Kira was not where she wanted to be.
Where she wanted to be? Leo's arms.
Where was she? Gods know where.
She looked around, ignoring her throbbing headache.
She was in some sort of dark room, and she couldn't make out much except a hole in the ground, and when she looked over, she couldn't see the bottom, just dark rock falling, a faint red glow in the middle.
See that, dear? A woman's voice echoed across the room, and Kira almost lost her footing. The voice belonged to Gaea, but this time, there was no face.
"See what?" Kira asked. "The hole?"
She stopped herself from mocking the hole.
One way trip to Tartarus, the voice echoed. I'd be more careful if I were you.
"Don't you want me dead anyway?" Kira asked her, trying to keep the spite out of her voice. She didn't want to provoke Gaea, but she was begin to stop caring what gods and titans thought about her. It was exhausting work to just not become a bug splatter on Hera's foot. God, that woman was a pain.
Gaea laughed, and the walls seemed to shake.
Oh, child, she spoke as if Kira was four. She was beginning to wish she was. I have big plans for you. You cannot die.
Kira frowned. She didn't like that Gaea had plans for her. She assumed they were not good.
"What kind of plans?" She asked, although she didn't expect an answer. "And if I can't die, why did you ask Piper to choose? She could have beat me, and I could have died,"
Gaea laughed again.
Piper cannot beat you. But you already knew that. Her voice rattled in her head, worsening the headache. I'm asking you to join me.
"No."
You're going to side with your father? And Hazel, who hates you for no reason? And Jason and Piper, who always seems to leave you and Leo out of their date. Annabeth and Percy, who will always believe they are better then you?
"They are," Kira said shrugging. "And Hazel? I won't release a giant on her because she gave me a nasty look. Piper and Jason are happy, and I'm happy for them. My father has no control on who he is."
Gaea didn't respond. A strong gust of wind blew past.
"Stop trying to turn me against my friends, Dirt Face." She spoke with power. "It won't work."
Gaea was silent only for a second. Then another gust of wind, much stronger.
Then you have made your choice, she growled.
Another gust of wind, and Kira lost her balance. She fell backwards, falling into the pit behind her.
Piper walked onto the ship with Blackjack and three unconscious demigods. Hazel and Frank tended Blackjack, and Annabeth, Piper, and Leo took them to get tended.
"What happened?" Leo demanded for the millionth time, running his fingers over Kira's knot on her forehead, identical to Percy's.
"Leo," Piper said, "are we ready to sail?"
"Yeah, but—"
"Set course for Atlanta. I'll explain later."
"No!" He exclaimed, furious. "My girlfriend is unconscious, and you can't tell me what happened! She's got a hoof print of her forehead!"
"Leo," Piper charmspoke. "Set course for Altanta."
Piper felt guilty for using her ability on him, but he came back every ten minutes anyway after each charmspeak had worn off anyway.
"What hit them?" Annabeth asked, looking between Percy and Kira, both close to her.
"Blackjack," Piper said.
"What?"
Piper tried to explain while Coach Hedge applied some healing paste to the three's heads. Percy and Jason both groaned and opened their eyes.
Within a few minutes, Jason and Percy were sitting up in their berths and able to talk in complete sentences. Both had fuzzy memories of what had happened. When Piper described their duel on the highway, Jason winced.
"Knocked out twice in two days," he muttered. "Some demigod." He glanced sheepishly at Percy. "Sorry, man. I didn't mean to blast you."
"Yeah, but...I could have killed you."
"Or I could have killed you," Percy said.
Jason shrugged. "If there'd been an ocean in Kansas, maybe."
"I don't need an ocean—"
"Boys," Annabeth interrupted, "I'm sure you both would've been wonderful at killing each other. But right now, you need some rest."
"Food first," Percy said. "Please? And we really need to talk. Bacchus said some things that don't—"
"Bacchus?" Annabeth raised her hand. "Okay, fine. We need to talk. Mess hall. Ten minutes. I'll tell the others. And please, Percy...change your clothes. You smell like you've been run over by an electric horse."
Kira sat up in a cold sweat, gasping for breath.
"Hey, wow, wow," Annabeth said. "We've got you."
Kira took deep breaths, making sure there were no gaping holes in her cabin. She held her head in pain. It was still throbbing.
She glanced at everyone in the room, who was now staring at her.
"You've got a hoof print on your forehead," Percy told her, eyes full of amusement.
