Pick Your Battles

The battle

Hermes' arrival was punctuated by sound before anyone actually saw him. The fight with Bea and Peitho lasted shorter than Annabeth had hoped, and soon enough, she could see a tall figure making his way across the catwalk. He kept a leisurely pace, as if he had all the time in the world. Being immortal, she supposed he did.

Annabeth felt small, standing on the Isle of Anesidora all by herself. Even the mist looked stronger than her, shrouding all light, even barricading sound from travelling great distances. The waves seemed tougher than her, churning and thrashing with no control, only displaying the least of its abilities.

Annabeth felt seven years old again, on the streets surrounded by monsters, with no clear path to survival, no one else to lean on.

But that wasn't true. Percy was with her, albeit currently biding his time beneath the surface of the water, he was there, and he was on her side. That always made her feel infinitely better.

Duel took his first steps onto the island. Dark mist seemed to spew out of his nose and lips. "Annabeth Chase," he spat out the words like they were poison. "Move away from the coffin. I have a duel to begin with someone far more important than you."

Annabeth heaved a dramatic sigh. "Of course, Lord Hermes. If that is your wish." She retreated, and marvelled at the fact that he had not yet reminded her of his new name. Perfect.

"What is the meaning of this?" Hermes bellowed, turning fiercely away from the empty coffin. "Where have you put her, you insolent child?" He aimed the head of the staff at her mouth, stopping about an inch away. The snakes reached out, however, coiling around her ears and the nape of her neck, their fork tongues drawing patterns on her cheeks. Annabeth put all her energy into staying as still as she could.

"If you destroy me now," she spoke slowly, quietly, "You will never find out. And I am the only one who would tell you the current whereabouts of Pandora. I swear it."

It was a risky thing to say, but true enough for her to swear by it. After all, Percy and Cat Noir had no idea where she was. Ladybug had taken her to the guardian of the miraculous, for safekeeping, and even if she could tell Hermes the guardian's location, she would not. Lastly, the guardian couldn't tell Hermes because he wouldn't know the woman's name. Ladybug hadn't told him who Pandora was.

Hermes raised his eyebrows. Swearing wasn't taken lightly by immortals. "Very well, child. And what will you have in exchange for that foolish deity's location?"

Annabeth pulled out her knife. Her wrist still hurt from Peitho's blade, but she would never last fighting left-handed against Hermes. Besides, pain was a good motivator to stay alive. "You use your power now. Challenge me to a duel. If I lose, you can go on your search for Pandora, however fruitful that may be. If you lose, you will lose your powers as well."

Hermes threw his head back and laughed, the sound dark and full of hatred. "You foolish girl. What use will seeking out Pandora be to me if I have already used my power on you?"

Annabeth clenched her teeth. This was the one question she did not want to answer, and had hoped Hermes wouldn't be smart enough to ask, but he was. So she blurted out a response.

"Are you so weak?" she shouted, her voice echoing off the dark chamber walls. "Can you not beat a millenia old woman who has spent the majority of it in isolated imprisonment without your powers?"

For a second she wondered if she had gone too far. Hermes looked furious, his ears had turned red and his black eyes were stormy. Then he hesitated. A dangerous smile unfurled across his lips.

"But you are mistaken, Miss Chase," he sneered. "For I can use my power twice."

Annabeth stilled. The silence stretched on for a few more seconds. Unsure of what to do, Annabeth said meekly, "You can?"