𝕱𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖑𝖞 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 - a Leo Valdez slowburn

Chapter five

Chapter five

[Everyone gets a makeover from Piper's mom]

"If reality is not what it should be,

don't live in your own,

but help make this one,

whatever you aspire it to be" 

Leah was bluffing. Of course she was, but it worked out. After some more small talk, a weather interruption and trying to win over the lord of the winds, who apparently was waiting for a promotion, they finally won Aeolus's favor, because Aphrodite, Zeus and Hephaestus all agreed that he should help the group of demigods. 

Leah secretly wanted Demeter to speak up, but the goddess continued ignoring her daughter and everything she did. 

But let's get back on track. Leah had tuned out most of the conversation Aeolus had with her friends, but some things had stood out. Not anything important, though. Only that Aeolus apparently also knew about this 'thing' that prevented Leah from becoming a Hunter. As she had said previously, nothing big.

Of course, once they had peace, Hedge came in, grass all over his face. Mellie caught her breath. "Who is that?" Leah wondered how Mellie saw anything attractive in Coach Hedge, but hey, everyone has different tastes, right? Jason answered for Leah. "That? That's just Coach Hedge. Uh, Gleeson Hedge. He's our..." He fell for a loss of words, so Leah filled in. "He's our guide." 

"He's so goatly", the aura murmured. Both Leah and Piper puffed out their cheeks, pretending to vomit. Hedge trotted over. "Hey! What's up guys?" He looked around. "Wow, nice place. Oh! Sod squares." Leah looked slightly disgusted at the Coach's need to eat all the time. Jason seemed to feel the same way. "Coach, you just ate," he said, then continued, "And we're using the sod as a floor. This is, ah, Mellie-"

Hedge finally seemed to notice the aura, but still in some weird way managed to charm her. "An aura. Beautiful as a summer breeze." He smiled winningly. A pink tinge covered Mellie's cheeks. 

Still slightly jealous, Leah changed the subject and gestured at the wind 'god'. "And Aeolus here was just about to help us." "Yes," said wind lord muttered, "It seems so. You'll find Enceladus on Mount Diablo." Leo looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "Devil Mountain?" he asked. "That doesn't sound good." Leah nodded in agreement.

"I remember that place!" Piper exclaimed, shaking her hand from Jason's and instead taking Leah's. "I went there once with my dad. It's-" Leah cut her off. "Near the Bay area, right? Yeah, we were there with the Hunters not too long ago." 

Hedge looked over at them, away from Mellie, concerned. "The Bay Area?" He shook his head. "Not good. Not good at all." "Now..." Aeolus began to smile. "As to getting you here-" He was cut off by his earpiece, when suddenly his face went slack. He bent over and tapped it as if it was malfunctioning. When he was sure it wasn't his eyes became wild, with a slight psychotic look. 

"She hasn't spoken to me for centuries. I can't - yes, yes I understand." Aeolus looked at Jason as if he had suddenly become a pest he had to get rid of. "I'm sorry, son of Jupiter." Jupiter? Wasn't that the Roman term? "New orders. You all have to die." Leah patted her thigh holsters for her guns. Once she was sure they were there, she felt a bit calmer.