Whoop guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter, sorry for the lack over the last week but hey, I was on holiday. So I am officially announcing that I've chosen option 2, because I have many more ideas for Option 2 and I know how I'd make it work- though I want to know your thoughts on something- since the whole Master bolt being stolen is a Greek issue Percy will be unaware- I'm planning on bringing Nico and Bianca in to deal with it with Annabeth's help, what do people thing? It wouldn't follow their side of the adventure but it would be mentioned later. Also, with Annabeth, I want to hear if people want Male Annabeth or normal- and what they want shipwise for ships other than Jercy so let me know my guys! And enjoy this chapter.
Leo led the way inside- and he frowned as he looked around, it was dark, that was the first thing he noticed as he stepped inside.
From the echo of his footsteps he could tell the entry hall was enormous, even bigger than Boreas's penthouse; but the only illumination came from the yard lights outside. A faint glow peeked through the breaks in the thick velvet curtains. The windows rose about ten feet tall. Spaced between them along the walls were life-size metal statues. As Leo's eyes adjusted, he saw sofas arranged in a U in the middle of the room, with a central coffee table and one large chair at the far end. A massive chandelier glinted overhead. Along the back wall stood a row of closed doors.
"Where's the light switch." Jason's voice was worried and it echoed eerily.
"I don't see one." Leo peered around, a worried frown on his lips.
"What about your fire?" Piper's voice was hopeful, and Leo nodded, holding out his hand and focusing, trying to summon a flame- his brows furrowed when nothing came and he glared at his hand.
"Okay. Okay I'm not too fond of that."
"What is it?" Jason frowned.
"It's not working-"
"Your fire is out?" Piper's voice was nervous, "Why?"
"Well, if I knew that—"
"Okay, okay," she said. "What do we do—explore?"
Leo shook his head. "After all those traps outside? Bad idea. You guys can't sense them like I can."
"Leo's right." Jason's voice was firm, "We're not separating again, not like in Detroit that was way too close a call."
"Oh, thank you for reminding me of the Cyclopes. " Piper's voice quavered. "I needed that."
"It's a few hours until dawn," Jason guessed. "Too cold to wait outside. Let's bring the cages in and make camp in this room. Wait for daylight; then we can decide what to
do."
"Now that sounds like a good plan," Leo spoke up, a determined look on his face, "Also- it's the only plan we have so let's do it, unless you have any suggestions Pipes."
Piper shook her head, a grimace on her lips, "Sorry, I can't think of any better plans."
Since no one could come up with a better plan they rolled the cages containing Coach Hedge and the storm spirits inside and then they settled in for the night, Leo checking out the room thoroughly before he declared that it was safe.
Since Leo couldn't use his fire they ended up settling for cold rations, sharing them out between the three of them, Leo moving to sit off to one side- as much as he loved his friend he wasn't in the mood to talk with the others really- he was still in too much pain from the loss of Festus, and thankfully Piper and Jason seemed to understand that because they left him to sit alone, looking around silently.
There were metal statues along the walls. They looked like Greek gods or heroes. Maybe that was a good sign. Or maybe they were used for target practice. On the coffee table sat a tea service and a stack of glossy brochures but Leo couldn't bring himself to really be interested in them. The big chair at the other end of the table looked like a throne. If Leo had been in a better mood he'd have probably decided to sit in it- as it was he picked at his food listlessly, and then down at the wires he'd plucked from his belt after he finished eating- which he realised with a pang, he was twisting into the shape of a familiar dragon head.
The canary cages didn't make the place any less creepy. The venti kept churning in their prison, hissing and spinning. Leo was half tempted to throw something at them but he couldn't muster the enthusiasm- and Coach Hedge stayed infuriatingly frozen- after he realised what he was doing with the wires and stopped Leo had decided to try and bust him out- but the lock was being stubborn no matter how hard Leo tried to pick it- and he was usually pretty good- having an older brother who was a son of Hermes, and being friends with the Stolls had seen to that.
As the evening wore on Leo did notice that Piper had drifted off, and when he glanced over at Jason he saw that the son of Jupiter- and Leo was certain about that now, wasn't asleep, though he looked as exhausted as Leo secretly felt. "You can go to sleep you know. I'll stay awake and guard us."
"Leo you were pretty beat up-"
"I am fine." Leo was tense, "You don't need to worry about me Jason. You can't knock me down for long."
"I know Festus meant a lot to you." and Leo stiffened slightly, his gaze going blank- means a lot. As if that even came close to covering how he felt about his dragon.
The problem was he didn't even know how to put it into words- the pain- it was what he imagined losing a limb was like- the loss would always be there, it would always ache.
It wasn't the same as losing a family member- Leo had been there and done that far too often. It didn't hurt less exactly-and it definitely didn't hurt more. It just hurt differently.
