*does a super awkward happy dance* 67 reviews! You guys are the best! The reviews were so fun to get (and loads of fun to read, too :P). Congratulations to fabulouslaughter, the 50th reviewer!

And aren't you guys proud of me? I wrote this in six days! See how fast I can write when awesome reviews motivate me? ;)

Anyway, enjoy the chapter! :D

Disclaimer: "Hello, dearest readers. I do not own PJO. I am not Rick Riordan. Not male. Don't have gray hair. Don't have a book published. I claim rights to nothing except the plot." *pause* "This message will be repeated for each chapter. Please leave a message after the tone."

Part V

Leo woke up lying on his stomach, which was odd because he always slept on his back. He kind of understood why he hadn't this time though. His back felt like it had been ripped to shreds. Actually . . . The memory of Reyna's attempted escape, Gaea's threat of punishment, Leo's intervention, and the dracaena's fierce whipping slammed back into his brain without warning, and he winced involuntarily. "Ripped to shreds" was probably an accurate description of what his back looked like right now.

"Valdez? Are you awake?"

At first, the words didn't register. And then Leo realized that those were the first words Reyna had ever said to him directly. Frankly, he was surprised she hadn't called him something stronger than "Valdez", since she still thought he had fired on New Rome on purpose. The sheer shock of that idea was enough to force Leo into raising his head.

Reyna was leaning against a stalagmite, arms crossed and eyes cautious. "So you're up."
Leo started to nod, but his head throbbed so painfully that he had to drop it to the ground again. He withheld a gasp of pain. "Yeah. Um, Reyna, before we talk any more, there's something you should—"

"Why did you lie for me, Valdez?" she asked suddenly. Her voice was hard, but with a hesitance that gave Leo hope for forgiveness. "You blew up my home. You started a civil war. Why do you care about what happens to me?"

"First of all, I didn't lie for you," Leo said pointedly. He lifted his head again to stare her down. "I came up with the idea for the escape attempt . . . remember?" He flicked his eyes towards the ground.

Thank the gods, Reyna understood. "Of course," she said quickly.

"But if I had," he added, "this would be why. I didn't destroy New Rome, Praetor." He looked at her hard, willing her to believe him. "Well, maybe my body did, but it wasn't my fault. I was possessed by one of Gaea's minions, an eidolon. It purposely waited until Octavian was on that ship to start firing the ballistae and blowing up buildings. Gaea wanted to create as much tension between camps as possible, and I . . . " He swallowed hard. "I came along as a convenient opportunity to do just that."

Relief and doubt fought for the upper hand in Reyna's eyes. "So you don't hate Rome . . . ?" she asked. "You want peace? Then why did you guys fight us so hard in Charleston?"

Leo would have shrugged if it wouldn't have hurt so badly. "You wouldn't have believed us," he muttered. "We had to get to Rome to save Nico and stop the giants Ephialtes and Otis. Annabeth also needed to get started on her quest. We couldn't afford to try to reason with you guys. We knew it would be close to impossible, and at the very least, it would have taken a long time. We were on a deadline that we had to meet. We had no choice."

Reyna was silent for a long time. "Say I believe you," she said eventually. "Do you have any proof?"

"I stopped the dracaena from whipping you!" Leo said incredulously. "I didn't just watch as she tore you to shreds! Isn't that proof enough?"

Reyna looked apologetic. "You caused a lot of damage, Valdez. I have to be sure."

Something like sympathy rose up inside him. "I get it . . . I guess." He made the mistake of trying to nod again. This time, he couldn't keep himself from wincing. Reyna noticed. "Are you okay?"

He snorted. "In the last few days, I've been stretched, starved, repeatedly whacked in the shoulder, repeatedly whacked in the head, and whipped. I'm about as far from okay as a person can get without ending up in the Underworld."

There wasn't much either of them could add to that. Silence fell again. It was hard to make conversation with somebody who had been actively trying to kill you for the last few weeks. Who knew?

Leo had always considered himself the resident chatterbox in any situation, and especially when the other person was a stone-cold praetor. But surprisingly, Reyna was the first one to break the quiet. "You know," she said, "you didn't have to speak up for me."

