──── chapter six

{ 🔮 } · let the magic loose . ݁ ٬٬ ࣪

THERE WAS JUST PAIN. Pain. Nothing else. Pain. Suffering. Despite being warm outside,  Endora felt like she was in a freezer. No amount of blankets that were covering her body helped because she still felt herself shivering. One look around her surroundings and the girl noticed she was on a terrace of the Plaza Hotel, where they had set up camp for the infirmary, battle strategy and such. Silena was over her, wiping her forehead with a cool cloth with Annabeth next to her, holding onto the girl's hand in an iron like grip.

"What. . . what happened?" Endora's voice was small as she talked.

Annabeth let out a sigh of relief, quickly wiping away the tears that were falling unwillingly from the corner of her eyes. "You got wounded pretty bad, Dora. The dagger. . . it was poisoned."

Fredrick patted the blonde's head, standing behind her with a tight lipped smiled sent towards Endora, glad that his friend was alive and well.

 "Oh. . ." she murmured, trying to see her arm. The girl let out a wince as she craned her neck, and then saw Basil and Lou Ellen on her other side, with the rest of Hermes' cabin surrounding her. "Hi."

Lou Ellen let out a breathy laugh, squeezing her other hand that Endora didn't notice she was holding, "Hi."

Endora turned back towards Annabeth, "The bridge. . . we were at the ─ " her stomach jolted, " ─ gods, Percy, Maddy, where ─ " the girl went to move, only to let out a stifled cry of pain. The pain was too much and she fell back down, her vision becoming hazy.

"Don't move," Basil said, her grey eyes pained. "Just rest? He's fine. They're fine."

A voice from inside the Plaza called out, "Later ─ Where's Endy?"

Percy; she could recognize that voice from miles away.

Jake Mason replied, "The terrace. She's alive, man, but. . ."

Jake didn't finish his sentence as Endora saw Percy rush over with Will and Madeline beside him. One thing that Endora noted about the pair of siblings were their tear-stained cheeks that glistened in the moonlight. The girl frowned. What happed after she was stabbed? They pushed through the group surrounding the brunette. Annabeth and Fredrick stepped back, and Will unwrapped the bandages to examine the wound and Endora wanted to faint. The bleeding had stopped but the gash looked deep. The skin around the cut was a horrible shade of green.

"Endy. . ." Percy choked up.

"Poison on the dagger," she mumbled. "Pretty fuckin' stupid of me, huh?" 

Will Solace exhaled with relief. "It's not so bad, Dora." she could hear his voice was horse from presumably crying. "A few more minutes and we would've been in trouble, but the venom hasn't gotten past the shoulder yet. Just lie still. Somebody hand me some nectar."

Percy grabbed a canteen. Will cleaned out the wound with the godly drink while the son of Poseidon held onto one of Endora's hands; her other still in Lou Ellen's hold. "Ow," she said. "Ow, ow!" she gripped their hands so tight they turned purple, but she stayed still, like Will asked. 

Silena and Basil muttered words of encouragement. Annabeth stood watching, her fingers to her mouth with worry; Fredrick turned towards Madeline, talking in hushed voiced but the black-haired girl waved him off with one pointed look. Will put some silver paste over the wound and hummed words in Ancient Greek ─ a hymn to Apollo. Then he applied fresh bandages and stood up shakily.

The healing must've taken a lot of his energy. He looked almost as pale as Endora. 

"That should do it," he said. "But we're going to need some mortal supplies." he grabbed a piece of hotel stationery, jotted down some notes, and handed it to one of the Athena guys. "There's a Duane Reade on Fifth. Normally I would never steal ─ "

"I would," Travis volunteered, looking at Endora with a small smile, "Anything for our witch."

The brunette managed a smile back.

Will glared at him. "Leave cash or drachmas to pay, whatever you've got, but this is an emergency. I've got a feeling we're going to have a lot more people to treat." 

Nobody disagreed. There was hardly a single demigod who hadn't already been wounded. . . except Percy.

"Come on, guys," Travis Stoll said. "Let's give Dora some space. We've got a drugstore to raid. . . I mean, visit." 

Fredrick sighed, stepping away from Madeline and walking towards the Hermes' cabin, "I'll go with them to make sure they don't steal anything."

The demigods shuffled back inside. Lou Ellen gave her sister a last worried glance before letting go of her hand and following Annabeth outside. Her best friend turned around and gave her a small smile, one that didn't reach her eyes before the daughter of Apollo followed the rest.

