Inferno (Leo Valdez x OC) (2)

And that, kids, is how I met Aunt Hazel.

"This is not what I thought the meeting would be about this morning." I sighed, watching Coach berate Annabeth and Percy.

Apparently in the middle of the night, while I was peacefully playing on my Nintendo Switch, Annabeth and Percy had snuck down to the stables to have a little late-night chat or whatever.

In all honesty, I didn't care, if they had broken up, I'd be starting a riot. But they're fine, so I am as well.

In contrast to this, Frank, who had found them, was as red as a tomato and had been since running down the hall yelling that he'd found them. Hazel seemed downright scandalised, probably since she was from the 1940s and was unaware of how oblivious Percy is. She was sat fanning her face and had been avoiding looking Percy or Annabeth in the eye since they'd walked in.

Jason and Piper just seemed relieved and Leo was enjoying it far too much. He was grinning and kept muttering 'classic.'

I had messy hair, bags under my eyes and was still sat in my cactus pyjamas. All I wanted was to keep playing on the Nintendo Switch since my Animal Crossings island seemed permanently stuck on 3-stars.

But no. Here I was, watching Percy and Annabeth get yelled at by a satyr half their size.

"Never in my life!" Coach bellowed, waving his bat and whacking a tray of apples onto the floor. I reached for one as it rolled towards me, inspecting the dark bruise on the side of it. "Against the rules! Irresponsible!"

"Coach." Annabeth sighed. "We were just talking and we fell asleep."

"Besides." Percy put in. "You're starting to sound like Terminus."

Hedge narrowed his eyes. "Is that an insult, Jackson? Because I'll- I'll terminus you, buddy!"

I snorted and placed the apple on the table beside me. "Coach, with the amount of quests we've been on I can tell you these two can fall asleep anywhere that has a horizontal surface, it's a skill that comes in handy."

Percy was clearly trying not to laugh. "It won't happen again Coach, promise. Now don't we have other things to discuss?"

Hedge fumed. "Fine. But I'm watching you, Jackson! And you, Annabeth Chase, I thought you had more sense-"

Jason cleared his throat. "Alright, grab some food everybody, let's get started."

The meeting was like a war council with doughnuts. Then again, back at Camp Half-Blood, we used to have our most serious conversation around a ping-pong table with crackers, Cheez whiz and mini cheddars, so I felt right at home.

Percy told us about his dream – about twin giants holding a reception for us in an underground car park with rocket launchers; Nico di Angelo trapped in a bronze jar, slowly dying from asphyxiation with pomegranate seeds at his feet.

Hazel choked back a sob. "Nico... oh gods. The seeds."

"You know what they are?" Annabeth furrowed her brows.

Hazel nodded. "He showed them to me once, they're from my stepmother's garden."

"Your step- oh." Percy said. "You mean Persephone."

I had never met the goddess herself but I had seen her garden – a creepy place full of crystal trees and flowers that bloomed blood red and ghost white.

"The seeds are a last resort food." Hazel said. I could tell she was nervous because all the silverware on the table was slowly drifting towards her. "Only children of Hades can eat them. Nico always kept them in case he got stuck somewhere. But if he's really imprisoned-"