DEMIS (A Clash With Lightning)

17

As time passed, they neared their next destination.

"There! That's the island!" Keith shouted, pointing excitedly at Lotus Eater Island.

"Wow," Rose breathed in awe.

They could see large buildings, inflatables bobbing in the water near the shore, and countless people swimming and tanning on the beach.

"This is definitely a much different vibe than Cyclops Island," Jasmine pointed out.

"This place looks like paradise!" Keith grinned.

"Don't forget, we're not here for pleasure," Ban reminded them. "And don't eat the fruit."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Keith rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the island.

Once they docked, they were immediately greeted by the island's inhabitants. A woman wearing a long, thin pink skirt and a bikini top that left little to the imagination approached them. She walked with confidence and purpose.

"Welcome, friends," she greeted warmly. "Oh, how I've longed for your visit."

"Hello, gorgeous," Keith scrambled off the boat to approach her. "And what might your name be?"

"You flatter me," she said, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I am Diana, and I am the ruler of this island."

"Please excuse my friend," Jasmine apologized on Keith's behalf. "He'll flirt with anything that has two legs."

"I don't mind," Diana insisted with a wink in Keith's direction. "He isn't too harsh on the eyes himself."

"I think I'm in love," Keith swooned.

"Since when does Lotus Eater Island have a ruler?" Ban raised his eyebrows suspiciously.

It was widely known that the island was just a deserted place full of people who had eaten the fruit and become content with staying there forever with no purpose. There had never been any mention of someone being in charge.

"Since forever." She tilted her head as if she were confused by the question. "I'm surprised you don't know."

"Diana, we're here on very important business," Jasmine interjected. "I'm sure you've heard of the threat of Alexander."

"Of course," Diana said, placing a hand on her forehead dramatically, as though faint at the thought of Alexander. "That man is truly terrifying."

"We're on a mission to defeat him. We're looking for the Armor of Apollo, hidden somewhere on this island. Is there any way you can help us?" Jasmine asked.

Diana grinned. "But of course! It is my sole reason for existing to ensure every guest on my island is satisfied. However, you won't like the solution to your problem."

"What is it?" Jasmine raised an eyebrow.

Diana snapped her fingers, and a shirtless man wearing a black bow tie and matching black swim shorts approached, holding a tray of fruit.

Diana gestured sheepishly toward the fruit. "You must eat the fruit."

"Hell no," Ban spoke up immediately.

"I figured you'd say that," she giggled. "But the rules of my island are unwavering, even for me. You cannot enter without eating the fruit. You also won't find the armor without eating it."

"You're out of your mind if you think we're falling for that," Ban scoffed.

Diana shrugged. "It matters not whether you believe me. I am choosing to help you because if humanity is wiped out, I will never have any more... guests." She hesitated on her last word, then added, "Of course, there's a risk. If you eat the fruit, you may never want to leave. But you didn't think this would be easy, did you?"

"Can you break the hypnosis if we're too far gone?" Jasmine asked.

"No," Diana said with a cheerful smile. "You see, this is a win-win for me. If you succeed, you save humanity, and I will always have more and more guests coming to my island. If you fail, I will have five demigods added to my collection." She shuddered, as though the thought brought her great pleasure. "You have no idea how wonderful it would be to keep you."

"You're batshit insane," Ban growled. "I'm going to the island, and I'm not touching that fruit."

Diana and her attendant stepped aside to let him pass. "By all means," she said, her grin never wavering.

Ban stomped past her, and the rest followed him cautiously.

"Yeah, I'm not so sure it was love, guys," Keith whispered. "She's kind of creepy... Why are the hot ones always crazy?"

Before Ban could step off the dock onto the sand, he ran straight into a visible barrier. It threw him back two feet, and he landed hard on his back. He gasped in surprise at the force it blasted him with. He wheezed as he tried to get air into his lungs.

"Ban!" Rose ran to his side and helped him sit up. "You're okay. You just got the wind knocked out of you, that's all."

As Ban caught his breath, Diana and the shirtless man approached again. The waiter with the bow tie held the tray out to them once more with a stunning and friendly smile.

"The fruit will let you pass," Diana offered sweetly.

"No," Ban managed to choke out between wheezes.

"I don't think we have much of a choice," Rose said grimly.

"Don't—" he choked. "You—dare—"

Ignoring him, Rose stood, grabbed one of the strange blue fruits from the tray, and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes widened.

"Wow!" she exclaimed. "I've never tasted anything so wonderful!"

"Oh, Rose!" Diana clasped her hands excitedly. "That is only the beginning of what my island has to offer you."

She guided Rose past the barrier onto the beach, then turned to the others. "Eat the fruit, and then you can join your friend."

By now, Ban had recovered. "You bitch!" he shouted at Diana. "You'll pay for that!"

"Ban!" Josh scolded. "You need to calm down."

If Diana was offended, she didn't show it. Her smile remained perfectly in place. She stood next to Rose and petted her hair gently while Rose looked around in wonder at everything around her.

Keith grabbed a fruit and ate it quickly, then leaped through the barrier. "Rose, you weren't kidding. That fruit is delicious!"

"I don't think I could live without eating it ever again!" Rose nodded enthusiastically.

"Me neither," Keith agreed wholeheartedly.

"What's wrong with you?" Ban shouted at Keith. "You're such an idiot!"

"This is our only option, Ban," Josh said nervously as he picked up another piece of fruit.

"Josh, put it down. We can figure something out," Ban pleaded.

"Sorry, man." Josh closed his eyes, ate the fruit, and joined the others beyond the barrier.

"Jasmine! Ban!" Josh called. "You have to join us!"

Jasmine turned to Ban. "Look, I know you don't want to do this, and trust me, I don't either. But we're a group of strong-minded people. People have broken free from the fruit's hold before, and I have faith we'll be one of them."

"We can't do this," Ban said, shaking his head. "We'll never want to leave."

"I trust us," Jasmine insisted. She grabbed two fruits and placed one in Ban's hand. "Let's eat it together, all right?"

Ban stared at the fruit in his hand, then sighed in defeat. They couldn't leave without the armor.

"Okay. Fuck it," he muttered.