"So do you, Jackson," She shot back, and his eyes widened.
"We've got matching hoof prints!" He cried in happiness, and gave Kira a high five.
Leo burst in the room.
"Piper.." He gasped. "Stop doing that!"
His gaze landed on Kira, and he tackled her in a hug.
"Oh gods, Ki! Don't do that!" He told her. Kira smiled happily, joyful to be with him again.
"Sorry Le. Next time Blackjack whacks me in the head I'll tell him Leo said he couldn't," Kira told him, her eyes shining with amusement.
She turned to Piper. "Piper, I'm so sorry, I-"
Piper held her hand up. "There's nothing to apologize for, Kira,"
"I almost stabbed you!"
"What?" Leo asked, eyes wide. Kira gave him an innocent smile.
"There's lots to talk about," She told him, brushing soot from his cheek.
Kira, Percy, and Jason all cleaned up from their unwanted time with Gaea.
They gathered around the dining table, and Piper explained what had happened at TOPEKA 32—their conversation with Bacchus, the trap sprung by Gaea, the eidolons that had possessed the three.
"Of course!" Hazel slapped the table, which startled Frank so much, he dropped his burrito. "That's what happened to Leo too."
"So it wasn't my fault." Leo exhaled. "I didn't start World War Three. I just got possessed by an evil spirit. That's a relief!"
"But the Romans don't know that," Annabeth said. "And why would they take our word for it?"
"We could contact Reyna," Jason suggested. "She would believe us."
Jason turned to her with a hopeful gleam in his eyes. "You could convince her, Pipes. I know you could."
All the girls winced, making eye contact with Piper.
"I could try," she said halfheartedly. "But Octavian is the one we have to worry about. In my dagger blade, I saw him taking control of the Roman crowd. I'm not sure Reyna can stop him."
Jason's expression darkened.
"She's right," Frank said. "This afternoon when we were scouting, we saw eagles again. They were a long way off, but closing fast. Octavian is on the warpath."
Hazel grimaced. "This is exactly the sort of opportunity Octavian has always wanted. He'll try to seize power. If Reyna objects, he'll say she's soft on the Greeks. As for those eagles...It's like they could smell us."
"They can," Jason said. "Roman eagles can hunt demigods by their magical scent even better than monsters can. This ship might conceal us somewhat, but not completely—not from them."
Leo drummed his fingers. "Great. I should have installed a smoke screen that makes the ship smell like a giant chicken nugget. Remind me to invent that, next time."
Hazel frowned. "What is a chicken nugget?"
"Oh, man..." Leo shook his head in amazement. "That's right. You've missed the last like, seventy years. Well, my apprentice, a chicken nugget—"
"Doesn't matter," Annabeth interrupted. "The point is, we'll have a hard time explaining the truth to the Romans. Even if they believe us—"
"You're right." Jason leaned forward. "We should just keep going. Once we're over the Atlantic, we'll be safe—at least from the legion."
"How can you be sure?" Piper asked. "Why wouldn't they follow us?"
He shook his head. "You heard Reyna talking about the ancient lands. They're much too dangerous. Roman demigods have been forbidden to go there for generations. Even Octavian couldn't get around that rule."
Frank swallowed a bite of burrito like it had turned to cardboard in his mouth. "So, if we go there..."
"We'll be outlaws as well as traitors," Jason confirmed. "Any Roman demigod would have the right to kill us on sight. But I wouldn't worry about that. If we get across the Atlantic, they'll give up on chasing us. They'll assume that we'll die in the Mediterranean—the Mare Nostrum."
Leo, who sat next to Kira, held her hand under the table, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Percy pointed his pizza slice at Jason. "You, sir, are a ray of sunshine."
Jason didn't argue. The other demigods stared at their plates, except for Percy, who continued to enjoy his pizza. The guy could eat like a satyr.
"So let's plan ahead," Percy suggested, "and make sure we don't die. Mr. D—Bacchus—ugh, do I have to call him Mr. B now? Anyway, he mentioned the twins in Ella's prophecy. Two giants. Otis and, uh, something that started with an F?"
"Ephialtes," Jason said.
"Twin giants, like Piper saw in her blade..." Annabeth ran her finger along the rim of her cup. "I remember a story about twin giants. They tried to reach Mount Olympus by piling up a bunch of mountains."
Frank nearly choked. "Well, that's great. Giants who can use mountains like building blocks. And you say Bacchus killed these guys with a pinecone on a stick?"
