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

29. Blood of the Lamb

"Mine." She answered.

I stood frozen for a moment. For once, I didn't know what to do, or say.

"Are you going to kill me?" She asked in a small voice and broke my trance.

"Um...what's your name again?" I asked, avoiding the question.

"Ashley."

"Ashley," I stood directly in front of her and put my hands on her shoulders. "We are going to find another way. You will be safe."

Moments later I was walking back into the other room with Ashley. She returned to the other two she came with and I stepped over to Chiron, filling him in out of earshot of the others. He stroked his beard.

"Lock the boy in the room you were in. We will handle him later." He whispered.

I nodded and motioned for Mark to follow me back to the other room. He sat in the chair and waited while I made a show of looking for something in the medical bag. "Hold on man, I left the light in the other room. I'll be right back." I told him, leaving the room.

As quietly as possible I closed the door behind him and locked it. He must have heard it click because I saw the knob jiggle as he tried to open it. "Percy, you locked the door." He called.

"I know, Mark, if that is your name." I responded, the jiggling stopped.

The lack of windows in the room left Mark trapped, so I returned to the others. "You're both safe now." I told the girls. Ashley looked relieved but Maya still looked skeptical.

"He can't get out?" She asked.

"My dear, I couldn't break out of that room." Chiron confirmed. That seemed to please the other girl since she let one of her arms fall back to her side from its place around Ashley.

"Both of you should stay in my cabin until we can sort this out." I offered.

"Are you sure? I thought we weren't supposed to stay in the other cabins." Ashley asked.

"It's okay. You have my blessing. Plus I'll be spending the night here." I told them.

They nodded and left, following Frank back to my cabin.

"Percy, do you have a plan to stop this, because it sounds to me like there is only one way." Chiron began.

"I don't know."

"Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the good of the whole. You must remember that." Chiron said and walked out, leaving me alone in the Big House.

I found my legs taking into another room, opening the door, looking at a form slumped in a chair. Her blonde hair moved out of her face as she raised her head and fixed her red eyes on me as I took a seat across from her.

"Back so soon?" She snarled, straining against the straps.

"Annabeth, I need you to know that we might have a way to free you." I told her.

"You don't need a way. Just cut the ropes."

"I can't do that." I responded and she screamed, shaking her wrists and ankles against their bonds.

I couldn't watch so I stood and left, sliding down against the outside of the door. "I love you." I mumbled.

~~~~

The paths between the cabins are bathed in darkness when the sun sets. The harpies still fly overhead, but ever since Kate took over they haven't attacked campers. Which was good since I walked right under them, a knife tucked in my shirt sleeve.