[ chapter twenty: hermia ]
° • ° • °
In that moment Hermia couldn't help but think back to a time when life was simpler. Mia never had to worry about fighting anything. Back in 1862 she was learning magic, yes, but she never thought she would have to use it, not like this.
A spell like 'Dimiterre' was a very simple spell. Mia's own brother had taught her that one. He showed it to her back when he was teaching her how to fight. But back then Demetrius had used it to throw Mia down, just so he could get the upper hand.
Now it was pretty much the same thing. Hermia had used the spell to throw Medea down, but the difference was that Mia's brother couldn't be here to see her use it. Demetrius had always said Mia would grow up to be an amazing and strong witch, but Mia never thought her brother would miss her growth.
With each passing day Mia feels like she's losing the memory of her brother and worst of all Lysander. The memory she had seen earlier had only made things worse for her. She had hope, yes. Hope of seeing them again, but there was still that dark feeling in her chest that told her they could also be dead. Gaea was probably using that memory to her advantage because she wanted to continue to use Mia. But without proof, Mia had to believe she was doing the right thing.
And that thing was to continue to work for Gaea. Proof or not, she will be seeing her boys again. Even if that meant she had to die to see them again.
"You've doomed us all!" Medea scream cut through Hermia's thoughts.
Smoke was rolling across the carpet as the stain spread, throwing sparks and setting fires in the clothing racks. "You have only seconds before this concoction consumes everything and destroys the building. There's no time-"
Suddenly there was a big crash. The stained glass ceiling splintered in a rain of multicolored shards, and Festus the bronze dragon dropped into the department store.
Hermia had never felt more relief to see Happy the Dragon. He hurtled into the fray, snatching up a sun dragon in each claw.
"That's my boy!" Leo yelled.
Festus flew halfway up the atrium, then hurled the sun dragons into the pits they'd come from. Leo raced to the fountain and pressed the marble tile, closing the sundials. They shuddered as the dragons banged against them, trying to get out, but for the moment they were contained.
Medea cursed in some ancient language. The whole fourth floor was on fire now. The air filled with noxious gas. Even with the roof open, Mia could feel the heat intensifying. She and Piper backed up to the edge of the railing, Mia keeping her hand pointed toward Medea while Piper pointed her dagger.
"I will not be abandoned again!" The sorceress knelt and snatched up the red healing potion, which had somehow survived the crash. "You want your boyfriend's memory restored? Take me with you!"
Mia and Piper shared a glance. Hermia knew Piper was tempted to take the Princess's offer, but Mia wasn't going to risk it. She knew better than to trust Medea and Jason would just have to deal with his memory loss for a little longer.
With a shaky breath Hermia glanced to the boys. Leo and Jason were on board Festus's back. The bronze dragon flapped his mighty wings, snatched the two cages with the satyr and the storm spirits in his claws, and began to ascend.
The building rumbled. Fire and the smoke curled up the walls, melting the railings, turning the air to acid.
"You'll never survive your quest without me!" Medea growled. "Your boy hero will stay ignorant forever, your father will die and you will never see your precious boys again! Take me with you!"
For just one heartbeat, Hermia was tempted. Never seeing her boys again would be horrible, but she wasn't going to take the deal. No matter how badly she wanted to see her boys again. As she saw Medea's grim smile Mia knew she made the right call. The sorceress was confident in her powers of persuasion, confident that she could always make a deal, always escape and win in the end.
"Not today, witch." Piper grabbed Mia's good arm and together they jumped over the side. They plummeted for only a second before Leo and Jason caught them, hauling the girls aboard the dragon.
Hermia heard Medea screaming in rage as they soared through the broken roof and over downtown Chicago. Then the department store exploded behind them.
° • ° • °
Hermia couldn't help but feel uneasy. She kept glancing all over the sky, expecting to see those nasty sun dragons toting a flying chariot with a screaming Medea throwing potions, but nothing followed them.
