The Demigod Games

Chapter Twenty-eight

Lara happily splashed around. Finally, she was in her own element. The desert only wore her out, but the water brought her back to life.

She laughed as she enjoyed herself. Nothing could get in her way. Days had passed where her fellow tributes hadn't even encountered her. Lara had been safe for too long.

A shining, silvery package flew down by way of parachute, landing softly beside her. Lara eagerly tore it open to see something she had not expected: ear muffs?

"What the Hades?" she muttered under her breath. Lara stuffed it back inside and pushed it away. Even if it started snowing, Lara had no intention of using any gift from her father or any other God that favored her. Her only intentions were making out alive on her own account, she didn't need any help for that.

About half an hour later, a beautiful song perked Lara's ears. It drew her in with a pull as irresistible as cheese was to a mouse.

Lara frantically paddled until the sound grew more and more faint until it faded out completely. The daughter of Neptune fell back, confused and disoriented.

It was in that moment that Edward decided to strike and take the revenge he had been waiting for. After Lara was killed, Edward could take on his strongest enemy. He planned on winning the Demigod Games by murdering one of the strongest demigods on the face of the earth, perhaps even more powerful than Lara. Edward smiled maliciously as he imagined snapping both of their necks, ending their lives.

Since Clarisse had already died, Edward knew he was Mars' only hope in the games. At long last, Edward felt victory was already in his hands.

--

Annabeth pulled Percy with her under the water, recognizing the sound instantly. Percy created a bubble around them, allowing them both to breathe. "Oh my gods, where are Hestia and Aelia?"

Percy temporarily popped above the surface, diving back down before he could hear anything. "They must have taken off," he concluded. "What's up there?"

"I've heard something like that before but now...it's different," Annabeth pondered, tapping her chin. "Hestia said it was something we could not resist and that can only mean one thing." Her face paled. "The sirens."

A lump formed in Percy's throat. He remembered when he was thirteen that he allowed Annabeth to listen to their calls while on a quest. It was nearly impossible to restrain her. He was determined not to even let Annabeth be at risk once more. "We have to stay underwater until they go away," he said.

Annabeth shook her head. "But what about Hestia and Aelia? We can't just leave them here!"

Percy brushed a piece of blonde hair away from her eyes. After six, long and harsh days in the arena, Annabeth's once princess-like hair was disheveled with pieces of dirt and sand laced into it. Her face was covered in small cuts and bruises, her skin partially burned from the scorching sun. His hand cradled her cheek, bringing warmth into her body. "Hestia's a Goddess," Percy sighed. "It's not like Zeus can lock her up in hell," he bit his lip. "And Aelia...she's a nice girl and all but I don't think we can save her without killing ourselves in the process."

Annabeth looked away, not wanting to accept that as the truth. "That wouldn't have stopped us before," she said bluntly.

"I know," Percy agreed. "But this isn't like before. This is so much worse than anything we've ever dealt with."

"Percy," Annabeth took one his hands into her own. "This is everything we've ever dealt with but our enemies are the only thing that has changed. Here, our worst enemies are the people most like us. And I feared that we would change into blood thirsty savages, and I guess we kinda have. We're not ourselves anymore."

Before Percy responded, a boom sounded so loud they could hear it underwater. His eyes met Annabeth's. "Nine tributes left."

Annabeth felt a twinge in her chest, already feeling sorrow for the death that had recently occured. It could have been anyone of their old friends, any other hero. "I can't handle this anymore," she said weakly.

Percy took a heavy breath of air. "We have to," he insisted. "It's the only way we can defeat Gaea."

"But Hazel's already dead. The prophecy is falling apart," Annabeth looked up, seeing the light shine through the water. "We need to stand with Hestia and refuse to fall victim to these savage-like games the Gods are forcing us into. The Gods may not see through Gaea's tricks but we can."

The son of Poseidon's eyes fell, seeing the depths and darkness that the sea held. His voice cracked, "But if we go out there we might get killed. I don't want to risk l-losing you again."

"It's not about us anymore." Annabeth felt much different than she had ever felt before. The urge to be impulsive surged through her like a wildfire, tempting her every passing second. She had no desire to plan and to use strategies. No, it was time for action. She smiled sadly at Percy. "This is about what we've been trained to do: to save the world."

Annabeth defiantly broke away from Percy as he desperately failed at grabbing onto her. "Annabeth!" He called out as she swam away. Percy frantically followed her, panic beginning to set in. If she surfaced than she'd hear the Sirens once again, and Percy knew he might not be able to save her.

Luckily, the daughter of Athena did not hear the call of the Sirens. Her ears rang with a piercing sound, causing her to cover them. Percy appeared and threw his arms around his girlfriend. "Seaweed brain, I'm fine," Annabeth said indignantly. "Let me go."

Percy immediately did, hearing the whisper of an angel. Off in the distance, Percy could see everything he had ever wanted. On a remote island, Annabeth and himself waved and laughed as a little girl with blonde hair and green eyes wandered around carelessly. Percy's mirage placed a hand on Annabeth's stomach, holding it protectively.

Annabeth saw it too, her own dreams evident as well. A part of her wanted to get there as quickly as possible, but she knew it was too good to be true. "It's not real," Annabeth reminded Percy.

Something in Percy's eyes changed; a look of urgency and overwhelming desire filling them. He blatantly ignored her and shot off closer to the Sirens. Annabeth screamed his name repeatedly, but Percy couldn't hear anything but their song.

--

Jason was his weakest in water, Neptune made sure of it. He felt weak, but his will to rescue Piper remained stronger.

A mermaid-like creature was pulling her down. Air bubbles burst from her mouth in an inaudible scream.

Their fingers entwined as Jason attempted to tug Piper to safety. More mermaids surrounded the demigods, baring fangs and hissing. "The daughter of Venus is ours." They chanted together, closing in. "And soon the son of Jupiter will be as well."

Jason was running out of ideas. There was no way for him to battle all of the mermaids, especially considering he lacked a weapon. He could try to take on all of the mermaids, but that would be at the risk of losing Piper.

He sent a fist flying at the nearest mermaid's scaly green face before she could bit him. The rest retaliated, including the mermaid who had stolen Piper in the first place. They were thirsty for Jason's blood.

Jason wished he could have seen Piper's face one last time. He blacked out once they all pounced at his weakened body.