True Blue ✷ Leo Valdez.

15: Offense and Defense.

AS A DEMIGOD, BLAIRE SULLIVAN was no stranger to violence or fighting. She'd always been unfortunately acquainted with the desperate swinging of swords, the clashing of armor, and the burn of loss and fear deep within her being. Since she was a girl, a mere child, terror, and fighting were all she knew. So, the tremble of her hands beneath the weight of her new sword was all too familiar.

Jason was calling for Hedge, beckoning the goat toward him with a shakey voice. But, the Satyr proved himself useless once again when he didn't come charging into the room like he claimed he would. Blaire hoped the lasers had gotten him.

Midas chuckled. "No goat to the rescue? Sad. But don't worry, my children. It's really not painful. Lit can tell you."

Jason and Blaire looked at each other. No way they'd let this lunatic man turn them to gold. It was worth trying to fight.

"We chose combat," Jason told them, "You said we could choose to fight Lit instead."

Midas looked mildly disappointed, but he shrugged. "I said you could die fighting Lit. But of course, if you wish."

The king backed away from the teenagers and Lit raised his sword with a devious chuckle. "I'm going to enjoy this," Lit said. "I am the reaper of men."

Blaire raised her own weapon higher, glowering at the aforementioned boy, "And I'm the cursed kin of magic. So let's dance."

  Jason stood beside her, his weapon in hand, this time it was a javelin. He was tilting his head at the boy, teasingly raising his eyebrows. "Come on, Cornhusker. Two against one."

   "Oh, gold weapons," The king greedily chimed in from where he stood off to the side. "Very nice!"

  Then, his son charged.

  Lit was fast, he immediately slashed at Blaire, but she caught his sword with the blade of her own, bringing it to a halt midair allowing Jason to jab at the boy with his javelin, but he narrowly dodged the hit. They repeated this for several seconds, all the while sidestepping Lit's attempts to skewer them with great precision.

  Lit may have been quick. But Jason and Blaire were quicker. It's the only advantage they'd earned from growing up as child warriors. Their moves were sharp and fast, careful and countered.

  Jason's style seemed to differ greatly from both Blaire's and Lit's though. He analyzed the reaper's strategy, which was all offense, no defense. So, he sliced at his unguarded areas. While Blaire matched Lit's style, slicing and blocking his moving sword with little to no effort.

  Together, they were both offense and defense, fighting alongside each other like they'd been doing it their whole lives.

  "What is that style?" Lit growled at Jason, whose windswept blonde hair fell over his icy blue eyes. "You don't fight like a Greek."

"Legion training," Jason admitted, a sly tilt to his voice. "Roman."

Roman? What the—

"Roman?" Lit struck again, and Jason deflected his blade, Blaire slashed again, and this time she got his side, drawing blood. He groaned, obviously pained. "What is Roman?"

"News flash," Jason huffed, "While you were dead, Rome defeated Greece. Created the greatest empire of all time."

"Impossible," Lit scoffed. "Never even heard of them."

While he was distracted with Jason, Blaire kicked his chest harshly, sending him toppling backward into Midas' throne.

"Oh dear, " Midas worried, slowly creeping closer. "Lit?"