All I can say is poor Leo- and don't blame Piper and Jason for having moments of doubt- even Leo has a moment or two of doubt. Anyway, minor update- I am struggling with the writing at the moment, I've been on the same chapter for a couple of days. I will push through it and I have a huge back log so it's not a big deal but I figured you guys would like to know. Also- not so random question, everyone wants magnetic Sally but what sort of things do you think it would be plausible for magnetic Sally to do? I may have started writing the first chapter because I was frustrated. Whoops? Anyway, I will not give up I think I just need a few days break from writing this one and to keep myself writing I will start work on the Roman but I will go back to this one by Monday at the latest I promise. And I will still be updating as normal.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Oh wait until a few chapters time- then you see her get yelled at real good. And yeah, it's not super long but it does have a few nice chapters I think- and they are important.
The Official Clarisse: I cannot confirm nor deny anything I'm afraid- but I do think you'll enjoy the minific- there is angst there but there is also so much fun- I love it for that reason, it's something I know a lot of people want to see a bit off.
Weirdhead: I don't think Zoe and Calypso have any real canon connection other than the fact that they're both daughters of Atlas but I mean, they are sisters and I figure Zoe, who lost her sisters because of Hercules, and Calypso, who spent years isolated, would want to be close if that makes sense.
Of course, they could never have that much luck, and the air turned brittle with cold. The temperature dropped so fast, Leo's lips cracked and his breath changed to mist. Frost coated the walls of the Wolf House. Storm spirits rushed in —but instead of winged men, these were shaped like horses, with dark storm-cloud bodies and manes that crackled with lightning. Some had silver arrows sticking out of their flanks. Behind them came red-eyed wolves and the six-armed Earthborn.
Piper drew her dagger. Jason grabbed an ice-covered plank off the pool floor. Leo reached into his tool belt, but he was so distracted and worked up that all he produced was a tin of breath mints. He shoved them back in, hoping nobody had noticed, and drew a hammer instead.
One of the wolves padded forward. It was dragging a human-size statue by the leg. At the edge of the pool, the wolf opened its maw and dropped the statue for them to see—an ice sculpture of a girl, an archer with a long braid over her shoulder and a furious expression.
Leo let out a furious yell- he actually liked Zoe- she might not always be the nicest when it came to boys but he knew she was sort of fond of him- and she was family. She was Calypso's sister.
And more important than even that, she was a sort of friend- they'd fought side by side and the sight of her like that made him even angrier, and Jason and Piper had to grab him quickly and hold him back.
"Who did this to her?" he screamed the words, he could feel his skin heating even more. "Who fucking did it?"
From somewhere behind the monsters, Leo heard a girl's laughter, clear and cold, and familiar. She stepped out of the mist in her snowy white dress, a silver crown atop her long black hair. She regarded them with those deep brown eyes and Leo didn't even feel smug about being right.
"Bonjour, mes amis," said Khione, the goddess of snow. She gave Leo a frosty smile. "Alas, son of Hephaestus, you say you need time? I'm afraid time is one tool you do not have."
"Oh you bitch I fucking knew it."
"What've you done?" Jason demanded.
"Oh, so many things," the snow goddess purred. "Zoe Nightshade is not dead, if that's what you mean. She and her Hunters will make fine toys for our wolves. I thought we'd defrost them one at a time and hunt them down for amusement. Let them be the prey for once. "
The wolves snarled appreciatively, and Leo felt his blood almost boiling in his fury- and he felt Piper and Jason's grip on him loosening- he wondered how hot his skin was, he didn't want to burn them but he was so angry that it was hard to reel it in.
"Yes, my dears. " Khione kept her eyes on Jason. "She almost killed their king, you know. Lycaon's off in a cave somewhere, no doubt licking his wounds, but his minions have joined us to take revenge for their master. And soon Porphyrion will arise, and we shall rule the world."
