Ch41
"Bianca! Bianca! Wake up Bianca!"
Bianca's vision swirled as she slowly came back to consciousness. She let out a moan as she slowly opened her eyes and was met by her brother Nico who was grinning widely at her.
Her brother's wide grin and crazed eyes startled her. "Ah!" She tried to move only to find that she was tied up.
"I'm glad you're awake," Nico said cheerily.
"Nico let me go!' She said her heart racing as she looked around the room. They were in some fancy ornate room lit by torches while up ahead on a platform was a gold sarcophagus. Her body froze as she looked up at her brother's derranged smile. "Please Nico don't do this."
"Don't worry once we get rid of the brainwashing we'll set you free," Nico said firmly. Her brother paused and then scratched his head. "Though I don't know how to do it." Nico turned to the sarcophagus and bowed reverently. "Lord Kronos how do we get rid of the brainwashing?"
Kronos? Her blood ran cold as a powerful presence reverberated throughout the room and made her blood run cold. "Nico please-" She was cut off by the pressure of the titan lord, his very aura was washed over her freezing her like a dear in the headlights.
"Artemis' protection will be void if she knows the love of a man," Kronos said calmly from the coffin his voice reverberated throughout the room and sent a shiver down her spine.
Her brother frowned. "But she loves me right? That must count!"
Kronos chuckled. "She must know a more intimate type of love. Luke get in here!"
A side door opened and Luke Castellan entered. She had heard of him but seeing him up close was different. For one he looked tired and half scared while being much more gaunt than she would have imagined.
"What is it my lord?" The son of Hermes muttered with a polite bow.
"Nico has been very helpful to us," Kronos said. "Let us help him remove Artemis' protection. Give her a lover's kiss!"
Her eyes widened. "No please no!" She wasn't ready for this let alone with a guy as old as Luke.
The son of Hermes' face paled. "A-Are you sure my lord?"
Nico's eyes widened. "Wait Luke is going to kiss Bianca?" He sounded both confused and shocked.
"Only by doing so will Artemis' control over her be undone," Kronos said soothingly. "You've come this far Nico di Angelo, all we have to do is undo the control she has over her."
Nico looked to the ground and nodded. "O-Ok. If it can help get rid of their brainwashing then good."
"No please!" She shouted as she struggled to no avail.
"Luke save this poor girl from the hands of the gods," Kronos ordered.
She tried to struggle but her bindings kept her in place as the son of Hermes approached her and knelt down. His gaze was soft and she could detect both pity and fear in them. "Please no!" She screamed as he leaned in closer.
She tried to resist and fight back Luke grabbed her firmly and pressed his lips against hers. She let out a muffled cry as tears fell down her face. A silver glow enveloped her before breaking into a hundred pieces. Lady Artemis I'm sorry. Tears fell down her face as she felt the goddess' protection go away, in its place was a sick disgusting feeling as Luke's tongue invaded her mouth.
Through her teary eyes she saw Nico who watched with a shocked look on his face. It may have been her imagination but he looked hurt and dare she say betrayed. Yet strangely she felt his anger directed at her for whatever reason. Luke pulled away and let her fall to the ground. A sense of disgust washed over her as tears fell down her face.
"There it is gone," Kronos said calmly. "The goddess' control over her is gone. It may take time for her to come to her senses but it shall come. I can be very persuasive."
"Thank you my lord," Nico said softly as he avoided Luke's gaze.
"Luke see to the preparation of our forces," Kronos declared. "It appears we must strike on land and the sea to take out the camp."
Luke bowed. "Yes sir." If the son of Hermes felt any remorse for what he did he did not show. He exited the room while her brother at him longingly, if Nico were expecting him to look back he didn't.
"I held up my end of the bargain Nico di Angelo," Kronos said. "I expect the same from you."
Nico looked at the sarcophagus and nodded. "I will sir. Bianca and I will both swear our loyalty to you." With that the Titan Lord's presence retreated back into the sarcophagus and it was just her and Nico.
Her eyes widened. Oh gods. I can't die here. She took deep breath as she thought of all her training in the hunt. She'd have to play along. Letting out a moan she forced the revulsion down inside of her. "N-Nico."
"Bianca? Are you better? Please tell me you are better!" Nico said his gaze watery as he looked down at her. "W-Was Luke too rough with you?"
She fought the urge to vomit as the memory of Luke's tongue in her body was still fresh in her mind. "H-He was gentleman, a hero." She thought of whatever she could say to placate her brother, she had to play the part until it was safe to make a move.
"Oh." Nico stared at her but his gaze was off her brother looked as if she had taken something important from him. "Y-Yeah a true hero."
