ꜰᴏᴏʟꜱ ɢᴏʟᴅ|ᴘ.ᴊ|②

XIX

-THE BETRAYED-

   The demigods are shoved into the cave and bound. Annabeth struggles to keep herself awake. She'd taken a hard blow to the head trying to get out of another's grasp. She was pale, sweat beading on her forehead. 

   Percy and Grover were terrified for her. Neither knew what came next, or whether or not they'd actually be let free. And they had no idea if they'd be able to get her help. 

   The son of Poseidon pleaded with Evangeline for as long as possible, but he was eventually gagged with magick. His ability to speak was taken away so fast that it had barely registered at first. 

   Now, they watch as she is healed by the Golden Fleece, and as Kronos, Titan King of the Golden Age, is revived. 

   A special blond boy, hair tousled and eyes tired, he watches with hope as the black veins on Evangeline's chest begin to disappear. She was healing. Fast. It was a good sign, one that told him that everything was going according to plan. 

   He grabs her hand in his, careful not to disturb the Fleece. "You almost me fooled, you know? With the whole crying act and all that. Almost thought..." 

   She makes a tsk sound. "I hope my grandfather hasn't deluded you. I wouldn't have come all this way just to undo my decision," she says, resting her hand against his cheek. Her eyes stare at him so lovingly. "I want to tear Olympus apart. I want the Gods to suffer the same way every demigod has. They will know loss like no other."

   "A new age is coming," Luke agrees. "Between you and Kronos, we will be unstoppable." 

   Their conversation is cut short by Kaen. He crouches down beside her, grabs her other hand. His thumb swipes softly, absentmindedly across the back of it. His eyes meet her's, and his free hand brushes across her forehead, trails down and swipes stray strands behind her ear. 

   "You look better," he says. "That's good. It's doing it's job." 

   "How much longer?" Evangeline asks. 

   He shrugs. "Few more minutes, maybe. Maybe less. We're running out of time." 

   She sighs. "I know. But I can feel it. Just a little longer." 

   "No more than five minutes, alright? We don't know what might happen if you keep it on for too long." 

   That fear again. The one of her absorbing the Fleece's magic. They didn't know what would happen if she did. Would that much power truly have the potential to kill her, the same way the River Styx almost had? 

   "Eva, let us go!" Percy's voice sounds yet again. He'd been at it since they'd got things going. She was beginning to lose her mind. 

   "Ugh, my spell stopped working," she groans. "This thing is messing with my powers." 

   In a fit of annoyance, the Goddess throws the Fleece off of her and stands. As she does so, a jolt of energy bursts through her. 

   She's awake. 

   Evangeline takes a deep, heavy breath of air. She can smell everything, taste it on the tip of her tongue. From the salty, ocean water to the gravel beneath her feet. She can feel the cave pulse and vibrate, feel the electricity of the fire.