Leo looked up at her incredulously. "Are you kidding?" he asked. "I wasn't about to let you get whipped! I told you, your camp needs you. Besides," he added with an attempt at a grin, "what kind of a gentleman would that make me?"

Reyna rolled her eyes. "Your chivalry is appreciated, Sir Camp-Bomber, but I just meant . . . " She hesitated. "It wouldn't have hurt me as badly as it hurt you."

"Excuse me?" Leo asked. "You saying I'm not macho or something? Because let me tell you, Praetor, I'm very macho. If I could, uh, move without it burning, I would get up and prove to you how very macho I am."

Reyna didn't laugh, which he had expected . . . but come on, couldn't he have at least gotten a smile? Just to prove that she was human after all? "That's not what I meant either," she said, covering her face with one hand. "I just . . . it wouldn't have hurt me as badly because . . . I'm used to it. I've, well . . . I've been whipped before."

For a moment, Leo was speechless. "I . . . Gods, Praetor," he said eventually, "I knew you Romans were stricter, but don't you think that's kind of a harsh punishment?" Just thinking about it made his back ache. "Couldn't they just, I don't know, make you do push-ups instead?"

Reyna shook her head. "Leo, I didn't get whipped at camp," she told him. "My sister and I used to work at a spa run by a sorceress, and she kept these pirates as guinea pigs, but then they escaped, and my sister and I got captured by the pirates, and they . . . well, it's a long story." She looked away. "That probably didn't make any sense. I don't even know why I'm telling you this."

Leo stared at her. Pirates, Reyna? he wanted to say. Pirates as guinea pigs? What the Styx are you talking about? And you know, I don't know why you're telling me this either. I don't know what's going on. I thought you hated me. But if that were true, than why was she talking to him at all? Why had she bandaged up his shredded back? Because Leo knew there was no way either the empousa or the dracaena had done that.

He took a longer look at the stone-cold praetor. She didn't seem so harsh in the dim light given off by a single flashlight lying on the ground some distance away. She didn't look angry or fierce, just . . . worn. Worried, probably for her legion. Torn over whether to believe his eidolon story. Maybe even . . . scared for the future of the world? Could Reyna Concessi, the strongest, most dangerous Roman in the universe, be scared?

Leo made a decision. "You don't have to tell me anything," he said. "You barely even know me. But I think . . . I think there might be a way for you to trust me."

Reyna looked at him sadly. "I can't, Valdez. Not unless you have—"

"Proof, I know," Leo said. "But . . . what if I do?" He reached his hands into his tool belt and started tinkering.

"But . . . you said . . . "

"Okay, maybe I don't have any proof," Leo said. "But what if Gaea told you herself?"

Reyna hesitated. "What makes you think—?"

"Gaea!" Leo yelled. "Come here!"

The Queen of Dirt answered him almost immediately. What do you want, godspawn? she asked. A second round?

"Ha," Leo said dryly. "Funny, Mother Nature. No, I was just wondering if you would tell Reyna all about your little eidolon trick."

He held his assembled device inside his belt and pushed a button.

You want me to tell her the truth? Gaea asked incredulously. Why would I do that, Leo Valdez? The whole point of my plan is to make sure no Roman knows the truth. What you are suggesting would go directly against that.

"Well, yeah," Leo said, "but didn't you say yourself that there is no way out of here? That we'll be stuck down here until you bring us to the surface to sacrifice us? Isn't it more devious to let Reyna live with the truth until then, knowing that she can't do anything to prevent the destruction that her legion will cause? It'd be like one of those 'Mwahaha you know the truth now that it is too late!' type deals. Very evil."

It seemed all of Tartarus was silent, holding their breaths in anticipation for Gaea's answer. Or at least, that's what Leo was doing. Eventually, Queen Dirt Face spoke. Very well, Leo Valdez, she said. I will tell this daughter of war the truth.

"Great," he said. "Do it now."