"A-Are you ok?" She asked softly. Something about him seemed off, Nico looked hurt as if she had taken someone important from him.
"I'm fine." Nico avoided her gaze. "Once the brainwashing is completely out of your head we can swear to Kronos together." His gaze met hers and she flinched at the coldness in them. "The gods have toyed with our family too many times. We were nothing more than pawns to our father and Zeus, that bastard took our mother!"
She winced at the venom in his voice along with the dark aura that seemed to envelope him. Oh gods Nico you're really in deep. Taking a deep breath she thought of a plan. "Can I have some nectar or ambrosia? Just a little, I'm hurt."
Nico frowned. "Ok just a little. I can't give you too much now but later I'll free I promise."
She nodded and pushed down all the negative feelings of disgust she felt towards her situation. "Thank you Nico." I have to survive. I won't die here. She'd get to the camp and then the hunt where she could explain things to Artemis.
Percy rested beneath the water as he felt the cool embrace of the sea around him. As a son of Poseidon he had a natural affinity with the seas but since his little treatment with Medea his senses sharpened. He could feel and sense things in detail beneath the waves. The water bent to his will with just a flick of his wrists and he honestly felt as if he were at home beneath the waves.
Taking a deep breath he willed the water around him as he propelled himself upward. As he shot up into the sky the water around him shot up in various spears made of water shot into the sky. This is pretty fun. He did a back flip before landing on the water creating a series of waves around him.
He propelled himself back above the water and arrived on the shores of the camp where Lou and Alabaster clapped. "Good job Percy!" Lou said. "You were great."
"Yeah thanks." He ran his hands through his hair. "I feel even more amazing than usual down there."
"Come on Chiron is in my aunt's tent," Alabaster said.
The three of them went to Medea's tent which was guarded by a few dozen skeletal warriors and a few children of Hecate all who moved aside for them as they entered Medea's tent.
On the inside they found Medea, Circe, and Chiron gathered around a table. "So what's up?" He asked.
Chiron looked up at them. "Medea and I have been discussing the plans to defend the camp?"
Medea pointed to the map of the camp on the table. "Me and Circe will lay traps all along the perimeter of the camp along with the routes to and from the camp. We'll bleed the enemy dry when they try to advance. Percy if you can I have some sea traps that you can put in the water."
He nodded. "Got it."
"Also we will mark the campers with protective runes," Circe said as she looked at her nails. "That should keep them safe from harm."
Alabaster nodded. "Good. We may be outnumbered but I'm sure every camper will fight with all they got."
Chiron nodded as he looked at the camp with a melancholy gaze. "There are still no signs of Annabeth, Clarisse, or Bianca."
The mood in the room darkened. He didn't really care for them but he didn't want them to die, especially at such a critical time.
"I'm sure she'll find her way," Medea said calmly. "Lady Hecate will always guide the lost."
"Hey what about the spy?" Lou asked.
The mood in the tent darkened. "Oh we'll have a plan for her sweetie don't you worry," Circe said with smile that sent a shiver down his spine.
Chiron nodded. "We'll gather the cabin heads later and discuss the plan." A shadow crossed the centaur's face. "I don't know who would be foolish enough to serve the Titan Lord."
"Everyone has something they want to love and protect," Medea said calmly. "Sometimes our love can be a weakness."
He looked to the ground as he thought of Medea's story. That Jason really was a piece of work. No one deserved to be manipulated and treated horribly, frankly he didn't blame her for wanting to get revenge on Jason.
"Come the hour of action will soon be upon us," Medea said. "Chiron make assemble the cabin heads as soon as you can."
Chiron nodded. "I will."
With that they exited the tent. Looking up at the cloudy sky his stomach suddenly felt uneasy. "War is coming sooner than we expected."
Alabaster patted him on the back. "Hey don't worry we've prepared the best we can."
"Yeah we can only hope for the best now," Lou said as they approached the Big House. They could see some of the other Cabin heads enter including Beckendorf and Silena.
I really hope we don't have a spy among us. But he knew things were never that simple. Though deep down he had to admit he wondered who it could be.
"Anyway good luck you two," Lou said. "I'm going to count our supplies."
"See you around," he said as Lou ran off to the Hecate Cabin.
It was then Ethan came up to them with his katana by his side. "I heard there was a meeting?"
Alabaster nodded. "Yeah come on lets go."
Inside they fond the other cabin heads sitting along the table. Ethan and Alabaster sat beside him making the place feel a little more cramped then usual. Scanning the rows of campers he saw Sherman Yang of Ares and Malcolm Pace of Athena sitting in place of their siblings with tense looks on their faces.
Chiron followed by Medea with a tea set in her hands. "Good evening everyone we have some very important things we must discuss."
