Chapter 19: Betrayal We Have Heard on HighNotes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextChapter Nineteen: Betrayal We Have Heard on High
Kate crashed onto her couch, and tried to glare at Yelena. "So, you're just gonna follow me."
"Yep." Yelena walked over and sat next to her.
"And I have no choice in the matter."
"Yep." Yelena smiled, and patted Kate's knee. "Come, Kate Bishop, this is an opportunity for us to get to know one another!"
Kate grunted. "Is it?"
She wiggled her eyebrows. "Don't be like that, Kate Bishop. After all, you got a prophecy, didn't you?"
Kate paused. "How did you—"
"I'm a dangerous super-assassin who's spent a very long time being honed into a deadly weapon." Yelena replied. She turned to face the kitchen. "Did you eat all of your spicy mac and cheese? I'll have some if not."
"No, I ate all of mine." Kate murmured. "And what does being an assassin have to do with you knowing that prophecy?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to brag about it to you. And I don't know the prophecy, I only know you got one." She fluttered her eyelashes. "Did it mention me, Kate Bishop? Alone shall the archer be/until she meets sexy me. Was that it?"
Kate flushed red, which seemed to delight Yelena. Kate mumbled, "Uh, n-no. That wasn't it."
Yelena shrugged innocently. "Well, you Greeks have such unusual ways to discern the future."
"Yeah, and you Romans had a psychotic blond guy rip apart stuffed animals. We had an Oracle appointed by the god of prophecy. I think our ways were better."
Yelena laughed. "Touché. Now, what was the prophecy?"
Kate sighed.
"The Far Reaching One's rise you shall oppose.
Assisted by the assassin who knows,
And the avenging archer of dark past.
Against both monster and man now amassed,
Friends made enemies, enemies made friends,
On acceptance of truth, success depends."
Yelena nodded slowly. "The assassin who knows… I see. I am the assassin, and I know that the gods are real."
Kate agreed, "Yeah, that's what I was thinking."
She thought for a moment, and sighed. "Now, Kate Bishop, I am bored of your fork-deprived, smoky apartment. Let us depart." She stood up suddenly, and turned to face Kate. "Well?"
Kate blinked. "Um, where are we going?"
Yelena shrugged, as Kate shouldered her ski jacket and the pair left her apartment. "You decide, Kate Bishop."
Kate raised her hand. "Hold on. I'm not going anywhere until I receive the guarantee you won't kill Clint Barton on sight."
Yelena looked at her strangely. "That's the point of me accompanying you though, Kate Bishop."
"Okay, but what about the quest? I need you. And him. Avenging archer, assassin who knows, remember? Our quest is doomed to fail if both of my questmates are trying to kill each other." Kate pointed out.
Yelena paused. "I see. And I suppose this… Far Reaching One's victory would probably be bad."
"Considering she's aligning herself with mortal criminals and bloodthirsty monsters… yeah, I don't think it would be particularly great if she won. So… I know you hate him, but can you at least not kill him until after the Far Reaching One is defeated and the quest is done with?"
Yelena sighed. "Very well. I swear upon the River Styx not to kill Clint Barton until the Far Reaching One is defeated and the quest has concluded."
Thunder boomed over Kate's head, and she paused. "Well, my mother is being unknowingly held hostage by a Titan… well, knowingly, now I guess. Wanna go maybe fight a Titan?"
Yelena held up a finger. "Hold on."
She turned, and ducked into the apartment. Then, she emerged a second later in black sunglasses.
Kate laughed. "Seriously?"
Yelena bobbed her head. "Seriously, Kate Bishop. This is what a badass looks like." She pushed the black sunglasses further up the bridge of her nose, but they slid right back down, and she huffed in annoyance, blowing the hair out of her eyes.
Kate snickered.
Yelena cleared her throat. "It's 100 kilometers to Milwaukee, we've got a half tank of gas, a full pack of cigars, it's dark and we're wearing sunglasses." She looked up at Kate. "Did I get that quote right?"
Kate hesitated. "Close enough. Hit it."
Kate and Yelena burst into Eleanor's penthouse.
Kate had her bow aimed, celestial bronze arrow notched, and Yelena had her Black Widow's Bite primed and ready. They whirled around, expecting Jack to leap out at them, guns blazing and swords stabbing and Titans fighting.
What they did not expect to see, however, was a large group of cops arresting Jack and calmly walking around the apartment.
The cops all looked over at them uncomprehendingly. One asked, "Why do you have those weapons?"
Kate looked surprised, and looked back at her bow, lowering it. "Horsing around." Yelena lowered her weapon, too.
Kate eyed Jack. "Why are you arresting Jack?"
Jack glowered at the police officers. "I promise you, you are making a huge mistake. If you knew who I was—"
"We'd arrest you anyway." The cop said. He had dark skin, short black hair, and a square face. "Because that's the right thing to do."
Kate was mystified. Why wasn't Jack fighting back? Then, she realized. The Mist. The cops could see our weapons. Someone's disabled the Mist. If he fights back, he'll expose everything, blow his cover, and get every authority in the world on his back.
Judging by the very frustrated, very angry expression on his face, Jack/Menoetius knew he'd been checkmated.
As he was lead away by the cops, Eleanor walked over. "You were right, Kate. I figured out a way to take care of him, though. Thank you, Kate."
Kate turned, and hugged her mother fiercely. She felt like a weight had been taken off her chest, and also felt surprised and awed. Her brave, determined mother, in only a few hours of finding out about everything, had managed to single handedly neutralize a Titan. How unbelievable was that?
Yelena, beside Kate, smiled up at Eleanor. "Hello, Ms. Bishop." She extended a hand, which Eleanor shook.
Eleanor said, "I don't believe we've met before. Who are you?"
"Yelena Belova." She replied.
It was almost instantaneous, but Kate could have sworn her mother recognized the name, her eyes flashing in panic for a moment. But then she beamed demurely, and Kate chalked it up to her imagination. "Yelena Belova. It's good to meet you."
Yelena smiled again, but this time, the smile didn't reach her eyes, which were clouded in suspicion. "Likewise."
Maya looked around carefully. It was dark in the parking lot, and she was alone. The arrow that had reached her with its message had urged her to come to this spot at dark, to learn something about her father.
However, she was no fool. She clutched her gun, loaded with alternating celestial bronze and regular bullets. It had been a pain in the ass to get the bronze for the bullets, and she felt annoyed that she paid so much to be wasting such a finite resource, but it was the most effective way to protect herself.
Then a shadow slithered past out of the corner of her eye.
She didn't hesitate to spin around and fire off two bullets, mortal and celestial. She peered at the spot she'd shot at, and saw no body.
From her right, the shadow charged, and knocked her to the ground, and her gun skittered on the asphalt. Maya desperately tried to reach it, but failed, so she snapped up and started fighting her attacker.
He wore a black hood, mask, and a dark costume of leather. Her blood boiled: it was the Ronin.
Her kicks and punches doubled in intensity, and she assailed him with blows as fast as she could.
Maya kicked at his head, but he ducked under it and drew a sword, marbled with bronze and steel. She suppressed a shiver. Forging weapons out of both steel and celestial bronze was dangerous, and necessitated the death of a person in its creation, a magical contract. The Ronin was truly evil.
Maya dived for her gun, and tried to shoot him, but missed.
The Ronin retreated into the shadows, and she scanned her surroundings. Where was he?
He stalked from behind, and Maya could not hear him. But then, her eyes settled on the reflection of a car's mirror before her.
She whirled, and fired a bullet at him, and she watched it pierce through his chest, dead-on.
He looked shocked, and Maya expected him to keel over and start bleeding. Instead, he recovered from his surprise and charged her.
As Maya deflected his blows, she ran through the fight, trying to understand what she'd done wrong…
Wait. The gun fired one mortal bullet, then one celestial… then I tried to hit him with a mortal bullet, so I shot him with a… celestial bronze bullet.
She cursed herself. The Ronin was mortal, so it had flown through him harmlessly.
Then, Maya found her legs swept out from under her, and she was one the ground, the gun kicked from her grasp.
