A/N: I am terribly sorry I haven't updated in over a six months. There were some complications with my computer, and life was, well, life. In other words, things were hectic, and still are, but I will make an attempt to post more often.
Yours truly,
–Nykolas
We had gathered around the Ping-Pong table in the rec room, as soon as Hale could walk. It wasn't all the cabin leaders, just me, Phoenyx, Delgado, Will, Thalia, Jason and Piper. Percy and Annabeth had gone on a date on Governor's Island, to check out some architecture stuff, and to investigate the huge storm brewing over New York. Chiron sat in his wheelchair at the head/foot of the table, a mug with the words "Number One Centaur" filled with steaming hot coffee in hand.
"Thank you all for coming," he said, sipping his drink. "As I understand it, Phoenyx has something urgent to share." My sister swallowed and pulled her hands out from under the table, revealing the text of the curse on the back of her hand.
Your warning is the meeting of another
Thy saving grace is the blood of a brother
Else Hades' Heron will fall and the Ghost King smother
As dust-to-dust, both will fade to the nether
A sharp inhalation spread around the room as each person present read the Greek words. "Di Immortales," Jason cursed under his breath. "A prophecy."
"A curse," Hale corrected, his regal face a mask of worry. "But whose?"
"Mine," said Phoenyx gravely. She slipped her hand into mine, and I felt her shaking. I squeezed her hand reassuringly. The other one gripped the edge of the table till the knuckles were paper white. "And if we don't find a way to break the curse, both Nico and I will die."
"So you're sure you are Hades' Heron?" asked Piper, playing nervously with the feather in her braid.
"In legend," began Chiron, sipping his coffee, "The Phoenix was a heron. And this Phoenix happens to be the daughter of Hades."
"But," said Thalia, leaning back in her chair and putting her boots on the table, "what I fail to see is how this affects me and the Hunters, or why I'm even listening."
My face got hot. "My sister Bianca was part of the Hunt, she died defending part of it, namely, you," I growled, "If it were me, I would honor that and protect her family." She considered this and shrugged agreement.
"But how are we supposed to break this thing? Is there, like, some magic words or something?" Piper said, fidgeting in her seat. Chiron sighed.
"It's not that simple. Usually the gods will give the cursed hero a quest, for something they want," the ancient centaur explained.
"But there's nothing mentioning a god or goddess, or even a quest," said Will, frustration evident.
"If . . . Nico and Phoenyx did die, they would both go to Elysium, right?" asked Delgado, itching underneath the bandage on his forearm, an anxious expression on his face. Phoenyx's eyes darkened, and she looked away.
"Nico would," she said softly. " He is a hero. I wouldn't. My place would be the Fields of Punishment."
"Why do you think that?" I demanded quickly, as my head snapped up.
"I've killed too many innocent people. Demigods . . . mortals . . . over fifty died at my hands," Phoenyx said, and her voice caught. Her breathing was shallow and irregular, like she was having a panic attack.
A frustrated silence hung around us as the reality of another prophecy was sinking in. I jumped when I heard footsteps behind me. But what I saw behind me was even more startling; Rachel Dare, shrouded by green mist stood, her eyes glowing.
"The prophecy is not complete," she said, in an eerie tri-tonal voice.
"Your warning is the meeting of another
Thy saving grace is the blood of a brother
In dead life of a Victory lies the cure
His life from yours saves maybe for sure
"Victorious King, or Victorious Knight
You must see by the sound and not by the sight
Life in Death is not what it may seem
The forming code of his, it lies in your heme
"Face the Fates like a Spartan, face what you dread
Or you can never wash the blood off your head
Your anguish, your guilt, they both fan the flame
Of the madness inside you that death alone with tame
"In order to live, Phoenyx Rubidoux must die
To spread her wings and finally fly
Else Hades' Heron will fail and the Ghost King smother
As dust-to-dust, both will fade to the nether"
The Oracle collapsed on the ground, trembling. Jason and Will rushed to her side, and lifted her onto a nearby sofa. Will sent Piper for a damp cloth and dabbed it against Rachel's forehead. Her eyes fluttered open, wide with alarm. "I –What? What happened? I was talking to them, and suddenly I went blank," she mumbled disorentedly.
