★ 。＼｜／。★

𝗕𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖎𝖙𝖗𝖊 𝖙𝖗𝖊𝖎𝖟𝖊:
FOUR DEMIGODS
ALMOST DROWN

★ 。／｜＼。★

BELLE'S EYES FLICKERED in between the nine Nymphs uncertainly. The odds were not looking very good for the four Demigods, and Belle was sure even though she had Sunflower, Percy had Riptide, and Jason had his gold sword, that they couldn't defeat these Nymphs by fighting. She glanced back at the place where they had come, but the doorway had disappeared. Naturally.

"Who are you?" Percy demanded.

The Nymph in the center niche turned his head towards him. "Ah . . . names. We once had names. I was Hagno, the first of the nine!"

Belle frowned and shared a look with Piper. Apparently, they were both thinking the same thing. It was a cruel joke that a hag like her would be named Hagno.

"The nine," Jason repeated. "The Nymphs of this shrine. There were always nine niches."

"Of course," Hagno replied, baring her teeth in a vicious smile. "But we are the original nine, Jason Grace, the ones who attended the birth of your father."

Jason slightly lowered his sword. "You mean Jupiter? You were there when he was born?"

"Zeus, we called him then. Such a squealing whelp. We attended Rhea in her labor. When the baby arrived, we hid him so that his father, Kronos, would not eat him. Ah, he had lungs, that baby! It was all we could do to drown out the noise so Kronos could not find him. When Zeus grew up, we were promised eternal honors. But that was in the old country, in Greece."

The other eight Nymphs wailed and clawed at their niches. It almost seemed like they were trapped in them.

"When Rome rose to power, we were invited here," Hagno continued. "A son of Jupiter tempted us with favors. A new home, he promised. Bigger and better! No down payment, an excellent neighborhood. Rome will last forever."

"Forever," the other Nymphs hissed.

"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 in our honor, new dresses and jewelry every week. All the Demigods of Rome flirted with us and honored us."

The Nymphs let out shrill wails and sighed as they remembered what they used to be like.

Hagno snarled at the group of Demigods. "But Rome did not last. The aqueducts were diverted. Our master's villa was abandoned and torn down. We were forgotten, buried under the Earth, but we could not leave. Our life sources were bound to this place. Our old master never saw fit to release us. For centuries, we have withered here in the darkness, thirsty . . . so thirsty."

The others clawed at their mouths. Belle had a strange feeling that her own throat was closing up. She almost felt like the Nymphs, being thirsty for centuries with no accessible water. It was no wonder the Nymphs were so resentful.

"I'm sorry for you," Piper said in charmspeak. "That must have been terrible. But we are not your enemies. If we can help you—"

"Oh, such a sweet voice!" Hagno cried. "Such beautiful features. I was once young like you. My voice was as soothing as a mountain stream. But do you know what happens to a Nymph's mind when she is trapped in the dark, with nothing to feed on but hatred, nothing to drink but thoughts of violence? Yes, my dear. You can help us."

Percy raised his hand. "Uh . . . I'm the son of Poseidon. Maybe I can summon a new water source."

"Ha!" Hagno exclaimed, and the other eight Nymphs echoed ha's after her. "Indeed, son of Poseidon. I know your father well. Ephialtes and Otis promised you would come."

Belle lowered Sunflower and suddenly felt like the room was spinning around her. "You mean . . . you're working for the Giants?"

"They are our neighbors." Hagno smiled at her, but it was so gruesome it made chills run up Belle's spine. "Their chambers lie beyond this place, where the aqueduct's water was diverted for the games. Once we have dealt with you . . . once you have helped us . . . the twins have promised we will never suffer again."

Hagno turned to Jason. "You, child of Jupiter — for the horrible betrayal of your predecessor who brought us here, you shall pay. I know the sky God's powers. I raised him as a baby! Once, we Nymphs controlled the rain above our wells and springs. When I am done with you, we will have that power again. And Percy Jackson, child of the sea God . . . from you, we will take water, an endless supply of water."

"Endless?" Percy questioned, his eyes darting from one Nymph to another. "Uh . . . look, I don't know about endless. But maybe I could spare a few gallons."