Jason must have picked up on Leo's reaction because Leo could hear the way he inhaled sharply. "Sorry. I didn't-"
"It's not your fault." Leo sighed and shifted to look at Jason properly, "Listen, I-" he shook his head, "I'm feeling kinda down yeah, Festus was my pride and joy. Me and my brother fixed him up- I spent nights up with him working on him. And it hurts- losing him like that- I know he wasn't exactly- he was sentient." Leo turned his gaze back to the lock of Coach Hedge's cage, staring at the lock. "And I guess- with everything that's been going on..." he shook his head, "With- the pain of- of the battle- of the war and everything that happened, it's still raw... losing Festus is just one more thing to add to the pile of shitty stuff that I have to deal with- and the whole Medea thing-"
"You handled that better than me." Jason shook his head, "I don't see why you'd-"
"I got knocked out Jason. I got distracted." he looked away, a pained look on his face. "Medea's the one who- she told Gaea about me. That's why Gaea- why my mom-"
"Oh dude." Jason winced, a pained look on his face, "I'm so sorry. So so fucking sorry that.. that has to be hard to deal with."
"I just-" Leo let out a breath, "I wish I had my sister here- she was always amazing at this sort of thing- I blamed myself for years. I only started to stop blaming myself after I talked with her about everything." he admitted. "And now she's gone and-" Leo shook his head, "We have to save Hera who spent ages fucking up my life because if we don't my sister's death will have been for nothing."
"What did she do? I mean, from what I've been told I know some of it but-"
"The last great prophecy was about her." Leo closed his eyes, shoulders slumping, "That's- I saw what that did to her, how it fucked with her. I don't want that, that weight on my shoulders. I don't want to risk dying- I guess I'm not like her."
"I wish I'd have gotten the chance to meet her?" Jason said after a moment, "She sounds-"
"Insane, awesome, badass- annoying as hell." Leo's lips twitched into a grin, "She'd never admit it but she was the biggest mother hen ever over Nico, Ty and me. And was a total dumbass- she didn't even realise she was crushing on Rachel or that Rachel was like, in love with her, for months."
"How does that even work?" Jason's voice was curious, "Like, your sister had two girlfriends-"
"They were poly." Leo turned his gaze back to Jason, "I can't claim to know how all relationships like that work but I know that they all liked each other. They were perfect together- they fit- Annabeth and Rachel managed to- I think in some ways they're stronger now than they were before, the bond they have. Percy used to tie them together. Now the grief does- but they are still in love. Percy would be happy for them. I know she would."
"I don't-" Jason's voice was hesitant, "I don't know if I've ever had anything like that before." his eyes strayed to Piper, seemingly against his will and Leo felt his lips twitch.
"I've got Cal. So I can kinda speak from experience with relationships. If you find someone you click with then they're worth it. So so worth it." he paused, "Piper is awesome-"
"Pipe-"
"It's obvious Jason." Leo snorted, "No offence Jay but you've been giving each other those little looks ever since we left on this quest-"
"I just-"
"It's nothing to be ashamed of." Leo shrugged, shaking his head, Pipes is awesome- like, one of the most badass bitchin' girls you're ever likely to meet- and I have met some badass girls; my big sister's Percy motherfucking Jackson and I'm dating Calypso. Also- I have met your sister and my sisters girlfriends and they terrify me."
"I-" Jason paused, clearly picturing Thalia, "Okay, okay that's fair." he shifted, "It's- I think I like her. I just- I have no memories. I don't want to hurt her or anyone. What if I've got a girlfriend or something."
"I-" Leo shifted, a thoughtful look on his face, "I was about to say that Hera wouldn't do that to you but she's a bitch so she probably would-"
"You know I don't think most people would be so willing to insult the Queen of the gods-"
"Jay, buddy, pal, friend. My big brother fucking ordered the gods to pay their damn child support so to speak- that sort of irreverence rubs off on ya."
"He did what?" Jason blinked rapidly, a very stunned look on his face- which made Leo laugh loudly.
"Once this is all over I'll give you a rundown of my families top twenty craziest stories- you and Pipes will love it. Anyway- you, Pipes, I support you guys if that's what you want- but- remember Hera fucked with her head, she didn't just take your memories she gave Piper fake ones. Ones that include you dating. Make sure that it's not just the fake memories that are making her want it okay dude. Otherwise both of you are gonna end up heartbroken."
"No offence but I wouldn't have thought you'd be the type to give relationship advice but you're actually pretty good at it." Jason shot Leo a wry smile, "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I don't want to hurt Piper and I don't want to get hurt either."
"I'm not saying that there's no way you two would work out. I'm just being practical." Leo shrugged, "And I won't take offence, I don't even know how I got so lucky as to get freaking Calypso of all people to fall for me so I know I'm not the type you'd expect advice from." he gave Jason a sidelong look, "Now get some sleep Grace, before I kick your ass."
"Like you could Valdez." Jason was smiling slightly back at Leo, an amused look on his face, "But since I'm tired I will listen to you. Will you wake us up if anything changes?"
"Of course." Leo nodded, his gaze focusing back on the lock of the cage as he heard Jason start to settle down.
And when Leo heard Jason's breathing even out, joining Piper's slow even breaths he let his shoulders lower slightly, humming very quietly to himself. He couldn't remember any words, but the tune was one his mother had hummed to him when he was little, she'd be working and he'd curl up in a chair to watch her and he'd fall asleep to the sound of her soft warm soothing voice.
And as he did he promised himself one thing.
He wouldn't let her down. She was gone, she'd died because of Medea and Gaea. So he'd take down Gaea, sure it wouldn't bring her back but it would make him feel a bit better. Maybe.