𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞

A.2 - Chapter 12 - I finally see my mother and myself as a baby

"What is with you people and the nickname Traitor?" Aria mused, laughing humorlessly. "Like seriously, just because I'm my father's daughter, doesn't mean I'm anything like him. So drop it."

The ice princess smiled smugly, almost tauntingly. "On second thought, the traitor will stay here." She turned back to Jason and Piper. "Now Ariana Johanson and Leo Valdez will be perfectly safe. Come, King Boreas is waiting."

Aria rolled her eyes, but didn't move as they began their descent up the stairs.

After they left, Cal walked her and Leo over to a room, telling them that they could shower and nap while they waited. Or so Aria got out of the small conversation of single words strung together.

Aria sat on the bed while Leo showered, dressed and walked back out, towel drying his hair.

"Please tell me you didn't use all the hot water." She groaned, falling back into the soft pillows.

Leo laughed and shook his head, or she assumed, only able to see him with her peripherals as he seated himself on the edge of the bed.

"Spill." She muttered, sitting up to get a better look at the confused boy. "You have that look when you want to ask someone something. It was happening all of last night."

He smiled softly before answering. "This is probably a sore topic-"

Aria interrupted him with a sigh before waving for him to continue. "-and it's completely fine if you don't feel like answering, but what is with the whole 'traiter' and 'father's daughter' thing?"

She fidgeted with the hem of the orange skirt she was sporting, carefully avoiding Leo's prying eyes. "My father doesn't have the best reputation among the gods, especially after last summer."

"What happened last summer?" Aria knew that Leo meant well, that he was just trying to figure out what everyone was talking about, but it was only raising her defenses. She really wanted to be honest with her, she dare say, friends, but her father had installed his beliefs into her, including to never let anyone close.

"I really don't want to talk about it Leo." She kept her voice level, keeping the annoyance and fear from creeping into her tone.

"Please, tell me." He whined with pleading eyes and she sighed, rolling her eyes, quickly losing her patience and at her wits end with the boy.

"Leo! Drop it." She erupted, quickly backing away as she realized what she did. She lowered her voice to a soft tone, not realizing how broken it sounded until after. "Please."

Aria quickly left the room, shutting the door behind her, listening to the click as she walked towards the stairs to wait for the others. She took her seat on the third step, ignoring the frosty temperatures and settled in.

Aria's eyes snapped open when she felt a wave of hot air roll down her neck. She bounced up, hand on the handle of her scythe before realizing it was just Fetus who was back in full form.

"Thanks for the scare, dude." She muttered with a laugh, patting the metal dragon on the cheek. Aria dragged herself over to where Leo, Jason and Piper stood, ready to go.

Before they could leave, Khione turned to Piper. "You have fooled my father, girl. But you have not fooled me. We are not done. And you, Jason Grace, I will see you as a statue in the throne room soon enough."

Aria shivered, leaning into Festus, and slightly away from Leo, not wanting to talk to him after her outburst. She was completely out of line to snap at him like she did, she felt guilty and ashamed of herself and wasn't ready to admit her weakness to the boy, no matter how bad she felt.