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Chapter Thirteen: Thalia
Thalia stood in shock as Calypso lunged at Piper, both girls had tears streaming down their faces, Piper more composed. Looking inside Jason's room, Jason, Reyna, and Leo stood, stunned, and outside, Hylla and Hazel were gaping.
Piper quickly disarmed Calypso as said girl screamed at her, and Thalia knew that Piper wouldn't last long before she really broke. She had thought Piper and Jason made up, but apparently they still didn't talk about their fight, whatever it was about.
Finally, Piper dropped to the ground, gasping for air as Calypso stormed off. Everyone snapped out of their stupor, and Thalia rushed to Piper, worried she was going to pass out. She wasn't breathing evenly, drawing more air in than she was letting out. "Piper, listen to me. Piper, you need to breathe." Jason hesitantly stepped forward, "Pipes, come on. You're going to faint." He crouched next to her, and time seemed to stop as Piper lifted her head, shaking her hair away from her face, giving Jason the most broken, hurt look Thalia had ever seen. Piper gulped in air, looking away from him, and he stood, his mask of stone back. Thalia gently pulled Piper to her feet, and led her to Jason's room, giving her a nudge when she hesitated at the door. "Come on," She gestured for Piper to sit on the bed, then settled down next to her. Thalia called everyone back in, then looked to Hazel. "Can you please bring Calypso?" Hazel nodded, then silently left. Everyone else filed in, each person avoiding the other's eyes.
Thalia, however, noticed Reyna's lips twitch at the ground, and she narrowed her eyes at the Roman. Hazel came with Calypso quickly, and Calypso's eyes were puffy, red, and wet. Piper hiccuped next to Thalia, wiping furiously at her face as she attempted to calm her breathing. Thalia turned to Piper on the bed, "Piper, I need you to tell me everything that happened. From the start."
Piper nodded, her throat working as she swallowed. "Well, uh, we woke up the morning—"
"Who's we'?" Thalia interpreted, already knowing.
Piper grimaced as if it hurt her to say it. "Jason," She whispered. Said boy inhaled sharply, his mask of stone still set in place. "We woke up, and after, um," Piper's eyes widened at the floor, and a pretty pink shaded her cheeks. Ah. Thalia wanted to laugh. They were at it.
"We got up out of bed and put clothes on—I mean...shit. We changed our clothes then left our room. We were standing there...talking...for a moment and then I hear her calling him and he walks over to her and then—"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but who is 'her' and who is 'he'?" Thalia asked.
Piper narrowed her eyes, "You know exactly who I mean."
Thalia blinked innocently, "No I don't."
Piper huffed, crossing her arms, and out of the corner of her eye, Thalia saw Jason's mask crumble into longing. Poor boy.
"Reyna called Jason and Jason walked over to Reyna and then Reyna said something to Jason and Jason said something back to Reyna," Piper emphasized the names while glaring at Thalia, and her harsh stare dissolved as she continued. "He came storming up to me, and he was mad—irate. Like, I get we sometimes get into fights but he is—was never like that with me." Piper's voice was low, her eyes blinking fast as Jason shifted on his feet, everyone else in a deadly silence. "He asked me why I was cheating on him with Leo, and why I didn't tell him that I knew Leo was alive. Obviously, it's impossible that I cheated because I was with Jason all night since we got here, I never left his sight. I couldn't have known Leo was alive because if I did, I wouldn't have been able to hide it. Jason would've seen right through me. He didn't listen to me when I denied it, broke up with me, then he went back to her and he—" Piper's voice caught, and she scowled at the ground, reminding Thalia of Nico. "He kissed her," Piper continued softly. "And then today, I'm walking down the hall wondering where everyone is, and I hear shouting. And when I get closer I hear Reyna telling Calypso that Leo cheated on her with me, which isn't true."
Thalia looked around the room, save for Leo, Hylla, and Reyna, they all seemed unconvinced. Thalia mentally snorted, and to think they were loyal friends.
"And then, well, you know what happened after," Piper finished.
