A New Goddess (Sequel to The Child Of The Dead Sea)

28. Son of Poseideon

Percy

I walked over to her bunk and crouched down. Looking under I saw the box towards the wall, hidden so it blended with the shadows and you wouldn't see it unless you were looking for it and you knew what you were looking for. I pulled it out and set it on the bed. The complex lock bounced against the side. That was problem two, getting the lock off.

"Let me try." Chiron stepped forward and took an arrow, attempting to pick the lock. It didn't budge.

I took the lock in my hand and gave a small tug, it snapped right open. "I guess it's a family thing." I shrugged, opening the lid.

The inside of the small chest was lined with lead, that much was obvious, the contents; not so much. On top were various pictures and drawings. Some were pictures of Kate with someone else. I recognized different gods, her mother and sister, and a few kids her age, all posing with her for the picture. The drawings were happy pictures of a landscape, her house, and other images that she probably drew from views. Under the pictures were several vials, small jars, and objects. I pulled out the vial I recognized as the smelling salts and closed the box again, making a note to go through it later, if Kate wasn't better of course.

"Got it," I told Chiron and started towards the door.

"Wait, shouldn't we go through the rest? She might have something else that can help." Frank asked, leaning against the doorway. He followed us to fill us in on the other campers and had stuck around to see if we had a plan.

I looked at him for a moment and let my gaze drift towards the box again then the window nearest the door. A bird was perched there and was just staring at me. One of Kate's pets. I got the sense the stare was a caution against what Frank had suggested. In response I shook my head, looking back at Frank. "She can tell us about everything in there when she's better."

We walked back to the big house in silence. Once I got to the door and opened it I was met with one of the angriest faces I had ever seen. Kate was thoroughly pissed off.

She was restrained in a simple chair with the same chains we had used on her before.

"Percy!" She exclaimed. "Thank the gods. Now let me out so I can take care of a few things."

I froze for a moment. She was using charmspeak but for some reason it was weakened, almost like she was not sure if she actually wanted what she said. "I can't do that." I responded, pulling out the stopper from the vial and hovering it under her nose. I watched as her eyes rolled back into her head, but unlike Will's they didn't roll back.

Kate

My eyes blinked open and I was standing beside myself. Quite literally. To my right my body sat chained to a chair as Percy knelt in front of me and Chiron and Frank watched from the door. He watched my face intently for a moment until his expression turned to worry.

"It's not working. What happened?" Percy was looking slightly panicked at this point as he stood and looked to Chiron.

The centaur rubbed his chin in thought. "I do not know. Perhaps it doesn't work because she is a god? Or maybe because it's the wrong vial?"

Percy shook his head. "No. It's the right one."

"Well now what?" Another voice said beside me.