Chapter 22: To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation

Leo made his way to the kitchen, listening in as Jo and Emmie talked about dinner for the night. Cal sat finishing a bowl of fruit as Leo crossed to the fridge and pulled out the sack lunch he had packed for himself the previous night. He grabbed the brown bag and shut the refrigerator. Then, shoving his lunch into his backpack, the demigod hefted the bag onto his shoulder and crossed to the coffee pot. He reached out to snag the handle and poured himself a generous cup.

Leo walked over to the table and pulled a seat out, dropping into it and letting his bag slide to the floor from his shoulder. "Morning, Cal."

The ex-goddess acknowledged him with a smile. "Morning." She watched Leo as he stared into his coffee without drinking it. "Everything okay, Leo?"

The demigod looked up at his name. "What?"

Calypso raised an eyebrow. "I asked if everything was okay. You've been kind of out of it lately and...I guess some of us are just worried about you."

Leo forced a grin on to his face. "No me pasa nada. I'm good."

Cal frowned at the son of Hephaestus. "I don't believe you." She looked around the kitchen. Jo and Emmie were still engrossed in talk about dinner and the Waystation, and no one else had yet ventured downstairs or had already left. "Are you...missing someone?"

"I'm not missing Nico."

Cal looked at him innocently. "I didn't say you were missing Nico."

Leo's grin dropped from his face, and he scowled at the girl. "Well, since Lit got back, Nico is the only one not here. Doesn't leave much room for guessing, does it?"

Cal sighed and pushed her empty bowl aside. "Leo. I thought we had talked about this? I know you like Nico, and it's perfectly normal to miss people when they're gone. I'm sure he's missing you too and-"

"What if he's not, though," Leo blurted out. He tried to stop talking, but the words rolled off his tongue. "What if, with all this time away, Nico's decided that he doesn't like being here? That he doesn't like being around us? Around me?"

Cal stared at him for a moment, her mouth hanging open slightly. It closed and opened several times before she answered, "But that's ridiculous. Leo, I've seen how you guys are around each other. We all have. It's just-"

But now that Leo had opened up, he found it difficult to stop. All of the thoughts that had drifted through his head in the several days since passing notes to Nico fell from his mouth, and he was powerless to stop them. "You guys might see that, but...we've talked. And it hasn't always been great. I mean...Nico told me about liking another guy when he was with Will and wanted to tell them, but he got a letter, and I just know it was from Jason because Nico said they were already in a relationship with someone else and what if I'm being incredibly insensitive and just taking advantage of Nico when his emotions and feelings are all over the place with Will and then with Jason dying and just everything generally sucking?"

In the split second of silence that fell as Leo took a breath to continue speaking, Cal held up her hands to stop the flow of Leo's words. "Whoa, Leo. Take a breath and stop. What are you talking about? What letter?"

Leo's shoulders slumped. "I...I shouldn't have said anything. It's not my place to share it."

Cal pursed her lips together before saying, "And you're probably right. But you've already shared. Besides, you're my friend and, despite what you think, I know Nico cares about you and wouldn't want you to be this distressed over something that might be nothing. Now, what letter?"

Leo sighed and recounted the conversation for Cal. "Back at the beginning of October, Nico told me why he and Will broke up. He said that he had known for a while that he didn't... didn't feel that way about Will. That he had known for a while. Nico had feelings for someone when he was on the ship, and he tried to tell the person, but they had feelings for someone else. And then he said he got a letter last September and that the guy was definitely already with someone...and just..." Leo trailed off, uncertain what else to say.

Cal steepled her fingers in front of her face and studied Leo before asking, "And you think he's talking about Jason. Why?"

Leo shrugged. "He and Jason got really close on the ship. They went to find the scepter, and when they came back, things had changed. I mean, we talked a few times on the ship, and each time he just seemed more attentive and forthcoming after Split. And when I came back from Ogygia, I mean, we didn't talk much but...and then he left. To take the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half Blood. And I know Jason and Pipes got together after the war."

"You and I got together after the war too, Leo."

Leo rolled his eyes. "So? Lots of people did. But not all of those people are Jason. Stop trying to discount my theory. It has to be Jason. Who else could it be? And here I am trying to win Nico over, and he's probably just not ready for any of this. I mean, he was with Will for almost a year trying to make it work."

Cal frowned and said, "One: stop acting like you know for certain that you know how Nico feels, alright? And, two," Cal continued, a faint smile dropping over her features. "Don't you remember what we were doing that September?"

"Uhhhh...that was Coney Island, right? New York? Showing you the sights?"

Rolling her eyes, Cal nodded but asked, "And what else did you finally do in September?"

Leo stared at her for a moment, biting his lip. "Well, I mean, you and I…we–"

Calypso cut him off abruptly, a faint blush staining her cheeks. "Not that!" She cleared her throat and said, "Think. What did you remember to do?"

"I..." Leo's eyebrows drew downward as he tried to recall the events from over a year ago. "I sent a scroll to Camp letting them know I was alive."

Words entered Leo's head unbidden, Nico's voice echoing through his thoughts.

"And then, when I found out you were alive and you hadn't even come back...it hurt. And I was angry. I was so relieved and happy and angry. Because you didn't feel that way about us. About me."

Leo recalled Nico sitting on the edge of the bottom bunk, apologizing and explaining the receiving line that had welcomed Leo when he returned to Camp Half Blood. He remembered perfectly how unsure and sincere the son of Hades had been, twisting the skull ring around on his finger and biting his lip.

"I held on to that message you sent us. Sent camp. Anytime I started to feel hurt that you hadn't come back yet...and any time I started to miss you, I'd pull out that piece of paper and listen to it all over again. That anger is the only thing that kept me from wanting you back so much. Emotions are easier to ignore when you have...distractions."

