iv. by the devil

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CHAPTER FOUR:
BY THE DEVIL

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

TO SAY THE LEAST, Drew was not pleased when Annais came to relieve her of her tour-guide duties.

"But Annabeth said--" she protested, a whiny tinge to her voice that had Annais clenching her teeth in annoyance.

"Annabeth changed her mind," she cut her off with a glare. "Piss off, Drew, I'm warning you."

Drew rolled her eyes and stomped her foot again, but she wisely chose not to fight as she disappeared back the way they'd come. Annais watched her go before turning to look at Jason, who was standing there confused with his hands in his pockets. Neither of them spoke for a moment. It was clear at first that Annais hadn't trusted him -- still didn't, if she was being brutally honest -- so the tension between them was nothing if not awkward. Either way, Annais knew that he needed to see Chiron; she could put that above her uneasiness for the time being.

"Come on," she muttered. "I'll give you a brief tour before taking you to The Big House."

Jason wanted to ask what The Big House was but he thought better of it as he nodded and followed Annais down the pathway. If she didn't scare him so much, he'd say whole-heartedly that she was one of the prettiest girls he'd seen (or, at least, remembered seeing.) Earlier that day, her hair (now a wet mess of curls) was pin-straight to her shoulder blades, a dark chestnut brown that glinted with lines of gold in the afternoon sun. Her skin was pale, pulled taut over a short frame and strong muscles. Beautiful, but in a rough kind of way. She wouldn't hesitate to put a dagger to his throat if he stepped out of line, was one of the first into the fighting ring and one of the last out. Dylan was an easy fight, but Jason knew Annais Min would give him a run for his money.

"You don't trust me, do you?" he asked after several minutes spent pointing out the different areas of Camp. He couldn't resist asking, having watched the way she kept a hand on her ring and her paranoid eyes on him in fear he'd attack.

Annais gave a bitter laugh at his question, head thrown back to reveal a tense jaw. "You've given me no reason to trust you." When Jason raised an eyebrow for her to continue, she sighed. "You show up out of nowhere with no memories and suddenly everyone but Gleeson and I know who you are. You'll learn quickly that when you're on a quest, shit like that is suspicious."

"I promise I'm not going to attack you," he insisted. "I just want to figure out who I am."

Annais huffed through pursed lips. "You can say that as much as you want but words mean nothing."

The rest of the tour was spent in silence unless Annais was explaining something to him. Jason listened, nodded where needed, and soon enough they were arriving at the infamous Big House. It didn't look threatening, just a four-story manor painted a soft shade of baby blue with a white trim. The wrap-around porch had long chairs pushed neatly up against the walls, a card table between them and an empty wheelchair. Wind chimes shaped like nymphs turned into trees as they spun down from the wooden roof, their crystals glittering in the warm sun. But where Annais looked up at the building with something akin to a smile, Jason stared as if the windows held snipers, a guilty man awaiting his death sentence.

"Well, here we are," she declared rather unnecessarily.

"I'm not supposed to be here," Jason muttered back, words rushed and panicked.

"And yet you're here anyway." At that, neither of them said anything. Annais found herself staring above his head as if waiting for him to be claimed; then, finally, things might start to make sense.

"You're waiting for a sign, aren't you?" Jason noticed. "Like what popped over Leo's head?"

Annais said nothing, didn't have a chance to. The sound of hooves against floorboards was heard on the decking behind her, prompting her to turn around and nod at the male peering down at them curiously. Like Gleeson, she'd known Chiron her entire life. Both of them respected each other a lot, valued the other's opinion. He would know what to do with Jason.

"Chiron," she said his name as a way to introduce him to the blonde boy. "This is Jason, a... stray I picked up on my quest to bring back Piper McLean and Leo Valdez."

Out of nowhere, Jason backed up so fast he almost tripped. He didn't know what to make of Chiron with his curly brown hair and well-trimmed beard, shirt that read 'World's best Centaur' topped with a quiver and bow strapped to his back. Then, from the waist down, he was a majestic white stallion. Such a strange yet normal sight for both demigods. Annais didn't notice the colour draining from Chiron's face at first, she was too busy raising an eyebrow as Jason shuffled nervously. However, when she turned around, her mentor looked like he was seeing a ghost.

