Rosalind

Six

Rosalind didn't have any expectations of what jail was like in Olympus, but she was glad it was a barred, marble room with a bed and a chamber pot. She'd been too used to the depths of Tartarus.

"Rose?" She heard Pythia call out. She continued to apologise.

She pretended to be asleep, shifting on the bed. There weren't many others down here, the few that were, were quiet. She hoped Hecate was notified of her absence, instead of thinking she had fallen into old habits and just playing hooky.

"Lunchtime!" A gruff sounding voice called out. Slowly, he had put each plate by the bars of each cell and slid them underneath. It was the usual chicken sandwich for lunch, and milk. She was thankful she wasn't lactose intolerant.

She heard some hassle outside, assuming it was a new prisoner. Maybe a new friend for the next month.

"Don't you know who I am?" The footsteps marched down the marble hall, and she was met with a face to the voice.

"Which one of you is Pythia, and Rosalind Hemlock?" The man read out the names from a piece of paper. Both Rosalind and Pythia raised their hands.

"Come with me." He began to unlock both of their cells. The first time they'd seen each other's faces in three days.

They followed him down the hall, up the stairs and into a police station. There were a few Olympus police officers. It surprised her how similar Olympus was to the overworld.

"I've paid your bail, but it's not without a cost." He led them outside and into a car. Pythia stayed quiet, sometimes throwing sorry looks towards Rose. She ignored them and found interest in her hands.

"I'm sorry we didn't get to see him." She whispered. Rose pressed her lips together, bothered but smiling.

Once they parked up, she saw they were at the same building they arrived in, in Olympus. He led them into the elevator and down back to the lobby of Hecate's building. He walked out first, and they were met with a very stern looking Hecate.

"I really hope it was worth it you two." She tutted and shook her head. "Pythia, you're cleaning up after all the animals for the next month." Pythia gave a small smile to Rose and Hecate before leaving and following the man outside.

"I'm sorry." Rose croaked out.

"No, I understand. You missed him, but it was reckless, and dangerous for you. Pythia is in a lot of trouble for leading you astray." Hecate led her back into her office, where the furies were, sitting, waiting.

"Don't punish her, she was just trying to cheer me up. Punish us equally, I went along with it." Rose pleaded.

"The furies are here too," Hecate stood by the door. "They get to decide how you'll pay off your remaining jail sentence."

"How did we get out? Who was that man?" Rose rushed in before Hecate could leave.

"Eros heard you came to visit Atticus," She raised her eyebrows. "He's a sucker for forbidden love." With that, she walked out.

"So, my love." One fury smiled.

"You're going to help me with a task, that may be so taxing of you." Another sat with her legs dangling off the desk.

"And it'll hit close to home." The first one finished.

Rose felt uneasy in their presence, trembling a little, she decided for the better to sit down.

"Are you aware of the people we punish?" She'd only just noticed it, but the first one had snakes around her waist, slithering slowly up and around her body. Almost as if they were a second skin. She had a short leather looking skirt, her skin a dark emerald green. Her hair were tiny snakes, their eyes blood red.