"I'm going to get us out of this, I promise." Percy reassured half-heartedly, as we stared down off the small cliff a crowd of children was trying to push us off.

    Turns out their execution methods were very much like a pirates' (which was fitting). The far side of the island rose in elevation until you came across a very nice set of sea cliffs. They were bright orange in color, which contrasted with the dark blue of the ocean, which snapped and snarled below. I shivered with fear as I breathed in the saltwater and felt the mist on my face. If this was to be the last sight before I presumedly drowned, I couldn't complain.

    I looked to my right and standing there was Jason. The ropes dug in my wrists and I wished I could hold his hand. Jason's brow was furrowed and there was a dull haze over his blue-grey eyes. The sea breeze from the angry ocean below blew his bangs away from his face.

    "Craig." He spoke suddenly.

    I blinked in surprise as he turned his head to stare at me, was I imagining it but were there... tears in his eyes.

    "Y-yes?" I blinked.

    "I... just incase we don't get out of this," he swallowed. "I should probably tell you something."

    Kosmos. Oh Kosmos. "You can tell me anything."

    Jason breathed in. "On my fifteenth birthday- "

    He was interrupted as Bundi appeared and waltzed up to a platform next to the cliff with a long staff and loudly started slamming rhythmically against the deck. They silenced the whole crowd with that simple gesture. When everything was quiet they straightened and stared back into crowd with a look of such intense power that I winced slightly in the place where I stood.

    "Rebels of Thanatos!" They cried out with glee. "I'm happy to inform you we're gathered here today to celebrate the deaths of our oppressor and her associates."

    Oh Kosmos. I guess Bundi and I hadn't really bonded earlier because they seemed pretty intend on my death as of this moment.

    "How many years has it been now? About half a century? With each generation of kings and queens from your line not one spoke up about the mistreatments of your proclaimed Daímonas. Until you, and you've spent how many years only reinforcing our enslavement?" They taunted her.

    I watched Percy's hands shake behind her back and her teeth grit together.

    "Please, Your Majesty." Percy curtsied ever so slightly. "Spare my life and these children. I take back my actions."

    I frowned, her actions? Was she admitting to these wild claims? I thought she was innocent and this was just a group of kids wildly against her political reign. I couldn't imagine Percy doing anything to provoke this much outrage, because she was always so nice!

    Bundi walked slowly to the edge of the platform until they could stare down at her with a look of disgust. "You're the essence of filth, Persephone. Don't bother me with your pathetic lies. Don't pretend to care while your hands are stained red with my kin's blood."

    Percy looked up them with apathy. "I'm sorry."

    Bundi paused, then gestured to the ground. "Then show it."

    "Wh-what?" Percy stammered in confusion.

    "Bow to me." Bundi's eyes were colder then the ocean below us.

    Percy gulped but clumsily lowered herself down on her knees. She nearly slipped due to her hands being tied behind her back. It was painful to watch and I could feel my heart hammering wildly in my chest from the terrifying exchange.

    "I'm... sorry." She mumbled into the earth.

    Bundi paused for a moment, as if taking in the scene. "Tell it to the waves."

    Percy looked up at them, genuinely terrified. "N-no please—I'll do anything-"

    They pointed towards the cliff and a huge breath of mist was thrown into the air. The ground at our feet was becoming more soaked and slippery with each moment. I started to panic, it was amazing I lasted this long. I was definitely not ready to die today, if I was going to die I wanted to at least kiss someone first. I don't have high standards!

    "Craig calm down." Peri warned. "Listen, I'm going to try and give you a little more of my power, okay? See if you can break these ropes."

    "Okay." I breathed.

    Peri closed his eyes and I felt a rush of something flow through me. All of a sudden someone from the audience called out and pointed a tell-tale finger towards my parrot.

    "He's trying to use his familiar to escape!"

    Bundi glanced up at me. "Tie the bird down."

    "No!" I struggled but was helpless as Peri was yanked off of my shoulder and wrapped tightly in a sack.

    As his angry cries squawked out from under the fabric I began to panic even more.

    "Craig." Jason called. "Stand back to back with me for a second."

    I turned to look at him with only confusion.

    Jason sighed. "Just trust me."

