To Riordanlover16- Ooooh yes, he's in trouble :3 Couple more chapters yet, then you'll see the arena XD
Louisa had Bradley in her lap, hands cupped behind his head. He stared at her, eyes mirroring her own. That gummy smile, that inevitable drool. His feet tumbled against her stomach. He was going to make one hell of a runner when he was older; she made a mental note to secure all stairs, doors and windows.
He was wearing the dungarees Leo had purchased, blue denim over a T-shirt patterned with cartoon fish. The legs were too long and had been rolled up, bunched around his ankles. Even his hair had been brushed, though the cowlicks were slowly flicking back into their wayward places.
"What?" Louisa asked him, jiggling his hands. He beamed and kicked some more. "What is it? What's that smile for, huh?" More dribble, more wriggling. She laughed, rubbing her thumbs on his fingers. "It's like you're tryin' ta swim. Is that it?" He gaped, stretching his legs out until his feet were flat to her midsection. "I'll take that as a yes. Look, I'll chuck you in the sea when you're a bit bigger. How's that sound?" He grinned again and so did she, leaning down to kiss his forehead.
When she sat back up, he was gone. Her hands were shaped around his head, though empty now. The presence of his feet was a phantom pain in her gut. She blinked, shooting to her feet. "Bradley? Bradley!"
She moved away, calling again. She made it only a few paces, yanked back with a force that pulled at her shoulder. Ice blazed around her wrist, first her left then her right. She was hauled back to where she had started, ice around her ankles.
Celestial bronze chains bound her in place, anchored to celestial bronze floor, surrounded by celestial bronze walls.
Her lungs shrivelled.
Not here. Not here.
She strained against the chains, hurtling herself forward. They jostled, chinking and jangling. "I'm not here!" she shouted. "I'm not here, I'm not here, I'm not here! Bradley! Bradley, where are you? Come back!"
"How do you expect him to answer?"
Luke, the thing that called itself Luke, stepped from the shadows, smiling serenely.
"You ain't here."
"And neither are you, apparently. Which is rather strange because we're both here." He rubbed his jaw. "The only one that isn't here is Bradley."
"Don't you touch him," Louisa snarled. "Don't you fuckin' touch him."
"And why not? He's mine."
"He's not!"
"He's all I've got!" Luke roared. "I tried to get Tobias, but no! You had to jump in, you had to be the hero!" He struck her face, black and blue splodges crashing through her sight. A hand on her chin, fingers digging into her jaw. Her head was wrenched round. "That child is mine," he hissed, spittle landing on her face. "You were simply the vessel I needed."
"You leave him alone," Louisa growled, jerking her head away.
"I don't think I will." His fist sunk into her stomach, forcing the air from her lungs. She fell to her knees, wheezing. Tears bristled down her face. Luke grabbed a handful of her hair, snapping her head back to make her look at him. "Bradley is mine and so will be the rest of them."
"Rest of them?" Louisa echoed. Nausea rattled like hot coals. Luke's sneer swum in and out of focus.
"Yes, the rest of them. You didn't think I'd just settle for one child, did you? You've a great power to pass on. Seeing as you won't use it yourself, I need someone that will. Several someone's, maybe."
"No." He moved quicker than she could blink, the bones of her arm snapping beneath his blow. She cried out, bile rising as her arm throbbed hot and cold.
"How many more times do I have to say it? You are mine and so is Bradley and so are any others I want."
"No…"
"No?" He grabbed her arm, slowly pressuring the break. She bit her lip, tasting blood, determined not to scream. "You don't say no to me. You don't have that luxury."
Not here, not here, not here.
It was hard, nigh impossible, to think beyond the pain, every molecule of consciousness screeching, in agony, begging for relief. She wasn't here, she couldn't be here, this wasn't real.
She could not see for tears, feeling rather than seeing him move. He shoved her over, her head cracked the floor. Tears and stars, she could only see tears and stars. A swipe across her face forced her onto her back, the hand landing on her throat, crunching her windpipe.
His voice was so close she could feel his lips on her skin. "Maybe you need some reminders of who's in charge here." Her good hand scrabbled for purchase on his face, searching for an eye to dig her thumb into. His free hand pulled at her clothes.
Not here, not here, not here.
He slapped her hand away, momentarily releasing her neck. She inhaled raggedly, fire raging in her throat and face.
"Get off…" she rasped, the words hardly out of her mouth before his hand was back, squeezing.
"Are you going to make me?" he challenged. She reached for him again. "How are you going to do that? You can't even move."
Her hand fell. Her body numbed. She couldn't feel the hand at her throat or the hand elsewhere. She couldn't raise her own in defence. Couldn't even feel the torture raging in her broken bones. Everything disappeared. She was a conscience fading in a dying, unresponsive body.
Not here, not here, not here.
Luke chuckled darkly above her. "You've been kidding yourself, Louisa. What makes you think you ever left this place? What makes you think you ever left me?"
Her body was little more than a shadow. A presence she was aware of, but it was nothing.
Not here, not here, not…
But she was here. Of course she was here. Where else would she be?
Luke took his hand from her throat. He didn't like her being unconscious. He shook his head pityingly, his knuckles brushing her hair back from her head. "There, there, Louisa. I'll take good care of Bradley. He'll be a monument to you."
She blinked, wheezing. Luke disappeared. There was Cabin Three's ceiling, pitch black with the night.
