𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

72

"𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐦𝐞!" 𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐞𝐝.

He shoved his entire body against the left door, pressing it toward the center. Dante did the same on the right. There were no handles, or anything else to hold on to. As the elevator car ascended, the Doors shook and tried to open, threatening to spill them into whatever was between life and death.

Jason's shoulders ached. The elevator's easy-listening music didn't help. If all monsters had to hear that song about liking piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, no wonder they were in the mood for carnage when they reached the mortal world.

"We left Hipp and Damasen," Dante croaked, something in his eyes looked broken, "They'll die for us, and we just—"

"I know," he murmured. "Gods, Dante I know."

Jason was almost glad for the job of keeping the Doors closed. The terror racing through his heart at least kept him from dissolving into misery. Abandoning Damasen and Hipp had been the hardest thing he'd ever done.

For years at Camp Jupiter when he went on quests, he had tried his best. He'd done what was expected of him, the son of Jupiter. The Praetor but before that, the Centurion and even before that, just a legionnaire held too high in regard

Now he realized that the hardest test for him wasn't leading a quest or facing death in combat. It was making the strategic decision to step back, to let someone else take the brunt of the danger—especially when that person was your friend. He had faced it with August and hadn't handled it well, especially after Hera stepped in later. Jason had to face the fact that he couldn't protect everyone he loved. He couldn't solve every problem.

He hated it, but he didn't have time for self-pity. He blinked away his tears.

"Dante, the Doors," he warned.

The panels had started to slide apart, letting in a whiff of... ozone? Sulfur?

Dante pushed on his side furiously and the crack closed. His eyes blazed with anger. Jason hoped he wasn't mad at him, but if he was, Jason couldn't blame him.

If it keeps him going, he thought, then let him be angry.

"I will kill Gaea," he muttered. "I will tear her apart with my bare hands."

Jason nodded, but he was thinking about Tartarus's boast. He could not be killed. Neither could Gaea. Against such power, even Titans and giants were hopelessly outmatched. Demigods stood no chance.

He also remembered Hipp's warning: This may not be the last sacrifice you must make to stop Gaea.

Jason felt that truth deep in his bones.

"Twelve minutes," he murmured. "Just twelve minutes."

He prayed to Jupiter that Hipp could hold the UP button that long. He prayed for strength and assurance. He wondered what they would find once they reached the top of this elevator ride.

If their friends weren't there, controlling the other side...

"We can do this," Dante said. "We have to."

"Yeah," Jason said. "Yeah, we do."

They held the Doors shut as the elevator shuddered and the music played, while somewhere below them, two giants sacrificed their lives for their escape.

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