Chapter 10: Reality ckeck
''And then you angle it like that to make it harder for the attacker to block your swipe.''
''Like that?''
''Yeah, now try to attack me.''
''Are you sure? You just got out from the infirmary…''
''Don't worry for me Pipes, I've faced worse. Now, attack.''
And attack she did, swinging the heavy sword just as he had told her before and almost managing to catch his T-shirt's sleeve. However, he was faster than her, stepping sideways to escape the swing and to block her with mastered technique.
''Good one, now try again.'' He complimented, stepping back from her with a smile to give her enough place.
''This is really hopeless, I won't be able to lift the sword before whoever is attacking me chops my head off.'' She scoffed, huffing in annoyance as the unbalanced weapon dragged her slightly to one side. She really hated swords.
''Let me remind you that you wanted me to teach you sword-fighting.'' He grinned at her and she sent him a dirty look.
''Well yeah, but that doesn't mean that I like it.'' Piper's grumble came again as she massaged her right shoulder. ''Ready?''
''Of course.'' He replied with yet another smile at his girlfriend and after a deep sigh she charged forward.
It wasn't like she didn't know what to do. She knew, she had been watching and studying the fighting techniques of numerous campers. She knew the theory but had some difficulties with the practice. Because no matter what sword she tried from the armory, everything felt too heavy. In moments like this she longed for her dodger.
The fight continued more but it was about time since they were practicing for more than two hours. She actually wondered how come no one had searched for him already, with him being one of the two leaders of the Roman camp. But he didn't give her the chance to think about it too much.
Piper yelped at loosing her balance against Jason's force and falling on her back in the dirt. He fell on top of her by accident and pinned her hands above her head.
''Well done.'' He complimented, looking as she scrunched her eyebrows, trying to wiggle out of his grip.
''Yeah, I'm doing so well that even the ground wants to hug me.'' She said sarcastically before her eyes landed on his. ''Do you mind letting me go?''
''Not before I do something.'' He chuckled lowly so only she could hear him. Not that there was someone around.
''And what is that?''
Instead of responding he sent her a grin before leaning closer and capturing her lips with his. At first it started teasingly, with his hands still at her wrists above her head but then she deepened the kiss and he moaned, subconsciously moving one hand to her waist as the other he used to not crush her. Her fingers got tangled in his growing blond hair before she slid them to his shoulders.
And before he knew what was happening she had him pinned to the ground with her sitting just above his knees. Her grin got wider as she looked at his bewildered expression, his mouth forming a small adorable 'o'.
''Now that is what I call a job well done.'' She triumphed.
''I just hope you don't use that technique on every opponent you face.'' He said, faking concern and she laughed before leaning on his chest.
''Nope. This one is just for you Pikachu.'' She smiled up at him, her eyes glistening as they met his.
They were just about to kiss again when a throat clearing brought them back to the real world. They hastily stood up, cleaning their clothes from the dirt as Leo approached them with a kick-ass grin on his face that promised nothing good.
''What is it Repair boy?'' she asked trying to sound casual and failing miserably since her face was still red.
''It's almost dinner time and Chiron sent me to remind you that you have a cabin to attend.'' He said, his mischievous eyes switching from Piper to Jason and back again.
''Oh, yeah right. I kind of forgot.'' She blushed even more and then started walking towards the cabin area, leaving the two boys just standing there.
''And Beauty Queen,'' he called, causing her to turn towards him again. ''You might want to clean up a bit before Drew and the rest of the Barbies see you like this. They might make the wrong assumptions. Not that they will be so far from the truth…''
''Shut it Valdez.'' She glared at him before turning again and walking hastily towards cabin 10.
''So, you and Piper then, huh.'' Leo addressed Jason then, making an unnaturally serious face. Jason raised an eyebrow.
''Yeah actually. Why?''
The boys eyed each other for a few long seconds before the son of Hephaestus finally broke his intense stare and smiled towards the son of Jupiter.
