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

I've Had a Vision (I'm Delusional)

"That thing is really red," Percy comments once they get upstairs. "I wonder if it's cherry-flavored."

"Why don't you swim over and find out?" Annabeth smirks.

"How about no."

"Get married already." Ara snorts and turns to Frank. "So what did you find out?"

"According to my Pylos cousins," he starts, "the chained god we're looking for in Sparta is my dad... uh, I mean Ares, not Mars. Apparently, the Spartans kept a statue of him chained up in their city so the spirit of war would never leave them."

"Oo-kay," Leo places an arm around Ara's waist. "The Spartans were freaks. Of course, we've got Victory tied up downstairs, so I guess we can't talk."

"The Spartans were quite vicious when it came to how they trained their warriors—I wouldn't be surprised if they thought chaining Ares was like, saying they had the upper hand in battle," Ara comments.

Jason leans on the railing and winces. "On to Sparta, then. But how does a chained god's heartbeat help us find a cure for dying?"

"Piper said something about visions in her blade," Hazel mentions. Everyone turns to the girl, but she's scowling at Jason's injury, not listening to their conversation. "Piper?" Hazel repeats.

"Sorry, what?"

"I was asking you about the visions. You told me you'd seen some stuff in your dagger blade?"

"Uh... right." Piper brings out the blade. Everyone throws nervous glances at Ara, and that doesn't feel endearing in the least. "I, um... I don't see anything right now. But one vision kept popping up. Annabeth, Ara, and I are exploring some ruins—"

"Ruins!" Leo pipes in, letting go of Ara and rubbing his hands like a fly. "Now we're talking. How many ruins can there be in Greece?"

"Quiet, Leo," Annabeth scolds him. "Piper, do you think it was Sparta?"

"Maybe. Anyway... suddenly we're in this dark place like a cave. We're staring at this bronze warrior statue. In the vision I touch the statue's face and flames start swirling around us. That's all I saw."

"Flames." Frank makes a face. "I don't like that vision."

"Me neither," Percy mumbles, eyes on the sea serpent. "If the statue engulfs people in fire, we should send Leo."

"I love you too, man." He scoffs. "I didn't keep the Polaroid, you know? No need to threaten me."

"You know what I mean. You're immune. Or, heck, give me some of those nice water grenades Ara designed and I'll go. Ares and I have tangled before."

Ara clicks her tongue and shakes her head, deep in thought. "No one said we had to fight him, you bubble-head. For all we know he might need saving..."

"Does Ares sound like a helpless god to you?"

"It does when he's chained," Ara argues.

"If Piper saw us three going after the statue, then that's who should go," Annabeth stops their bickering. "We'll be all right. There's always a way to survive."

"Not always," Hazel reminds them.

"Gee, guys, we can't all be depressed!" Ara scolds them with sarcasm. "Mom said it's my turn with the saddies!"

"I'm the one that's dying," Leo retorts in the same way.

"Which reminds me," Frank shows them the vial of poison. "What about this stuff? After the House of Hades, I kind of hoped we were done drinking poison."