invisible string | f. zhang

xvi. jason grace

sixteen. jason grace

     MARIBELLE WAS A BUNDLE OF nerves as the warship grew closer and closer to them. Frank had his arm wrapped protectively around her waist, which made her feel slightly better about the bad feeling in her gut, but it couldn't erase it completely. Jason was on that ship. And she wasn't sure if she was ready to face him again.

Jason stared with wide-eyes as Maribelle stood before him, knife raised, ready to attack. Like he couldn't believe that she had been the spy, that she was the one to betray him.

She faltered for only a second when he asked a broken "Why?"

Why? Why had she done this to him? To them? For a taste of power? Because she loved Gabe with everything and couldn't bear to not be with him? Jason had been just as good to her as Gabe had, why couldn't that have been enough? Why would she choose to betray him, her father . . . her family?

Why, why, why.

"Belle," Percy whispers, snapping her out of her thoughts, "Are you okay?"

Maribelle nods at him, taking a moment to breathe. Percy squeezes her hand comfortingly before letting it drop, she focuses on Frank's hand against her waist, she looks at Hazel who was staring at the warship with curiosity. It was all going to be fine.

They follow the rest of the legion down to the city.

"Do you think Jason is on that ship?" Maribelle can't help but ask.

The trio don't answer for a minute, and she wonders if they had heard her. But then, Hazel says, "Yeah."

Maribelle nods, "Cool. I'm scared."

"Of Jason?" Hazel asks.

"Never of Jason," Maribelle retorts. More of what he'll say. What he'll do. What he remembers.

She can see figures climbing down from the warship in the distance, probably forced to leave it behind due to Terminus. Maribelle and the others move hurriedly towards the front of the crowd. Percy was moving quicker than the three Romans, occasionally glancing back to make sure they were still following him.

They stop just a little bit behind Reyna. Percy had frozen and Maribelle grins eagerly as he stares straight ahead, eyes wide and looking a bit dazed. She glances at the string glowing brighter and stronger as it connects all the way to a girl with blonde goddess braids still standing a bit too far away. Maribelle eyes her up and down, she was beautiful and she can see easily why it would be hard to forget her.

"Jason Grace, my former colleague . . ." Reyna begins and Maribelle's eyes wander from Annabeth towards the blonde boy standing tall beside her. "I welcome you home. And these, your friends—"

Maribelle's heart seems to catch in her throat as she stares at Jason Grace. He was towering over his other friends that accompanied, but he looked the same. He had the same smirk upon his lips, if Maribelle was closer she was sure she'd see the scar above his top lip, and he looked just as fit as he had when he left, his blonde hair was a tad longer than the normal buzzcut he often wore it in. But the only thing that struck Maribelle as different was his demeanor—he seemed more relaxed, more at home, more sure of himself. She eyes the strings hooked around his fingers, barely visible ones were connecting him to Annabeth and Reyna and Hazel and Frank, the two brightest ones connected him to the pair standing close to him; a tall girl with striking eyes and a short boy with curly hair. She glances at their own damaged, fraying string and feels tears prick at her eyes.

Before she can do something stupid, like run after Jason, Annabeth and Percy beat her to it. Maribelle watches as Annabeth surges forward. Percy rushes towards her at the same time. Percy throws his arms around her and they kiss. Maribelle can't help but aw, Frank squeezes her hip.