"Something like that," Percy said. "I don't think we should count on his help this time. He wanted a tribute, and he made it pretty clear it would be a tribute we couldn't handle."
Silence fell around the table. Kira could hear Coach Hedge above deck singing "Blow the Man Down," except he didn't know the lyrics, so he mostly sang, "Blah-blah-hum-de-dum-dum."
"She wants two of us," Piper murmured.
Kira's blood ran cold. She understood.
"Today on the highway," Kira spoke up when she realized Piper was uncomfortable, "Gaea told us that she needed the blood of only two demigods—one female, one male. She—she asked me to choose which boy would die, and she wanted me to fight Kira."
Jason squeezed her hand. "But neither of us died. You saved us."
Jason had the mind capacity of an ant.
"I know. It's just...why would she want that?"
Leo whistled softly. "Guys, remember at the Wolf House? Our favorite ice princess, Khione? She talked about spilling Jason's blood, how it would taint the place for generations. Maybe demigod blood has some kind of power."
"Oh..." Percy set down his third pizza slice. He leaned back and stared at nothing, as if the horse kick to his head had just now registered.
"Percy?" Annabeth gripped his arm.
"Oh, bad," he muttered. "Bad. Bad." He looked across the table at Frank and Hazel. "You guys remember Polybotes?"
"The giant who invaded Camp Jupiter," Hazel said. "The anti-Poseidon you whacked in the head with a Terminus statue. Yes, I think I remember."
"I had a dream," Percy said, "when we were flying to Alaska. Polybotes was talking to the gorgons, and he said—he said he wanted me taken prisoner, not killed. He said: 'I want that one chained at my feet, so I can kill him when the time is ripe. His blood shall water the stones of Mount Olympus and wake Earth Mother!'"
"You think the giants would use our blood...the blood of two of us—"
"I don't know," Percy said. "But until we figure it out, I suggest we all try to avoid getting captured."
Jason grunted. "That I agree with."
"But how do we figure it out?" Hazel asked. "The Mark of Athena, the twins, Ella's prophecy...how does it all fit together?"
Annabeth pressed her hands against the edge of the table. "Piper, you told Leo to set our course for Atlanta."
"Right," Piper said. "Bacchus told us we should seek out...what was his name?"
"Phorcys," Percy said.
Annabeth looked surprised, like she wasn't used to her boyfriend having the answers. "You know him?"
Percy shrugged. "I didn't recognize the name at first. Then Bacchus mentioned salt water, and it rang a bell. Phorcys is an old sea god from before my dad's time. Never met him, but supposedly he's a son of Gaea. I still don't understand what a sea god would be doing in Atlanta."
Leo snorted. "What's a wine god doing in Kansas? Gods are weird. Anyway, we should reach Atlanta by noon tomorrow, unless something else goes wrong."
"Don't even say that," Kira muttered.
"It's getting late. We should all get some sleep." Annabeth said.
"Wait," Piper said. "There's one last thing, the eidolons—the possessing spirits. They're still here, in this room."
When Piper was done explaining, the others looked at her uncomfortably. Up on deck, Hedge sang something that sounded like "In the Navy" while Blackjack stomped his hooves, whinnying in protest.
Finally Hazel exhaled. "Piper is right."
"How can you be sure?" Annabeth asked.
"I've met eidolons," Hazel said. "In the Underworld, when I was...you know."
Dead.
Good times.
"So..." Frank rubbed his hand across his buzz-cut hair as if some ghosts might have invaded his scalp. "You think these things are lurking on the ship, or—"
"Possibly lurking inside some of us," Piper said. "We don't know."
Jason clenched his fist. "If that's true—"
"We have to take steps," Piper said. "I think I can do this."
"Do what?" Percy asked.
"Just listen, okay?" Piper took a deep breath. "Everybody listen."
Piper met their eyes, one person at a time.
"Eidolons," she said, using her charmspeak, "raise your hands."
There was tense silence.
Leo laughed nervously. "Did you really think that was going to—?"
His voice died. His face went slack. He raised his hand.
Kira shook until she did the same.
Jason and Percy did the same. Their eyes had turned glassy and gold. Hazel caught her breath. Next to Leo, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall.
"Oh, gods." Annabeth looked at Piper imploringly. "Can you cure them?"
She focused on Leo.
"Are there more of you on this ship?" she asked.