Leo blinked and looked down at the surface of the wooden table. "Oh."

Cal snorted. "Yeah. 'Oh.' Leo..."

The demigod looked up as Calypso reached out and took one of his hands in her own, saying, "I wish you could see yourself the way I see you...the way I think Nico sees you. You are worth so much more than you convince yourself you are." She gave his hand a firm and gentle squeeze before letting go with a small smile. "I know it's hard to not let your thoughts run away with you when you haven't heard from someone in so long. I mean, Nico's been gone for almost a month now and not being able to talk with him for that long-"

"Ah...it's only been a little over a week."

Cal frowned at Leo in concern. "Nico's been gone for more than a few days, Leo. Maybe you should ask Emmie to take a look at you. I-"

"I mean since I've talked to him. Well," Leo rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Messaged him, I guess."

The ex-goddess stared at Leo for a moment before scowling. "You mean you've been in touch with Nico, and you haven't told us that he's alright? That he's safe? Were you ever going to tell us? We care about him too, Leo. I can't believe-"

Leo held his hands up in defeat. "Alright, alright! I get it! I should have told you."

Cal glared at him, but then her expression settled into a smug smirk. "That's another tally for my theory. Nico only contacted you. He didn't have to. So, maybe you shouldn't count yourself out in this case."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Alright, Miss Optimism." He shook his head and finally took a sip of his now markedly cooler coffee. "Besides, it's been over a week since he last got in touch with me. So...I have no idea what's going on with him. I just hope he gets back soon."

The pair lapsed into silence, Cal running her fingers across the table and Leo sipping his coffee.

Eventually, Cal looked up and asked, "What are your plans for the day?"

"Taking the kids on a small field trip since they're on fall break."

Cal perked up. "Oh? Where are you going? Do you need any company?"

Leo smiled and shrugged. "The Children's Museum. Thought it might be a fun distraction. Viktor was going to come, but I don't think he was too thrilled about the idea. So, if you come, Viktor won't have to."

Cal beamed. "When are you leaving?"

Leo glanced at the clock hanging over the trash bin. "Ah- I should have left about five minutes ago." Leo shrugged. "So, I'm already behind."

Cal jumped up from the table, her chair almost toppling backward to the floor in her excitement. "Give me just a couple of minutes to grab some things!" The ex-goddess raced toward the staircase, calling over her shoulder, "Put my bowl away for me, please!"

Leo sighed but grinned as he grabbed her bowl and his now empty coffee mug to set in the sink. The day was already looking more enjoyable.

The kids, Leo, and Calypso exited the small and unmarked white bus from Dayspring. The children chattered excitedly to one another, and Cal's mouth fell open slightly at the sight of the enormous building. Leo turned back to the bus driver- a stout man with a bushy walrus mustache and bald head. "Thanks for the ride, Greg. We'll meet you right back here at three, right?"

Greg nodded. "Don't be late. There's a game tonight, and I don't want to miss getting home. Yeah?"

Leo saluted the driver, who rolled his eyes and pulled the lever to close the door. Leo turned on his heel as the bus pulled away from the curb and called out to the kids.

"Guys, guys! Attention! Listen up!" He waited until the children quieted down and swiveled their heads in his direction.

"Alright. So, we are going to stay in one group. I went ahead and printed off an itinerary for each of you. So, if you get lost, you can use the handy map on the back to find the Help Desk and find us. Does everyone have their partner?"

Brittany immediately linked arms with Grace, who already looked bored. Sonny and Miles shared a fist bump, and Celia bounced over to Cal and Leo.

The little girl looked up at the pair, studying Cal before transferring her gaze to Leo. She stared at him accusingly. "You said you'd be my partner since Nico isn't here." Her eyes flicked to Cal again and then back to the son of Hephaestus. "You promised."

Leo knelt down. "And we can still definitely be partners, Celita. Cal here, though- she's never been to this museum. You've been once, right? Do you think maybe you can help show Cal around with me? Make sure she doesn't get lost?"

Celia brightened and stood straighter. "Uh-huh! I can do that! I can help!" She looked at Cal again, this time smiling widely. Finally, she reached forward and grabbed one of Calypso's hands. "Come on! I can show you the merry-go-round on the tippy-top floor!"

Leo chuckled and explained to Cal, "It's a restored carousel. It's pretty neat."

Cal stared at Leo with a wide-eyed expression before letting herself be pulled forward by the little girl.

Leo called out to Brittany and Grace- the oldest kids in the group- to take the lead. "Take us straight to the giant Bumblebee and then-"

Cal interrupted, "Bumblebee? There's a huge bee in the museum?" She turned to look at the building again, doubt clouding her features. "I have never seen a giant bee before. Are they dangerous?"

Leo grinned. "You'll see. Just wait." He called out in a louder voice, "Lead on, Brittany!"

The girl gave a nod and loudly said, "Follow me," in the bossiest tone she could muster. Leo shook his head and followed, watching in amusement as Celia tugged Calypso along. Entering the museum, their eyes focused on the prominent yellow and black figure at the front inside of the building.

Leo threw his hands up as if presenting an award. "Behold! The legendary Bumblebee. One of the coolest members of the Autobots!"

Cal frowned. "The Autobots? What are those?"

Leo opened his mouth to reply, but Sonny beat him to it. "Where have you been? Living on Mars or something? Autobots are sentient self-configuring modular extraterrestrial robotic lifeforms. Duh."

Leo held a hand out. "I couldn't have said it better myself. Give me some skin, Sonny." Sonny grinned and slapped Leo's hand. "As he said, the Autobots are a group of robotic lifeforms who fight to protect all of humanity from the evil plans of the Decepticons."

Brittany shook her head and rolled her eyes, asking, "Who cares?"

