Reaching For The Stars

Chapter 29

Annabeth Chase

She looked through the spyglass to see whether she could spot something. They had been sailing for a few hours, yet the mist only grew and grew around them. It is not a good sign. And if Annabeth was right, they'll pass the sirens soon. The signs were there, yet the words of Artume kept ringing in her head.

You are not alone. They are watching you.

She will admit it made her slightly paranoid. But luckily the presence of her friends and comrades made her at ease. At least not as paranoid as Mister Lightning Rapist. She let out a sigh, glancing to Percy, who felt increasingly as her first mate while she is the captain.

"We need to fill our ears to avoid the singing of the sirens," Annabeth said. "Their song will enchant us. At least... Well, us Demigods. I am not so sure about Juniper."

"They will affect me too," Juniper said, approaching them from behind. Her face held more stress than any of them had seen before. As if the passing of time held more effect on her than any of them. "I won't lose my mind per se. Yet it be wise to fill my ears with wax or something else to keep their voices away."

"I hope we have enough for everyone," Percy mumbled. "I think my father's ship isn't exactly loaded with the stuff."

"Great... I can probably make earplugs with some of the items," Annabeth mutters, peering through the spyglass again. "I hate it there is no map of this place..."

"It changes too often to be properly mapped. We're lucky my Lady's star is still alive," Juniper said softly. "She has not long to go. I can feel her slowly fading..."

"We'll make it on time, Juniper. I won't let her die. I won't," Annabeth said firmly, peering over the water to spot anything out of order. Her brows furrowed as she leans a bit forward.

"I know, Annabeth," Juniper said softly. "I trust you're doing everything you can."

"Thanks... huh. We're going to have a visitor," Annabeth said as she points to the sea in front of them. Despite the thick mist that obscured most of their surroundings, a small raft floats in front of them. The raft would soon come close enough. She would let it pass them, yet a person was signaling with an improvised flag consisting a shirt attached to a stick.

"Visitor?" Percy asked curious, taking the spyglass that was handed to him. "Oh..."

"Strange and elusive his presence is," Juniper said, cocking her head with furrowed brows. "I don't know what he is. As if something is masking him, making it hard to get a grip on what he is."

"Is that normal?" Annabeth asked curiously.

"No, ever since Artume made me her attendant, it's been second nature for me to determine the nature of a person. Monster, human, Demigod, etc, but for him, I can't tell."

"Odd... he doesn't look evil. I have heard of specters that are left of those that died here. The only thing left of a person whose life was taken by this place," Annabeth said as the raft slowly came closer and closer. "They were so lost that even their souls became lost."

The man stopped swinging the makeshift flag, his face framed by dark hair, showing relief. Even his eyes show it as they sparkle with green-red eye color. His appearance only made Annabeth think this is a specter.