I love this chapter- and you guys hopefully will too. And you know what else I hope you'll all love? Piper and Jason. Who are wonderful wonderful people in this chapter and everyone should have friends like them.
Undeath9087: Yeah Khione is definitely a bitch- but hey, we all know they'll see her again later and she'll do something even worse then- which was fun to write. Also, yeah, it wasn't Leo's fault at all, Kronos would have freed Typhon regaurdless, we all know that. But I mean, you can't blame him for thinking it can you? Like, the kid lost his big sister so he desperately tries to think of ways it could have been different and then realises that 'wait, that big monster we freed is why the gods weren't there to save her' and whoops, guilt it is. Also, lots of mortals would have logically been hurt and killed.
The Official Clarisse: I've said it before, I'll say it again, guilt is a natural feeling even when you shouldn't feel guilty for anything. And it's also understandable and it just makes you wanna hug him and comfort him, or it does me.
Weirdhead: Well I admit ya made me laugh! I think Leo could take Zethes in a dance off I have to say.
Black' Victor Cachat: It's not major consequences but I definitely think there should have been more guilt from Percy in cannon- this is the kid who tries to save everyone and there's no way that he shouldn't have at least slightly blamed himself even if he shouldn't. And there's no way that Typhon didn't kill a whole bunch of people.
As Boreas spoke Leo noticed Jason moving, shoving his hand into his pocket- clearly preparing to pull out his gold coin.
The movement caught Boreas's eye. "What is that on your forearm, demigod?"
Jason looked startled at that, and he hesitated before reluctantly pushing his coat sleeve up further, revealing his tattoo.
The god's eyes widened. Khione actually hissed and stepped away.
Then Boreas did something unexpected. He laughed so loudly, an icicle cracked from the ceiling and crashed next to his throne. The god's form began to flicker. His beard disappeared. He grew taller and thinner, and his clothes changed into a Roman toga, lined with purple. His head was crowned with a frosty laurel wreath, and a gladius—a Roman sword like Jason's—hung at his side.
"Aquilon," Jason said, though he didn't look like he knew where the name had come from.
The god inclined his head. "You recognize me better in this form, yes? And yet you said you came from Camp Half-Blood?"
Jason shifted his feet. "Uh … yes, Your Majesty. "
"And Hera sent you there…" The winter god's eyes were full of mirth. "I understand now. Oh, she plays a dangerous game. Bold, but dangerous! No wonder Olympus is closed. They must be trembling at the gamble she has taken. "
"Jason, Leo" Piper said nervously, "why did Boreas change shape? The toga, the wreath. What's going on?"
"It's his Roman form," Jason said. "But what's going on—I don't know. "
The god laughed. "No, I'm sure you don't. This should be very interesting to watch. "
"Does that mean you'll let us go?" Piper asked.
"My dear," Boreas said, "there is no reason for me to kill you. If Hera's plan fails, which I think it will, you will tear each other apart.
Aeolus will never have to worry about demigods again. I'll even let the son of Hephaestus go- his importance to the Greeks- yes it will be most entertaining." and Leo's eyes were glued onto Jason- Roman. That was strange, very strange. And- Roman forms? He remembered Janus, he was a Roman god wasn't he? Something very strange was happening.
"I don't suppose you could explain?" Jason asked.
"Oh, perish the thought! It is not for me to interfere in Hera's plan. No wonder she took your memory. " Boreas chuckled, apparently still having a great time imagining demigods tearing each other apart. "You know, I have a reputation as a helpful wind god. Unlike my brethren, I've been known to fall in love with mortals. Why, my sons Zethes and Calais started as demigods—"
"Which explains why they are idiots," Khione growled.