"You..." he stuttered in disbelief. "You should be dead."

There was a heavy moment of silence in which Jason gave an awkward wave, Chiron continued to stand frozen and Annais lingered between them. Finally, she muttered something about leaving them to it before wandering away. Whatever Jason was to them, she'd find out later when the air wasn't swallowing them whole.

For a while, she just wandered around Camp, taking in her home again after a long time away. The cabins looked the same as ever, the only difference being the new additions made for the children of minor gods who had no place to call their home. A few campers lingered outside in the space between them. They conversed in excited whispers about everything and nothing; the new campers, Ezra Min's infamous return, the campfire occurring later. Annais groaned when she heard about it but knew she couldn't skip, not if Melanie had her say on the matter. Her younger cousin was nothing if not determined, shyer than the likes of Ezra or Hea but strong in her own unique way. Annais usually loved her for it, but not on days like this. Days where Annais was only able to fake a smile for so long as campers either rushed to greet her or avoided her like she had the plague. She wanted nothing more to be alone, even for just a minute.

In the distance, the Hades cabin loomed ominously. The cabin walls were made of solid obsidian, a dark shadow backed by a clear blue sky. There were torches on either side of the heavy metal door that were lit by Greek fire, a blinding white flame that was tipped by dark orange embers. As she got closer, she caught a glimpse of the skull hanging over the door that guarded their belongings at all times. Not quite the home Annais had imagined for herself when she first arrived at Camp, but it was enough for now.

"Welcome home, Annais," she muttered with a sigh as she opened the door to an empty room.

There were only four beds inside; one for each known demigod son or daughter of Hades. The one closest to her on the left belonged to Bianca Di Angelo, a daughter lost to her father's curse. Beside it was her younger brother, Nico's, though he'd also disappeared from Camp not long after Kronos was defeated. Opposite Nico's bed was Hea's, untouched for months as the demigod travelled with her lovers, Aphrodite and Hephaestus. Last but not least was the space that belonged to Annais, the bed closest to her right. She made her way over to the coffin-shaped frame, a hand running over the blood red velvet blanket neatly tucked and folded by the nymphs that cleaned the cabins.

"Well," she muttered wryly. "I certainly didn't miss this."

She'd barely gotten the words out before something strange happened. Her surroundings began to blur into a mess of colours, though not in a way that was dizzying. It was like she'd stepped into a water-colour painting as time literally began to slow down, the ticking of the clock on her bedside table echoing in her ears as the hands came to a stop. Annais quickly stood up, her legs feeling heavy as she stumbled and swayed.

"What's happening?" she demanded, sharp and threatening despite the sudden change. Annais Min would not show fear. "Who's there?"

"I would hold your tongue if I were you, Annais Min," a willowy voice sounded from behind her. Annais spun around, hand removing the ring from her finger. "And what will you do with that, girl?"

"Who are you?" she growled, on alert as a woman wrapped in a goatskin cloak crept out of the shadows. She was tall and thin, towering over her with the presence of a goddess, power leaking from her veins. Annais stepped closer, trying to subtly see her face beneath the black hood she wore over it, but the only thing the woman allowed her to see was the golden glow of her eyes. Even her voice was odd, different to any voice Annais had heard from a goddess.

"We don't have much time," she said. The cabin seemed to tear apart and break around her as she moved, a pale hand reaching out to Annais as if to beckon her closer. "You need to help my daughter, Annais Min. Together, you will free me from my prison."

"Daughter? Prison?" Annais huffed. "I don't know you, why should I help?"

"You know me far better than you think."

Her words were fading into a low whisper, forcing Annais even closer, too close for comfort. It was like the woman -- no, the goddess' -- power was leaving her body the longer she stayed there, her limbs slowly evaporating into a golden mist mixed with ink. Annais jolted, releasing the sword as whatever trick of time disappeared into the walls of the cabin. Everything seemed normal. The hands of the clock were moving again, the chatter outside of the cabin was back to its regular pitch. There was no sign of the woman or shadows as Annais patrolled the room; in fact, if she didn't know any better, she'd think she imagined it. But she didn't. Someone had visited the Hades cabin asking Annais to bring them their daughter.

