Garbed In Black

//I'm back. Let's finish up the First Voume bois. Sorry for the wait. I'll have one more chapter up on Patre0n before 5AM EST.

Patre0n.com/ShadowDrev

Goal: $254/$540

Also, it's Game Night tonight in my Discord so pull through. We'll be playing Among Us this week and Minecraft next Friday. Those who join the games will receive exclusive content reserved to Patre0n only members for ONE WEEK. Limited time only.

Quote me on that.

It starts at 10PM EST and will go on until maybe 12AM or 1AM so there's plenty of time.

Discord:

https://discord.gg/39PmeFK

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When Circe had said that the blonde had needed some work, the last thing Annabeth had been expecting was to get an actual pedicure and manicure, complete with nail care, a foot massage, and a plethora of different snacks. There was even a television in front of the chair she was sitting in so she could watch something while the work was done. It was a genuine surprise but not an unwelcome one.

If anything, she was at the very least confident in Chion's ability to handle things alone while she tackled a different front.

Though she would likely never admit such a thing to his face.

She wasn't exactly sure what it was about him, maybe the way he seemed to handle everything with ease, tackling everything with logic and reasoning and putting everything on the ropes with full on confidence, but Chion pissed her off. Whenever he had an idea, as stupid as it seemed, it always seemed to work out for the best, especially the ones that put everything on the line. When push came to shove, he thrived when the cards were down and the pressure was at an all-time high. If there was someone Annabeth didn't need to fret over, it was Chion, a youth capable of helping himself. In truth, Annabeth couldn't recall a single time when one of his decisions had actually been a terrible call. Or at least hadn't gotten anyone killed.

With those thoughts in mind, she freely enjoyed her spa treatment, relaxing in her seat.

There had been a ponytailed girl in the room a tad earlier, a talkative and inquisitive individual who looked to be around her age and gave off the same vibe as Chion. Intelligent and quick-witted. However, she had left when Circe had walked onto the scene, bolting out the door with a speed that made her a literal blur. In that time, maybe around five or so minutes, she had conversed with the female, who had been named Autumn, and learned some things about where she was and what was going on. She also learned the name of the girl doing her nails.

Reyna Arellano.

"So, you're Annabeth Chase? Daughter of Athena?" Autumn leaned against the far wall, but she never stayed still for more than a few seconds, so she was halfway across the room the moment that question had finished. "I heard you were traveling with two other males. Luke Castellan and Chionothýella Pagos. The last one has a really interesting name."

(("She knows our names, and we're traveling together.")) Annabeth frowned ever so slightly. (("Circe told the residents? No. That wouldn't make sense. Has no strategical purpose. Maybe she overheard?"))

"Well, me and the others got separated. The other two are getting assessed by Circe in the other room."

"Oh, so they're already guinea pigs then." Autumn nodded, a disappointed look on her face. "That's a shame. I wanted to see one of them up close. There's nothing to do about it, I guess."

"Guinea Pi-?"

"Do you know what you're gonna do when you leave the island?" Autumn interrupted Annabeth almost immediately, her mouth moving fast and the words leaving her lips even faster. "Depending on IF you leave the island?"

"Autumn. You're gonna scare her. Calm down." Reyna spoke softly as she ran the brush through Amnabeths long hair. "Why don't you go and see if your mother needs you?"

Click!

The door leading to the other room opened, and Circe walked in, gently closing the door behind her. Autumn, without a second thought, sprinted to the other exit as stealthily as possible, dashing past Annabeth with enough acceleration to cause her hair to temporarily go all over the place. It was unknown if the goddess saw it but if she did, she didn't act on it as she walked over to Annabeth. For some reason, the hospitable expression she had first had when the trio of Demigods had met Circe was gone, replaced with frustration.

(("Hmm. Looks like she met Chion.")) Annabeth smirked slightly. (("Same face I make."))

"How're you enjoying your treatment?" Circe retrieved her lost smile as she glanced toward the blonde. "Is everything to your liking? I hope we're providing the best available service."

"Well, there was one issue. There was something about guinea pigs. Where are Luke and Chion? Will they also be getting makeovers the same as me?"

Circe made a face as if it hurt her to remember the two individuals she had just left. "No worries, your friends are wandering the grounds for now. You'll be able to see them again when its time for lunch. For now, just enjoy yourself."

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"Oh, so they're already guinea pigs then."

"Do you know what you're gonna do when you leave the island? Depending on IF you leave the island?"

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Annabeth frowned slightly as she pondered the words Autumn had said before leaving. No matter how one took them, they were cause for alarm, carrying a heavy meaning behind them, especially when considering where she was.

