Stone cold

"Jeongin... Jeongin, can you hear me?"

The son of Hermes squinted his eyes, bothered by the orange light of the approaching dusk. His body jerked sorely under the weight of two trunks crushing his wings. His back was sliced by claws and his head spinning.

"Jeongin!"

He looked around disoriented, but couldn't pinpoint the owner of the voice calling for him.

"Jeongin, you need to get up! You need to live!"

Flashes from his shameful past got triggered and took over his thoughts. He crawled on his knees and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

-Chan...

He finally understood what was going on. The son of Orpheus could send his voice through space and time and whisper in people's heads his messages.

"Jeongin, you need to get up."

-What for? I failed. Father has a better child to honour him.

"That child will not save our friends, Jeongin. You will. You have to find them all."

-I can't feel them. And my wings are ruined.

"Flying would be useless either way this deep into the forest. Think of something else. Don't let us perish here without a fight."

Jeongin pushed his body up, trying to get his wings free from under the trees. He groaned in pain as he felt the muscles tussle and the veins pump blood.

-Come on, Jeongin! You've been the weak one for too long. Do something! he yelled frustrated.

He fell down, chin first, overwhelmed by defeat and shame. Then he felt a piece of metal at his waist.

-Seonghwa's shield...

He quickly grabbed it and hit the trunk repeatedly, cutting deeper into the wood as his wings kept pushing the weight off them.

After a few minutes of pure misery and fatigue, he rose to his feet with a heavy breath.

-Chaeryeong may be the child Hermes wanted, but I am who I am meant to be. I am not alone. I am the messenger god, I am the one to unite souls and voices.

He took one of his feathers in his palm and blew it into the air.

-Show me where Hyunjin is.

The feather twirled with the wind before showing Jeongin the way to his best fried.

-I need to help you somehow... whispered Chan as he held Jisung tightly in hi arms.

He needed a fire source and quick.

-We could help... one of the syrens's heads popped out of the water.

Chan's grip on his friend tightened as he took in the smug smile tugging on Yeonjun's lips.

-How?

-If we take him to our lady, she'll turn him into a full water nymph and save his life, another head appeared. He won't need that nasty fire ever again, added Minnie with hunger in her eyes.

-It's the best chance he has, joined Lily.

They swam closer to the shore, their arms digging into the hot sand as they cornered Chan. He pondered on his decision, his jaw clenched with tension.

The truth was... there wasn't any decision to begin with. It was Jisung's life at stake after all. And he was the only one to decide his future.

-There is another way. I'll find it. Go before I hand you by the trees and let you roast in the sun! he sneered, his golden eyes glowing with a dangerous shine.

The syrens exchanged a few annoyed looks before going back into the depths of the sea.

-I can provide fire... I can, he encouraged himself as an idea cracked in his head.

He closed his eyes and whistled slowly, searching for the fit pair of ears to hear his message.

-Changbin, answer my call! he begged the Heavens.

"Chan?"

-Changbin, where are you?

"I'm trapped by a mad woman with witch powers who turned Minho into a rabbit." He explained in a whisper.

-Can you send your fire to the beach? I need to resurrect Jisung. We'll come and save you right after! he pleaded.

"If she sees me use my powers, she'll turn me into a pig." Changbin whined.

-Jisung might die if we stall for much longer. Please...

Chan heard Changbin's loud sigh before a loud thud shook the whole island. A blast of blue fire rose up to the sky and got launched towards the two comrades.

Chan stepped back, letting the fire seep through the titan's skin, awakening him from his slumber.

Jisung chocked on the first breath of air he drew. He coughed his lungs out as his pale face caught a bright taint of red.

-Welcome back to the land of the living! Chan smiled warmly. Now get up, buddy! We need you to get big.

-How big? he looked up with his veiny eyes.

-As big as this island, Chan smirked.

-What was that? Seungmin glanced at the night sky, his heart drumming inside his chest with a mix of dread and excitement.

-Hades' fire... Changbin sent his flames towards the beach, concluded Hyunjin.

-Why?

-Because Jisung needs fire to survive. He's there! Let's go! he hurried in the direction illuminated by the blue flames only to stop in his tracks as he made eye contact with an unknown figure.

-Who's this monster? asked Seungmin annoyed.

The man stepped closer to them without a word. Hyunjin put his hand in front of Seungmin, trying to protect him from whatever was approaching them.

-Who are you? Can you help us get to the beach? We're in trouble and-

-Which one of you is the son of Athena? Mingi finally spoke, his eyes glowing with a toxic green light.

The two exchanged a few looks, unsure of what was happening.

-Why? chimed in Seungmin.

-I must kill the son of Athena and give the body to my mother.

-Your mother? Seungmin frowned at the revelation.

Hyunjin heard the faint sass of a serpent crawling on the ground. Then another one. Then more. The color drained from his cheeks as the realisation hit him like a brick.

-Run... he whispered to Seungmin.

-What?

-Run! he pulled him by the hand and ventured deep inside the forest, his grip on the other's hand tightening with each step.

-Who's that guy?

-Medusa's son!

Seungmin widened his eyes and suddenly felt a jolt of power surging through his veins, making him run faster. He surpassed Hyunjin until he felt himself dragging the other.

-What are you doing? There's no time for a break!

But Hyunjin had always stopped, trying to catch his breath.

-You're so weak, Seungmin spat with a certain urgency in his voice.

His eyes darted from Hyunjin's wary state to the trees behind them, trying to anticipate how far was Mingi from them.

-We need to move! Come on!

-Go without me... he said breathless.

-What? I mean, I'll go regardless, but why? You aren't the kind to give up.

-I already lost... he admitted. I looked him in the eyes when I first saw him. I'm turning into stone, he motioned towards his immobile legs.

-W-what? No! You're the brain, do something! How do we reverse this? he shook Hyunjin by the shoulders in desperation.

-We can't. Go and find Felix, Jeongin and the others... Maybe they'll find a way.

-Hey! No! You don't get to give up! I got in this mess because of you! Hey! he yelled as Hyunjin turned into a state underneath his horrified eyes. Hyunjin... Answer me, dimwit! Hyunjin!

The rustle of leaves made Seungmin's blood run cold. He looked behind and noticed the branches moving closer to him.

He stepped back, glanced once last time at his companion before he scuttled away from the son of Medusa.

He had no particular direction in mind. He just ran for his life. He would think of a plan once he had found the others.

-Looks like your friends are in need of your aid, darling... You can help them, I won't stop you. You need practice after all... for when you start the war, Thetis grinned as she caressed Felix's cheek.

-Yes, mother, he replied obedient.

His eyes were empty and his hair dark. His freckles were fading away under her spell. He was just a puppet for her greater plan. He was a shell of what he once was.