The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 45--We Cheat

A/N--Sorry for the random disappearance! I know nothing can justify it, but I was very unsatisfied with my writing, and I took a bit of a break to get a fresh perspective. Thank you for all the concerned comments over the past two weeks! During this time, I was also thinking about the future, and, considering a lot of feedback, I might start a rewrite of the Silver Ring after I complete this book—a full overhaul of the plot, and maybe new characters as well. Please comment your thoughts on that :)

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"What do you mean, 'we cheated'?" Liam asked angrily.

"He means we didn't follow the rules," Aridne replied calmly. "It's a pretty straightforward concept." She looked at me. "Thanks for saving us, by the way."

It should've been a simple sign of gratitude, but my heart started beating for no reason. "Don't worry about it."

By now, Mormolyce had stormed into earshot. "YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED!" he roared. "HOW DARE YOU NOT FOLLOW THE RULES!"

"Told you," Aridne said to Liam, then smirked when he rolled his eyes.

"There weren't any rules in the first place!" Liam protested. "How are we supposed to follow rules that you didn't tell us about?"

"Rule number one of horse racing," Mormolyce growled. "You win with your skill. Not by underhanded tactics like ruining the track."

"I didn't ruin the track," I said. "I just used your magic to my advantage."

"Explain. Now." He looked ready to strike me down—which was something I was desperately trying to prevent. 

"The track wasn't in good shape in the first place—I just used the water in the mud for our benefit. That's not cheating, right? Anything goes."

"Er . . . Percy," Liam said. "Not to be that guy . . . but I don't see the mud you're talking about. Mormolyce fixed the track."

He's holding his anger back pretty well, End noted as the Titan growled at the absence of honorifics. I would've attacked you guys a long time ago.

"He doesn't have the power to mold this planet as he wishes," I told him, then turned back to Mormolyce. "So, I assumed that you just put a slight illusion over the rough parts—which would allow you to rig the race as you wish."

"So," Aridne said slowly, "Without your intervention, Percy, we had no chance of winning?" 

Everyone swung their gazes to Mormolyce, who only got more agitated. "Young lady, don't try to shift the blame—"

"You totally cheated!" Liam exclaimed. "And then you tried to accuse us! How shameless can you be?"

"I've had it with you! I am a Titan. I do not deserve this disrespect—DIE!" He lunged at our chariot, swinging his mace to mangle our bodies.

We acted like a well oiled machine. Liam and I grabbed our shields, then brought them together in front of Paul, protecting him from what was about to come.

Then Aridne leaped out of the chariot.

Mormolyce was so blinded with anger that he didn't even realize what happened until her two swords were hilt deep into his chest. "This can't be! I'm a Titan!"

"And an asshole," Liam retorted. "Just die already!"

Mormolyce turned toward Paul. "You don't understand what you're doing. I will ruin your life."

"You already did," Paul growled. "This is payback for the hundreds of people you slaughtered."

Mormolyce gave each one of us one more sour glare before his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Instead of bursting into golden dust like a regular monster, however, his body turned completely clear—and then he just disappeared. 

That guy won't be missed, End said. That took way too long.

"What's that?" I asked Aridne as she bent down and picked something off the ground.

She turned around, lifting a necklace into view. Its chain was made of little brass beads that gleamed in the sunlight. The amulet was made of the same material, with intricate designs carved all around the frame. In the middle was a teardrop-shaped piece of polished glass that looked pretty ordinary. However, as I kept looking at it, the light around the necklace warped. Instead of seeing Aridne's palm through the translucent crystal, I saw skyscrapers, cars and roads. That's New York City . . . but how?

I stumbled back, rubbing at my eyes. "What the hell is that?"

"It's what the prophecy wanted us to get from here," Aridne said. 

"It doesn't look like it[s worth the trouble we went through to aquire it," Liam grumbled.

"Trust me, it's worth way more," Aridne insisted.

It's known as Ananke's Crystal, End explained. One look through it, and it will show you exactly what you desire.

So . . . it's exactly like a prophet's vision orb—except it works.

What object do you think those were inspired from? Only, it shouldn't be here.

What do you mean?

Ananke wears that around her neck at all times. It's one of her prized possessions. Although . . . I don't think she was wearing it when we visited her palace. 

So what happened? I asked. Did she give it to Mormolyce as a gift?

As I said, Ananke values the Crystal heavily. She wouldn't give the amulet to a lesser being so readily . . . 

End said "lesser being" so casually that it took me by surprise. To me, Mormolyce was a super powerful deity that had lived for longer than I possibly ever could. To End, however, he was only a speck of dust.

I couldn't even begin to imagine what she thought of me.

. . . which means that she was somehow robbed of it. But still—she isn't one to stay still while a robber runs away with her stuff. Something fishy is going on here . . .  

As End trailed off, I turned towards Aridne, realizing something. "Wait. How'd you know what this item is?"

Aridne froze. "Er . . . as a member of the Chaos army, I'm responsible for knowing the primordials' affairs. Lady Ananke had put in a request a few months prior with the Army to see this returned to her."

"Wait. Does that mean we have to hand this over?" Liam asked, sounding disappointed.

"Well . . . considering that we aren't on good terms with the Army right now, we don't have the means to do that. Also, I think Lady Anake would be fine with us using this to fulfill her prophecy—especially after what Percy did to her last time."

I winced. End's actions in the castle were embarrassing memories for me.

Great thinking with the water, Percy, Order praised me, changing the subject.

Thanks, I said. Then I remembered what Paul had said. I spun around to face the Taraxippi. "Paul, what happened?"

"Yeah, man," Liam added. "How can you talk properly now?"

"I already told you. Percy saved my consciousness from that demon. He's my hero."

"Why'd you tell Mormolyce your life is ruined?" I clarified. "We're here. We'll help you find your daughter."

That . . . sucks for him, End said. She'd obviously read my memories by now—and that was the most empathy one could get out of her.

Meanwhile, Liam and Aridne were a bit slower on the uptake. "Daughter?" she asked.

"My pride and joy," Paul said with a wistful smile on his face. "Before Mormolyce captured me, I was a father. Fortunately, he didn't capture her as well, but we've been separated for years—"

"That monster!" Liam growled. "Forget just us three helping you—there's a village just on the outskirts of the Great Forest. They owe us a great deal, and they'll definitely help us. We'll send the whole town looking for your daughter."

"What's her name?" I asked softly.  

Paul told me. And then my breath caught in my throat.