In an instant, she was rushing out of the cabin and back to The Big House, an uneasy chill in her bones. There was something about the woman that set her on edge, and the Gods knew if Annais had just been issued a quest, she'd do her damn best to get out of it. Quests got demigods killed, Annais Min knew that first-hand. She wasn't about to sacrifice herself to free some woman from her prison.

Surprisingly, The Big House was in high demand that afternoon. Just ahead of her on the path was a frantic Annabeth and Rachel Dare, the two girls dragging an unconscious Piper between them as Ezra lead the way. At the sight of one of her demigods already injured, Annais picked up her pace. She was just behind the four girls as they pushed open the Big House's oak-wood double doors, revealing a frowning Chiron and an uncertain Jason sitting across from each other at the main table.

"What happened?" Annais puffed out as she shut the door behind them, the lock's clicking alerting everyone of her presence. "Is she okay? What's wrong with her?"

"Hera's cabin," Annabeth gasped out. She was out of breath, leaning forward to press her palms to her knees like she'd run a marathon around Camp. "Vision... Bad..."

"That doesn't explain anything," Annais grumbled.

"I think..." Finally, Rachel turned to look in her direction, eyes glossy like she'd been crying. "I think I may have killed her."

After a moment of confusion, Jason stepped forward to help Rachel lower Piper onto the brown leather couch. Annabeth rushed down the hall to get a med kit while Annais looked over the unconscious girl, using the limited knowledge she'd learnt from the Apollo kids to test how seriously hurt she was. Piper was still breathing, though she wouldn't wake up. She seemed to be in some kind of strange coma, though Annais wasn't sure from what.

"We've got to heal her," Jason insisted from where he hovered anxiously by Annais' side. The blonde boy hadn't noticed, but his arm was pressed right up to hers as he looked to her for answers. Annais didn't like it one bit, but she put the annoyance aside for Piper. "There's a way, right?"

Chiron put a hand on her forehead and grimaced. "Her mind is in a fragile state. Rachel, what happened?"

"I wish I knew," she sighed. "As soon as I got to Camp, I had a premonition about Hera's cabin. I went inside. Annabeth and Piper came in while I was there. We talked, and then... I just blanked out. Annabeth said I spoke in a different voice."

"A prophecy?" Chiron raised an eyebrow.

"No," she shook her head. "The spirit of Delphi comes from within. I know how that feels. This was like long distance, a power trying to speak through me."

Before anyone else could say anything, Annabeth ran in with the leather bag holding their medical equipment. She shoved Jason aside, opening the bag for her and Annais to look into. "Chiron, what happened back there, I've never seen anything like it. I've heard Rachel's prophecy voice. This was different. She sounded like an older woman. She grabbed Piper's shoulders and told her-"

"To free her from a prison," Jason murmured.

"What?" Annais spun around to face him with narrowed eyes. "What did you just say?"

Meanwhile, Annabeth just stared at him. "How did you know that?"

Chiron made a three-fingered gesture over his heart like a ward against evil, then ordered Jason to explain what happened before they arrived. Then, he gently pushed aside Annabeth and Annais to look over Piper himself.

"Well? How did you know that?" Annais asked, her arms crossed defensively over her chest as you need to help my daughter; together, you will free me from my prison echoed over and over in her head. It wasn't possible....

Instead of answering, Jason just frowned at her. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

The attention turned to Annais then. After a moment's hesitation, she let out a sigh, arms falling to her side in defeat. "A woman visited me too. Asked me to find her daughter and help free her from her prison."

A heavy silence followed. When it became clear that Annais wasn't going to say anything else, Jason explained his version of events. The room had frozen -- just like with Annais -- and a dark misty shadow revealed a woman who claimed to be Jason's patron. When he was done, the silence fell again. He seemed anxious as he looked between Annais, who was watching him with an odd look in her eyes, and Chiron, who was trickling drops from a medicine vial into Piper's mouth.

"So does this happen often?" he asked when he couldn't take it anymore. "Supernatural phone calls from convicts demanding you bust them out of jail?"

