Another sneak peek chapter for a new story of mine. All information will be at the end, as usual.
Story #39: Jason Headlocks His Siblings in the Clouds
"Give me those reins!"
Thalia shoves Jason to the side as she takes control of the Sun Chariot, yanking it so far to the side that they sharply turn against the clouds. Jason stumbles back, grabbing onto the edge as Thalia hollers for joy. He crouches a bit, causing Apollo to trip over his legs. The sun god nearly falls out of his sun chariot but Jason grabs his arm and pulls him back, both waiting for Thalia to calm her course before standing straight.
The moment they're back on their feet, Thalia sharply turns the other way. Apollo falls on Jason. Instead of collapsing on the chariot floor, Jason falls over the railing and down into the sky.
As Jason spins around, flailing through the air, his first thought is that Apollo didn't grab onto his arm as he did to him.
They really are brothers.
Once he gains control again, the wind passes by him and he smiles. His tongue traces the scar on his lip as shakes his head. He watches the chariot glide across the sky. If it has feelings, he imagines that he feels the same when he flies: like he's a part of the sky and as light as a cloud.
The moment Jason spots Thalia's dark hair, Jason soars back up. He narrowly turns at the edge of the chariot, headlocking Thalia tightly. He spins his legs around the front as Thalia grips his forearm, grunting. With his sister in his grip, he falls over the other edge of the chariot, sending them both down.
Thalia screams, cursing him out as Apollo looks over, waving. Unlike Jason, Thalia has a fear of heights. She doesn't like being a part of the sky or as light as a cloud. For a moment, Jason stops flying and Thalia calms herself, grip loosening on him until they start to fall. The ground is a long way away, not even visible, but it feels like the weight of the world is pushing them down at top speed.
This must've been what falling into Tartarus was like for Percy and Annabeth.
"This isn't funny," Thalia states.
"You were fine up there," Jason says. He didn't see a flicker of fear cross Thalia's face, not even for a second, while they were flying the chariot.
"I was standing on something, at least!"
"Never think about the ground."
Thalia scoffs. "Easier said than done when the ground is in sight."
"You know, now would be a good time to see if you can fly…"
As Jason releases her from his chokehold, Thalia falls on her own for a moment before gripping his forearm so tight that it nearly cuts his circulation. She yanks him back so his forehead bashes against the spikes on her jacket, giving him an array of little indents. He laughs as he summons the winds again so they're standing, seeing how far up the chariot is from the distance they fell.
It's admirable that Apollo didn't just ditch them.
"Still not funny," Thalia says, a grin crawling on her lips. "Unless…"
The clouds darken and lightning strikes the sky, bright bolts reflecting in both their eyes as they watch the light show. Their golden brother peeks over the edge. They can't make out his face but see his sunshine aura bordering his body as if he's glowing. He's definitely frowning, especially when the Grace siblings wave at him like he did when Jason grabbed Thalia and flew over the edge.
"I almost got electrocuted!" He yells down at them.
"Damn, I missed…" Thalia mutters, pursing her lips together. "Got something?"
"Do as I did, not as I say," Jason responds.
Thalia raises a brow as she faces him. "That's not how that goes."
"You'll understand."
Jason raises his free palm, curling his fingers so the winds build up beneath him and Thalia. He sends some upwards, straight towards the chariot. The vehicle stammers in its personalized turbulence. Once the Sun God's beams are in sight, Jason puts his hands on Thalia's waist to launch her up.
Thalia cusses him out for a second until she gets close to the chariot. Once she's there, she grabs Apollo in a headlock and forces him overboard as Jason did to her. Instantly, Apollo shrieks so off-key that Jason winces. He wonders how that came from the god of music. Should've been the god of dog whistles, at that point.
"Jason!" Apollo yells.
Jason watches them plummet and wrestle as they descend and waves at them.
They really are siblings.
And now, for my story for The Girl Who Could Fly:
Head in the Clouds - Piper's mom has always been telling her to keep her feet on the ground but it makes that itch in her chest want to claw its way out. The only thing that distracts her is flying in the sky. (OS)