Author's note:
First of all, I am quite convinced that Leo Valdez is Sammy Valdez's grandson (maybe great-grandson) and the second life of Sammy's spirit. From what we're shown of Sammy, none of his behavior seems like it would be out of character for Leo in that situation. Riordan has presented the idea of soul rebirth again and again through the series. Luke said he was planning to try twice more in hopes of reaching the Isle of the Blest. Bianca di Angelo was revealed to have chosen rebirth as of son of Neptune.
This seems like too interesting a potential plot point to waste, and Riordan's setup of the connection between Leo and Sammy seems like the perfect opportunity to use it. Since the soul's memories are wiped in the Lethe before rebirth, having someone recognize their behaviour from a previous life seems like the only way it could be confirmed and used for the plot. Not to mention how Riordan loves giving us hints at important plot points very early on (the coffin Kronos rises from appears in book 2, Festus appears in the Demigod Files (before book 5 was out yet)).
As Percy himself said, he has yet to come across a coincidence in all his adventures.
That said, I am not Rick Riordan, and therefore I do not own these characters, Camp Halfblood, or any of its associated universe.
This story will have quite a bit of Sammy/Hazel (especially in the first chapter) and some hints at Leo/Hazel at the end. However, it mostly focuses on Sammy and the important points along his journey to rebirth as Leo. I'd say this author's note has gone on far too long, so on with the show!
LINELINELINE
LINELINELINE
Chapter 1: Lost Chances
December 18, 1941
Sammy Valdez knew about gravity. He had few scars on his knees to prove it. Some old guy had gotten bonked on the head with an apple and realized stuff falls. Yep, gravity. He could ace a test about it. Or at least pass at test about it.
But ever since yesterday, gravity had given up on him. Sammy felt as though he might fly right over the New Orleans if he jumped too high. Even as he ran he felt lighter than air, ready to soar with the birds.
A policeman gave him a glare, as though it were some sort of crime to run top speed down the sidewalks smiling like a lunatic.
"Lovely day, officer!" Sammy saluted as he darted by, the hard soles of his shoes making a royal ruckus against the concrete.
Whatever the policeman had to say was lost to the wind and car exhaust, because Sammy was a full block away by the time the frazzled man could come up with a suitable insult.
He darted and dodged down the street, very nearly bowling over pedestrians in his mad dash to Queen Marie's Gris Gris.
Like the day before, the weather was mild for December, with the sun shining down and a warm breeze coming in from the ocean. The streets were thronged with sailors and soldiers and merchants peddling their wares and trying to avoid being run over by the automobiles skimming the curbs. The city seemed so alive and bright, its chaos throbbing in rhythm with the heartbeat pounding his ears, beating out a solid frantic chant.
Hazel, Hazel, Hazel, Hazel, Hazel.
Hazel Levesque. He'd kissed her and she'd smiled. It had been on the cheek, but it had sent Sammy spiraling through the sky ever since. He'd liked Hazel from the beginning. She laughed at his jokes, she kept him out of trouble, she took every horrible thing people ever said about her without becoming bitter or mean. She was the kindest person Sammy had ever known, and he hated the way the other kids at school treated her. He could never understand how they could bear the sadness that crossed her face at their words, how they could be immune to the infectious joy in her gold eyes when she smiled.
But he hadn't known if she felt the same about him. Not until yesterday. Not until he followed that one stupid, perfect, dangerous impulse that had urged him to kiss her.
She'd smiled. She'd beamed. She'd spent the rest of their ride with the same blissful smile as he had.
Hazel Levesque loved him.
Sammy whooped with joy as he jumped over a pile of crates, probably making several fellow pedestrians question his sanity, but he didn't care what they thought.
Everything in his life seemed to be falling into perfect place. Yesterday, after Hazel had left, his boss at the stables had come in and seen him rubbing down Hazel's bay. For a moment Sammy had been terrified that he'd been found out, and that Boss Mason would put an end to his secret rides with Hazel.
But the old man had completely misunderstood what he saw. He thought Sammy was actually doing extra work without having been asked. "Going above and beyond your duty," or something like that. Sammy had been quick to play along, and it had payed off with a crisp dollar bill that was now clenched in his fist, just begging to be spent.