"What do you think, genius?" Ezra huffed. Annais looked over at her with a scowl; for a moment, she'd forgotten the other Min girl was there.

"Your patron," Annabeth repeated as she reached out to squeeze Ezra's hand warningly. "Not your godly parent?"

"No, she said patron," he paused, thinking over his next words carefully. "She also said my dad had given her my life."

Annabeth frowned again. "I've never heard anything like that before. You said the storm spirit on the skywalk claimed to be working for some mistress giving him orders, right? Could it be this woman you and Annais saw, maybe she's messing with your mind?"

"It didn't feel like it," Annais shook her head.

"Yeah, I don't think so," Jason agreed. "If she were my enemy, why would she be asking me for help? She's imprisoned. She's worried about some enemy getting more powerful. Something about a king rising from the earth on the Solstice--"

Both Annais and Ezra gasped in unison, a strange look of terror appearing on their faces as Annabeth spoke up. "Not Kronos. Please tell me it's not that."

Chiron didn't say anything at first. He seemed utterly miserable as he held Piper's wrist to check her pulse. At last, he said with a sigh, "It's not Kronos. That threat has ended. But..."

"But what?" Ezra snapped.

"Piper needs rest. We should discuss this later."

"Or now," Jason said, and for once, Annais agreed wholeheartedly. "Sir, Mr Chiron, you told me the greatest threat was coming. The last chapter. You can't possibly mean something worse than an army of titans, right?"

"Oh," Rachel gasped. "Oh, dear. The woman was Hera, wasn't it?"

"What?" Annais exclaimed, though Rachel didn't seem to hear her as she met Chiron's eyes gravely.

"Of course. Her cabin, her voice. She showed herself to Jason and Annais at the same moment..."

"Hera?" Annais snarled in fury. "She took you over? She did this to Piper?"

"I think Rachel's right," Jason said. He spared a small look over at Annais, but she was too busy glaring at the ground to notice. "The woman did seem like a Goddess to me. And she wore this--this--"

"Goatskin cloak," Annais said for the both of them.

"Yeah," he nodded. "That's a symbol of Juno, isn't it?"

"Oh, here we go again," Ezra huffed under her breath. She'd wandered to the corner while everyone was talking, fingers absentmindedly braiding her hair as she listened.

"I've never heard of that," Annabeth mumbled warily.

"Well, it is," Chiron nodded reluctantly. "Of Juno, Hera's Roman aspect, in her most warlike state. The goatskin cloak was a symbol of the Roman soldier."

"So Hera's been imprisoned?" Rachel asked. "Who could do that to the Queen of the Gods?"

"Well, whoever they are, maybe we should thank them. If they can shut up Hera--"

Both Annais and Ezra seemed amused by Annabeth's words, though Chiron was far from impressed as he scolded her. "Annabeth, she's still one of the Olympians. In many ways, she is the glue that holds the Gods' family together. If she truly has been imprisoned and is in danger of destruction, this could shake the foundations of the world. It could unravel the stability of Olympus, which is never great in the best of times. And if Hera has asked Jason and Annais for help--"

"It wasn't just us, though," Annais pointed out with a frown. "She asked me to help her daughter. Hera doesn't have any demigod children."

"Are you sure she said daughter?" Ezra spoke up. Annais shifted at the sound of her voice, elbow knocking into Jason's side as she did so. He looked confused again, but she refused to meet his eyes as she waited for Ezra to continue. He didn't need to know about the latest Min family drama.

"I know what I heard."

"Either way," Annabeth grumbled before Ezra could respond. "We know Titans can capture a God, right? Atlas captured Artemis a few years ago. And in the old stories, the Gods captured each other in traps all the time. But something worse than a Titan..."

"Hera said she'd been trying to break through her prison bonds for a month," Jason told them.

"Which is how long Olympus has been closed," Annabeth muttered. "So the Gods must know something bad is going on."

"But why use her energy to bring Jason to us? What's so special about him?" Annais asked before half-heartedly adding at the look on his face, "No offence or anything..."

"None taken," he mumbled. "She wiped my memory, put me into the Wilderness School field trip and sent a dream vision to come pick me up. Why am I so

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