The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

eleven

PRISONERS

Gradually, the sound of the serpent banging on the grate faded behind them.

After some time, Ariana began waking up and shifted in Leo's arms.

"Rise and shine, DeathGirl." Leo grinned down.

Ariana groaned, her bones were sore and ached. "What.." she faltered. "What happened?"

"You became a cool water dragon thing!" Meg exclaimed. "You saved me!"

Ariana could barely manage a smile at the girls enthusiasm, though she wasn't sure if she hid her confusion very well.

The girl turned her head to look at Apollo, she noticed the former god looked cautious and avoided eye contact.

They walked for so long, Apollo feared they would die of hypothermia before reaching their goal.

Then they spotted a raised alcove built into the side of the tunnel-an old service platform, maybe. They climbed out of the frigid green muck for a break (something that was hard for Ariana).

Meg and Apollo (who now held Ariana) huddled together while Leo attempted to light himself on fire.

On his third try, his skin sputtered and hissed, finally bursting into flames.

"Gather round, children." His grin looked diabolical with orange fire washing across his face.

"Nothing like a blazing-hot Leo to warm you up!"

Apollo tried to call him an idiot, but his jaw was shivering so badly, all that came out was, "Id idid idid"

Soon their little alcove was infused with the smell of reheated Meg and Apollo-baked apples, mildew, body odor, and just a hint of awesomeness.

(I'll let you guess which scent was Apollo's contribution.)

Ariana fingers turned from blue back to pink. She could feel her legs well enough again to walk.

Apollo was even able to speak without stuttering like Josephine's tommy gun.

When Leo judged them sufficiently dry, he shut off his personal bonfire. "Hey, DeathGirl. How'd you do that?"

Ariana shrugged, she was slightly leaning on Apollo for support. Though she regained the feelings in her body, it still pained her to move.

"I don't know, I've never done that before. I don't even know how."

She was glad none of them pressed her on the matter, and even if they did Ariana was too exhausted to even care.

"Well," Apollo said, "I'm glad you weren't crushed to death, Meg. Anything broken?"

She touched her rib cage. "Nah. I'm good."

Her stiff movement, her pale complexion, and the tightness around her eyes told Ariana otherwise. She was in more pain than she would admit.

However, until they got back to the Waystation infirmary, they couldn't do much for her.

Even if one of them had proper medical supplies, wrapping the ribs of a girl who'd almost been crushed to death might do more harm than good.
Leo stared at the dark green water.

He looked more pensive than usual, or perhaps it was just the fact that he wasn't on fire anymore.

"What are you thinking about?" Ariana asked.

He glanced over-no snappy comeback, no playful grin. "Just...Leo and Calypso's Garage: Auto Repair and Mechanical Monsters."

"What?" Apollo said.