He was going to take Hazel to the movies. The Maltese Falcon, Dumbo, Citizen Kane, whatever she wanted to see. There would be a newsreel about the war beforehand,and if he was lucky it would focus on the Army Air Corps. Sammy spent half his time away from Hazel pining over pictures of aeroplanes in a booklet that had come in his cereal box. In his best dreams he sat at the controls of one of those flying machines, boldly leading his fellow flyboys into enemy territory.
Maybe that is what would happen. Once he was old enough (or at least tall enough to pretend he was), he'd join the Air Corps. He'd write letters to Hazel every day, and when he came back as a war hero with a chest full of medals, he'd find a great job and save up and buy a big house and a very special golden ring. Not a diamond ring though, not for Hazel. She hated precious gems now, from all the trouble this talk of her mother's gems being cursed had brought. Maybe he'd find one with a pearl. Those came from clams or something didn't they? That wouldn't count as a gem.
As Sammy rounded the last turn, he was so absorbed in his daydreams, he ran smack into 'ol Mr. Delmont, the manager of the jazz club under Queen Marie's.
"Omph!"
"Yowch!"
"Sorry!"
"Sammy."
Mr. Delmont straightened his jacket and shook the foot Sammy had stepped on.
"I'm sorry, sir, very sorry Mr. Delmont, sir. Have you noticed gravity is weaker today?" Sammy's smile was starting to make his cheeks sore, but he didn't care one little bit. Nothing could ruin this day. "How are you doing? Is that a new suit? Do you know if Hazel is home?"
'Ol Mr. Delmont's 'boys will be boys' smile disappeared in a flash, and Sammy's stomach gave an uncomfortable jerk.
"Mr. Delmont?"
The man sighed and glanced guiltily at his feet.
"Mr. Delmont, where's Hazel?"
After a moment of silence that seemed to last a lifetime, the man finally spoke.
"Alaska."
Sammy waited for the punch line.
It didn't come.
"What did you say, sir?" Sammy was certain he had heard wrong. Alaska? Wasn't that in Russia somewhere?
Mr. Delmont took a deep breath. "Something happened last night. I slipped out for a smoke while the band was warming up, and I saw Hazel float by. And I mean float. Her head was too far in the clouds to even notice me. I didn't think anything of it, but a minute later, a man just appeared, out of nowhere it seemed. And let me tell you, this man was something strange. Whiter than death, with eyes like Adolf Hitler. Almost gave me a heart attack I'll tell you. He just walked to the base of the stairs and waited."
Sammy's fingers twitched with impatience while he waited for 'ol Mr. Delmont to clear his throat and continue.
"A minute later Hazel came running back down, looking like she'd seen the reaper himself. Ran smack into the man just like you ran into me. Then they just stared at each other for a while. Poor girl looked petrified, and I can't blame her. That man... there was something about him that made you want to run away but also forget where your feet were."
"They talked a little. He acted like he knew her, talked about a curse. I have to say I don't remember much of it, I was just focused on praying that white man wouldn't turn around and see me. He called himself Pluto. Just Pluto. Don't know if that was supposed to be his last name or his first. He just gave Hazel a pad of paper and some colored pencils and walked up into Queen Marie's. Hazel snuck back up a minute later."
"I shouldn't have stayed, I know I shouldn't have. But I couldn't help it. I couldn't hear much, but Marie started shouting and screaming and throwing things judging by what I heard. Something about his protection killing them, and him turning her against him. I don't know. But suddenly it stopped. He never left that I saw, but it was like he wasn't there anymore. Didn't hear him say another thing, didn't hear either Marie or Hazel talk to him. Queen Marie started shouting at Hazel. Telling her to pack. I had to go back into the bar after that, but about an hour later, Queen Marie came and told me they were moving to Alaska, and to sell the apartment up there."
"I'm sorry Sammy. They left for the train station last night. Hazel is gone."
Sammy felt like he'd been thrown into freezing water. Every muscle was tensed, but he couldn't seem to think clearly. His mind was reeling to try to understand what he had just heard.
"No. No, that isn't possible, they couldn't leave just like that. Hazel wouldn't leave, not without saying goodbye."