''Just checking if you are good for our dear Beauty Queen there. She's technically my step-sister so it's my duty to look after her. Welcome by the way.''
''Uh, thanks.'' Jason answered a little awkwardly by the kid's openness.
The conch horn, announcing dinner time blew and they both headed toward the dining pavilion.
After everything Jason had seen in his life, the camp Half-blood's sing-along was the weirdest of all. While the Romans stood there silently, looking around as if the enchanted flames were going to burn them from distance, the Greeks took their time, singing without caring much about the synch or the volume. As the mood picked up, the flames grew bigger and brighter until they reached a golden color at the end of the strange song. It reminded Jason of those camping trips the mortal children had in the woods. It felt normal.
Then Chiron stood up from his wheelchair, smiling at all of them and waiting for them to calm down.
''Demigods,'' his voice echoed through the area and silenced the rest of the talking, gaining all the attention. ''Before we all go to bed we have a thing to discuss. Jason, please explain.''
Jason sighed and stood up. All eyes were on him as he did so, wondering what was it now. He took a deep breath before speaking.
''I had a vision from the gods. From Juno actually, or Hera as you know it.'' He turned to Chiron briefly before explaining quickly to everything about Juno being kidnapped and her words about the upcoming war.
''That means a quest, right?'' someone from the Demeter cabin asked and Jason turned to see the counselor, a brown-haired girl with green eyes. Katie Gardner.
''I think so…''
''And for a quest, we need a prophecy. I will be glad to read the auguries if I'm given the chance.'' Octavian's voice came as the other blond stood from his place and smiled forcefully at the praetors. Reyna glanced up at the standing Jason next to her but before they had the chance to answer another voice came.
''Sorry, we're out of teddy bears but it was so nice of you.'' Rachel Dare said, stepping forward, glaring slightly at the augur. He returned the look with as much venom, causing Jason to think that these two didn't meet for the first time right now.
''What did I miss?'' he whispered to Reyna who just shook her head with a sigh.
''Long story, talk to you later.'' She just answered before regaining her posture, facing the crowd. Meanwhile, Rachel had turned to Jason.
''Come closer, I won't bite.'' She smiled at him and he sent her a strange glance as he moved forward.
His eyes found Piper, at the head of the Aphrodite children, sending him thumbs up. To be honest, he didn't know what to expect. Octavian's slaughters of plush toys weren't such a big deal but with the Greeks, you could expect everything. And he had been hearing stories about Rachel Dare around so he didn't know what to expect.
When he was just a few feet away the oracle closed her eyes and swayed on her feet. But before she could fall face first in the dirt, two campers came rushing to catch her while a third brought a chair where they sat her.
''Pathetic.'' Octavian grumbled from somewhere but no one listened to him as a green smoke started coming out of Rachel's mouth and engulfed her. Her eyes shot open, glowing in the same emerald color as the mist as they fixed on Jason.
''Child oflightning,bewarethe earth,
The giants' revenge the seven shall birth,
The forge and dove shall break the cage,
And death unleash through Hera's rage.''
As she said the last words, she collapsed but the campers that were patiently waiting beside her caught her and led her away and on a bench to rest for a while.
He looked around in a state of slight shock but none of the Greeks looked distressed or even bothered. It was probably a routine here.
Silence followed as everyone comprehended the said prophecy. The first one to speak was Annabeth.
''Something's wrong. Why should we unleash Hera if that will cause someone's death?''
''She's the queen of the gods, we can't just…leave her there to die.'' Someone from the third Cohort reasoned and many campers from both camps agreed.
''That's right. But Hera isn't always noble, she can turn against those who rescued her.'' A girl from the Hephaestus cabin said with a stern look.
''You just say that because she threw you father from Olympus.'' A camper from the Aphrodite cabin scolded. ''I would have too if it was my child.''
''Nobody doubts that Drew.'' Piper stated looking at a black-haired Asian girl with narrowed eyes.
