The Burning Maze (The Trials of Apollo #3)(83)

Meg’s Delos had never stopped drifting. Could I blame her for being angry?

‘Your family is ancient,’ I noted. ‘The line of Plemnaeus gives you a proud heritage. Your father was doing important work at Aeithales. The blood-born, the silver wives … whatever those seeds are that you planted, they terrified Caligula.’

Meg had so many new cuts on her face it was difficult to tell whether or not she was frowning. ‘And if I can’t get those seeds to grow?’

I didn’t hazard an answer. I could not handle any more thoughts of failure tonight.

Crest poked his head between the seats. ‘Can you show me the C minor six tri-chord now?’

Our reunion in Palm Springs was not a happy one.

Just from our condition, the dryads on duty could tell we brought bad news. It was two in the morning, but they gathered the entire population of the greenhouses in the Cistern, along with Grover, Coach Hedge, Mellie and Baby Chuck.

When Joshua Tree saw Crest, the dryad scowled. ‘Why have you brought this creature into our midst?’

‘More importantly,’ Grover said, ‘where are Piper and Jason?’

He met my gaze, and his composure collapsed like a tower of cards. ‘Oh, no. No.’

We told them our story. Or rather, I did. Meg sat at the edge of the pond and stared desolately into the water. Crest crawled into one of the niches and wrapped his ears around himself like a blanket, cradling my ukulele the same way Mellie cradled Baby Chuck.

My voice broke several times as I described Jason’s final battle. His death finally became real to me. I gave up any hope that I would wake from this nightmare.

I expected Gleeson Hedge to explode, to start swinging his bat at everything and everyone. But, like Tristan McLean, he surprised me. The satyr became still and calm, his voice unnervingly even.

‘I was the kid’s protector,’ he said. ‘I should’ve been there.’

Grover tried to console him, but Hedge raised a hand. ‘Don’t. Just don’t.’ He faced Mellie. ‘Piper’s gonna need us.’

The cloud nymph brushed away a tear. ‘Yes. Of course.’

Aloe Vera wrung her hands. ‘Should I go, too? Maybe there’s something I can do.’ She looked at me suspiciously. ‘Did you try aloe vera on this Grace boy?’

‘I fear he is truly dead,’ I said, ‘beyond even the powers of aloe.’

She looked unconvinced, but Mellie squeezed her shoulder. ‘You’re needed here, Aloe. Heal Apollo and Meg. Gleeson, get the diaper bag. I’ll meet you at the car.’

With Baby Chuck in her arms, she floated up and out of the Cistern.

Hedge snapped his fingers at me. ‘Pinto keys.’

I tossed them. ‘Please don’t do anything rash. Caligula is … You can’t –’

Hedge stopped me with a cold stare. ‘I’ve got Piper to take care of. That’s my priority. I’ll leave the rash stuff to other people.’

I heard the bitter accusation in his voice. Coming from Coach Hedge, that seemed deeply unfair, but I didn’t have the heart to protest.

Once the Hedge family was gone, Aloe Vera fussed over Meg and me, smearing goo on our injuries. She tutted at the red plug in my chest and replaced it with a lovely green spike from her hair.

The other dryads seemed at a loss for what to do or say. They stood around the pond, waiting and thinking. I supposed, as plants, they were comfortable with long silences.

Grover Underwood sat down heavily next to Meg. He moved his fingers over the holes of his reed pipes.

‘Losing a demigod …’ He shook his head. ‘That’s the worst thing that can happen to a protector. Years ago, when I thought I’d lost Thalia Grace …’ He stopped himself, then slumped under the weight of despair. ‘Oh, Thalia. When she hears about this …’

I didn’t think I could feel any worse, but this idea sent a few more razor blades circulating through my chest. Thalia Grace had saved my life in Indianapolis. Her fury in combat had been rivalled only by the tenderness with which she spoke of her brother. I felt that I should be the one to break the news to her. On the other hand, I did not want to be in the same state when she heard it.

I looked around at my dejected comrades. I remembered the Sibyl’s words in my dream: It won’t seem worth it to you. I’m not sure it is myself. But you must come. You must hold them together in their grief. Now I understood. I wished I didn’t. How could I hold together a whole Cistern full of prickly dryads when I couldn’t even hold myself together?

Nevertheless, I lifted the ancient pair of caligae we’d retrieved from the yachts. ‘At least we have these. Jason gave his life for us to have a chance at stopping Caligula’s plans. Tomorrow, I’ll wear these into the Burning Maze. I’ll find a way to free the Oracle and stop the fires of Helios.’

I thought that was a pretty good pep talk – designed to restore confidence and reassure my friends. I left out the part about not having a clue how to accomplish any of it.

Prickly Pear bristled, which she did with consummate skill. ‘You’re in no shape to do anything. Besides, Caligula will know what you’re planning. He’ll be waiting and ready this time.’

‘She’s right,’ Crest said from his niche.

The dryads frowned at him.

‘Why is he even here?’ Cholla demanded.