"And you, Piper McLean." Hagno's purple eyes glistened, making Belle inch closer to Percy. "So young, so lovely, so gifted with your sweet voice. From you, we will reclaim our beauty. And you, Belle Adair, your name means beauty. You along with your power to grow beautiful plants will make us glamorous again. We have saved our last life force for this day. We are very thirsty. From you four, we shall drink!"

All nine niches glowed. The Nymphs disappeared, and sickly dark water began to pour from their alcoves. At alarming speed, the basin began to fill with water. Belle, Percy, Piper, and Jason tried to look for an exit by pounding on the walls, but there was nothing. They climbed into the alcoves in effort to get some height, but with gallons of water pouring out of each niche, it was mostly futile. Water soon reached Belle's knees as she stood in a niche and from the floor it was about eight feet and rising fast.

"I could try lightning," Jason suggested. "Maybe blast a hole in the roof?"

"That could bring down the whole room and crush us," Piper replied.

"Or electrocute us," Percy added.

"Not many choices," Jason said. "Belle?"

She looked at him incredulously. "I don't know about you, but I don't see any plants underground. It was different with plants from the sea, but now . . . my powers won't do us any good right now."

"Let me search the bottom," Percy announced. "If this place was built as a fountain, there has to be a way to drain the thing. You guys, check the niches for secret exits. Maybe the seashells are knobs, or something."

Belle knew it was a desperate idea, but she nodded nonetheless. "Be careful."

He nodded back in response and jumped in the water. Meanwhile, Belle, along with Piper and Jason, climbed from niche to niche to try and find something to get them out. However, they had no luck.

Sooner than Belle had expected, Percy broke the surface. He gasped and flailed around, and Belle's eyes widened, not used to seeing him so helpless in water. Sunflower clattered out of her hand and sunk underneath the dark water, but she didn't focus on that right now. It had the power to appear back to her as long as she had belt loops, anyways. She offered him her hand, and he took it, but he almost pulled her in before she could help him up. Finally, Belle managed to get him up into the niche. She knelt next to him and placed her hands on either side of his face.

"Couldn't breathe," Percy let out, choking slightly as he gently gripped Belle's wrists. "The water . . . not normal. Hardly made it back."

Belle realized what was wrong. The life force of the Nymphs was so poisoned and malicious that not even a son of Poseidon could control it. Belle felt it affect her too as it rose around her. Her mind spun with exhaustion and her muscles trembled. The others seemed to be the about same. Piper's skin was getting wrinkled and dry even though they were in the middle of a fountain. Jason's face was pale and he seemed to be having trouble holding his sword. Percy was drenched and shivering, his grip on her was loosening, and the black color of his hair was fading slightly.

"They're taking our power," Piper stated. "Draining us."

Percy coughed. "Jason, do the lightning."

Jason, although very weakly, raised his sword. The room rumbled, yet no lightning appeared and the roof didn't break. Instead, a miniature rainstorm formed at the top of the chamber. Rain the same color as the water poured down and filled the fountain even faster. Every drop stung Belle's skin, almost as if it was acid.

"Not what I wanted," Jason commented.

Belle held onto Percy as the water rose up to their necks. She could feel every last bit of her strength fading. Belle had faced so many things, but she never imagined that she would leave this world by dying from evil Nymphs.

Percy started to push the water away with the back of his hand. "Can't — can't control it!"

Belle had never seen him so terrified in her life, and her heart shattered. "Percy, it's not your fault, okay?"

"We can't fight this," Piper revealed as she clutched her cornucopia. "If we hold back, that just makes us weaker."

"What do you mean?" Jason shouted over the sound of the rain.

The water was up to their chins now. In a few more inches, they would have to swim. However, the water wasn't halfway to the ceiling yet. Maybe they still had a chance.

"The horn of plenty," Piper explained. "We have to overwhelm the Nymphs with fresh water, give them more than they can use. If we can dilute this poisonous stuff—"

"Can your horn do that?" Percy asked as he attempted to keep both him and Belle afloat.

He looked scared out of his mind. She began to try and move away from him so he could focus on keeping himself alive, but he merely pulled her in closer.

"Only with your help," Piper instructed. "I need you both to channel everything you've got into the cornucopia. Percy, think about the sea."

"Salt water?" he inquired.

