Welcome back to Percy Jackson and the Paragons 2. To recap, Percy and Annabeth take Leo and Piper on a trip to Maine to meet their friends, Grant and Alice. However their vacation is interrupted when Ryan, claiming to be the son of Gaea, ambushes them in the forest. Help arrives and Ryan retreats with Leo as his prisoner. What will become of Leo Valdez? Stay tuned to find out.
"Leo! We have to go after him."
"Gods, Percy, what did he do to Riptide?"
"What were you thinking, Grant!?"
"Did he say army? As in Gaia's army? Gaea's giant monster army?"
Harold took a few steps away from the others. "This isn't good," he said.
"I know," said Fiona. "I don't think we have enough food for all of these people."
Harold face-palmed. "The food is the least of our problems. The anger demon inside Grant is getting stronger. He won't be able to control it for long."
"Wait, what anger demon? Grant has an anger demon in him?"
"Isn't it obvious? He's been getting more and more aggressive since we've known him. Uncontrollable outbursts followed by amnesia, that has possessed written all over it."
"I thought you didn't believe in demons, Mr. Illogical." Fiona playfully poked Harold's nose.
"Nothing is outside the realm of possibility in our line of work, Ms. Intangible." Harold waved his hand and it passed through Fiona's torso. "I just hope Grant can get rid of it soon. Who knows what could happen if a demon fully possesses his body."
"Everybody shut up!" Kate shouted. The crowd fell silent. "We're not going to let this Ryan guy get away with kidnapping 'whatsisface,' but right now we're sitting ducks in the middle of this field. Let's get back to the house and we can plan our revenge from there."
"Good idea," said Annabeth. "Lead the way."
Percy dredged along behind Annabeth carrying the shards of Riptide in his arms. "It just can't be possible, can it?" Percy said.
"What can't be possible?" Annabeth asked.
"Gaia, having a human kid. One that's our age, even." Percy dropped a piece of his sword on the ground.
Piper picked it up and handed the shard back to Percy. "Isn't your brother a cyclops?" she asked.
"Oh yeah," said Percy. "I guess godly beings can give birth to whatever they want."
"Maybe he's adopted," suggested Piper.
"Did you see how he controlled the earth?" Annabeth interjected. "I don't think that's something you can be taught. He has to be at least half Gaia's son."
"Then who's the dad?" Percy wondered.
"So let me get this straight," said Alice, fuming. "You made a deal with an evil demon bent on destroying all mankind, allowing it to live inside your head in exchange for fire powers?"
"That about sums it up," said Grant. "Except for the part where I saved all our lives with those fire powers."
"That was over a year ago, Grant." Alice turned on her heels to glare at Her brother. "You had ample time to get rid of it, or better yet, tell us about it."
"I had him under control, until now. He said I had the willpower…"
"It," Alice corrected. "Anger is an 'it' not a 'he.' Don't humanize something that isn't human."
"I had it under control. Do you know how many lives I've saved since making that deal? This power is worth the cost."
"You're possessed, Grant!" shouted Alice. "You don't get it, do you? It is controlling you from the inside. Soon, you'll be just like the husk that Fear possessed."
"I'm not like that guy, Alice! I'm stronger, I'm smarter, I can do this."
"Do what, get yourself and everyone around you killed? You couldn't control yourself today, what happens when you lose your temper in a crowded area? What if we can't stop you next time?"
"I made a mistake, I know. I'm sorry."
"No, you're not," said Alice. She lowered her voice to a whisper and turned away. "You just know that saying sorry will get you out of trouble. Well, not this time. You're not getting out of this one by saying it was for the greater good."
"I already said I was sorry. Doesn't that mean anything?"
"Not to me."
"Why not?" Grant grabbed Alice's shoulder.
"Because it doesn't mean anything to you!" Alice turned and pushed her brother away, her hands glowing brightly. Grant returned her gaze with fire in his eyes.
Are we really going to do this? Alice thought to Grant.
You know a fight between us would destroy this entire forest, Grant responded.
Alice sighed and unclenched her fists. She offered a hand to Grant. He hesitantly allowed her to help him up. "We can't afford to be at each other's throats," said Alice. "Let's get that demon out of you when we get back to the house. And promise that from now on there are no more secrets, okay?"
"Yeah," said Grant, "I promise."
The group left the forest and arrived in an open field. At the other end of the field was a huge cliff, dropping 200 feet down to the crashing waves below. In the middle of the clearing was a large white mansion with a light blue roof.
"Whoa, this is where you guys live?" Piper asked.
"We needed a house big enough to support at least six people and far enough away from civilization so that we don't accidentally destroy any cities while we practice our powers," explained Alice.
"Eight bedrooms, three bathrooms, a massive living room decorated with the finest furniture in the land, and a state of the art training facility below ground," said Kate. "No expense was spared on this beautiful chateau of luxury."
