Inferno (Leo Valdez x OC) (2)

We're detecting unusually high levels of sass

"So, let's plan ahead." Percy suggested. "And make sure we don't die. Mr D – Bacchus – ugh, do I have to call him Mr B now?"

"Call him Mr C." I furrowed my brows. "It's between B and D in the alphabet, so maybe he'll get even more confused about which side he's on. I think Mr D can handle a few more headaches after the ones he's given me."

"True." Percy nodded approvingly. "Anyway, he mentioned the twins in Ella's prophecy. Two giants. Otis and, uh, something that started with an F?"

"We're all dyslexic how's that gonna help?" I muttered.

"Ephialtes." Jason said.

"Never mind." I sighed.

"Twin giants, like Piper saw in her blade..." Annabeth ran her finger along the rim of her cup. "I remember a story about twin giants. They tried to reach Mount Olympus by piling up a bunch of mountains."

Frank nearly choked. "Well, that's great. Giants who can use mountains as building blocks. And you say Bacchus killed these guys with a pinecone on a stick?"

"Never underestimate a pinecone." I shook my head.

"Something like that." Percy shrugged. "I don't think we should count on his help this time. He wanted a tribute and he made it pretty clear it would be a tribute we couldn't handle."

Silence fell around the table. I could hear Coach Hedge above deck singing 'Blow the Man Down', except he didn't know most of the lyrics, so he mostly sang, 'Blah-blah-hum-de-dum-dum.'

"She wants two of us." Piper murmured.

I frowned at her. "That's ominous, care to elaborate?"

Everyone had turned to look at her and I was used to her guarded expression when talking to multiple people. However, now there seemed to be a certain wariness in her eyes, like she wasn't fully sure who she was talking to.

"Today on the highway." Piper continued. "Gaia told me she needed the blood of only two demigods – one female, one male. She- she asked me to choose which boy would die."

"But neither of us died." Jason said, reassuringly. "You saved us."

"I know... it's just- why would she want that?"

Leo whistled softly. "Guys, remember at the Wolf House? Our favourite ice princess, Khione? She talked about spilling Jason's blood, how it would taint the place for generations. Maybe demigod blood has some kind of power."

"Oh..." Percy set down his third pizza slice. He leaned back and stared at nothing, as if that horse kick to the head had finally registered.

"Percy?" Annabeth gripped his arm.

"Oh, bad." He muttered. "Bad, bad." He looked across the table at Hazel and Frank. "You guys remember Polybotes?"

"The giant who invaded Camp Jupiter." Hazel said. "The anti-Poseidon you whacked in the face with a Terminus statue. Yes, I think a remember."

"Ooo, sassy. I see how you made the cut with Percy." I snickered.

"Time and a place." Annabeth muttered.

"It's always the time and the place when I'm here."

"I had a dream." Percy said. "When we were flying to Alaska. Polybotes was talking to the gorgons – he said he wanted me taken prisoner, not killed. He said: "I want that one chained at my feet, so I can kill him when the time is ripe. His blood shall water the stones of Mount Olympus and wake the Earth mother!"."

Piper paled. "You think the giants would use our blood... the blood of two of us-"

"I don't know." Percy said. "But until we figure that out, I'd suggest not getting captured."