Leo POV

Save my best friend from some whack jobs? No problem. Frank shifted to an eagle and scoped the area before we entered. The two figures had entered an old, brick building a few down from the alley we were in. There was only one way in and one way out, so we'd have to take the frontal approach, which was to our disadvantage. After gathering a somewhat plan, we tried to figure out what all we know about the 'kidnappers.' Frank told us how Hazel was taken by black threads, but they weren't ordinary black threads; they were sticky and stretchy, but as strong as iron. Frank is a big guy, with some big muscles, if he couldn't break the threads no one can.

"That doesn't make sense… Black threads.." Percy thought aloud. "We know they're human."

"But they could be gods, demi-gods…" Frank said trailing off towards the end.

"So we basically have no clue what we're up against." I pointed out.

Percy eyed me, "That's what we're trying to figure out." He paused, "We know one of them wields an axe…"

"And the other controls black thread things." Frank finished. "But there could be more of them."

Percy nodded, "I know, but we know more than we did about them." Percy paused. "Leo, if we come in contact with the one who controls the threads you're best for the job."

I nodded solemnly.

"Frank, I want you to focus on finding Hazel, Annabeth, Piper, and Jason; your strength can help free them. We might need their help fighting, so you need to work fast." Percy continued. Frank gave Percy an intense nod. "We need to stick together. They were able to get the others by getting them alone, so if we're together we shouldn't have any problems." He paused for a moment. "Now let's get our friends back…"


Jason POV

I was getting anxious from sitting here for so long, tied up and utterly useless. My wrists were rubbed raw from trying to loosening the ties, but I didn't care, every time I looked up and saw Piper lying limply against the wall with her wrists shackled above her, my heart ached and I knew I couldn't give up until I was free. I tugged and pulled at the ties, but still nothing but pain. I felt so useless and weak being tied up like this. How could I let this happen? Damn it. I was so fueled by anger that I didn't take time to think. Of course they wanted me alone to take me down that's how they got the others. I wanted to hit myself, but my hands were tied.

I cursed at myself aloud, then let out an impatient sigh. A few moments passed before there was a knock on the door.

"JASE! JASON? You in here?"

"Leo?!" I have never been so happen to see him. "Damn it, get in here!"

"The doors locked, I'll try to melt the lock." A few moments passed. I felt myself getting on edge. "Got it!"

I turned my head as Leo kicked open the door. "Dude, how did you get here? Where's the others?" Leo ran over to my chair, I couldn't see what he was doing, but if could feel the warmth of the flame coming from his hand.

"Hold still, I'm going to burn the ropes off..And long story short, we shadow traveled here on a giant dog, but we got split up once we got in here. Someone was trying to split us up."

I nodded. "There's two girls. Aella and Meliana."

"Girls?"

"They're strong, the one, Meliana, controls shadows." I said as I pulled my hands free from the ties. It felt so good to be free. I rubbed my wrists with my hands as Leo moved to the ties around my ankles.

"Shadows? Is that what the black threads were that Frank was talking about?"

I nodded. "We still don't know much about them."

"Right, we need to find the others before one of the girls catch up with us…" Leo said as he finished with the ropes. "Do you know where the others are being held?"

I could kick myself right now. I looked through the window, Pipes was still hanging limply against the wall. Her beautiful, choppy brown hair was covering her face. Her once stunning black lace dress, was worn and ripped with traces of dirt on it.

"Oh god, beauty queen." Leo said softly.

"There should be another door not too far from here, we need to get her."

Leo nodded. I ran out the door with Leo not too far behind me. I looked left then right. Good, no one was here. I then turned to my left and headed that way. I had faced that way so the door should be not too far that way. I ran that way; I stopped at a rusted iron door not too far from where we came out. There was a single handle on it, I tried to turn it.

"It's locked." I said cursing.

"I could melt the lock." Leo offered.

