tw; thought of death/the underworld

eight. trust

MARIBELLE SAT NEXT TO ELLA on the boat, the harpy muttering to herself. They hadn't planned on having her follow them, but Ella wouldn't leave Maribelle's side, having already decided for them that she'd be going.

As they sail, Frank told silly jokes to keep their minds off of what was waiting for them in Alaska. But Maribelle could barely pay any attention. Frank and Hazel were sitting too close for her liking, and Percy wasn't paying any attention either. She frowns, she wasn't going to talk about her troubles with a harpy.

Maribelle crosses her arms and looks out into the sea, trying not to sneak glances at Frank and Hazel.

No one will ever forgive you. No one will ever trust her again. She glances at Percy, wondering if she should tell him Phineas was right. That she can't be trusted, no one should forgive her. She should still be in the principia, or dead. Death would've been kinder than having to live with the regret, the guilt. Her family turned on her. Even though her half-siblings seemed to have forgiven her, she knew they didn't fully trust her. Not even Suzanne and Bellamy.

"Maribelle?" Percy speaks, startling her.

She stares wide-eyed.

"Hm?" She sneaks a glance at Hazel and Frank, they were both passed out, holding hands. She curses her mother silently. She had done this on purpose, probably still punishing her for what she had done. See what you can't have because of who you are?

"Are you, uh, are you alright?"

"Mhm," Maribelle says.

"About what Phineas said—"

"He's right," Maribelle winces. She sees Percy gripping the ballpoint pen that could be a sword at any second. "I mean, not now. You can trust me." Can he? "I—" Tears flood her vision and her lip wobbles, "I did a terrible thing."

"What did you do?" Percy asks warily.

Maribelle wipes the tears that were quickly falling, "In the first Titan War—I, I betrayed them."

Percy doesn't speak, he waits for Maribelle.

"You don't get it. You won't get it. But, I, I loved him. And, and he promised me all these wonderful things. He believed in me, he loved me, that's all I wanted. And in return, I betrayed my best friends."

Jason and Reyna . . . Bellamy and Suzanne . . .

Percy's grip loosens on his pen.

Maribelle cries, Ella moves further away from her.

"Gabe," Maribelle whispers, "His name was Gabe."

"Oh."

"He was tired of the gods and the way they used us. He was tired of his father ignoring him. He'd gotten the idea from some other demigod, I never knew who. But I know that there were a lot of others that agreed with this ideal, they worked together."

Percy looked slightly ill, like he was remembering something he didn't want to.

"You can trust me," Maribelle sniffles, "Honest."

Percy seemed skeptical but he didn't say anything.

"Sorry," Maribelle then says, "I didn't mean to dump all that on you. I barely know you!"

"It's okay," Percy smiles then, "We're friends, okay? We all have our stuff."

Maribelle nods, "Okay."

They sail the rest of the way in silence. Maribelle touches up her makeup and blots her face, trying to rid of the red and puffiness from crying.

"Have you told Frank or Hazel any of this?" Percy asks after a long silence.

Maribelle shakes her head, "I'm sure they know the stories. Rumors."

"A great way to start a friendship or relationship is honesty," Percy tells her.

Maribelle giggles, "You realize you're giving the daughter of Venus relationship advice, right?"

Percy grins too, "Sorry."

"No, it's nice to be on the other side for once," Maribelle says, then she takes a deep breath, "I don't want either of them to look at me differently."

"You heard Phineas. They have their things too," Percy tells her.

Maribelle glances at them, their intertwined hands . . .

"I don't think they like each other like that," Percy then speaks up.

Maribelle gives him a look, "You're joking."

"I may not be the son of Aph—Venus, and I may be oblivious when it comes to people's crushes—or I think that's what I've been told—but I do notice the way he looks at you when he thinks you aren't paying attention," Percy smirks, "He doesn't do that with Hazel."

That makes Maribelle perk up some. She twists a strand of hair around her finger, "He does?"

Percy nods, "Duh. You're very pretty, I think you make him nervous."