"Is it about Clarisse?" Sherman asked.
Chiron's face paled. "It is not I'm afraid."
Sherman's face paled. "Oh gods."
Malcolm Pace covered his mouth. "Oh gods Annabeth what did she do?"
"What do you mean?" He asked.
The son of Athena shifted in his seat as everyone looked at him. "I um had a dream of her. She was screaming in frustration."
"Well she is stubborn did she piss anyone off?" Connor Stoll asked as Chiron's face paled.
Medea set the tea set on the table and with a flick of her wrist the tea pot began to pour some tea into each up. "Worry not. Every hero has their own journey."
Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Ethan trace his eye patch. Chiron cleared his throat and the room turned silent as the teacups floated towards everyone. "First before we have some business to discuss. Each of enjoy some tea."
Everyone looked at the teacups awkwardly but Chiron took a sip from his cut and everyone else slowly did as well. The tea was sweet and calming and everyone seemed to drink it without any problem. It was then a calming sensation spread throughout his body.
Medea turned to Chiron. "They are all yours."
He wondered what she meant but Alabaster gripped his arm tightly and shook his head. The other cabin heads looked around awkwardly and for a moment he swore he saw fear flash in Silena's eyes.
"I have raised and trained all of you," Chiron said calmly. "I know that we all have our reasons to be heroes just as every hero has." He scanned each of them with a melancholy look in his eyes. "I need to are there any spies of the Titan Army in this room?"
That's it? He looked around half expecting someone to explode but everyone looked at each other in confusion.
"Like hell I am" Sherman yelled.
"Y-Yeah me either," Malcom pace said.
One by one all the other cabin heads affirmed their loyalty. Until it was time for Silena and Beckendorf. Silena's face was place as she covered her mouth.
"Baby what's wrong?" Beckendorf asked.
Silena's body shook tears falling down her face as she covered her mouth. "Silena what's wrong! Beckendorf asked loudly as Silena staggered up her body shaking.
"I AM!" Silena yelled tears falling down her face. "I AM THE SPY FOR THE TITAN ARMY!" She broke into sobs and said a bunch of have coherent things. "I spied for him! I'm the spy!"
Everyone stared in shock, even Beckendorf was speechless. Chiron stared at Silena as she continued on spout a variety of things. She took something from his neck and threw it onto the table. Everyone remained silent at the sigil of Kronos.
"I need to tell him about the plans," she said with a crazed look in her eyes. "Charlie please don't leave me. He'll you, he promised to protect you." She collapsed on the ground and began to rock back and forward "He'll protect you so long as I tell him the information." Her body spasmed as she mumbled a bunch of incoherent stuff.
"Silena why," Beckendorf muttered.
Silena avoided his gaze and sobbed. "Please Charlie don't leave. I did it for you, all for you."
He stared at her in shock. She's the spy. Silena is the spy. Yeah she was acting weird and all but he never would've thought she would have spied for her.
"Take Ms. Beauregard into a holding room pending further questions," Chiron said in a hollow voice.
"Wait Chiron please she did nothing wrong," Beckendorf begged.
"We'll need to question her thoroughly," Chiron said firmly. "Make sure she doesn't try to escape. We must know the extent of her dealings with the Titan Army."
A group of campers then entered the room and picked Silena up from the ground. She was still muttering a bunch of incoherent words as she was dragged. Beckendorf fell to his chair his gaze broken as he looked at the insignia on the table.
"She's the spy," Connor said in shock.
"My truth serum never lies," Medea said firmly. "But judgement is not in my hands. Chiron will be charge of her."
"We will soon be at war," Chiron said as he went over and picked up the necklace on the table. "We will lay traps along the border of the camp with the help of Medea and the Hecate Cabin." He stared at all of them. "We all must be prepared to give it our all."
There was a somber mood among the cabin heads as they exited the Big House. "It really was her," Ethan muttered as they headed back to the Poseidon Cabin. "I thought I was wrong, that the hunch I was feeling was my imagination but I knew she was doing something off."
He nodded not knowing how to feel. Silena was always nice and caring, how could she spy for Kronos?
"Well we found the spy," Alabaster said. "Now for the real battle."
That night he dreamt of monsters, hoards of them piling into pickup trucks and other modes of transportation as they drove up northward. There were dozens upon dozens of cars filled with monsters and armored demigods. Meanwhile in the sea he could see The Princess Andromeda full of monsters and enemy demigods sailing ominously in the same direction.
"Alright careful now don't agitate the box too much," Alabaster said as he and some of his siblings lifted up a few dozen crates full of powerful magical objects.
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead as they carefully lowered the crates onto the ground. Taking a deep breath he opened them with a flick of his wrist to reveal various improvised landmines and other magical items. "Alright lets get to work!"
