Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.

Sorry again for taking so long to update. I could blame it on writer's block, but I won't. I think I've said this before, I'm really lazy. But I'll definitely finish this story, before the summer ends. Here's chapter 13, read enjoy and review!

XIII
The lightning thief

As the hydra got closer, all eight heads focused on them, Jason could only inwardly complain. He was getting really tired of fighting monsters. Too bad they weren't tired of fighting him. He flipped Ivlivs, and got its gladius form.

"Dakota, you remember how to kill a hydra from monster class?"

Dakota drew his spear, the doughnut boxes long forgotten behind him.

"I'm having a hard time recalling anything right now," he answered nervously.

"We have to make a Carthagian fire pit to contain it."

"A pit?"

The hydra heads roared, a cacophonous choir ringing across the parking lot. Jason took a step forward, his sword ready. A Carthagian fire pit was the best way to fight a hydra, it trapped the monster and provided heroes with the one thing that prevented a severed hydra head from growing back. Fire. Problem was, they had no time to dig one. They would have to make another plan.

"We'll just have it make it a fire ring. I'll distract it while you summon dry vines around it."

Jason charged the monster while Dakota concentrated behind him. Two heads snapped at him at the same time, and he was forced to duck. He slashed the air in front of the hydra, and all the heads reared back. For a moment Jason thought he had scared it, but the middle head opened its jaws and shot out a jet of steaming green acid. Jason dove to the side and rolled a few times, the concrete beside him melting into a puddle of goo. He got to his his feet quickly and dodged more heads as they tried to snap him up.

"How's that fire ring coming along?" he asked Dakota.

"I'm working on it."

A diamond head bore on him, and he couldn't move out of the way on time. He leaned back and swung Ivlivs in a narrow arc, severing the head at the neck. It fell at his feet, the neck stump writhing. Jason inwardly cursed as the stump split into two and two heads grew out. I really hate hydras, the thought sullenly. The hydra attacked him again, and again, and all he could do was duck and land a few measly cuts on three heads. He jabbed upward, sinking his blade into the middle head's eye. All nine heads roared in pain and spat acid at him at once.

He leaped backwards, almost knocking into Dakota. The son of Bacchus had successfully grown and dried a ring of vines around the monster. He was now hacking at the concrete with his spear tip, trying to create enough sparks to set the vines alight. Moments later a fire came to life, spreading around the hydra rapidly. The hydra heads swung around, surprised by the bright flames. Jason tore a long hardened vine from the ring and lit the end. It was now or never.

He charged the hydra and hacked, slicing off a head. Before two more grew back, he brought the flaming stick down on the writhing stump. It shriveled and went still, and Jason allowed a glimmer of hope to rise within him. This was how Hercules had killed his hydra, and that guy did monster fighting right. He was on the right track. The other heads roared in pain and one bowled him over, a head spike grazing his forearm. He landed heavily on his back, the now smoking stick rolling from his grasp. Another head bit his leg, picking him up with its teeth. He bit back a cry of pain as he dangled upside down a few feet in the air, the other hydra heads snapping at him. He swung his blade at the neck of the head holding him up, severing it. He hit the ground hard and hastily got to his feet. Before he could do anything, the neck stump split and two heads started to grow. He ducked and sidestepped as multiple heads snapped at him, inching slowly toward his discarded vine. To his right, a severed head fell with a loud thud, and Jason turned his head loud enough to see Dakota burn the stump with his own flaming stick. The son of Bacchus dropped his spear and gripped his stick tightly.

"Jason, you cut, I burn."

Jason understood immediately. A head snapped at him and he ducked low, swinging Ivlivs upward in a deadly arc. Immediately Dakota stepped in and burned the stump. They had sliced off and burned two more heads when one head swung like a club, knocking Dakota out of the fire ring. He rolled a few times before coming to a stop, groaning loudly. Jason was left to fight the hydra alone.

