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I 04. I
𝑾𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔
❝ hermes ❞
PERCY CONCENTRATED ON THE SMALL OF HIS BACK—A TINY POINT JUST OPPOSITE HIS NAVAL.
It was well defended when he wore his armor. It would be hard to hit by accident, and few enemies would aim for it on purpose. No place was perfect, but this seemed right to him.
He pictured a string, a bungee cord connecting him to the world from the small of his back. And he stepped into the river.
For a split second, he felt the familiar touch on that same part on his back, and the string tugged sharply, and he thought it was her.
Imagine jumping into a pit of boiling acid. Now multiply that pain times fifty that still won't be close to understanding what it felt like to swim in the Styx. Percy planned to walk in slow and courageous like a real hero. As soon as the water touched his legs, his muscles turned to jelly and he fell face-first into the current.
He submerged completely. For the first time in his life, he couldn't breathe underwater. He finally understood the panic of drowning. Every nerve in his body burned. He was dissolving in the water. Percy saw faces—Rachel, Annabeth, Grover, Tyson, his mother—but they faded as soon as they appeared.
"Percy," his mom said. "I give you my blessing."
"Be safe, brother!" Tyson pleaded.
"You drool when you sleep," Annabeth said.
"Enchiladas!" Grover said. Percy wasn't sure where that came from, but it didn't seem to help much. Percy was losing the fight. The pain was too much. His hands and feet were melting into the water, his soul was being ripped from his body. He couldn't remember who he was. The pain of Kronos's scythe had been nothing compared to this.
The cord, a familiar voice said. Remember your lifeline, dummy!
Suddenly there was a tug in his lower back. The current pille at him, but it wasn't carrying him much anymore. He imagined the string in his back keeping him tied to the shore. A familiar touch ghosted along the string, and his body yearned to feel it again.
"Hold on, Kelp Head." It was Ariadne's voice, much clearer now. "You're not getting away from me that easily."
The cord strengthened.
Percy could see Ariadne now—standing barefoot above him on the canoe lake pier. He'd fallen out of his canoe. That was it. She was reaching out her hand to haul him up, and she was laughing at him. She wore her white crop top and a black and white flannel shirt and jean shorts. Her hair was tucked in a low ponytail, and her hair was straight, which was strange seeing as she usually kept it curly no matter what.