She squints her eyes, "I think you're just trying to play to my ego."

Percy smirks again, and says nothing.

Maribelle leans her head against the edge of the boat, watching the dark waves. She couldn't sleep, so she listened as Percy hummed to himself and kept the ship going.

"Maribelle," Percy was shaking her shoulder, "We're here."

Maribelle stretches, she hadn't slept at all. Every time her eyes drooped closed, she'd see his face and wake up. Even in death he was relentless.

"Hazel, wake up. We've reached Seattle," Maribelle leans over to shake Hazel.

She sits up groggily, squinting in the morning sunlight.

"Frank?" Maribelle says this time, shaking him as well.

Frank groans, and rubs his eyes, "Did we just . . . was I just — ?"

"You both passed out," Percy says, "I don't know why, but Ella told me not to worry about it. She said you were . . . sharing?"

"Sharing," Ella agrees. She was crouched in the stern, preening her wing feathers with her teeth, "Sharing is good. No more blackouts. Biggest American blackout, August 14, 2003. Hazel shared. No more blackouts."

"Yeah, we've been having conversations like that all night. We still don't know what she's talking about," Percy shrugs.

"You were there," Hazel looks at Frank.

Maribelle glances at Percy, thinking back to their conversation from earlier. She rolls her eyes and Percy shakes his head.

"Wait," Percy says, "You mean you guys shared a blackout? Are you guys both going to pass out from now on?"

"Nope," Ella says, "Nope, nope, nope. No more blackouts. More books for Ella. Books in Seattle."

Percy steers the boat toward the downtown docks. Maribelle fiddles with the bracelet on her wrist, she had a sketchy feeling about this place.

"Um . . . why are we stopping here?" Hazel asks.

Percy shows them the silver ring on his necklace, "Reyna has a sister here. She asked me to find her and show her this."

"Reyna has a sister?" Frank asks.

Percy nods, "Apparently Reyna thinks her sister could send help for the camp."

"Amazons," Ella mutters, "Amazon country. Hmm. Ella will find libraries instead. Doesn't like Amazons. Fierce. Shields. Swords. Pointy. Ouch."

Frank reaches for his spear, "Amazons? Like female warriors?"

"That would make sense," Maribelle says, "If Reyna's sister is also a daughter of Bellona, I can see why she'd join the Amazons."

"But . . . is it safe for us to be here?" Hazel asks.

"Nope, nope, nope," Ella mutters, "Get books instead. No Amazons."

"We have to try. I promised Reyna. Besides, the Pax isn't doing too great. I've been pushing it pretty hard," Percy tells them.

Maribelle looks at the water leaking in through the bottom of the ship.

"Oh."

"Yeah," Percy agrees, "We'll either need to fix it or find a new boat. I'm pretty much holding it together with my willpower at this point. Ella, do you have any idea where we can find the Amazons?"

"And, um," Frank says nervously, "They don't, like, kill men on sight, do they?"

"Ella will find friends later. Ella will fly away now."

And she did.

"Well . . . that's encouraging," Frank says.

They dock at the wharf. They barely had time to unload their supplies before the Pax shudders and breaks into pieces.

"Guess we're not fixing it," Hazel says, "What now?"

"We hope the Amazons will help."

They explore the city for hours. Percy trying his best to drag Hazel ahead of Frank and winking obviously at Maribelle and nodding his head towards the boy. Maribelle flipped him off, which only made Percy cackle, Frank look confused and Hazel fan her face.

On Maribelle's request, they bought some coffee. And at a sidewalk cafe they had some excellent grilled salmon sandwiches. Maribelle could only stomach half.

As they wandered south of downtown, Maribelle found herself walking by Frank once again. She looks up at him, then quickly back down.

Maribelle didn't usually struggle with creating small talk with the boy, but after what Percy had said she was nervous. And then, she thinks of what Hazel and Frank had shared and she mostly feels embarrassed for trying. It wasn't often that she couldn't think of anything to talk about.

Instead, she digs a hole: "So . . . you and Hazel?"