The hydra heads swung around and spat acid at the fire ring, extinguishing it. Apparently the monster wasn't as stupid as it looked. Jason felt his budding hope flicker and die. How was he going to defeat the hydra now? The heads attacked him with a savage fervor, and he could only duck and sidestep. He smacked one head in the eye with the flat of his blade, but another head moved quickly and snapped at him. He held out a hand feebly, but there was a loud crackle. The head recoiled in pain, its side burned black. What had just happened? Jason looked at his hand, and his eyes widened in shock. Sparks of electricity arched up to his fingertips, some popping and giving the air a faint tinge of ozone. No way, he thought in awe. Before he could admire his newfound power further, the hydra attacked. But an idea was already forming in his mind.

A head came at him, and he leaned back and sliced it off. Quick as lightning, brought his hand onto the stump and immediately it smoked and sizzled. Moments later all that was left a charred stump. He couldn't believe it, that had actually worked.

"Okay hydra," he said, twirling his sword. "Let's dance."

He hacked and ducked and burned, until only a single head was left. It roared a few hurtful words in hydra-speak and spat a jet of acid at him. He ducked and rolled forward, coming up with arm's reach of the monster. With a yell, he severed the head and burned it, and the hydra crumbled into golden dust.

He stepped backwards, suddenly exhausted. Dakota came up behind him, clutching his arm.

"That was awesome!" he yelled. "I didn't know you could burn stuff with your hands."

"I didn't know either." said Jason, still awestruck.

The took their doughnut boxes and walked back to Gwen and the chariot. After seeing Jason kill the hydra, the other monsters stayed in the shop and didn't bother them, letting them walk back to their chariot in peace. Gwen rose to meet them, a surprised look on her face.

"You actually found food?" she asked incredulously.

They told her all about the monster doughnut shop and the hydra while they dug into the sugary delights.

"The master bolt must be close," she said as Jason told her how he killed the hydra. "That's why your lightning powers are acting up."

"That makes sense," said Jason. "I can feel it as well, it's moving fast and it's somewhere in the north."

Jason didn't know how he could sense it, he just did. It was a nagging feeling, and it made the hairs on his arm rise. Kind of like when electricity had coursed through his hand earlier. It made him nervous, their quest was finally getting real. Jason started to doubt himself. Could he really do this?

"We should get moving," said Dakota. "We still have a lot of ground to cover. By the way, these doughnuts...they're not made from demigod parts, are they?"

Gwen gagged slightly. "I hope not. You did buy them in a monster shop."

"I don't think they are," said Jason. "Those monsters looked like they hadn't seen heroes in a long time."

But as he said this, his stomach quivered slightly. The very idea grossed him out. The chariot's high speeds didn't help either, and the feeling added to his general uneasiness. They sped along the Roads, trying to make it to St. Louis. But the map was still shifting and soon it was dark. They decided to stop for the night, and Jason volunteered to take first watch. His body betrayed him in the early hours of the morning and he slept dreamlessly.

When he woke up, the sun was out and they were already on the move. They were on a busy road, with a sprawling city on their right and a murky river to their left.

"You're awake," said Dakota from the back seat. "Good, because we're here."

Jason's heartbeat rose. The river he was looking at must be the Mississippi. They had reached St. Louis. Directly ahead of them rose the Gateway Arch, the curved structure dominating the skyline. It was a beautiful sight, but all Jason could think about was, the lightning thief will be there. The final confrontation would soon begin.

"So what's the plan?" asked Gwen.

Both his friends looked at him expectantly. Jason was once more made painfully aware of how much they looked to his as their leader. It was way too much pressure.

Jason looked at the car clock. "We have about an hour before the thief is supposed to get here. We might as well see the sights. While we search for the thief, of course."

Dakota's face lit up. "Finally, we get to relax. I hear the Arch is beautiful this time of year."

They stopped a few blocks away and walked the rest of the way. They went to the visitor center first, their eyes peeled for any suspicions looking people. The mortals milling about looked harmless enough, but the Mist could be at work. For a few minutes they waited, and Jason's ADHD began acting up. When he couldn't take it anymore, he stood up quickly.

"I'll go check outside," he told his friends.

