Chapter XXVII JASON

They were in the nets for hours. Every so often, Gaea would come back, deposit a demigod back into captivity and take another one to undergo the fear demon. Leo was dumped into the next net to Jason and he called,

"Hey, man, are you okay?"

The only reply was the sounds of Leo's sobs.

Eventually, it was Jason's turn. He made eye contact with a shell-shocked Nico and set his jaw. Whatever waited him in there, he was going to face it bravely. And when he got back, they'd get the heck out of there.

Gaea basically dragged a resisting Jason to a different room and dropped him inside. He fell to his knees, pulling out his sword. He knew that whatever was going to appear couldn't be destroyed by Imperial gold or celestial bronze, but having its familiar weight on his palm reassured Jason in some way.

"Show yourself!" Jason called.

Someone stepped out of the shadows and approached Jason slowly. He whirled around and got a good look at the demon.

Achlys was a pale green hag who looked like a tramp gone absolutely bonkers. Scores of cuts and scrapes crisscrossed over her face, making large droplets of blood ooze out of her cheeks. Her eyes were red from recent crying, and still were blurred with tears. Her overgrown fingernails tugged desperately at her ratty hair. She was the epitome of misery.

"Jason Grace," she hissed, reaching out a hand towards him.

"Do you see what fear can to do a person? It tears them apart, from the inside out. I have seen your heart. I know your strengths, but also your weaknesses."

An image of Jason being laughed at popped up. He was surrounded by kids at Camp Jupiter, all jeering and pointing at him.

"You fear mockery." the demon whispered, sending chills running up and down Jason's spine.

The image changed; this time it was of Piper being tortured. Her screams echoed through out the chamber. Jason knew it wasn't real, that this was all an illusion. But that didn't stop from his eyes welling up.

"You fear the ones you love being harmed."

"Please! Don't hurt her!" Jason said hoarsely.

The image changed one more time, and this was the most devastating. It was of Camp Jupiter being razed to the ground. Campers- some Jason's close friends- lay dead in the meadows. All the Roman villas were burning and Jason heard Gaea's laugh in the backround.

"But most of all," Achlys said at last,

"You fear failure."

Jason waved his hand through the image and it died. He glared at Achlys, who stared remorsefully back at him.

"Do you see what fear can do, young demigod?"

"Yeah," Jason said loudly,

"Except there is a difference between you and I, Achlys."

The demon laughed,

"And what is that?"

"I, unlike you, don't let fear hold complete control over me. Do you want to know what you fear, Achlys? You fear Gaea. That's why you're doing this."

The demon snarled at him, and that's how Jason knew he was right.

"Confront you fear!" he cried.

"Turn your back on the Earth mother and help us escape! Help us beat her; beat your greatest fear."

That was the wrong thing to say. The demon growled and started to chase Jason. He turned and ran before she could kill him.

Blah, i'm off sick today :( But I'm catching up on writing; I felt i'd been neglecting you guys lately :) Hope you liked the chapter; I was trying to get inside Jason's head a little bit more than i have been