"You gave us a prophecy, I said gravely.
"A really long one," Will added. Rachel frowned.
"I actually . . . think I remember it."
"No . . . no, no, no, not now. No," pleaded Phoenyx, and I turned around. She was shaking like a leaf, clutching her head in her hands, rocking back and forth on the edge of her chair.
"Phoenyx," Hale said urgently, rushing to her side, "What's wrong? His eyebrows shot up as he laid a hand on her shoulder. "A fit of –"
"Some one get some rope!" Phoenyx ordered, her voice shaky and shrill. "Quickly! Please!"
"Why, Phoenyx?" I demanded, "What the Hades is going on?"
"Get away!" she commanded, and backed into the wall.
"Phoenyx–" Hale implored. Phoenyx, sinking to her knees, let out a gut-wrenching scream, writhing. I reflexively covered my ears, and barely evaded being tackled. Phoenyx scrambled to her feet and launched herself at Thalia, her eyes flashing a deep purple. My mind flashed back to the dream I had a few days ago. When the curse-orb had flown at Phoenyx.
She was insane.
Phoenyx's roar woke me out of my momentary daze, just in time to see my sister's fist connect with Thalia's jaw. The Hunter grunted and dropped onto the ground like a sandbag. Chiron popped out of his wheelchair and galloped off to find Dionysus. Delgado chanted in Latin, green Mist swirling around him, but he noise of his spell casting was overpowered by Phoenyx's mad howls. Phoenyx turned to Jason and lunged, drawing a throwing knife and slicing, barely missing him each time by a hairsbreadth. Will dove out of the way, standing over the stunned Oracle protectively. Piper's charmspeak cut through the air like a hot knife in butter.
"Stop!" she ordered. "Stop attacking everyone!" Phoenyx whipped around and knocked her down with a spinning heel kick to the ribcage, and threw her elbow at Jason's face. He only just brought his hands up in time to shield his head from the rain of blows, varying from body shots and headshots. Somewhere, the knife clattered to the floor. I jumped to my feet and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her away from the son of Jupiter. Her elbow caught me above the cheek, and I stumbled. She landed a front kick in my stomach, knocking the wind out of me, and sending me tumbling onto the ground. Phoenyx was on me in an instant, clamping her vice-like hands around my neck like a constrictor. My hands flew to my throat, and I desperately tried to pry her hands off me. Wordless snarls and guttural noises came from the back of her throat as she throttled me.
Jason latched his arms under hers and yanked hard backward. Both of Phoenyx's hands released on my windpipe, and I gasped. She head-butted Jason, drew another knife, and slashed him across the chest, and one side of the wound bled extensively. I scooted away from my sister as she advanced, and pounced on me like a leopard. One hand went to my throat again, the other poised with the knife above my head. Phoenyx stabbed down at my head. I managed to move at the last second and only get my ear cut. Another knife appeared in her hand, and she aimed for my head once more. I grabbed her by the wrist and tried to stop the blade from coming down, but my strength was fading fast. The lack of oxygen, weight and gravity disadvantages were taking its toll on me. My arm shook as the point of the knife inched closer and closer toward my forehead, till a small sharp pain sprouted on it. I pushed my hips up from my legs, and bucked Phoenyx off. Gasping and panting, I dragged myself under the Ping-Pong table, away from where Jason and Phoenyx were now brawling. A note of finality sounded in Delgado's spell, and Phoenyx's legs buckled under her, and her arms were pinned to her side. Green rope was wrapped around her like glowing vines, restraining her from moving. The sound of running feet echoed on the wooden planked floor, and two Demigods and Chiron rushed in.
"There!" shouted Cole, pointing to Phoenyx. Maddie knelt at her side and touched a hand to Phoenyx's forehead, and yelped. Phoenyx snarled at her, straining against the ropes
"Hurry," grunted Hale, beads of sweat collecting on his face.