"No," Leo said in a hollow voice. "The Earth Mother sent four. The strongest, the best. We will live again."
"Not here, you won't," Piper growled. "All three of you, listen carefully."
Jason, Kira, and Percy turned toward her. Those gold eyes were unnerving, but seeing all three boys like that fueled Piper's anger.
Kira was screaming in her own head again.
"You will leave those bodies," she commanded.
"No," Percy said.
Leo let out a soft hiss. "We must live."
Frank fumbled for his bow. "Mars Almighty, that's creepy! Get out of here, spirits! Leave our friends alone!"
Leo turned toward him. "You cannot command us, child of war. Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment."
Kira wasn't sure what that meant, but Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. He drew an arrow, his hands shaking. "I—I've faced down worse things than you. If you want a fight—"
"Frank, don't." Hazel rose.
Next to her, Jason drew his sword.
"Stop!" Piper ordered, but her voice quavered.
"Listen to Piper." Hazel pointed at Jason's sword. The gold blade seemed to grow heavy in his hand. It clunked to the table and Jason sank back into his chair.
Percy growled in a very un-Percy-like way. "Daughter of Pluto, you may control gems and metals. You do not control the dead."
Annabeth reached toward him as if to restrain him, but Hazel waved her off.
"Listen, eidolons," Hazel said sternly, "you do not belong here. I may not command you, but Piper does. Obey her."
"You will leave those bodies," Piper repeated, even more forcefully.
Jason's face tightened. His forehead beaded with sweat. "We—we will leave these bodies."
"You will vow on the River Styx never to return to this ship," Piper continued, "and never to possess any member of this crew."
The four hissed in protest.
"You will promise on the River Styx," Piper insisted.
A moment of tension—she could feel their wills fighting against hers. Then all four eidolons spoke in unison: "We promise on the River Styx."
"You are dead," Piper said.
"We are dead," they agreed.
"Now, leave."
All three boys slumped forward. Percy fell face-first into his pizza.
"Percy!" Annabeth grabbed him.
Piper and Hazel caught Jason's arms as he slipped out of his chair.
Kira crumbled to the ground.
Leo wasn't so lucky. He fell toward Frank, who made no attempt to intercept him. Leo hit the floor.
"Ow!" he groaned. He got up wildly. "Kira, you alright?"
"All good," Kira croaked, holding her head.
"Are you all right?" Hazel asked.
Leo pulled himself up. He had a piece of spaghetti in the shape of a 3 stuck to his forehead. "Did it work?"
"It worked," Piper said, feeling pretty sure she was right. "I don't think they'll be back."
Jason blinked. "Does that mean I can stop getting head injuries now?"
Piper laughed, exhaling all her nervousness. "Come on, Lightning Boy. Let's get you some fresh air."
Leo went to the helm of the ship. He offered his hand to Kira to follow, but she hesitated, looking back to Hazel and Frank.
"I'll meet you there," She promised, pecking his lips.
She turned to the two, who were just about to leave. Kira smiled.
"Frank," She said. "Do you mind if I borrow Hazel?"
Frank looked to Hazel with a concerned face.
"I'm not going to hurt her!" She said, upset that Frank would think that. Hazel whispered something to him, and he left.
Hazel gave her full attention to Kira, who looked a whole lot more nervous now that it was the two of them.
"Look," She started, playing with her fingers. "I know you hate me, but I don't know why. And I really want this quest to go well, and I really want to be your friend, but you kind of scare me when you glare at me and-"
Hazel cut her off, smiling in the slightest. Kira figured it was a good start. At least she wasn't glaring daggers anymore.
"I'm sorry, Kira," She said. "I don't hate you. I've been taking my anger out on the wrong person. You're right. I want to be your friend as well."
Kira frowned, she hadn't expected it to be that easy. She sat on the table, swinging her legs leisurely.
"But-" She said, confused. "I don't get it, what are you mad at?"
Hazel pondered on this for a long time. Finally, she let out a long sigh. She joined her, sitting next to heron the table. Kira was afraid she would draw her sword and slice her into pieces and throw her in the ocean, like Kronos did to Ouranos.
But instead, Hazels eyes shone with tears, as if she was remembering something painful. Immediately, Kira felt bad.
"I'm sorry Hazel," She said quickly. "I don't want to pry-"
But Hazel told her. Just as Percy said, she had lived in New Orleans in the 1940's. Hazel went into further detail. She explained her love, and how Leo looked exactly like him.
