The Blazing Fate

Chapter Twenty

Astrid dreamed she was in a cave of some sort. It was the size of an airplane hangar, with endless worktables and storage cages, rows of garage-sized doors along either wall, and staircases that led up to a network of catwalks high above. Equipment was everywhere but that wasn't what caught Astrid's eye. Right in the middle of the room was a huge ship. Leo was obviously working on it and Astrid could almost remember what it was for.

Astrid was lying down on a small couch in the corner watching Leo work. He looked... good. Better than usual. He seemed extra happy and was humming as he worked.

'Hey, sunshine, how about you sing for me while we work?' Leo joked.

Astrid scoffed. 'In your dreams, handyman. Just keep puttering.'

'Puttering?' Leo looked over at her. 'I am making our future. You are just existing in my space.'

'You wanted me here!' Astrid complained.

'That's not the point,' Leo laughed.

Astrid shook her head and just... looked at Leo. The feelings she had felt stronger. They were about to leave camp; she could feel it. But why? Astrid could've sworn she saw a woman standing in the corner, watching the interaction with a devilish smile.

Astrid woke up abruptly by a slamming sound. She was confused for a second. It was a sunny morning. The air was brisk but not unpleasant for sitting outside. At the other tables, a mill of bicyclists, businesspeople, and college kids sat chatting and drinking coffee.

Astrid could smell eucalyptus trees. Lots of foot traffic passed in front of quaint little shops. The streets were lined with bottlebrush trees and blooming azaleas as if winter was a foreign concept.

'What?' Hedge was demanding. 'Fight who? Where?'

'Falling!' Leo grabbed the table. 'No—not falling. Where are we?'

Jason blinked, trying to get his bearings. He focused on Piper and made a little choking sound. 'What are you wearing?'

Piper blushed. She was wearing a turquoise dress with black leggings and black leather boots. She had on a charm bracelet and a snowboarding jacket. She also had a really pretty hairdo. Piper pulled out her blade to look at her reflection.

Leo was staring at Astrid, his mouth open. He had also gotten a makeover. He was wearing pinstriped pants, black leather shoes, a white collarless shirt with suspenders, and his tool belt, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a porkpie hat.

Astrid looked down and quickly wanted to die. She was wearing a yellow short sleeve shirt, a black overall dress, nude leggings, and dark yellow converse. She still had on her camp necklace, thank gods, but she also had a lot of rings on all of her fingers. Her bag lay gently next to her, and she had a holster for her dagger. Her hair was in one long French braid.

Let grinned. 'Wow, sunshine... I've never seen you this dressed up. Aphrodite strikes again, I see.'

Astrid scowled. 'Have you looked at yourself recently, Valdez?'

'What... oh.'

'God, Leo,' Piper said. 'I think my dad wore that to his last premiere, minus the tool belt.'

'Hey, shut up!'

'I think he looks good,' said Coach Hedge. 'Course, I look better.'

The satyr was a pastel nightmare. Aphrodite had given him a baggy canary yellow zoot suit with two-tone shoes that fit over his hooves. He had a matching yellow broad-brimmed hat, a rose-colored shirt, a baby blue tie, and a blue carnation in his lapel, which Hedge sniffed and then ate.