𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

18 - third base is calming panic attacks

Nodding slowly, she continued, "And you think Kronos isn't?" The hypocrisy of his words was almost baffling to her.

"I think that Kronos is honest about what he is." Ethan shrugged lazily, like he was okay with joining one tyrant to destroy another.

Another bitter laugh fell from Elia's lips as she wiped blood out of her eye— the adrenaline was wearing off now, and she felt ready to collapse. "You're insane."

Ethan tilted his head to the side, a mocking smile on his face. "You've said that before."

She turned away from him with a scoff. "Sure, but I think it really is true now." She stumbled back toward her friends, letting Percy reach out with gentle hands to pull her closer. His eyes flitted over her face, the crease between his brows becoming deeper as he saw the crimson staining her skin.

Annabeth frowned. "What are you going to do? Go off into the maze alone?" She sounded incredulous, like she couldn't fathom it.

Ethan's grin was all teeth, the edges sharp and mocking. "Our little Ellie ended up alright, didn't she?" The blonde girl flinched at the reminder, sucking in a sharp breath. The son of Nemesis chuckled, watching her with amusement. "Or maybe she didn't." He clicked his tongue in mock disappointment. "Poor thing."

"Get the fuck out of here before I gut you like a fish," Percy practically snarled, his eyes hard as he glared at the other boy. The son of Poseidon was tense, ready to leap at Ethan and rip him to pieces, but when his eyes landed on the exhausted, battered girl next to him, his arm snaked carefully around her waist and pulled her tight to his side, his fingertips gently gripping her hip. She slumped against him, staining his clothes with dirt and blood as her head lolled to rest against his chest.

Ethan just hummed in mild amusement. "I'm going, don't worry." He turned his gaze to Elia, his anger barely controlled. "You shouldn't have let me live, Ellie. I won't have the same mercy for you."

Though her body was nearly limp with exhaustion, Elia's eyes were full of hatred as she glared at her best friend. "I won't either," she responded, her voice flat and hard. "Now get out of here before I kill you."

The son of Nemesis fixed her with a hard glare. "I'll see you soon, Elia," he bade her, his lips curled in a sneer as he turned, walking back into the darkness of the Labyrinth.

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

ELIA WAS TOO EXHAUSTED TO ENGAGE IN PERCY AND ANNABETH'S BICKERING, so she sat silently while Rachel helped her clean the wounds scattered about her body, sending the redhead a grateful smile when she was done. "Thank you," the blonde whispered, her voice hoarse with exhaustion.

The mortal nodded, a light flush on her cheeks as she looked to the fire they'd started. "Of course," she murmured, reaching out to grab a stick and letting the flames char the end of it. "It was really brave, what you did."

Elia pulled her knees to her chest, trying to tune out the arguing of her two best friends. "Brave, stupid— same thing. But thanks." She scrunched her nose at the dull ache of the cut across her cheek; another scar to add to the collection. She'd accumulated quite a few just on this quest alone— she wasn't sure how to feel about that. The stark scores into the flesh of her wrists, the nicks all across her body from her time in the maze; they were permanent, stuck there forever.

Rachel nodded, gazing down at the ground as she used the end of her burnt stick to draw figures on the stone floor. A couple strokes, and she had perfectly captured the head of a dracaenae. Elia watched her with tired eyes before speaking. "I'm really sorry we dragged you into this. It's unfair and unsafe and fucking crazy. You deserve better." Her voice was muffled against her knees, but Rachel looked up at her words.