BY fates design

Siren

Percy could barely make out the island ahead of them - just a dark spot in the mist.

"I want you to do me a favour." Annabeth said. "The sirens... we'll be in range of their singing soon." Percy could remember stories about the sirens. They sang so sweetly their voices enchanted sailors and lured them to their deaths. He considered Cassiopeia, and how he had passed out to her song the night before. If they were half as beautiful as her with a fraction of her allure, then he could understand why so many sailors jumped to their deaths just for a glimpse of them.

Percy blushed like a blooming rose, but didn't evert his gaze from his wife. From the line of thrones, Aphrodite grinned like a crazed woman, giggles bubbling in her throat as she watched the couple.

"No problem," Percy assured her. "We can just stop up our ears. There's a big tub of candle wax below deck-"

"I want to hear them." She interrupted, intentionally not meeting Cassiopeia's gaze.

Percy blinked, confused. "Why?"

"They say sirens sing the truth about what you desire. They tell you things about yourself you didn't even realise. That's what's so enchanting. If you survive... you become wiser. I want to hear them. How often will I get this chance?"

Cassiopeia couldn't find the sense in her argument, caught somewhere between understanding her friend's curiosity and wanting to call her selfish for putting them all at risk over wanting to hear a stupid song.

Refusing to help in her plan, Cassiopeia stepped back and watched Percy aid Annabeth. As soon as the rocky coastline of the island came into view, he ordered one of the ropes to wrap around  Annabeth's waist, tying her to the foremast.

Cassiopeia huffed, her mind still not changed from that day. She didn't think she would ever understand Annabeth's desire to hear the sirens' song, not at the risk of her quest mates.

"Don't untie me." She said. "No matter what happens or how much I plead. I'll want to go straight over the edge and drown myself."

"Are you trying to tempt me?" Percy joked, placing a tub of wax in front of Cassiopeia.

"Ha-ha." Annabeth rolled her eyes. Percy promised to keep her secure, then took two large wads of candle wax and kneaded them into earplugs, and stuffed his ears.

Did you take her knife? Cassiopeia signed, looking between Annabeth and Percy. When all she got was a confused look from the blonde boy and a slightly less unsure look from Annabeth, she sighed.

Walking up to Annabeth, Cassiopeia gently pat her down, pulling out a small, bronze dagger from the girl's pocket. "I'll keep it safe." She promised, kissing the slightly taller girl on the cheek before moving away.

"We're so lucky that you remembered about my knife, because I definitely would have cut myself out otherwise." Annabeth admitted, rubbing the back of her head with a slightly bashful expression.

Annabeth nodded sarcastically at Percy, letting him know the earplugs were a real fashion statement. He pulled a face at her and turned to the pilot's wheel.

The silence was eerie. He couldn't hear anything but the rush of blood to his head. Cassiopeia tapped a rhythmic pattern onto his arm, her head resting on his shoulder.

As they approached the island, jagged rocks loomed out of the fog. He willed the Queen Anne's Revenge to skirt around them. If they sailed much closer, those rocks would have shredded the hull.

Percy glanced back. At first, Annabeth looked totally normal. Then she got a puzzled look on her face. Her eyes widened. She strained against the ropes. She was calling their names - he could tell just from reading her lips.