Once outdoors, he quickly scoured the area. Nothing jumped to his attention, just a few wayward tourists and guards, and a homeless person battling a few pigeons for a piece of bread. As he watched the epic skirmish, something by the trees caught his eye. He turned his eyes to the disturbance, but there was nothing there. Before he could dismiss it as a trick of the light, the air before the trees shimmered as if the ground was on fire. Suddenly, as if the sun's rays had bent to create him, as figure materialized. Jason's heart almost stopped. It was the guy from his dream, the surfer dude with a jagged scar on his face. The lone demigod. He was just as he saw him in the dream, complete with the leaf shaped sword at his hip. Except from where Jason was standing the sword looked steel grey. The guy was also carrying a black ski mask that he had just pulled off his head in addition to his backpack.

Jason felt his heart pound faster. Firstly, because he had finally connected the dots. This guy must be the lightning thief. It would explain why he saw him in his dream, because all demigod dreams had meanings. A nervous chill flowed from his head and settled in his gut. Secondly, Jason felt a stirring within him, as if all the molecules in his body were screaming, this guy is the enemy. Kill him! He had never felt anything like it, but he was sure he wasn't supposed to meet this demigod.

Together, the conflicting senses fought against each other, making him slightly queasy.

The guy walked across the snowy lawn and into the visitors center, hardly noticing Jason. He followed him discreetly, trying to act normal. He made sure there were enough mortals between them, and that he looked like a regular kid on vacation.
He felt a hand tap him on the shoulder and he almost jumped out of his skin. It was only Gwen and Dakota. He showed them the lightning thief, and his friend's eyes got wide.

"That's him?" said Gwen. "He looks so..."

"So what?" Dakota asked her, frowning.

"Never mind. What's he doing?"

The thief was getting on an elevator with a bunch of tourists.

"He actually wants to see the view?" asked Dakota in disbelief. "Does he have a bucket list or something, first steal the most powerful weapon in the world then climb the tallest monument?"

"So, do we go after him?" Gwen asked.

Jason thought for a moment. "Let's wait for him down here. He'll come down eventually."

They went out onto the lawn, trying to devise a plan to get the bolt.

"I say we snatch it from him and run like hell," Dakota suggested.

"That's a stupid idea," Gwen told him.

Jason wanted to agree, but at the moment they had no other ideas.

"How about you ask politely," a voice said from behind them.

Jason spun around quickly, and was met with the sharp end of a leaf shaped sword.

"But I have to warn you, the answer will be no."

Jason slowly got over the initial shock. In a strange twist of events, the lightning thief had snuck up on them. He had discovered they were on to him. Jason cursed himself silently. If only he had been more vigilant.

Next to him, Dakota moved to draw his spear, but the thief moved his sword point from Jason to him. Jason gasped inwardly. The guy's sword was bronze on one side and silver on the other. The strange mixture of the two metals just seemed wrong.

"I wouldn't do that," the guy said. "Now tell me, who sent you?"

Jason stepped forward, a little braver than he felt.

"We are the Romans of the Twelfth legion, sent by Mars the Avenger to take back what you stole."

The thief actually smiled, a grin breaking his scarred face.

"What are you guys, some kind of Undead heroes who died during the Roman times, who now serve the War god?"

"We're not-"

"And you," he looked straight at Jason. "Why do you look so familiar?"

Jason was pretty sure he had never met the guy before. And why did he think they were Undead. Had he never heard of Camp Jupiter before?

"Enough about us. Just give us the bolt and we'll put in a good word for you with Mars. The gods will forgive you."

But as he said this, Jason wasn't convinced. Roman gods weren't exactly known for their kindness.

The thief turned his head upward and laughed at the sky.

"Is this the best you can do, Ares?" he shouted. "Sending these shades of long dead kids to fight me? I'm insulted! Of all the heroes who have been on the losing cause...you could have at least given me the famous ones. Theseus, Achilles maybe. Or are not powerful enough to do that?"

