~ { Shadow and Beauty } ~

The Room With Water

   "About?" she asked.

   "Camp Jupiter," he said. "All the years I trained there. We were always pushing teamwork, working as a unit. I thought I understood what that meant. But honestly? I was always the leader. Even when I was younger—"

   "The son of Jupiter," Piper said. "Most powerful kid in the legion. You were the star."

   Jason looked uncomfortable, but he didn't deny it. "Being in this crew of eight... I'm not sure what to do. I'm not used to being one of so many, well, equals. I feel like I'm failing."

   Piper took his hand. "You're not failing."

   "It sure felt that way when Chrysaor attacked," Jason said. "I've spent most of this trip knocked out and helpless."

   "Come on," she chided. "Being a hero doesn't mean you're invincible. It just means that you're brave enough to stand up and do what's needed."

   "And if I don't know what's needed?"

   "That's what your friends are for. We've all got different strengths. Together, we'll figure it out."

   Jason studied her. Piper wasn't sure that he bought what she was saying, but she was glad he could confide in her. She liked that he had a little self-doubt. He didn't succeed all the time. He didn't think the universe owed him an apology whenever something went wrong—unlike another son of the sky god she'd recently met.

   But all the times she and Jason would spend together talking, she wished Kiara would talk with her too. The daughter of Pluto was just so closed up in herself, and Piper wanted to make her feel like she was one of Piper's friends too.

   "Hercules was a jerk," Jason said, as if reading her thoughts of before. "I never want to be like that. But I wouldn't have had the courage to stand up to him without your taking the lead. You were the hero that time."

   "We can take turns," she suggested.

   "I don't deserve you."

   "You're not allowed to say that."

   "Why not?"

   "It's a breakup line. Unless you're breaking up—"

   Jason leaned over and kissed her. The colors of the Roman afternoon suddenly seemed sharper, as if the world had switched to high definition. "No breakups," he promised. "I may have busted my head a few times, but I'm not that stupid."

   "Good," she said. "Now, about that cake—"

   Her voice faltered. Percy Jackson was running toward them, and Piper could tell from his expression that he brought bad news.

They gathered on deck so that Coach Hedge could hear the story. When Percy was done, Piper still couldn't believe it.

   "So Annabeth was kidnapped on a motor scooter," she summed up, "by Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn."

   "Not kidnapped, exactly," Percy said. "But I've got this bad feeling..." He took a deep breath, like he was trying hard not to freak out. "Anyway, she's—she's gone. Maybe I shouldn't have let her, but—"

   "You had to," Piper said. "You knew she had to go alone. Besides, Annabeth is tough and smart. She'll be fine."

   Piper put some charmspeak in her voice, which maybe wasn't cool, but Percy needed to be able to focus. If they went into battle, Annabeth wouldn't want him getting hurt because he was too distracted about her.

   His shoulders relaxed a little. "Maybe you're right. Anyway, Gregory—I mean Tiberinus—said we had less time to rescue Nico than we thought. Hazel, Kiara and the guys aren't back yet?"