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

Chapter 68: Splitting Up

They attacked him from every direction – Leo shooting fire at his legs, Frank and Piper jabbing at his chest, Jason flying into the air and kicking him in the face. Laylana was proud to see how well Piper remembered her sword-fighting lessons. She joined the fight after finding her dagger on the floor, jumping to Nico's side. The two of them slashed through the shadows with their Stygian Iron blades, drinking in the darkness. 

Percy and Annabeth were on their feet, looking weak and dazed, but their swords were drawn. When did Annabeth get a sword? And what was it made of – ivory? They looked like they wanted to help, but there was no need. The giant was surrounded.

Clytius snarled, turning back and forth as if he couldn't decide which of them to kill first. "Wait! Hold still! No! Ouch!"

The darkness around him dispelled completely, leaving nothing to protect him except his battered armour. All his shadows sped to Laylana, giving her the strength she needed to keep going. It crept up her arms in various patterns  Ichor oozed from a dozen wounds. The damage healed almost as fast as it was inflicted, but Laylana could tell the giant was tiring.  One last time Jason flew at him, kicking him in the chest, and the giant's breastplate shattered.

Clytius staggered backwards. His sword dropped to the floor. He fell to his knees, and the demigods encircled him. Only then did Hecate step forward, her torches raised. Mist curled around the giant, hissing and bubbling as it touched his skin.

"And so it ends," Hecate said.

"It does not end." Clytius's voice echoed from somewhere above, muffled and slurred. "My brethren have risen. Gaea waits only for the blood of Olympus. It took all of you together to defeat me. What will you do when the Earth Mother opens her eyes?"

Hecate turned her torches upside down. She thrust them like daggers at Clytius's head, much like Laylana had done when she was on top his back. The giant's hair went up faster than dry tinder, spreading down his head and across his body until the heat of the bonfire made Laylana wince and look away. Clytius fell without a sound, face-first into the rubble of Hades's altar. His body crumbled to ashes. For a moment, no one spoke. Laylana heard a ragged, painful noise and realized it was her own breathing. She had no idea how many ribs she cracked, but it hurt a lot more than the two she had broken back in December.

The goddess Hecate faced Hazel. "You should go now, Hazel Levesque. Lead your friends out of this place."

Hazel gritted her teeth. "Just like that? No "thank you"? No "goodwork"?"

The goddess tilted her head. Gale the weasel chittered – maybe a goodbye, maybe a warning – and disappeared in the folds of her mistress's skirts.

"You look in the wrong place for gratitude," Hecate said. "As for "good work", that remains to be seen. Speed your way to Athens. Clytius was not wrong. The giants have risen – all of them, stronger than ever. Gaia is on the very edge of waking. The Feast of Hope will be poorly named unless you arrive to stop her."

The chamber rumbled. Another stela crashed to the floor and shattered.

"The House of Hades is unstable," Hecate said. "Leave now. We shall meet again."

The goddess dissolved. The Mist evaporated.

"She's friendly," Percy grumbled.

The others turned towards him and Annabeth. Laylana's eyes welled with tears as she laid eyes on the people she desperately wished were with her over the last few weeks, the last few days especially.

"Dude." Jason gave Percy a bear hug. Laylana sobbed and dropped her weapons as she stumbled over, throwing her arms around Percy. The two boys accepted her into the hug, crying her eyes out.