She made to rise, but the Ronin leveled his sword at her chest. She was defenseless.
Maya glared up at the Ronin with pure hatred burning in her eyes. Now he was going to kill her, and she couldn't do a thing about it.
Instead, however, of driving the blade through her heart, he rose a hand to his head, and took off the mask, revealing…
Clint Barton.
Maya's eyes widened, but she remained still. She suspected it—that was why she had been watching his family so closely—but it was still a dizzying experience to see Clint Barton, the Avenger, wearing the suit of the Ronin.
She desperately tried to reach her gun, and managed to fire off one bullet—a mortal one—but it went wide. He kicked the gun out of her grasp. He retracted his sword, and started signing and speaking. "If you or anyone comes after me or my family, it will be the last thing you do. You have my word."
Then, he hesitated. "You and I, we're the same. We're weapons. But when you're filled with rage, it makes you blind."
Maya sneered in disgust, but watched his hands carefully, occasionally jumping her gaze to his lips, analyzing their movement.
"It could be used, could be manipulated," She watched him say. "Trust me, I know. Your boss."
She recoiled. What did her mother have anything to do with this?
"She approached me. Tall, long black hair, pale skin? Your boss wanted your father dead. Now she's using you." he told her.
Maya went very still. He was lying, he had to be. But then, he described her to a tee.
There was simply no way her mother had ordered the death of her father…
Right?
Clint walked off, leaving Maya to her shock.
He approached the exit to the parking lot, and started walking slower when he saw none other than Kate Bishop waiting there.
"I bet you're wondering how I found you." She said.
"You tracked my phone again, didn't you?" Clint sighed.
Kate nodded. "Risked my life to do that."
He asked, "You got an escape plan?
Kate nodded, and gestured for him to follow.
She lead him to a guy standing beside a black Honda Civic. "Hey, are you Tabitha?"
"Yes." She replied.
The two got in.
Already inside the car, Yelena grunted, and stared daggers at him. "Clint Barton."
He cleared his throat. "Kate, why is there a Black Widow sitting in our ride?"
Yelena spoke before Kate could reply. "Because I am putting aside my desire to kill you to serve the greater good. Trust me, as soon as this quest is done, I shall avenge my sister."
He inhaled deeply. "You're Natasha's sister?"
Yelena turned beet red. "Stop. You do not get to say her name. Do it again, and I shall cut your throat, oath be damned."
Clint stared at her, and Yelena unrepentantly glowered back.
Clint closed his mouth, and looked out the window.
Kate repressed a sigh. This quest is already off to a great start.
Kazi helped Maya up, and she brushed herself off, deep in thought.
He sighed. "Thank God. What happened?"
She scowled. He got away.
He was panting. "That's it? God damn it."
She eyed his movements, trying to scrutinize him. If her mother did give the order… she would have worked through Kazi. There was no alternative.
Maya signed, Why weren't you there?
Kazi frowned. "What are you talking about?"
That night. Four years ago. Where my father was killed. You attend every single meeting; why did you miss that one? she demanded.
He shifted his weight. "I don't know. I didn't get the call."
Maya continued trying to read him, then signed, Fine. Let's get going.
She stormed off, and Kazi watched her retreating back for a moment, before he followed.
The mood of the group was... not great. For the most part, overwhelming desires to kill someone else in the room didn't work wonders on the general atmosphere.
Kate opened the door to the old Jackson apartment, and the three walked in. Yelena and Clint wouldn't stop glaring at the other, each watching for a drawn weapon, or a clenched fist, or anything that could be even remotely interpreted as an attack. They were on hair-triggers, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
It wasn't exactly relaxing, or conducive to team morale.
Kate, however, tried to play nice. She needed to make everyone to get along, or else they'd tear each other apart.
She sat them at the kitchen counter, and declared, "I'll make some grilled cheese. Either of you want one?"
"I do." Yelena said without facing her. "Thank you, Kate Bishop."
Clint nodded. "I'll have one, too." He didn't turn towards her either.
Ungrateful mouth-breathers. she thought. Playing mommy to some grown adults who were notably older than her wasn't her idea of a good time.
As she cooked, Yelena's phone buzzed.
Kate had no idea then, but that buzz would change the course of her life forever.
Yelena looked at her phone, and hissed in a breath. "Oh, no."
Kate turned, holding the pan with the sandwiches. "What is it? What's going on?"
An expression was in Yelena's eyes, an expression she'd never seen before.
Pity.
"Kate Bishop, I found out who hired me." she said.
Kate smiled. "That's great! Who is it?"
"Eleanor Bishop."
Yelena turned the phone towards Kate, revealing a video of her mother speaking to a goddess with black hair, pale skin, and a corpse-like complexion.
The goddess of magic. Hecate was their enemy… and so was Kate's own mother.
Kate dropped the pan, which clattered to the floor.
Notes:Chapter title derived from Angels We Have Heard on High written by James Chadwick in 1862.
Chapter 20: I Saw Mommy Talking with an Evil GoddessNotes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextChapter Twenty: I Saw Mommy Talking with an Evil Goddess
Hecate sat in her throne. She wore a white chiton, her hair cascading down her shoulders in black, glossy waves. An intricate golden crown was embedded in her hair, five tendrils of metal on either side set against her head, the gold diving and vanishing in the black. At the top of her hair, a stylized bulb of gold and ruby came together, formed at the apex of the tendrils. It resembled the abdomen of some insect, swollen yet orderly. Her onyx eyes glittered, and followed Eleanor attentively.
"Whatever can I help you with?" She asked.
Eleanor licked her lips. "We've had a good relationship, haven't we, Lady Hecate?" She wore a maroon dress, a simple necklace of silver, and high heels which had clicked on the floor when she came in, heralding her arrival.
Hecate's eyes narrowed a fraction of an inch. "Yes."
"I've never asked questions, I've always done what was told." Eleanor began.
"As I'd expect, given your debt. The protection of your daughter, the assurance of your wealth… in exchange for aiding in my rise to power in whatever ways I ask."
"I have repaid that debt tenfold by now."
Hecate smiled, and simply replied, "No, you haven't. But like you said, it's been a good relationship, which is why I'm a little confused where you're headed with this."
Eleanor paused for a beat before continuing. "I handled Armand like you asked. I was the most significant source of trainees for your Red Room—"
"And you betrayed Menoetius, your handler, used my own Mist blessing against me by disabling it around him—" her smile stretched. "—using my magic against me. That was a very foolish mistake, Eleanor, but I have overlooked it because you are, as you implied, my most important servant. My goodwill, however, only stretches so far."
"My daughter is getting too close. She's done much for Olympus and the gods, quests and the like, but she's being drawn into your web. And that's where I draw the line." Eleanor announced.
Hecate leaned back, then spoke. "You mortals have a very unique concept in religion, did you know that?"
Eleanor said nothing.
"God. With a capital G. He's not the god of the sky, or the god of water, or something else. He is… God. Of all. That concept doesn't exist in my pantheon, where I am a lowly minor goddess, unworthy of… respect or admiration." Hecate paused. "Which is why I will make the concept. I will overthrow the Olympians, install myself as the one true God, and create a world where there are no hierarchies, no minor goddesses, nothing. And I will reward those who help me rise."
Hecate's eyes shimmered. "And I will punish those who did not."
Eleanor shivered. "Then that's a risk I'll have to take." She stood, and readied to leave.
"But you won't." Hecate called.
Eleanor stopped, and turned around very slowly.
"What do you mean?"
"I won't retaliate against you if you betray me, Eleanor. I'll retaliate against Kate." Hecate warned. Her face was almost impassive, save for a gleam of malice in her eye. She relished the prospect of breaking a so-called Hero of Olympus.
The blood drained out of Eleanor's face.
"Your only daughter has been through much, but she's never faced me. She has psychological trauma, weaknesses… weaknesses I will exploit. If you go against me, I will devote all of my energy to crushing her, mentally and physically. There will be nothing left of her but a hollow shell, in both body and mind." Hecate threatened.
