Eleutheromania

24)

THE BASIN FILLED WITH ALARMING SPEED. Piper, Jason, Percy and I pounded on the walls, looking for an exit, but we found nothing. We climbed into the alcoves to gain some height, but with water pouring out of each niche, it was like trying to balance at the edge of a waterfall. Even as I stood in a niche, the water was soon half my calves. From the floor, it was probably eight feet deep and rising fast.

"I could try lightning," Jason said. "Maybe blast a hole in the roof?"

"That could bring down the whole room and crush us," Piper said.             "Or electrocute us," Percy added.

"Not many choices," Jason said.

"Let me search the bottom," Percy said. "If this place was built as a fountain, there has to be a way to drain the thing. You guys, check the niches for secret exits. Maybe the seashells are knobs, or something."

Percy jumped in the water. Jason and Piper climbed from niche to niche, kicking and pounding, wiggling seashells embedded in the stone; but they had no luck. I waited for Percy looking everywhere. There has to be something around here.

Sooner than I expected, Percy broke the surface, gasping and flailing. I grabbed him pulling him towards me. He grasped onto me tightly not wanting to let go.

"Couldn't breathe," he choked. "The water...not normal. Hardly made it back."

I felt myself wanting to throw up. I wanted rest which is something I hadn't had in a while. My hands shook as Percy made his way towards me clearly not feeling well. His hair didn't look dark anymore.

"They're taking our power," Piper said. "Draining us."

"Jason," Percy coughed, "do the lightning."

Jason raised his sword. The room rumbled, but no lightning appeared. The roof didn't break. Instead, a miniature rainstorm formed at the top of the chamber. Rain poured down, filling the fountain even faster, but it wasn't normal rain. The stuff was just as dark as the water in the pool. Every drop stung my skin. My head rang like when I controlled the dirt, or earth. I only felt like this when I was on land, was there dirt here?

"Not what I wanted," Jason said.

The water was up to our necks now. I could feel my strength fading.

Percy started pushing the water away with the back of his hand, like he was shooing a bad dog. "Can't—can't control it!"

I looked around, maybe just maybe, there can be dirt in the bottom. "I'm going under."

Percy faced me eyes wide. "No! You won't came back."

"I will. I have this feeling," I shook my head. I took a deep breath and went under. I swam towards the bottom trying to touch anything I can to find something that I can control. I touched the bottom and I felt dirt.

Why dirt was under us, who knows. I closed my eyes concentrating to see if I can control it. I felt movement from the dirt. I can control it. I quickly swam up feeling my breath leave me.

I gasp for air when I made it to the top. "Dirt."

"What?" Piper asked.

"There's dirt in the bottom."

Percy and Jason looked at each other.

"I can control it, but—"

"You can't do it on your own" Piper said.

The water was up to our chins. Another few inches, and we'll have to swim. But the water wasn't halfway to the ceiling yet. I hoped that meant that we still had time.