"That'll take too long." I backed up away from the door, taking Leo's arm and pulling him with me. "On 3." I paused. "1.. 2.. 3!" Leo and I ran toward the door, knocking it over and hitting the floor with it. I slid on my back until I hit Leo, stopping me. Leo rolled onto his side groaning from the pain in his shoulder. I on the other hand was filled with adrenaline, so I couldn't feel anything, but worry and sadness. I rushed to my feet and ran over to Pipes. I pulled out my coin and flipped it in one swift motion; jamming my sword into the wall, breaking the chains, Piper fell limply onto the floor. I swept her into my arms, shaking her gently.

"Pipes, come one Pipes, Wake up.. Pipes!" I yelled, shaking her forcefully.

"Jase, Jason!" Leo said grabbing my shoulders from behind. I turned towards him angrily. "You need to calm down, okay?" He said softly, then squeezing my shoulder reassuringly. "She'll be okay."

I nodded at him. I then turned back to Pipes. Her breathing was shallow and shaky, her head was hanging limply as though there was no muscle or bone holding it up. I felt the pit in my stomach form again. She was cold and shaking, but I couldn't do anything about it now.

"Jason, we should hurry. They'll find us any second." Leo said.

I laid Piper down gently. "Jase, what are you—"

I stood up and pulled my sword from the chains; I then turned it swiftly back into a coin that slipped fluidly back into my pocket. I scooped Piper up in my arms, carrying her wedding style, and then nodded at Leo. "Let's go."

I followed Leo out the door and down the corridor. "I came in with Percy and Frank, but we got split up. Those two girls attacked us; I thought one was after me when I stumbled upon you guys. We came in down this way, but we're not going to get out easy, especially without the others."

I followed Leo out of the cellar and down a stone hallway. It was dark and musty, the only lighting were very few dim lights on the wall. We jogged lightly for what felt like a long time, going left then right then left again until we came to a stair case. Leo paused right before the staircase, putting his hand out giving me the signal to stop. He then turned to me and put a finger to his lips; then he started up the steps slowly and quietly, trying not to make a sound. He came to the top and opened the door soundlessly. He looked both way out the door, and then turned back to me and motioned me up. I moved slowly up the steps after him. Halfway up, as I went to take another step the wood creaked. I flinched at the sound and froze. I looked up at Leo who looked around. We paused for a second. He then motioned me to continue.

I got to the top of the stairs, Piper in my arms. Leo motioned me through the door and out into the corridor. We were in another stone hallway that split three ways.

"Now where?" I whispered. Leo shrugged. I rolled my eyes. We heard a crash coming straight ahead. I turned towards Leo; he nodded and we headed that way. We broke out into a run, but my foot got caught and I fell down. Piper slid out of my arms and hit a wall a few feet away from me.

"Leo!" He stopped and turned at me.

"Jason, this is no time for a break!" He leaned down to lend me a hand, I took it. He started to pull me up when my feet got pulled out from under me. "Jase!" I felt the same black shadows wrapping around my ankle and up my leg, pulling me from Leo's grip. I was being pulled back towards the way we came. I cursed.

I pulled my coin from my pocket and flipped it into my sword, barely catching it by the hilt. I bent down as the shadows tried to pull me and tried to cut them. They bent like rubber, not even cutting at the slightest. The shadows then wrapped around my sword and with a powerful tug, pulled it out of my hands, hitting the floor with a CLINK! "Leo!" I cursed. I tried to grab the wall, but it scraped my hand. I cursed again. I felt a very warm hand grab mine that were sprawling above my hand.

"I gotcha!" Leo yelled. I used both of my hand to keep a grip on him as he tried to keep the shadows from pulling me. The shadows pulled and strained as they tried to keep pulling me. "Hold on!" Leo called. He let go of one of my hands.

"Leo, what are you doing?!" I yelled. A ball of fire lit up his hand; he then threw it right past me at my feet. I flinched, pulling my feet away; the fire missing my feet by a centimeter. "Hey!"

Leo shrugged, "Sorry, bad aim." I felt the threads around my foot loosen. I turned to see them quickly retreating from the fire. I pulled myself up with Leo's help; he then formed fire in both of his hands and threw it at the ground, making a wall of fire. "That should do it!"