Many snickered around while Drew simply huffed, glaring back at Piper who had turned forward again.
''What's so powerful to kidnap Hera and hold her prisoner against her own will for days?'' Percy asked, looking serious.
''It had happened before.'' Reyna then said. ''In the ancient times she had been kidnapped by a giant.''
A giant.
Murmurs broke among the campers but Jason didn't focus on that. The gears in his head were turning.
Giants' revenge…the earth…the seven…oh no. It couldn't be.
''The prophecy of the seven.'' He said out loud.
''It has started, yes.'' Rachel's voice came again, a little tired from her spot on the bench. ''At least the first stage. But that have to be discussed in another time. Now, you have a quest to fulfill since you are obviously the child of Lightning…''
''Thalia's a child of Zeus too.'' Someone mused and Jason turned to his sister that had been sitting next to him before he had stood up.
She scrunched her eyebrows in distaste.
''It's not my quest. Hera seeks Jason's help, not mine. Besides, I'm not on very good terms with her and have no desire to rescue her.'' She announced before sending an apologetic look to her brother but he smiled in understanding. He remembered the times where Thalia would curse their step-mother when he was a child for causing trouble to them.
''The tradition says that you have to chose two companions. You're restrained from the prophecy though.'' The other praetor spoke. ''The dove is the symbol of the goddess of love and the forge, of the god of fire.''
Everyone noticed how Reyna didn't choose to voice either a Roman or a Greek name of the said gods. Jason was glad. He turned towards cabin 10 and met the kaleidoscope eyes she had been searching for.
''She said I could trust you. And I do. So Piper, will you join me on this quest?''
The Cherokee girl stood silent for a while, looking baffled as her eyes were asking him silently if he really wanted it. He nodded almost unnoticeably and she stood.
''I will.'' She announced and he sent her a relieved smile, mouthing a thank you.
''There's just a slight problem. If you have to beware the earth, how are you going to travel around?'' Gwen from the fifth cohort asked.
''Well, sailing isn't an option.'' Thalia advised and Jason immediately nodded.
Children of the sky god in the sea…bad idea.
''We have to fly. But how?''
''I think I might have an idea.'' Leo's voice sounded then and everyone turned towards him.
''Oh yeah, because you're doing so well in taming that bronze dragon in the woods…'' a guy from the Ares cabin said sarcastically.
''Festus is perfectly fine.'' Leo turned towards the boy with a bred expression.
''You're in if you get us a transport.'' Jason decided to cut the argument before it had grown in something more.
''It's decided then. You'll be leaving tomorrow after breakfast. Now I advise we all go to bed and rest.'' Announced Chiron and everyone stood up to leave.
Jason stood a little aside and waited for Piper. When he saw her, he reached and pulled her away from her friends to talk.
''Hey, thanks for that. But are you sure you want to come? I don't want to force you to…''
But before he could finish she sneaked her hands around his neck and kissed him on the lips. She waited until he had relaxed against her to pull away.
''Don't worry about me.'' She smiled up at him.
''It's going to be dangerous.'' He whispered, his eyes boring in hers as his hands encircled her waist.
''I'm a dangerous girl.'' She shrugged with her smile never wavering. ''Besides, you're going to be there with me. I think I can manage.''
He let himself relax a little, leaning in to kiss her again. Yeah, he could do it too. They had overpowered a millenia of hatred between Romans and Greeks together. They could do this too.
A\N: And that was it guys, the finale. I'm sorry that it came so late but I had some trouble with my computer and then I got sick (and still am by the way). But at least the previous chapter wasn't a cliff-hanger, right? It could have been worse!
So I hope you get it that this leads to the original plot. Well, with a few twists and changes but the base is there.
I really hope that you enjoyed this story. I did. And I want to send a big THANK YOU for all of you who took their time to read, like, follow and review this story. It means the world to me, seriously. ''See'' you guys soon, I hope. Oh, and please wish me luck on my exams because year twelve is really going to be the end of me!
LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!