Leo held a hand to his chest, mock indignation falling across his face. "I, for one, care, Brittany. I do. Anyway," Leo pointed onward. "Let's make like the Autobots and 'roll out!'"

Sonny and Miles grinned while Brittany groaned, but the group fell into line and continued through the building.

A couple hours passed as the group wandered from exhibit to exhibit, Leo making sure each pair of kids had a chance to lead. They meandered from the T. Rex to the train models and then to "Beyond Spaceship Earth" and "Treasures of the Earth." At the top of the hour, the group watched the water clock from the Sunburst Atrium as the spherical tubes drained and emptied until the whole mechanism correctly showed the time of 1:00 pm.

"Alright, guys, where to next?"

Brittany heaved a great sigh. "I'm getting bored. Can't we just go ride the carousel?"

Grace rolled her eyes. "Aren't carousels for little kids? What are you, a baby?"

Leo glowered at the girl. "Well, Grace. Then you won't mind if you watch over everyone's belongings while they ride the carousel, will you?"

Grace opened her mouth to protest, but Cal beat her to it. "Why don't you go ahead and lead them up to the carousel? Make sure they all get on, okay?"

Leo glanced at Calypso sharply, about to remind her that they had agreed to stay as one group, but the uneasy look on her face had him tripping over his words to agree. "Yeah. Sounds like a great idea." The son of Hephaestus thrust his hand into his jeans pocket and pulled out a small wad of folded bills. "You can get the tokens for everyone and hand them out. One ride, okay guys? And then come back here."

The pair watched as the kids made their way to the elevators to take them to the fourth floor. Leo waited until the doors closed to turn to Cal. "So, what was that about? What's up?"

Cal simply looked over her shoulder and jerked her chin in the direction of the entrance. "Over there."

Leo followed her gaze. His eyes narrowed as they lit upon what had caused the look of unease on Calypso's face. Looking around with glassy eyes, a small telekhine turned circles in the area closest to the T. Rex. It made its way over to a utility closet and repeatedly ran into the closed door. Purple energy crackled across its skin.

"What is it doing here? Is that the kind of energy you and Lit and Nico were talking about? I haven't seen it up close before." She stared at the creature hard. "It doesn't look like it wants trouble. It looks confused."

Leo frowned and took a hesitant step toward the creature. "It's like the hydra Nico and I fought. It...it doesn't seem like it knows where it is."

"Well," Cal said. "Maybe we should ask it?"

Leo shrugged and started forward with no better idea, Calypso following a second behind. Even as they approached the purple-riddled telekhine, the creature did not seem to notice them. It muttered to itself, a consternated look on its face as it continued to run into the door. Its voice was squeaky and hoarse when it spoke- nothing like the telekhines Leo had before encountered.

"Doors of Death, Doors of Death. No. Not the Doors of Death. Can't find them. Can't get to them. Lines. Riddles and cracks and lines. Leylines. That's the best. Find the line and get out. But don't come back. If you hurt our friends, you'll end up back here...but not back here. No, no. No one winds up back here. Back here is gone. And you will be too. Gone, gone. Gone forever. Returned to dust. Doors but not doors. Lines."

Leo and Cal looked at each other, confusion plastering their expressions.

"Uh, say, Cal. Do you have any idea what it's talking about?"

Calypso shook her head and looked back to the creature, clearing her throat. "Um, ex-excuse me?"

The telekhine gave a little jump as if she had startled it. The creature looked at the pair with wide eyes. "Oh no. Oh no. Are you here to kill me? But I won't die."

Leo frowned. "Why won't you die? Is there something wrong with the Doors of Death again?"

The telekhine shook its head. "No. Too far to walk. Too far, too far for me. I have little legs. Little flippers." As if to prove the point, the telekhine lifted each flipper for Leo and Cal's inspection. "See? See? Flippers are no good. No good for walking so, so far."

"Oh, but, of course," Cal agreed. "The Doors of Death are quite too far. Were you in Tartarus?"

The telekhine sniffed sadly and nodded. "Our ship went ka-boom in the water and I lost my lunchbox, and then I was there. But there was so much shaking. And fighting. And the Doors were too far, too far. But he helped me. He told me to follow the line, and I would get back here. And if I don't hurt anyone, they won't hurt me." The creature looked at them earnestly and spread its flippers wide. "And I'm not hurting, see? So...so you don't hurt me?"

Breath escaped Leo's mouth in a rush. "Ah, of course not, buddy. We won't hurt you if you don't hurt us. But," Leo looked over to Cal, who gave a slight nod. "What do you mean lines? I thought you couldn't get out of Tartarus except by the Doors of Death? Who helped you?"

The telekhine walked into the door again, giving a small yip of frustration before turning three times in a circle. Leo caught the creature's attention again, and it gave another little jump. "Oh! Oh, the lines. The lines. He helped me find them. I didn't know. He didn't know until the other one helped too."

Leo rubbed a hand across his forehead, which was starting to ache. "What are the lines, though?"

The telekhine looked to be near tears as it answered, "I don't know."

"Alright," Leo said in a soothing tone. "No big deal, buddy. Who helped you? You said someone helped you find the lines?"

"Silver eyes, silver eyes. Silver eyes found the lines and showed me where to go." The telekhine shook his head. "The lines weren't there before, but now they are. Because of the shakes and the cracks. But it is dangerous. Fighting, fighting, so much fighting. You won't fight me?" The telekhine seemed to be working in circles in his head as well.

"No," Leo said. "We won't fight you. So don't worry about it." He paused before asking, "What fighting is happening in Tartarus? Who is fighting?"

But the telekhine lost the thread of the conversation and walked back into the door, muttering a soft 'oof.' He turned and saw the pair, jumping as he did so.

"Please don't hurt me! I won't hurt you, so don't hurt me! Please?"

