Percy Jackson's Twin Sister

The Nine Nymphs

Finding the place was easy. Percy led us directly to it. Getting in was easy too. Jason cut through the padlock and the metal gate creaked open. No mortals saw them. No alarms went off either. Stone steps spiraled into the gloom.

"I'll go first," Jason says.

"No!" Piper yelps.

We all turn to her.

"Pipes, what is it? That imagine in the blade... you've seen it before haven't you?" Jason asks.

She nodded, "I don't know how to tell you. I saw the room full with water. I saw the four of us drowning."

We all frown. I look at Percy and he looks about as confused as I am.

"We can't drown," Percy says looking at me making sure it was true. It kind of sounded like he was asking.

"Maybe the future has changed," Jason says,"In the image you showed us just now, there wasn't any water.

"Look," Percy says, "I'll check first. It's fine. Be right back."

He rushes down the stair before any of us could protest. I didn't love the idea but if any of us were safe with water it's him.

He comes back up looking confused.

"Good news: no water. Bad news: no exit. And weird news: well you should see this..." Percy says.

We all descended cautiously. Percy took the lead with riptide drawn. I was behind him and Piper behind me with Jason in the back. We finally reached the bottom.

Percy turned, "watch the last step."

He jumped to the floor of the cylindrical room, which was five feet lower than the stair well. We all clambered behind him.

Around the backside of the room, opposite the stairwell, nine alcoves were carved into the wall. Each niche was about five feet off the floor and big enough for a human sized statue to fit into, but each was empty.

"All right," Percy says, "here's the weird part."

He stepped into the middle of the room. Instantly green and blue rippled across the walls. I heard the sound of water but didn't see any. I sniffed. It smelled vaguely of the ocean.

"Do you smell the ocean?" Percy asks.

I nod my head. The smell kept getting stronger.

"An illusion?" Piper guessed.

"I don't know," Percy says, "I feel like there should be water here. Lots of water."

Jason moves around the room, "this has seashells embedded into it. This is a nymphaeum."

"A what?" I ask.

"We have one at camp Jupiter. It's a shrine to nymphs," Jason says.

"So no actual nymphs live here?" Piper asks.

"Not sure," Jason says, "This place where we're standing would have been a pool of water. A lot of times a nymphaeum would belong to a demigod and the owner would invite nymphs to live in it. If they took up residence it was considered good luck."

"This place is dry and empty. What happened to the nymphs?" Piper asks.

The sound of water changed to hissing. The blue color changed to purple and sickly lime. The nine niches were no longer empty.

Standing in each was a withered old lady. Their dresses were tattered. Their hair had once been curled and full of jewels in the style of Roman noblewomen. Now their hair looked like straw.

"What would happen to the nymphs?" Says one of the creatures.

Piper didn't have her blade so me, Jason, and Percy surrounded her protectively.

"Who are you," Percy demanded.

"Ah.... Names. We once had names. I was Hagno, the first of the nine," Hagno said.

"The nine?" Jason repeated.

"Of course. We were the original nine, Jason Grace, the one who attended you fathers birth."

Jason's sword dips a little, "You mean Jupiter? You were there when he was born?"

"Zeus, we called him. Such a squealing welp," Hagno says.

It took emended power not to laugh at them calling him a squealing welp.

"When Zeus grew up, we were promised eternal honors. But that was old country, Greece," Hagno says.

The other nymphs claw at their niche.

"When Rome rose to power, we were invited here. A son of Jupiter tempted us with favors. He said Rome would lady forever!" Hagno yells, "we gave in to temptation. We left our simple wells and springs on Mount Lycaeus and moved here. For centuries, our lives were wonderful! Parties, sacrifices, new dresses and jewelry every week. All the demigods flirted with us and honored us. But Rome did not last. The aqueducts were diverted. Our masters villa was abandoned and torn down. We were forgotten, buried under the earth, but we cannot leave. Our life sources are bound to this place. Our old master never saw fit to release us. For centuries we sat here in the dark and ever so thirsty."

Percy raises his hand, "Uh....im the son of Poseidon. Maybe I can summon a new water source."

"Indeed, children of poseidon. I know your father well. Elphialtes and Otis promised you would come," Hagno says.

"The giants," I say, "You're working for them?"

"They are our neighbors. Once we have dealt with you.... Once you have helped us.... The twins have promised we will never suffer again," Hagno says. She turns to Jason, "You, child of Jupiter, for your predecessor who brought me here you shall pay. Once we nymphs controlled the sky above. When we are done with you, we will have that power again. Percy Jackson from you we will take water an endless supply."

"Endless?" Percy says, "I could maybe spare a few gallons."

"Phoebe Jackson, from you we will claim your earthquakes. We will destroy towns. We will have power like never before," Hagno says.

I wish that was his that worked. Maybe it'll work differently for Nymphs.

"And you, Piper McLean, so young, so lovely, so gifted with your sweet voice. From you, we will reclaim our beauty. We have saved our last life force for this day. We are very thirsty from you three, we shall drink," Hagno says.

All nine niches glow. The nymphs disappear, and water pots from their alcoves- sickly dark water, like oil.