It is true, Reyna Concessi, Gaea told her. Leo Valdez was possessed by an eidolon when he fired projectiles on your camp. He did not do that of his own free will. It was all my plan, so that your legion would get revenge on Camp Half-Blood. Leo could imagine a smile spreading across Mother Earth's face, displaying her nasty earthen teeth. So go ahead, trust Leo Valdez. He never wanted to hurt you Romans. He has in fact felt incredibly guilty since that day, even though it was not his fault. You can believe in his intentions, if you like. But it is too late to do you much good now.

Leo looked over at Reyna, whose mouth was open slightly. "Proof enough for you, Praetor?" he asked her quietly.

She looked down at him, and her eyes softened. "Yes, Valdez," she whispered. "I apologize for not believing you earlier."

He offered a smile—or at least, the closest imitation of a smile that he could manage—and pressed the button of his device again before speaking. "I don't blame you. It did look pretty bad." He glared at the ground. "Which was, of course, the whole point, wasn't it, Gaea?"

Of course. The goddess practically purred in satisfaction. Well, I suppose I shall leave you two alone now. Reyna Concessi, feel free to tell this godspawn how loud and long his screams echoed as my empousa whipped a hole into his back. I'm sure he'd love to hear how pathetic he sounded. And Gaea melted away.

Leo winced. Pathetic? Gods, Reyna probably thought he was a total wimp right now, especially since she'd faced the same punishment before. How in Hades was he supposed to get her to trust his crazy escape plan if she thought he was pathetic? "So . . . echoing screams, eh?" he asked, trying for nonchalance. "Sorry about that. They were probably pretty annoying."

To his surprise, Reyna shook her head. "You didn't scream, Valdez."

"Really?"

"Gaea lies about plenty of things, Valdez," Reyna said. "You didn't scream—or make any noise, actually. I was kind of . . . impressed."

Leo lifted his head and stared at her. "Really?"

"Well, yeah," she said. "Lots of people would have squealed."

Leo tried to look strong and tough, which was hard to do while sprawled on the ground. "But not me," he said, trying—and failing—to grin cockily. "I told you. I'm macho."

Reyna sighed. "Right."

Leo hesitated. "Anyway . . . " he said, "um, thanks."

She started. "What?" She tilted her head towards him. "You're the one who saved me from getting whipped, Valdez. Why are you thanking me?"

"You fixed me," Leo said, his tone as straightforward as he could manage. "My back was bleeding everywhere, and you bandaged it up. And don't try to tell me that the empousa did it because we both know that that's a lie."

Leo could have sworn he saw her mouth twitch upwards. So close to a smile. "All right, Valdez, you caught me," she said. "After they . . . were done, Gaea released me from those stupid earth cuffs and just got a Cyclops to chain my leg to a boulder instead." She lifted a leg and wiggled it, and for the first time, Leo noticed a metal chain that vanished into the darkness. He had been wondering how she could be leaning against that stalagmite so comfortably. "You've got one too," she added, "in case you're wondering."

Leo stopped trying to twist around and look at his own leg. "How did you know I would try to loo—?"

"You're a male." Reyna said it bluntly, but the corner of her mouth lifted up again. Leo tried not to feel too proud. "Anyway, the chain's long enough that I could go over there and help you out." She shrugged. "Even though I still thought you hated my camp, it was the least I could do. I can't say I missed getting whipped."

"Well . . . I guess you're welcome, then, Praetor," Leo said in surprise. "But . . . I mean, my shirt's still intact—well, as intact as it was before I got whipped." He glanced down at the raggedy, dirty, bloody mess that was his pillow and his camp shirt, a forlorn look on his face. His shirts had always been raggedy and dirty—it was one of the side effects of being a mechanic—but this one was extremely destroyed. It matched the way Leo's back felt.

"Yeah? So?"

Leo tore his eyes away from the orange mess of cloth and looked back at Reyna. "So, if you didn't use my shirt, where did the bandages come from?"

"Oh, that." Reyna shrugged. "I used my praetor's cloak." She turned around to show him. Leo stared in surprise at her back, plated in gold armor instead of hidden behind a purple veil. "You're dressed in Roman purple now, Valdez. Sorry about that."

