Daughter of Neptune

Whakapū Music Store

Jason led us to the music store. The store had wooden walls, with a slanted Greek style roof. In the front window was a large, hand painted sign. It read 'Whakapū Music Store' in fancy, purple lettering.

"Shall we go in, or stand outside all day?" Esme asked. Ben walks towards the door and pulls it open. A creak emits from the rusty door and we walk through. A small, high-pitched bell chimes and a young woman walks confidently through the racks of musical instruments.

The young lady was very tall, with long, copper blonde hair. She wore a seaweed green skirt and a simple, white shirt. She had green high heels and mint lipstick on. Her eyes scanned over them and she smiled.

Hannah, Jason and Ben were too preoccupied to see Esme give the young woman a wary glance. On the lady's name badge it had 'Miss Whakapu' in small gold lettering.

Miss Whakapu smiles brightly at the young demigods, a smile too large to be genuine.

"Are you looking for a particular type of instrument of just browsing?" she asks in a high-pitched voice, matching the bell that chimed only moments before.

"No, we're just browsing, thanks." Hannah answers.

"Well, please call if you need anything." Then miss Whakapu disappears from sight. We look at each other, nod and spit up to search for a something resembling a siren. Esme heads to the left of the shop, trumpets. Jason went straight to the right, flutes, and Ben to search the back, where the lyres are. Which left Hannah to search the front arrangement of randomly placed instruments.

They searched the many racks and shelves, which were holding mostly Greek instruments. After ten minutes searching they met up at the front of the store with glum faces.

They all shook their heads and looked again, each in a different section. When they came back a second time empty handed, they sought out miss Whakapu.

"What do you need help with?" she asked standing in front of the demigods.

"We have a friend who is having her birthday soon. We wanted to get her a Greek instrument, one that preferably has mermaids tied into it. She loves the idea of mermaids." Jason explained a lie in detail, so she wouldn't doubt us.

"I think I have something for her that fits that description, it's out back."

"I don't trust her. Something isn't right." Esme spoke up once miss Whakapu was out of earshot.

"She seems nice enough." Jason said.

"I agree; something is weird about her." Hannah mentioned.

"But she's being really nice and helping us out." Ben pointed out.

"Plus, she is really pretty-"

"You have a girlfriend Jason! Wait until Piper hears of this, and I'll make sure she does. In fact, I'll Iris Message her right now!" Hannah exclaimed. "Ben, give me a drachma."

"No. I agree with Jason, she's beautiful." The two girls stood gobsmacked at the two boys, were they even aware of what they're saying. Esme pulled out a drachma and immediately contacted Piper, using the water fountain in the middle of the store.

She didn't pick us so Esme swiped her hand through the mist. Not long after miss Whakapu returned with a lyre in her hands. It had a mermaid carved on the bottom, at the right side. Her tail curled to the left and her hair fell on her shoulders. They could all tell it was what they were looking for.

Jason thanked her and took the lyre and turned to show his friends. The demigods were too busy whispering and admiring the lyre; they didn't notice the evil smile that spread across the woman's face. They also didn't see that her eyes turned a dark, deep sea blue.

~~~~~

Leo was really sweet and kind. He made staying here almost bearable. We were sitting next to each other, with the bars in between us. Most of the time we just sit in silence, enjoying each other's company is this place.

Sometimes, we talk but then we mostly comfort each other and help them with the pain. 

"What do you call an old snowman?" Leo asks out of nowhere. I think carefully about an answer, but draw a blank.

"Water." He answers after a few seconds. I smile at the joke; it's really corny, but still funny. I feel Leo reach through the bars and hold my hand in his. He moves his finger along my palm in a comforting manner.

"I promise we'll get out of this." I nod and slowly turn around to face him. A look of pain is on his face. He probably thinks me weak and that I am just about to collapse. Either that, or that I am only just holding on.

False hope, that's what he is giving me. A tear escapes my eye as I realise I might never escape Kronos. Leo pulls me towards him and envelops me in a hug. It's gentle and it feels like he's about to shatter in my hands.

We hug through the cell bars, not speaking; I think we're both scared to break the moment. We don't want the other one to give up. If one of us dies, what hope is there that the other will live? Almost none.

If possible, Leo tries to pull me closer to him.

"I hear you cry at night, when you think I can't hear." Leo mumbles softly. I gasp slightly. Yes, I cry at night, but let me ask you, who wouldn't? If you were in my position, with no control of the situation, breaking a little more every day, would you cry? I'm sure that you will.

Leo lifts my head so I am looking into his eyes, with his hazel eyes looking into mine. He leans forward slightly and I feel my breath catch in my throat. I ignore the feeling in the pit of my stomach and lean forward.

Our lips touch and I know how it feels to be loved and to be wanted. Here is the proof that we will get out of here. If needed, I could face an entire army at the moment.

I melt into the kiss and I never want to leave his loving embrace.