misplaced || l. valdez

15 || mari has a temper tantrum and passes out

° ~ •. ♆ chapter fifteen ♆ .• ~ °
"mari has a temper tantrum and passes out"

Mari looked up at the staircase to see a girl at the top. She wore a white silk dress and she had unnaturally pale skin. Her hair was the complete opposite, a lush mane of black, and dark brown eyes. The girl looked down at the two of them with no expression, no smile, no friendliness. Mari had to admit, she was pretty, but she didn't look very kind. The girl looked over at Jason and Piper, and seemed to understand the situation immediately.

"Father will want to see the one called Jason." the girl said.

"Then it is him?" Zethes asked excitedly.

"We'll see." the girl said. "Zethes, bring our guests."

Mari stepped forward, and she heard sudden grunting and the sound of metal scraping the floor. She assumed it was Leo trying to carry Festus again. Before either of them could move any further, the girl froze them with a look. Not literally, of course, but she might as well have.

"Not you, Leo Valdez. Neither shall you, Mari Somera." she said.

"Why not?" Leo whined like a kindergartner, but Mari was more concerned with how she already knew their names than not being allowed up.

"You cannot be in the presence of my father." the girl said. "Fire and ice— it would not be wise." Leo pouted like an angry five year old and crossed his arms.

"As for you." she said, turning to Mari. "We have heard... things... about children of Poseidon. We will not make the same foolish mistake Ares did."

Mari had no idea what could have possibly happened between a child of Poseidon and Ares, but it must have been pretty bad based on the girl's tone.

"We're going together," Jason insisted, putting his hands on Leo and Mari's shoulders. "or not at all."

The girl tilted her head, like she wasn't used to people refusing her orders. "They will not be harmed, Jason Grace, unless you make trouble. Calais, keep Leo Valdez and Mari Somera here. Guard them, but do not kill them. Especially the girl."

Cal pouted. "Just a little?"

"No." the girl insisted. "You know what Jackson did to Ares. Who knows what Somera could do to us. Watch the interesting suitcase, until Father passes judgement."

Jason and Piper looked at Mari and Leo, their expressions asking them a silent question: How do you want to play this?

Mari felt a surge of gratitude. They were ready to fight for them, and they'd only known each other for about two days. Part of her wanted to go for it. The girl herself was wary of her power, so who's to say that she couldn't take them all out? Before Mari could do anything, however, Leo spoke up for the two of them.

"It's fine, guys." he said. "No sense causing trouble if we don't have to. You go ahead."

Mari reluctantly nodded, but Jason and Piper didn't look too sure.

"Listen to your friend." the pale girl said, "Leo Valdez and Mari Somera will be perfectly safe. I wish I could say the same for you, son of Zeus. Now come, King Boreas is waiting."