Leo steered the dragon toward the southwest. Eventually, the smoke from the burning department store faded in the distance, but Mia didn't relax until the suburbs of Chicago gave way to snowy fields, and the sun began to set.
While Piper and Leo talked for a moment Hermia couldn't help but think about Lysander and Demetrius again. It was killing her to not have any news on them. How was she supposed to betray her friends when she didn't have proof of them being alive.
Back at the department store Mia had promised herself that she wouldn't give up. Even without proof, but it's getting harder and harder to hold on to a memory that no longer exists.
Maybe her father was right, maybe it was time to let go of her past. Maybe it was time to let go of Demetrius and Lysander. Even if it hurt like hell to. She couldn't keep lying to her friends because they were her friends. They've been through so much and yet there were still moments where Hermia wanted to give it all up. To let her friends get killed, to let Gaea's plan finally be fulfilled.
But Mia was better than that. Hermia wasn't a killer, no matter how hard Gaea tried to turn her into one.
Even with this new idea to finally let go of her past, Mia felt like this wasn't the moment the Prophecy was talking about. Hermia still had to make the big decision to free everyone or let them die. The biggest price of all being her heart. Her magic holds the key, but she had to decide rather to follow her heart and get her boys back or choose to save everyone else and never see her boys again.
When the time comes, this decision will either make or break her.
"We're going to have to put down soon," Hermia heard Leo warn them. Thankfully no one seemed to notice Mia's internal conflict. "Couple more hours, maybe, to make sure Medea's not following us. I don't think Festus can fly much longer than that."
"Yeah," Piper agreed. "Coach Hedge probably wants to get out of his canary cage, too. Question is-where are we going?"
"The Bay Area, didn't Medea say something about Oakland?"
Hermia suddenly remembered about Piper's dad. Piper on the other hand didn't respond for so long.
"Piper's dad," Jason put in. "Something's happened to your dad, right? He got lured into some kind of trap."
Piper let out a shaky breath. "Look, Medea said you would both die in the Bay Area." Mia tried not to think about the fact that Piper had just said both of them. Which meant none of Gaea's monsters planned to kill Hermia. At least not yet.
"And besides ... even if we went there, the Bay Area is huge! First we need to find Aeolus and drop off the storm spirits. Boreas said Aeolus was the only one who could tell us exactly where to go."
Leo grunted. "So how do we find Aeolus?"
Jason leaned forward, dangerously close to Mia's back. "You mean you don't see it?" He pointed ahead of them, but Mia didn't see anything except clouds and the lights of a few towns glowing in the dusk.
"What?" Leo asked.
"That ... whatever it is," Jason said. "In the air."
Mia glanced at Piper and Leo. They looked just as confused as she was. "Maybe you hit your head a little too hard, Superman." Hermia said as she glanced back at Jason. They looked into each other's eyes for a short moment before Leo brought there attention back on track.
"Red Queen's right," Leo said. "Could you be more specific on the 'whatever-it-is' part?"
"Like a vapor trail," Jason said. "Except it's glowing. Really faint, but it's definitely there. We've been following it since Chicago, so I figured you saw it."
Hermia watched as Leo shook his head. "Maybe Festus can sense it. You think Aeolus made it?"
"Well, it's a magic trail in the wind," Jason said. "Aeolus is the wind god. I think he knows we've got prisoners for him. He's telling us where to fly."
"Or it's another trap," Piper said.
"I don't like the sound of that, but Piper's right." Mia added. Hermia hoped she didn't sound nervous.
"Pipes, M you girls all right?" Leo asked.
"Don't call me that." Piper snapped as Mia said a faint, "Fine."
Hermia glanced between the pair, but she didn't know why Piper had snapped like that. She also pretend not to notice Leo's new nickname for her. There was only two people who called Mia "M" and they were Lysander and Demetrius. It honestly hurt to much to think about it.