"Doesn't matter! As long as it's clean. Jason, think about rainstorms — much more rain. Belle, plants grow with water, right? Think about pouring lots of water on lots of plants. All of you hold the cornucopia."

They all huddled together as the water lifted them out of the niches. Belle closed her eyes and imagined she was back at Camp Half-Blood in the Demeter Cabin and strawberry fields. Her most favorite watering can, green with daisies on it, was filled completely to the brim. She went around to all of the plants and gave them the water they needed. Belle could feel a sense of serenity and the familiar pulling in her gut as she watched the plants grow before her.

However, that feeling disappeared when she opened her eyes again. Nothing was happening with the cornucopia. The dark and acidic rain was still coming down in sheets. Belle could feel her strength fading and she desperately tried to help keep herself and Percy from going under.

"No good!" Jason yelled while spitting out water.

"We're getting nowhere," Percy agreed.

"Wait . . . guys, we have to work together," Belle told them, now understanding exactly what Piper wanted them to do. "Percy, Jason, think of clean water, the kind that you used to create that storm back at Charleston. Don't hold back. Picture all of your power and strength leaving you. Piper and I will do the same."

"That's not hard!" Percy responded.

"But force it out!" Piper instructed. "Offer up everything, like — like you're already dead, and your only goal is to help the Nymphs. It's got to be a gift . . . a sacrifice."

All of them got quiet at that word.

"Let's try again," Jason said. "Together."

Belle closed her eyes and concentrated again. The Nymphs had said her name meant Beauty, and with that and her plant powers, she could make them glamorous again. Fine, Belle thought to herself. She poured all of her strength into the cornucopia, like millions of vines were expelling from her.

It worked. Clear water began to blast from the horn. It was so forceful that it pushed all of them against the wall. The rain changed clean and was so cold it made Belle open her eyes in shock.

"It's working!" Jason exclaimed.

"Too well," Percy realized. "We're filling the room even faster!"

He was right. The water was rising so quickly that the roof was now only a few feet away. Belle swallowed in fear and looked to Percy nervously.

"Don't stop!" Piper announced. "We have to dilute the poison until the Nymphs are cleansed."

"What if they can't be cleansed?" Jason questioned. "They've been down here turning evil for thousands of years."

"Just don't hold back. Give everything. Even if we go under—"

Belle's head hit the ceiling. The rainclouds dissipated and melted down into the water. Meanwhile, the cornucopia was still blasting out clean water. She felt her eyes fill with tears. This wasn't fair. She had just gotten Percy back and let Annabeth go on a dangerous quest, and here she was, almost about to die.

"Percy," Belle voiced, looking over at him. She gave him a small smile. "Thank you for letting me be part of your story. Even if it was only for a little while."

He pulled her in by the waist and kissed her gently. "I love you so much, Beauty."

Piper kissed Jason as well. "I love you."

Neither Belle or Jason got to respond to their significant others because they were then underwater. Belle held her breath and gripped onto Percy's hand so she wouldn't let go of him. The current roared past her ears and bubbles swirled around her. However, Belle could've sworn the water was getting clearer.

This wasn't the end. This couldn't be the end. Belle pushed her last bit of energy into the cornucopia. Water continued to stream out although there was no room for it to go.

Belle's vision suddenly went dark.

With a jolt, she suddenly awoke again to feel that the room was shaking. The water around her swirled faster and she felt herself sinking. Belle kicked upwards and her head finally broke the surface. She gasped for air and looked to see that Piper was above water as well. Belle glanced around in amazement as she watched the water drain almost as fast as it had filled the room.

Piper then let out a cry of alarm. Belle's eyes widened upon noticing that Percy and Jason's faces were still underwater. She hoisted Percy up and kept her arms around his waist. Instantly, Percy gulped for air and began to thrash. He fought against Belle's grip and tried to get away.

"Hey, hey, hey," Belle reassured him as gently as possible. "Percy, it's okay."

Percy stopped thrashing and looked to her. "Beauty?"

She nodded. "Yeah, it's me. We're fine."

The water had suddenly all drained away, leaving the two of them clutching onto each other on the damp floor. She tried to catch her breath as she leaned her head against Percy's chest.

"Jason!" Piper yelled.

Belle looked over and she swore her heart stopped. Piper was clinging to a lifeless Jason and was shaking him to try and get him to wake up.

