𝙄𝙉𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀𝘿; heroes of olympus

bloodied wars (but not anymore)

ERITH JAY
LEO LOOKED LIKE he was going to jump out of his shoes. He looked more nervous than he had at any point on the quest, which Erith wasn't sure whether or not to kick him for.

She guessed she understood his nervousness. He was used to being abandoned, and this might make him abandoned again. But she had sworn to him, and to herself a very long time ago, that she wouldn't let that happen again, not to him. The whole camp could turn against him, and the gods could, but Erith wouldn't. She promised herself that, again and again, like a last breath in the darkness of her cabin at night.

Maybe it was too loving. Maybe the epitome of Greek tragedy had wormed its way into her heart and was now eating through her. Maybe she had changed on the quest a little more than she wanted to admit.

Maybe that's why she was afraid to look in the mirror. 

A few hours ago ago, after a lot of kissing, Leo had decided to show his cabin, plus Jason and Piper, Bunker Nine. He had been scared out of his wits, but she had promised him that it would be fine. Now, she wasn't so sure―but she knew Jason and Piper would not reject him, not for this. And as for the Hephaestus Cabin, well, Erith knew Nyssa. And if her siblings were as good as her, then Leo had nothing to worry about.

Still, some of Leo's jumpiness was rubbing itself off on Erith, and she resisted the urge to bounce on her heels like he was doing.

Together, Leo, Erith, Jason, Piper, Cabin Nine, and Chiron reached the limestone cliff that Erith remembered from what seemed like ages ago. Leo turned away from Erith and broke his hand away from hers, addressing the group. "Here we go."

His hand caught fire, and he set it against the door.

Leo's cabin gasped.

"Leo!" Nyssa cried. "You're a fire user!"

"Yeah, thanks," he said. "I know."

Erith smiled at the two of them.

Jake Mason, who was out of his body cast but still on crutches, said, "Holy Hephaestus. That means―it's so rare that―"

The massive stone door swung open, and everyone's mouth dropped. Even Piper and Jason looked stunned, and they'd seen enough amazing things lately.

Only Chiron didn't look surprised―shocker. The centaur just knit his bushy eyebrows and stroked his beard, as if the group was about to walk through a minefield.

Yippee.

But Erith trusted Leo, and it was too late to back out now.

Leo cleared his throat. "Welcome to Bunker Nine. C'mon in."

―

THE GROUP WAS silent as they toured the facility. Even Erith was impressed―she had hardly gotten to see the place before her and Leo had left. There were giant machines, worktables, old maps and schematics.

And on the central table, still battered and scorched, was the head of Festus.

Erith's heart leapt so far up into her throat she wasn't sure if she could pull it back down.

Leo walked over to it almost slowly and murmured something. Jason and Piper followed, and Erith did, too, because if they weren't anything else, they were a team.