"Okay, fine. You don't like any of the names I make up for you. But if your dad's in trouble and we can help-"
"You can't," Piper said, her voice getting shakier. "Look, I'm tired. If you don't mind ..."
She leaned back against Hermia and closed her eyes.
Hermia stiffened for a moment, but than relaxed. She was expecting Piper to us her like a pillow, but she knew Piper didn't want to talk. So she let her be.
They flew in silence for a while. Festus seemed to know where he was going. He kept his course, gently curving toward the southwest and hopefully Aeolus's fortress.
Hermia watched as Leo's head started to nod. "Jason." Mia whispered as she glanced at the blonde boy.
"Yeah." He said as he meet her gaze. Mia gestured toward Leo and Jason instantly knew what Hermia wanted to say.
He nodded. "Catch a few Z's," Jason said to Leo. "It's cool. Hand me the reins."
"Nah, I'm okay-"
"Leo," Jason said, "you're not a machine. Besides, I'm the only one who can see the vapor trail. I'll make sure we stay on course."
"And I'll stay up, too." Mia added. "I can't seem to fall asleep as much as I want to. I'll keep him company."
Mia looked at Leo as his eyes started to close on their own. "All right. Maybe just ..."
He didn't finish the sentence before slumping forward against the dragon's warm neck.
Hermia let a small giggle out as soon as Leo fell asleep. She would have gotten lost in her thoughts again if it wasn't for Jason.
"Hey, Mia?"
"Yeah?" She asked as her gaze moved away from Leo.
"I have to ask," he paused as Mia turned to look at him, "what were you going to tell me before?" She watched him in confusion. "You said you had to tell me the truth about how you escaped the maze..."
Mia turned away quickly as she thought back to her previous words. It was true, she had told him she was going to come clean. But now that he was asking, she was afraid to tell him.
What if she told him and he suddenly started hating her. What if he tells Piper and Leo and suddenly it's three against one. Hermia was honestly terrified of telling Jason the truth. But if she wanted to make a change in her life, she had to come clean.
"Jason, I promise to tell you everything," Mia paused for a moment. "But I think it's best to talk when both Piper and Leo are awake."
"Okay, I understand." He said, "But just know I'll be here for you no matter what. I'm sure Piper and Leo feel the same way."
"Thank you, Superman." Mia said with a smile as she turned to look at him. "That means a lot." He sent a smile back to her as she turned back around.
"You should try to get some sleep." Jason said as Mia leaned against his back.
"Are you sure you can deal with the weight of having both Piper and I on your chest?" Hermia asked with a smile.
"I'll be fine." He smiled again as he wrapped an arm around Mia waist. "Just sleep. I'll wake you up if anything happens."
And with that she fell asleep.
° • ° • °
Her dream wasn't like before. Hermia was no longer on the beach with her father instead she was back in the courtyard of her old house. Sitting in front of her was Demetrius, but he hadn't seen her yet.
Hermia was having a difficult time with deciding if this was a memory or just a dream of what Mia hoped to see again. But the more she thought about it the more she realized this couldn't be a memory. How could it be, when Demetrius looked older. He seemed to be around 20 years old. But how is this possible? It's been years since Mia was put to sleep. How can Demetri look like a 20 year old?
Suddenly Mia remembered about a spell her mother had used time and time again. It was the spell to keep a witch young. All you needed was a spell and some herbs and bingo you can stay young for however long you want.
Demetrius had done the same thing her mother had done. But why? Mia didn't know.
"Demetri?" Mia finally said. When Demetrius turned around he looked so happy and broken at the same time.
"Hermia?" He said breathlessly as a smile took over his lips. "Lysander told me he got a hold of you, but I didn't know to believe him or not." He stood up as Mia walked closer to him. "It's been so long. I never thought I would get to see you again."
Hermia was lost for words. She didn't know what her brother was talking about. She didn't even remember seeing Lysander. Before she could get a word out Demetrius ran forward and wrapped his sister into a hug. "I don't know if this is some sick joke or not, but if this is real and you really are alive I promise we will do everything we can to find you."
