The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

XXIII: Hagno and her backing singers

Fighting zombie nymphs was definitely not on my bucket list, but here we are.

The doorway had disappeared, naturally, because the Fates seem to hate all demigods, but never mind. I can fight. We can fight. But... Hermes almighty, this place is so small. There's no room to run. I can't... I don't think I can handle this.

Focus, Lara.

The vision Dove had told me about came crashing through my memory, and I wondered for a moment if this is how it happens – if it's these nymphs who drown us.

"Who are you?" Seaweed Brain demanded, but names hold power and... do I really want to know their names? Maybe he's just stalling for time.

"Ah... names." The central nymph turned her head as though intrigued by the question, by the answer, even. "We once had names." And they still do, unless they've forgotten. Gods, these old hags are keeping me from saving my son! "I was Hagno, the first of the nine!"

Hagno, like hag. Oh, Gods that's cruel.

"The nine," Lightning Boy repeated. Yes, the nine, that's what she just said! I decide to keep my thoughts to myself. I'm not being very helpful. "The nymphs of this shrine. There were always nine niches."

"Of course." Hagno bared her teeth in an awful smile. "But we are the original nine, Jason Grace, the ones who attended the birth of your father."

I choak on air. "Gods, you're old." I mutter under my breath and Percy stamps on my toes in a warning of shut up. I shoot him a glare.

"You mean Jupiter?" Lightning Boy's spear dipped and I nudge his ribs to remind him to hold it fast, just in case. These old nymphs are still immortals, they can still move at incredible speeds, I just know it. "You were there when he was born?"

"Zeus, we called him then." Hagno explained. "Such a squealing whelp. We attended Rhea in her labour. When the baby arrived, we hid him so that his father, Kronos, could not find him. Ah, he had lungs, that baby! It was all we could do to drown out the noise so Kronos could not find him. When Zeus grew up, we were promised eternal honours. But that was in the old country, in Greece."

The other nymphs wailed and clawed at their niches, seemingly trapped, like animals at a zoo. Maybe they are... their feet seemed glued to the ground, much like the decorative seashells.

"When Rome rose to power, we were invited here." Hagno continued to explain, though no one had asked. "A son of Jupiter had tempted us with favours. A new home, he promised. Bigger and better! No down payment, an excellent neighbourhood. Rome will last forever."

"Forever." The others hissed like a chorus, or backstage singers in some random musical.

Oh, no. I can't take them seriously now.

"We gave into temptation." The one in the centre was still talking. "We left our simple wells and springs on Mount Lycaeus and moved here. For centuries, our lives were wonderful! Parties, sacrifices in our honour, new dresses and jewellery every week. All the demigods of Rome flirted with us and honoured us."

It sounds more like they were ornaments to be showed off, excuses to throw parties and possessions to prove their owner's wealth. These poor nymphs.

Again, the backing singers did not disappoint – they wailed and sighed.

"But Rome did not last." Hagno snarled as though it were our fault that the city fell. "The aqueducts were diverted. Our master's villa was abandoned and torn down. We were forgotten, buried under the earth, but we could not leave. Our life sources were bound to this place. Our old master never saw fit to release us. For centuries, we have withered in the darkness, thirsty... so thirsty."