Page 74 of The Princess's Pet

“She’s been poisoned with Hades’ Delight. Poseidon’s Wrath is an antidote,” I told him. I was weak, my magic pushed to its limit keeping the harmful plant in my hands alive, its poison leaking into my skin and causing my muscles to twitch painfully. I could barely sit up.

“Percy,” he spoke softly, sadly. “There is no cure for a pureblood vampire poisoned by Hades’ Delight,” he continued.

“There is. Poseidon’s Wrath is the cure,” I told him adamantly, my voice rasping with my effort to breathe. “This will work.”

I didn’t know if I was trying to convince him or myself. He smiled sadly at me and nodded.

Edward ran back into the room carrying a teapot.

“I’ve got the water,” he announced.

“Over here,” I told him and he put the pot down in front of me.

“You need to make the Princess drink this tea. Pour it down her throat if you have to. Slowly. Sip by sip,” I instructed as with a shaking hand I opened the pot lid. I twisted a branch of the rootoff and squeezed the juice from the root into the water. My hands were agony, blistered black in some places and blood dripping all over the vanity and into the Poseidon’s Wrath tea, but I doubted the Princess would mind.

As I shakily handed the pot to Edward, old May burst through the door.

“What are you kids up...” Her words died as she looked at me. I must have been a sight, dripping wet from my dive in the pond, half-dressed and blood dripping from my fingertips and running up my arms.

“Oh, dear what’s happened to you?” she cried coming toward me. I pulled my hands away before she could touch them.

“Don’t, I’ve touched Poseidon’s Wrath,” I told her.

“Oh, dear no. Why would you do that?” I looked past her to where Thomas held the Princess in a position that Edward could carefully and slowly pour the tea into her mouth.

Relief filled me. If there was truth to the myth, then there was hope for my Princess.

I felt myself slip from the vanity stool unable to keep my balance any longer. My world swirled black.

Selene Borealis

19. The One and Only

My throat burned with an intensity I had not experienced before, a mixture of hunger and pain. My nose was assaulted with the lingering scent of many others, and I was aware that Amelia was near me.

“Selene, are you awake?” Amelia asked beside me. Her voice held apprehension.

I opened my heavy eyes and turned to look blearily at my cousin.

“Why are you here?” I asked her. She should not have been at the castle. She was staying in the city for her protection. If my mother and father were not safe in the castle walls no Borealis was.

“You have been unwell Selene. Close to death,” she told me, leaning over the bed and taking hold of my hand.

Was I ill? I could not remember falling ill. I searched my mind for my last memories and all I found was Percy, my pet, safely within my hold.

I looked around the room and scented the air. It took some effort, my senses evidently weakened by my illness, but Ideciphered the scent of my pet, of her blood. Why had her blood been spilled?

“Where is she?” I demanded sitting up and shaking my hand from Amelia.

“Selene, calm please, you need to rest, to heal,” Amelia pleaded and had the bravery to push my shoulders down when I attempted to get up.

“Where is my pet?” I demanded again, unable to control the growl that rumbled in my chest and scratched my throat painfully.

“Percy is fine,” Amelia reassured but she was always a terrible liar.

“Do not lie to me. I smell her blood. Where is she?” I was becoming panicked. What had happened to her?

“I promise you; she is alive and safe. Selene, have you listened to me? You were near death, you should by all known magic and science be dead. You need to rest,” Amelia demanded sternly.

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