𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫. ── 𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞

𝐢𝐢𝐢. 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲?

Jason POV

AS SOON AS JASON SAW THE HOUSE, he knew he was a dead man.
"Here we are!" Aella said cheerfully. "The Big House, camp headquarters."

It didn't look threatening, just a four-story manor painted baby blue with white trim. The wraparound porch had lounge chairs, a card table, and an empty wheelchair. Wind chimes shaped like nymphs turned into trees as they spun. Jason could imagine old people coming here for summer vacation, sitting on the porch and sipping prune juice while they watched the sunset. Still, the windows seemed to glare down at him like angry eyes. The wide-open doorway looked ready to swallow him. On the highest gable, a bronze eagle weathervane spun in the wind and pointed straight in his direction, as if telling him to turn around.

Every molecule in Jason's body told him he was on enemy ground.

"I am not supposed to be here,"he said.

Aella gave him a mischievous grin. "It might feel like that, but it'll be ok, promise."

Jason studied her long brown hair and dark blue eyes. Her skin had freckles and seemed soft. Jason didn't recall her looking this nice when he first met her, but he didn't recall a lot of other things either. Like where almost all of his life had gone. She smelled like blossoms. Jason wondered if she always smelled like that, or if he was just in some kind of daze. Every time she blinked, he felt compelled to look at her. Not out of force, but because he wanted to. He wanted to get to know her, take her out on a date. She was pretty. No doubt about that. She was a person that most people wouldn't give anything of value to, but even though Jason didn't know her, he felt he could trust her with his life.

Jason stared at her captivating blue eyes. "Thanks for the encouragement."

"So... Piper? Are you guys a thing, or..."

Jason wasn't sure how to answer. He didn't think he'd ever seen Piper before today, but he felt strangely guilty about it. He knew he shouldn't be in this place. He shouldn't befriend these people, and certainly he shouldn't date one of them. Still ... Piper had been holding his hand when he woke up on that bus. She believed she was his girlfriend. 

But he couldn't have feelings for her. I mean, she was pretty, but he had to admit, when Aella was holding him from falling on the chariot, he was way more tempted to kiss her than he was to kiss Piper.

Jason decided, then and there. "Um... I don't think so. I mean, that's what the mist told her, but I don't really feel that way. Why?" Jason hoped she was as interested as he was, or least a bit interest.

Aella backed up a little, like she had made a mistake. "Um, no reason. Just curious. Um, I'm still curious about one thing..." Jason looked at her.

She wasn't looking at him, though. She was staring at a spot right above his head.

"You're waiting for a sign," he guessed. "Like what popped over Leo's head."

"You got me. I mean, from what I saw, you're pretty powerful, right? You're going to be important at camp, so I figure your parent will claim you right away. Jusdonhermeskid." She said, murmuring the last part.

"What?"

"Huh? No, I didn't say anything. Just wondering who your mom or dad could be."

He looked up, but no glowing sign popped above his head. At the top of the Big House, the weathervane was still pointing his direction, that bronze eagle glaring as if to say, Turn around, kid, while you still can.

Then he heard footsteps on the front porch. No—not footsteps—hooves.

"Chiron," Aella called. "This is Jason. He's... different."