Eleanor swallowed. "And that is why I have to leave."
Hecate frowned. Eleanor was resilient, so she changed tactics, "Eleanor, don't be rash."
"I want you to know that I have been keeping an insurance policy."
Hecate's blood ran cold. "Eleanor…"
"Copies of everything, in a safe place. With a word, I can use the Hermes Express and send it to Olympus."
Secrecy. Secrecy was how Hecate's machinations had been successful so far, and the key to her success. If Olympus prematurely realized what she was doing, it would all come tumbling down.
Hecate gritted her teeth. "In the spirit of the holidays you mortals love so much, I'm going to give you a minute to consider what you're starting."
"Mutually assured destruction, Lady Hecate. If you go after my daughter, I'll expose your rebellion to the gods." Eleanor said. "I don't need a minute to think this through—I already have."
Kate was staring at the screen blankly. Her blue eyes had dulled to some shade of concrete grey, the vibrancy and confidence shattered.
"Kate Bishop?" Yelena asked slowly.
Clint exchanged a worried glance with Yelena. "Yelena, did you know that Eleanor hired you to kill me?"
Yelena, still watching Kate carefully, shook her head. "No. I was contacted through an intermediary—a woman called Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. I never had any idea who contracted me, as is the… industry standard, I suppose you could call it. But whoever hired me would know my name… which explains why Eleanor reacted when I introduced myself."
Kate registered her words dimly, and managed to shake her head. "Look, this is impossible. This video must be faked! There's no way my mom would do this."
Yelena didn't say anything at first. Then, she sighed. "Kate Bishop, when did your mother learn of the world of monsters and magic?"
"Yesterday." Kate mumbled.
"And within this 24 hour period, your mother manipulated the Mist so strongly as to literally disable it around a Titan? When she didn't know what the Mist was, or that he was a Titan? Did you even know it was possible to do that?" She asked.
Kate opened her mouth, them closed it. "I-well, no, but—"
"And the video mentioned Eleanor had some kind of Mist blessing." Clint recalled. "I don't know much about the Mist, but… isn't that the kind of feat someone with a blessing from the goddess of the Mist could pull off?"
Kate pressed her hands to her head. "My mom is determined, smart, kind, and brave! If anyone could learn to manipulate the Mist like that so quickly, it's her. She's being framed, okay? This isn't what happened!"
Yelena grasped Kate's hand. "Kate Bishop. Didn't you mention that Menoetius was holding your mother captive? What did he tell you?"
"Um, he said that if I kept snooping around, he'd kill her." Kate whispered.
"And what did your mother tell you before he said that?" Clint asked. "Anything suspect?"
"No, just that—" Kate froze. "That I should stop snooping around."
Yelena paused. "So, your mother and a Titan who we know is working for Hecate both said the same thing? Stop snooping? Wouldn't they do that… if they were on the same side?"
Kate whimpered, "Stop—"
Clint said, "If Menoetius threatened to kill Eleanor if Kate told her what was going on, or continued the quest, why didn't he act on it? Kate, you did tell Eleanor about the gods and stuff. And you did continue the quest. So why didn't he follow through on his threat?"
Yelena snapped her fingers. "Because he wouldn't kill an ally. And Eleanor already knew everything. What did Hecate call Menoetius? Eleanor's handler? It was an empty threat, designed to scare you, Kate—"
Kate grabbed her daggers out of her jacket, and brandished them at the two, who immediately tensed and stopped talking. Kate screamed, "Just shut up! Shut up, okay?! My mother wouldn't do this! She wouldn't betray me! She wouldn't—she wouldn't do this… to me…"
Her voice broke off at the end, and she fell backwards, crying softly. "She wouldn't do this to me…"
Yelena walked around the counter and sat beside her, extracting the knives from her grasp. "I'm sorry, Kate Bishop."
Kate shuddered and cried, hugging Yelena tightly. Yelena was surprised, but simply held Kate as she sobbed in heartbreak and confusion. She stroked her long black hair, swaying to the left and right, staining her blouse with tears. She didn't say anything, didn't offer any alternative theories, didn't offer pity, but allowed Kate to have someone in her lowest moment of weakness.
After a long time, Kate wiped her eyes, and stood slowly. Yelena followed suit, watching her carefully.
Kate sniffled. "I'm fine. Look, you were right, Clint."
He looked up.
"I'm not your partner, and I never was. Clint, this is my mess to clean up. My world, my enemies. Hecate is going to try to take out mom before she can release that evidence to Olympus. I need to take care of it. You should go home, you should be with your family. You can still make it in time for Christmas." Kate told him.
He shook his head. "Kate, you're my partner."
Kate looked up slowly. She was taken aback.
He continued, "Your mess is my mess. I'm not going anywhere until this is finished."
Yelena nodded once, firm. "Nor am I, Kate Bishop."
Kate rubbed her red eyes, and smiled. "Thank you. Really. Both of you."
Then, beside them, the air shimmered.
The rainbow image of Frank Zhang appeared, worry etched on his features. "Kate? Is that you? Who are you with?"
Kate cleared her throat, and wiped her eyes some more. "Um, this is Clint Barton, better known as Hawkeye, and this is Yelena Belova. Yelena, Clint, meet Frank Zhang. He's one of my best friends, and a fellow Hero of Olympus. Frank, meet my other friends."
He nodded distractedly. "Nice to meet you. Kate, is Hazel with you?"
She frowned. "Um, no? Shouldn't she be at Camp Jupiter?"
"She's gone missing. I was hoping that maybe she'd left to see you, but…" he ran a hand through his hair. "She just left. No note, no forewarning. It's like Jason and Percy all over again."
Kate felt dread bubble in her stomach. "Have you reached out to Camp Half-Blood? Do they have her?"
Frank shook his head. "I reached out to Percy, Annabeth, Chiron… even Lupa. None of them have seen her."
Kate frowned, thinking hard.
Then, she looked up, her eyes wide. "Wait! Frank, I think I may know what happened. Did you ever meet Annabeth's Norse cousins?"
He looked baffled. "Um, yeah? Sam and Magnus. What do they have to do with anything? Do you think they kidnapped her?"
"No, but do you remember what Sam told us about fighting gods? Her father, specifically?" Kate asked.
"You mean Loki? Um—"
Clint choked. "Loki has a daughter?"
Kate nodded and waved her hand dismissively. "Two, sometimes. Not important right now. Frank, you remember how she was talking about how Loki could control her?"
"Yeah, she said it was because demigod power over godly domains went both ways. If you exerted influence on a god's domain, like Percy with water, the god can exert influence on you." He said.
"And Hazel can influence the Mist, remember? She's like, Hecate's champion." Kate said.
Yelena gasped, while Frank looked even more confused. "Hecate? What? You think Hecate possessed her and made her go somewhere? But I thought Hecate was on our side."
Yelena said, "Unfortunately, Frank Zhang, she is actually the next major threat. Her aid was a smokescreen to build goodwill and hide her true intentions."
Frank looked absolutely floored. "So—so Hecate's trying to overthrow the gods? And she's taken Hazel hostage?" His expression of shock turned to anger. "That's it. I'm on my way."
Kate raised her eyebrows. "Frank, are you sure? This isn't your quest—"
"Kate, it became my quest too when Hecate kidnapped Hazel. And honestly, you're our friend. If you need help, we're coming. I'll Iris Message the others. Percy, Annabeth, Jason, and everyone else. And maybe Will and Nico, for good measure. Rachel, too. We need all hands on deck to rescue our friend and defeat our enemy." He smiled. "See you soon, Kate."
He swiped through the connection before Kate could protest, and Clint chuckled. "You have some very devoted friends there, Kate."
Kate grunted, failing to suppress a small smile. "Yeah, I know."
Maya Lopez approached her mother's throne and bowed deeply. Beside her, Kazi kneeled.
Hecate signed, Rise, my daughter. You too, Kazi.
They stood, and Hecate walked forward, her arms splayed wide.
Hecate tilted her head and frowned at Maya's bruises and cuts, which dotted her face. "Do you want to tell me what's been going on?" she asked, signing at the same time.
