LEO STOPPED AT THE DOORS…trapped and in trouble
Hephaestus took deep breaths as his breaths were quickened due to the effects of the curse.
Stop it, he told himself. That's how she wants you to feel.
"Yeah, don't fall for the manipulation of the manipulator." Chris said. Leo gave a small smile.
"You're right. She wants you to feel that." Poseidon said
But that didn't make him…motor oil and sour breath.
"That is not a good combination." Silena wrinkled her nose.
"Good sense of smell." Travis nodded.
"There are two kinds of people." Connor said. A few chuckles.
Something not human was inside… catwalk with her broken ankle?
"Good job Leo!" The demigods cheered.
"Impressive." Athena nodded. Leo grinned.
"Leo's intelligent." Tyson nodded. Leo smiled at Tyson. Hephaestus and Beckendorf looked proud.
He slipped inside…"Leo, help me! Help —"
Piper shuddered at the thought of somebody imitating her voice so accurately.
Then the voice changed…demigod could be that quiet, eh?"
"You'd be surprised." Annabeth smirked.
"We exist to wow." Percy said. The demigods laughed.
"Well then you really have succeeded. Don't fail to wow us." Triton grinned. Percy high fived him.
The first monster chuckled…Tia Callida couldn't have dreamed up
"That's certainly something." Ares said. Hera frowned.
The two smaller things dangling…swollen over his left eyebrow.
"Oh my gods." Castor said
"Jason!" Thalia exclaimed in panic.
"Piper!" Silena exclaimed in panic as well. Jason and Piper were really pale and the demigods were looking pale and shuddered. Zeus gave a yell of pain and clamped a hand over his eyebrow and fell unconscious. Luckily for demigod reflexes, Jason moved Zeus before his head hit the sea bench and got a bump on his head which would not be healed by the curse.
Hera gave a yell of pain as well and fell unconscious too.
Aphrodite gave a grunt of pain as she felt the tightness of imaginary chains on her and the gag in her mouth.
"Yikes." Frank winced.
Thalia went and pulled her brother into a side hug and Silena gripped Piper's shoulder though both of them were looking worried for both the book Piper and Aphrodite.
On the conveyor belt…meant this was a cooking fire
"Bad cyclops." Tyson frowned.
"Not all of them are as good as you, big guy." Percy sighed and slung an arm around Tyson.
But most terrifying of all…The cooks were Cyclopes.
"Oh gods. They are huge and Leo's the only one in action." Annabeth said
"Piper could still charmspeak them." Silena said
"Three cyclopes!" Thalia said
"Not good." Triton shook his head.
"Figured." Thalia said dryly. Triton looked a little sheepish.
Leo's legs started quaking…he could hardly think.
Hephaestus shook with Leo's fear.
If only he had Festus…compared to those Cyclopes.
"Cyclopes are fireproof." Annabeth said
"So is Leo." Beckendorf pointed out. Annabeth nodded.
"Yeah and Festus is strong too. Could help with defeating them." Connor said. Leo was pale. He was worried about facing three huge Cyclopes without any weapon except the fire which he had. Hey, anybody would be!
This is what the sleeping earth…trying to keep herself calm
Everybody shuddered.
Meanwhile, Leo found what…he didn't have much choice
"Any plan is a good one right now." Katie said. Aphrodite took deep breaths as the gag feeling went away. She hoped that Piper would get freed quickly from the chains too, both because she was getting hurt and because she cared about Piper and was not pleased by the idea of her being in such tight chains.
The Cyclops in the toga poked…I'll let her go!"
Everybody nodded.
"There's a third cyclops too. If they're the leader then I don't think it can be easily fooled as Torque and Sump." Clarisse pointed out. The remaining color drained from Leo, Jason and Piper's faces. Zeus and Hera were still unconscious but when they would wake up, they would know about the events.
Sump and Torque started to argue…The third Cyclops was a female.
"I've never heard of a female cyclops." Percy said.
"They're rare." Poseidon told him.
She was several feet taller…eye glittered with evil intelligence.
The demigods' and gods' eyes widened. Everybody shuddered or shivered.
"That's very creepy." Pollux said. Nobody disagreed.
The woman Cyclops stalked over…let her dangle from her chain.
Aphrodite winced.
Then she started yelling at Sump…Cyclopes were talking.
"Yes. Keep going Leo." Beckendorf said encouragingly.
"You're doing great." Percy smiled.
"— eat her last, Ma?"…my soft heart that I kept you!"
"She doesn't sound like she's got a soft heart." Hazel muttered.
"Soft heart?" Torque muttered…feed you, file your toenails —"
"That kinda does suck." Nico said
"And you should be grateful!"…ran off to fetch the salsa
"Ouch." The demigods grimaced.
