The lost Auras

Chapter 19

I reach out a hand to Meg.
- Please let us help you, I say. Even though we know the truth, Meg seems unconvinced by our pleas. She continues shaking her head.
- There is no winning here. There is no victory when you fight the son of Zeus, Meg says.
- How do you know if you don't even try, he asks.
- I know, Meg snaps, glaring at Hydra.
- I was there, for so many ears, by his side. I saw Hercules turn into what he is now. I saw it firsthand,  Meg says.
- Meg, I say.
- He's ruthless and cruel with a craving for power, she says. She wraps her arms around herself.
- I know better than anyone what he's capable of, Meg says.
- That doesn't matter. He isn't some insurmountable force. We can fight back. We're not alone, Hydra says.
Before anyone can say anything else, Nemean shows up at the restaurant at that exact moment.
- Just got off my shift. I hope I didn't miss anything, Nemean says. He walks over to our little group, pulling at the cufflinks of his suit.
- What exactly are we doing here, he asks. His eyes drift over to Meg who returns his look.
- Who is she, he asks.
- This is Meg, the rightful owner of the Crow Aura, I say. Surprise flashes across Nemean's face before he composes himself. He walks over to Meg and gives her a warm smile.
- I'm Nemean. It's a pleasure to meet you, he says with a gentlemanly handshake. Meg nods, returning his handshake, but the stony look on her face doesn't change.
- One more non-Aura being isn't going to win this, Meg says. I smirk.
- Who says he's our only help, I ask. The door swings open again as Eryn and Ladon make a timely entrance. I beam at the newcomers, happily surprised.
- Hey you guys, I say.
- Sorry we're late. Did we miss anything important, Eryn asks. Meg is taken aback by the other reinforcements, but still, she doesn't budge.
- Meg, at least hear us out. Please, I say.

All of us gather and sit around one of the large tables to discuss what we need to do. Hydra takes the lead.
- With all our Auras, mine included, Hercules can complete the ritual for full godhood. I can't imagine he'll waste any time, Hydra says.
- There's no other choice. We have to stop him, I say. Meg looks around at all of us, still frowning.
- How can we fight him with no Auras, Meg asks. Meg's question is something I expected and since Hydra's Aura was taken away, I've spent more and more time thinking of how to answer.
- It's not impossible, I say.
- Oh. Well then, how, Meg asks. I hold out my hand, showing them the ring Alex had given me.
- With this ring, I can protect us. It's mostly defensive, and I'm still learning, but, I promise I'll protect you all, I say.
- Kira has her ring. I trust that she can protect us,  Hydra says and looks over at Meg.
- Not only that. The last time we visited you, Meg, Hercules was there. He came after us, Hydra says.
- What, Meg asks.
- He nearly beat us there, and we thankfully got away. But when he tried to use the Crow Aura, we were only up the street a bit and he tried to use the Crow Aura, your Aura, and he lost control, Hydra says.
- It went crazy,, trying to leave him. It's because you were so close. It wanted to go back. The crow wants to go back to you, I explain. Meg is visibly shaken by my statement.
- Same thing happened when Hercules fired me. He tried to use the water serpent against me, but he couldn't, Ladon says.
- The lion tried to come back to me when Hercules first stole it, Nemean says. He closes his eyes, sighing.
- But the stallion was able to overcome it before it could get free. I always wondered, Nemean says.
- Because they're not rightfully his, Eryn says. Eryn crosses her arms with a scowl.
- It happens every time he uses an Aura around its true owner, Eryn says.
- It's his weakness, I say. Hydra stands up and goes around the table to Meg, putting his hand on her shoulder.
- A weakness only we can exploit, Hydra says. Then he makes his way back to me, standing behind my chair.
- I can't imagine the pain you're in, Meg. All the memories this must bring up. Even if you don't want your Crow Aura back, we would never ask this of you. Unless it was absolutely necessary. Please, Meg. This is more than just any one person. We need you, I say. I see her walls start to crumble. She closes her eyes.
- Okay. Okay, Meg says. She opens her eyes wearily, but there's something in her expression that wasn't there before.
- I'll help you, Meg says. She picks up her chin and straightens her shoulders. She looks Hydra and I square in the face.
- But I'm trusting you both to keep me safe, Meg says.
- Perfect, I say. I place my hand over my heart, beaming at her gratefully. She nods, regarding us carefully.
- I believe you, Meg says.
- This is it then. Everyone, rest up today, because tonight, we fight Hercules, Hydra says.