Camp Half Blood: One "Salty" Adventure

Chapter 21

Will's POV:

I left Rose alone in my room, rushing into the lab next door. I needed air, but instead I busied myself by messing around with the treatment formula. It had been a few days now and Myra was still trying to fight me, though I'm not sure exactly how she's been reacting with Damian, Corbyn, and Walker. But the worst case scenario is that she's already ahead of time. Olthen will be happy with me for that. I need to stay on his good side, especially after everything happening with Rose. I need to stay away from her, but that's nearly impossible when I've been instructed to be by her side all the time. The thought of her hug was sending heat to my face. She was so warm... so safe. No! She's a prisoner. Olthen said specifically not to get attached. I can't let her have this much control over me! The serum splashed onto the counter with my frantic stirring. I let go of the spoon I was holding and let it lean against the inside of the cauldron type bowl Olthen had given me as a gift a long time ago. Before everything had changed... I shook my head to clear my thoughts, biting down hard on my lip.

I examined the serum. It was always a silvery white color, giving it a mesmerizing appearance. The liquid seemed to dance in an almost hypnotic fashion. Since I had made it stronger, it took on a purple glow with dark flecks of the color shimmering throughout it. It was beautiful, yet horribly sickening to watch. I couldn't get Rose's words out of my head. I could still see the moment. Tears streaming down her face, she was shaking, and then my own achingly powerful feeling of revulsion towards myself. How could I let this happen? I poured the serum into a test tube and realization dawned on me. After everything that's happened... why was I trying to make it stronger? So I could stop Myra from taking it? So I didn't have to hear her beg for news about Rose and scream vile threats? Maybe even just to appease Olthen to buy myself more time with Rose. All three options just proved how selfish I am... how wretched I am. I took the cauldron and dumped its contents down the small sink in my lab. I left the small test tube. I put a stopper on it and stashed it in my pocket. I'll talk to Damian later in case I really do need to increase Myra's dosage. Suddenly I heard a knock on my door.

"Hey Will? You in there?" Shadow asked, knocking again impatiently. I plastered a fake smile onto my face and opened the door.

"What's up? Is Rose okay?" I asked. I didn't hear any noises next door and the wall in between my room and my lab are pretty thin so she was probably fine, but my stomach twisted with stress anyways.

"Relax, Will. She's fine. She wants to know if she can visit Myra." Shadow rolled her eyes at me.

"Absolutely not. She can't even walk." I turned away and grabbed a sponge and some soap so I could clean up the cauldron.

"I'll carry her down, Will. It's not that big of a deal to me. She's too weak to escape anyways." Shadow offered. I ignored her for a minute or too, biting down on my lip while I thought. I turned on the sink to get some water to clean the cauldron out with.

"I still can't let her go-" Shadow cut me off.

"Will, please. It'd be good for her."

"I know that, but if she goes, I need to go. Myra will get violent and then Corbyn and Walker will have to restrain her and someone could get hurt. It's not worth the risk." I finished, refusing to meet Shadow's eyes and, instead, focusing on my cleaning. Shadow put a hand on my shoulder.

"Myra's not dangerous, Will. She's just scared. After she calmed down earlier she was practically sandwiched in between Corbyn and Walker. If you bring her Rose she definitely won't attack. Even if she did, she's not strong without both her weapon and her powers." Shadow argued.

"I... I don't know. Olthen will be mad..." I mumbled, rinsing out the cauldron and drying it. I set it down and turned back to Shadow.

"Olthen doesn't have to know anything. All we're doing is taking Rose to see Myra for a few minutes. Rose is still sick so she'll get tired pretty quickly anyways. Please, Will?" She pleaded. I could feel myself starting to relent.

"But Olthen-" I protested. Shadow glared at me.

"What about Rose? She's the one you're healing, not Olthen. If she's happy she's going to feel better faster. You want her to be happy, don't you?" She spoke slowly, in an almost mocking tone.

"Yeah..." I sighed unwillingly, running a hand through my hair.

"So are we taking her or not?" Shadow smirked, crossing her arms as if she already knew she had won.

"I guess we could take her... but for a few minutes and a few minutes only." I said seriously, but Shadow just rolled her eyes.

"I get it. Relax, Will. You'll have plenty of alone time with her afterwards." Shadow ran next door to tell Rose the news before I could protest, the door swinging shut behind her.