Maya signed, and Kazi translated, "I'm sorry. I got carried away. You know what my father meant to me."
"To all of us." Hecate corrected.
"I've come to my senses. I need to focus on the job." Kazi interpreted. "Stop chasing ghosts."
Hecate stiffened. "That's quite the turnaround."
Maya frowned, and Kazi said, "I've realized no matter what I do, I can't bring my father back. Finding whoever killed him, that won't change anything."
Hecate said slowly, "He would've wanted you to move on. He always wanted… the best for you. I only wish that he could be here now to see you and all of your accomplishments." She hesitated for a moment. "I ask that you remember that I am marked from the other gods by my loyalty and love for my children. All of them."
Maya was still for a moment, then signed. Kazi relayed, "If it's okay with you, I'd like a couple days off, to clear my head."
Hecate nodded carefully. "Yes, that's reasonable."
Maya turned to leave. Just before she did, Hecate put her hand on Maya's shoulder. "I love you, Maya. My daughter."
Maya nodded in response, and left.
Hecate rubbed her eyes. "A mortal Avenger has taken an outsized interest in our operations, and the Bishop woman, she thinks that she can end all of my hard work as her daughter wages war against me. And now, Maya, my Maya—" her voice wavered, before hardening. "She's turned on us."
Kazi nodded. "Yeah. What will we do about it?"
Hecate outstretched a hand, summoning Greek fire. The green flames danced in her palm, illuminating her deathly pale face with an eerie green glow. "If I play this right, this may be my opportunity to eliminate the most important pieces on the chessboard in one fell swoop. To kill the greatest demigods of the age, and then to take the fight to a crippled Olympus. Tonight, we strike."
Notes:Chapter title derived from I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, written by Tommie Connor in 1952.
Chapter 21: Give Me My Demigod Friends for ChristmasNotes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextChapter Twenty One: Give Me My Demigod Friends for Christmas
"We need a ton of gear." Clint declared. "Like a whole batch of way-too-dangerous trick arrows."
"We're gonna make more?" Kate asked hopefully.
He nodded.
So, Kate, Clint, and Yelena worked in the old Jackson apartment together, building new trick arrows to use.
Kate contributed sonic arrows, and—over Clint's strong objections—fart arrows.
Yelena proved to be surprisingly adept at making arrows, merging her Black Widow's Bite cells with arrow shafts, making arrows that would stun their target with crimson electricity.
Clint, however, (rather unsurprisingly) was the best at it, making a very diverse set of arrows with countless different purposes.
"Hey, Kate, have you seen that pepper spray?" He asked.
"Yeah, I've got it here." She said, and handed him a small red and black can.
Yelena poked at an arrow with a strange bulb on the end of it, dark green and hard.
"What is this one?" She asked.
Clint snatched it away. "Way too dangerous. Too dangerous."
Yelena frowned. "Then why'd you make it?"
He didn't answer, and Yelena rolled her eyes, facing Kate. "So, this holiday party tonight, is it a fancy event?"
Kate nodded. "Yeah, it's formal."
Yelena winked. "Well, don't you think you ought to perhaps bring a date to it? So as to not stand out, of course, Kate Bishop."
Kate's face broke out into sweat and redness, and she swallowed. How could this woman rob her of her cockiness so easily? "Um, that seems kinda reasonable, I guess."
"Who will you ask?"
Kate frowned uncomprehendingly, as Yelena waited.
After more time than Kate would like to admit, she finally realized, blushing even redder, if such a thing were possible. "Um—well, alright. Uh, Yelena?"
Yelena fluttered her eyelashes, "Yes, Katherine Heinberg Bishop?"
Kate didn't normally like being called her full name—usually only enemies and gods that wanted something called her that—but something about Yelena's heady Russian accent caressing her name made her forget all about that. "Do you, um, do you—uh, do you wanna go out with me?"
Kate froze. "To the party! No, I mean, to a gathering. For the quest. Not that I—er—not that someonewouldn't, um, want to go out with you in that way, in a long term sense, that is, but this is for the quest. Right. Just for the quest."
Yelena laughed softly. "Of course, Kate Bishop. I would love to."
Kate was sweating hard. Was anyone else feeling hot? Kate was feeling hot.
Under his breath, Clint murmured, "Jesus, Kate. That was hard to watch."
Kate coughed. "So, do we have enough arrows yet?"
Clint nodded. "Yep. But there's something I wanna say first."
Yelena and Kate both stopped and listened.
"Look, this stuff, it's part of the job. It's always inconvenient. It's lonely." He sighed, looking at Kate. "You will get hurt. Heroes have to make some tough decisions. So, if you're gonna do this… I just wanna know you're ready."
Yelena regarded Kate as she swallowed.
Kate said, "When I was younger, aliens invaded."
Yelena and Clint watched her carefully.
She cleared her throat. "And I was alone. And I was terrified. My father, Apollo, had just appeared, just told me he would protect me. And when the time came… he didn't. He abandoned me to the aliens. I don't think I've ever forgiven him for that. And I don't think I ever will."
She ran a finger along a thin white line on her cheek. "I got this when a chandelier fell from the ceiling right next to me during the Chitauri Invasion. It was the first scar of many to come." She dropped her hand. "But that day, I saw you, fighting aliens with a stick and a string. I saw you jump from that building even though you can't fly, even though you don't have superpowers. And I thought, 'If he could do that, then I didn't have to be scared.' You showed me that being a hero isn't just for people who can fly or shoot lasers out of their hands, it's for anyone, who's brave enough to do what's right, no matter the cost."
Kate sighed. "Even when I found out I was a demigod, when I learned that I did have superpowers… I still kept you in my mind when I saved people. When I defended the same city you did, five years later, when I was shooting down monsters from the same perch you did, I thought, 'This is because of Clint Barton. This is because of Hawkeye, who showed me how to be a hero.'"
Kate exhaled sharply. "I'm ready. I always have been, even when I thought I wasn't."
It was dark outside the building, the stars twinkling beside the crescent moon in the cold night air.
Kate and Clint stood outside, trying to talk the usher into letting them in.
Clint wore a black tuxedo with a black bowtie, and his hair was combed and back. Kate wore a simple black dress that reached up to her neck. She said, "Look, I'm telling you, we need to go in. My mom is in danger!"
Clint looked around. "Where is Yelena? Seriously."
Then, a feminine voice with a thick Russian accent called, "All ready, Kate Bishop!"
Kate turned, and her jaw dropped.
Yelena was clad in a brilliant green coat that flowed down her body, with golden buttons and a elegant collar. She had dark eyeliner and mascara, with deep red lipstick.
Yelena beamed at her stunned expression, and hooked her arm into Kate's. "Kate Bishop. You're staring."
She blinked, and cleared her throat. "Um, right. The quest." She refocused on the usher. "Look, can't you just check with someone? Tell them Kate Bishop is here?"
"Kate! There you are!" A familiar voice called.
Piper McLean jogged over. Her caramel hair was done in a sophisticated hairdo, she was wearing a frilled teal dress, and she wore masterfully applied makeup, looking like—as Jason so eloquently put it—a knockout.
Speaking of Jason, he was hurrying behind her, in a sky blue tuxedo that might have looked gaudy on anyone else, but instead complimented his blue eyes and blond hair, giving him a confident air. He pushed his Imperial Gold glasses up his face, and smiled at Kate. "Sorry for the delay. The flight from San Francisco to New York City takes a while."
Piper regarded the usher. "What seems to be the problem?"
He frowned. "None of you have invitations. That's the problem."
Piper beamed at the usher, boring into him with her kaleidoscopic eyes. "I don't think that's a problem. Do you?"
The usher blinked. "It's… not?"
"Oh, no. It's not." She agreed.
"It's… not." He decided. "Very well, come on in."
Jason, Clint, Yelena, and Kate all walked in. Piper said, "I'll hang out here for a bit to charmspeak when the rest of our friends turn up. Go on, enjoy the party."
Kate smiled, and Yelena tugged her along, their arms still linked.