Leo sighed. "We were just leaving. Okay?" The son of Hephaestus stood and smiled down half-heartedly at the creature. "Can I open this door for you? Why are you trying to get in here anyway?"

"Door frame. Door frames are safe. This one is at the center of the building. Safe here. Safe, safe."

Leo scratched the back of his head. "Oookay. Well," Leo twisted the handle and pushed the door open. "Here you go. Nice and safe doorway."

The telekhine looked up at Leo gratefully. "Thank you! You find your own door frame now? You can share mine? Be safe in here. Yes. Safe."

"Eh," Leo shook his head, chuckling uncertainly. "Thanks. We'll keep that in mind. Uh, be safe then. See ya!"

Cal and Leo turned and began to walk away before Cal cleared her throat and spoke.

"That was certainly...odd. Even for a telekhine."

Leo shrugged. "You're telling me. What did he mean about all of that? Fighting in Tartarus? You don't think one of the old old guys is trying to wake up, do you? I mean...Kronos. Then Gaia. What if the darkness dude is next? Or Tartarus himself?" Leo thought about it for a moment and shuddered. "Definitely don't want to fight Tartarus."

The pair reached the center of the atrium again.

"I'm sure he's just-" Cal's voice cut off abruptly, and she pitched forward into Leo as the ground began to quiver and shake. Leo steadied her while widening his own stance to stay upright. "Leo! What's happening?"

"Earthquake! Shit. The kids. We got to get to the kids." Leo removed his arms from Calypso's shoulders and transferred his grip to hold one of her hands in his. The pair began to run forward, pitching unsteadily as the ground shook beneath their feet. Leo held one hand out to brace them against the floor of the steps as they stumbled into the railings. The shaking grew heavier, and a howl split the air. Leo tried to look back toward the closet, but his gut told him the telekhine was safe and had not been the one to howl. Leo and Cal held on to the railings, clinging to them as they waited for the shaking to subside.

After several minutes, the rumbling slowly ceased, and the pair were able to move once more. They darted up the stairs. Once they reached the top of the grand staircase, the duo spotted Brittany and her group running toward them. Leo breathed a sigh of relief and quickly did a count.

One, two, three, four, five...

He counted the children from Dayspring one more time and glanced sharply at Brittany. "Where's Celia?"

Brittany's hysterical voice sounded high-pitched to Leo's ears. The girl was near tears. "I couldn't find her! She just-I thought she was following us, but after we left, I turned around, and she was gone! I'm sorry!"

Calypso put a hand on Brittany's shoulder, and the girl quieted down.

"I'm sure she's alright, Brittany. She probably just got scared when the earthquake started and hid. Little kids do that. Now, where were you guys when the quake hit?"

"We had just bought the tokens and were going to get in line."

"And you didn't see her once the quake stopped?" Leo interrupted the girl, his voice hard with concern. Brittany shook her head furiously.

"She hid behind the booth," Grace interjected. Leo glanced at the dour girl. Her skin, which generally seemed like she barely got outside, held a pink tinge high in her cheeks. Her eyes were glassy.

Brittany whirled on her friend. "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell me? We could have gone back for her!"

For once, Grace looked ashamed. Her lips parted, but she pressed them together to form a thin and straight line. Her shoulders slumped, and she stared down at the floor.

Calypso and Leo looked at each other.

"Well, we can't just-" Leo cut off abruptly as a familiar low growl sounded from down the hall of the museum. He heard the children's grasp of horror and fear as they looked toward the source. The hairs on the back of Leo's arms raised. He swallowed heavily before forcing himself to look, knowing what he would see before his eyes set upon it.

"Shit."

Cal grabbed the arms of Grace and Brittany, pulling them behind her before shoving Sonny behind her as well. The other children scrambled to duck behind the older teens. "Leo?" Cal's voice quivered. "Are those what I think they are?"

Two impossibly large black wolves- larger even than Great Danes- slavered at the end of the exhibit, red eyes glowing with hatred as purple energy raced across their hairy bodies. Their teeth clattered and clacked as the creatures snapped their massive jaws in the direction of the group, looking as if they grinned at their captured prey.

"Lycanthrope. Jason and I...we're gonna have to run for it, Cal. I don't have my belt on me."

Cal gulped and nodded. She held her hands in front of her defensively, palms facing outward to the wolves and fingers splayed. Then, quietly, she answered, "We can go back downstairs. Hide with the telekhine. I'm going to distract them, and then we run, got it?"

Leo nodded and looked back to the children behind them. "Get ready to run guys."

Leo looked back. Cal stared at the creatures, her eyes cold and hard. She muttered under her breath, her fingers curling and winding about in a languid ritual of pattern. A breeze fluttered over Leo and his hair stirred against his cheek. In the next second, a jet stream of air- so harsh and strong Leo almost lost his footing- raged through the open area and toward the creatures who howled against the wind threatening to peel the skin back from their faces.

"Run!" Cal yelled, voice hoarse with fatigue. The group wasted no time and turned on the spot, tripping over themselves in their haste to getaway. Leo heard the howls shift into screams of rage as they escaped down the curving staircase, skidding onto the first floor and running, running, running. The door was just there- seven steps, four, two-

The group piled into the closet and slammed the door shut behind them. There was no sign of the telekhine. Leo quickly flipped the flimsy lock on the handle of the doorknob and braced himself against it. Two thundering shudders shook the door as the pair of lycanthropes threw themselves against it.

Leo's eyes darted around the room and landed on the supply shelves. "Quick! Move the shelves in front of the doors. Hurry!"

The group-minus Leo, who braced himself against the door- strained to push the shelving into place against the door. Once they were close, Leo leaped out of the way to give them room to move. The group moved to the far side of the room, holding themselves close to the wall opposite the door. A terrified look plastered across her face, Brittany held Sonny against her, the boy flinching with each blow the door took. Grace crouched in a corner, eyes closed and lips moving as if she were speaking.

