Would that I ──── Leo Valdez [2]

𝟑𝟏: 𝐀 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐩, 𝐚 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥

─────𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 on itself, cars and chunks of asphalt rained down in the hollow cavity under it. 

Even though Vincent didn't have a full idea of what was going on, he had a sick feeling in his stomach, full of dread. Something bad was going to happen, he couldn't explain it. But then Leo put a hand on his shoulder so he dismissed it as anxiety.

Percy couldn't wait until the ship stopped. He was already rushing toward the rails, screaming Annabeth's name. Thankfully they heard a small "Here!" that told them her location.

The Argo II eventually stopped forty feet in the air, but Annabeth seemed way too close to a chasm in the floor. Vincent just wanted to bring her on board and leave as soon as they could. 

Leo lowered a rope ladder and Percy was the first one off the ship. He moved so fast, he might as well have gotten powers of flight. Concern and fear painted his expression and Vincent could feel how fast his heart was beating, how relieved he was to see Annabeth again even though it had only been a few hours.

In those few hours, somehow, Annabeth had landed herself here, found the Athena Parthenos, managed to outwit Arachne and survive on her own against gods knew how many challenges. 

When Vincent was on solid ground, he saw Percy and Annabeth hugging, Percy had dragged her away from the chasm which Vincent was glad for. That hole in the ground made him shiver, even from far away. It just gave him a sense of unease, like standing next to Nico di Angelo.

"Your leg," Piper said when they had all gathered together. She bent to examine Annabeth's bubble wrap makeshift cast on her leg. "Oh, Annabeth, what happened?"

Her blonde hair was frizzy and out of place in a very non-Annabeth fashion. Even her clothes and skin were covered in dirt, grime and sweat. Cuts and scrapes littered over her arms and face, but she just looked happy they had found her.

Talking was hard, but she started to explain. Vincent tried to pull her fear away from her. The more she talked, the more at ease she started to be. She flashed him a grateful smile. She always knew when he was using his powers, even if it was subtle. Vincent wasn't going for subtle now. His friend was hurt and scared and he wanted to do all he could to make her feel better.

When Annabeth finished telling them about Arachne and her trials, all their faces were slack in amazement.

"Gods of Olympus," Jason said. "You did all that alone. With a broken ankle."

"Well... some of it with a broken ankle."

Percy grinned. "You made Arachne weave her own trap? I knew you were good, but Holy Hera—Annabeth, you did it. Generations of Athena kids tried and failed. You found the Athena Parthenos!"

Everyone gazed at the statue.

"What do we do with her?" Vincent asked. "She's huge."

"We'll have to take her with us to Greece," Annabeth said. "The statue is powerful. Something about it will help us stop the giants."

"The giants' bane stands gold and pale," Hazel quoted. "Won with pain from a woven jail." She looked at Annabeth with admiration. "It was Arachne's jail. You tricked her into weaving it."

Leo raised his hands. He made a finger picture frame around the Athena Parthenos like he was taking measurements. "Well, it might take some rearranging, but I think we can fit her through the bay doors in the stable. If she sticks out the end, I might have to wrap a flag around her feet or something."