The sun was high in the sky when the group stopped for a break. Cordelia sat on a fallen log, handing out water from her bag. Luke and Grover were busy checking the path ahead, while Annabeth sat beside her, twirling her dagger absentmindedly.
"There's something about the myths we're taught," Annabeth began, her voice thoughtful. "A lot of them... they aren't exactly true."
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Annabeth paused for a moment, as if deciding how to start. "Take Medusa's story, for example. The way it's always told—Poseidon pursued her, and she was... violated in Athena's temple. And then, Athena cursed her out of jealousy."
Cordelia frowned. "I've heard that version. It's awful."
Annabeth nodded. "It is. But it's also not the real story."
"What really happened?" Cordelia asked, intrigued.
"Medusa wasn't a victim," Annabeth explained. "She was once a sea nymph, incredibly beautiful, but also envious of Amphitrite—Poseidon's wife. Medusa wanted him for herself, but Poseidon was faithful to Amphitrite. When he rejected Medusa, she became bitter. She started spreading lies, claiming that Poseidon had wronged her, hoping to drive a wedge between him and his wife."
Cordelia blinked, taken aback. "Medusa made it all up?"
"Yes," Annabeth said. "She spread those lies in hopes that it would weaken Amphitrite's bond with Poseidon. But Amphitrite was much loved by both the gods and goddesses, especially by Athena, who was one of her closest friends. When Athena found out what Medusa had done, she was furious. She cursed Medusa, turning her into a Gorgon as punishment for her deceit."
Cordelia shook her head in disbelief. "So, Medusa was never... violated?"
"No," Annabeth confirmed. "That part of the myth was twisted by mortals over time. It stuck, and now it's what most people believe. Only the gods and demigods know the truth."
Cordelia sat silently for a moment, processing the revelation. She had always thought of Medusa as a tragic figure, but this new version painted a very different picture.
"It's strange," she mused. "How many other stories are like that?"
"More than you'd think," Annabeth replied, her tone darkening slightly. "Mortals have a way of altering the truth. Sometimes they misunderstand what really happened, and other times, the gods themselves manipulate the stories for their own reasons."
Luke and Grover returned just as Annabeth finished speaking. Luke noticed the thoughtful expressions on their faces and raised an eyebrow.
"What's up? You two look like you're contemplating the meaning of life."
"Just talking about myths that were taken out of context," Cordelia replied, standing up and stretching. "Ready to keep moving?"
Luke nodded. "Yeah. There's a path up ahead that looks promising."
The group set off again, the air around them growing tense as they ventured deeper into the forest. After about an hour of walking, the unmistakable scent of monsters filled the air—bitter and smoky.
Grover's ears twitched nervously. "Uh, guys? We've got company."
Before anyone could react, a pack of hellhounds emerged from the trees, snarling and baring their fangs. Their dark fur rippled in the shadows, and their eyes glowed red with hunger.
Cordelia's hand instinctively went to her pendent, transforming it into her trident in one swift motion. Luke and Annabeth drew their weapons, and Grover tightened his grip on his reed pipes.
The hellhounds circled them, growling and snapping their jaws. But before the group could engage, a small but powerful beam of light shot out from behind Cordelia, striking one of the hellhounds in the chest. The creature yelped in pain before collapsing into a pile of dust.
Cordelia turned around, shocked to see Bubbles, her sea turtle, standing tall with a look of determination in her eyes. Beside her, Flame, the other turtle, was glowing faintly with an aura of heat.
"Did... did they just—?" Annabeth started, but her question was cut short by another blast from Bubbles. This time, the turtle fired a stream of water, hitting another hellhound with such force that it knocked the creature off its feet.
Flame, not wanting to be outdone, shot a narrow beam of fire from the marking of the sun on his shell, searing a hellhound that had been creeping up on Luke.
"Whoa," Luke muttered, watching in awe as the two turtles continued their assault.
Cordelia couldn't help but smile proudly. "I guess Bubbles and Flame aren't just regular sea turtles."
"No kidding," Grover said, his eyes wide. "They're amazing!"
Within moments, the hellhounds were reduced to nothing but piles of ash, thanks to Bubbles and Flame. The group stood in stunned silence, catching their breath after the unexpected battle.
"Remind me to never underestimate turtles again," Luke said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Annabeth knelt down beside Bubbles, who was now calmly sitting at Cordelia's feet. "These two have more power than they let on," she said, running her fingers over Bubbles' shell. "They're going to be important."
"I guess we'll find out why soon enough," Cordelia replied, bending down to give both Bubbles and Flame a gentle pat. "Good job, you two."
With the danger behind them, the group continued on their way, more alert than ever. As they walked, Cordelia couldn't help but think about how much her life had changed in such a short time. First, she discovered her heritage, then she found out about the prophecy, and now her pet turtles had revealed hidden powers.
But there was something else nagging at the back of her mind—something about the quest itself. It wasn't just the missing weapons or the children of Hades. There was more to this journey than they realized.
It wasn't long before they stumbled upon their next clue. A small clearing in the forest revealed a set of ancient stone pillars, each one engraved with symbols in a language that only Annabeth could read.
"This is it," Annabeth said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We're getting closer."
"What does it say?" Luke asked, stepping closer to inspect the carvings.
Annabeth frowned, tracing her fingers over the symbols. "It's a riddle. Something about the children of the Underworld... and the keys to the doors of Tartarus."
Cordelia felt a chill run down her spine. "The doors of Tartarus? What does that mean?"
"It means we're dealing with something far worse than missing weapons," Annabeth replied, her eyes narrowing. "If we don't find the children of Hades soon, something—or someone—might break free from Tartarus. And that could spell disaster for all of us."
The weight of the revelation settled over the group like a dark cloud. Their mission had just become a race against time, and they knew they had to be ready for whatever came next.