carole pursed her lips and sighed.
"It's not as bad." Hades released all his pent up breath.
"Very well. Eleanor Phoenyx Rubidoux." The two embraced briefly. "Nykolas," Hades called to the little boy in the other room, "we will be leaving shortly."
The scene changed.
"I'm finished counting, Nyk!" a young girl said. At a glance I could tell it was Phoenyx. Or Eleanor. Whatever. The five year old version. The dark cavern around her told me it was the Underworld. Phoenyx scrutinized her surroundings and ran into one of the tunnels leading outward. The way she acted, fearlessly and confidently in some ways paralleled how she was now.
She followed a faint glowing from the end of one stone corridor. The pitter-patter of her bare feet echoed off the walls. Sliding to a stop on the glassy floor, Phoenyx looked back and forth from the fork in the rode. She went right. The one with no torches, and the ominous purple glow radiating from it. Through the dream, I could feel the power pulsating from the end of the tunnel. Phoenyx slowed to a walk and crept around the corner. At the bend revealed a room with my dad standing in the center dressed in long black robes, the faces of captured souls screaming silently. In his outstretched hand was a glowing, dark purple orb. Something about it was eerie. Dare I say, creepy. Hades was chuckling evilly.
"Why, thank you, Lord Dionysus. I will insure you are repaid according to our deal. I shall take Carole Rubidoux as my new immortal wife, and you shall take Persephone as yours." A freakish grin crossed his pale face and he closed his eyes. "I cast this irrevocable curse of madness, only curable by Dionysus himself, upon -" Hades' eyelids flew open as Phoenyx scuffed her foot against the ground.
"Eleanor Phoenyx Rubidoux, what are you-" his face went slack as the glowing curse-orb-thing shot out of his hand and at Phoenyx. She staggered and screamed. Our dad rushed forward and caught her, shaking her shoulders violently.
"Ellie? Phoenyx! Answer me, child!" Her eyes popped open, revealing a purple light glowing from them. Almost at once they faded back to their normal amber color. Relief flooded over Hades' expression and he held Phoenyx close as she cried into his shoulder.
"Papa, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-" Hades looked almost human with sympathy.
"You will be fine, dear." He lifted her small face up from his shoulder gently. "Chin up. Run along, now. Go read a book or put together a puzzle until supper."
"Yes, sir." Phoenyx sniffled, and walked down the way she came.
I'd never seen this side of my father. The closest was in that chapel of bones in Evora. He did actually end up decorating a hall with bones.
"This is very bad," Hades muttered. "The child received the curse. Yet she showed no signs of it affecting her. That must be a good sign, mustn't it?"
The scene faded until I faced a harpy with golden feathers grooming itself.
"TURKEYS!" It screamed. "GIVE ME TURKEYS! WILL HELP YOU FOR TURKEYS! CHEESE IS NOT GOOD FOR HARPIES!"
"What the heck?" I asked it. The image started rumbling.
"Nico, wake up. It's time for dinner- I mean- lunch." The harpy flew overhead, and everything was black. Phoenyx was shaking me awake. "Lunch is in five minutes. We gotta hurry," she insisted, shaking me harder.
"Screw lunch," I mumbled, but with my face smashed against the pillow, it sounded more like 'F'crew wunt.' Somehow, Phoenyx understood me.
"Really? We're having Stromboli." I rolled onto my stomach and covered my head with a blanket.
My voice was muffled. "Don't like Stromboli."
"Hmh. Weird. You're sure you're Italian?" she asked.
"Sono sicuro," I told her. 'I'm sure.'
"Ice cream is for dessert," Phoenyx groped for something to get me moving. Personally, I could skip lunch, but dessert was something I prefered to have consistently.
"What kind? Chocolate?"
"Don't think so. Think it's blackberry." I bolted upright and squinted up at Phoenyx.
"Blackberry?" I couldn't keep the hopefulness out of my voice. She nodded.
"Yep. Now come on. I think we're already late," she said impatiently. I flopped onto the floor and pulled my shoes out from under the bunk. "You sleep like the dead," my sister informed me. "Its very fitting." I snorted, and ended up choking on air. I don't suggest it. "Don't kill yourself, dude. I only just met you," she laughed, but then a depressed look crossed her face. I sighed and pulled myself to my feet.
"Onward," I announced tiredly, "To eat ice cream." My efforts to lighten Phoenyx's mood didn't work.
The dining pavilion was buzzing with chatter as demigods from each table talked and laughed. As we passed the Hermes table, some kid almost spilled his drink on me by accident.
"Watch it," I snapped, glaring at the boy.
"Jeez, Death Boy," he muttered, leaning over to pick his goblet off the ground, "Take it easy." Death Boy? Phoenyx mouthed incredulously. I shook my head passively.
Jason was waiting for us at the Hades table just like he said he would be, two days after Gaea was defeated. I slid onto the bench on the opposite side of the table. Phoenyx did the same. Jason smiled.
"Nico, Phoenyx." I nodded. "Thanks for you help moving the building materials, Phoenyx."
"No prob. I always like a good workout." I could see the struggle in her mind to think of Jason as a friend, not an enemy. I was glad she was making the effort.
I picked at my Stromboli, tearing off chunks and eating them slowly in my usual habit. Apparently, Phoenyx always eats like she'll never eat again. I wondered where all the food went. Maybe those jokes about hollow legs are true. Maybe into muscle? Possibly. If Phoenyx had an armwrestling match with Clarisse La Rue, I wasn't too sure who would win. Her build was fairly average even though she was only as tall as Hazel,but way ripped. Not gross ripped like bodybuilders or anything, but like a gym rat. Huh. That's a strange thought. A daughter of Hades a gym rat.
My train of thought was interrupted by another familiar(but this one was not one I liked) face. A Grace face. Not Jason, either. The Hunters of Artemis were just sitting down at their honorary table, and Thalia was chatting with Chiron. I scowled. Phoenyx stiffened and fingered a throwing knife in it's sheath. Jason, seeing our looks, turned around, and(unlike us) broke into a grin. He stood up and walked over to his sister.
"Little brother!" Thalia playfully rumpled Jason's neatly combed hair.
"Hey. What's up? What brings you here?" The son of Jupiter asked.
"A little deer told me a special new camp showed up, and Capture the Flag was on. How could I miss a chance to kick some mortal demigod butt? How many times have the Hunters won? 56? 57? So who is this fresh blood?" Jason looked at Phoenyx and Thalia's cheerful smile fell.
"Really? Of all people? That one?" I bristled.
" 'Really?' what? Do you have a problem with my sister? Quit with the riddles, Grace," I snapped, and Thalia winced.
"Don't call me by that name," she growled. "Rubidoux here is being hunted. By us." Phoenyx stood up and snarled, her normally emotionless eyes filled with torment and anger.
"Is there anywhere I go were I don't find enemies?"
Thalia's expression hardened. "Maybe you wouldn't have so many enemies if you stayed out of trouble."
"Maybe I should leave," Phoenyx retorted.
"Maybe you should." My sister slammed her fist into the table and an uncomfortable silence settled over the dining pavilion.
"I think I will!" Phoenyx spat on the ground and pushed past Thalia to the Hades Cabin.
"Phoenyx!" I called after her. She didn't stop, but kept storming toward the building. I sprinted after her and grabbed her by the shoulder as she closed the door behind her. Her body shook with anger, and her eyes were wet."Phoenyx, where are you going?" I demanded.
"I'm leaving."