"But –" stuttered Maddie, "That's never happened before. I only took a glance–"
"Come on!" urged Cole. Maddie sighed and placed her hand on Phoenyx's head once more, her eyes closing in concentration. Slowly, the purple light began to drain out of her eyes, and she stopped thrashing. Her unfocused eyes met mine, filled with sorrow and guilt.
"I'm sorry," she whispered hoarsely, and then her head fell back onto the ground.
…
I woke up in the infirmary about an hour later. Will had treated the gash on my head with a simple bandage and ointment, and the bruising on my neck with a butt-load of ice. I felt better physically, but the pain I felt for Phoenyx didn't lessen. Gods. How could she live like this for so long? I realized that when we touched in the Shadow Layer, she had been holding back so much. I shuddered. Most people thought I was the most miserable demigod ever. But Phoenyx took heartbreak to a whole other level. It wasn't right.
Will smiled as he passed by the cot I was in. "Hey. How are you?" he asked, leaning on the nightstand beside the bed.
"I'm okay," I shrugged. "How are Jason and Phoenyx and the others?"
"Phoenyx is just exhausted, and angry, mostly at herself. Jason has a fairly shallow cut in his left pectoral half an inch into the muscle, but some Nectar and Ambrosia should fix it up nicely. Piper has a stomachache, Thalia has a mild concussion, Hale passed out from strain, but all around, no major injuries," he replied cheerfully.
"That's a first," I said. Will chuckled. I swung my feet off the side of the cot and stepped down. I felt decent, considering I'd nearly been throttled less than ninety minutes ago.
"Phoenyx is in your guys' cabin. But be back in the rec room by three o'clock. We're resuming the meeting then.
"Alright. Thanks," I replied, and headed into Cabin 13. Phoenyx was sitting on her bunk with her legs hugged up to her chest, her chin resting on her knees. She looked up when I came in, and a look of guilt crossed her face. I sat down next to her and kicked my boots off.
"What exactly happened earlier?" I asked, but I was confident I knew the answer. Phoenyx sighed.
"I have these fits of madness frequently. I received a curse when I was five, and ever since . . . I get them every twelve days, if I'm lucky. I'm often not." I didn't reply for about a minute.
"Is your real name Eleanor?" I glanced up at her to see her reaction. Her face darkened, and her eyes were haunted.
"Where did you hear that name?" she demanded quietly, and her eyebrows drew together in suspicion.
"In a dream," I replied, feeling uncomfortable. "A dream that showed me part of your past."
"Morpheus," Phoenyx said angrily, "Stupid god of dreams is always meddling with me. I hate him." The scowl faded off her face into a sorrowful expression. "Eleanor was my first name. I changed it to Phoenyx after my mother killed herself. She was the only one who called me Ellie on a regular basis. I didn't want to think about her death, because she went to Asphodel. So I changed my name." I gave no reply, after finding nothing to say. "What exactly did the dream show you?"
I described the scenes I saw, with Hades and Phoenyx's mother arguing, and the scene with the curse orb, and watching the death of her siblings.
"How do you live with it?" I said bitterly.
"Honestly," Phoenyx said, in a small voice, "I don't. My brain can't process the pain. So it shuts down, and that is part of the reason why I'm insane."
"But why do you choose to go on?" I looked deep into her eyes; bottomless orbs filled with history: tragedy and happiness, rimmed by dark irises the color of pale liquid amber. Phoenyx met my gaze with utter defeat.
"I didn't choose to. Nykolas made me swear to hold on. To hold on at least long enough till I had earned Elysium. Trust me," she laughed mirthlessly, "if I had a real choice, I'd be dead. I'd figure something out last second and go to Asphodel."
"Do you truly want to die?" I asked, my voice catching.
"No," Phoenyx sighed, "I suppose I just wish things were different. That I hadn't killed my siblings. That my mother didn't die. That Nyk didn't die. That I actually knew what life was about. I lived in the Underworld for ten years. Even when I was allowed out, my life consisted of trying to avoid being killed by monsters, and figuring out what my next meal would be. But in some ways, life was simpler back then."