The Second Legion

The River Styx

Cora could not taste, feel, or smell.

When she could hear, it was bubbles.

When she could feel, she was on fire.

Such was the life of Cora, for ten minutes underwater, in the river Styx. It was torture.

Her life was drifting from a string attached to the arch of her foot. Her vision suddenly changed. Pia was sitting on the docks with her, they were talking, but the sound was minimal. Then Carlos came, and Pia left. He sat down with her, then pushed her in. She yanked his foot into the water, pulling him in too. They splashed each other as the sun went down in a palette of beautiful colors. He climbed out, "C'mon Pup. Don't want to miss the sunset. It's beautiful. Just like you." He pulled her out and hugged her. "Race ya!" And the two sped off, into the light, but when they reached Thalia's tree, another boy was there. Cora couldn't quite recog-

A hand grasped her now, and was much bigger than Carlos'. Next thing she knew, Hades picked her up, placing her on her feet, on the glass sand that covered the land next to the river.

"My precious pawn. Come to me at last."

"Get away from me! And get away from your grandson. What did he do to deserve you?"

"It's not his fault. Now is it."

Cora bit her lip. "Stop controlling him."

Hades tightened his grip on his sword. "How do you know?"

"I figured it out. It wasn't that hard... he couldn't talk about what happened in the cabin, it was the hades cabin, I heard a booming voice that sounded like the one that I am hearing right now, Carlos couldn't talk, that's awfully like the oracle. There were really a lot of clues, it was no challenge for a granddaughter of Athena."

"You think that you have it all figured out. Do you? Would you like me to call him and you can truly see what I can do? Come now, child! Your decision!" He reached down to a soul on his cloak. A picture of Carlos was there. Cora's heart leaped, and her vision turned red. "I choose a different path. I choose to attack you." Cora lunged at him and grabbed the soul. She sprinted off, and to the light, with Carlos' soul in her hands. A volley of arrows was shot at her, but either none of them were straight, or they didn't pierce her, all she knew, all that kept her going, was that image of Carlos, and that line, 'C'mon Pup. Don't want to miss the sunset. It's beautiful. Just like you.' and she ran on.

Cora stumbled across the border to camp. And avoid all the hanging eyes that followed. However, her cabin was not much of a relief, for what a sight greeted her hazel eyes when she got to the Zeus cabin. Helena and Carlos were on the couch, and Carlos was laying down with his head in her lap, which she was petting, until Cora spoke, "Well, looks like a lot of goddy things have changed around here." She said with dissent and a glare, as her expression changed to a guarded one.

Carlos immediately sat bolt up and ran to Cora, he picked her up and twirled her around. She seriously wanted to forgive him... No, she would not fall for him again, just to get hurt, again, she had discussed this. "Stop it."He put her down confused. Just then, Lucas and Pia walked in.

Lucas whistled and wrapped an arm around Pia. "Man, you are in one tough pickle!" And Lucas was entirely correct. "No, he's not." Cora took a big breath and spoke what she hoped she would never have to say, however, she had to say it, "Carlos Cayden DiAngelo. You aren't worth a penny to me. Leave me alone, and don't either one of you come in this cabin ever again." Cora said stiffly.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go to the infirmary because I lost my sense of sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell for you. I was tortured to the point of insanity, I swam in the River Styx, I undermined everyone, nearly killed myself because I was using too much of my power at once, I lived in the underworld for a week, and last but not at all least, I FOUGHT HADES FOR YOU! All in the hope that I would come back to you, Pia, and camp ALIVE! So by ALL MEANS, why not just cheat on me! Add that to the list also! You spoiled BRAT, who isn't worth your inheritance at all! I SWEAR ON THE RIVER STYX, WHICH I JUST SWAM IN, IF YOU DON'T GET OUT NOW, I WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR ALL OF THESE GODDY THINGS! OUT NOW!" Cora growled as she was at the point of tears by now, and now, on top of it all, she couldn't talk. Weakly, she repeated, "Out now." And collapsed on her bed.