Jake Mason grabbed Percy's shoulder as he was leaving. "We'll talk later, but it's under control. I'm using Annabeth's shield to keep an eye on things, and she'll help now that she's here, too. The enemy withdrew at sunrise; not sure why. We've got a lookout at each bridge and tunnel."

"Thanks, man," said Percy.

He closed the doors of the terrace behind him, and Silena, Percy and Endora were alone.

Silena pressed a cool cloth to Endora's forehead. "This is all my fault."

"No," Endora said weakly. "Silena, how is it your fault?" 

"I've never been any good at camp," she murmured. "Not like you or Percy. If I was a better fighter . .."

Her mouth trembled. Ever since Beckendorf died she'd been getting worse, and every time Endora looked at her, it made her angry about his death all over again. Her expression reminded the girl of glass ─ like she might break any minute.

"You're a great camper," Percy told Silena. "You're the best pegasus rider we have. And you get along with people. Believe me, anyone who can make friends with Clarisse has talent."

She stared at the boy like he'd just given her an idea. "That's it! We need the Ares cabin. I can talk to Clarisse. I know I can convince her to help us."

"Whoa, Silena. Even if you could get off the island, Clarisse is pretty stubborn. Once she gets angry ─ "

"Please," she begged. "I can take a pegasus. I know I can make it back to camp. Let me try."

Percy exchanged looks with Endora. She nodded slightly. The boy didn't like the idea. He didn't think Silena stood a chance of convincing Clarisse to fight. On the other hand, Silena was so distracted right now that she would just get herself hurt in battle. Maybe sending her back to camp would give her something else to focus on.

"All right," Percy told her. "I can't think of anybody better to try." 

Silena threw her arms around Percy. Then she pushed back awkwardly, glancing at Endora. "Um, sorry. Thank you, Percy! I won't let you down!"

Once she was gone, it was just Endora and Percy. All alone. The boy knelt down next to her, sitting on the floor, his legs crossed and placed his hand gently against her forehead. His brows knitted together in worry, and Endora couldn't help but smile. Her hand reached up and touched the wrinkles in his brow from his frown, and traced them.

"You're cute when you're worried," she muttered. "Your eyebrows get all scrunched together."

"You are not going to die while I owe you a favor," Percy said. "Why did you take that knife?" 

The girl shrugged, "You would've done the same for me."

It was true. Percy guessed they both knew it. Still, he felt like somebody was poking his heart with a cold metal rod. "How did you know?"

"Know what?"

Percy glanced around, making sure they were alone. Then, he leaned in close and whispered, "My Achilles spot. If you hadn't taken that knife, I would've died."

Endora's stomach twisted. He had been in danger. She had sensed it. It was weird, she didn't understand how she just knew, "I don't know, Percy. I just had this feeling you were in danger. I couldn't loose you. That was on my mind."

Percy smiled and caressed the girl's cheek lovingly, "I can't lose you, too. So just stay alive, all right?"

Endora nodded before asking, "Where is the spot?"

The boy wasn't supposed to tell anyone. But this was Endora. If Percy couldn't trust her, he couldn't trust anyone.

"The small of my back." 

She lifted her hand. "Where? Here?"

She put her hand on Percy's spine, and his skin tingled. The boy moved her fingers to the one spot that grounded him to his mortal life. A thousand volts of electricity seemed to arc through his body. 

"You saved me," he said. "Thanks."

She removed her hand, but Percy kept holding it.

"Nothing new," Endora said with a smile.

Percy hesitated for a second, but then leaned down, and softly pressed his lips on Endora's forehead, lingering just a second more before pulling away.

They watched the sun come up over the city. The traffic should've been heavy by now, but there were no cars honking, no crowds bustling along the sidewalks. Far away, Endora could hear a car alarm echo through the streets. A plume of black smoke curled into the sky somewhere over Harlem.

"I'm scared," Endora said suddenly, her eyes staring at the ceiling.

"Hey," Percy said softly, "We'll be okay. Everything is going to end and be perfectly fine. Everything ─ "

"I'm not scared of that," the girl cut him off, turning her head to look at his eyes, "I'm scared of her."

They both knew what she meant.

"Hey, you'll be fine." Percy spoke in such a gentle tone that almost had Endora believing him, "We still don't know what Athena meant? Maybe she's talking metaphorically and not literally. And she won't overpower you. It's you we are talking about. The badass camper in Camp Half-Blood. If someone can beat it, it's going to be you, Endy."

Endora managed a smile, "You know that no one calls me Endy except you?"

"Yeah, because I forbid them to." Percy said like it was obvious.