"Piper," Percy cut in. "I can help."

He let go of Belle and walked over to them. Percy knelt next to Piper and touched Jason's forehead. Water gushed from Jason's mouth and his blue eyes shot open. A clap of thunder then threw Belle, Piper, and Percy backwards.

Belle blinked the fogginess out of her eyes. She looked to see Jason sitting up. He was still gasping, but the color was slowly coming back to his face.

Jason coughed. "Sorry. Didn't mean to—"

Piper tackled him with a hug. Belle smiled and laughed slightly at them.

Percy grinned at Jason. "In case you're wondering, that was clean water in your lungs. I could make it come out with no problem."

"Thanks, man," Jason replied, clasping onto his hand weakly. "But I think Piper's the real hero. She saved us all."

Yes, she did, a voice said, echoing throughout the chamber.

The niches glowed again. Nine figures appeared, but this time they weren't withered creatures. They were young and beautiful Nymphs in shimmering blue gowns. Their glossy black curls were pinned up with silver and gold brooches and their eyes were gentle shades of blue and green. Eight of the Nymphs disappeared into vapor and floated upwards. Only the center Nymph remained.

"Hagno?" Piper asked.

The Nymph smiled at her. "Yes, my dear. I didn't think such selflessness existed in mortals . . . especially in Demigods. No offense."

Percy got to his feet and offered Belle his hand, which she used to pull herself up. "How could we take offense? You just tried to drown us and suck out our lives."

Hagno winced. "Sorry about that. I was not myself. But you have reminded me of the sun and the rain and the streams in the meadows. Percy and Jason, thanks to you, I remembered the sea and the sky. I am cleansed. Belle, thank you for reminding me that beauty mostly comes from within and is reflected on the outside, just like plants can be most of the time. But mostly, thanks to Piper. She shared something even better than clear running water." Hagno turned to Piper. "You have a good nature, Piper. And I'm a nature spirit. I know what I'm talking about."

The Nymph pointed to the other side of the room. The stairs that led back to the surface appeared. Directly underneath that was a circular opening that shimmered into existence. It was a sewer pipe just big enough to crawl through. Belle realized that was what the water probably drained out of.

"You may return to the surface," Hagno told them. "Or, if you insist, you may follow the waterway to the Giants. But choose quickly, because both doors will fade soon after I am gone. That pipe connects to the old aqueduct line, which feeds both this Nymphaeum and the hypogeum that the Giants call home."

"Ugh," Percy commented, pressing the one hand that wasn't holding Belle's to his temple. "Please, no more complicated words."

"Oh, home is not a complicated word. I thought it was, but now you have unbound us from this place. My sisters have gone to seek new homes . . . a mountain stream, perhaps, or a lake in a meadow. I will follow them. I cannot wait to see the forests and grasslands again, and the clear running water."

"Uh, things have changed up above in the last few thousand years."

"Nonsense," Hagno refused. "How bad could it be? Pan would not allow nature to become tainted. I can't wait to see him, in fact."

Percy went to say something. However, Belle put a hand on his shoulder. He looked down at her and she shook her head sadly. How could they ever tell this Nymph who was so eager to find a new home that Pan, God of the wild, had died in the Labyrinth two years ago?

"Good luck, Hagno," Piper stated. "And thank you."

Hagno smiled one last time and vaporized, just like the other eight Nymphs had done. The Nymphaeum then glowed with a softer like a full moon was shining on it. Aromas of exotic spices and blooming roses filled the room. Distant music and happy voices talking and laughing sounded. Belle could only guess that they were hearing hundreds of years of parties and celebrations that had been held at this very shrine. It was almost as if that the memories had been freed along with the Nymphs.

Belle smiled slightly at it and felt Percy kiss the top of her head. Their story hadn't ended. They would be okay.

"What is that?" Jason questioned nervously.

Piper took his hand in hers. "The ghosts are dancing. Come on. We'd better go meet the Giants."

— [  ♡  ]  —

two more chapters of act one I want to pass away

hey look at that mia smoak quote I snuck in there. okay somebody stop me with the references

also writing this reminded me of chapter twenty two of eight letters when natalia tells jason she loves him for the first time <333 ahhh I loved that confession. good times good times

gifs by 1-800-SIMPINGFORSEB !