Frank trips over his own two feet, Maribelle reaches a hand to steady him.

"Oh, that's nothing," Frank answers, "I mean. We're friends. That's all."

Maribelle smiles, "Okay."

"Why?" Frank asks.

She shrugs.

"Is this some weird Venus intuition thing?" Frank questions.

"No, just a Maribelle intuition thing," She answers.

"Did Hazel say something?" Frank asks, she noticed the hint of hopefulness in his voice, and Maribelle wants to stomp her foot in anger.

Gods, he's so oblivious.

"No, she didn't," Maribelle says. She watches as he looks at her, then looks over to Hazel and Percy. "Gods!" She huffs and stomps away from Frank.

"There," Hazel speaks. She points at an office building that had a single word etched on the glass doors: Amazon.

Maribelle laughs, "Hazel, that's a modern thing."

"They're a company, right?" Frank speaks up, "They sell stuff on the Internet. They're not actually Amazons."

"Unless . . ." Percy walks right through the doors. Maribelle doesn't hesitate to follow.

The lobby had glass walls, a glossy black floor, a few token plants, and pretty much nothing else. Maribelle rolls her eyes at the lack of taste in decor. Against the back wall, a black stone staircase led up and down. In the middle of the room stood a young woman in a black pantsuit, with long auburn hair and a security guard's earpiece. Her name tag said Kinzie.

Kinzie nods at both Maribelle and Hazel, ignoring the boys. "May I help you?"

"Yes!" Maribelle says, "Where'd you get that pantsuit? You look amazing! I always feel like pantsuits swallow me, I'm more of a —"

"We're looking for Amazons," Hazel interrupts.

"This is the main campus for Amazon," She begins cautiously, "Did you have an appointment with someone, or— "

"Hylla," Percy interrupts, "We're looking for a girl named— "

Kinzie moves so fast, Maribelle could barely follow. She kicks Frank in the chest and sends him flying backward across the lobby. She pulls a sword out of thin air, sweeps Percy off his feet with the flat of the blade, and presses the point under his chin.

By the time Maribelle holds her own sword, a dozen more girls had appeared at the top of the staircase.

Kinzie glares down at Percy, "First rule: Males don't speak without permission. Second rule: trespassing on our territory is punishable by death. You'll meet Queen Hylla, all right. She'll be the one deciding your fate."

The Amazons don't hesitate to confiscate the quartet's weapons and march them down so many flights of stairs, Maribelle was growing dizzy.

Finally, they emerge in a cavern where fluorescent lights glow along the rock ceiling. Conveyor belts wound through the room like water slides, carrying boxes in every direction. Aisles of metal shelves stretched out, stacked high with crates of merchandise. Almost all the work was being done by computers and robots. The only humans Maribelle could see were some black-suited security women patrolling the catwalks, and some men in orange jumpsuits driving forklifts through the aisles, delivering more pallets of boxes. The men wore iron collars around their necks.

"You keep slaves?" Hasel asks.

"The men?" Kinzie snorts, "They're not slaves. They just know their place. Now, move."

Maribelle frowns, she wasn't sure that made it okay . . .

They kept walking. The sound of Maribelle's platforms almost annoyed her to the point where she debated going barefoot. But as she inspected the floor, she decided against it.

Kinzie opens a large set of double doors and led them into another cavern, just as big as the first.

"The Underworld isn't this big," Hazel complains.

Kinzie smiles smugly, "You admire our base of operations? Yes, our distribution system is worldwide. It took many years and most of our fortune to build. Now, finally, we're turning a profit. The mortals don't realize they are funding the Amazon kingdom. Soon, we'll be richer than any mortal nation. Then—when the weak mortals depend on us for everything—the revolution will begin!"

"What are you going to do?" Frank grumbles, "Cancel free shipping?"

A guard slams the hilt of her sword into his gut. Maribelle moves to help him, but the swords pointed at her neck keep her from doing so.

