Chapter XXV HAZEL

"Finally!" Leo cried as the Argo II landed in Epirus.

"We're finally here, and we're all alive!"

He jumped off the ship and onto the ground, kissing it.

"Gaea, I never thought I would say this, but I love you!" he said fervently to the earth.

Jason smiled faintly at his friend and pulled him up, dusting him off.

"Come on, Captain. You can profess your love for the dirt later. We have to find these doors."

That was the real problem. No one had any idea where the actual Doors of Death where. They were meant to be underground, so Hazel and Nico walked around together, combining their Hades/Pluto underground radars.

"I'm not sensing anything.' Nico said frustratedly, tugging his black hair.

"Why can't I find these stupid Doors?"

Calypso came up beside him and put a hand on his back. Her very touch seemed to calm him down. Nico slumped and then nodded resolutely.

"We've come too far to get stopped now." Hazel said softly.

"Amen to that, sister!" Leo said

Everyone laughed nervously and then they set off again.

The group stopped at a vendor to buy some water bottles and Frank said,

"Don't you think we'd be better off splitting up? I mean, we must be giving off some serious demigod scent right now."

Nico shook his head slowly and then replied,

"I think- being this close to the Doors- it would be best if we stayed together. We're going to be attacked by monsters either way, it might as well happen when we're in a group and able to defend each other. "

Frank nodded and took a sip of his water. He choked as it was pulled from his grasp and they heard a weird, snickering laugh. Hazel turned around and saw some little creatures standing behind the vendor's cart, and they were by far some of the strangest things she'd ever seen.

They had massive doe eyes, big ears, and bobble heads attached to tiny bodies. They hopped around on skinny limbs, clapping their hands in excitement. They were minuscule, only coming up to Hazel's knees...And she was short.

Hazel looked around at everyone and they all saw the creatures as well. Piper looked freaked out, Jason looked confused, probably wondering what Greek myth these things came from, Nico looked disdainful (he'd most likely had experiences with stuff like this before), Frank was still trying to clean himself up from the water and Calypso had a tender look on her face. She obviously though they were adorable. And Leo? He looked mischievous.

"What a bunch." Hazel thought, rolling her eyes at her friends.

"Um-' Hazel started, addressing the creatures,

"What- I mean who- are you?"

One hopped forward and pointed to the sign on the cart. It read,

"Kabaloi Vendors; Service with a Smile!"

"But you won't be smiling." Nico muttered to himself somewhere to Hazel's right.

Hazel ignored her brother and stepped forward, attempting to look friendly. She still didn't know what these Kabaloi could do.

"Hi there." she said cheerily to one, as if she was talking to a small child.

It regarded her curiously and then jumped up.

But it didn't attack her. Rather, it seemed to be searching for something. Nico pulled it off and then said,

"Thank the gods you don't wear jewelry, Hazel."

"What do you mean?" Hazel asked in confusion.

"The Kabaloi love tricking and frightening people. If you had anything precious on you, it would be gone in a split second."

The Kabaloi glared at Nico and showed it's fangs, hissing.

"Oh, quiet you." Nico said wearily, hanging it upside down.

"Hey,, that's cruelty!" Leo said, stepping in and intercepting the creature from her brother.

"It just attempted to rip Hazel's face off and you're worried about me being cruel?' Nico said incredulously.

"Where is your mind, Valdez?"

"Aww, come on, Nico, he's kinda cute." Leo said, holding it up for the son of Hades to inspect.

"It's kinda like a hamster or something."

"That's like calling Cerberus a Yorkie puppy." Nico replied coldly.

"Put him down."

Leo sighed and placed the Kabaloi down on the ground, attempting to walk away. It wailed and clung to Leo's ankle, nuzzling in close to him.

'Oh, great, now you bonded with it." Nico said sarcastically.

"Well, at this rate, why don't you just take the whole horde?"

Bad idea, Nico. Really really bad idea.

The entire group then started following Leo around, copying all his movements. Maybe they knew a fellow trickster when they saw one. But whatever it was, they simply wouldn't leave the son of Heptaspus alone. Eventually he stopped trying to shake them off and just shrugged,

"What can I say?" he said helplessly.

"i'm just so irresistable."

Nico covered his face with his hands and muttered,

"You have got to be joking."

"I am Leo Valdez, King Kabaloi!" Leo yelled, striking a ridiculous pose and flexing his muscles.

"Adore me!"

*How can you not adore Leo Valdez? :D*