Kate stepped onto the front porch just as the sun set behind the trees. She swung the door open and motioned for everyone to go in. Alice took the first step inside and flicked he light switch to her left. Nothing happened.
"Aww, I forgot about the lights!" she said.
A gremlin scurried past Piper's leg. "Aaah!" she screamed. "What is that thing?"
"Pets?" Percy asked.
"Pests," Grant corrected.
"I'll get the lantern," said Kate as she trudged inside. She walked down the hallway.
"Might I suggest we gather our wits at the kitchen table?" Harold suggested.
Annabeth nodded. "Right, we need a plan if we're going to rescue Leo."
Kate put a dusty old lantern in the center of the table. The flame inside barely lit the faces of those gathered around the table.
Percy laid the shards of Riptide out across the table.
"Yeah, just put those sharp pieces of metal on our hardwood dining table, that's cool," said Kate without an ounce of sympathy.
"Where do we start?" asked Alice.
"We go over any information we have on this Ryan character," said Harold.
All eyes fell on Annabeth. "He said he was the son of Gaia," said Alice. "Is that something you can confirm?"
"I honestly don't know," Annabeth replied. "Her other kids were giants that threatened to destroy the gods."
"Yeah," said Percy, "they almost did it, too. It took a demigod and a god working together to defeat them."
"Umm, we don't have gods on our side," interrupted Kate. "Is that going to be a problem?"
"It's certainly not going to make this easier," said Annabeth. "I wonder if the same rules apply to a demigod child of Gaia."
"We can try hitting him a few more times," said Percy. "That works most of the time."
"He has Leo, Percy. We can't just take him head-on again."
"And we can't just stand around while Leo is in danger."
"I want to save Leo as much as you do, but we need to know what we're up against first."
Percy lowered his head. He stared at Riptide on the table. If his sword wasn't broken he would be out there now searching for Leo.
Alice noticed Percy's stare. "I'm sorry about your sword, Percy," she said.
"Thanks," said Percy, "it was a gift."
"What's the big deal?" asked Kate. "It's just a sword, can't you just get another one? I thought you demigods had all sorts of weapons."
"Take it easy, Kate," said Grant. He locked eyes with Percy. "My dad gave me this," he patted his pocket where his weapon was safely stored in the form of a small dagger. "It was the last thing he gave me before…" Grant couldn't finish his sentence. For the first time in years he was getting choked up. "I know I couldn't bear to lose it. It must be hard to have Riptide broken like that."
"Actually, what if I said I could help restore it?" Alice murmured.
"What?" Percy asked. "You mean like, reforging it or something? Is that a thing?"
"If there was a way to reforge Riptide," stated Piper, "Leo would know how."
"I know a thing or two about blacksmithing," interjected Harold.
"You do?" said Fiona. "You're a bigger nerd than I thought."
Harold was very familiar with speaking to Fiona in a way that anyone within earshot thought he was talking to them. "I read a few books on the subject in the very likely circumstance that Grant broke his weapon."
"I'd take offense to that if you weren't so well prepared," said Grant. He gave Harold a friendly punch on the arm.
Harold just stared at the spot he punched. He checked really quick for bruises, then said, "Don't ever do that again."
"Got it. No touchy."
"I'm not quite sure how Greek blacksmithing works, but I might be able to replicate a forge," said Alice. A fireball flickered in her hands.
"That should do just fine," said Harold. "I'll go gather stones in the backyard to use as a furnace." Harold ran outside in a hurry. Fiona lethargically followed.
"Sorry, kinda have to follow this guy," she said to the group. Of course, they couldn't see or hear her. "Have fun with whatever else you're doing." She went through the wall and after Harold.
"Okay. We can fix Riptide," said Grant. "What's next?"
"I say we prepare for war," said Kate.
"What do you mean?" Percy asked.
"The dude said he'd be back with an army, right? We need to set some traps or something, you know? Batten down the hatches."
"I thought we were going to find Leo."
"Think about it, Percy," said Grant. "How would we even find them?"
"I don't know… Hazel! She can sense things underground right?"
"We were ambushed in the forest," said Annabeth. "Ryan could easily do the same to any of our friends if we get them involved."
"So we just leave Leo?"
"There's nothing we can do for him, right now," said Piper. "The second we know where he is I'll be right there with you. Besides, Leo's crafty. I'm sure he has some plan up his sleeve."
Okay, I have no idea what I'm doing, thought Leo. Ryan shoved him forward through a vast network of underground caves. Every time Leo thought he was seeing daylight at the end of a tunnel it turned out to be a torch and even more caves. Leo normally doesn't have claustrophobia, but being underground with walls only six inches on either side will make any man hate small spaces.