Leo laughed, which really hurt, but he ignored the pain. "That's all right, Praetor. I think I'll survive. It can be, like, a symbol of a future Greco-Roman alliance. The Greek who bombed your camp, wearing purple." He gestured towards his shirt. "I'd offer to let you wear orange in return, but I really don't think you want to go anywhere near this thing. It barely even qualifies as a shirt anymore." He paused. "In fact, it's so torn-up, I'm surprised you didn't just use it to bandage my back. It would have been easier to rip."

Reyna shook her head, the faintest expression of amusement on her face. "It's so torn-up, it wouldn't have functioned as a bandage, Valdez. And it's so dirty, your back would have gotten infected. Besides, I've always wanted an excuse not to wear that cloak. It's a heavy, useless, unwieldy waste of fabric, if you ask me."

Leo grinned, and it didn't even turn into a grimace of pain. He felt so proud. "In that case, I'm happy to be of service, Praetor."

She hesitated. "You stopped me from getting whipped, Valdez. I think we're past the 'Praetor' stage by now. You can call me Reyna . . . if you want."

Leo's smile widened. He pretended to consider her offer. "All right," he said finally, "I'll do it. But on one condition."

"Oh, really?" Reyna raised her eyebrows at him. "And what might that be?"

"You have to call me Leo." He grinned cockily. "So do we have a deal?"

Then Reyna smiled—really smiled—for the first time. Leo couldn't believe how different she looked. Suddenly, she didn't look like a scary, tired, betrayed, overworked praetor. She looked . . . oh gods. She looked kind of beautiful. "I think I could stand that . . . Leo."

Leo shoved all thoughts of "beautiful" out of his head. He was not going to think that about a Roman. He was not going to think that about someone who had almost been Jason's girlfriend. He was not going to think that about a praetor. He was not going to think that about yet another girl who was totally out of Leo's league. And he was especially not going to think that about someone who fit into all four of those criteria.

Instead, he just smirked. "Fantastic. I'm glad we understand each other . . . Reyna." Unconsciously, he rolled the "r", turning her name into reina, the Spanish word for queen. Realizing what he had done, his face darkened a shade or two. Oh gods, please don't let her realize what he had said . . .

Then Reyna looked at him, her dark eyes unreadable, and didn't answer. Leo wondered what to say next, how best to change the subject, but before he could answer, a rock fell from the ceiling and crashed onto Leo's back. It was light enough to bounce off immediately, but heavy enough that Leo couldn't help himself. He cried out in agony.

"What in Pluto's name was that for, Gaea?" To Leo's surprise, Reyna was the one who yelled into the darkness instead of him. He was grateful, though. The yellow and black splotches obscuring his vision also seemed to be impairing his brain. He couldn't quite remember how to string together a full sentence.

HOW DID YOU TELL HER? Gaea's voice boomed, angrier than Leo had ever heard her. HOW DID ANNABETH KNOW HOW TO USE YOUR MACHINES?

Another rock landed between Leo's shoulder blades. He arched his back so that it would roll off, but he couldn't shrug off the pain that easily. "What . . . talking about . . . ?" he managed.

Gaea seemed to force herself under control. The next three rocks that rained onto Leo's back were practically pebbles. That didn't mean they didn't hurt like Styx, though. The surprise attack from yesterday that you just happened to mention to your comrades on the Argo II? She spoke quietly, but that didn't make her voice any less terrifying. In fact, it made it scarier. They were prepared for it—which, of course, I had expected. After all, even if you hadn't warned them, your little dragon figurehead has radar. But what I do not understand is HOW THEY COULD HAVE USED YOUR MACHINES TO DEFEAT MY ARMY.More stones pummeled Leo farther into the ground. The pain was so bad that it almost didn't hurt any more. Almost.

You weren't on that warship, Gaea continued eventually, struggling to keep her voice at normal volume. You didn't tap out the codes to your friends. But I have reports from members of my army who came to see me as soon as they found themselves back in Tartarus. And they tell me that your machines made the difference between victory and defeat for them. Your machines. Tell me, godspawn, how is that possible?

Her face appeared in the ground in front of Leo. It was weird to see the usually calm goddess so angry. Weird—and just a little satisfying.

Leo, 1. Mother Nature, 0.