Eventually, the pounding against the door stopped, and the snuffling and slobbering sounds of the wolves faded. Grace let her breath out in a whoosh. "They're leaving."

Leo frowned. "I don't know. They could be moving just down the hall out of hearing range."

But Grace was already shaking her head. "No. Those two are joining the others."

Cal glanced at the girl, asking sharply, "Others? You saw more?"

Grace grimaced and shook her head again but didn't speak. Her expression fell flat, and she looked down.

Something's going on. I know it.

Leo caught Cal's eye as she opened her mouth to question Grace. He shook his head slightly, and Cal glowered at him but didn't address Grace further. Instead, she turned her attention to the others. "Is anyone hurt?"

While most of the group gathered around Cal to assess any damage, Leo slowly approached Grace and sank into a crouch. His voice full of cautious hesitation, he asked, "So, you just kind of know there are more of those dogs?"

Grace rolled her eyes and glared up at him. "Lycanthropes. We both know what they are, so why don't you call them by their real name?"

Leo eyed the girl curiously. "Right. Lycanthropes. How do you know where they are? Can you tell how many?"

Grace tilted her head to the side as if she were trying to hear something and closed her eyes. She shrugged after a moment. "There's five. The two that just left. Two on ground level. One up near...the science area." Grace paled and, for the second time, looked ashamed. "I left her there. Celia just-I knew she was there. But I was so scared. There was the quake, and then...they were there. So suddenly. And I just-I just wanted to hide. That's what I always do. I just hide and wait- it's just been me. I've never..., but I just left her there." Grace turned her eyes to Leo, glassy with unshed tears. "I'm a coward. That's all my tapestry will ever be."

Leo stared at her in shock. "Hide? You mean you've seen these guys before?"

But Grace was already shaking her head. "No. I mean, things like them- but a long time ago. And never so many."

"But you said you always hide." Leo furrowed his brows in confusion.

"From everything else. My mom told me that it's just the way it is."

"I thought...I thought your mom died? When you were younger?" Leo wondered if he had misheard Mrs. Gugaitis when she spoke to Leo about the new addition.

The tears that had threatened to fall finally made good on their promise and streamed down her face, rolling over Grace's pale cheeks. "My step-mom died because of me. There was something in the backyard-a snake thing. It was trying to get to me, but she got in between us so I could hide. I hid until my dad came home. He found me and..." Grace shook her head angrily. "I knew I shouldn't have stayed here. I should have told my dad we needed to leave Dayspring, but I'm just so tired of running, and my dad needs the rest. I just..."

Leo quietly asked, "Why did you want to run away?"

When Grace's eyes met Leo's, he flinched at the bitterness in them. "Because the more demigods you put together, the more monsters you get. Don't you know anything?"

Leo felt his mouth drop open and knew he must look like the idiot she thought him to be. He quickly shut his mouth and cleared his throat. "So, you know you're a demigod then?"

Grace rolled her eyes. "Well, duh. And with you and Nico being demigods and Celia and Miles being demigods… and then when you brought Cal today…I don't know what she is but...I knew it was just a matter of time."

"So Celia and Miles are demigods?" Leo furrowed his brow. "So, wait...why aren't you at one of the camps then? Do you even know about them?"

Grace simply glared at him. "Of course, I know about them! And it's none of your beeswax!"

Leo held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay! Fine. Will you...will you at least tell me who your mom is then? Your godly mom?"

Grace glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest. She sniffed once before looking away and muttering, "Lachesis."

Puzzled, Leo looked at the girl. "Who?"

Scowling, Grace dropped her arms. "Lachesis. The Allotter. One of the three Fates. Mom decides how long life will be and, sometimes, picks your destiny."

Eyes widening, Leo asked, "She decides what's going to happen? Seriously?"

"No," Grace answered tiredly. "She doesn't decide the journey or the actions. Just what most likely will happen. Decisions still matter. You can change your destiny."

"So, can you see the future then or something?"

"No. I don't even think mom can see the future. But, I can see the truth of people- living creatures. I know if they're monsters, demigods, mortals, or gods. And I can see possibilities, see lifelines–at least, the Greek and Roman ones." Grace looked over at Leo, her eyes filling with tears again. "That's how I know Celia's still up there."

Leo leaned back and brought a hand up to his head, finger tapping the center of his forehead. A frown fell over his face.

"Cal! Come over here a sec."

Cal answered, annoyance clear in her voice, "You didn't say please."

"Please, Cal? Come on."

Leo heard a sigh, but Cal was by his side a moment later. She knelt down, a look of concern falling over her face as she took in Leo's posture and Grace's tear-stained face. "Leo? What's wrong?"

Leo stopped tapping his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose. "We need to get Celia. And we need to get the kids out of here. But, with so many demigods together, we are drawing the monsters to us."

Cal's eyebrows drew down in confusion. "So many demigods?"

Leo batted a hand back and forth. "Me, Grace, Celia, Miles. And you. It's going to be close to impossible to get to Celia and get all the kids to safety." Leo's hand moved upwards, and he began to tap a finger against his forehead again. "We have to find a way to draw the lycanthropes away."

Cal sighed heavily. "I wish we could just call 9-1-1."

Leo froze. "What did you say?"

"I wish we could call 9-1-1?" Cal answered, an edge of uncertainty in her voice. "I know we can't. Even if we had one of the kids use their cell phone, I doubt we'd get service in here."

"That's- but that's it! We can use cell signals to amplify our presence!"

Closing her eyes, Cal frowned. "I don't understand. How would that help us?"