The brunette laughed ─ a first genuine laugh in long time.

The terrace door opened, and Connor Stoll stepped through.

"Percy," he glanced at the boy. He looked hesitant on saying something. "Mrs. O'Leary just came back with Grover. I think you should talk to him."

The door of the terrace opened, and Fredrick stepped through. He was dressed for battle, looking ragged, but surprised to see Endora sitting up and moving. "What the fuck Dora! You should be resting!"

"I'm fine," Endoa said and stood up. She moved her hand where the knife pierced her skin and showed the boy she could move it just fine, "I used some healing spells too. They do the job so I'm all good. What's happened?"

The blonde boy narrowed his eyes at her, but sighed in defeat, knowing there was no way he could argue his way out of this with his best friend, "A few things. Percy had a nice chat with Prometheus, offered him a lovely gift called Pandora's Box that we immediately put in the vaults," he took a deep breath, "And there's an army marching south to Central Park, which is fun, I guess."

"Okay, so what are we waiting for?" Endora spoke, ready to move toward the door, "Let's get moving."

Fredrick frowned at the girl, his hand grabbing onto her shoulders to pull her back and away from danger of the outside, "Girl, are you crazy? You were literally stabbed yesterday."

"So?" Endora said shrugging his hands off and with a snap of her fingers, he armor appeared in her hands, "I'll die eventually."

While the son of Dionysus did not look happy, he knew that Endora wasn't going to take no for an answer. So with a sigh, the two prepared for the battle and walked out of the building.

The lights of the city were blinking on at twilight. Endora guessed a lot of them were on automatic timers. Streetlamps glowed around the shore of the lake, making the water and trees look even spookier. The pair moved through the sea of demigods and towards the front where the rest of their friends were, listening to them speaking, not yet announcing their appearance.

"They're coming," Thalia confirmed, pointing north with a silver arrow. "One of my scouts just reported they've crossed the Harlem River. There was no way to hold them back. The army. . ." she shrugged. "It's huge."

"We'll hold them at the park," said Percy. "Grover, you ready?"

He nodded. "As ready as we'll ever be. If my nature sprits can stop them anywhere, this is the place."

"Yes, we will!" said another voice. Endora frowned to see Leneus push his way through the crowd, stumbling over his own spear, and dressed in wood-bark armor that only covered half of his belly.

Percy looked just as surprised. "Leneus?"

"Don't act so surprised!" he huffed. "I'm a leader of the council, and you did tell me to find Grover. Well, I found hi, and I'm not going to let a mere outcast lead the satyrs without my help!"

Behind Leneus's back, Grover made gagging motions, but the old satyr grinned like he was the savior of the day. "Never fear! We'll show those Titans!"

Percy didn't know whether to laugh or be angry, but he managed to keep a straight face. "Um. . . yeah. Well, Grover, you won't be alone. Annabeth and the Athena cabin will make their stand here. And me, and . . . Endy?"

Everyone turned to look towards the girl as she and Fredrick walked towards Percy, Grover and Annabeth. The boy frowned at threw a look towards the son of Dionysus. Fredrick just raised his hands in defeat, enough for all of them to understand that nothing was stopping Endora from joining the battle.

"Is here to help," Endora said, "Don't have your jaw dropped. I know I'm pretty."

"What are you doing here! You should be resting!" Percy scolded her, sounding more like a mother than Basil ever did.

Endora rolled her eyes, "We both know that wouldn't happen. If you think I'm letting you have all the fun, you're wrong."

Percy pinched the bridge of his nose, "You will be the death of me."

"Good we're on the same page, Water boy."

"Okay," Percy said, knowing he wouldn't win this fight, "Me, Endy, Fred and. . . Thalia?"

She patted Percy on the shoulder. "Say no more. The Hunters are ready."

Percy then turned to the other counsellors. Endora glanced to see Madeline, a sorrow look decorating her features. She spoke with the girl last night, asking what happened and she could help with anything. It was a crying mess none the less, with Madeline sobbing in Endora's chest while the brunette held her like she would disappear any given moment. 

New counsellor of cabin seven.

Endora felt sick.

"That leaves the rest of you with a job just as important. You have to guard the other entrances to Manhattan. You know how tricky Kronos is. He'll hope to distract us with this big army and sneak another force in somewhere else. It's up to you to make sure that doesn't happen. Has each cabin chosen a bridge or tunnel?"

The counsellors nodded grimly.

"Then let's do it," said Percy. "Good hunting, everybody!"