They got in the elevator, which took them to the highest floor, and walked out into the party.
They started slow-dancing to the music, blending in the party. Yelena murmured, "I still really don't like messing with people's minds, Kate Bishop."
Kate leaned forward. "What? Oh. Oh, yeah. No, I get why you wouldn't like it. Um… look, on the video, mom mentioned the Red Room. What exactly—"
Yelena's eyes were hard and cold, though she was still smiling happily. "The Red Room was a Soviet program run by a man named General Dreykov. It would take little girls and turn them into Black Widow assassins. At first, they only used psychological conditioning, but then a woman approached Dreykov, and taught him how to cast spells to magically subjugate them. Slavery. She used them to exert influence over entire nations the way the Olympians do, just with mortal girls-turned-assassins as opposed to flashy magic. I was one of those little girls."
Kate felt like she'd had the air in her lungs punched out. "Jesus Christ."
Yelena smiled thinly. "That is the first time I have ever heard you use a mortal curse, Kate Bishop."
"Yeah, well." Kate was still horrified. "It happens when I'm really, really surprised. What happened to the program?"
"We destroyed it." Her tone was short. "My… sister and I. I put down Dreykov myself." Her eyes started to burn with a fiery intensity. "But the woman… the woman who approached Dreykov…" Yelena's gaze met Kate's. "Hecate. I didn't know who that woman was, until I saw that video."
Kate felt sick. "And my mother… she was supplying little girls to the program." She stumbled slightly. "I think I'm going to throw up."
Yelena gripped Kate. "Steady, Kate." She murmured, eyes raking over the throng of people who were beginning to notice something was wrong. "You're drawing attention to yourself."
Kate found herself swept away from Yelena's embrace, and she was dancing slowly with a black-haired man with sea green eyes and a dark, ocean-blue tuxedo. "It's alright, Kate."
"Percy." She mumbled. "Oh, gods… it's been such a shit day. My mother—"
He nodded. "I know, Kate. I know. Clint told me everything. And I know it's unfair, but you need to keep it together right now. Take a deep breath, okay?"
Kate closed her eyes. "I don't know—"
"Kate." Next to her, Annabeth spoke, dancing with Will. "Kate, I know. And we love you. I know you're hurting. Take a deep breath."
Kate nodded, and took a breath. She did again, and slowly began to calm down.
Annabeth said, "Good job, Kate."
She wiped her forehead. "Okay. I'm fine. Can I keep dancing with Yelena now?"
Annabeth repressed a smile. "Alright. You know, she's pretty cute."
Kate flushed. "Um, gosh, is she? I didn't notice."
Annabeth smirked. "I'm glad to see you've moved on from your crush on Luke."
"I could say the same to you, Annabeth."
Annabeth laughed. "Go to her, Kate."
She walked over, and found Yelena, munching on some hors d'oeuvres. She looked up when she saw Kate coming. "Ah, Kate Bishop. Are you… feeling okay now?"
She nodded, and raised her hands. "Yeah. I believe we were in the middle of something?"
A grin began to creep up Yelena's face. "Yes, I believe we were." She took her hands, and they continued to slow-dance.
Kate said, "I'm really sorry. About what happened to you, I mean."
Yelena's eyes grew distant. "I know you aren't your mother, Kate Bishop." She cleared her throat. "And… thank you. Really. For saying that."
Kate paused. "Are you…" her throat went dry, and she tried to clear it. "With my mom, I mean. Are you going to…?"
Yelena asked, "Kill her?"
Kate couldn't say anything, but simply nodded.
Yelena sighed. "No. I will not deny it—I am tempted. Very. But I can see that it would distress you, Kate Bishop." Yelena's eyes grew heavy with weariness. "And I have… dealt with so much death. I would rather wash my hands of it, and allow her to face her crimes through the justice system."
Kate paused, and tried to lighten the mood. "That's a pretty un-Mars thing to say. I might need to revoke your Child-of-the-War-God card."
Yelena chuckled quietly. "By all means, Kate Bishop."
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Kate smiled, but it was bashful, vulnerable. "I haven't…" she cleared her throat. "I haven't felt this happy simply dancing with someone before."
Yelena's eyes glittered. "Nor have I, Kate Bishop."
Kate looked down.
She tutted. "None of that, Kate Bishop. Look around, tell me what you see. What are our assets, what are our threats?"
She looked up, and scanned the room. "Threats? That guy." She jerked her head at a buff guy on the other end of the room. "That's Gary. He fired me from one of the only jobs I ever had."
Yelena laughed. "Assets?"
Kate smiled. "Well, we have those all over the party."
Dotted around the party, demigods milled around. Will, in a sun-yellow suit was dancing with a grumpy Nico in an inky-black tuxedo. Leo and Calypso were having a date in the party, sitting down and having dinner. Rachel and Annabeth danced, and Percy and Jason danced while Piper and Frank talked in low tones. Judging by the worried expression on his face, he was talking about Hazel.
Then, Kate's eyes settled on Eleanor, who had just walked in. Kate took a deep breath.
Yelena noticed, and squeezed her hand. "Listen to me, Kate Bishop. You can do this. I believe in you."
Then, Yelena did something that Kate wasn't expecting—she leaned in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips.
It was tender, simple, and restrained—but carried the promise of so much more.
When Yelena pulled away, both of their cheeks were flushed red.
Kate's mind went blank as Yelena smiled delicately. "See you soon, Kate Bishop."
Kate replied, "Uh…"
Yelena smiled in satisfaction, and vanished, melting into the crowd effortlessly.
Once Kate could remember her name, and recalled how to breathe, she absentmindedly set two fingers on her own lips.
Then, she darted after her mother.
Notes:Chapter title derived from Give Me Your Heart for Christmas, written by Jose Mari Chan in 1990.
Chapter 22: Jack the Red-Faced TitanNotes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextChapter Twenty Two: Jack the Red-Faced Titan
Eleanor looked up at Kate as she advanced. "Kate, hi…"
She trailed off at the expression on her face. Betrayal, rage, disappointment, sadness… Eleanor knew something had happened, though she had no idea what.
Kate gripped her mother's arm. "Mom, come with me."
"I-Kate, what are you doing?" Eleanor asked as they ducked into a secluded hall in the kitchen.
"I'm saving your life." She spat. "Your lady wants you dead."
Eleanor's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?"
Kate shoved her off, and growled, "You serve Hecate. You killed in her name, trafficked little girls to Dreykov for her, and gods know what else." Then she scoffed, "Well, actually, I guess they don't." She glared at Eleanor, tears in her eyes. "How could you do this? All these years…"
Eleanor shook her head frantically, "You-you don't understand. Kate, you were fated to die in the Battle of Manhattan, fighting Hyperion."
Kate paused. "What are you talking about?"
"After everyone we lost in the Chitauri Invasion, I couldn't bear to lose anyone else. Hecate approached me after the battle, and told me you were to die in Manhattan in five years time." Eleanor's eyes were bright. "She said it was ordained by the Fates, and that only she could stop it. She said she could rebuild my wealth beyond anything I had experienced and protect you as you fulfilled your destiny. All I had to do was follow her. I accepted in a heartbeat. For you, my daughter."
Kate sneered. "She lied to you, mom."
Eleanor stammered, "W-what?"
"If I was fated to die in that battle, then I would have. Hecate couldn't have done a damn thing to stop it. You think a minor goddess could possibly exert enough influence to change the Fates? Please. Hecate deceived you to gain your servitude." Kate told her.
Eleanor shook her head. "No. That's impossible. She was telling the truth. I saved you. Everything I did was for you. Look, sweetheart, Kate, don't worry about it, I have everything under control."
She walked away, and Kate stormed after her. "Mom—"
Then, shots blasted through the window, shattering the glass. Everyone screamed, and Clint yelled, "Everyone away from the window!"
Kate yelled to her friends, "We need to everyone out of here!"
Percy nodded, and began herding everyone towards the exit. Will darted around, healing people who had been cut by the glass or shot, and Frank turned into a hawk, trying to see who was attacking them.