I looked back at Leo; I could see his face in the glow of the fire. He had a stupid grin on his face, only he could smile at such an unreasonable time. I shook my head at the ground. "Hey, Let's—" I stopped mid-sentence as I turned. A figure in the distance made me freeze in disbelief.

"Ummm.. Jason? Are you okay?" Leo asked. I couldn't get words out, he waved a hand in front of my face. I caught his hand and motioned for him to look in front of me. I felt him freeze. I dropped his hand.

"P-Pipes?"


Piper POV

My eyes fluttered open, the first thing I became aware of where my hands were free, but I was lying on the cold, stone ground. I pushed myself up shakily and looked around. The only light was coming from the distance, a faded orangey glow. The walls were decorated with ugly wallpaper that was peeling off in many places revealing mold, which explains the musty smell.

"Where am I?" I said aloud, but I could hardly recognize my voice. It was hoarse and worn and sounded nothing like my normal voice. Where was everyone? I lifted my hand to my head, it was throbbing erratically. I searched my memory for anything that could help, but my thoughts were cut off my yells and a loud CLINK! I pushed myself to my feet, but I swayed to the side. I laid my back on the wall to keep myself up. I kept both of my hands on the wall as I walked toward the orangey glow. I could barely see anything. Suddenly, two figures were in the distance. I could barely make them out, I squinted my eyes to get a better look.

They called out my name. I froze, barely able to keep myself up. They started towards me. Cold, hard terror pulsed through my veins. I turned to run, pushing myself off the wall. My muscles cried out in pain with every step, trying to give in, but I pushed on. I didn't make if far thought until my foot caught on something. I stumbled and fell; sliding on the stone ground. What I stumbled on slid right in front of my face. A sword. I hastily picked it up and pushed myself up, putting my back to the wall to keep me up. The figures steps were nearing me. A dim light above me was the only light, so I couldn't see their faces. I heard the footsteps stop.

"Don't come any closer!" I swung the sword straight out at them. I heard the footsteps continue forward. "I said stop!"

"Hey, Hey it's okay Piper."

"Show yourselves!" I yelled panicky.

"Now you're being contradictive, we can only do one or the other, beauty queen." The voice called out.

"Beauty queen?" I said softly. Could it be? The figures stepped into the light, their hands raised innocently. Beautiful blond hair laid lazily on a familiar face that made my heart flip. Not far behind him, another tan, annoying face with curly hair grinned obnoxiously. "Jason? Leo?" I started to lower my sword. The heavy ache of my muscles then took over, I dropped the sword onto the ground and gave into exhaustion. My knees felt wobbly and weak; they started to give out, but Jason ran towards me and caught me in his arms. His warm, loving arms already started to heal my worn heart. I didn't fight the tears that threatened; I let them flow endlessly down my cheeks. My lip trembled, but not in despair, in relief.

"You came for me." I said softly into his shoulder. He squeezed me, leaning down into my ear. His warm breath tickled my ear and sent shivers down my spine.

"I'll always come for you, Pipes."

After those words that made my heart flutter, I lost it. I sobbed into his shirt and he let me. He just held me reassuringly and whispering amorous words into my ear. Though the moment was lost when Leo awkwardly joined in for a group hug.

"Awwwwww! I just love family reunions! Tissue?" Leo offered. I let out a sigh. No matter how annoying Leo was, I kind of missed it. I let go of Jason for the first time, but he didn't let go of me, still with one protective arm around my shoulder, I turned to Leo who had a tissues in his hand.

"How did you—?" Right, magical belt. "Thanks, Leo." I said accepting the tissue. I wiped my eyes and nose, while doing so Leo wasted no time to start planning. He said his wall of fire won't last much longer so we needed to find a way out, or find the others. He had no clue where everyone else was because apparently they got split up. Great. Our best bet was to find the others before the people after us found us.

"Pipes," Jason said looking at me. I turned my head up at him. "Do you remember anything that might help?"

"Um.." I closed my eyes and searched my memory. "The last thing I remember was, I was in the bathroom at the club we were at."

"Then?" Leo asked.

Then it came to me. "I remember now."

"What? What is it?"

"The person who took me.. She-She was the girl who was flirting with Jason at the beach and the club."