"I told you, Queen Dirt Face," Leo said, doing his best to be as aggravating as possible. Screw the consequences. He was going to enjoy this victory. "Annabeth is smart. She must have figured them out on her own. After all, the scroll was Ancient Greek, not Martian. If I could translate it, I see no reason that Annabeth couldn't do the same, and faster than I did."

Gaea glared at him, which must have been hard to do with her eyes closed, but somehow she managed. Perhaps, she said grudgingly. Then all of a sudden, she smiled. Leo felt a chill travel down his spine (which contrasted weirdly with the rest of his aching back). If Gaea could be smiling after a defeat like the one Leo and his friends had just dealt, she had another card to play. And Leo hated playing cards—if he didn't win.

Of course, she added, it doesn't matter. Even if your friends can reach the altar in Athens, they will only fall there. They have no chance against my armies, which are already stationed aboveground. A force the size of mine would have to be matched by an equal amount of gods and their children. She paused for effect and then laughed, just so that she could match up to every evil-villain-stereotype in existence. But now that Rome's only trustworthy praetor is missing in action, the legion has decided that Octavian is their closest thing to a leader. After all, he has always had Rome's best interests at heart. And for his first order of business, he has announced that he will lead the cohorts against Camp Half-Blood in three days. She cackled again. It is only fair—righteous justice, really. As Octavian puts it, the Greeks must have captured and killed Reyna to try to weaken the legion. All Roman demigods must march on Camp Half-Blood now. It is the only way to show their loyalty towards their former praetor . . . who is now so tragically deceased.

Reyna let out a small gasp, so quiet that it was barely audible. That was the last straw for Leo. Ignoring the screaming pain in his back, he struggled to his feet. Despite his blinding anger, he remembered to reach inside his tool belt and press the button of his device for a third time. "You waited until Reyna was alone to take her, didn't you?" he asked, starting to shake in his fury. "You wanted Octavian to think we Greeks had done this! Being possessed by an eidolon wasn't enough, huh? You had to make sure that every Roman hated every Greek with every ounce of their being! You had to make sure they wouldn't hesitate to kill every one of my friends! You had to make sure they felt no remorse as they killed countless demigods! And . . . oh my gods . . . "

Yes, Leo Valdez, Gaea smiled. You are correct on all counts. And your Greek friends won't have a chance to make Camp Jupiter listen to reason. They will have no choice but to retaliate in self-defense. By the time that battle is over, the blood of every demigod will soak the ground of your beloved home. Your prophecy friends will have no allies during their hopeless battle in Athens. Everyone you care about will die. And I will keep you and Reyna Concessi alive just long enough to witness the destruction firsthand . . . before I kill you two as well and rise in all my glory.

Oh, it will be wonderful, she continued. But I wouldn't be too upset. After all, when August 1st is over, and I have won, Greeks and Romans will be together at last, won't they? Forget his back. Leo felt like his entire soul was being ripped to shreds as Gaea finished her triumph speech. War doesn't discriminate, godspawn. Both Greeks and Romans will die that day. Their blood will mix on the battlefield. And their souls will mingle in the Underworld.

As if her words weren't enough, Gaea then had to throw a boulder at his back, knocking him back onto his face and sending him into new spasms of pain. Leo only had time for two actions before he was too incoherent to think and Reyna rushed over to help him and Gaea's ugly face melted back into the ground.

One: He turned off the recorder he had built in his tool belt so that it wouldn't run out of memory. Gaea might offer up another chance to incriminate herself later.

Two: He swore to find a way to get Rome's praetor back up to the surface before those three days were over. He had made mistakes before, but he wasn't about to add another one to the list. Leo would make sure he sent Reyna into New York with the recorder in her possession, so that she would have proof of Camp Half-Blood's innocence when she returned to her legion. He trusted her to make Octavian see sense. If Leo could return Reyna to New York, she could stop the civil war, and then both camps could travel to Greece to help the rest of the Seven. With their help, Gaea would never taste victory. So Leo swore on the Styx to help Reyna escape. That way, he could gain back the upper hand and win this particular card game.

The stakes were too high. He couldn't just fold. He had to win, no matter what.

Even if the game killed him.

"BEEEEP."

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