Kate grabbed her bow, and notched an arrow, and made to dash into the party.
Eleanor grabbed her arm. "Kate, no. It's dangerous."
Kate shook her head in a mixture of disgust and sadness. "Mom, you're the reason it's dangerous out there."
She shook off her grasp, and walked into the party. Several partygoers were simply standing there, watching the demigods as they tried to help everyone.
Kate walked over. "Excuse me, ma'am. It's dangerous, you should go."
She turned, revealing chalk-white skin, red glowing eyes, and fangs. As her body shifted, Kate heard the sound of metal clanking and a hoof tapping the floor.
She reared back in surprise, and the monster cackled. "Katherine Heinberg Bishop, Hero of Olympus… another sweet meal." Her eyes bored into Kate's and the empousa smiled.
Her monstrous form flickered, turning instead to a breathtaking young woman with soft brown eyes, light brown skin, and dark hair. She crooned, "Come closer, Katherine… we can have such fun together."
Kate took a hypnotized step forward.
Percy yelped. "Gah! Empousai! Hate these monsters." Then he saw Kate, walking slowly towards her death. "Kate! Snap out of it!"
The empousa cackled. "Too late." The creature lunged, fangs primed to tear out Kate's throat.
Then, out of nowhere, a green figure leapt forward and tackled in midair, intercepting the leap.
Kate shook out of her daze, and saw Yelena and the empousa tumbling over one another on the ground like animals.
Kate drew her notched arrow, and sent it into the back of the empousa. It froze, and crumbled to dust.
She ran over, and tried to help Yelena up, but she batted the hand away, looking miffed. "No, no, Kate Bishop. If that monster can get your attention so effortlessly…"
Kate was surprised, and blushed. "Oh. Yelena, I mean, it's a magical entrancement. I didn't—um, it only works on, uh, people who are attracted to… well, women. I mean, look. Calypso, Annabeth, Will and Nico are fighting the monsters fine."
Yelena scanned the battle, and sure enough, they weren't being hypnotized by the monsters at all. The others were fighting a little slower than they would otherwise, with Piper especially being distracted by her opponent.
Leo grunted, and yelled, "If you two lovebirds are done gawking at the fight, we could really use your help!"
"Oh, right!" Kate mumbled, and leapt in to aid Piper.
Yelena helped Percy fight off his empousa, and soon, there was nothing left of them but a lot of cold piles of monster dust dotting the room. An icy draft blew through the decimated window, and large shards of glass were scattered around the floor.
Annabeth wiped her forehead. "Whew. Wait. Why isn't whoever who was sniping us shooting us right now? We're all in the open standing around."
Kate furrowed her brow. "Well… their target is—" Her blood ran cold, and she turned. Her mother wasn't in the mouth of the hallway. "Mom's going downstairs! Come on, we need to get her before they shoot her!"
The ten demigods plus Rachel and Clint all ran to the elevator, and all got in.
Kate hit the lobby button, and they all stood around, listening to the muzak.
Leo coughed. "So, how's everyone been?"
Percy said, "Pretty good, pretty good… you?"
"Fine, fine."
Rachel asked, "Are you still introducing yourself as Valdez Twice-Killed?"
He beamed. "You know it, Nostradamus!"
Frank looked baffled. "Why?"
"Because I'm the first mortal in history to come back twice and die twice!" He announced.
Everyone rolled their eyes.
"Leo," Kate said, "That nickname is already being used by Reyna's sister, remember? Hylla Twice-Kill?"
"No, no, that's Twice-Kill. I'm Twice-Killed. It's much cooler." Leo said.
Jason paused. "It's better to be killed twice than have killed twice?"
"Well, yeah. It means I'm hard to kill. Always come back in the end!" He cackled. "Like Jason Vorhees."
"Or like a cockroach." Annabeth supplied.
Everyone laughed.
Leo stuck his tongue out at her. "Yeah, yeah. You're just jealous you weren't snapped, too."
"Jealous?" Annabeth asked. "Why on earth would I be jealous?"
"Cuz I retained this youthful glow. I'm seventeen, and you're twenty-two." He pointed out.
Nico huffed. "Isn't your girlfriend there, like, thousands of years old? I dunno if age if the best joking strategy, Leo."
"I am older than Apollo." Calypso confirmed. "I remember watching Zeus serve as Kronos's cupbearer."
"Damn." Clint murmured.
Everyone looked at him. He said, "I mean… you look great for thousands of years old!"
Everyone roared with laughter.
Clint sighed. "Just realized how out of touch I am in this new godly world. I mean, thousands of years old…" he shook his head in disbelief. "Thor was hard enough to wrap my head around. Crazy."
Yelena chuckled. "Well, you know, at least I can recall Jason Grace here when he was a toddler."
"What?!" Leo yelled.
Piper was shocked. "Seriously? How? Tell me you have some adorable baby Jason stories!"
Jason looked mystified. "I don't know who you are. How can you possibly remember me at that age?"
Yelena chuckled. "I was in the Legion from the time that I was seven to seventeen, from 1995 to 2005. You were brought to Camp Jupiter in 2003, when you were two. Do you not remember my name? Yelena Belova?"
Jason gasped, and everyone cackled. He said, "Oh my gods, that was you? I remember some blonde teenager taking care of me when I was three or four, attending my birthday parties…"
"That was me." She agreed. "You were such a handful. In my opinion, American toddlers are better without the electrical powers."
Piper wheezed, imagining a little Jason throwing a temper tantrum and zapping everyone in range.
Leo snorted. "Please tell me you have pictures."
Yelena sighed, "Alas, I do not—"
Another round of everyone groaning.
"—but I know they are stored in the archives of Camp Jupiter. I imagine maybe a praetor could unseal them, but—"
Frank smirked. "I'm praetor. I can get them out."
Leo gave him puppy eyes. "Pretty please, pretty please, pretty please—"
Jason said, "Do I get a say in this?"
"No." Annabeth told him. "We wanna see embarrassing baby pictures of Jason."
Frank laughed. "Alright, once this quest is over, we can go look at baby pictures of Jason."
Everyone cheered as Jason groaned.
The elevator doors dinged open, and everyone stepped out. They all streamed out of the building, and Percy said, "Huh."
The street was populated with monsters and thugs, absolutely everywhere, roaring and hooting.
So, they did the natural thing—everyone ran off to go fight some monsters and thugs.
Kate approached a blond Tracksuit. As she drew close, he raised his hands. "Kate Bishop! I know it's not the best moment right now, but I want to thank you, you know."
She tilted her head. "For what?"
"For your advice, how I should speak to my girlfriend." He said.
She brightened. "Did it work?"
"It worked, bro, we went to Maroon 5 instead." He said.
"That's so great. So, what's with the gun?" She asked.
He looked down at it. "Oh. Um… sorry. But I did want to thank you first!"
Then he charged.
Kate sighed and sidestepped.
She drew her daggers from her jacket, and rammed the pommels of them into his head. He was out for the count.
Meanwhile, her demigod friends and Rachel were trying to herd the crowd out of the building as calmly as possible, but it was proving to be unusually difficult.
"These people are terrible at following directions!" Percy complained.
"Hey, guys! I think it's time." Leo said, trying to pull the crowd.
Annabeth blew hair out of her face. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I mean, we're trained professionals, but that's not enough now." Will agreed.
So, they all ran into the building and got changed.
When they emerged, they were clad in leather armor over their suits and dresses, waving their swords around like signs, trying to direct people.
The mortals, of course, couldn't comprehend the armor and weapons, which sort of short-circuited their brains, making them default to following the demigods' instructions.
Then, a furious voice yelled, "Katherine Bishop!"
Everyone turned.
Jack—no, Menoetius stood in full celestial bronze armor. He wielded an Imperial Gold sword, blown up several sizes, at least four feet long. He had assumed his true form—seven and a half feet tall, muscular and angry.
Kate had never seen anyone look so enraged before—his eyes were narrowed and cold, his face flushed red with fury and his lips curled back like an animal. She recalled Menoetius's status as the Titan of Violent Anger and Rash Action.