Circe was a goddess predominantly known for her hostile disposition to men as well as her close encounters with the Argonauts and Odysseus. During the interaction with the latter of the two, the immortal sorceress had tried her utmost to turn the entire crew into swine by mixing a potion into the food, lulling them to sleep before using her magic to finish the transfiguration. She had almost gotten away with it for the most part if it wasn't for some outside forces acting on the situation. Circe had claimed that that particular way of things had been a thing of the past, and a lot had changed, but Annabeth wasn't too certain about that. The gods had ultimately remained the same for hundreds and even thousands of years. Circe didn't seem to be much different in that regard.

At the very least, though, the young daughter of Athena was certain that Chion wouldn't be tricked by anyone, especially one whose history was laid bare for all to see.

Or, in this case, read.

So, as alarming as the newly obtained facts were, she let them go, instead shifting her attention to Circe and the residents of the Spa And Resort. While she was here, she planned on doing all she could to gather whatever information she could.

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There were some things that bothered Luke, perhaps a bit more than whatever Annabeth or Chion was currently going through, at least according to him. A heavy feeling of danger weighing deep within the pit of his stomach, a gnawing sensation that seemed to increase with the passage of time. The further he trudged through the heart of Circe's island, the more he wanted to pull his sword from its sheath, as if he could use it to combat the piercing glares of the numerous women occupying the Resorts innards. He hadn't felt as tense as he did in a long time, even during his physical confrontation with the dragon Ladon, the monster guarding the Golden Apples in the Garden Of Hesperides. Perhaps it was because the enemy was a mystery instead of a monster he could simply dispose of.

Whatever the case being, the blonde teen did his best to stay on task whilst simultaneously keeping his guard up. The Golden Fleece was supposed to be somewhere in the vicinity, or so Chion theorized.

And the cool headed demigod strategist was usually right on the money with these types of things.

Letting out a slow exhale, Luke glanced around, taking in his surroundings as he walked forward, hand wrapped around the hilt of his longsword. For the most part, the terrain thus far pretty much matched the Resorts' initial aesthetic, adopting the same white marble and terraces seen on the walk towards the main building. Only difference was how packed it was near the center of the island, a few dozen or so women meandering about, a mixture of both staff and residents coexisting in harmony.

There wasn't a single man in sight.

By this time, Luke had already surmised that most of the men had probably been dealt with in some way, shape, or form. Most likely, it had something to do with the Shakeovers he had almost been seduced into drinking, it's mysterious contents promising immediate results according to Circe. The only reason he came to this conclusion was due largely in part to the sorceress' usage of magical words that kept him completely enamored. The words themselves hadn't been NEARLY as effective as it did when she mentioned the weird smoothie drink and the encouragement to consume it. It fell in line with the old tale he read about Circe in the Odyssey.

It was lucky that Chion had caught onto it quickly and stepped in, otherwise they would have met an unknown end.

But that also meant that he was now wandering the grounds hosted by women, hostile women from the feel of it. The glares, the pauses, the disgusted looks mixed with disdain and contempt as if he had spat on the grave of some dead relative. No doubt a number of them hadn't lay eyes on a man in a number of months or even years and it was probably by design.

There were exceptions, though, since a few children could be seen running around playing in the water and just enjoying life, not giving Luke so much as a second glance.

With all he saw, though, there were no immediate signs of the Fleece.

The one thing of note he found halfway through his search was his run-in with the large black wolf the trio had witnessed upon their arrival into the Spa And Resort. He hadn't really looked at the creature before, but now, standing upright in all its glory, he couldn't NOT look at it.

A fluffy black coat that seemed to absorb the rays of the sun, a shade of darkness what would stand out even in the dead of night. Intelligent red eyes that reminded the teen of Chion, one that could analyze everything and grasp concepts before anyone could even register what was happening. The beast was enormous, rivaling the size of a Hellhound, if only slightly smaller, and moved with a sort of grace that put the same monsters to shame. If the mutated wolf creature wanted Luke dead, the blonde reasoned there was almost nothing he could do to stop it, even doubting that Chion would be of any use against the mythical canine.

The beast let out a low growl and shook its body, shaking off any dirt and dust from its dense coat of black before turning around and wandering in the direction Luke had been heading.

When it had moved a certain distance, the monstrous wolf glanced back, giving the young man a side eye.

(("Does he want me to follow?")) Luke glanced around behind him and to his sides. For some reason, no one else was reacting to the abnormally large creature, still shooting the teen occasional glares. (("He doesn't seem to be too bad I suppose. Could've already killed me if it wanted to."))