Jason didn't understand half of what the guy was rambling about, but he felt anger build up within him. This guy was underestimating him, just like so many other opponents he had faced. Well, he would show him. He was about to draw his weapon when Gwen held him back.

"You're selling yourself out," she said to the guy. "All this time you've been hiding, but now you've practically presented yourself to the gods."

The thief laughed again. "You naive little fools! The gods are petty and weak. They are so busy with themselves that they won't notice my little rant. Besides," he waved the ski mask in his hand. "I'm well hidden."

Jason was getting tired of talking. He could feel the master bolt, its power radiating from the thief's back. It energized him and made him more determined.

"Well," he said. "If you'll say no to us asking, then we'll just have to take it from you."

He looked up at the sky. A few clouds had gathered above the Arch. He imagined them thickening and coursing with lightning. There was a reason he had just discovered his power over electricity. Please Father, he prayed, sound older than he was. Help me.

The wind picked up across the lawn where they stood. Overhead, the clouds thickened and darkened. The air pressure changed so fast that Jason's ears popped. Then, for the first time since the winter solstice, lightning flickered within the dark clouds.

The thief looked up at the sky as well, a confused frown on his face. But it seemed he had made up his mind.

He lunged, and Jason yelled. A single bolt of lightning fell from the clouds onto the thief. It struck him squarely in the chest, sending him flying backwards and skidding across the snowy lawn. His backpack went flying in another direction, and he lay on the snow motionless, his chest smoking. For a moment they were silent, Gwen and Dakota looking at the thief, then at him, in shock.

"Is he dead?" asked Dakota.

As soon as he spoke, the thief stirred. He started to get up slowly, and that snapped Jason back into action. He ran forward and snatched the backpack from the grass, his friends behind him.

"What do we do now?" Gwen asked.

Jason shouldered the pack. He barely considered the implications, a son of Jupiter carrying his father's symbol of power. All he knew was that the thief was powerful, a lot for them to handle. "Now, we run."

They took off toward the chariot. They found it in its original form, and Jason could see immediately that something was wrong. The horse was skittish, pawing the ground nervously and neighing in fear. Before he could approach the spooked unicorn, footsteps sounded behind them. Jason turned, and almost had a heart attack. The thief stood there, looking slightly disheveled and annoyed, but overall unhurt. There was a burn hole in his chest and the skin beneath was healing already. In his left hand he held the ski mask, but Jason watched as it morphed into an old-fashioned bronze war helm with a red horse plume. The thief held it up toward them, and Jason felt a pulsating wave surge past them. He was hit with a sudden feeling of fear that chilled his bones and danced along the length of his spine. Behind him, the unicorn neighed loudly and took off, running for its life. His friends must have felt the pulse as well. Gwen was shivering visibly while Dakota clenched his teeth.

What the hell was that ski mask/helmet thing?

Luckily for them, the unicorn galloped past the thief as it got away, and the guy had to hastily avoid a chariot wheel. This gave Jason and his friends a chance to escape. They took off in the opposite direction, eager to get as far away from the thief as possible. They ran though the streets and pushed past mortals until Jason got an idea.

"Guys, this way," he motioned to his friends toward a mall.

The inside was filled with mortals doing their shopping. It was the perfect place to hide in. They pushed through some people and took the escalator to the next floor for good measure.

They found the thief waiting for them at the top. How he had gotten there so fast, Jason didn't know. It looked like they had to fight him.

"That really hurt," the thief said, motioning at his chest. "You're going to have to pay for that."

He twirled his sword and lunged at them.

A/N: In case you guys are wondering, Luke doesn't know anything about Romans...yet. He assumes they are convincing looking ghouls that owe their allegiance to Ares because they died on the losing side of battle, just like the Confederate ghosts on Clarisse's ship. Also, Luke seems to recognize Jason. Could he be seeing a family resemblance? You guys have to read on to find out.

Next chapter, how will Jason and friends get past Luke, the greatest swordsman of the generation? I should tell you, I recently rewatched Prince of Persia, so I will incorporate a few ideas I liked from there. Stay tuned!