Songs and Nets

  “I would like to help you, and that is why I am here. But at the very least, let us first see what happens, before I can help you become better than what you are right now,” Circe said, looking at both of them with a gentle smile.

  “Thanks…?” Percy replied, staring at her with obvious confusion.

  Suddenly, the people around them drew the group’s attention with gasps of surprise and uneasy murmurs.

  Percy tore his gaze away from the beautiful woman, who continued to watch him closely with that smile that seemed intent on consuming his heart, and turned his head toward the source of the commotion.

  Before that, he glanced at Annabeth for a moment, as if trying to check whether she felt the same thing. But Annabeth had already turned to look at what was happening along with the others.

  Out on the beach, several boats of all kinds were anchored at the dock. There were submarines, World War II ships, and even a pirate ship. Among them all, a strange motorboat shot forward, speeding away from the island.

  The Roman man they had seen earlier, Estrabros, appeared to be using it, fleeing at great speed.

  At the lookout there were spyglasses and binoculars, which people grabbed to observe the scene while murmuring among themselves. Some said he would not make it, others whispered with pity, “poor Estrabros,” and a few seemed to have faith in him, cheering him on with words of encouragement.

  All of it made both Percy and Annabeth feel uneasy. There was something strange in the way everyone was watching.

  “What is he trying to do?” Annabeth asked.

  “Pass the sirens,” Hila replied, her tone tinged with sadness.

  “Sirens?” Annabeth repeated, her eyes widening in surprise as she picked up one of the binoculars. Percy did the same with another pair.

  “The sirens’ song is so alluring that few heroes manage to overcome it,” Circe explained softly.

  Percy noticed that as Estrabros moved farther away from the island in a straight line, he suddenly began to turn directly toward a reef filled with jagged rocks rising from the water, on a small island not too far from the resort.

  Even with the binoculars, it was hard to clearly make out what was moving among the rocks, but something was there. Something alive. And Estrabros was heading straight toward it.

  When the motorboat arrived, the man disembarked without hesitation and set foot on the rocky island. Circe shook her head slightly.

  Percy watched as Estrabros approached those figures moving all over the island. An instant later, they leapt at him.

  All that could be seen was blood splashing across the rocks, as Estrabros was completely covered by whatever was attacking him.

  Annabeth dropped the binoculars immediately, unable to keep watching.

  Percy lowered his slowly, his face serious and his jaw tight.

  “I warned him,” Circe said sadly. “He was still not ready to endure their song,” she added, shaking her head.

  “And what do they sound like?” Percy asked, even though he could still see out of the corner of his eye those creatures crawling among the rocks, fighting over Estrabros’s body.

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  “Each song is different for every hero. The sirens look into your soul, search for your fatal flaw, and use it against you to trap you in an illusion created by yourself,” Circe explained gently.

  People began to disperse little by little, disappointed, seeing that someone else had failed to leave the island.

  “You are safe here. You can rest and prepare before continuing your mission. And I will be delighted to help you,” Circe said, offering them another smile.

  Hila hurried over to them.

  “Come on, it is time for a change of clothes,” she said, guiding them back toward the changing rooms.

  Annabeth and Percy looked at each other for a moment, hesitating. Finally, Percy gave a small nod, and both of them began to walk.

  Circe remained watching their backs for a few seconds longer.

  Her smile had vanished.

  Her expression was completely serious, especially as her gaze fixed on Percy’s back.

  …

  Percy and Annabeth followed Hila as she walked ahead. Percy moved a bit closer to Annabeth and whispered,

  “You noticed that most of them are women, right?”

  Annabeth nodded slightly as she looked around. There were one or two men, yes, but they were a clear minority. About one for every twenty women.

  It was strange.

  “That is because most of those who try to leave are men,” Hila said suddenly, having overheard them. “Circe says it may be because men are more focused on proving their manhood, or because there is something that drives them to be brave. Unfortunately, that is not enough to get past the sirens,” she added with a kind smile.

  “Hm. Is that so?” Percy replied, returning the same smile Hila was giving him.

  Which made Hila tilt her head slightly in mild confusion, her smile still in place, before turning around again to guide them.

  “These are your rooms. This is where you can change and leave your things,” Hila said, stopping in front of two doors that stood side by side.

  Percy looked at Hila for a moment before going in.

  …

  Clarisse woke up suddenly, realizing she was still hanging from the net made of what seemed to be strands of wool. Strangely enough, they were quite resistant… and surprisingly soft.

  She began to shake, trying to free herself, or at least reach her spear, which was tangled up alongside her.

  “Tssh.”

  She heard a faint sound, which made her stop for a moment. Then, using her hands, she parted the threads in front of her face just enough to see better.

  The first thing she noticed was that she was inside a cave, completely dark, barely lit by a couple of torches and a dim light that seemed to come from a hole in the ceiling. But it was only moonlight, so it did not illuminate much.

  The second thing she saw was… a bride.

  A figure in a full wedding dress, gagged, with hands and hooves bound, lying not too far away.

  Yes, hooves.

  Because it was not simply a bride, but a satyr bride.

  And, to confuse her even more, a male satyr bride.

  And someone quite familiar to her.

  “Grover… why are you dressed like a bride?” Clarisse asked when she recognized him, unable to stop herself from wanting to know how he had ended up like that.

  “Clarisse! Is that you? That does not matter. Where is Percy? Did he come with you?” he replied quickly, urgency clear in his voice.

  Clarisse did not answer right away. She stared at him, then lowered her gaze to the tip of her spear sticking out of the net. Then she looked at the shaft.

  “Good. I suppose you will be useful to get me out of here,” Clarisse said, looking at him with determination.

  “What? What do you want to do?” Grover asked, confused. He was not exactly in any condition to help anyone while tied up.

  “Raise your hands,” Clarisse ordered as she shifted within the net.

  “What?” Grover repeated, even more confused.

  “Raise your hands, now!” Clarisse suddenly shouted.

  Purely out of reflex, Grover raised both hands, still bound at the wrists, above his head.

  Then Clarisse, from inside the net, kicked hard again and again against the shaft of her spear with all her strength.

  The spear shot out of the net, flying straight toward Grover.

  Grover screamed in panic and covered his face with both hands.

  A second later, he realized that the ropes binding his wrists had been cut.

  He looked up and saw Clarisse’s spear embedded just above his head, where his hands had been moments earlier. The rope had been cleanly severed.

  “Good. Looks like I did not miss… this time,” Clarisse said with a faint note of pride.

  “This time?!?” Grover shouted, half terrified, half panicked, and completely stunned.

  “Does not matter now. Help me get out of here,” Clarisse urged.

  Grover, now with his hands free, jumped to his feet. He pulled Clarisse’s spear free from where it was lodged, then used it to cut the ropes binding his legs. After that, he rushed over to her.

  “Later you are going to have to tell me what you meant by ‘this time,’” he said before using the spear to slice through the net at the side and free her.

  The moment the net gave way, Clarisse fell to the ground, but she got up almost immediately. She let out a snort, adjusted her hair, and took the spear back from Grover’s hands.

  “Nice dress,” she commented, as if she were completely ignoring the question.