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

Chapter 70: The Suitors

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

Laylana, Piper and Annabeth were disguised as lovely Greek serving maidens, in contrast to Jason who had been disguised by Hazel and her control of the Mist. He looked like an old man now, and Laylana had to resist laughing at him when she saw him. The girls were dressed in white sleeveless gowns and laced sandals. Laylana had curled her hair as quickly as she could in preparation for this. She pinned a few flowers in it as well. Her, Piper and Annabeth had bracelets covering their arms. Laylana tried to ignore the one bracelet that she had yet to take off, the one with her and Leo's names and the date they had started dating. 

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

"It won't come to that," Annabeth promised. 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. "We infiltrate the palace. 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."

From her waist cord hung her cornucopia – the magic horn of plenty. Tucked somewhere in the folds of her dress was her knife, Katoptris. Piper didn't look dangerous, but if the need arose she could dual-wield Celestial bronze blades or shoot her enemies in the face with ripe mangoes. Annabeth slung her own amphora off her shoulder. She, too, had a concealed sword, but even without a visible weapon she looked deadly. Her stormy grey eyes scanned the surroundings, alert for any threat. Laylana herself had her daggers strapped to the outside of her thighs, easy to reach through her gown if need be. When she left the ship, she could feel her ex's eyes burning into her as she walked along the deck. She knew she looked hot as hell. Her confidence had risen throughout the last few days after Leo disappeared, and she strode into her leadership role with grace.

Below them, Afales Bay glittered, the water so blue it might've been dyed with food colouring. A few hundred yards offshore, the Argo II rested at anchor. Its white sails looked no bigger than postage stamps, its ninety oars like toothpicks. 

"Stupid Ithaca," Jason muttered.

A spine of forested hills twisted down its centre. Chalky white slopes plunged into the sea. Inlets formed rocky beaches and harbours where red-roofed houses and white stucco churches nestled against the shoreline. The hills were dotted with poppies, crocuses and wild cherry trees. The breeze smelled of blooming myrtle. All very nice – except the temperature was about a hundred and five degrees. The air was as steamy as a Roman bathhouse.

"You sure this is the right hill?" Jason asked. "Seems kind of – I don't know – quiet."

Piper studied the ridgeline. Braided in her hair was a bright blue harpy feather – a souvenir from last night's attack. The feather didn't exactly go with her disguise, but Piper had earned it, defeating an entire flock of demon chicken ladies by herself while she and Laylana were on duty. Laylana herself was trying to make sure they didn't veer off course with all the harpies swooping over them, and succeeded in doing so while her friend took care of the monsters.

"The ruins are up there," Piper promised. "I saw them in Katoptris's blade. And you heard what Hazel said. "The biggest –" "

" "The biggest gathering of evil spirits I've ever sensed," " Jason recalled. "Yeah, sounds awesome."

"Just seems typical for us." Laylana shrugged. 

Not many of them were willing to battle a bunch more spirits after the House of Hades. But the fate of the quest was at stake. The crew of the Argo II had a big decision to make. If they chose wrong, they would fail, and the entire world would be destroyed. Piper's blade, Hazel's magical senses and Annabeth's instincts all agreed – the answer lay here in Ithaca, at the ancient palace of Odysseus, where a horde of evil spirits had gathered to await Gaea's orders. The plan was to sneak among them, learn what was going on and decide the best course of action. Then get out, preferably alive.