"Traitor!" Hera shouted. "You meddlesome, D-list goddess! You aren't worthy to pour my wine, much less rule the world."
Khione sighed. "Tiresome as ever, Queen Hera. I've been wanting to shut you up for millennia."
Khione waved her hand, and ice encased the prison, sealing in the spaces between the earthen tendrils. If she wasn't the enemy Leo would have probably high fived her for that, but right now he hated Khione more than Hera.
"That's better," the snow goddess said. "Now, demigods, about your death—"
"You're the one who tricked Hera into coming here," Jason said. "You gave Zeus the idea of closing Olympus."
The wolves snarled, and the storm spirits whinnied, ready to attack, but Khione held up her hand. "Patience, my loves. If he wants to talk, what matter? The sun is setting, and time is on our side. Of course, Jason Grace. Like snow, my voice is quiet and gentle, and very cold. It's easy for me to whisper to the other gods, especially when I am only confirming their own deepest fears. I also whispered in Aeolus's ear that he should issue an order to kill demigods. It is a small service for Gaea, but I'm sure I will be well rewarded when her sons the giants come to power. "
"You could've killed us in Quebec," Jason said. "Why let us live?"
Khione wrinkled her nose. "Messy business, killing you in my father's house, especially when he insists on meeting all visitors. I did try, you remember. It would've been lovely if he'd agreed to turn you to ice. But once he'd given you guarantee of safe passage, I couldn't openly disobey him. My father is an old fool. He lives in fear of Zeus and Aeolus, but he's still powerful. Soon enough, when my new masters have awakened, I will depose Boreas and take the throne of the North Wind, but not just yet. Besides, my father did have a point. Your quest was suicidal. I fully expected you to fail."
"And to help us with that," Leo said, his voice a low growl "you knocked our dragon out of the sky over Detroit. Those frozen wires in his head—that was your fault. You're gonna pay for that." "You're also the one who kept Enceladus informed about us," Piper added. "We've been plagued by snowstorms the whole trip. "
"Yes, I feel so close to all of you now!" Khione said. "Once you made it past Omaha, I decided to asked Lycaon to track you down so Jason could die here, at the Wolf House. " Khione smiled at him. "You see, Jason, your blood spilled on this sacred ground will taint it for generations. Your demigod brethren will be outraged, especially when they find the bodies of these two from Camp Half-Blood. They'll believe the Greeks have conspired with giants. It will be … delicious."
"You want a war between the Greeks and the Romans." Leo's voice was tight- it was pretty obvious- and based on the horrified look on Jason's face it might not actually be a bad one. Jason was starting to remember, and clearly he understood what she'd been aiming for because he was shaking his head.
"You'll set demigods against demigods," he said.
"It's so easy!" said Khione. "As I told you, I only encourage what you would do anyway. "
"But why?" Piper spread her hands. "Khione, you'll tear the world apart. The giants will destroy everything. You don't want that. Call off your monsters. "
Khione hesitated, then laughed. "Your persuasive powers are improving, girl. But I am a goddess. You can't charm-speak me. We wind gods are creatures of chaos! I'll overthrow Aeolus and let the storms run free. If we destroy the mortal world, all the better! They never honored me, even in Greek times. Humans and their talk of global warming. Pah! I'll cool them down quickly enough. When we retake the ancient places, I will cover the Acropolis in snow. "
"The ancient places. " Leo's eyes widened. "That's what Enceladus meant about destroy the roots of the gods. He meant Greece." he paused, "Annabeth's gonna totally freak if we get to go there. She's going to be ridiculously excited." his smile was sad, "She'll drag Rache along to make it a date if I know her."
Khione's gaze focused on him then, and her expression changed, a smirk playing across her lips- he'd see that type of smirk before, usually before getting traumatised by either Annabeth, Percy or Luke making out with their girlfriends. Rachel, Annabeth and Thalia were much better with it though. Khione might be beautiful but Leo was not feeling in the mood to be seduced.