"I don't think she had a choice, Sammy. Her mother... hasn't been herself lately. She doesn't treat Hazel like a daughter anymore. More like a curse."
Curse.
Sammy hated that word.
On sudden impulse he bolted around ol' Mr. Delmont and up the stairs to Hazel's apartment. He banged on the door. There was no answer. He yanked at the handle and the door flew open.
The room was trashed. Furniture was knocked over, books had been thrown from their shelves, and shards of porcelain were scattered across the floor.
"Hazel!" Sammy called.
There wasn't an answer. He ran across the room and pulled open the door to Hazel's bedroom.
The bed was still made, but the drawers of her dresser were open, and most were bare. Torn scraps of paper clung by nails to the walls. Hazel must have pulled her favorite pictures down in a hurry. A few remaining drawings were scattered around. Horses and carnival masks and a beautiful sunset that must have taken every color Hazel could find.
At Sammy's feet was the strangest of Hazel's drawings. It was an ancient looking ship, with rows of oars and sails. Sammy was much more of a Air Corps boy than a Navy boy, but he really did like the masthead. It was a red eyed dragon. He remembered asking Hazel why she had drawn it. It wasn't her usual style. But even Hazel didn't know what had possessed her to draw it. She had been bored and it had just come out of her pencil, entirely unplanned.
"Sammy."
Th boy almost jumped though the ceiling when he heard Mr. Delmont's voice behind him. The old man was just standing there, a sad look in his eyes.
"She's gone," he repeated. "I guess I'll have to sell the place. Whatever you want in here is yours. The drawings and books and good luck charms. Any furniture you can carry."
Sammy didn't like the way Mr. Delmont was talking. He sounded like he was reading off the Final Will and Testament of Hazel and Marie Levesque.
"Don't get rid of anything yet," he mumbled, still staring at the picture of the boat. "Give them a week or two. Queen Marie can be a little crazy sometimes, but I can't believe she'd just run off in the middle of the night and leave everything behind. And live in... Alaska?"
Mr. Delmont nodded gravely. "She looked pretty serious," he murmured, probably not even expecting Sammy to hear him. "But," he continued in a louder tone, "that's not a bad idea. I'll give them two weeks before I do anything."
Sammy nodded.
Mr. Delmont seemed to understand. He turned to go, then paused.
"Sammy, do know if Hazel might have been mulatto?"
"Huh?" Sammy grunted.
"It's just... some of the things that man, Pluto, said, and some of the things Hazel and Queen Marie said... made me wonder if he might be her father."
Sammy thought about it, then shrugged. "I have no idea. She and her mother have some Creole blood, but Queen Marie would never tell Hazel about her father beyond saying he ruined their lives."
"That would fit a lot of the what Queen Marie shouted at Pluto about."
Sammy frowned. "Then that probably was her father."
Mr. Delmont whistled. "Amazing. The man was scary as death itself, but Hazel was always so sweet."
"She is sweet, Mr. Delmont. Not was."
Mr. Delmont didn't respond. Maybe he felt the same nasty feeling in the pit of his stomach Sammy did.
It felt like they were standing in a graveyard.
After a minute of silence, Mr. Delmont slipped away just as quietly as he had come, leaving Sammy alone in the empty house.
Sammy realized he was still had his dollar bill crumpled in his fist. He uncurled his fingers and stared at it. Wondering what movie they would have seen. What the newsreel would have said. Whether Hazel would have laughed. A lifetime of possibilities flashed before his eyes, ones that had seemed so close only a few minutes ago.
Possibilities that might well be lost forever.
"No," Sammy grumbled, smacking the side of his own head. That was no way to think. Hazel would be back. Who traveled to Alaska in the middle of winter anyway? It was stupid.
"Seems like a lot of trouble to go through to refill your icebox," he muttered.
Sammy grinned. That was the spirit. Think of jokes to tell Hazel when she got back.
He stuffed the bill in the pocket of his trousers, promising himself he would save it until he could use it to take Hazel to the movies.
He wasn't going to let yesterday be the last time he saw Hazel if he could do anything about it.
With a determined stride and a head filling with icicle jokes, Sammy marched out of Hazel's room and toward the front door.
