Raised from the Depths: The Apple of Their Eyes [A Percy Jackson FanFiction]

Fourteen: Stranded in the Rockies- this just got a lot more difficult

I jolted up, my breath caught in my throat. My skin was tingling like a thousands bugs were crawling across the surface, triggering every little peach hair. I glanced around slowly, my body finding its bearing as I searched for Sol or the pegasi, but they were nowhere in sight. Instead, I was sitting on gold tiles as a waxing machine buffered along by itself. I recognized the decor instantly as Eros's castle. 

Footsteps sounded from the hallway, and I scrambled to turn and face them. Walking into the room was a person wearing sky blue draping that flowed elegantly down their arms and body, dragging lightly on the polished floor. Their face seemed to glow with youth, their makeup done lightly to accentuate their most stunning features. Their eyes shone with fear as they walked at a fast pace, their washed and curled black hair bouncing on their back.

I realized with a gasp that it was Mico I was looking at. "Mico!" I shouted, struggling to my feet and waving at them, but they didn't hear or see me.

I paused for a second, my mind registering that I must have passed out after jumping off of Poppy. "I hope I'm dreaming and not a ghost." I whispered grimly, before following Mico out onto the courtyard they had rushed to.

The ground was a fine dirt covered in thick, freshly cut grass and tall scrubs with strong, impassible branches stood proud around the perimeter, completely blocking any residents in. Flowers of all different species and colors blossomed all around the courtyard, bees buzzing excitedly at the abundance of pollen, butterflies fluttering in the air, showing off their beautiful wings. In the middle of it all was a fabulous fountain of pure marble, shooting crystal water into air, the smell of the sea misting off of it.

Mico leaned on the edge of the fountain, looking into the pool of water collecting below. A silver platter of fresh grapes and aged cheeses floated up to them, but they shooed it away with annoyance.

I walked up next to them as they stuck their hand in the water and closed their eyes. When a humming sound began emitting from the pool, Mico opened their mouth to speak.

"Sorry to disturb you, but I need to know that they're safe." They spoke quietly, their tone shaking slightly with nerves. The water seemed to respond in vibrations. Mico's eyebrows furrowed as their eyes flinted across the water. I tried to crane my neck to see what they were seeing. "What? I-is she alive?" They inquired, before sighing with relief. They hung their head over the water, shaking it as they squeezed their eyes shut. "Come on, Affinity. Don't give out on me. I don't want to do this alone."

I placed my hand on their shoulder. "I'll never leave you alone."

Their head shot up, their eyes flying open. "Affinity?"

I sucked in a sharp breath, caught off guard by Mico's response, but the courtyard vanished along with Mico. As my body gained consciousness, I tried to get a sense of my surroundings. I was laying down for sure, and it was somewhere very hard and very cold. As much as I wanted to hop up and take stock of what had happened, my entire being screamed for me to stay asleep, to please not move. My body felt like it was pulsating with a searing pain that ate at my mind.

I could hear very little. There was wind- gusts of air blowing by, but it seemed my body was sheltered from the brunt of it because I wasn't getting blasted excessively. There was some water dripping on the ground. Heavy, slow breathing. And a sob. Sobs, plural. Someone was crying.

I opened my eyes slowly and was met with spotted vision. I stared at the dark mass of rock above me for several moments, waiting for the spots to clear themselves. I had to blink a few times to eventually see clearly. The crying continued, and I tried to sit up to see what was happening, but my body was far too heavy and every muscle fiber hurt to move.