"You could join me son of Hephaestus." Khione offered, "We didn't hit it off right when we met but we could- your power- I think it may be even stronger than your friends- and you don't have to die. You could join us- be with me-"
"You're pretty and all, but you fucked with my dragon bitch- that won't get you anywhere. Besides, my girlfriend is a lot hotter than you-"
"Perhaps-" but Khione's eyes glittered with amusement, "But there is one thing I think could tempt you- Lady Gaea has given me permission after all. If you join us, she will gift you back your sister-" and Leo felt the world crashing around him at those words, his eyes widening in shock.
Suddenly he was back in Olympus- rushing into the throne room with Thalia, Annabeth and Grover and seeing Percy there in Lukes arms all over again, so small and fragile looking.
Then he was in Mount St Helens again. Clinging to his sister's hand, staring into her eyes knowing- knowing that they were both going to die, but not scared.
He'd never felt scared- somehow Percy had always made him feel safer. At least he wasn't going to die alone.
Then he was at that stupid military school, on the grounds anyway, his arms around Percy, helping her walk, warming himself up using his powers for the first time in a long time- on purpose anyway, because he couldn't let the brave strange girl who had tried to save his life freeze to death.
And then he was back in the cold of the Wolf House, and he could hear Piper and Jason's voices, panicked and pleading with him to answer them. And
Khione's expression was victorious. As if she'd already claimed her victory.
And he could see the terrified looks on his friends faces- and he couldn't blame them. They couldn't be sure what he'd do- an offer like that- the thought of getting to see his big sister again, that was huge.
And if he was honest it was tempting- but then he thought about Percy. Really thought about her.
She'd known what she was doing- she'd purposely gotten Grover to sever their empathy link because she'd known that she was going to die.
And she'd chosen to die to save them all. Not for the gods- never for the gods, but for her family, for her friends, for humans.
And really, taking Khione and Gaea up on that offer would be spitting on her memory wouldn't it?
He felt tears burning his eyes as he stepped forward- and he heard Piper almost wailing as she called his name. Pleading with him not to join them. And Jason's voice was frantic.
Leo closed his eyes, and he heard Khione's laugh, so very cold as he took another step, away from his friends.
"You have made the right choice." Khione told him, "Very good-"
And Leo opened his eyes, flames flaring all over his skin, blazing fiercely, "How dare you." his voice was low- and he heard Piper and Jason gasping loudly behind him, "How dare you try to manipulate me like that? My sister-" his voice caught before Leo almost heard her voice whispering to him.
"C'mon Flameo. Don't let little miss Ice Queen knock you off your game. Kick her ass- and then you gotta save Queen Bitchface. C'mon, don't let my sacrifice be for nothing. Please."
He felt like he'd been punched in the gut, unable to stop himself from mouthing the words. "I miss you so much."
"Of course you do." and Percy's voice in his head was almost teasing, "I am the best, one badass bitch. But you know, you're pretty awesome too bro. Why don't you kick that bitches ass for me, huh?"
And he swallowed hard, and he let the tears fall. "My sister was amazing. She was the greatest hero to have ever lived. And right now she's in Elysium. She's probably Partying with Mikey and Michael and Lee and Summer and Sherman and all of our other friends who died to stop Gaea's fucked up son. And you dare, you fucking dare try and use her to make me join you?" there weren't words for the fury he was feeling. "She would be the first to tell you and that fucking bitch Queen Dirtface where to go, and believe me it would not be pretty. So shut your ugly ass mouth before I shut it before you-"
Khione's eyes widened before she snarled, looking furious at him. "You dare insult me Leo Valdez- you dare call me ugly! I will show you the power of ice!"
She shot a blast of wintry sleet at the demigods, but Leo held up his hand. A wall of fire roared to life in front of him, and the snow dissolved in a steamy cloud.
"I'm just saying it as I see it. Now let's see how long your ice lasts against my fire!"