All the campers were at the border of the camp digging holes for landmines and setting up all kinds of traps and fortifications to stall the enemy. Up ahead he could see his Aunt Medea and older sister Circe placing all kinds of magical fortifications in the air.
"Hey Al do you need any help?" Percy asked.
He shook his head. "No it's best that we handle these landmines, if they go off it'll evaporate everyone in a radius."
Percy grimaced. "Yikes sounds painful."
He shrugged. "Magic can be both helpful and horrifying depending on how it is used." Taking a deep breath he carefully lifted up a landmine with magic and carefully placed it down in the hole. He then carefully covered it with dirt. "How's Beckendorf doing?"
Percy sighed and shook his head. "He's been in the forge all morning and hasn't spoken to anyone."
He cleaned the sweat off his brow. "Well he and Silena did like each other a lot." He sighed and shook his head. "Nevertheless she was still a fool to trust the Titan Lord. I guess love can make anyone do stupid things."
"We'll talk to him later and see how he is," Percy said. "Come on lets see if we can help out anywhere."
They went around to supervise the defenses and helping out where they could. "How's your aunt doing?" Percy asked.
He paused as they saw his Aunt Medea adjusting some spells on the barrier. "She's been quiet. I don't know what she exactly did to get my mother upset so I don't know the fully story."
Percy paused and looked at Medea. "Whatever happened I hope things get better. We shouldn't let our past mistakes define us."
He nodded, his gaze drifting towards the ground. "She tries to, but it's not easy for her. She still has those scars etched in her mind." He paused and looked over at his aunt, a pang hit his heart. "There are things even magic can't fix or bring back."
/
Ethan sat by the firepit as he traced his scar as his body relaxed from the day's work. It's all coming to an end soon. He traced his eyepatch as he felt the flicker of the flames. Bring balance and justice. Avenge and make right.
"Hey hon!"
Looking up he saw Drew Tanaka alone. "Hey."
"You look exhausted don't work yourself to death," Drew said as she sat across from him. She sighed and shook her head. "You know being a cabin head is harder than I thought."
He nodded as he looked towards the Aphrodite Cabin. Feelings of sorrow and anguish coursed through him as he stared at the cabin. Avenge. Bring justice. The words echoed in his head like a drum beat. "Silena is still under guard?"
Drew nodded her face twisted into a frown. "Hasn't said since Chiron interrogated her and isn't allowed to leave or be alone without supervision. Do you know they are making me in charge of this? How am I supposed to find the time to do my make up and watch her cry at the same time!"
He almost wanted to laugh. "Well I'm sure you'll do a good job."
Drew smiled at him but before she could say anything Alabaster and Percy came up to him. "Hey uh we're going to talk to Beckendorf do you want to come with us?" Percy asked.
He shrugged and got up. "Sure. See you around Drew."
"Good luck hon," Drew said as she got up. "She really did love him."
Her words lingered on his mind as they headed to the forges. "You're friends with Drew Tanaka?" Percy asked.
"She's alright," he said. Frankly he knew that a lot of people didn't like her and he could see why but there weren't many people here of Japanese decent so it was fun to talk to her once in a while.
As they approached the forges the sound of metal being struck filled the air. Inside they found Beckendorf striking a piece of metal over and over again while some of his siblings kept their distance.
As he looked at the son of Hephaestus he could feel the sorrow and anguish coming from him. The desire to lash out at the world along with the urge to break down and cry. Avenge. Bring justice.
Percy cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh hey Beckendorf w-we just wanted to talk to you."
The son of Hephaestus sighed as he set down his hammer and cleaned his face which was covered in tears and sweat. "I'm busy."
"We can see that," Alabaster said calmly. "We just wanted to check how you were doing, you've been cooped up here all day."
Beckendorf looked down at the ground his body shaking. "I don't know if I'll ever be alright. Silena…I loved her so much how-" He paused and cleaned his face with a rag. "How could she do such a thing?"
"We don't know all of her reasons," Percy said calmly. "But right now we have to prepare for a war. The enemy will march on us soon."
Beckendorf sighed. "I know. That old robot of my father's is still not working fully." He paused and looked at ground. "Percy I know what she did was bad but please could you speak with Chiron once this is all over and ask for lenience for her? This must be Luke's fault I know it!"
His words were soft and sincere like a man begging for his life. He could feel his sorrow and anger and his desire for justice.
"I will," Percy said firmly.
"She really does love you," He said. Everyone turned to him as he looked up at Beckendorf and met his gaze. "She loves you more than anything in this world." Avenge. Bring justice. The words rang in his head repeatedly.