He was halfway across the room when he spotted it.
Just a tiny flash of red on the floor.
For one horrible moment he thought it was blood, but then he realized it was a ruby. One of the infamous Lavesque jewels.
Anger flashed through Sammy, remembering all the times Hazel had been taunted and bullied over these stupid rocks. He crouched down next to it, careful not to touch the broken pieces of what must have once been a very nice vase.
He didn't believe in curses, and definitely didn't believe Hazel would ever do anything to hurt innocent people.
So he reached down to snatch up the jewel.
But the moment before his fingers touched the smooth surface, Sammy remembered the only other time he had ever seen one of Hazel's strange valuables.
They were sitting under a tree in the park, when Sammy had spotted a gold nugget lying next to Hazel.
"Hey, look, you're sprouting gold," Sammy teased, reaching for the little nugget.
Hazel yelped like she'd been electrocuted and slapped Sammy's hand away. And he meant slapped. A serious 'makes a sound like a whip and knocks your hand into the treetrunk' kind of slap.
"Ow! Holy-"
"Sorry," Hazel murmured franticly, shoving the gold nugget in her pocket. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Sammy replied, shaking his battered hand. He glanced up at Hazel. "You don't really believe what those kids say about a curse do you?"
Hazel looked at her feet and nodded. She looked miserable, and that was one thing Sammy couldn't stand.
"Well that's a relief," he said casually, flopping back against the treetrunk.
"What?"
"If you have a curse, then I can tell you about my curse."
Hazel looked at him with utter shock. "You have a curse too?"
"Of course," Sammy replied, a smile spitting his face. "I am cursed to be amazing."
Hazel laughed and gave his shoulder a playful shove. Her golden eyes were glittering, and Sammy decided he liked them better than any real gold.
But a moment later, that shadow fell across her face again.
"Will you promise me something, Sammy?"
"Sure. Am I going to regret it? Are you going to make me sing jazz on the rooftop of St. Aggies?"
Hazel laughed again. "Don't tempt me. But... will you please promise me that you'll never touch one of my jewels or gold pieces? Please?"
Sammy sat up so he could look her in the eye and set his hand over his heart. "Hazel Levesque, I, Samuel Leonardo Valdez, herby solemnly swear to never touch any gem, jewel, precious metal, or other sparkly substance that is near you, next to you, on you, in your house, near Queen Marie, next to Queen Marie, on Queen Marie, or associated with you and/or Queen Marie. How's that?"
"Perfect," Hazel replied, a smile on her face once more.
Sammy grinned. "I know. It's my curse."
Hazel smacked his arm again, and it was Sammy's turn to laugh.
Sammy sighed and pulled his hand away. He stood and glanced around the room. If the jewels really were cursed -which he still didn't entirely believe- Hazel wouldn't want them lying around where nice people like 'ol Mr. Delmont might pick them up.
Sammy looked around the house until he found a leather, drawstring bag Queen Marie had used to hold 'magical herbs.' Oregano most likely. Maybe catmint.
Once he'd emptied it and found a napkin, he began scouring the floor for any jewels that might have gotten left behind in the rush. In cracks between the floorboards. Under the furniture. Hidden by the vase shards. Whenever he found one he picked it up with the napkin, careful to never let them touch his skin, and put them in the bag.
When he was certain he'd found them all he tied the bag as tightly as he could. He had seven gems, and one large gold nugget.
He would keep them safe for Hazel, and give them back when he saw her next.
Sammy walked down the stairway, popped in to remind Mr. Delmont that he should find the key to the apartment and lock it, and started his trek back home. He felt worn out. He wouldn't be running this time.
Something was very wrong. He'd noticed that Queen Marie had seemed more angry and off-kilter than usual lately. If she was willing to abandon everything she had and move to Alaska in the middle of December, then her mind may well have broken entirely. Hazel could be in danger.
In fact, in the pit of his stomach, he was almost certain she was.
He decided he would give it a week. Maybe two.
If Hazel wasn't back by then, Sammy was going after her.
.
.
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If you enjoy, please review. It keeps me inspired to write faster, and this is my first time posting my fanfics, so any feedback will be greatly appreciated.