Zeus' pov:
My sword pierced another monster. Something wasn't right. We've been at it for hours and nothing seemed to have happened. No matter how many monsters we killed, they kept coming through the sea.
I whistled. My sign for Nike to pick me up. I blocked another attack as a flash of gold came down from the sky.
I fought of my attacker and when she swooped down for a moment I jumped in the chariot right behind my charioteer.
"This isn't working." I let her know.
"We're tiring ourselves and our hosts and nothing is happening."
Nike keeps her stern eyes on the sky before her.
"Is there anything we can do to change the odds in our favor?" I ask.
"The one that is needed to make the tides turn is not here." She replies.
Damnit, I knew we should've brought Athena. I told the others too, but they didn't want to listen. Why can't they understand that she's the one we need when we fight them?
"Is there anything we can do without her here?"
"No. It's a lost cause." Nike says.
"Duck!"
We both duck and a set of pegasi flies over our heads.
"Are you sure?"
"She's simply not here sir. Without her there is no way we can defeat them."
Nike turns to me.
"Tell the others. In order to win we need-..."
Nike is struck in the back by an enemy fireball, launching her into me and us both out of the chariot.
The world around me seems to spin a thousand times before I feel us fall into the water.
Thank the fates we're gods. Otherwise we would've been pancakes hitting the water with this force.
I muster all my strength and swim towards Nike and pull her to the shore with me. I call out for Apollo and Demeter. They're our healers for now.
I lift the angel up in my arms and we run into the dunes, while the others cover us. Naturally all the monsters saw. I feel them claw at my armor as I push my way through.
Finally we make it to a sort of safe area. Apollo is immediately checking out Nike's burnt back right in between her wings. Demeter was already working on an anasthetic with the herbs she had at her disposal.
"Father, go back to the others. Go help them. They need you out there." Apollo commands.
"But Nike said we can't win this without Athena." I argue.
"All the more reason for you to-..."
Apollo was cut of by Nike grabbing his armor.
"N-not... At-hena... Oi-zys." She manages to say.
"Oizys?" I say dumbstruck.
"What does she have to do with this?"
Demeter gave Nike the anastheisa she brewed up so there was no way I'd get the answer from her anymore.
"What did she say to you?" Demeter asked.
"She said that the one that was needed to turn the tides wasn't here." I explain.
"And she just mentioned Oizys." She thought for a moment.
"Has any of you actually seen her?"
Athena's pov:
Hestia and I stood in the room. We hadn't interacted one on one since we ran from Oizys and her merry band of gods.
"You wish to speak with me?" I ask.
Something about her is different. She seems scared.
"I did." She replied.
She was fiddling with the leather cord that kept her peplos together. A habit of hers whenever she's nervous.
"Go ahead." I say with a handgesture.
Hestia's eyes seem to shoot everywhere before finally landing on my own. They betray her true feelings. Feelings of hurt and sadness.
"Look... There is no easy way to tell you this..." She starts.
See when the goddess of the hearth starts her sentences with those words you should worry about what comes next. I raise a brow and cross my arms. Undoutably a defensive position. I can tell the goddess in front of me reads it as exaclty that.
"Please, just tell me. Better to get it over with then."Â I push.
Hestia seems to remain conflicted.
"Those things Sam said... They're true."
Her voice is barely above a whisper.
"What things?"
Even though I asked the question, I know very well what she's talking about. I just want to hear her say it.
"Please... Don't make me say it." The goddess in front of me looks down at her feet.
"What things Hestia?" I push more.
Before she can say anything else I hear something. A grinding sound.
"Did you hear that?" I ask Hestia.
She looks up at me and nods. I don't recognize the sound.
"That's the sound of the entrance opening." She clarifies after seeing my questioning expression.
"The others are probably back."
See something about that statement just felt wrong. There were too many footsteps to be the others.
"It's not them."
I grab Hestia's wrist and pull her with me.
"Athena what are you doing?" She asks, trying to pull herself free.
"Hiding. I think I know who's coming and if I'm right we're screwed." I reply as we make a run for the elevator.
"Then who's coming?"
I sigh.
"Just trust me okay. This isn't the moment to argue."
I must've pressed the elevator button about a hundred times already. Why is this thing so slow?
"I don't mean to be rude, but I think I made it fairly obvious that I don't." The goddess of the hearth reminded me.
"Not the time." I mumble.
"Athena, who's coming?"
Finally the elevator slides open. I push Hestia inside and spam the button on the inside. The footsteps sound closer, meaning they're almost here.
"Athena!" Hestia yells.
I cover her mouth with my hand. I pierce my eyes into hers, knowing it will shut her up. Damnit, I hate doing this. She already doesn't like me, this is only going to make it worse.
"Oizys and she's not alone." I whisper.
Hestia's eyes widen. She must've realized our position as well. Just as the elevator door rolls closed I make short eye contact with Oizys. I can see her smirk. The shivers go down my spine as the elevator starts moving down.