"Stop it!" Zethes snapped back. "Just because you were born a full goddess—"
"Both of you, freeze," Boreas ordered. Apparently, that word carried a lot of weight in the household, because the two siblings went absolutely still. "Now, as I was saying, I have a good reputation, but it is rare that Boreas plays an important role in the affairs of gods. I sit here in my palace, at the edge of civilization, and so rarely have amusements. Why, even that fool Notus, the South Wind, gets spring break in Cancún. What do I get? A winter festival with naked Québécois rolling around in the snow!"
"I like the winter festival," Zethes muttered.
"My point," Boreas snapped, "is that I now have a chance to be the center. Oh, yes, I will let you go on this quest. You will find your storm spirits in the windy city, of course. Chicago—"
"Father!" Khione protested.
Boreas ignored his daughter. "If you can capture the winds, you may be able to gain safe entrance to the court of Aeolus. If by some miracle you succeed, be sure to tell him you captured the winds on my orders. Valdez, you will present them to him personally- I may be willing to let you live, but I imagine his punishment for you would be most entertaining-"
"Gee thanks." Leo's face scrunched up, "What part of 'I didn't mean to do it' don't people get?"
"Right." Jason gave Leo a worried look "So Chicago is where we'll find the storm spirits. The one who controls the winds- Gaea, will she be there?"
"Ah. " Boreas grinned. "Those are two different questions, son of Jupiter. "
Jupiter, Leo's eyes narrowed as he looked at Jason, that had changed. And was very interesting.
"The one who controls the winds," Boreas continued, "yes, you will find her in Chicago. But she is only a servant—a servant who is very likely to destroy you. If you succeed against her and take the winds, then you may go to Aeolus. Only he has knowledge of all the winds on the earth. All secrets come to his fortress eventually. If anyone can tell you where Hera is imprisoned, it is Aeolus. As for when you find Hera's cage—truly, if I told you what to expect you would beg me to freeze you."
"Father," Khione protested, "you can't simply let them—"
"I can do what I like," he said, his voice hardening. "I am still master here, am I not?"
The way Boreas glared at his daughter, it was obvious they had some ongoing argument. Khione's eyes flashed with anger, but she clenched her teeth. "As you wish, Father. "
"Now go, demigods," Boreas said, "before I change my mind. Zethes, escort them out safely. "
They all bowed, and the god of the North Wind dissolved into mist.
Leo felt his shoulders slumping very slightly when Boreas was gone, relief flooding through him as they were led out of the throne room and back down the stairs.
When they reached the bottom Khione turned to look at them, glaring darkly, "You have fooled my father, girl. But you have not fooled me. We are not done. And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough. And as for you. Valdez-" she gave him a dark look, "Aeolus will not forgive your crimes- your fate may well be the worst of the three of you-"
"What crimes?" Jason's voice was sharp, "Leo isn't a bad person he-"
"Ask how many died because of his actions." Khione's smile was a nasty little thing, "How many mortals lives were ruined because of what he and his sister did in his father's forges."
"You really are a spoiled bitch." Leo snapped the words, setting his case down and flicking a catch that caused it to open up, sliding and transforming, growing into the familiar dragon- which made the Boreads back off quickly and Khione stormed back up the stairs—literally. Halfway up, she turned into a blizzard and disappeared.
Leo watched her disappear before he climbed onto Festus' back, giving Piper and Jason a look, "Come on. Let's get the Hades out of here-"
"Leo-" Piper's voice was worried, "What was-"
"We're going." and Leo's tone must of worked because soon enough they were both on Festus' back, the dragon grumbling worriedly at Leo as they took off and flew away, the two Boreads watching them go.
There was total silence for a long time as they flew until Piper spoke up, her voice very hesitant. "Leo- what was she talking about. What are you hiding from us?" and Leo stared straight ahead, an uncomfortable lurching feeling in the pit of his stomach as he did, gripping his jeans tightly, nails digging into the fabric.
