Percy Jackson: New Friends

Chapter 25: Ralph's POV

Chapter 25: Ralph's POV

Lupe dragged us into the room. It smelled of death. I moaned. So did the others. "Here we are, young demigods," she hissed.

My head throbbed; let me correct myself. Everywhere in my body hurt. Destania, my crush, was so pale, my white bed sheets were darker. Lupe then left the room, carrying some of the pain and misery with her.

"Guys, are you ok?" I asked them.

"I feel awful," Duke groaned. Destania slowly nodded her head in agreement. I felt awful. I smelled myself. Yep. Aphrodite's gross-out perfume was still on my body. I gagged. I sniffed it some more. Yuck.

"Well, Ania. They look pretty comfortable," another spirit said. Comfortable? When the spirit talked, I began to feel troubled and distressed.

"Yes, Achos. We will take them to our lord and-" the spirit paused and sniffed. "What is that awful smell? It smells of love," Ania cringed. Lupe sniffed around too. She frowned.

"Who has that awful perfume on?" Lupe asked angrily. She started to sniff around us. "Ah," she smiled with pleasure. She grabbed my shirt and tore it off as if it was soggy paper. She ripped it to shreds. A warm sensation came over me. I was shirtless. The spirits only evilly smiled as if they loved my discomfort.

"Um. Can I have another shirt maybe?" I asked. Destania let out a barely audible and weak laugh. I blushed.

"Awe. How...horrifying," Achos smiled. She walked around us some more. Her aura made me twitch and think about my life before the quest.

Lupe sniffed the air again. "Everyone of you has it on. A stupid gift of Aphrodite. I should've known. That stuff can't come off...easily." So that was why Aphrodite sprayed us with that concoction. She knew we would need it to survive. Then, Destania's head drooped some more. I was saddened.

"I sense your grief," Lupe said.

"Oh, really?" I said sarcastically.

"Yes," she hissed. "I am the spirit of grief, sadness, and pain. Am I not?"

"You sure are a happy little rainbow, aren't you?" Duke muttered.

"A happy little rainbow? What is that?" Lupe asked.

"The opposite of sadness," Duke replied.

"I will destroy all rainbows!" she said triumphantly. I laughed, but it was full of pain. Lupe looked at me with confusion.

"Nothing," I said.

The perfume then made it to my nose. I could only sniff it. The perfume made me feel a little better. I began to breathe more easily. Destania did look a little better. So did Duke. Then, Destania did the unexpected. She easily released her ropes, and attacked Lupe. Lupe screamed in surprise. Achos and Ania started to help Lupe. Destania kept slicing them, but they were spirits. They weren't that easy to make go away. The perfume became stronger. I broke the magical ropes. Destania needed my help. Suddenly, a scream shook the boat. I only hoped it was Lupe or the others crying out in pain. Of course, a demigod's luck only stretches so far. By the time Duke and I rushed over there, Destania was shaking. A tear trickled down my cheek. I noticed that Achos and Ania was gone. Only Lupe was left. Duke started to battle the spirit while I sat down next to Destania.

By that time, I was crying. Destania frailly took my hand. "Th-they overpowered me. Pain ventured through my body," Destania said. She then had a coughing spell. More tears trickled down my face. Suddenly, a colorful figure appeared. Duke was struggling with Lupe.

"Did you say you would destroy rainbows?" the female voice asked. The light slowly started to die down. I recognized her easily.

"Yes," Lupe hatefully replied. The goddess, Iris, cocked her head.

"I am usually a peace keeper, but spirits like you must be stopped," Iris said firmly. She waved her hand, and Lupe exploded into a shower of rainbow dust.

Destania started to cough wildly again. I brushed the hair out of her face. "You will go to Elysium. I know I will see you again," I said softly. I kissed her. She struggled to pull herself up. She managed to kiss me back. Her lips were cracked, but it was the best kiss a guy could ever ask for.

"Let her go," Iris said softly. Even she wasn't her cheery self. Destania did a last cough and smiled as her life force faded away. I cried hard, and Duke was shaken up too. Iris comforted us and left after a few minutes. Then, Maika, Alexandria, and Xenia ran into the room.

"What happened?" Maika asked, startled. I probably looked horrible. Maika caught on to what had happened.

"Oh no," Alexandria managed to say before she crumpled to the floor. "Sh-she healed me when I almost died, and I couldn't do the same for her. It's all my fault!" Alexandria cried. I shook my head and patted her back. It wasn't her fault at all.

"It wasn't your fault. Blame the spirits," I replied.

Then Xenia remarked with a sad expression on her face, "No. Blame Rachel. The first part of the prophecy has just been fulfilled."