Leo
The Roman camp was so large; all his previous awe at Camp Half-Blood was wiped away. It was just amazing. And the city, where the Romans could marry and grow old was a big hit to the other Greek campers. When the tour guide, one of the centurions, had given an introduction of the camp, the whole Greek crew had laughed. 'Ha ha! Good one!' they had said.
The Romans had looked at each other, confused. When people finally began to realize that the Romans weren't kidding, there was silence. Leo hadn't really thought much about it. He didn't have any family left to start over in Camp Jupiter. And even if he did, that was only if they won against the giants.
He was sitting with Jason and Piper in Jason's praetor's quarters. Percy apparently hadn't even considered taking it.
"He's someone I'd like to have beside with me in battle," Jason said, smiling.
"Because he won't touch your stuff?" Leo wondered. Piper cracked a smile and Jason suppressed his. There was a knock at the door.
Percy entered. "Have a minute, guys?" he asked warily. He was staring curiously, looking a little confused at one of the walls. Leo concentrated and realized laughs were faintly escaping from the other room- Reyna's quarters.
Piper and Jason both looked down awkwardly. "Huh," Percy said, still looking at the wall. Then he looked back at the three of them.
"So, then. I just thought, seeing we're some of the seven, we should get to know each other."
"Sure," Jason started. "You know me. Jason Grace, Thalia's sister, son of Zeus."
"Right, right," Percy said a little impatiently. "Any powers? I know first-hand your sister can summon some kickass lightning bolts."
Jason raised his eyebrows. "Uhh…okay! I can fly, a little, hold up maybe one or two people."
"Any power over the winds, Jason?" Percy questioned.
"Not that I know of."
"Try it. Tell me how that turns out… Later," he ended quickly, seeing Jason close his eyes. "Anyway, how about you Piper?" Leo frowned. He was always last, of course, who would care about the son of ugly Hephaestus? Sorry, dad. But, hey, it's the truth.
"I'm daughter of Aphrodite. I can master charmspeak pretty well. Wanna see?" She asked mischievously.
"Yeah, maybe some other time. And you, Leo?" Percy scanned Leo thoroughly before adding, "I've heard quite a lot about you. Want to clarify?" Percy smiled.
Leo smiled back. He just might come to like this guy. "Son of Hephaestus. I can make a hell of an automaton, and, oh yeah, I have power over fire."
"And he fixed up a giant dragon gone rogue. Got us to Hera in time. Couldn't have done anything without him. He's great!" Piper added.
"He's great!" Percy repeated in a monotonous voice. Then he looked at Piper and said, "I thought I said 'maybe some other time'?"
Piper was smiling. But Leo wasn't. Poor Festus…I miss you buddy.
Percy continued, stopping Leo from slipping away. "I want to make sure that all of us have no secrets. Secrets are dangerous, and I know this by experience. Having one means adding one more weakness to your allies. As unimportant as they may seem, you must not risk it. Is that understood?"
Jason nodded, and Piper did the same, a little uncertainly. Leo stared vacant-eyed at Percy. Bingo, Percy thought. "Leo?"
"Give me a second," he said, still looking lost. Percy frowned a little, but it was more sympathetic than disappointed. "That's all right. We all know it is. Jason?"
"I don't have much. I came here when I was little. Became preator. Then we switched spots…and you know the rest."
"Is there anyone important who Gaea could use as bait for you?" Percy asked.
"Well, Piper, Leo, Reyna, and Thalia…I can't believe I have a sister…" He trailed off.
Percy smiled and said, "I think that's easier to believe than finding out that your half-brother is a Cyclops."
"What!" Jason and Leo asked. "Guys! Don't be rude!" Piper chided, unfazed.
"Anyway, back to the point. Piper, who are your weaknesses?" Percy continued.
"My father. He's…he means a lot to me." Piper said gently, looking distracted. "And of course there's these two! Airhead and Flameboy, here." She burst out, regaining her previous charm.
"All right then. Leo. What are your weaknesses? Who are your weaknesses?"
"As for who, I got nobody. I'm a loner." Leo said coolly. When Percy had asked if he'd understood, he'd feared that his voice would crack if he said it. But it didn't, and he relaxed. His happiness though, was short-lived.
He saw a flicker of emotion of Percy face and was stuck between whether it was suspicion or sympathy. He decided it was both, but then anger started to build up in him. Why was it that people always thought badly of him? Wasn't it bad enough that he'd lost his mother, his life? Did he need to lose his friends, too? Wasn't it enough for Percy? He no longer felt like sharing his "what". "You can find the other weakness yourself. Seeing how you're already scrutinizing me, you'll find it under no time!" Leo burst out, anger lining his forehead in straight creases. He stood up and went to the door, only to trip as it opened before him.
Before him was a baby-faced boy, his head paired with an out-of-place buff body. He looked Asian, with slanted eyes, slightly tan skin. The boy looked at him, uninterested at first, then suddenly, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. Leo was frustrated beyond imagination.
"Is this him, Percy?" the boy spat out, disgust clearly in his tone.
"What is this? Am I some kind of lab rat! Explain!" Leo growled.
Percy sighed quietly, rubbed his brow then replied, "Come with me, Leo." He promptly slid out the door. Leo followed him, but his stride was brisk and his footfalls were hard with the anger in him. When they reached a quiet spot, Percy turned on him.
"Tell me the truth. Please, Leo. You don't have any family? Any memories that nag at your head? A girl?" Percy's voice was firm and formal-like, but he sounded like he really needed the information.
"No! No family, no girl, no nothing. What do you want from me!"
"Leo…I don't know how to say this. But I think…I think that you had a past life…and someone in this camp knows you from then."
It was such a blunt reply, so unexpected, that Leo almost burst out again, What do you want from me!, without even listening. Instead he said, "Huh?"
"Do you have any memory of the 1940's? A girl named Hazel Levesque? Think hard."
And Leo thought.
Sneak Peak of One of the Following Chapters: :D
Hazel
Hazel woke up with a start. She was clammy and warm but there was a freezing cold touch on her hand. She looked toward it and saw the shadow of a little girl, with two pigtails.
"Julia?" she muttered softly.
The little girl sniffled and sat on Hazel's bed. Her face, that was always grinning mischievously, like a trickster, was overwhelmed with sadness, in a way Hazel hated to see.
"He's gone." She cried quietly, her words almost indecipherable under her sobs.
"Who's gone, Julia-" Hazel stopped abruptly. No, that can't be. He's immorta-
Guess Who? :D
