invisible string | f. zhang

xxvi. trust

"Go on," He urges as he begins knitting, "Don't stop."

By the time Leo had explained the eidolons, the problem with the Romans, and all the troubles the Argo II had encountered crossing the United States and embarking from Charleston, Aphros had knitted a complete baby bonnet.

Maribelle wishes she could knit as well.

"Very well," Aphros says. "I believe you."

"As simple as that?"

"I am quite good at discerning lies. I hear none from you." His eyes focus on Maribelle, "But I need to hear her as well."

Maribelle frowns, "I'm not sharing my life story with a fish."

Leo nudges her, eyes-wide.

"Ichthyocentaurs," He corrects.

"Yeah, yeah."

"Maybe be nice to the guy that decides whether or not we die," Leo mumbles to her. Then he speaks to Aphros, "She's with us. Same story, she was picked to go on the quest with us."

"Not enough."

"How does my past affect anything you need to know about me now? I went on a quest to Alaska with Percy Jackson, Frank Zhang, and Hazel Levesque and now I'm here on this quest. I've met with my mother who doesn't talk to me or acknowledge my presence anymore, and I fought a shrimp-zilla and somehow ended up here."

"Leo had no problem sharing with me, neither did Hazel."

"Yeah, well, maybe they're stupid," Maribelle retorts.

Aphros was seeming to lose his patience. Maribelle sighs and glances at Leo. He knew nothing of the Titan War or anything about Maribelle, really. And she didn't want him to go blabbing to Piper or Jason — Jason who may remember but may not.

But, with a deep breath, she starts. Starts about her life in New Rome with her father and her grandparents. The year they tried living in the city and not in New Rome. Going to Camp Jupiter when she was eleven. Meeting Jason and becoming fast friends, Jason teaching her how to sword-fight, Jason introducing her to Gabe. Gabe. She tries not vomit all over Aphros and Leo. She recounts Gabe teaching her to use the knives, Gabe helping her and Jason train. Gabe helping her so nobody could underestimate her, he helped her get into a good cohort, helped her and her team win the War Games.

Then, the downfall. She speaks very briefly about it, Gabe meeting some guy that has a plan to overthrow Olympus. Gabe sharing those ideals; his own father had never cared to claim him until years after he'd already come to camp. And even then, Gabe had despised him years before despite not knowing who he was. Angry that he'd been left alone with a mother who could barely take care of herself let alone Gabe, and let alone his other siblings.

She finishes the story and wishes the ending was different. Maribelle killed Gabe before he could kill Jason, then herself, but Jason was quick to help her despite everyone else's protests.

"So . . . yeah," She ends eloquently.

It's silent.

"Maribelle —" Leo begins.

"Don't," She tells him.

He doesn't say anything else.

"I believe you," Aphros finally says, "Your story also fits with what Hazel Levesque told us."

"Is she—?" Leo asks.

"Of course," Aphros says. "She's fine."

He puts his fingers to his mouth and whistles, which sounds strange underwater, "My people will bring her here shortly. You must understand . . . our location is a carefully guarded secret. You and your friends showed up in a warship, pursued by one of Keto's sea monsters. We did not know whose side you were on."