Umbra

Chapter 29

The room wasn't cold.

How she knew, Emilia didn't know. She sensed nothing different. But Piper looked so sure, no one doubted her.

"Piper is right," said Hazel after a beat. "I've met eidolons. In the Underworld, when I was... you know."

"So..." Frank rubbed his hand across his buzz-cut hair nervously. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or–"

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

"Could your charmspeak work on them again?" asked Emilia.

Piper nodded. "Yes. I think I can do this. Everybody listen." She looked around at them, making eye contact with one person at a time. "Eidolons. Raise your hands."

There was a tense silence where nothing happened. Leo laughed nervously. "Did you really think that was going to–?" His voice died, face suddenly slack. He raised his hand. Jason and Percy followed, their eyes all 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," said Annabeth. "Can you... cure them?"

Though nervous, Piper focused on Leo, charmspeaking again, "Are there more of you on this ship?"

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

"Not here, you won't," growled Piper, annoyed. "All three of you, listen carefully." The boys turned to her. "You will leave these bodies."

"No," said Percy as Leo hissed, "We must live."

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

Emilia motioned for him to lower his bow as Leo turned to him and sneered, "You cannot command us, child of war. Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment."

Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. Emilia had to rip herself out of her chair to stop him from aiming the bow at Leo. "It's not them," she said sharply. "Shooting them isn't going to do anything."

Jason drew his sword. "Stop!" ordered Piper. When Jason didn't immediately lower his sword, Hazel reached out her hand, the gold blade clunking onto the table.

Percy sneered, "Daughter of Pluto, you may control gems and metals. You do not control the dead."

"Listen, eidolons," said Hazel sternly. "You do not belong here. I may not command you, but Piper does. Obey her."

Piper gave it another try, speaking more forcefully, "You will leave these bodies."

Jason's face tightened, forehead beaded with sweat. "We– we will leave these bodies."

"You will vow on the River Styx never to return to this ship," continued Piper, "and never to possess any member of this crew." She insisted again when Leo and Percy hissed in protest, "You will promise on the River Styx."

The three eidolons spoke in unison, "We promise on the River Styx."

"You are dead," said Piper.

"We are dead," they agreed.

"Now, leave." All three boys slumped forward. Annabeth rushed to sit Percy up, Piper and Hazel caught Jason as he slipped out of his chair, and Emilia barely bolted away from Frank to stop Leo from hitting the floor.

Leo flailed in her arms as he tried to get his bearings. "Did it work?"

"It worked," said Piper proudly. "I don't think they'll be back."