Leo dropped his hand and grinned. "Not us. You guys." Leo turned to the rest of the group. "Guys! Anyone who has a cell phone, bring it over. Now!"

Leo eyed the cell phones on the floor. Everyone but Miles and Grace had cell phones.

Thank the gods for being in a time where most kids have cell phones.

"Alright, guys. Here's the plan. Each of you pull up your favorite song, show, whatever on your phone. I know we won't get service in here but, once I'm in the hallway, hopefully, I'll get a signal sooner rather than later. Once I'm out there, I'll draw those things away. Cal is going to leave with me. You all are to stay put until she comes back with Celia. Then, you guys can meet Greg and get back to Dayspring, got it?"

Brittany asked, "But why do you need our cell phones to draw those dogs away?"

Leo glanced at Cal and then back at the girl. "Maybe the sound will help draw them away." That and making sure that my presence is amplified so much that all they can latch onto is me. "It might help drown out everything else."

"That still doesn't make any sense," Brittany answered. But, she did as Leo asked and pulled up a music app on her phone before handing it back. "There. I have it set to start playing, so as soon as you get service, it will."

Leo smiled and waited as the other children did the same. Finally, he looked down at the devices and frowned. "Uh, anyone have a bag I can borrow?"

Cal grimaced and shook her head. "I left mine in the hallway during the quake."

Brittany, however, was already pulling her purse from around her shoulders. "I better get this back, you hear me?"

She handed Leo her purse, and he swallowed a sigh. A pink purse in the shape of a heart was definitely not his style. Nevertheless, he thanked the girl and began to pile the phones into the bag. He pulled the strap over his neck so that it settled crisscross against his chest. Leo stood and began to stretch, pulling his foot behind his back. His hamstring barely protested before he switched to his other leg. He jumped up and down, grinning as Cal eyed him.

"What are you doing?"

Grinning, Leo said, "Coach said half the work of winning a race is stretching beforehand." Then, taking a deep breath, he asked, "Any gods I can pray to for speed?"

Cal scowled. "Pray to Hades to go easy on your soul. You realize this is crazy, don't you?"

Leo waggled his eyebrows at her. "I never said it wasn't. Most of my plans are, or don't you remember?" When Calypso's look didn't improve, Leo added, "We'll be okay, Cal. I'll get the mutts out and away, and you'll get Celia and the kids back to Dayspring all safe and sound, bueno?"

Cal hesitated but then squared her shoulders and nodded, mustering a smile. "Bueno."

"Alright. Let's get those shelves out of the way and get ready, yeah?"

With Sonny, Brittany, and Cal helping, Leo pushed the shelving so that the door would be able to open enough for the pair to slip through.

Leo looked to the daughter of Lachesis. "How we looking, Grace? Go time?"

Grace tilted her head to the side before slowly answering. "Almost. All five are on the second floor- scattered, though. Your best bet to make it there without being blocked by too many people and for Cal to bypass the wolves will be the South stair. Just have her go all the way to the fourth, and you draw them down the North stair."

Leo nodded. "Tell us when Grace."

Her eyes flicked back and forth between Cal and Leo. She licked her lips and then told Leo, "This could end in flames. You can't be afraid. But…don't push it too far." Without waiting for him to respond, Grace said, "Now. Go!"

Leo and Cal slipped through the door.

The pair heard the door click behind them as the kids from Dayspring relocked it. Leo looked up and down the hallway before turning to the left and walking toward the South stair. Cal followed behind him silently.

They ran into several groups of people who hurried to the exits. One old man called out to them, "There are wild dogs upstairs! You need to get out!" But, he didn't try to stop them as they pushed forward.

Cal frowned and glanced down at the pink purse and the silent phones. "Why aren't the phones working yet?"

Leo shrugged and said, "Could be towers went down with the quake. Could be a while before they come back up."

"How are we going to distract them then?"

"I'll figure out something. But we're not distracting them. You need to get Celia and get out, okay, Cal? Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself, but those kids are going to need you. You understand that, right? Don't come back for me until you get those kids to Dayspring. Festus is there- take him home, and you get help if I haven't come back yet. Maybe Grace will be able to tell you if I made it home or not. I don't know how far out she can see."

"What do you mean how far Grace can see? Is she-" But Cal abruptly cut off as they entered the stairwell. Soft growls echoed down. Cal and Leo quickly backed out of the stairs and gently closed the door. "I thought she said they were all closest to the North stair?"

Leo shook his head. "They're not stationary objects, Cal. They probably moved. I wish demigods had an actual way to communicate. It would make things so much easier!" The son of Hephaestus pinched the bridge of his nose and groaned softly.

Think dammit. You're a son of a god of plans and blueprints and sticky situations! Gods dammit, think!

"Here's what we're going to do: the science exhibit is on the fourth floor, right?"

Cal nodded.

"Alright. So, I'm going to go up these stairs. You're going to head to the North stair. I'll bust through the door on the second floor and distract the wolves- hopefully, it will pull the one in the stairwell too. Then, you make a run for the fourth floor. I'm sure I'll have grabbed most of their attention but, in case I haven't or they moved further up than we thought, you'll have to handle any stragglers."

Cal nodded again. "What are you planning on doing?"

Grinning cheekily, Leo answered, "My specialty: annoy the living hell out of them." He cracked the stair door open and listened intently. The soft growls still echoed down the shaft. He gently shut the door and turned to the ex-goddess. "I mean it, Cal. Don't come back for me until the kids are safe. I'll try to draw the wolves out, and if I can't...well, I'll think of something. I always do. Head straight to the fourth floor and get Celia. I'll try to cause as much racket as I can. As soon as you hear me and the wolves get clear of you, you leave. Understand?"

Cal nodded, a fierce expression falling across her face. "I won't let anything happen to them. I promise."

