Daughter of the Sea || HoO

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Tori couldn't explain how she knew the eidolons' presence was still around. She had a gut sense they were still present, simply because no one had told them to go away.

When Tori and Piper were done explaining, the others looked at them uncomfortably. Up on deck, Hedge sang something that sounded like "In the Navy" while Blackjack stomped his hooves, whinnying in protest. Finally Hazel exhaled. "Piper is right."

"How can you be sure?" Annabeth asked.

"I've met eidolons," Hazel said. "In the Underworld, when I was...you know."

Dead. Tori had forgotten that Hazel was a second-timer. In her own way, Hazel too was a ghost reborn.

"So..." Frank rubbed his hand across his buzz-cut hair as if some ghosts might have invaded his scalp. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or—" 

"Possibly lurking inside some of us," Piper said. "We don't know.

Jason clenched his fist. "If that's true—"

"We have to take steps,"Piper said. "I think me and Tori can do this."

 "Do what?" Percy asked.

"Just listen, okay?" Tori took a deep breath. "Everybody listen."

Tori met their eyes, one person at a time."Eidolons," she said, using her charmspeak, "raise your hands."

There was tense silence. Leo laughed nervously. "Did you really think that was going to—?" His voice died. His face went slack. He raised his hand.

Jason and Percy did the same. Their eyes had turned glassy and gold. Hazel caught her breath. Next to Leo, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall.

"Oh, gods." Annabeth looked at Tori and Piper imploringly. "Can you two cure them?"

They didn't answer her. Piper focused on Leo because he was the least intimidating. "Are there more of you on this ship?" she asked

"No," Leo said in a hollow voice. "The Earth Mother sent three. The strongest, the best. We will live again." 

"Not here, you won't," Tori growled. "All three of you, listen carefully." 

Jason and Percy turned toward her. Those gold eyes were unnerving, but seeing all three boys like that fueled Tori's anger. "You will leave those bodies," she commanded. 

"No," Percy said.

Leo let out a soft hiss. "We must live."

Frank fumbled for his bow. "Mars Almighty, that's creepy! Get out of here, spirits! Leave our friends alone!"

Leo turned toward him. "You cannot command us, child of war.Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment." 

Tori wasn't sure what that meant, but Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. He drew an arrow, his hands shaking. "I-I've faced down worse things than you. If you want a fight-"

"Frank, don't." Hazel rose.

Next to her, Jason drew his sword.

"Stop!" Piper ordered, but her voice quavered.

"Listen to Piper." Hazel pointed at Jason's sword. The gold blade seemed to grow heavy in his hand. It clunked to the table and Jason sank back into his chair.

Percy growled in a very un-Percy-like way. "Daughter of Pluto, you may control gems and metals. You do not control the dead." 

Annabeth reached toward him as if to restrain him, but Hazel waved her off. "Listen, eidolons," Hazel said sternly, "you do not belong here. I may not command you, but Piper and Tori do. Obey them."