Before Madeline left, Endora pulled her back and gave her a hug, "Please, be careful."

Madeline hugged her back, "You too. You should be resting though."

"Yeah, but I can't sit still," Endora said with a silly grin, "Come back alive, yeah? I can't loose my best friend."

Madeline took a deep breath. She nodded, "Same goes for you. Alive."

They heard the army before they saw it.

The noise was like a cannon barrage combined with a football stadium crowd ─ like every Patriots fan in New England was charging us with bazookas. At the north end of the reservoir, the enemy vanguard broke through the woods ─ a warrior in golden armor leading a battalion of Laistrygonian giants with huge bronze axes. Hundreds of other monsters poured out behind them.

"Positions!" Annabeth yelled.

Her cabinmates scrambled. The idea was to make the enemy army break around the reservoir. To get to them, they'd have to follow the trails, which meant they'd be marching in narrow columns on either side of the water.

At first, the plan seemed to work. The enemy divided and streamed toward them along the shore. When they were halfway across, our defenses kicked in. The jogging trail erupted in Greek fire, incinerating many of the monsters instantly. Others flailed around, engulfed in green flames. Athena campers threw grappling hooks around the largest giants and pulled them to the ground.

In the woods on the right, the Hunters sent a volley of silver arrows into the enemy line, destroying twenty or thirty dracaenae, but more marched behind them. A bolt of lightning crackled out of the sky and fried a Laistrygonian giant to ashes, and Endora knew Thalia using her powers.

Grover raised his pipes and played a quick tune. A roar went up from the woods on both sides as every tree, rock, and bush seemed to sprout a spirit. Dryads and satyrs raised their clubs and charged. The trees wrapped around the monsters, strangling them. Grass grew around the feet of the enemy archers. Stones flew up and hit dracaenae in the faces.

The enemy slogged forward. Giants smashed through the trees, and naiads faded as their life sources were destroyed. Hellhounds lunged at the timber wolves, knocking them aside. Enemy archers returned fire, and a Hunter fell from a high branch.

"Guys!"

Annabeth pointed at the reservoir.

The Titan in the gold armor wasn't waiting for his forces to advance around the sides. He was charging toward them, walking straight over the top of the lake. A Greek firebomb exploded right on top of him, but he raised his palm and sucked the flames out of the air.

"Hyperion," Annabeth said in awe. "The lord of light. Titan of the east."

"Bad?" Percy guessed.

"Next to Atlas, he's the greatest Titan warrior. In the old days, four Titans controlled the four corners of the world. Hyperion was the east ─ the most powerful. He was the father of Helios, the first sun god."

"I'll keep him busy," Percy promised.

"No," Endora said firmly, "I'll do it."

Both Percy and Annabeth looked at her like she had lost her mind. Maybe she has, but the nagging feeling and what Athena told her and what Hermes gave her from her mother, this had to be why. Defeat the sun. Hyperion is the Titan on light, light comes from the sun ─ plus, it's opposite from dark, which Endora is used to.

"Dora, you can't do it," Annabeth said, "What if it overcomes you and ─ "

"Then let it," the brunette said, putting the necklace around her neck. The crystal seemed to brighten in color; her mind mothing but a static noise all throughout. "I'm not cowering again. I'm not letting her take control over me. I'm in control of my own body. Not her." Percy looked at the girl and before he could say something but she cut him off, "I'll be fine. You'll be there if something happens. Trust me, okay?"

Percy looked at the girl's eyes, finding nothing of fear in them, "Fine," he said, "I trust you."

Endora smiled and let the magic overcome her.

Twenty feet away, Hyperion raised his sword. His eyes were as gold as Kronos's but brighter, like miniature suns. He watched as the rest of the demigods backed away, leaving only a singular one standing in front of him.

"Oh, so this must be Hecate's cursed child," he mused. "Seems you've chosen the wrong side to fight for."

"Nah," Endora spoke, "I think I know where I belong. And soon, you will too."

Is it my time to shine? the voice echoed in her mind. You finally realized that you need me. Good. Let the show begin.

And she felt it. The dark magic that laid deep into her soul, buried under the voices of the Ancestors keeping her safe, hidden inside the voice of the Hollow, enveloped her, reaching from the depths of her mind and soul to the tips of her fingers where they let the black mist surround them before it consumed her whole body.

Everything around her didn't matter for that moment as the girl got used to new power she experienced. She felt powerful, like all magic belonged to her now. Endora didn't like the feeling, but she couldn't do anything about it as the Hollow took her mind and body, finally feeling human again.

