forty.

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THE BASIN FILLED with alarming speed. Val, Piper, Jason, and Percy pounded on the walls, looking for an exit, but they found nothing. They climbed into the alcoves to gain some height, but with water pouring out of each niche, it was like trying to balance at the edge of a waterfall. Even as Val stood in a niche, the water was soon up to her thighs. From the floor, it was probably eight feet deep and rising fast.

"I could try lightning," Jason said. "Maybe blast a hole in the roof?"

"That could bring down the whole room and crush us," Piper said.

"Or electrocute us," Val added smartly. The water was already ruining her outfit. She didn't need lightning too.

"Not many choices," Jason said.

"Let me search the bottom," Percy said. "If this place was built as a fountain, there has to be a way to drain the thing. You guys, check the niches for secret exits. Maybe the seashells are knobs, or something." It was a desperate idea, and Val knew it.

Percy jumped in the water. Jason and Piper climbed from niche to niche, kicking and pounding, wiggling seashells embedded in the stone; but they had no luck. Val did try her own, but she didn't want to do anymore.

Sooner than Val expected, Percy broke the surface, gasping and flailing. She offered her hand, and he almost pulled her in before she could help him up.

"Couldn't breathe," he choked. "The water . . . not normal. Hardly made it back."

As the water rose around her, Val felt it affecting her too. Her leg muscles trembled like she'd shadow-traveled again. Her hands turned wrinkled and dry, despite being in the middle of a fountain.

The boys moved sluggishly. Jason's face was pale. He seemed to be having trouble holding his sword. Percy was drenched and shivering. His hair didn't look quite so dark, as if the color was leaching out. Piper was also moving slowly, but with a little more style.

"They're taking our power," Piper said. "Draining us."

"Jason," Percy coughed, "do the lightning."

Jason raised his sword. The room rumbled, but no lightning appeared. The roof didn't break. Instead, a miniature rainstorm formed at the top of the chamber. Rain poured down, filling the fountain even faster, but it wasn't normal rain. The stuff was just as dark as the water in the pool. Every drop stung Val's skin.

"Not what I wanted," Jason said.

The water was up to their necks now. Val could feel her strength fading.

Percy started pushing the water away with the back of his hand, like he was shooing a bad dog. "Can't — can't control it!"

"I don't like this," Val muttered under her breath. "But, hey, we're bound to survive, right?"

It didn't seem likely, but hey. Optimism.

"We can't fight this," Piper said. "If we hold back, that just makes us weaker."

"What do you mean?" Jason shouted over the rain.

The water was up to their chins. Another few inches, and they'd have to swim. But the water wasn't halfway to the ceiling yet.

"The horn of plenty," Piper said. "We have to overwhelm the nymphs with fresh water, give them more than they can use. If we can dilute this poisonous stuff—"

"Can your horn do that?" Percy struggled to keep his head above water, which was obviously a new experience for him. He looked scared out of his mind.

"Only with your help." Piper said, and, honestly, Val didn't believe her. Maybe she should've. But her mind could just say I told you so later.

TERRIFIED . . . annabeth chaseWhere stories live. Discover now