Three days! D: Ermehgerd, three days!

I can't take it! I feel like I'm gonna die before I get BoO!

*breathe in* *breathe out*

Back to the story.

Oh, look! It's Espie POV today! :o How exciting!

Disclaimer: I own the kids/teens but not any of the canon characters. Whoops, I also don't own Arey. He belongs to PercyJacksonOracle ;)


IV

ESPERANZA

Espie repeated the lines that had appeared over the key to the council, Roman centurions and children of the Seven (minus Aria, Zac and Gus), who were gathered around the ping pong table. Rachel, the Oracle, was currently on a vacation in Florida with some of her cousins. She wouldn't be back until next week.

"The first of the rescues is for the son of Flames, who can only be saved by hope's twice-used name. Any ideas on what that means?"

"Could it be a prophecy?" asked Arey Stoll, the current head counselor for Hermes Cabin. He was the only child of Travis and Katie Stoll, with light brown hair, leaf green eyes, and an ocean of freckles splattered across his face.

"It's too short to be a prophecy," retorted the Demeter Cabin head, Sally Vern.

"It kinda sounds like a clue," said Sammy.

"A clue to Leo, perhaps?" asked Bobby thoughtfully.

All eyes locked onto the smaller Jackson. He shrugged as if it was obvious. "The son of Flames? Obviously that's Leo. And he apparently needs rescuing."

Espie's heart sped up. She couldn't handle the fact that her father was the one that needed rescuing. Leo was a person that seemed like he could handle anything. He may not be the toughest or strongest guy, but he was definitely the most resourceful and had the most stamina in a fight.

Tulio gripped her hand. She sighed and shot him a grateful look. Her brother always knew when she was stressed. He always knew how to help her relax.

"But where do we look?" the Ares counselor, Marina McGuffey—someone who freakishly resembled Clarisse La Rue back when she was the Ares counselor—asked. "It's not as if the key gave us a location."

Espie looked out the window. The huge wildfire was still blazing in the forest. She didn't know what it was running on, but had to guess it wasn't dying down on its own.

The key in her hand felt hot. When Espie stole glances at it, it seemed as though the key was pointing towards the fire. Though, that could just be that she was holding the key that way…

But still…

Espie closed her eyes for a moment. It was just to clear her head. But when she did it, the darkness behind her eyelids lit up in flames, and her father's face was behind them. He looked tired and weak. Espie wanted to reach out a hand and help him.

She opened her eyes again. The counselors were talking about some sort of location, but Espie ignored it.

She gripped the key tightly and exhaled. "Isn't it obvious?"

The group had now locked eyes onto her. She gulped. Espie was an attention-seeker, usually ready with a joke or a wise-crack, but when it came to things like this…well, she'd rather someone else take the spotlight.

She pointed to the flames outside. "That's obviously not a normal blaze out there. Perhaps Papi's in there! He'd be the only one who could survive that besides me and Tulio!"

Chiron nodded. "That's plausible. But, that would have to mean Leo is behind that fire."

"Papi wouldn't be able to hold a blaze that big for this long," Tulio argued, his almond eyes flashing dangerously.

Sammy nodded. "He's right. It'd be like Percy or Jason holding a storm over one spot for over a day—it's not possible."

The Roman legacy glanced over at Espie briefly. His golden eyes flashed with something she didn't recognize. She looked away. Why did she feel like blushing whenever he looked at her like that?

Focus, Espie, she scolded herself.

Mark huffed. "So, if Leo is really in there, how do we get him out?"

"We'd have to send someone in there," Arey suggested.

Chiron said, "That blaze is far too big. There aren't any gaps and the smoke alone would suffocate anyone who could actually find a path through the flames. However, lucky there are a couple of people here that can withstand those trials."

Tulio shrank in his seat when everyone's eyes rested on them. Espie lifted her chin.

"We can search for him," Espie said. "We'll go right now."

"Take the key with you," Chiron told her. "You may need it."


Five minutes later, Espie was at the border of the flames, holding Tulio's hand for support. Her heart was in her throat. She glanced at her brother.

He nodded encouragingly. "We can do this, Hermana. Papi's in there, waiting for us."

She smiled back. "Let's go."

The whole camp cheered them on as the demititans dove into the fire.

It was something to behold—the landscape inside the blaze, that is.

The trees were perfectly fine, the flames licking against the trunks and branches harmlessly. In fact, it almost seemed like the fire wasn't real—like it was an illusion. The only reason Espie knew the fire was real was the intense heat rolling off the fire in waves. Espie figured that the fire would probably have burned the twins if they weren't fireproof. Whatever didn't want the fire to destroy the woods probably didn't extend that to people.

"Phew," Tulio sighed. "Kinda glad Mom made our clothes fireproof. It would take a lot of concentration to keep our clothes on otherwise."

Espie giggled. "Yeah. So, where do we begin?"

Tulio gazed around. He pointed West. "Seems like the heat gets more intense down there. I'm starting to see a blue glow."

"Alright."

Soon enough, the orange flames began to tinge blue. The heat was, in turn, getting more intense. Espie walked right into the first true blue flames without hesitation.

This isn't so bad, she thought. At least we can get through pretty easily. I just hope there won't be any guardians in here. I forgot to bring a sword, and I'm pretty sure Tulio doesn't have his hammer—

"Espie…"

She halted and turned around.

Tulio stood just beyond the blue flames, where the orange stopped completely. He looked frightened.

"Well, come on, Tui," she urged. "What's the matter? You scared?"

"Don't call me Tui," he snarled. Then, his face went back into fear. "I'm not scared," he contradicted. "It's just…I can't go through."

He held up his hand to the blue flames. The flames clung to him and sizzled. He retreated back and hissed, clutching his hand to his chest.

"Did…" Espie began. "Did you just get burned?"

He nodded.

"But that's not right," she shouted. "You've endured way hotter flames!"

"I think it's the constant exposure," he said. "I may be fireproof, but not as much as you. You and Papi are total fire users that can set yourselves on fire for long periods of time. I've only been able to withstand your flames from a distance or, y'know, stand in small bonfires for a few minutes. I don't think I can withstand constant exposure to hotter flames than this."

Espie wanted to cry. She had never felt so alone with her powers before. Leo had helped her control her flames and make her feel welcome and special, never like a freak. And Tulio? He was one of the only people in the world that could calm her down when she caught fire or get her out of a blaze when she threw a tantrum.

Now Tulio couldn't go with her because he wasn't totally like her—and her Papi was gods-know-where. She was utterly alone now. It felt awful.

"Espie," Tulio said. "You can do this."

"I'm not sure I can," she said honestly. "You won't be next to me."

"You've gone on many quests without me, right?"

She nodded, though she didn't mention how awful it felt every time. She counted the hours and minutes before she could be with her brother each time. When they were apart, it felt like she had lost a limb.

"What's one more?"

Espie sighed. "Okay. But you'll be right there?"

"I won't go anywhere," he promised. "You're Esperanza Valdez! You can get to the bottom of this fire because you're awesome!"

She smiled. Tulio once again knew what to say. That made her want him by her side even more.

"Thanks, Tui."

Before Tulio could growl at her for using his unwanted nickname, she turned and ran deeper into the blue flames.


A/N: Aww...poor Espie...