"You'll learn respect," Kinzie says, "It's males like you who have ruined the mortal world. The only harmonious society is one run by women. We are stronger, wiser— "

"More humble," Percy grumbles. The guards try to hit him, but Percy ducks.

"Stop it!" Maribelle says.

The guards do as she says.

"Hylla is going to judge us, right?" Maribelle asks, "So take us to her. We're wasting time."

Kinzie nods, "Perhaps you're right. We have more important problems. And time . . . time is definitely an issue."

"What do you mean?" Hazel asks.

A guard grunts, "We could take them straight to Otrera.
Might win her favor that way."

"No!" Kinzie snarls, "I'd sooner wear an iron collar and drive a forklift. Hylla is queen."

"Until tonight," Another guard mutters.

For a second, Maribelle thought the Amazons might start fighting one another.

"Enough," Kinzie dismisses, "Let's go."

Finally, they enter a smaller cavern that looks like a combination loading zone and throne room. The walls were lined with metal shelves six stories high, decorated with war banners, painted shields, and the stuffed heads of dragons, hydras, giant lions, and wild boars. An iron-collared male drove each machine, but an Amazon warrior stood on a platform in back, manning a giant mounted crossbow.

The shelves in this room were stacked with cages containing live animals.

Maribelle watches as a forklift picks up a cage with a beautiful white pegasus.

"What are you doing to that poor animal?" Hazel demands.

Kinzie frowns, "The pegasus? It'll be fine. Someone must've ordered it. The shipping and handling charges are steep, but— "

"You can buy a pegasus online?" Percy asks.

Kinzie glares at him, "Obviously you can't, male. But Amazons can. We have followers all over the world. They need supplies. This way."

At the end of the warehouse was a dais constructed from pallets of books: stacks of vampire novels, walls of James Patterson thrillers, and a throne made from about a thousand copies of something called The Five Habits of Highly Aggressive Women.

At the base of the steps, several Amazons in camouflage were having a heated argument while a young woman— Queen Hylla, Maribelle assumed—listened.

Hylla wore a black leather jumpsuit and black boots. She had no crown, but around her waist was a strange belt made of interlocking gold links, like the pattern of a labyrinth. Maribelle could see the resemblance between her and Reyna.

Kinzie grunts, "Otrera's agents, spreading their lies."

"What?" Frank asks.

"It's him," Hazel murmurs.

Maribelle looks over at her confused.

"Him, who?" Percy asks.

"Ah, yes. Beautiful, isn't he?" Kinzie asks.

Maribelle glances at Hazel and tries to follow her line of sight. In a cage was a horse, a stallion with a honey-colored coat and a black mane.

"Is he . . ." Hazel begins, "Is he for sale?"

The guards all laugh.

"That's Arion," Kinzie says, "He's a royal treasure of the Amazons—to be claimed only by our most courageous warrior, if you believe the prophecy."

"Prophecy?" Hazel asks.

Kinzie's expression became pained, "Never mind. But no, he's not for sale."

"Then why is he in a cage?"

Kinzie grimaces, "Because . . . he is difficult."

The horse slams his head against the cage door.

"Just asking," Hazel brushes it off, "Let's see the queen."

As they approach, Hylla snaps, "Enough!"

The arguing Amazons shut up immediately.

Kinzie shoves them closer to the throne, "My queen, these demigods— "

The queen shoots to her feet, "You!"

For a minute, Maribelle thought maybe Hylla had heard what she had done to Reyna and was going to attack her. But then, she notices she was looking right at Percy.

"Clipboard," Percy says, "Spa. Pirates."

It made no sense to Maribelle, but the queen seemed to understand. She steps down from her dais of bestsellers and draws a dagger from her belt.

"You were incredibly foolish to come here," She glares, "You destroyed my home. You made my sister and me exiles and prisoners."

"Percy," Frank says uneasily, "What's the scary woman with the dagger talking about?"

"Circe's Island," Percy says, "I just remembered. The gorgon's blood—maybe it's starting to heal my mind. TheSea of Monsters. Hylla . . . she welcomed us at the docks, took us to see her boss. Hylla worked for the sorceress."

