The Curse of Oenone (Daughter of Olympus II) - [Leo Valdez xF!Oc]

I Develop a Parasocial Relationship With the Voices

Ara gasps as her friends fall face-first into the room, she tries to run to their side with Hazel and Leo following. Then Clytius moves, standing in their way.

"Clytius, you've lost! Let them go, or you'll end up like Pasiphaë!" Hazel exclaims.

Annabeth sits up and talks in a voice that's definitely not hers. "I am not Pasiphaë. You have won nothing."

"Stop that!" Hazel gasps in fear.

"Not quite dead." Now is Percy talking with the giant's voice. "A terrible shock to the mortal body, I would imagine, coming back from Tartarus. They'll be out for a while. I'll tie them up and take them to Porphyrion in Athens. Just the sacrifice we need. Unfortunately, that means I have no further use for you three."

"Oh, yeah?" Leo scowls. "Well, maybe you got the smoke, buddy, but I've got the fire."

They realize his move is a mistake a little too late. Leo bends over in pain as dark smoke encircles his body and forces him to his knees. "No!" Hazel tries to get closer but then Leo starts talking for Clytius.

"I would not. You do not understand, Hazel Levesque. I devour magic. I destroy the voice and the soul. You cannot oppose me."

The black fog covering Leo spreads across the room and Ara hears a buzzing ahead, the Doors of Death are fighting against their enclosure. "Hazel," Ara says tensely, nodding at the doors and reaching for her Octopi to rummage through it for the right bomb to throw.

"F-fire," Hazel stammers, trying to distract their opponent. "You're supposed to be weak against it."

"You were counting on that, eh? It is true I do not like fire. But Leo Valdez's flames are not strong enough to trouble me." Annabeth responds.

"What about my flames, old friend?" Hecate speaks behind them.

The giant tenses, his anger is palpable when he talks through Percy. "You."

"Me. It has been millennia since I fought at the side of a demigod, but Hazel Levesque has proven herself worthy. What do you say, Clytius? Shall we play with fire?" The goddess asks, lifting her torches.

"Bold words." Clytius continues, the fog getting thicker. "You forget, goddess. When we last met, you had the help of Hercules and Dionysus—the most powerful heroes in the world, both of them destined to become gods. Now you bring... these?"

Leo winces and curls on the floor, Ara's heart leaps at the sight. He's not dying today, she'll make sure of it. The girl turns Almighty back into a sword and stands tall, her cloak moves behind her covered in dirt and stinking like the Underworld, but showing all of her seven blessings.

"Hazel," she speaks lowly, "bring them back to us."

"On it, Strategus," Hazel stretches out her palms, and somehow, the girl transports Leo, Percy, and Annabeth to their side of the room.

Hecate smiles faintly. "You're right, Clytius. Hazel Levesque and Arae Jackson are not Hercules or Dionysus, but I think you will find them just as formidable."

"What's going on?" Leo coughs out, coming back to his senses. "What can I—"

"Watch Percy and Annabeth." Hazel orders. "Stay behind us. Stay in the Mist."

"But—" Hazel glares at him and Leo shrinks in his place. "Yeah, got it. White Mist good. Black smoke bad."

Ara tosses her Octopi bag at him and he barely catches it. "Help Percy and Annabeth."

"Formidable?" The giant's voice sounds all around them. "Because the girl has learned your magic tricks, Hecate? Because you allow these weaklings to hide in your Mist? Arae Jackson... She's just a puppet of the gods."