The Sky And The Sea

Not Immune To Engines, Huh?

When I awoke, my head was throbbing, my throat felt dry and hoarse. I gave a small groan as I took in my surroundings. I was wrapped in chains, hung upside down and held by a crane. Piper and Jason were in similar position, the former with a gag in her mouth trying to wriggle free and the latter had his eyes rolled up in his head with a welt the size of an apple forming above his eyebrow. I winced at his appearance. Was he even alive?

On the nearby conveyor belt a big metal pole was suspended over the flame and the smell of burning tires and wood filled the air. They were making a fire pit.

There were three Cyclopes. I recognized the twins but the last one was even uglier with greasy black hair in pigtails, metal wires woven throughout it. It was several feet taller and its nose and mouth were smashed together and the single red eye glittered with evil intelligence.

"Can I take her gag off now? I like it when they scream."

I glared at the Cyclops wearing the loincloth, for he was the one who made me blackout, as he ripped the gag off Piper's mouth. She didn't scream, instead taking a shaky breath like she was trying to keep herself calm.

"You can't scream when you are not scared," I hissed and the three eyes looked at me.

The loincloth wearing Cyclops glowered at me then Piper, waiting for her to do something. "Scream, girl! I like funny screaming!"

When Piper finally spoke, her tone was calm and reasonable, like she was correcting a naughty puppy. "Oh, Mr. Cyclops, you don't want to kill us. It would be much better if you let us go."

He scratched his ugly head and turned to his twin. "She is kind of pretty, Torque. Maybe I should let her go."

Torque, the one in the toga, growled. "I saw her first, Sump. I'll let her go."

They began to argue and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Then the third Cyclops shouted, "Fools!" She stalked over to Sump and pushed him aside, knocking him over the conveyor belt. Torque backed up quickly.

"The girl is a Venus spawn," the female Cyclops snarled. "She's using charmspeak on you."

Piper started to say, "Please, ma'am-"

"Rarr!" She grabbed Piper's chain. "Don't try your pretty talk on me, girl! I'm Ma Gasket! I've eaten heroes tougher than you for lunch!" She dropped Piper, letting her dangle again and began yelling at Sump about how idiotic he was.

I looked at Piper and silently asked her if she was okay. She gave a shaky nod before sending a worried glance at Jason. We were both worried about his physical well-being.

I tried to think. Maybe if I found a way to free my hands I could get to my bow and arrow. I doubt my sword has reappeared but my arrows might be able to buy me enough time to get Piper out of here. But to do that I would need water, to freeze the chains. Maybe she can find a way to get Jason to Festus and they can finish the quest. Problem was there were too many Cyclops.

"-eat her last, Ma?" Sump was saying.

"Looks like ugly runs in the family," I commented, too quiet for the Cyclops to hear.

"Idiot!" Ma Gasket yelled. "I should've thrown you out on the streets when you were babies, like proper Cyclops children. You might have learned some useful skills. Curse my soft heart." I couldn't help but think about Tyson who had been thrown out into the streets before being taken in by the people of Meriwether College Prep.

"Soft heart?" Torque muttered.

"What was that you ingrate?"

"Nothing, Ma. I said you got a soft heart. We get to work for you feed you, file your toenails-"