"Demetri," Mia paused as she held on to her brother tightly. "How can I be able to see you guys? I don't understand..."
The siblings continued to hold on to each other. They were afraid that if they let each other go they would never get a chance to hold each other again. "Lysander was helping me with a spell. Ever since the moment we've lost you we've been trying to find you through your dreams. We knew it was the best way to locate you. But it never worked, I could never find you or visit you in your dreams. Until a couple days ago when Sander told me he made contact with you."
It made sense. That's why Mia had a dream with Lysander. A different Lysander, not the one Gaea was controlling. "I can't believe it."
They pulled away from each other, but Demetri never let go of her arms. "Can you tell me where you are?" He asked.
Mia wanted to, she really did, but she didn't know if this was real or not. For all she knew this could be Gaea. What if she told "Demetrius" where she was, only to have Gaea send her monsters to destroy her and her friends.
"I-I can't."
"What? Why not?"
She looked down to the floor sadly. "Because I don't know what to believe. Or what to choose. I don't know if this is real. If you're alive or dead. I don't know who I am. I'm not me, this isn't me. I'm not a killer, but how can I chose between seeing you again and saying goodbye?"
"I know who you are, M. You're my sister and no matter what happens, you will never be a killer."
Suddenly the dream started to disappear. Sadly Mia didn't want to leave. Even if this could be Gaea Hermia didn't want to leave her brother again. "Just remember, no one can turn you into something you're not. Fight for what you want, fight to stay alive, protect the people you care about and don't let any evil change you. We'll be here waiting for you when your ready to be found. I love you."
Mia snapped awake to Jason, Leo and Piper screaming.
The group spiraled through the dark in a free fall, still on the dragon's back, but Festus's hide was cold. His ruby eyes were dim.
"Not again!" Hermia heard Leo yell. "You can't fall again!"
Hermia could barely hold on. The wind stung her eyes, but she managed to hold on to Jason as tightly as she could. Mia watched as Leo pull open the panel on the dragon's neck. He toggled the switches. He tugged the wires. Hermia saw the lights of a city below them-just flashes in the dark as they plummeted in circles. They had only seconds before they crashed.
"Jason!" Leo screamed. "Take the girls and fly out of here!"
"What?"
Mia shook her head. "Leo, no! We're not leaving you."
"We need to lighten the load! I might be able to reboot Festus, but he's carrying too much weight!"
"What about you?" Piper cried. "If you can't reboot him-"
"I'll be fine," Leo yelled. "Just follow me to the ground. Go!"
Jason grabbed Mia around the waist first before grabbing Piper. The three unbuckled their harnesses, and in a flash they were gone-shooting into the air.
Mia was blinded by the high winds and could hardly hear anything. Everything was happening so fast she didn't know where Leo and Happy were. Jason's grip on Mia was strong, but she didn't know how long he could keep all three of them afloat.
By this time Jason was able to get all three of them closer to the ground. When suddenly she heard a big boom. The sick feeling in her stomach told her Leo and Hapoy the Dragon had crashed.
When Jason finally landed on the ground Hermia noticed Leo was lying in the snow, covered in mud and grease. Mia looked away as he spit a clump of frozen grass out of his mouth.
"Where-"
"Lie still." Piper said, "You rolled pretty hard when-when Festus-"
"Where is he?" Leo sat up, but Mia could tell he wasn't feeling that well. They'd landed inside the compound. Something had happened on the way in-gunfire?
"Seriously, Leo," Jason said. "You could be hurt. You shouldn't-"
With Mia's help Leo pushed himself to his feet. But as she watches him she noticed he was looking at the wreckage. Happy must have dropped the big canary cages as he came over the fence, because they'd rolled in different directions and landed on their sides, perfectly undamaged.
Happy hadn't been so lucky.
