Hazel

Hazel Levesque,

My darling daughter, I am so proud of you and the skill you showed in battle. I want you to know that I agree with Mars on the topic of this quest. However, I have still been selected to give you your next clue.

The prophecy said Air, Water, and Fire must learn to take turns. The coherence of your team is about to be tested. Make it out of tomorrow as live demigods, let alone friends, and you will save Frank for one more day.

I wish you and your friends the best of luck with Zeus' pathetic game. And Hazel, I'm sorry I haven't kept up with you. I really do love you, Hazel.

-Pluto

"Great. Jason, Percy, and Leo are going to fight." I mumbled. Then I thought about the beginning of the note. "My dad really does care about me." I smiled and got up from my bed.

Everyone seemed glad to me conscious for breakfast. Jason literally stared at me with his mouth wide open as I told the story of my encounter with the hellhound.

After breakfast, we did a little bit of swordplay training. Just as we were sitting down to lunch, the ship lurched and the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. Percy and Jason unsheathed their swords and began climbing the stairs to the main deck. Leo pushed past them and threw open the trapdoor. Two smiling cheerleaders greeted him and Leo's jaw dropped.

"Helllloooo, ladies! Welcome to the Argo II. I'm Leo." He winked.

"I'm Kelli." One of the cheerleaders said.

Upon hearing that name, Percy jumped and pointed Riptide at her. "Why are you here?" He stepped closer to her, his sword now an inch from her throat.

"Oh, Persssssy! You remember me!"

"How could I forget?" He rolled his eyes, "You wanted to drink my blood!"

At this, Leo was shaken from his girl-induced stupor and said, "Wait-what?"

"Leo, they're Empousai." Jason explained. "Vampire-serpent girls."

Leo backed away from Kelli as her eyes flashed red and her disguise disappeared. "Sssssssooo, which one of you boysssss isssss the ssssstrongesssstt?"

"Do you even have to ask this?" Leo threw his hands in the air and flames shot out of his fingertips.

"Impressssive. But what about him?" Kelli pointed at Jason.

He grinned smugly and lightning struck Kelli's friend. "Hey! There'ssss no need for that!"

"Sorry." Jason replied casually.

"I bet Perssssy can't do anything like that!" Percy's expression hardened as an enormous wave shaped like a trident shot over the boat, picking up Kelli's friend and depositing her forty feet away.

Leo chuckled, "Woooowwww. Impressive, Percy." He rolled his eyes. Percy clenched his fists and walked towards Leo. "What, so you're agreeing with him, Percy?" Jason laughed. "You really are a wimp!" Percy charged Jason and slammed his head into his stomach. Jason doubled over in pain as Leo said, "Woah! Percy! We were just messing with you!"

"Oh yeah? Really?" Percy almost punched Leo in the nose, but Hazel threw herself in front of him.

"Stop it! All of you! This is what Pluto was talking about in the note. Kelli is trying to get you to fight!" Hazel yelled. Percy spun around and sliced off Kelli's head. The Empousa crumbled to dust and disappeared. Then Percy turned to look at Jason.

He shook his head as if clearing his vision and took a step back. "Bro! I am so sorry! I don't know what I was doing."

"It's okay." Jason wheezed. "I'm sorry for everything I said."
"Yeah, me too." Leo added. The three guys bro-hugged and Hazel sighed with relief.

Leo

Later that night, I was talking to Hazel and asked her if she wanted to take a walk. I put the Argo in autopilot and we went below deck. "How are you feeling?"

"Fine. Much better after all that sleep." Hazel laughed.

"So…uh, I was thinking about yesterday…" I hesitated.

"About me kissing you?"

"Yeah."

"It was an impulse."

"Did you mean it?"

"Maybe." Hazel smiled.

As a sudden wave of courage washed over me, I leaned towards her. She closed her eyes as our lips brushed together, short and sweet. Hazel looked at me, confused.

"It was an impulse?" I explained, shrugging.

"Did you mean it?" She asked with a smile.

"Absolutely." Hazel leaned in to kiss me and put her arms around my neck, weaving her hands through my hair. I wrapped mine around her waist and relaxed into the blissful moment.

Percy

The next morning, Hazel was walking around with her head in the clouds, and everyone made a priority to comment on it.

"Hazel…What's going on?" Annabeth raised her eyebrows in suspicion.

"Hmmm?" Hazel replied as she pushed her food around with a fork.

"Yeah. Why are you acting so weird?" Jason stopped stuffing his face with pancakes and looked up at Hazel.

"Guys, leave her alone." I said and excused myself from the table.

Hazel followed me down the hallway. I didn't turn around, but asked, "Does it have to do with Leo?" She crossed her arms and stopped walking. "I thought you wanted everyone to leave me alone about it!" I turned to face her, laughing at her glare. "Well it does, doesn't it?"

"None of your business."
"If I ask Leo, will he tell me?" I teased.

"Maybe, maybe not."

I smirked and shut my door behind me. A few minutes later, Annabeth came in and sat down next to me on my bed.

"So did she tell you?"

"Nope."

"That's too bad. Leo told me."

I turned to stare at Annabeth in surprise. "And what did he say?

She feigned surprise, "That is confidential information, Jackson!" I laughed, "All right, Wise Girl."

Moving closer and turning to face me, she whispered, "I could be convinced to make a trade…"

"Trade what?" I smirked as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"A kiss for information?"

"Sounds like a fair trade to me." I replied and pulled Annabeth closer to kiss her.

When she pulled away and told me the story, I picked her up and lifted her off my bed. "You know I was going to kiss you anyway, right?"

She punched me in the shoulder, then said, "I know." I grinned as she laced her fingers through mine.