Melancholy Kaleidescope | PJO

Ch. 11: Empty Promises With A Nice Tune

I can give you everything you want.

You could have the mother you always wanted her to be.

You could see your mortal brother again.

Jinora hadn't been able to stop thinking about what a certain titan lord had said to her in her dream. His words were attached to her like a leech.

Annabeth stepped up next to her, leaning against the side of the ship as they continued over the waters. Jinora could tell her friend was trying to act fine, but it was clear that sailing didn't agree with her.

"What's up," Annabeth asked, swallowing the nausea. Jinora shrugged. Then, looking down, Annabeth asked, "What's that?"

At first, Jinora wasn't sure what she meant, but then she felt the plastic crinkle in her hand, and she looked down. She laughed. "Oh, forgot about that. Hey, Percy!"

The blond looked over as she tossed the plastic bag she'd swiped from Circe's spa at him. He fumbled the bag and dropped it to the floor. Percy knelt down and picked it up, looking at it curiously before he rolled his eyes and held it up.

"Where'd you even get celery from?"

Jinora was doubled over laughing and unable to answer his question. Annabeth chuckled while Percy bit back his smile.

"Oh, I couldn't help it," she said once she finally caught her breath. "It was sitting right there, and you had just come back from being a guinea pig. It was pretty much begging me to be used in a practical joke."

Percy shook his head and went back to focusing on steering the boat.

Soon, night fell. Annabeth tried to help keep lookout, but the seasickness was getting to her. Finally, she decided she had to go below deck and lay down.

Jinora looked out into the dark sea. There wasn't much that her eyes could catch in the darkness, but she still was able to spot monsters more than once. A plume of water the height of a skyscraper spewed into the moonlight, and a row of green spines slithered across the surface of the water. She decided she didn't want to know what it was.

A while later, when the moon was high in the sky, Annabeth emerged from below deck. They were just passing an island with a smoky volcano, the water bubbling and steaming around the shore.

"One of the forges of Hephaestus," Annabeth noted. "Where he makes his metal monsters."

"Like the bronze bulls," Percy asked.

Annabeth nodded. "Go around. Far around."

He didn't need to be told twice, steering the ship clear of the island. It wasn't long before it was nothing more than a red haze behind them.

Percy asked Annabeth about Thalia, correctly guessing that was the main reason that both girls hated Cyclopes. Jinora only half-listened to the conversation, catching enough of Annabeth's retelling of that dark and run down house they'd been lured into. Jinora still had nightmares about that lair. She'd been the first one lured in, being so young and naive. Luke had gone in next in an attempt to find her so they could get out of there. The Cyclops had lured him in with her voice, then did the same with Thalia and Grover. Annabeth was the only reason any of them got out and were able to get to Half-Blood Hill. She was grateful her friend left out the hellhound attack.

Silence fell for a bit after Annabeth finished telling Percy about Thalia. Finally, she said to Percy, "Go below. You need some rest. Nora and I will keep watch."

He looked like he was going to protest, but then nodded. He headed down below deck and the ship continued sailing.

The stars were clear as ever in the night sky. Since camp was so close to the city, light pollution really covered up much of the constellations. For the first time in her life, Jinora felt like she was seeing the night sky how it was always meant to be seen. The half-moon and a sky full of stars provided enough light for them to be able to keep a lookout for any approaching threat.