Chapter Quote:
"Just because things could've been different doesn't mean they'd be better."
~Unknown
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Chapter 16: What Does the Fox Say

Bryn

"I swear to the Gods, if you don't stop singing that stupid song, I will shoot you," Alec warned as Derek abruptly stopped his humming of 'What Does The Fox Say.' He'd been quietly doing so since the group followed the kitsune. It bothered Bryn, but she knew her brother wasn't all right in the head after the Eidolon possession, so she gave him a pass.

Alec did not.

"Sorry," Derek mumbled sheepishly.

"Are we almost there? I feel like we've been walking for hours," Isabelle groaned. "Derek? Can you sense it?"

"We're getting close."

"How close?"

"I'm sensitive to its location, not a GPS." He glanced around. "We're very close, though."

"Indeed, we are. It's just up this mountain," Jiahao said, craning his neck upwards to the four-thousand-foot mountain in front of them. Bryn grimaced. This would be no easy feat.

"Bryn, think you can fly us up there?" Isabelle queried.

"Shouldn't be a problem," she lied. It would be a big problem, but she couldn't let them know that. Bryn couldn't let them down. She had to push through this no matter how exhausted her body was, no matter how frayed her nerves were, no matter how thin the line was she walked on. Derek, her brothers, Silena, Alec, and Isabelle were counting on her, not to mention Luke and Hallie, both imprisoned by the same Eidolon.

Luke.

Bryn's heart constricted at the thought of him held prisoner by Balthazar, unable to control his body or actions. The only emotion she felt stronger than pain, though, was anger, a borderline murderous feeling. How dare the Eidolons target them after everything they'd been through?

It wasn't just the Eidolons.

Bryn criticized the invasive thought because, unfortunately, it was true, but she didn't want to admit it. The Gods had as much a part of their suffering as the Eidolons, if not more. But at least they kind of cared for the demigods.

"Bryn?" Alec's voice broke through her internal ramblings. "You okay?"

"Yeah, why?"

"You looked ready to kill someone."

"Technically, I was. But they're not here."

"Balthazar?"

"Yes."

His lips tugged upward into a small smirk. "I'll pin him down for you."

She grinned at him. "Such a gentleman."

"I try."

"All right, everyone link hands," Bryn ordered.

"Or, you know, I could Shadow-travel us up there," Derek suggested.

"Are you up to that?"

"It's not a few thousand miles, just a few thousand feet. It won't make me any worse than I already am if that's what you're wondering."

"If you do it, are you going to start singing again?" Alec asked warily.

"Only if you annoy me."

"Okay," Isabelle intervened. "Let's get this show on the road."

The demigods linked hands, and Bryn shut her eyes, dreading the sensation of Shadow-Travel. As cool as it was, it also felt like the shadows didn't want her there, as if they were either trying to push her out as soon as possible or consume her into oblivion.

Suddenly, the rush enveloped her for a few terrifying seconds, sending shivers down her spine.

Then it was done.

"That is so weird," Isabelle said.

"I might be sick," Alec groaned, bracing his hands on his knees. Bryn sidled over to him, gingerly placing her hand on his back.

"Derek, Isabelle, you two search for the helm. I'll make sure Alec is all right," Bryn said. The two demigods nodded, then pushed through the foliage. It wouldn't take them long if it was up here. There were only so many places they could look.

"You didn't have to stay with me. I'm fine," Alec told her gruffly.

"No, you're not. Sit down," she ordered. Surprisingly, he didn't argue, plopping onto the moss with a grunt. Bryn followed suit, pulling her backpack in front of them so she could dig for some ambrosia and nectar. Bryn handed him a small portion of each. "Here, it'll help with the nausea. And don't worry about acting all tough about it. I've done it multiple times, and it still gets me sometimes."

"Must be even worse for you, being a daughter of Zeus and all."

"Doesn't help, that's for sure. I'm in a domain I have no control in or of, and that scares me. I like to always have some control."

"So why are you dating a grandson of Poseidon? A god that's known to be unpredictable like the domain he rules over."

Bryn had never thought about it like that before, and now she vaguely wondered too. "I don't know how we work or why; we just do. I also know I love him. I know I'm a better person with him."

"You're lucky to have met someone like that already. It's hard for demigods to find love in general."

"Yeah. Mortals don't exactly handle monsters very well."

"Thankfully, monsters don't really mess with mortals unless they're with demigods, and even then, they still sometimes don't."

"I've always wondered what it'd be like to be a regular person. No special blood, no powers, no prophecies, just... normal."

"I think most demigods have at some point, but especially those who have suffered great losses."

"What do you imagine your life would be without being a demigod?"

Alec leaned back on his hands, staring wistfully at the mountains. "I'd be living in Brazil, and my parents would be cooking dinner for us. My mom would be playing Enrique Iglesias and singing along. Isabelle would be doing something on her computer, probably talking to one of her friends."

"What about you? What would you be doing?"

"I... I'd be playing with Simon, building things with legos." Bryn watched as his face tightened, tears threatening to spill onto his cheeks. Bryn placed her hand on top of his in an effort to comfort him.

"I'm sorry about your brother. I know that doesn't do anything to help the pain, but I am sorry. And if you ever need to talk to someone about it, and feel you can't go to your sister, you can come to me."

"Thank you. I will," Alec said sincerely. He shifted, and she removed her hand. "What about you?"

"I'd be living in London with my mum and dad. I'd be learning our business, arguing with the twins, then getting into mischief with them." Bryn sighed. "But I'd be lonely. My parents would have each other, the twins would have each other, and I'd be the awkward fifth wheel. My personality wouldn't be much different than it is now if we're being realistic, so making friends wouldn't come easily to me. I've always been less than willing to trust people, even before I lost everyone."

"What about Silena, Luke, Derek, and Hallie? Where do they fit into this picture?"

"That's the thing. I don't think they do. The only reason I met them was because of Camp Half-blood. It's always at this point that I'm glad my life has turned out the way it has. Despite what I've been through, this life brought me them, and I wouldn't want to change that."

"I know they feel the same way about you."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I've seen the way they all look at you. Derek didn't just come because of the helm. He fully trusted you to get it and bring it back without him. What he didn't trust was Isabelle and me to watch and protect you like everyone else in your group does. You've been through a lot, and he wants to make sure you're not put through anymore."

Bryn frowned. "He can't always stop that, though."

"No, but he's damn well going to try."

"WE GOT IT!" Derek came crashing through the trees with Isabelle behind him. Both appeared thrilled as the son of Hades lifted the Helm of Darkness proudly in the air. "We got it!"

Bryn stood up immediately, grinning from ear to ear. They were one step closer to finishing this quest, and more importantly, rescuing Luke and Hallie. Her body vibrated with adrenaline and elation.

"Luke and Hallie, here we-" Derek was cut off as an abnormally large bat snatched the helm out of his hand.