Ok, I'm sorry there has been more Angst and romance than horror so I apologize. The horror will start after this chapter, probably. Enjoy this anyway.
~Melissa L.
Leo was having second thoughts on staying here. Maybe Calypso had gotten over him. She fell in love with many guys anyway, right? She probably already found another lover somewhere. She was a goddess so she had an eternity to get over him. Leo didn't know where these thoughts were coming from. He foun himself thinking these things more often, although he didn't know how he felt anymore either.
Was he still in love with her? The same question kept appearing in his mind every time he thought of Calypso, which was most of the time. Leo also found himself thinking of Hazel more and more often. He hadn't forgotten how she looked. Her curly caramel hair, her chocolate skin. No, Leo thought, You've already gone through that before. Frank is still her boyfriend.
Jealously and anger exploded throughout his whole body for the son of Mars. He felt his temperature rise and his vision fogged up a bit. Leo shook his head to clear it and realized his whole being was surrounded by flames. He quickly extinguished them. It wasn't fair. Zhang had everything Leo wanted. He had an important role, he was Praetor. He was given recognition for helping to stop Gaea, which Leo didn't understand because he was sure he had sacrificed, done so much more than he had. And most of all, he had someone to love and care for.
Why didn't Leo have anything? Leo didn't think he would hate someone as much as he hated Gaea, who pretty much ruined his childhood with killing his mother. Leo sighed, calming himself down because he felt his temperature rise again. Then there was Hazel. Why did she have to play with his feelings like that? Leo half wished he'd never met her, but the other half wanted her to never leave his side.
Leo wondered if he was falling for Hazel again. Sure the whole Sammy thing really complicated things but now Leo didn't care. Hazel was just so easy to talk to, especially when she did most of the talking. She came and talked to him when Leo almost did the unthinkable. Leo was really thankful for that, so in a way, she had saved his life.
"Hazel Levesque," he said softly into the darkness. He liked the way her name sounded. Leo was still wondering about what Hazel had said. Had there really been a girl who loved him before Calypso? He secretly hoped that Hazel meant her, but that was highly unlikely. She had the 'Great Praetor Zhang' for a boyfriend. Why would she want Leo?
Maybe he could win her heart. Leo chuckled at that stupid thought but he couldn't help but wonder if he could do it. There was that guy David to worry about, too. Leo figured he couldn't really do anything while being trapped in here. He wouldn't let anything stop him from getting Hazel. He couldn't let that happened again. Not like it did with Calypso. Something in Leo had snapped.
"I promise on the river of Styx," Leo whispered, determined. He was not coming in last place, not this time.
The hours dragged by while Leo waited impatiently for Hazel to come back, like he always did. He played with the wires in his hands and turned them into different shapes. He was going to open the door. He was actually going to come out. He wondered if his friends would be mad at him but Leo was more concerned with Hazel and his plan to win Hazel's heart. He finally heard her footsteps echo through the hall. He sat in front of the door while Hazel made her way to the door.
"Hey Leo," she said, "Guess what?"
"What is it?" Leo asked. She sounded happy about something. Hazel started talking about how she finally got what an iPhone was and how she was going to get one as soon as the Hephaestus and Vulcan cabin figured out a way to make it so that monsters can't track them.
"But I'm sure you would've figured that out by now, Leo," Hazel said.
"Maybe," Leo responded.
"I know you would. You can fix anything," Hazel said confidently. Leo wasn't so sure but he let her think that.
"Hazel, hypothetically, if I did come out, do you think that Jason, Piper and the others would be mad at me for worrying them?"
"No," Hazel answered quickly, "They would be happy to see their friend again. They haven't forgotten you, Leo."
"And if I did come out, you would still keep me company?" He asked.
"Yes, of course."
"And you would be with me no matter what, right?" Hazel paused for a moment.
"Always."
"Do you care about me, Hazel?" Leo could feel tears threatening to fall.
"I do care about you, Leo. More than you know," Hazel whispered. That was all Leo needed to hear. Leo got up and stretched out his hand to the door knob. He made it so that only he could open the door when he wanted to. He placed his hand on the door knob and slowly turned it. Then he opened the door.
The first thing Leo saw were Hazel's golden eyes almost shining in the darkness. She was wearing a purple shirt and shorts, nothing special. Her curls framed her face perfectly. She was on the floor, looking up at him as if she couldn't believe that he had opened the door. Leo felt himself getting warmer and his heartbeat started accelerating. He controlled his temperature because the last thing he needed was to burst into flames. He gave Hazel his usual impish grin.
"Nice to see you again, Hazel," He said. Hazel choked back a sob. She stood up quickly and wrapped her arms around his neck. Leo automatically put his arms around her waist. The smell of her hair was intoxicating. it smelled of cinnamon, just like Leo thought it would. Hazel held him tightly.
"I'm glad you decided to come back," she whispered on his shoulder. Leo hadn't noticed before but he was hungry for human touch that he had deprived himself of. He didn't let go of Hazel for a long time. It didn't look like Hazel minded, though. Leo finally let go.
"Come on," Hazel grabbed his hand, "Let's go tell the others." She started to pull him but Leo resisted. Hazel looked at him worriedly.
"Hazel, we can't tell them now," Leo said.
"What do you mean? I mean, you just got out and-" Leo cut her off.
"It's the middle of the night," Leo said.
"Oh, right. So I guess you're going to have to stay here one more night, unless you want to wake up your half siblings."
"I don't want to bother anyone...yet."
"So you're staying here?" Leo looked back at his bare room. He didn't feel too thrilled to go back in there now that he was out.
"I guess," he muttered.
"Then I'll come early to get you," Hazel promised and started to walk away. Leo caught her hand.
"Wait. Can you...stay with me for just tonight?" He asked. Hazel didn't say anything for a while. She looked like she was weighing her consequences carefully.
"Okay, Leo. Just for tonight," she smiled up at him with her enticing eyes. He gently pulled her in his room. Nothing happened. Hazel made sure of it. She clearly said for Leo to sleep on the left side of the bed and she would sleep on the right side. Leo followed her rule obediently. He lied down on his side, looking at Hazel falling asleep. A strand of hair had fallen on her face and Leo reached to brush it off. Then Hazel grabbed his warm hand.
"What are you doing?" she whispered.
"Nothing," he replied. Leo felt a bit embarrassed that he had gotten caught. Hazel smiled at him. She didn't let go of his hand. That only reenforced his determination to make Hazel fall in love with him. Leo wasn't going to give up so easily.