Reyna sighed, placing her arms on her hips. "Piper, just because you don't like being Aphrodite's daughter, it doesn't mean you don't like the sex. I heard you and Leo early on the morning when you and Jason arrived. I was walking by a bedroom with his name on the door, and I know the female sounds coming from in there weren't Calypso's because I had seen her when I entered this camp. Hazel is too young for it, and it wasn't me, obviously, so it was you."
True.
Calypso clenched her jaw, and a look of disgust marred Jason's features. Piper's mouth dropped, "I was in bed with Jason the whole fucking night!"
Reyna snorted, "Look at you, getting defensive. It's clear you were with Jason for the sex, I mean, from personal experience I can agree with you that he is excellent in bed."
Low blow, Roman.
Piper's eyes narrowed, "Believe it or not, I've had sex one time my entire life. I was a virgin before Jason had me that night we were brought here."
Well, that changes things.
Reyna scoffed, "Lier."
Maybe not.
"Really? Reyna, if it weren't my second time you wouldn't have heard sounds of pleasure. If it were only my second time, it still would've hurt like shit."
She did have a point.
Reyna sneered at her, crossing her arms, "Look at you now, grasping at straws. You're just so—"
Piper looked at Jason, "Are you happy?"
What?
Jason narrowed his eyes, "You think this whole thing fucking amuses me?" He shouted.
Oops. Wrong question.
Piper closed her eyes, opening them and glancing at the ground, a resigned look crossing her features. A defeated look. "Let me rephrase that. Are you happier with Reyna than you were with me?"
Oh.
Jason hesitated, "Yes. I am."
Oh.
Piper nodded, still not meeting anyone's eyes. Her face was suddenly blank, unreadable, and that worried Thalia.
Crap.
Thalia looked around the room, "I want everybody out of here. All of you but Jason, please."
Piper threw a questioning glance at her, then got up. She passed Jason, and her eyes dropped to the ground, but Thalia could tell Piper felt his eyes on her by the way she stiffened up.
When Piper walked by Reyna, however, she paused, and so did everyone else. "Know that I am not shitting you when I say I don't care if you convince the whole world of your lies. No matter what you throw at us, I still love Jason, I always will. And since he's happy with you, I'll leave the two of you in peace. But," Piper's tone took on a calm yet threatening one. It actually scared Thalia for a moment, and everyone else seemed to have the look of stunned fear on their faces. "If you hurt him, physically, emotionally, or mentally, you will answer to me first. And you won't be seeing the Aphrodite side of me, no, you'll be seeing the vicious monster I save to unleash on my enemies. You are nothing but a lying, cheating, deceiving two-faced Roman bitch and I will, one day, I will make you pay tenfold for the pain you have put me, Leo, Jason, and Calypso through. For now, stay the fuck out of my face, or you will be meeting with the end of Katoptris. When that day does come, nothing will be able to save you from my wrath. Not Jason, not Thalia, not your little metal dogs, or any of the Roman cowards that follow you, or even death. Because if I die trying to take you down, I will drag myself out of the Underworld, and I will make sure the next time I end up there, you're right beside me. I swear it on the River Styx." Piper glared at Reyna, who actually gulped and took a small step back.
Thalia and the others picked their jaws off the ground as Piper stormed out, all but Jason following. When the door closed behind them, Thalia let out a humorless chuckle. "I've never heard her curse that much."
Jason blinked, "I've never heard her curse. Ever."
"Is there anything you'd like to add to what Piper said?"
Jason's lips twitched, "I think she threatened Reyna well enough."
Thalia barked a laugh, "Reyna's expression was priceless. But I'm talking about the dramatic story that is your lives."
Jason shook his head, "No."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, running a hand through his golden locks. "I'm sure."
"Tell me, how do you know Piper was cheating on you?" Thalia asked softly.
Jason scowled, "Reyna told me. As Piper mentioned."
"Right. I know. But did Reyna give you any proof?"
"Well, I mean, no."
"Then how do you know Reyna didn't lie?"
"Her word is enough. She's a Roman, she has honor, pride, and a reputation that mean everything to her. She wouldn't want to ruin that for me."
"Love makes you do crazy things, Jase. It can blind you, or make you open your eyes. I understand that you trust Reyna, but is she really a trusted person?"
Jason opened his mouth, shut it, opened it again, then once more closed it.
He was stumped.