He whipped his sword around. "Face me, little hero! If you dare."
Beside her, Clint looked concerned. "Kate, remember what happened with Hyperion."
She rubbed the scar. "I remember. But this is different. This is personal."
Yelena nodded firmly. "Then we face him together."
Clint nodded, too. "Together."
Behind them, Percy said, "Don't forget about us, Kate. We'll be holding off the monsters and thugs."
She turned, and saw her friends standing beside her, weapons bared and faces determined.
Kate smiled, wondering what she ever did to deserve them.
And so, Yelena, Kate, and Clint all advanced onto the ice to fight Menoetius, the Last Titan.
Kate flexed her daggers, and glowered at Menoetius.
He laughed. "So? Are you going to just stand there, Katy—"
Then she charged.
He was taken by surprise, but Menoetius still managed to parry her blows.
Fighting a sword-wielding Titan with two foot-long daggers was something only the fastest, most masterful knife-fighters could pull off, but thankfully, that was exactly what Kate was.
Clint strafed him, peppering him with celestial bronze trick arrows whenever the opportunity presented itself, most often in the form of chinks in Menoetius's armor widening themselves.
Yelena slid up next to Kate, clutching a standard issue Imperial Gold gladius from Camp Jupiter. She winked at Kate. "Jason let me borrow his."
Kate nodded, and ducked under a blow. "Cool. Can we focus on the Titan trying to kill us right now?"
Yelena shrugged, and circled Menoetius.
Then, Yelena lunged forward and stuck her blade deep into his shoulder.
Menoetius roared, his eyes burning with hate. "Damn you, half-blood!"
He reared back and growled, "You fight for the wrong side. Perhaps a vision is in order… my brother Prometheus taught me this one."
Before Kate could do anything, he touched his finger to her forehead.
Immediately, Yelena stumbled back, eyes wild.
Kate said slowly, "Yelena, whatever he showed you was fake. I remember those sorts of visions—they're designed to anger you, show you events in the worst possible light."
She shrugged off Kate's words, loathing burning in her eyes as she saw Clint standing nearby.
Kate gasped, "No!" just before she attacked him.
Notes:Chapter title derived from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, written by Johnny Marks in 1949.
Chapter 23: Maya All Over AgainNotes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter TextChapter Twenty Three: Maya All Over Again
Clint's eyes widened as Yelena charged him. His shot went wide, as he refocused his energies on fighting off Yelena instead of killing the Titan.
Kate screamed at Menoetius. "What did you do?! What did you show her?"
He laughed. "Exactly what she expected to see."
Kate bellowed in rage, and ran towards him, blades armed and ready.
She swiped them at his head, but he ducked, and punched her into the ground.
Kate wheezed, the wind knocked out of her. Still, she managed to roll to the side, narrowly dodging Menoetius's sword as it plunged into the ice beside her.
She forced herself to stand, gripping her daggers. Her head drifted to the right, and she saw Clint and Yelena fighting it out.
Pure fury raged in Yelena's eyes, and each of her hits was punctuated with raw, unadulterated hate. She fought with all of her effort and all of her skill, doing everything she could to kill him.
Clint, on the other hand, seemed reluctant to fight, only striking defensively, enough to save his life but not to actually harm her.
Taking advantage of her distraction, Menoetius struck suddenly.
He slashed his sword across her back, and she screamed, falling down.
Annabeth and Percy, fighting nearby, yelled, "No! Kate!"
Clint heard Kate's scream of agony, and tilted his head and gasped. Even Yelena watched, horror etched into her features.
Wow, déjà vu. She thought distantly.
As Menoetius laughed, believing the fight to be won, she wondered if she might be able to replicate the other part of that fight.
And so, blood coursing down her back, mortally wounded, she rose shakily.
He sneered. "Foolish hero." He kicked her with a bronze-clad boot, and she fell back, her red blood seeping into the cold ice.
But once again, mortally wounded, she rose shakily.
Menoetius's expression wavered. "Why won't you stay down?!" He kicked her again, but pressed his boot into her chest this time, hard. She heard—and felt—some ribs crack.
Weakly, she forced his foot off of her, and once again, mortally wounded, she rose shakily.
"Why?" He bellowed. "Why won't you die?"
She adjusted the grip on her daggers, and spat at him. "Because… because fuck you, that's why."
Fast as light, she leapt forward, and lopped his head clean off. It rolled on the ground to the ground, a look of shock engraved on its face.
Then she stumbled, woozy.
Her vision went spotty, large black splotches blinding her. Kate mumbled as her knees buckled, "Welp, this is it."
Will appeared out of nowhere. "I don't think so, big sis. You aren't rid of us yet."
She smiled slightly. "No? Damn. I had my fingers crossed for Elysium."
Nico was at her other side. He looked at Will. "Her life is fading fast. You need to be quick."
Will nodded tiredly. "I gathered." Then, he closed his eyes, and started murmuring an ancient Greek hymn to Apollo.
Nico told Kate, "And by the way, this is technically your third life on Earth, and you got Elysium the previous two times. So, you'll get the Isles of the Blest when you die… which won't be today."
She mumbled, stretching her fingers on the ground, which came away wet with blood. "Oh. Cool. Thanks, past me."
Will drew his hands back, panting hard. "The wound has been closed. You'll be alright Kate, though you're probably still weak from the blood loss."
She stood, and immediately fell down. "Yep, I guess so."
They ran off, and rejoined the fight with the monsters and thugs.
Then, Kate remembered that her friends were trying to kill each other.
She gasped, and tried to stand up again. She failed, so she started crawling over.
Dimly, she saw Yelena kick Clint down.
She leveled her Black Widow's Bite at his neck, turned up to a lethal charge. Her voice hoarse, she said, "Before I kill you, I need to ask you one question."
On the ice, Kate groaned. "Please, Yelena. Don't."
She ignored her. "I need to know what happened. From your perspective. I already saw you kill her—why did you do it?"
"Look, Yelena, if I told you what really happened, you'd never believe me. But what you need to know is your sister sacrificed herself, and she saved the world. I'm sorry."
She turned purple with rage. "You're lying." She kicked him in the ribs with all of her force, and she growled, "You're pathetic. You're so pathetic!"
"Nobody killed her." Clint gasped, as Kate cried at the scene. "She made a choice."
"Stop lying!" Yelena roared, kicking harder and harder.
"You're not listening to me." Clint managed. "She sacrificed herself, understand?" Tears were in his eyes. "I couldn't stop her."
"No!" Yelena stepped back, and ran a hand through her long blonde hair. "Why would she sacrifice herself for you? Why do you deserve it?"
Clint groaned. "I don't."
"So she died… because you let her." Her eyes were fiery and wet.
"I fought for it. But she was better than me."
Yelena wiped her eyes. "You should've fought harder."
She whirled and began marching off. She would spare his life, only because her sister—
Then she froze up as Clint whistled quietly. The secret whistle she and Natasha had shared. She thought she'd never hear it again after she died.
Yelena gasped. "How… how do you know that?"
"Your secret whistle with Nat." He murmured. "She talked about you all the time, Yelena."
"She did?" A foreign blend of emotions, joy and grief flooded through her. In childlike wonder, she managed, "What did she say?"
"She told me about how you got separated as kids. She was flying that plane." He breathed. "I asked her if she was scared. All she could think about is that you were safe. She was so happy you escaped the Red Room. That never changed, Yelena. She loved you. And always wanted you safe."
Yelena crumpled to her knees on the ice, letting out a strangled sob.
"You got so much time with her." She choked out.
"Yes, I did." he agreed, tears running down his own face.
"It shouldn't have gone this way." Yelena whispered. "If I was there, I could have stopped it. I could have… I could have changed it."
"Nothing was gonna stop her, Yelena." Clint replied, closing his eyes. "You know Natasha. She made her choice. We're gonna have to find a way to live with that."
"I loved her… so much." Yelena cried.
"Me too."
Everyone decided to regroup in Sally's apartment, tend to their wounds and discuss their next steps.