"They're very strong. A truck to the head. Very strong to manage that." Tyson said
Leo sighed.
Now's the time…disbelief, and she gasped.
Leo gave a small smile to Piper.
"Wasn't going to let you and Sparky die." Leo said
"I'm going to let the 'sparky' pass." Jason smiled at Leo who grinned at him.
Ma Gasket turned to her…But he tasted fine!"
Hermes and his kids growled.
"Tasted like mutton,"…Yes, a bit stringy, but good."
They growled again. Everybody else froze. They looked at Jason in a bit of panic.
"I'm alive." Jason said. They seemed a little relieved but the Romans looked a little angry about the Cyclopes eating the demigod too.
Leo's fingers froze…you're not such a jerk.
Hephaestus raised his eyebrows at Leo.
"Sorry dad." Leo said.
"I get why you thought that. Makes sense since I wasn't even in your life for most of your teenage years and childhood." Hephaestus said. Leo gave him a small smile and a nod. Hephaestus sighed and put a hand on Leo's shoulder.
Piper kept talking…more need for Cyclops weapons.
"I still build." Tyson frowned. "Not good Cyclops." He shook his head.
"Yeah, they don't like us." Percy said
"I like you all." Tyson declared. Everybody smiled at him.
"Oh, no," Piper sympathized…"Terrifying," Piper said
"Unnerving to be honest." Beckendorf said with a raised eyebrow.
"Have to compliment them." Piper said.
"Yeah, you're doing great with the stalling." Leo said. Jason nodded. He was not happy with the fact that he was unconscious and practically could not do anything to help
Torque looked pleased… I like my meat fresh."
"No!" The demigods shouted. Jason was looking pained.
No! Leo's fingers flew…threw it at him.
Everybody paled and winced. Leo swore in Spanish.
Leo rolled as the truck steamrolled…Torque had disintegrated.
"Yes! Go Leo!" The demigods cheered. Leo sighed in a little relief.
Ma Gasket stared at Leo…dust like a broken flour sack.
Everybody cheered.
"That was quick!" Piper grinned. Leo gave a smile.
"2 down. 1 to go!" Beckendorf smiled at Leo.
Two Cyclopes down…demolished the machine next to him
"Oh shoot. She will not be easy to defeat." Percy said. Leo sighed.
"Going to have to come up with another plan." He said worriedly.
Leo started to realize…told him there was metal fatigue.
"You have senses like that?" Annabeth asked.
"Yes." Beckendorf nodded.
"Heck, yeah, I got tricks!"… Piper screamed, "No!"
"Don't worry about it beauty queen. I'll be just fine. The same old handsome Leo." Leo grinned. Piper playfully rolled her eyes but smiled. Hephaestus gave a small smile to Leo, glad that he had the fire abilities.
Ma Gasket shrieked with delight…"The son of Hephaestus," Leo said.
Beckendorf high fived Leo.
"And I warned you I'd destroy…That looked weaker than rest.
"That's genius." Annabeth grinned. Leo grinned. Beckendorf and Hephaestus nodded.
The flames died… "Boo-yah!"
Everybody cheered and whooped at the top of their lungs.
"YEAH GO LEO!" The Stolls whooped. Leo grinned widely. Hephaestus smiled proudly and Beckendorf grinned at Leo.
"You single handedly took out 3 cyclops." Athena said in amazement.
"Piper helped." Leo said
"The plan and fighting was all you. I only stalled." Piper shook her head.
"Wouldn't have been able to put the plan in action then." Leo grinned at Leo. Piper smiled. Everybody cheered again.
Then he fell to his knees…had left him completely drained
"Yeah, stamina drain." Nico winced. Hephaestus clutched his head and winced at the stamina drain.
It took him a long time…His color came back a little.
Everybody sighed in relief. Aphrodite stretched as she felt the release of the chains. Zeus and Hera started to regain consciousness and the red welt shrunk for them too. Hera nodded at Leo.
"Yeah, he's got a nice…"I think he's gonna be fine."
"That's good." Thalia exhaled in relief. Jason nodded.
"Thank god," Piper sighed…What are you sorry about?"
Leo grinned at Piper and the demigods cheered. The gods smiled.
Leo blinked. He started…How long do you think we have?"
"Oh shit." Annabeth said
"No no." The demigods muttered, all of them had frustrated or annoyed or worried expressions on their faces. The gods were exchanging glances and looking very worried too.
Leo thought about the face…"But we need to get out of here."
"Quick." Jason agreed.
"Done with the chapter." Katie said
"My turn then." Castor said