𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

76

𝐉𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐥𝐝.

His joints hurt. His legs shook. As he tried to climb the hill, his lungs rattled like a box of rocks.

He couldn't see his face, thank goodness, but his fingers were gnarled and bony. Bulging blue veins webbed the backs of his hands.

He even had that old-man smell— mothballs and chicken soup. How was that possible? He'd gone from seventeen to seventy-five in a matter of seconds, but the old-man smell happened instantly, like Boom.

Congratulations! You stink!

"Almost there." Piper smiled at him. "You're doing great."

Easy for her to say. Piper and Annabeth were disguised as lovely Greek serving maidens. Even in their white sleeveless gowns and laced sandals, they had no trouble navigating the rocky path.

At least she was somewhat supportive of his suffering, in direct contrast to Dante who snickered whenever he looked back at Jason.

Silver bracelets adorned his wrists. He wore a white sleeveless tunic in the same style as that of the girls with similar sandals. Though he had struggled with wearing the tunic properly, he had refused to let Jason help, which put them back in their old routine of Dante being mean to him.

Jason glanced uphill. The summit was still a hundred yards above.

"Worst idea ever." He leaned against a cedar tree and wiped his forehead. "Dante, your magic is too good. If I have to fight, I'll be useless."

"It won't come to that," Annabeth promised. She looked uncomfortable in her serving-maiden outfit. She kept hunching her shoulders to keep the dress from slipping. Her pinned-up blonde bun had come undone in the back and her hair dangled like long spider legs. Knowing her hatred of spiders, Jason decided not to mention that.

"We infiltrate the palace," she said. "We get the information we need, and we get out."

Piper set down her amphora, the tall ceramic wine jar in which her sword was hidden. "We can rest for a second. Catch your breath, Jason."

"He's fine," Dante rolled his eyes. He'd used the mist to completely alter his looks. His dark hair was now, blond, and he'd turned his different colored eyes green, like Percy's. When Jason looked at him, it took him a moment to recognize him. Though everything else was the same. Dante had the same build, the same smirk and the same expressions.

Unlike the girls, he didn't have to carry an amphora, his twin daggers were hidden somewhere in the folds of his tunic.

"He's being dramatic."

Jason let out an offended scoff.

It was work to tear his eyes away from Dante. Jason wished Dante had worn something a bit more covering, something that draped over his shoulders. Jason had already gotten distracted a million times by his exposed skin.

Sword fighting required strong arms, but daggers required someone nimble, quick, cunning... someone like Dante. His arms were strong, Jason knew from first hand experience, but he didn't look bulky.

The exposed arms coupled with the tunic that kept slipping, it was safe to say Jason tripped at least twice.

Annabeth slung her own amphora off her shoulder. She had a concealed long dagger, but even without a visible weapon she looked deadly. Her stormy grey eyes scanned the surroundings, alert for any threat. If any dude asked Annabeth for a drink, Jason figured she was more likely to kick the guy in the bifurcum.