Shot Through the Heart

Gods This is a Mess

One problem solved: the hatch above them closed automatically, cutting off their pursuers. It also cut off all light, but Leo and Frank could deal with that. Leo just hoped they didn't need to get out the same way they came in. He wasn't sure he could open the tile from underneath.

At least the possessed manatee dudes were on the other side. Over Leo's head, the marble floor shuddered, like fat touristy feet were kicking it.

Frank must have turned back to human form. Leo could hear him wheezing in the dark.

"What now?" Frank asked.

"Okay, don't freak," Leo said. "I'm going to summon a little fire, just so we can see."

"Thanks for the warning," Frank said appreciatively. Leo's index finger blazed like a birthday candle. In front of them stretched a stone tunnel with a low ceiling.

"Well," Leo said. "It only goes in one direction."

"Let's go find the girls," Frank sturdied himself.

Leo had no argument with that suggestion. They made their way down the corridor, Leo going first with the fire. He was glad to have Frank at his back, big and strong and able to turn into scary animals in case those possessed tourists somehow broke through the hatch, squeezed inside, and followed them. He wondered if the eidolons might just leave those bodies behind, seep underground, and possess one of them instead.

Oh, there's my happy thought for the day! Leo scolded himself.

After a hundred feet or so, they turned a corner and found and Hazel. In the light of their golden swords, they were examining a door. they were so engrossed, they didn't notice them until Leo said, "Hi."

Amoriel whirled, swinged a right hook. And if he hadn't moved his head, if he was standing just one inch to the left... Leo wouldn't have a head anymore.

"What are you doing here?" Amoriel demanded.

Leo gulped. "Sorry. We ran into some angry tourists." He told them what had happened.

Hazel hissed in frustration. "I hate eidolons. I thought Piper made them promise to stay away."

"No," Amoriel said. "Piper made them promise to stay off the ship and not possess any of us. But if they followed us, and used other bodies to attack us, then they're not technically breaking their vow.... Piper is not that good at being specific enough while she uses charmspeak."

"Great," Leo muttered. "Eidolons who are also lawyers. Now I really want to kill them."

"Okay, forget them for now, if we see them again I can charm them," Amoriel said. "Leo, this door is giving me fits. Can you try your skill with the lock?"

Leo cracked his knuckles. "Stand aside for the master, please."

The door was interesting, much more complicated than the Roman numeral combination lock above. The entire door was coated in Imperial gold. A mechanical sphere about the size of a bowling ball was embedded in the center. The sphere was constructed from five concentric rings, each inscribed with zodiac symbols-the bull, the scorpion, et cetera-and seemingly random numbers and letters.

"These letters are Greek," Leo said in surprise.

"Well, lots of Romans spoke Greek," Amoriel said.

"I guess," Leo said. "But this workmanship...no offense to you Camp Jupiter types, but this is too complicated to be Roman."

Frank snorted. "Whereas you Greeks just love making things complicated."

"Hey," Leo protested. "All I'm saying is this machinery is delicate, sophisticated. It reminds me of..." Leo stared at the sphere, trying to recall where he'd read or heard about a similar ancient machine. "It's a more advanced sort of lock," he decided. "You line up the symbols on the different rings in the right order, and that opens the door."