Leo smiled crookedly. "Well, no time like the present. See you at home!" Leo winked and turned, letting himself into the stairwell without a backward glance.

The stairwell smelled musty and damp, as most rarely-used concrete stairs tend to. The temperature was slightly chilled compared to the controlled atmosphere of the main public areas of the museum. Leo took a deep breath and closed his eyes, steadying his nerves for whatever lay ahead.

Well, if I die, at least Nico will know where to find me.

Leo shook his head angrily, banishing the dire thought. The son of Hephaestus placed one foot in front of the other and began to ascend the stairs. The growls grew louder as he approached the second floor's landing, but, as it came into view, the landing was empty.

It must be further up.

Leo frowned, realizing the need to draw the monster down. He looked down at the pink purse at his side, phones still silent. Sighing, he reached a hand out and opened the door. He drew a deep breath and then, loudly, called out, "Hello? Are there any abuelas here in need of snacks?"

The growls cut off abruptly, and Leo fully stepped through the door and onto the main floor. There was no answer, but Leo heard soft panting and the click of claws on the tiled floor further down the hall. "If there are any wolves here, these aren't for you!"

He picked up his pace and pushed farther on down the hall. He heard the door to the stair open behind him and whirled around. Despite knowing the sight that would greet him, Leo's heart still skipped a beat as his eyes fell on the lycanthrope. Drool glimmered from where it caught in the fur around the wolf's gums and teeth. Red eyes glowered at him, and the snout pricked back in a grimace of disgust.

"Little demigod. How foolish of you to have left the others."

Leo ignored the creature's comments and said, "Oh my! But you're not my abuela at all! Your voice is much too deep!"

The monster paused, and Leo continued. "And you're much too ugly to be my abuela." Leo leaned forward and sniffed loudly. "And you stink! Seriously? Do you kiss your children with that mouth?"

The wolf snarled. "I am not an old grandma! So stop saying I am!"

Leo could barely make out the soft sounds behind him but sensed that the wolves were closing in.

"Oh, okay. Don't like being called abuela? What do you prefer then? Yia Yia? Nanny? Auntie?" Leo's eyes widened. "Ohhhh. Do you just prefer to be called by your first name? Good for you- throw off the stigma of titles!"

The wolf snarled and drew closer. Leo backed up several steps, knowing his actions put him closer to the other wolves.

"I am not a woman! I am not even mortal! Stop this at once! I don't even have grandkids!"

The monster sprang with a furious slavering growl- but Leo was ready for it. He dove to the side as the wolf fell through the air, falling into the rest of the monsters like a bowling ball taking down pins.

Leo rolled and caught himself against the wall, pushing up to his feet. At the same time, the lycanthropes tried to disentangle themselves from one another. He sprinted down the hall, knowing the wolves would come after him sooner rather than later. He flung open the door to the stairs and cursed as he ran into a pair of arms that began to slap at him, a voice shrieking in his ear. It took him a moment to realize the voice belonged to Cal.

He reached out blindly to hold her arms away from him.

"Cal. Cal! Stop! It's me!"

Slowly, the girl ceased struggling. She panted and gulped in air. "Leo? Thank the gods!"

He glared at her. "Why are you here? I told you not to come back!"

"I didn't! We couldn't go back through the North stair! One of them was coming up as we were going down, and I had to block the door! It took everything I had left."

Leo glanced down and noticed Celia clinging to Cal's waist. He smiled, but the expression quickly fell from his face as he heard a rage-filled howl. He looked at the pair and said, "You need to get out of here!"

When neither made any move to go, he gently pushed on Cal's shoulder. "Now."

Cal shook herself and nodded. She stooped and picked up Celia, the little girl throwing her arms around the ex-goddess' neck. Cal didn't look back as she hurried down the steps, Celia jostling up and down on her hip.

Leo took a deep breath and sprinted up the steps leading to the fourth floor. He heard the door leading to the stair from the second floor open and crack against the wall with a loud bang! He wasted no time and, taking the steps two at a time, passed the fourth-floor landing and continued to the roof. A large red sign reading "Authorized Personnel Only" marked the inside of the door. Yellow and black striped tape wrapped the bar running horizontally. Leo thrust his hands against it and stumbled out onto the rooftop, throwing a hand up to shield his eyes from the searing light of the sun.

Hearing the wolves quickly climb the stairs behind him, Leo searched the rooftop for a place to hide. His eyes lit upon the electrical room that serviced the dampers and emergency systems for the rooftop. Before he had decided on a plan of action, his feet had already moved toward the room. He flung himself to the ground on the opposite side out of sight just as the wolves spilled onto the rooftop.

He sprawled on the laminate flooring, trying to stifle his gasps while he wracked his brain for any way he might defeat the wolves without dying himself.

"Little demigod. We're wolves. Do you think we cannot smell you?" A cacophony of hackles Leo realized were bestial laughs echoed across the open space. "We know where you are hiding. Why don't you come out and make things easier on yourself? Dying quickly is better than having it drawn out. Wouldn't you agree?"

Leo shrugged his shoulders and stepped out from behind the electrical room.

Time to improvise.

"I guess you'd be right. Though, I wouldn't get too big a head about it. You're still a pack of ugly abuelas."

What Leo assumed was the lead wolf- the one he had baited with the grandma kick in the first place- snarled and opened his maw to speak, but tinny music began to play from Leo's pink purse. A single line of notes sounded before being overrun by multiple different songs playing simultaneously.

It seemed Leo had finally come into cell service.

"What...what is that?"

Leo grinned and pulled the purse over his head. He fished a phone from within the confines of the bag and let it fall to the ground. Holding the phone free from the purse, the music from Brittany's phone became clear.

"You know you love me, I know you care. Just shout whenever, and I'll be there."

