~ { Shadow and Beauty } ~

Getting Rid of The Eidolons

{Kiara}

Kiara didn't know how Piper could tell.

   Yes, she felt the presence of some unfriendly spirits, but she was a daughter of Pluto, that was normal for her.

   Piper started explaining how her dad used to joke about her grandpa's Cherokee legends from back on the rez whenever her dad recounted the ghost stories for her, she could never get them out of her head.

   She told the others that Cherokee spirits were always restless. They often lost their way to the Land of the Dead, or stayed behind with the living out of sheer stubbornness. Sometimes they didn't even realize they were dead.

   Piper said that she had a gut sense they were still present, simply because no one had told them to go away.

   When she was done explaining, the others looked at her uncomfortably. Up on deck, Hedge sang something that sounded like "In the Navy" while Blackjack stomped his hooves, whinnying in protest.

   Finally Hazel exhaled. "Piper is right."

   "How can you be sure?" Annabeth asked.

   "I've met eidolons," Hazel said. "In the Underworld, when I was... you know." Dead.

   Kiara knew Hazel was uncomfortable with the subject. Only a few people, including Kiara, knew that this was Hazel's second chance in life. She was probably the only person besides Hazel herself and Nico to know that their brother was the person to bring Hazel back. Hazel was different, though. She deserved a second chance.

   "So..." Frank rubbed his hand across his buzz-cut hair as if some ghosts might have invaded his scalp. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or—"

   "Possibly lurking inside some of us," Piper said. "We don't know."

   Jason clenched his fist. "If that's true—"

   "We have to take steps," Piper said. "I think I can do this."

   "Do what?" Percy asked.

   "Just listen, okay?" Piper took a deep breath. "Everybody listen."

   Kiara had the overwhelming urge to look at Piper—not that she didn't have that urge all the time. Piper met everyone's gaze one by one, and when she looked at Kiara, the raven haired girl didn't want to let go of Piper's gaze.

   "Eidolons," she said, using her charmspeak, "raise your hands."

   There was tense silence.

   Leo laughed nervously. "Did you really think that was going to—?"

   His voice died. His face went slack. He raised his hand. Jason and Percy did the same. Their eyes had turned glassy and gold. Hazel caught her breath and grabbed Kiara's arm. Next to Leo, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall.

   "Oh, gods." Annabeth looked at Piper imploringly. "Can you cure them?"

   Kiara watched as Piper seemed to lose her courage. Then the daughter of Aphrodite focused on Leo because, Kiara guessed, he was the least intimidating.

   "Are there more of you on this ship?" she asked.

   "No," Leo said in a hollow voice. "The Earth Mother sent three. The strongest, the best. We will live again."

   "Not here, you won't," Piper growled. "All three of you, listen carefully."

   Jason and Percy turned toward her.