CHAPTER VII
JASON
NOT EVEN HALF WAY THROUGH THE DAY AND JASON WAS READY TO CRAWL IN A HOLE AND DIE. It was as if all the frustration in him, all the heartbreak, all the unfairness was melting together to form one single emotion: rage.
He didn't care about other children of Zeus or Jupiter, he needed to help Piper. She was the only thing that mattered. As Eliza's blue eyes bore into him, he found himself reflected in her eyes, the loss and the heartbreak. But he knew he shouldn't bring it up, he had to tread carefully, he couldn't afford to make her more angry. All the defences in him shattered and he no longer cared what anyone in this room thought about him. He forced against the dagger at his neck, ignoring the pain it shot through him and turned his eyes to Eliza's.
"I don't care what you think of me. Are you going to help or not? I'm asking for Piper."
Eliza lifted an eyebrow, her facade renewing easily. She was amused again. No she wasn't. She pushed the dagger back to his neck. Back to the cut that had quickly healed. "This is my place, Grace, you do not give the orders here." She growled and shoved Jason in the direction of the others and he only just managed not to stumble. He looked to Lucy hoping for guidance or something, then he remembered how he'd disgraced her. She wasn't on his side anymore. She had an emotionless mask, but she didn't seem surprised. For the first time the intensity of her words really hit Jason. Next time you're in a challenge or in the sea or even in the air do not expect my help. He felt betrayed before he remembered it was his fault, his father may have guided him, but he was as much the bad guy as his father. He had to prove himself. Just as Eliza had said. You think you're different, Jason Grace? Well, prove it.
Going against everything in his nature, pushing down his anger as much as he could, he looked up at Eliza with a look of defeat, and remaining still, said in the calmest voice he could: "I need your help. Lucy said you could help Piper. If not for me, do it for her."
Eliza seemed to consider this, then looked at Lucy with a raised eyebrow as if to say: Is this for real? Jason could feel Lucy's eyes on him but he didn't dare look.
"Eliza, please."
Eliza looked at me again and her expression became amused, "why should I help you?" She asked. "What have you ever done for me?"
Jason felt his blood boil again but he forced it down. "Heracles may have been my half brother but I'm not him, don't treat me like him, and it's not for me, it's for Piper."
Eliza shrugged. "If that girl didn't see you coming she deserves what she got."
Everyone's mouths dropped. She was baiting him, he knew it, but he had to remain calm. Still Jason felt his fists clench so hard he swore there was blood. Why weren't his friends helping?
Eliza sighed. "Another girl caught. Another one stuck with a son of Zeus."
"What did Piper ever do to you?" He demanded before he could stop himself. He turned to Lucy before he could stop himself. "Or you Lucy?" I threatened.
Lucy raised an eyebrow. Even Jason had noticed how different she had been since they'd stepped in here. She was more confident, almost more powerful. "Yes Jason, because it is all my fault Piper has this curse." She said sarcastically then stood. "However, Piper was a good person." She faced Eliza. "You will help us." She commanded. "Not for Jason. Not for Piper. Not even for me. But to stop Gaia."
Eliza's eyes narrowed. She obviously did not like it.
"And for Jinx."
Eliza's eyes softened. She looked down, then at the Métis sister's. They nodded encouragingly, but before another word could be said an explosion erupted as if right next to Jason's ears. It had blown off a whole side of the wall, and through the gaping hole, flames curled at the edges as if trying to reach in and grab something. Smoke filtered in and Jason saw a figure step through. Bloodied and battered Jinx calmly stalked in front of them, her hair was still a mess, as if it had been chopped below her shoulders and her tattoos seemed even more lifelike than before, as if they were live creatures pasted to her skin. Her black eyes as cold as night.
"Hello my old friends." She purred. "Miss me?"
"Jinx?" Rose asked in bewilderment.
Jinx looked sourly in Rose and Ellie's direction. "You think there is something wrong with me Lucy?" She asked indicating at the sisters "This is who I am! I will stop the gods, and then someone else will rule. I will stop Gaia. There is nothing wrong with me."
"Jinx," Ellie pleaded. "This isn't you, this is your darkest side, you have to fight it."
"There is nothing to fight!" Jinx snarled. "Besides, you cannot change what has happened to me! You do not know what I have lived through, waiting for a mate who does not want me!" She cried. A mate who doesn't want her? Jason looked among himself, Leo and Frank, that could have applied to any of them, but he felt his heart clench for Jinx. He had been ready to fight Jinx for so long that he had never thought he would feel sympathy towards her. "There is nothing left for me! No one can save me!"
"No!" Rose argued. "You can be saved! Tell us who your mate is and we can help you!"
"NO!" Jinx fumed. "I will not allow it! My mate does not want me? Fine! If I cannot have him, the gods will suffer! There will be a new rein!"
"And then we will get what we want." A new voice joined her. Jason felt his spine straiten and all the hair on his neck stand on end. He turned and there she was, hidden in the shadows. Her hair was now tipped black, her eyes matching the colour of the burns covering her arms just like before. She wore a tank top and shorts so Jason could see new, raw burns across her legs. Her new black eyes feasted on Jason. "I told you; you could not get away. I will have my claim. The Curse of Aphrodite will blaze. If so let it blaze the earth. I will have what I want." Her voice was raspier than Jason remembered, but Jason couldn't help but stare.
"Jason get back!" Rose warned.
Jason hadn't even realised he'd been walking towards Piper. She was so close. As if she'd been calling him.
Fire burned in Piper's palms, circling her arms until it fed the mark in her shoulder. Still shocked Jason watched as the fire curled around him like it had before, but it didn't burn him this time. He watched as Piper bent forward as if bowing, but it was much worse. On her back was a jagged line down her spine, as it curled forward. The back of her tank was missing as if it had been burnt off, but Jason watched in horror as the cut seemed to expand and her flesh burnt even more than before. Opening so deep Jason swore he saw the bones of her ribs. The flesh ripped apart like chewing gum and out curled fiery columns arching out of Piper's back. Then when she pulled herself up Jason saw what they were. Raspy bat like wings made of... fire!
"Unnatural!" She seethed. "This is not what I should be! You did this to me! You will pay!"
"Jason! Back away!" Ellie commanded.
Too late. The daughter of Aphrodite grabbed Jason and in a flash all three of them were gone without a trace...
If you like Lucy, you'll LOVE Kalika Valdez in
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Humour, Friendship, Action, Romance, Loyalty!
