Chapter 11

The Entangled Yarn

Ah, yes. I see some of you are entering the contest. But does anyone actually know how to upload pictures?

I finished the drawing. VERY manga-ish, but I think it's fine. I mean, it's not like I'm a professional artist… right?

Anyways, enjoy!

Leo's POV

Yes. She had belonged to me. Until Hera messed it all up.

Wait… so this was what my quest is all about?

I shut my eyes, just to remember what Rachel had said…

"Leo!" She yelled. I turned, just to see her panting before me.

"What?" I snarled. "Maybe you'd like me to take a picture of the Fields of Asphodel?"

"N—No," she breathed. "Leo, it'll look like your quest is… dumb, once you've completed it. But I swear, it'll take less than an hour to complete your quest. But I swear, it's essential in the Big—"

"Yeah, yeah, Big Prophecy." It was said that Annabeth, Jason, Piper, Percy Jackson, and I were prophecied, with two other guy and guy-lettes, to save the world, blah, blah, blah.

"Yeah. Sure. Whatever." I swung my bag around and began to run down the hill.

So this was it? Done? WTH, it took me five minutes!

I grabbed myself out of the tunnel and saw Piper and Jason there, just going to leave.

"Wait… do you need to go to the Porta-Potty again?" Jason teased.

"Shuddup." I was in no mood to face Jason. It wasn't everyday that you realized your best friend's crush was your supposed girlfriend in the past… and you didn't even remember it.

"Let's go. You sure you did everything in the prophecy?"

"I don't know!" I screeched. "Just leave me alone!" I gritted my teeth. I was confused. Enraged. What was I expecting? A, 'Hello there, son! I'll give you a place in Olympus! Whaddya think," from my Dad? Or maybe even a 'Oh, hey there, Leo! Guess what? I love you," from Piper? No!

I gritted my teeth the whole way back home. Next time I saw the Gods, they better be gearing up.

Piper's POV

Leo came out five minutes after he went in. I sweat, the boy chickened out.

I flipped a golden drachma (God, that girl had a lot of drachmas) while spraying water. I bought a Barbie Girl Water Spray Gun in the toy shop. It was mortifying, but at least it was better than having nothing.

Sure enough, he appeared, making out with… his girlfriend.

"Ahem," I cleared my throat unnecessarily. "Hey."

They broke their kiss, embarrassed. "Uh, hey." The boy called. "What's up?"

"Leo got out."

"Whoa… Already? Did he chicken out or anything?" He chuckled. The girl looked at me with wide eyes.

"Oh my God! Piper!" She squealed. I made a "be quiet" sign. "Sorry," she apologized. "Piper, are you alright?"

"Seems like it. I'm asking your boyfriend to spy on the trio."

"Yeah. He told me."

"And I'm asking you, too." Her jaw dropped.

"I mean, hey…"

"Please?" I made puppy eyes at her. As much as I hated doing it, I knew she'd fall for it.

She sighed. "Fine. But only for you."

"Thanks. IM me later, ok?" I waved the IM away. I smiled and turned to run, but I stopped dead on my tracks. I turned around, and snarled, "The Fates."

The three old ladies were there, with the old classical yarn. They held up four balls of yarn—copper red, black, brown, yellow. And the stitches—they were all entangled. The Fates started snipping the yarn—I was covering my eyes, afraid of what I would see.

After a long time, I looked up. The Fates had tidied themselves up.

I'd heard about this from Percy; the Fates had snipped the yarn to show that someone would die.

Reyna's POV

He was obviously stressed about Piper leaving. Anyone with two eyes could see that.

I would've liked him to see that I was here. I am officially his girlfriend, not Piper!

Yet, I wasn't so sure now. I had seen how Jason had treated Piper. There was something more than friendship between them. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I was sure it was there. Actually, if Piper didn't leave, I was sure I would've.

Piper had told me about the fake memories about Piper and Jason being a couple. She had assured me that she had liked Jason, but had given up on him. Apparently, that wasn't the case.

I understood Piper and her actions. She couldn't trust me, who was her rival. She needed a break. What I didn't understand was Jason. He didn't know she was in love with him. He had obviously believed that she was over him.

And Leo. He loved Piper, by the looks of it.

And me. I loved Jason. I truly, truly did.

I suppose there was no way getting out of this business. At least one of us was going to have to suffer.

Hey, guys. Enjoyed? I hope you are. Yes, I intend to keep the guy keeping Piper informed a secret until the big fight. I know who the guy is, and his girlfriend… and you don't.

Actually, I like those kinds of mystery where they make your hands sweat. I intend to make the person more mysterious… making a lot of guys who have the qualities of the mystery man… maybe for the last chapters, I'll make a contest of who finds out the identity of the mystery man… Just kidding.

Do enter the "contest", please. Otherwise, I have junk in my notebook.

-LG