𝙄𝙉𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿; heroes of olympus

love is power

ERITH JAY
OF COURSE, THEIR awful luck so far didn't get any better.

The cab they had taken made lurching, grinding sounds as it climbed the mountain road, and halfway up they found the ranger's station closed, a chain blocking the way.

"Far as I can go," the cabbie said. "You sure about this? Gonna be a long walk back, and my car's acting funny. I can't wait for you."

"We're sure." Leo was the first one out. Erith quickly followed, and traced his line of sight to the ground. She tried to ignore the anxiety the sight inspired in her. The wheels of the cab were sinking into the road like it was made of quicksand, which was clearly unnatural, as the road was hard-packed dirt.

Leo looked up, meeting her gaze. "Snow White."

"Something like that," she agreed, not even cracking a smile at the joke. She tried to take a step, and found it harder than it should've been. Her boots were already sinking. She swore under her breath.

Leo paid the cabbie while Erith went around to meet Piper, Jason, and Hedge. She heard him saying from the other side of the car, "Keep the change. And get out of here. Quick."

The driver didn't argue. Soon all they could see was his dust trail.

The view from the mountain was pretty amazing. The whole inland valley around Mount Diablo was a patchwork of towns―grids of tree-lined streets and nice middle-class suburbs, shops, and schools. All these normal people living normal lives.

Erith wished she was normal.

"That's Concord," Jason said, pointing to the north. "Walnut Creek below us. To the south, Danville, past those hills. And that way..."

He pointed west, where a ridge of golden hills held back a layer of fog, like the rim of a bowl. "That's the Berkeley Hills. The Easy Bay. Past that, San Francisco."

"Thank you for the tour, Jason. I don't remember hiring a guide," Erith said.

Piper, on the other hand, looking worried. "Jason?" she asked, touching his arm. "You remember something? You've been here?"

"Yes... no." He gave her an anguished look. "It just seems important."

"That's Titan land," Gleeson nodded toward the west. "Bad place, Jason. Trust me, this is as close to 'Frisco as we want to get."

But Jason continued to stare toward the foggy basin with incredible longing on his face, and with a chill, Erith realized that that might be where had had come from. Percy might be there. Jasper...

She pushed those thoughts aside. She couldn't get distracted. Not now. Not right before this. This was too important.

Leo's leg jerked, and he frowned. "Hey, guys. Let's keep moving." Erith followed his line of sight and noticed that the heels of his shoes were stuck in the dirt now, as well as hers.

The others seemed to notice the problem.

"Gaea is stronger here," Hedge grumbled. He popped his hooves free from his shoes, then handed the shoes to Leo. "Keep those for me, Valdez. They're nice."

Leo snorted. "Yes, sir, Coach. Would you like them polished?"

"That's varsity thinking, Valdez." Hedge nodded approvingly. "But first, we'd better hike up this mountain while we still can."