Leo was in trouble with the sky dude.
Jason's father Jupiter or Zeus or whatever had caught Leo mimicking his voice. Leo wasn't even sure how he knew Sky-Dude's voice. But his carelessness had led to him being stuck in the elevator (with NO AIR CONDITIONING!) in the Empire State Building. It had been two hours stuck with Coach Hedge and a very rude concierge man, or whatever they were called, but it had felt like two years because of the company listed.
Leo groaned once again.
"Shut up, Valdez, or I'll make you do 5 sit ups," threatened Coach Hedge. "In fact...do them now!"
Leo stared in horror at Glees-Coach Hedge. "But we're not in school Coach Hed-"
"Make that 10 sit ups," ordered Coach Hedge.
Leo folded his arms. "I'm not doing 10 sit ups," he said.
Coach Hedge brandished his club. "You're doing 15 now!"
"But-"
"20!"
"But-"
"25!"
"COACH!"
"SHUT UP, BOTH OF YOU!" roared rude concierge man.
This conversation had happened umpteen times before, practically word for word. And after two hours, Leo was sick of it.
"I don't understand why Jason couldn't come," he grumbled.
Coach Hedge sighed in exasperation. "That would be a betrayal to his father," he explained, not even attempting to sound patient. "We left him battling those dracaena, remember?" He sounded wistful.
"Frank, then."
"He doesn't like you."
"Gee thanks. Does a lot for my self esteem," Leo said sarcastically.
"You can't grow up in a world of lies, son."
"Even kinder!"
This conversation had happened a few times too.
Leo finally had enough. He grabbed a screw from his magic tool belt and set to work. Just a couple of minutes later, the elevator was zooming up to the 600th floor.
The three tentatively stepped out.
"Father, I will make you proud," a girl's voice promised.
Leo stepped into sight and admired the girl. The girl turned and gasped.
"You!" hissed Thalia Grace.