𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

46

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝. Jason, Piper, and Percy pounded on the walls, looking for an exit, but they found nothing. They 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 Jason stood in a niche, the water was soon up to his knees. 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." It was a desperate idea, but Jason was glad for something to do.

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.

Sooner than Jason expected, Percy broke the surface, gasping and flailing. He offered his hand, and Percy almost pulled him in before he could help the guy up.

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

The life force of the nymphs, Jason thought. It was so poisoned and malicious, even a son of the sea god couldn't control it.

As the water rose around him, Jason felt it affecting him too. His leg muscles trembled like he'd been running for miles. His hands turned wrinkled and dry, despite being in the middle of a fountain.

Percy and Piper moved sluggishly. Piper's face was pale. She seemed to be having trouble standing upright. Percy was drenched and shivering. His hair didn't look quite so dark, as if the color was leaching out.

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

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

Jason raised his sword, even holding the damn thing was making his arms ache. 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 Jason's skin.

"Not what I wanted," he said.

The water was up to their necks now. Jason could feel his strength fading.

"We'll survive," Piper murmured. But even Aphrodite wouldn't be able to charmspeak her way out of this. Soon the poisonous water would be over their heads. They'd have to swim, and this stuff was already paralyzing them.

They would drown, just like in the visions Piper had seen.

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!"

"We can't fight this," Piper said. "If we hold back, that just makes us weaker."

"What do you mean?" Jason shouted over the rain.

The water was up to their chins. Another few inches, and they'd have to swim.

"The horn of plenty," she said. "We have to overwhelm the nymphs with fresh water, give them more than they can use. If we can dilute this poisonous stuff—"