I've been waiting for this moment, the Hollow sound in her mind. Human again. Yet still fragile. I'll wait a little longer until it's my time.

And you can't do anything about it cause of the crystal. I fear I know where it came from, Endora voiced in her own mind.

You fear? You should enjoy this moment! It's to celebrate.

You didn't take control of me. My mother knew you well not to let you loose just like that.

Your mother didn't know at all! the Hollow echoed, voice somewhat of rage.

But the fact is, she does. I'm not afraid, not anymore. You will help, and in return you get to feel human again. Remember the agreement.

Yeah, yeah, I know the deal, the Hollow smirked, Until next time, Hecate's cursed child.

She looked down at her fingers, flexing them before her eyes bore into the gold ones of the Titan.

"I never liked you Titans," the voice was not Endora's, but it also was. It was a mix between the two women that shared the body now; two powerful witches that had the army of monsters covering away. "Never knew when to stop."

Hyperion snarled. "You should be on our side," the Titan said, "Get your revenge."

Endora laughed, her voice deeper and grin so wicked she didn't like it on her face, "I will have my revenge, but not now. This body is not completed."

"So you'll help the girl? Let her use you."

"I need a bit of fun too," Endora grinned, "And you are just that."

Hyperion's body ignited in a column of light and heat, yet Endora didn't feel a thing. She looked straight at the Titan as he raised his sword, ready to smash it against her skull, but she had tricks up her sleeve. She raised her hand and the black mist came in contact with the body of the Titan, slamming into him and throwing him into his army.

On the right flank, Annabeth was leading an assault with her siblings. On the left flank, Grover and his nature spirits were regrouping, entangling the enemies with bushes and weeds. Percy was fighting, keeping the monsters away from the girl.

The mist surrounded her body again and she found herself in front of the Titan. The flames coming off his armor licked enveloped the girl but she didn't feel it. She held out her arm, her palm facing Hyperion and she felt a surge of magic pass though her. The Titan flew though the air and Endora pushed her magic more, her hand forming into fist as she watched the monster grab at his throat, kicking his legs, trying to free himself.

"She's more powerful then your lord thinks," the Hollow said though Endora's body, slamming Titan's body down onto the ground. The ground shook and a hole appeared where Hyperion landed. Endora teleported herself in front of him, "You underestimated her."

"We did," Hyperion managed to say, standing back up onto his feet. "But now she must go."

He raised his sword above his head, ready to strike down in a heavy assault onto Endora's smaller body, but the girl stopped it. She held her hand up, feeling the surge of power coming from her core and flowing though her body. 

The sword came in contact with her hand and Endora, with a sickening and wicked grin painted on her face, pushed the black mist from it, making the sword deflect from her skin and fly from the Titan's hand. She didn't let him recover from the shock as she struck her hand towards him, the dark magic piercing though Hyperion's metal armor, melting the gold with force of the power.

The dark magic spread though the Titan's body, blackening his veins just like it did with Endora's. Mist like hand grasped onto the place where Hyperion's neck met his head and blackness spread over his blinding body, dying down the light and turning it into nothingness. "See you in hell." the girl said with a smirk, as she wield the magic from her body. The Titan let out a scream, freezing in spot as the black magic consumed his body, falling down like a statue.

Endora's head turn towards the army that was left and with a trust of her hand, they vaporized, leaving nothing behind; this time, not even the armor. She felt powerful, way too powerful. She couldn't control it. Her mind raced. Her heart felt like it would burst out of her chest. Her head pounded. She couldn't recognize her voice from the Hollow's, nor could she hear the Ancestors aiding her. She was scared of this. She was scared of the magic. She was scared of what she had done.

"Endy. . ." a voice behind her said.

With mist still surrounding her body, the girl turned, ready to destroy the monster that appeared in front of her. That was what she wanted. But no monster was there. Only the boy she is so willing to give her heart to.

"Percy. . ."

The mist disappeared and Endora felt the black magic going back into the depths of her soul, the voice of the Hollow going silent once more.

She surged forward, hugging the boy.

"You did it," Percy whispered in her hair, "You did it."

"I did it," Endora said with a proud smile, "I did it." she untangled herself from the boy, the war cries echoing in her ear, "Let's finish this, shall we?"

The boy grinned, gripping his sword, "We shall, m'lady."

niki speaks!

late sorry, but, that was a chapter
wasn't it
i have nothing to say or add
enjoy the pain ig
there is more from where
this came from
don't worry
pendora shippers where y'all at
they have my soul

have a nice day/night!
bye!