"Are we there yet?" Leo asked for the 257th time. He counted.
"NOOO!" Ryan shouted. His voice echoed through the tunnels. "How are you so irritating?"
"Lots of practice," said Leo.
"Why did I ever take the mud out of my ears?" Ryan grumbled.
"Are we there yet?" 258. This was also Leo's 258th attempt at reaching for his tool belt. His hands were bound at the wrist with thick vines. His fingers were just touching the edge of the pouch, but he couldn't reach inside it yet. He kept at it, hoping Ryan wouldn't notice.
"Left," ordered Ryan.
Leo turned left down another tunnel. This time, instead of another cave Leo saw a torn red tarp at the end of the tunnel. Light was shining from behind it and Leo could hear voices. As he got closer the smell hit Leo hard. He struggled to close his nostrils through sheer force of will, but the smell still burned his nose. It smelled like old farts inside a jar with a skunk.
"Keep going." Ryan pushed Leo through the red tarp.
Leo tripped and fell on his side. He rolled on his belly and looked up at his new surrounding. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
The tunnel had opened up into a massive cavern. Thousands of monsters wandered about. Cyclopes sat around a bonfire eating suspicious looking meat. An empousai chased a mouse between makeshift tents. Leo even seen a hydra bathing in what looked like an old fountain.
"What is this place?" Leo asked.
"This is our home now," Ryan said as he lifted Leo back to his feet. "After you and your friends killed my mom the monsters in her army retreated underground."
"You live with a bunch of monsters? Don't monsters usually, like, eat demigods?"
"It's called respect, Valdez. I don't expect you to have any notion of it."
Leo and Ryan walked across the cavern floor. Leo decided it was best to avoid the gaze of all the salivating monsters surrounding him. Ryan glared at a few of them and they'd back away with a scoff.
They finally came up to a wooden shantytown. Ryan walked up to the largest structure and walked inside. Leo followed him cautiously. Inside was an array of demigod possessions hanging from the walls. Celestial bronze weapons, scraps of Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter t-shirts, and a couple satyr horns adorned every surface.
Ryan walked up to a door near the back of the house. "You stay here," he said.
"Wasn't planning on going anywhere," replied Leo. Even if he could get his hands free there was an entire monster army outside that wanted to serve him up with a side of mystery meat and mouse soup. Leo found a comfortable spot on the floor and took a seat.
Ryan stepped through the door. Inside a lone cyclops wearing an old civil war officers' uniform and a green beach towel over his shoulder stood staring at a map of the United States on the table in the center of the room.
The cyclops looked up from the map as Ryan entered the room. "Well, the prodigal son returns unsuccessful yet again," the cyclops said.
"Harkus, blunt as ever I see," said Ryan.
"How was you little excursion to the demigod camp? Eye-opening I hope," said Harkus. He pointed to a spot on the map near Long Island Sound.
"Far more rewarding than your labors here."
"Ah, I take it you've embraced your people, then? Are you going to leave us for your kin amongst the surface?"
"I would never join the mortals, Harkus. I was there merely for information. I waited for an opportunity to strike."
"Yes, waiting seems to be something of a hobby of yours."
Ryan slammed his fist on the table. "Are you insulting me to my face?"
"You certainly haven't inherited your mother's intelligence," replied Harkus. "I am merely reminding you of your history of being late."
"I was not ready," said Ryan. He thought back to that day almost two years ago.
"Gaia bred you for a purpose. When the day came to fulfill your purpose you hesitated and she fell."
"Do not blame her death on me!"
"No? Then who, the giants who sacrificed their lives to allow Gaia to rise? The armies that fought to their deaths defending her?"
Ryan stayed silent. His anger seethed inside him. The entire cavern shook slightly.
"All you had to do was handle a few demigods. Even you couldn't have failed at that."
"There were hundreds of them! I was not strong enough to kill them all."
"That's because, despite your mother's training, despite her blood running through your veins you are a mortal. Just. Like. Them." Harkus produced a dagger from his belt and stabbed it into the map right where Camp Half-Blood was.
Ryan trembled with rage. He brought his fist down on the table and split it in half. "I will not forget this, Harkus. You will pay along with the rest of them."
Ryan turned and left. He grabbed Leo by the collar of his shirt and pulled him outside.
"I take it things didn't go well," said Leo.
"Silence! We're leaving."
"Oh good, if I had to take one more whiff of that awful smell I was seriously going to vomit all over…"
The vines on his wrists grew and covered Leo's mouth.
"Finally…" Ryan breathed a sigh of relief and led Leo back into the maze of tunnels.
On the next episode of Percy Jackson and the Paragons 2: Ryan and his prisoner arrive at a place all too familiar to Leo as the demigods and paragons prepare their defenses for a monster army.