Everyone crashed onto the couches, exhausted.
Kate's sword gash was roughly 8 inches long, and according to her, would become a, "really gnarly scar."
Percy said, "I think that's the first time in forty years that anyone has said the word gnarly."
Kate flipped him off, and she leaned forward. "Okay. It's 9:21 at night. Clint, what time do your kids get up to open presents on Christmas morning?"
He blinked. "Um, 7:30. Laura and I have an ironclad rule on that. Why do you ask?"
"Because you're going to make it home before Christmas, Clint. You will." She said it with no room for doubt.
"Okay." He didn't know why, but he found himself believing her.
Kate rubbed her eyes. "Okay, look. We've taken care of Menoetius—"
"No, you took care of Menoetius." Piper interjected. "In the single most badass way ever!"
Kate scratched her ears, unused to praise. "I mean, I dunno if it was that badass—"
Leo laughed. "Just take the compliment, Beauty Queen."
Piper frowned. "Wait, I thought I was Beauty Queen."
"Yeah, but that was before Kate decapitated a Titan, so…"
Kate raised her hands. "Guys, focus. We need all the time we can get. Hazel's still captive, Hecate's still out there, and my mother is also missing."
Jason cleared his throat. "Would your mother happen to have been the tall, pale woman with short black hair that I saw being carried away by a pair of empousa?"
Kate put her head in her hands. "Oh, gods. This is just great."
Yelena rubbed her back, but Kate hissed in pain and she drew her hand back. "Oh, sorry. I forgot, Kate Bishop. But look, there's no way Hecate is going to kill your mother."
She looked up. "And why not?"
"Because she's more useful alive." Yelena said. When everyone was looking at her, she shrugged. "Well, it's simple. If she's alive, Hecate can use the threat of suffering to influence you, and to force you to focus on saving Hazel, and saving your mother, and defeating Hecate herself, splitting your resources."
Everybody stared at her. Finally, Percy spoke. "You know, if you ever turned evil, Olympus would be soscrewed."
Everyone laughed.
Clint said, "Okay. So, our objectives. Defeat Hecate, rescue this Hazel girl, and rescue Eleanor. All within the next ten hours?"
"Yep." Kate said. "So… where would they be?"
Everyone fell silent, thinking.
Then, someone knocked on the door.
Kate scowled, grabbed her daggers, and slowly walked over.
She swung open the door, revealing none other than Maya Lopez, her eyes rimmed with red.
Roughly an hour before, Maya Lopez had been staring down Kazi.
She couldn't understand. How could you? My father trusted you. I trusted you.
Kazi leaned away, and ran a hand through his dark hair. "Don't you understand? This is my life, Maya." He was agitated, and he screamed, "My life! It was never supposed to be yours!"
Maya was frightened and sad. Her best friend—her only friend—had killed her father on her mother's orders.
"Don't make me do this, Maya." he growled.
Maya took a step back. Why?
"I'm not like you. Okay?" He sneered. "I'm not some... fancy-shmancy demigod. I'm just some stupid mortal, born with clear sight. Hecate—with her, I could change my fate, be something more. All I had to do was what she wanted. Like kill William Lopez." Kazi wiped his nose. "Leave, Maya. She's coming for you. She knows you know. So, if you value your life, leave."
Maya didn't move. You know I can't do that. You know.
He nodded. "I know. Avenging your dad and all that crap." Maya couldn't hear the contempt lacing his voice, but she knew it was there. "'You killed my father, prepare to die?' Yeah, yeah. So get to it."
Kazi charged, and Maya ran to meet him.
She tried to kick him, but he ducked under the attack.
He punched her twice in the ribs, and she grunted, moving back.
Kazi lunged, but Maya had anticipated it, sidestepping the blow and shoving him to the side.
Maya grabbed a loose arrow on the ground from the fight, and when Kazi recovered, charging her again, she jammed the arrow shaft deep into his ribs.
He gasped and stumbled back, bleeding profusely. He looked up at her, the light in his eyes fading fast. "Leave… Maya."
Then, Kazi closed his eyes, and went still. He did not move again.
Maya bowed her head and cried.
Kate turned bright red with anger and flipped the daggers in her hand to face Maya in the doorway. "You." She spat.
Clint pulled Kate back. "Whoa, whoa, Kate. Let's see what's going on here first, okay?"
Percy stood, and saw Maya. "Oh, great."
Annabeth got up. "What's going—?" She took in Maya. "Oh. I see. Maya Lopez is here, everybody."
Maya signed, Relax, Kate. I don't want to hurt anyone, I just want to talk. She paused. Or sign, I guess.
Leo coughed. "Um, anyone know ASL? 'Cause I don't."
"I do." Kate and Clint said at the same time.
Maya raised an eyebrow at Clint. I should have known you did.
Kate glowered at Maya. "I say we cut first and ask questions later. Maya works for her mother, Hecate, after all."
I used to. Maya looked down. No longer. She had my father killed.
Kate's fury didn't gave a fraction of an inch. "Hmm. That sucks for you."
"Kate..." Clint said.
She turned away. "Maya abandoned me, okay? We were together—the first time I'd put myself out there after Luke had tried to manipulate me into joining the Titans by exploiting my crush on him. And how did Maya and I end? With her leaving me in the middle of the night, while I was in the Labyrinth. So, no, I don't buy this whole..." Kate gestured at Maya. "repentance/redemption act. She's lying, probably."
Maya sighed. Kate... She used Kate's name-sign, the sign for archery with the letter K in the left hand and the letter B in the right. Her initials.
Kate only scowled deeper at that.
In Camp Half-Blood, during the Titan War, I became best friends with only you, Kate. The name-sign again. Only you could see past my mother. Everyone else looked and saw a traitor-in-waiting. You didn't treat me like the daughter of Hecate, but simply saw Maya Lopez. She signed, her eyes bright. And it is my deepest regret that my actions have rid you of this clarity. I'm sorry, Kate. Really. But I promise, I'm here because I want to avenge my father. Not because my mother ordered me here. I swear it upon the River Styx.
Thunder boomed, and everyone jumped.
Percy said, "Um, speaking for everyone here who only caught half that conversation, can you tell us what happened?"
Kate quickly summarized their exchange, her eyes not leaving Maya.
Everyone turned to Annabeth. She looked up, confused. "What? Why are you all looking at me?"
Jason cleared his throat. "You're our chief strategist, Annabeth. What should we do? Should we trust her?"
She leaned back, thinking.
Kate scoffed. "You can't seriously be considering this! She works for a Titan goddess! Who kidnapped Hazel!"
Percy looked down. "Kate, I think she's telling the truth."
"This is ridiculous! You remember how I was after she left, don't you?!"
Both Percy and Annabeth cringed at the reminder. Percy said, "Of course we do, but if Hecate really has sent us a spy—"
"She has!"
"—then why wouldn't she send someone more likely to be accepted by us? Why send a person you despise?" he asked.
Kate opened her mouth and closed it. "Because—because—" she scowled. "Hecate could have any number of reasons! I don't know!"
Annabeth asked, "Kate, what was that line in the prophecy? The one about friends?"
"Friends made enemies, enemies made friends.Why?" Then, understanding dawned in her eyes. "You think—"
"...Yeah. It sounds like Maya's reversal was foretold. Enemies made friends. She was our enemy, now she's our friend." Annabeth murmured.
Kate raised eyebrows. "This is such bullshit! That line could mean Yelena! It could mean—I don't know!" She whirled, and stormed off into the guest bedroom of the apartment.
Clint looked worried. "Should I go talk to her?"
Annabeth shook her head. "No. ADHD tempers work like lava—they burn really, really hot, but cool super fast. Just give her some time."
Maya signed, Thank you for trusting me, really—
Annabeth glared at Maya sharply. "I don't know what you're signing right now, but you can save any gratitude. You hurt my friend. We're only trusting you because the quest demands it, but I sure as Hades don't like you. Are we clear?"
Maya nodded slowly.
Notes:Chapter title derived from Christmas All Over Again, written by Tom Petty in 1992.