Chapter 32

It hadn't been nearly as hard as Jason had thought it would be to get into the dungeon. The guards on duty didn't even question it when he said he was checking something for the prince. They just had him turn out his pockets, leave his sword at the door, and waved him through.

"Please tell me you didn't actually do anything to land yourself here?" Jason raised an eyebrow, though in the dim light. He wasn't sure if Leo would even be able to see it.

"Come on- me get myself into trouble?" Leo's voice would have sounded as light hearted as ever to most people, but Jason knew it was a front. That Leo was trying to hide just how scared he was.

"Seriously Leo," Jason shook his head "I need to know. Hazel said you didn't do anything wrong, but I need to know for sure. The prince is sticking his neck out- which I don't want him doing with only half the information."

"I didn't do anything Jason, I promise," Leo assured, pushing himself up and, to Jason's relief, with a serious tone now "I was in an area of the castle I wasn't supposed to be, but other than that I didn't do anything. Hazel tried to tell them I was there helping her with something, but they ignored her. Do you really think I would steal something from the castle?"

"No," Jason admitted, sighing and shaking his head "But you can't blame me for wanting to make sure. The first time I met you it was because you were stealing-"

"Fair enough," Leo agreed "I didn't have a job than though- and I was hungry. I promise you, sense getting the job at the castle I haven't stolen anything, from the castle or otherwise."

Jason let out a breath and slowly nodded "Alright, I'm sorry but I had to ask. Percy is a good guy who has a complicated relationship with father. I didn't want him taking a risk with him until I knew all of the information."

"He is going to try though, yeah?" Leo asked, and though he was playing it off well, Jason could tell how nervous he was.

Sighing, Jason nodded again "He's going to try, but like I said he doesn't have a tone of sway with his father. If that doesn't work though we will figure something else out."

Honestly Jason wasn't sure about it, but he wanted to assure Leo. And maybe a small part of him wanted to be reassured as well. Leo nodded in agreement "Right. Thank you Jason."

"Just- don't do anything dumb," Jason gave him a serious look "You just thought it was a cool tattoo, no idea what it meant. Your bag just had scrap materials in it. Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Don't make this any harder on us than it already is going to be."

"I won't," Leo assured, nodding as he did so "I know when it's time to actually be serious."

"Good," Jason sighed a bit as he looked over at Leo for a long moment, the dim light making the other boy's elfish features almost sinister. "I should go. I can't stay to long or someone will start to wonder what we're doing down here, but I promise we are going to figure this out."

"I know you will." To Jason's surprise Leo gave him a reassuring smile "Go on. Besides, I should be getting dinner sometime soon I think."

"I'll come back when I know more- probably tomorrow," Jason smiled a bit at him in return "Try not to get to comfy down here."

"No promises," Leo said, grinning at him a bit. Jason just shook his head, before turning to head back out of the dungeons.

Hazel could be a bit of a mystery to Piper. Usually the younger girl seemed to show everything on her face, but what she showed wasn't always what she was actually feeling. What tended to actually give it away was how the girl was acting rather than her expressions. For instance, today Hazel was doing everything she could to keep herself busy, but also was staying near the room. She was nervous, trying to stay busy, while also staying near Piper in hopes that they would get news soon, but Piper wasn't completely sure how she was actually feeling.

It was when Hazel was refolding some clothes for the second time that Piper finally spoke "You know we'll figure it out. Even if Percy can't get Posidon to change his mind. We'll make sure no harm comes to him."

"I know," Hazel replied, and to Piper's slight surprise she did actually sound confident in the answer "It's just-"

Hazel trailed off, but it dawned on Piper what the other was thinking. Softly she finished it "Just that Leo isn't the only thing you're worried about."

"I'm not so much worried about it, just thinking about it," Hazel replied, not really looking at Piper as she did so "And remembering…"

Remembering her life before coming to the castle. Thinking about how easily it could have been her that was sitting in a cell instead of Leo. As if to confirm her suspicions, Hazel rubbed at her wrist, a nervous habit she had had for as long as Piper knew her.

"You know that I wouldn't let anything like this happen to you," Piper replied softly, looking over at Hazel "If I had any power in this situation I wouldn't be allowing it to happen to Leo either, but I don't."

"So what would be different if it was me?" Hazel asked, looking over at her "What would give you any more power over it?"

"You are here under my protection. You're a subject of my father's kingdom, not Poseidon's," Piper explained gently. Sometimes she forgot that Hazel was so much younger than her, but at times like this she really did feel more like a little sister than a friend "In the end what happens is in the hands of my father, and to an extent me. We both already know and aren't going to do anything. Leo's fate, unfortunately, lies with Poseidon."

Slowly Hazel nodded, though it still didn't seem like she was completely convinced "Right- I mean I know you wouldn't, I just-"

Piper pushed herself up, walking over to Hazel and taking her hand to squeeze it a bit, before leading her over to the couch so they could sit. It was only then that Hazel finished her thought "It just feels a lot more real now. I've always know it was a threat, but since I came to the castle the threat didn't feel real."

Slowly Piper nodded, before speaking again "You felt safe, even if you were still careful about it. What happened is making you question that safety, it makes sense."

Hazel didn't really look at Piper as she continued to speak "I've also just been thinking more- about what happened when I was younger."

She didn't need to explain. What else would it have been then the life she had had with the druids? How it had come to an end. Piper sighed letting Hazel continue rather than saying anything herself.

"My mom- she was insane, and not a good mother, but that doesn't mean she deserved to die. The others were just living their lives, almost all of them were good people," she shook her head, glancing at Piper for a moment before looking away again "It's not fair. The way they're treated, they're just people, and as much as I say I'm not, I am one of them."

"I know," Piper sighed "You're right, it's not fair, but unfortunately there is very little I can do about it. Hopefully things will change. Percy won't follow the same path as his father I'm sure, and if I have any say in it neither will my kingdom."

Slowly Hazel nodded "Good. Thank you- but I'm still going to keep busy until we know more about what's happening-"

"Fair enough," Piper agreed, giving her a small smile, before sighing when Hazel was back to folding clothes. Someday she would hopefully actually be able to do something that could help. For now all there was to do was wait and hope. It killed her, but it was the only option.