Leo recognized the flash of disgust that flitted across the lycanthrope's face even though its wolf-like features. "Why would you play such evil?"

Leo shrugged. "I didn't choose the soundtrack to this fight, bro." The music continued in the background: "Baby, baby, baby, oh. Like baby, baby, baby, no..."

"No matter." The monster's tone darkened, and it slowly stalked forward, spittle pooling and dropping from over its gum line. "It will be the last thing you hear before you die."

Leo's eyes darted to the door of the electrical room. He swallowed heavily. He looked back to the pack of lycanthropes and smirked. "I don't think so."

The son of Hephaestus tossed the phone at the monsters and watched it sail through the air, hitting the lead wolf on the snout with a dull thunk. The music sounded muffled as the phone landed against the concrete face down. Leo turned and ran toward the electrical room, the last vestiges of the music fading: "I just can't believe we ain't together..."

Leo barely had time to acknowledge his good fortune that the door to the electrical room was unlocked. He threw himself into the room and slammed the door behind him. With no other recourse, Leo blew the hair out of his eyes and focused his energy and attention. He felt the temperature in the room rise abruptly, but it didn't bother him.

A crackling pop sounded, and Leo looked over to see a stream of smoke coming from the electrical panel. A grim smile stole over his features. He waited by the door as the wolves pushed their way into the small room. The monsters piled into the room, one after the other. The last lycanthrope entered the room, the leader booming out, "Where is he?"

Leo slammed his hand against the metal door, resting his fingers against it and the frame. The heat in the room increased sharply, and the door began to glow white-hot. The wolves immediately turned toward the son of Hephaestus and struggled to advance through the increasingly searing air. Multiple pops now came from the electrical panel, and a small flame flickered to life, rapidly eating and climbing through the wire's cracked and fading red casing. Throughout the room, discarded trash began to ignite.

"You cannot kill us- you have no silver!" The lead lycanthrope choked out. "You will die before we succumb!"

A spark of anger burned within Leo, and he glared at the wolves. "Will I, though? I think I'll live a lot longer than you. I didn't think wolves were immune to fire."

The monster sneered. "There is not enough in here to burn, little demigod. The floors and walls are concrete. Eventually, this refuse will burn out, and there will be nothing left with which to harm us."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? Last I checked, flesh and bones burn too."

The wolf fell silent, and the pack advanced on Leo, but it was too late. The first two wolves screamed and howled in agony as flames burst into being, dotting and racing across their fur in vivid streaks of bright orange and yellow. The third leaped over its fallen comrades and reached for Leo, claws extended and razor-sharp. But, the creature succumbed before it could mark the demigod.

The fourth made it to Leo, flames licking across its skin. It raked a paw down, catching Leo on his shoulder. He fell against the wall, the unsteady weight of the creature driving its claw further into his body. He gritted his teeth and, knowing his energy would eventually fail, pushed the heat higher. Leo ignored the blistering pain of smoke scorching the inside of his lungs. Coughs wracked his body as they tried to expel the noxious compounds from the burning building materials and flesh of the monsters.

The fourth lycanthrope died with a howl and crumbled into ash and dust. His energy depleted, Leo drew in ragged breaths, knowing the last lycanthrope still stood and that he was out of time. Leo turned and, thankful that he was still fireproof despite his lack of energy, pulled at the door until the molten metal gave way and warped. He forced his body through a ragged hole formed between the door frame and concrete wall, a new wave of coughing threatening to push his lungs onto the outside of his body as the cold air hit him. He stumbled across the rooftop, all too aware that the wolf would be following him as soon as it was able.

He wasn't mistaken. A ferocious snarl sounded from directly behind him, and Leo turned to look. The lycanthrope emerged from the electrical room, burned beyond recognition. If Leo had not seen the lycanthrope before, he would not have known what the creature was that crawled out from the room. Bits of fur clung to charred skin, blackened and cracked, revealing jagged lines of raw red flesh. The left eye oozed from the socket, spilling like a runny egg over the defined bone and dribbling down the creature's cheek.

The disfigured creature tried to speak, but no words came from its ruined mouth and desiccated vocal cords. It fixed its remaining hate-filled eye on Leo, purple energy racing across its body.

Leo backed up until his knees hit the ledge of the building. There was nowhere left to run and nothing left for him to do. He was without energy, without his toolbelt, without a friend.

The lycanthrope rushed him. Leo just stared at the monster, closing his eyes and dropping at the last possible second to fall flat to the ground. As the wolf passed overhead, Leo caught the overwhelming stench of burnt hair mingling with the familiar smell of cooking meat and sickness. A final angry howl quickly grew distant before abruptly cutting off.

Leo pushed himself into a seated position, a wave of exhaustion rolling over him. He leaned his head back against the ledge that had just toppled the lycanthrope and closed his eyes. His lungs screamed with each breath he took.

Guess being fireproof doesn't save me from everything else.

He coughed again, his body trying to rid itself of smoke and ash.

And wouldn't that be fitting? To just go ahead and die because of a fire? Some son of Hephaestus I am.

Leo tried to open his eyes but gave up after several unsuccessful attempts.

I'm just so tired. I'll just rest here for a bit. Then I'll go home.

But the darkness behind Leo's closed eyes pulled him further and further down. He felt his own heartbeat slow and slow until he thought that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to just give in and fall asleep without the worry of waking up. Grace's warning swam to the forefront of his mind: "This could end in flames, Leo. You can't be afraid. But…don't push it too far. Don't make yourself burn up too."

Honestly, if this was the end, it wasn't even that bad. The ache in his lungs was fading, and he swore he could even hear someone calling his name.

But Leo didn't worry about it anymore and let himself fall away into darkness.

"To choose doubt as a philosophy of life is akin to choosing immobility as a means of transportation." ~ Yann Martel