Hylla bares her perfect white teeth, "Are you telling me you've had amnesia? You know, I might actually believe you. Why else would you be stupid enough to come here?"

"We've come in peace," Hazel insists, "What did Percy do?"

"Peace?" The queen raises her eyebrows at Hazel, "What did he do? This male destroyed Circe's school of magic!"

"Circe turned me into a guinea pig!" Percy protests.

"No excuses!" Hylla says, "Circe was a wise and generous employer. I had room and board, a good health plan, dental, pet leopards, free potions—everything! And this demigod with his friend, the one with braids—"

"Annabeth." Percy says, "That's right. I was there with Annabeth."

"You released our captives—Blackbeard and his pirates." She turns to Maribelle and Hazel, "Have you ever been kidnapped by pirates? It isn't fun. They burned our spa to the ground. My sister and I were their prisoners for months. Fortunately we were daughters of Bellona. We learned to fight quickly. If we hadn't . . ." She shudders, "Well, the pirates learned to respect us. Eventually we made our way to California where we—where my sister and I parted ways."

Hylla steps toward Percy until they were nose-to-nose. She runs her dagger under his chin, "Of course, I survived and prospered. I have risen to be queen of the Amazons. So perhaps I should thank you."

"You're welcome," Percy says.

The queen digs her knife in a little deeper, "Never mind. I think I'll kill you."

"Wait!" Maribelle says, "Reyna sent us! Your sister! Look at the ring on his necklace."

Hylla frowns, she looks Maribelle up and down. Then, she points the knife to Maribelle, "And what do you know of Reyna, traitor?"

Maribelle's eyes grow wide. Of course Hylla would know. She didn't even know Reyna had a sister until now.

"I —"

Hylla glares and Maribelle stops. Hylla turns to Hazel,
"Explain this. Quickly."

Hazel did her best to describe Camp Jupiter. She told the Amazons about Reyna being their praetor, and the army of monsters that was marching south. She told them about their quest to free Thanatos in Alaska.

"So we need your help," Hazel finishes, "Reyna needs your help."

Hylla grips Percy's leather cord and yanks it off his neck—beads, ring, probatio tablet and all, "Reyna . . . that foolish girl— "

"Well!" The older woman who had entered the room while Hazel was talking exclaims, "Romans need our help?" She laughs. The Amazons join in.

"How many times did we battle the Romans in my day?" She asks, "How many times have they killed our sisters in battle? When I was queen—"

"Otrera," Hylla interrupts, "You are here as a guest. You are not queen anymore."

The older woman spreads her hands and made a mocking bow, "As you say—at least, until tonight. But I speak the truth, Queen Hylla. I've been brought back by the Earth Mother herself! I bring tidings of a new war. Why should Amazons follow Jupiter, that foolish king of Olympus, when we can follow a queen ? When I take command—"

"If you take command," Hylla says, "But for now, I am queen. My word is law."

"I see." Otrera looks at the assembled Amazons, who were standing very still, "Have we become so weak that we listen to male demigods? Will you spare the life of this son of Neptune, even though he once destroyed your home? Perhaps you'll let him destroy your newhome, too!"

The Amazons look back and forth between Hylla and Otrera.

"I will pass judgment," Hylla says in an icy tone, "Once I have all the facts. That is how I rule—by reason, not fear. First, I will talk with this one." She jabs a finger towards Hazel, "It is my duty to hear out a female warrior before I sentence her or her allies to death. That is the Amazon way. Or have your years in the Underworld muddled your memory, Otrera?"

The older woman sneers, but she didn't try to argue.

Hylla turns to Kinzie, "Take these males to the holding cells. Take the traitor too. The rest of you, leave us."

Otrera raises her hand to the crowd, "As our queen commands. But any of you who would like to hear more about Gaea, and our glorious future with her, come with me!"

About half the Amazons follow her out of the room.

Kinzie snorts with disgust, then she and her guards haul Maribelle, Percy and Frank away.

—