    Still worked up about Peri and willing to do anything at this moment, I awkwardly back up towards him. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't for him to slip his hands into mine. They were warm and soft and took me so off guard that I felt a familiar buzzing sensation in my fingertips. My powers. Instantly I felt a connection zip through Jason like static electricity and I started automatically channeling his emotions. He was terrified of something (probably death and/or sea cliffs) but something else was there. I wasn't quite sure what it was but maybe if I held on a little longer—

    The ropes around me went slack.

    My eyes popped out of my head in surprise. The cords fell and slapped against the ground. It wasn't a loud noise, but it was startling enough for every eyes to lock onto me. Bundi's gaze locked onto me and they grabbed their staff and jumped toward me. Jason moved to step in front of me, but then I saw Bundi's wrist flick and all of a sudden, the ends of their staff were on fire—and Jason was the target.

    "No!" I screamed and shoved him out of the way, my arms thrown up pathetically.

    I felt the heat of the flames but they never touched my skin. I cracked open one eye to see Bundi had frozen in an offensive stance, about to punch me in the gut with the crackling end of their burning staff. My palms were still pulsing with green energy, and Bundi seemed taken aback by the sight. They lowered their staff and their stare burned into me like the fire on their weapon. For a moment we were locked in that stance, one looking upon with the other with brazen curiosity and the other in fear of his life.

    "Cancel the execution." Bundi said under their breath.

    Shocked gasps were exchanged throughout the crowd. They eventually turned into angry shouts. Riots broke out among Bundi's people. It seemed I was no longer in danger from Bundi, but I wouldn't take my chances with those kids. They're battered faces, stained with dirt and face paint called out to me with something close to hate. I've never seen such wrath from such young faces.

    "Silence!" Bundi shouted, casting their arm to the crowd.

    Their entire forearm was lit a flame, their dark skin was unharmed. Bundi was a Daímonas too, everything was starting to make a little more sense. The crowd went silent within half-seconds and we were sudden left in a silence close to death. A figure, the orange haired man from before, stepped out hesitantly towards Bundi. The menacing leader standing above me gave me one last curious glance before turning away and climbing back onto their platform.

    "Cut their ties. Send them to an empty tent and make sure they don't escape. They will stay the night, I will announce my following decisions in the morning." Bundi said.

    I let out a sigh of relief. The green glow faded from my finger tips and my whole body relaxed. We weren't going to die. By some miraculous chain of events I'd somehow managed to save us. The guards from before melted from the crowd and cut my friend's bonds. The angry mob dissolved upon Bundi's request and as we were being escorted to our Prison Tent, Bundi tapped my shoulder. They leaned over to whisper something in my ear.

    "I admire any human willing to put their life on the line for another they love."

    I felt my blood rush to my cheeks. "Wh-what?"

    Bundi leaned back and their eyes flicked over Jason in front of me. I blushed even harder. Oh Kosmos. They thought Jason and I were... Oh.

    "O-oh no!" I attempted before we were swept out of earshot.

    Jason glanced back at me in confusion, I could only laugh awkwardly and keep my eyes fixed on the ground. Oh Kosmos, what a day.

    Our living quarters were a fairly large tent with a few cots raised off the ground slightly. The blankets were thin and there were holes eaten through them but it wasn't so bad. I sat down on one of them. Percy and Jason sat on opposite ends, as if they were trying to be as far away from each other as possible. I stared at them, desperately hoping someone would say something.

    "Hey Jason?" I asked.

    He glanced up at me.

    "Were you going to tell me something earlier?"

    He looked down at his feet. "Oh... no. Just forget it."

    Jason flopped down and rolled before I could ask him anymore. I frowned and hugged my knees, oh... I guess he just didn't want to talk to me. That was alright. One day maybe. It didn't mean anything. I glanced over at Percy and she had already fallen asleep. Or at least she was pretending too. I shrugged off my poncho and tried to lay down. Maybe things would be better in the morning.

    There was a flutter of wings and all of a sudden Peri landed on my shoulder. He started angrily fixing his feathers. I smiled and stroked him as I listened to his chatter. This made things better. Peri settled into the crook on my neck and I closed my eyes.