I just realized I haven't done a Tulio chapter since the beginning...My bad D:

So, here's a Tulio chappie for ya!

I own nothing you recognize as canon.


XXXIV

TULIO

Tulio groaned and rubbed his head. "What just happened?"

He opened his eyes and found his vision blocked by something heavy. He pushed up. It felt like a person?

"Hang on, Tulio," came his sister's voice. "Papi can be pretty heavy."

Oh, it was Leo.

Tulio closed his eyes and concentrated. The ground left and for a split second, the demititan felt like he was floating in midair. Then, he hit the floor again softly. Now he was in an open area, able to move freely.

"Ugh," he groaned. He felt exhausted now. "Teleporting when I'm not fully awake…not gonna do that again…"

He looked behind him and saw Espie giving him an exasperated look. "I was trying to get Papi off you."

Tulio saw she had her arm around Leo's shoulders. The son of Hephaestus was still unconscious, obviously still sedated. He didn't look harmed, but there seemed to be a welt growing on his forehead. He must have hit his head on the way down from the bed, which was…on its side on the other side of the room…?

"What happened?" Tulio asked.

Espie shrugged. "I dunno. The ship suddenly lurched and you and Papi went tumbling. I'd caught the bed before it could roll onto you guys. You okay?"

Tulio nodded. "Yeah, I think I'm okay. No worse for the wear."

"Espie! Is Leo okay?"

Sammy Leo suddenly burst into the room. His golden eyes were wide with concern.

Espie nodded. "Yeah, he seems to be fine. We're all fine in here. What happened?"

Sammy shrugged. "You got me. All of us in the mess hall were talking about this dream Bobby had when the ship suddenly made us into a huge dog pile. As soon as I got free I came to see you."

Espie smiled. "That's sweet that the first thing you think of is my dad. I see your game now: get close to me to get closer to Leo."

Tulio snorted. Sammy blushed and looked a little flustered. "No…I…he's not…"

"Relax," she said. "I'm just messin' with you. Help me get Papi into a more comfortable position."

As the boys helped moved Leo to a safer corner of the room, the son of Hephaestus groaned. He opened his hazy brown eyes. Everyone froze.

Leo groaned again and shut his eyes.

"Is he awake?" Sammy asked.

Tulio sighed. "The impact on his head must have woken him up. The sedatives are still deep in his system, though. He probably feels like he got gassed at the dentist."

"Loopy?"

"And slow," Tulio confirmed. "Go get a pillow and some blankets, Espie. Sammy, some water."

The two set off. Tulio kissed Leo on the forehead and the welt instantly vanished. Leo moaned and opened his eyes again.

"Tu…li…o…" he said slowly.

"Rest, Papi," the legacy said. "Go back to sleep."

"Thhhh….irshty…"

Sammy came back with a bottle of water. Tulio uncapped it and held up Leo's head. He poured a tiny trickle into his father's mouth. "Drink," he ordered softly.

Leo could only hold open his mouth a little. He barely swallowed. A lot of the water poured out of his mouth before he could manage to swallow.

"You drink the water, not wear it," Tulio said playfully.

Leo didn't respond. He sputtered a bit but then curled onto his side. "Shlee…phy…"

Tulio smiled. Espie arrived with a thick blanket and two soft pillows. She wrapped Leo up as Sammy fluffed up the pillows. Leo hummed sleepily.

Espie kissed his hair. "Rest easy, Papi."

Sammy took her hand in his. "He'll be fine. Why don't we see what's up above? They might need our help."

Espie nodded and stood up with her new boyfriend. They left the room in a hurry.

Tulio stayed behind a moment more. He watched his father with concerned eyes.

"Papi," he whispered. "Whatever happens…I hope you'll be okay…"

He shivered slightly. For some reason, he'd been feeling nothing but dread for his father for the last few days. Something was bound to happen. Something bad.

"Please be careful," he whispered before heading upstairs.


"Houston?" Tulio asked. "You're kidding."

Andy the Telekhine shook his head. He was collared and attached to Icarus via bronze chains. If at any time the Seven and their legacies thought Andy was lying, Icarus would eat him. "I do not kid when it comes to my life. I swear that Houston is where Calypso Valdez is being held. There is an underground cavern under the city. You can get to it via the sewers or from a few miles out of the city. I won't lie; there will be many monsters there to protect her."

"Obvious," Percy growled. "We'd pretty much figured there would be."

"So where's the entrance?" Mark asked.

"The closest entrance to the specific area in the sewers lies in a cemetery."

"Lovely," Piper said, curling her lip. "If only we had Nico, right?"

Hazel giggled. "You've still got me. If Atlas was planning on using the dead, they wouldn't dare attack a daughter of Pluto."

"Or his grandson," Sammy Leo put in.

"Atlas's power over undead soldiers are pretty much useless in that graveyard. None of the dead there participated in wars. They're descended from immigrants."

"In other words," Espie said. "It's a Mexican cemetery."

"Is it día de las muertos already?" Tulio asked. "Should've brought some sugar skulls."

"Not the time for jokes," Frank grumbled.

Espie shrugged. "Someone's gotta keep the morale up."

"It's a Valdez specialty," Tulio put in.

"We know," the son of Mars said.

Bobby snickered. Lacy rolled her eyes.

Annabeth cleared her throat. "Any other information we could use? Troop placement? How far we have to go before we see Calypso?"

"The army is pretty disorganized," Andy said. "They just go where they're sent and stand there. There's no real special formation to them. As for where she is…she's about a mile down if you use the cemetery entrance. Longer if you try any other way."

The adults exchanged a glance, then settled onto Sammy Leo.

"Well, Sam," Frank said. "It's your call, since you're officially the leader of this quest. Wanna take that entrance or try our luck farther away?"

Sammy nodded. "We don't have much of a choice. If things go wrong, I'd rather have to run a shorter distance. We'll take the cemetery entrance."

Lacy bent down to the Telekhine's level. "Okay, Andy. You're going to lead us down to Calypso. If you try to attack us with your friends, we'll turn you to dust so fast you won't know who hit you."

Andy shivered. "They aren't my friends. And I won't attack you even if I was going to be paid. I can't take on my older brothers, much less you guys. I'll lead you to Calypso without a fuss."

Tulio stroked Icarus's hide. The dragon purred in reply, but then whirred something in Morse Code.

The demititan rolled his eyes. "No, you may not eat him. Yet. He's being useful."

Icarus snorted.

Andy looked quite nervous around the dragon head.

Tulio gave the monster an impish grin. "Let's hope he stays useful."

Andy whimpered.


A/N: Tulio can be evil when he wants to :3

Also, saw the new Night at the Museum! I LOVED IT! Though I can't fathom why my eyes kept traveling to Ahk whenever he was on screen... It totally wasn't because he was total eye candy... :D