annais min was the god among mortals, the death that came along with life. now more than ever, she knew the cost of her existence, of what hades had done when he chose to pursue her mother. everything came down to her and the four other min girls, t...
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CHAPTER NINETEEN: LADY OF MERCY
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JASON'S STRENGTH HADN'T FAILED him yet. He persevered, albeit unconscious, long enough for them to get him safely back on board the Argo II. Their friends were dismayed at the sight of him, of course, but they were careful not to test Annais' fluctuating emotions, leaving her to hover over him like a mother hen. It was still touch and go, and while she was assured by the steady beat of his heart that he had some fight left in him, she was full of fear and running on no sleep. She'd sat awake to the early hours of the morning, her hand resting on his chest, regularly checking and changing his bandages. The wound was red raw and smoking, but no change was better than a decline -- at least, that was what she told herself.
By morning, he was awake as if nothing had happened. Somehow, he convinced her to let him out of bed-rest (or boredom jail, as he called it) so he could enjoy breakfast with their friends. That was how she found herself in the Mess Hall, wedged between Jason -- who tried and failed to hide his regular winces of pain from her whenever she accidentally brushed against him -- and Leo, who had wandered in late covered in grease from whatever project he was currently working on. She heard him giving Buford the Wonder Table strict directions for manning the helm before closing the door behind him.
"Morning, Annie," he ruffled her hair, then swiftly dodged her swinging fist. "Gee, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?"
Annais wasn't about to admit that she didn't sleep, so instead she narrowed her eyes and glared at him. "I hate you."
"Love you too," he turned to Jason. "How you feeling, man?"
"Great," muttered Jason, pushing some food around on his plate. "Never better."
Leo flicked his eyes to Annais, raising his eyebrows. She shook her head. Privately, she'd admitted when he managed to drag her away from Jason for a second that she didn't have high hopes for an easy recovery. How could she? Ambrosia, nectar and even mortal medicine did nothing to improve his condition. A deep cut from Celestial bronze or Imperial Gold could dissolve a demigod's essence from the inside out. No matter what he said, this injury had knocked him down hard.
"Ooh, brownies," Leo was quick to get distracted. He reached for the plate in front of Ezra, who had piled them high like she was stocking up for the Winter. He let out a yelp as her hand suddenly shot out to smack him. "Hey! You Mins need to learn some manners. Can't I have one?"
"One," Ezra grunted, and Leo snatched up a brownie before she could change her mind.
Annais stared at Ezra curiously, wondering what she was thinking. She was dead silent when Annais and Jason joined them, only murmuring quick, quiet replies to Annabeth and Percy who were sitting on either side of her and deep in an amused conversation about Percy drowning his pancakes in syrup.
