THE HEALER| Heroes of Olympus

eight

I couldn't explain how I knew it, I just did. 

Stories of phantoms and tortured souls had always freaked her out. My mom used to tell me a bunch when I was younger. I had gotten so scared of the dark because of it and I had to sleep in her room for weeks, 

I had a gut sense they were still present, simply because no one had told them to go away.When I was done explaining, the others looked at her uncomfortably. Up on deck, Hedge sang something that sounded like "In the Navy" while Blackjack stomped his hooves, whinnying in protest.

Finally Hazel exhaled. "Eliana is right."

"How can you be sure?" Annabeth asked.

"I've met eidolons," Hazel said. "In the Underworld, when I was...you know."

Dead.

I had forgotten that Hazel was a second-timer. In her own way, Hazel too was a ghost reborn.

"So..." Frank rubbed his hand across his buzz-cut hair as if some ghosts might have invaded his scalp. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or—"

"Possibly lurking inside some of us," Jasper said. "We don't know."

Jason clenched his fist. "If that's true—"

"We have to take steps," Piper said. "I think I can do this."

"Do what?" Percy asked.

"Just listen, okay?" Piper took a deep breath. "Everybody listen."

Piper met their eyes, one person at a time.

"Eidolons," she said, using her charmspeak, "raise your hands."

There was tense silence.

Leo laughed nervously. "Did you really think that was going to—?"

His voice died. His face went slack. He raised his hand.Jason and Percy did the same. Their eyes had turned glassy and gold. Hazel caught her breath. 

Next to Leo, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall.

"Oh, gods." Annabeth looked at me imploringly. "Can you cure them?"

"I- um.." I stuttered not sure. I heal wounds not exorcise spirits. 

"Are there more of you on this ship?" Piper asked looking at Leo as he looked the least threatening. 

"No," Leo said in a hollow voice. "The Earth Mother sent three. The strongest, the best. We will live again."

"Not here, you won't," Piper growled. "All three of you, listen carefully."

Jason and Percy turned toward her. Those gold eyes were unnerving, but seeing all three boys like that seemed to fuel Piper's anger.

"You will leave those bodies," she commanded.

"No," Percy said.

Leo let out a soft hiss. "We must live."

Jasper stood up and gave a deadly look at them. "You heard her. Leave." His voice seemed to rumble through the room. 

Leo turned toward him. "You cannot command us, child of war." 

Frank fumbled for his bow. "Mars Almighty, that's creepy! Get out of here, spirits! Leave our friends alone!"

Leo turned toward him. "Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment."

I wasn't sure what that meant, but Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. He drew an arrow, his hands shaking.