The dragon had disintegrated. His limbs were scattered across the lawn. His tail hung on the fence. The main section of his body had plowed a trench twenty feet wide and fifty feet long across the mansion's yard before breaking apart. What remained of his hide was a charred, smoking pile of scraps. Only his neck and head were somewhat intact, resting across a row of frozen rosebushes like a pillow.
"Leo..." Mia whispered as Leo sobbed.
"No." He ran out of Hermia's arms to the dragon's head and stroked its snout. The dragon's eyes flickered weakly. Oil leaked out of his ear.
"You can't go," Leo pleaded. "You're the best thing I ever fixed."
The dragon's head whirred its gears, as if it were purring. Mia, Jason and Piper stood next to him, but Leo kept his eyes fixed on the dragon.
"It's not fair," Leo said.
Suddenly the dragon clicked. Long creak. Two short clicks. Creak. Creak. Almost like a pattern. Hermia didn't know how but she knew Happy was using Morse code. Leo also knew as well.
"Yeah," Leo said. "I understand. I will. I promise." The dragon's eyes went dark. Happy was gone.
Hermia felt so bad for Leo but she didn't want to over step. Jason had placed his arm on her shoulder and brought her close to his side. Mia didn't move away, how could she when she didn't know how to make this situation better.
But as Leo cried the rest of the group stood on either side of him. They patting his shoulders while saying comforting things.
Finally Jason said, "I'm so sorry, man. What did you promise Festus?"
Leo sniffled. He opened the dragon's head panel, but the control disk was cracked and burned beyond repair.
"Something my dad told me," Leo said. "Everything can be reused."
"Your dad talked to you?" Jason asked. "When was this?"
Leo didn't answer. Hermia watched as he worked at the dragon's neck hinges until the head was detached. It probably weighed about a hundred pounds, but Leo managed to hold it in his arms. He looked up at the starry sky and said, "Take him back to the bunker, Dad. Please, until I can reuse him. I've never asked you for anything."
The wind picked up, and the dragon's head floated out of Leo's arms like it weighed nothing. It flew into the sky and disappeared.
Piper looked at him in amazement. "He answered you?"
"I had a dream," Leo managed. "Tell you later."
Hermia had a feeling that while she was having her dream with her brother, Leo was having one with his father.
Hermia took that moment to look around. The large white mansion glowed in the center of the grounds. Tall brick walls with lights and security cameras surrounded the perimeter, but now Mia could sense just how well those walls were defended.
"Where are we?" Leo asked. "I mean, what city?"
"Omaha, Nebraska," Piper said. "I saw a billboard as we flew in. But I don't know what this mansion is. We came in right behind you, but as you were landing, Leo, I swear it looked like-I don't know-"
"Lasers," Leo said. He picked up a piece of dragon wreckage and threw it toward the top of the fence. Immediately a turret popped up from the brick wall and a beam of pure heat incinerated the bronze plating to ashes.
"Wow, wasn't expecting them to go all out." Hermia said.
Jason nodded while he whistled. "Some defense system. How are we even alive?"
"Festus," Leo said miserably as Mia turned to look at him. "He took the fire. The lasers sliced him to bits as he came in so they didn't focus on you. I led him into a death trap."
"Leo, this isn't your fault." Hermia said softly. She didn't want Leo to think he caused this. How could they even know this was going to happen?
"Hermia's right, you couldn't have known," Piper said. "He saved our lives again."
"But what now?" Jason said as Mia moved away from him. He glanced at her for a moment but she didn't meet his gaze. "The main gates are locked, and I'm guessing I can't fly us out of here without getting shot down."
Hermia looked up the walkway at the big white mansion. "Since we can't go out, we'll have to go in." Leo said as he and Mia shared a glance. They had both seen the walkway and they knew there best chance was to walk.
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I'm also hoping to have an updating schedule so if everything works out I'll probably update this book every Friday.
Thank you all for reading!
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