He spoke just as Jason took a breath, clearly about to say something. "It-" he swallowed hard- because they weren't going to give in, they were going to find out when they met Aeolus if not before. "Back about a year and a half ago I went on a quest. My first quest." he pressed his lips together. "During the quest I met my dad. He sent us to one of his forges- his favorite. He suspected that someone was using it but whenever he checked they were gone because they could sense him coming. He wanted us to check it out for him. It was Percy, Annabeth and I who went in the end, he followed one of my dads automatons. It was- he has his forges in volcanoes a lot of the time- this one- this one was special. It was where Typhon was chained." heard both Piper and Jason inhale sharply but he didn't look back at them.
"We were supposed to be in and out, check it out and go back and tell him but while Annabeth looked around Percy overheard some of the monsters talking. They were using it to reforge Kronos' Scythe." his voice wavered, "She went off on her own- told Annabeth to take me and get out- I'd fallen asleep in the tunnel into the volcano."
"Leo-" Piper's voice was worried "I don't-"
"She wanted to try and destroy it or something. Annabeth woke me and started running, I ran with her for a bit before turning- I wasn't leaving my sister alone down there. She- she's my big sister I love her. And I got there and- she was being attacked, they were throwing lava at her. I managed to get to her but we were outnumbered, surrounded. We were gonna die, we both knew it- I was on fire- burning up. And I was trying to protect her too but- I couldn't all the time." he shook his head, "She got really, really hurt and we were both gonna die and I figured if I was dying I'd go out in flames so I burned as bright as I could- brighter than I ever have before- it actually hurt I burned so hot- and Percy- she was a daughter of Poseidon, she did what came naturally and called the the sea and the sea came- the water, the lava and me- we blew the shit out of the volcano- it erupted and we went up with it." he was shaking slightly as he spoke.
"It- Now that hurt- first time I've ever felt pain from fire." he admitted, "Or- heat anyway, lava isn't really fire as such. I was lucky to survive, we were blown so high that we could have easily died from the fall alone let alone the lava." he remembered how he'd tried so hard to cling for Percy- he'd never forgive himself for letting go of her hand- not that he'd meant to, the force of the second shock wave had ripped them apart. And while he'd recovered in comfort with a beautiful girl she'd been trapped in a literal nightmare. "I ended up on Ogygia. Calypso's Island. She nursed me back to health, probably saved my life. And two weeks later Percy came to pick me up the day after my dad visited me and told me I had a choice to make, stay there and live forever with the girl I fell in love with or go back and help my family in the war- I nearly stayed- I- he told me that we loosened Typhons chains with the eruption. We woke him up. He said Kronos would have woken him sooner or later but... I dunno." he closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath.
"That's what they were talking about you guys. I helped unleash one of the most terrifying beings to have ever existed. People died because of what we did. It was Mount St Helens."
"Leo-" Piper's voice was stricken, "You-" and then, much to his surprise her arms wrapped around him from behind and she was hugging him tightly. "Gods- I remember hearing about that all over the news you were inside of that?"
"You're lucky to be alive." Jason's voice was horrified, "You could have died Leo-"
"Tell me something I don't know." Leo huffed the words, "I don't regret meeting Calypso but... what happened with Typhon... yeah I'm not proud of that-"
"You didn't mean to do it though." Piper's voice was firm, "You were what? Like, thirteen back then? And you thought you were gonna die, you were trying to stop something terrible from happening. Yeah it triggered something bad but you had no idea it would do that right? You were doing your best-" and Leo felt a flood of relief as he turned his head so he could look at at Jason and Piper as Jason gave Leo a reassuring grin.
"Just remind me not to piss you off Leo. Sounds like you're one badass fireboy."
"You-" Leo swallowed hard, "You're not freaked?"
"You're my friend dumbass." Piper smacked his shoulder, and Jason grinned and nodded.
"I definitely see why they were scared of you. I'm glad you're here. The gods only know know I'd be handling this without you."
"You don't have to." Leo gave them both a grateful grin, "We're gonna stick together you two. No matter what."