"Oh, Hazel," Kira sympathized, throwing the girl into a tight hug. As she held Hazel in her arms, Hazel seemed to calm down. Kira still had her ability. She had to hide the smile.
"It's not your fault, Kira," She promised. "It's just, when I saw you guys at New Rome, I freaked. And I got jealous, that you got my reincarnated love. But Leo's made it clear that he doesn't know Sammy, and you two are so cute together. I'm sorry I ever tried to set you guys apart."
Kira said nothing, rubbing circles into Hazel's back.
"Hazel!" Frank cried, looking to his crying girlfriend. He glared at Kira. "What did you do?"
Kira threw her arms up in disbelief. "Nothing!"
"Go away Frank," Hazel said, giggling as a tear fell. "I'll fill you in later,"
Frank left.
"I think that you and Frank are really cute, too," Kira said sweetly.
"Thank you," Hazel said weakly. "And thank you for letting me cry on you."
"It's only fitting, I'm the reason you're crying," Kira told her, and the girls shared a laugh.
"Are we good?" Hazel asked, looking up to the daughter of Ares. "I mean, do you forgive me?"
"Yes, of course!" Kira laughed. "What do you take me for, a roman?" They laughed again.
"I'm sorry for making you cry," Kira said finally.
"I'm sorry for glaring at you," Hazel said.
The two girls called it a night soon after, but as Hazel went to sleep, Kira ran onto to the deck to see her favorite person.
She wrapped Leo in a hug from behind before kissing her cheek.
"Hey, Ki," Leo said, smiling brightly.
He was steering the ship, but something told Kira he was just trying to keep himself busy. He hadn't turned the wheel since she came.
"Hey baby," She said blissfully, leaning on the railing and watching the night sky.
Leo's cheeks heated up at his nickname, but when he looked over to her, his heart seemed to slow.
He had always thought Kira was the most gorgeous girl in the entire world. He would chose her over anything he was ever offered. But when he looked over at her, he seemed to fall even more head-over-heals for her.
Her long brown hair flowed in the cold, night wind. Her olive, tanned skin seemed to glow in the moonlight. Her hazel eyes were bright with happiness. Her freckles kissed her cheeks, and her smile. Oh gods, that smile. Her smile made Leo go weak in the knees.
She looked like a goddess.
He couldn't believe she was his.
"Kira," He stuttered. She turned to him, smiling innocently.
"I love you,"
Kira didn't know what Leo was about to say, but she was not expecting that. Her smile widened, happiness evident in every feature.
"Leo," She said, looking perfect effortlessly. Leo held his breath. "I love you too,"
Leo forgot about the wheel. He turned to face her, eyes shining.
"Really?" He asked, like it was too good to be true. "It wasn't too soon? Nyssa told me that girls like when boys wait, to really know if they mean it-"
Kira cut off his rambling with a kiss. "Leo, it's been six months. Definitely not too early,"
Leo smiled again. "Pinch me,"
"What?"
"Pinch me," He repeated. "I need to make sure I'm not dreaming."
"I'm not pinching you, Le," She said laughing. "Besides, you wouldn't get this lucky in dreams."
That was true. Demigod dreams were almost always nightmares.
"What do you think you'll do after this?" She asked after a moment.
Leo's eyebrows knit. "What do you mean?"
"After the quest. Jason and Piper are going back to live with her dad during school months. I don't have anywhere to go, so I'll be at Camp Half Blood full-round."
Leo didn't hesistate. "Then I'll be there too."
"Really?" Kira's eyes swam with bliss.
"Anywhere you are, I'm right beside you, novia," He told her, both of them smiling blissfully.
Neither said what they were thinking. If they got back from this quest. Kira tried to force the thought down.
After a little, Kira suggested Coach take over flying and Leo get some sleep.
This time, Leo didn't sneak over. They parted ways that their cabins, but not before pecking and Leo murmured an "I love you," as if he was gloating that he could say that freely now.
Piper's door was open, and she popped her head out before Kira could escape to her cabin.
"Kira Willows!" She hissed. "Did I hear him right?"
"Tell you tomorrow," Kira said dreamily.
Thank you all so so so much for 1k views!! AND NUMBER ONE ON THE HASTAG LEOVALDEZ?? That's amazing! I honestly never thought this would get any attention. You guys are the best!! Let me know if you guys have any comments or concerns, and if you guys have any suggestions for me to add! See you all tomorrow!