Feeling flooded her body. Her arm ached. Her chest hurt. Her throat was sealed, needling pointless breaths fruitlessly battering a dam.
"Oh, thank gods," a voice breathed beside her. Her brother. "I've been trying to wake you for ages." Louisa grunted, eyes widening.
She couldn't move. She tried to turn her head to look for Percy. Tried to raise her arm to reach for him. Tried to lift her legs to rid herself of this bed.
The bedframe wobbled, Percy standing on the edge of the lower bunk. His face was pale in the dark, brow knit with concern. "What's wrong?" He touched her face, her shoulder, her hand. Green sparks flitted from his fingers, a burst of coolness against her skin. "What's wrong, what's wrong? I don't understand. I'll get help! I'll be right back!"
She cried out, the sound trapped behind a locked jaw. Don't leave me, don't leave me!
The sea crashed outside, rolling up against the walls. The wind whistled by, playing over the waves. Louisa's breath hitched, lungs refusing to draw in ample supply. She glared at the ceiling, hot tears casting down, plopping into her hair.
Move, she ordered herself. Move, just fuckin' move.
Start small. Her fingers, her toes. Could she make a fist? Move her head? At least open her mouth to empty herself of the screams building within?
Screeching outside. Harpies. Someone had broken curfew. She heard her brother shouting, heard another voice with his— Medical emergency! Back off! — and then the door banged open.
"Shit," Percy said. "What's wrong with her, Will?"
"Let me see," Will said. He too stood on the edge of the bed below, resting his hand on her forehead. "Lou, can you hear me? Blink twice if you can hear me. OK, good. Blink twice for yes, once for no, OK? Can you feel me do this?" He squeezed her hand. Two blinks. "What about this?" Reached down and tapped her sharply on the knee. Two blinks. "Can you take a deep breath for me?" One blink. "Percy said you were having a nightmare?" Two blinks.
"What is it?" Percy worried. Louisa couldn't see him, but he sounded close. "Did I… did I not wake her up in time? What…" His voice trembled, his fear ricocheting in her chest along with her own. "What if her magic wore off, her healing?"
"It's not," Will assured immediately. "Lou's healing is spectacular, even by my standards. It wouldn't wear off."
"Are you sure?"
"I think this is sleep paralysis. It's alright, it's alright," he said on seeing Louisa flinch. "I can fix it. I need you to give me a minute, OK?" Two blinks. Will smiled. "Percy, help me get her to the beach. I know some spells that'll work, but the water will boost her too."
"OK."
Together, using the blankets as a makeshift stretcher, they managed to get her down from the top bunk. Percy walked backwards from the cabin, leading the way onto the beach out back. "Nearly there, Lou," he promised. "Not far." She groaned, blinking away tears. Come on, come on, just move. Just your fingers, one finger, anything.
The seawater was freezing, biting at her through the bedding. Something in her chest unwound as she was put down in the waves, gasping.
"There!" Will exclaimed. "That's better! Concentrate on the sea, Lou. I've got you." He knelt by her head, gently cupping her face. She saw him close his eyes to focus, deciding to do the same. Percy held her hand in both of his. She could sense his energy as much as she could sense the sea, desperate to help her in any way he could.
She was distantly aware of Will singing, keeping her mind full of thoughts of the sea. Swimming beneath the waves, going deeper than any human could. Making faces at submarine crews and banging on their hatches. Exploring sunken ships and talking to her shark friend, Bob. The way the ocean looked on a summer's day, the simple rhythm of the surf, the smell of salty air. The sea was home. The sea was hers.
Percy's fingers twitched. OK, she thought, the sea was ours. Being a twin meant she had to share, though not through choice. It wasn't all bad, not all the time. Percy had come with her once or twice to spook submarines. They had races, both swimming and canoes. They were rather good with canoes. Boats in general, but camp only really had canoes.
She wanted a boat. A big, fuck-off ship with proper sails and oars and… the Argo II was cool. She would have another one like that, but she wouldn't call it the Argo, no no. She would call it something much more on brand, something like… The MotherFucker. Yeah, she liked the sound of that.
Will's hands drew back from her face. Louisa opened her eyes. Both Percy and Will were watching her expectantly. Will swayed, tired, eyes bloodshot.
She sniffed, wiped at her face. Percy laughed, relief cascading from him in the guise of humour. Louisa burst into tears, shaking.
They helped her sit up. Percy wrapped the blanket around her, willing it dry, and then his arms. Will touched her shoulder, smiling comfortingly. "It was temporary," he said. "Brought on from that nightmare, I'm guessing." Louisa shook her head, fiercely, adamantly, relishing in the fact that she could. "It's OK," Will said, "you don't have to tell us if you don't want to."
No, she didn't want to. Luke leering over her, Luke squeezing the life from her, Luke wanting more than just Bradley.
"Fuck! Where's Bradley, where is he? Is he OK?"
"He's still asleep," Percy soothed. "Will didn't come alone, Nico was with him." He nodded back at the cabin. "He's in there now."
"He is? Is Tobias there too?"
"No, Annabeth has him tonight." Louisa wilted, sobs rising. She cried into her brother's shoulder, relieved, terrified, exhausted.
What makes you think you ever left this place? What makes you think you ever left me?
"I don't know," she mumbled.
"What?" Percy asked. She shook her head, hiding her face in the blanket.