You'll Learn to Love Me

Chapter 55: Man-Eating Cows and Dance Party

Laylana awoke when her boyfriend entered her room later that evening. She smiled tiredly as he strode over to her bed, holding something in his hand.

"How are you feeling?" Leo asked as he sat next to her, opening an arm for her to snuggle under.

"Like I got hit by a truck, but what can you do when you have a concussion?" Laylana slurred slightly, exhaustion dripping from her voice. 

Leo mumbled a few words in Spanish that she couldn't catch as he lightly brushed his fingers over her bandaged wound. "Well... you'll be happy to know I got this back for you." 

He took one of her hands in his and laid her necklace in it. Laylana gasped as she quickly sat up, throwing her arms around Leo in a tight hug. She turned her back towards him as he slung it across her neck and put the clasp together. 

"You're a lifesaver, darling." Laylana sighed as she turned back around and hugged him again.

"Just doing what I can to make my girl happy." Leo kissed the side of her head that wasn't injured. "I didn't mean to wake you. You should go back to bed." 

"I can come help with repairs... or more research on the statue!" Laylana tried, but Leo just shook his head.

"Mi estrella, you need rest. You've had a long day."

Laylana borderline pouted as she laid back down. Her tiredness still weighed heavy on her mind as she felt Leo stroke her hair gently. 

"I'll stay with you until you fall asleep. How about that?" Leo asked quietly, grinning as his girlfriend snuggled more into his side. She just mumbled something incoherently as her eyes drifted shut.

Leo was so helplessly enamoured by this girl. He stayed with her until he was sure she was sleeping. He didn't want to leave her, but he also knew that 1, he had work to do. And 2, Nico would be back to the room in a bit to check up on his sister. Nico was very apprehensive when Laylana told him that she was dating Leo. And Leo thought that Percy was scary at first. Turns out, Laylana's "little brother" was much more terrifying than the Son of Poseidon.

Leo shuffled out of his girlfriend's death grip she had on him before leaving her room just as Nico was coming down the hall. He sent the son of Hephaestus a look before entering his and Laylana's room himself, and Leo shivered with unease before stroding back up to the deck.

Laylana woke next when they had docked at a busy wharf in Venice. Her and Nico struggled out of bed, Nico taking his leave first to give Laylana space to finally change out of her clothes. The sun was blazing from what she could see out her cabin window, and quickly threw on a tank-top with her usual joggers. She rushed up to the deck as everyone else had just arrived as well, overlooking the wharf. And more importantly, the monsters.

"What are they?" Hazel asked.

"Fuck if I know..." Laylana mumbled as she leaned over the railing. 

Each monster was about the size of a cow, with a bowed back like a broken-down horse, matted grey fur, skinny legs and black cloven hooves. The creatures' heads seemed much too heavy for their necks. Their long anteater-like snouts drooped to the ground. Their overgrown grey manes completely covered their eyes.

Laylana watched as one of the creatures lumbered across the promenade, snuffling and licking the pavement with its long tongue. The tourists parted around it, unconcerned. A few even pet it. For a moment it turned into an old, fat beagle. Ah, work of the Mist is doing wonders today.

Jason grunted. "The mortals think they're stray dogs."

"Or pets roaming around," Piper said. "My dad shot a film in Venice once. I remember him telling me there were dogs everywhere. Venetians love dogs."