SpellBound

Hazel Helps Out II

Hazel paced anxiously in her cell. She didn't know why she felt something had changed, no one had visited her since she was out here.

But there was something stirring inside of her, telling her that Percy had made it out, that not all hope had been lost.

"Hazel, I need your help," A voice called from behind her. Hazel whipped around to see Percy Jackson peering from the shadows.

"Percy!" Hazel threw her arms over Percy and hugged him tightly. Percy hugged her back just as tight. They were like siblings, and they had been worried sick about each other. Hazel smiled as the two let go of each other, "What can I do to help?"

"I thought I was over him," Percy said softly. "I thought that I would be able to defeat him because I was over him but I can't do it. I think of him and I just can't do it,"

"Well that's his magic," Hazel said. "Think about it, you've never loved him before he tampered with the magic so you should be fine,"

"What do you mean? Hazel, I was in love with Nico before he went all crazy on us. Remember? Nico went to hell and back with me?"

Hazel groaned. "Of course. Of course! Why wouldn't he change your mementoes? Get Annabeth out of the way and your an easier target. How could I have not seen that?"

"Annabeth?" Percy repeated. "Okay, who the hell is Annabeth? Did you hit your head while trying to escape?"

"Okay Perce, let me seal it to you plain and simple. You don't actually love Nico, you never have. Everything you feel is a lie, and the blond girl that giggles a lot is your girlfriend although she's been spelled. Basically you are spellbound by my crazy older half brother with magic he shouldn't have. But that magic can be broken out of, you just did break out of it. What's wrong now?"

"He made me swear something on the Styx. Now it makes me slowly fall in love with him," Percy explained. "Do you know why? Shouldn't I burn to ashes?"

"I hate those type of swears," Hazel cursed. "Well, your subconscious knows what's going to happen if you disobey the river. So to not honor your promise, there can't be a single part of you not willing to die,"

"But I would gladly lay down my life for this," Percy said, trying to reason with himself and hazel.

"Percy, fighting a battle is a matter of wills," Hazel said. "Whoever wants to live the most will, no matter the skill. Like when you fought the Minotaur. But this requires a different type of will, not fighting to live but fighting for others to live. This is what turns a hero into a savior, something you need to be if you will defeat Nico. You need to go, I'm afraid that's all I can help you with. The rest has to happen inside yourself, deal with what you need to deal with until you can not only except death, but greet him with open arms,"