You'll Learn to Love Me (Leo Valdez x OC)

Chapter 33: Underworld Sister?

After Laylana got dressed, Coach Hedge took the helm and the demigods gathered below for dinner. It was the first time they'd all sat down together—just the eight of them. Maybe their presence should've reassured Laylana, but seeing all of them in one place only reminded her that the Prophecy of Eight was unfolding at last. No more waiting for Leo to finish the ship. No more easy days at Camp Half-Blood. No more late nights sneaking out of her cabin with Leo for walks along the beach or in the forest. They were under way, with a bunch of angry Romans behind them and the ancient lands ahead. The giants would be waiting. Gaea was rising, and would be waiting for Laylana. And unless they succeeded in this quest, the world would be destroyed.

The others must've felt it too. The tension in the mess hall was like an electrical storm brewing, which was totally possible, considering Percy's and Jason's powers. In an awkward moment, the two boys tried to sit in the same chair at the head of the table. Sparks literally flew from Jason's hands. Laylana almost stood, ready to get in between her brother and her best friend, until they stepped back and let Annabeth have the chair. 

The crew compared notes on what had happened in Salt Lake City, but even Leo's ridiculous story about how he tricked Narcissus wasn't enough to cheer up the group. Even after Laylana retold their insults to him. (Leo assured her he found them funny).

"So where to now?" Leo asked with a mouthful of pizza. "I did a quick repair job to get us out of the lake, but there's still a lot of damage. We should really put down again and fix things right before we head across the Atlantic."

Percy was eating a piece of pie that was completely blue - a bittersweet reminder of home for him and Laylana. "We need to put some distance between us and Camp Jupiter," he said. "Frank spotted some eagles over Salt Lake City. We figure the Romans aren't far behind us."

That didn't improve the mood around the table. Laylana could sense the tension in the air that she could cut with her knives. "So it's not a good idea to stop for long. The eight, or nine I guess, of us do not stand a chance against them."

"And I don't suppose we should go back and try to reason with the Romans? Maybe—maybe I didn't try hard enough with the charmspeak." Piper looked down at her plate of food.

Jason, who was sitting on the other side of Piper, took her hand. "It wasn't your fault, Pipes. Or Leo's," he added quickly. "Whatever happened, it was Gaea's doing, to drive the two camps apart."

"He's right." Laylana looked over at Annabeth. "During the quest that the four of us went on, that's all Gaea tried to do with Leo and Piper, and in extension, Jason and I too. Tried to turn us against each other. She's not going to stop doing it with the camps, or with us most likely." 

"You're right..." Annabeth shook her head in acceptance, though the look on her face was pained.

Piper still looked uneasy. "Maybe if we could explain that, though—"

"With no proof?" Annabeth asked. "And no idea what really happened? I appreciate what you're saying, Piper. I don't want the Romans on our bad side, but until we understand what Gaea's up to, going back is suicide."

"She's right," Hazel said. She still looked a little queasy from seasickness, but she was trying to eat a few saltine crackers. The rim of her plate was embedded with rubies, which was not there before. She would be sure to try and find some medicine for her later. "Reyna might listen, but Octavian won't. The Romans have honor to think about. They've been attacked. They'll shoot first and ask questions post hac."

Laylana twirled one of her daggers in her hand, which seemed to make some people like Frank and Hazel nervous but it was better than anything. She barely touched her food, which her boyfriend was constantly reminding her about. After her incident earlier, she did not feel up for eating much. She was also overthinking about the quest up ahead. They hadn't even been completely together for 12 hours and they started a war.