Pretty isn't Pretty - Jason Grace

I.VI.

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Part one. Chapter six.

Eidolons

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Piper knew she was kind of fucked.

Percy and Jason drew their swords. Aris pulled a dagger from the holster on her thigh from her spot behind Percy. Piper stood on the road between them, frozen with fear. The power of Gaea was suddenly everywhere. The sunflowers turned to look at them. The wheat bent toward them like a million scythes.

Welcome to my party, Gaea murmured. Her voice reminded Piper of corn growing—a crackling, hissing, hot and persistent noise she used to hear at Grandpa Tom's on those quiet nights in Oklahoma.

What did Bacchus say? the goddess mocked. A simple, low-key affair with organic snacks? Yes. For my snacks, I need only two: the blood of a female demigod, and the blood of a male. Piper, my dear, choose which hero will die with you.

"Gaea !" Jason yelled. "Stop hiding in the wheat. Show yourself !"

Such bravado, Gaea hissed. But the other one, Percy Jackson, also has appeal. Choose, Piper McLean, or I will.

"Gee, what am I ?" Aris drawled, rolling her eyes as she slid off Blackjack's back. "Chopped liver ?"

Potential, Gaea mumbled. You, Aristea Mallory, have so much potential. Why stay with these do-gooders when you could join me and finally get what you desperately want ? The fall of Olympus.

Aris smirked. "Should have made me that offer before I started giving a shit about people again."

People like Frank Zhang ? Hazel Levesque ? Nico Di Angelo ? Percy Jackson ? She paused before adding, Jason Grace ?

"Fuck you lady," Aris' features morphed into a hard expression of anger and hate.

Piper hadn't been convinced when people at Camp Jupiter had mentioned that Aris was a granddaughter of Mars. How was this pretty girl who seemed to care more about whether or not her nails were chipped supposed to be related to the god of war ? But seeing her in that moment left no doubt in her mind. Aris Mallory was dangerous. She was a fighter and a warrior. She would take blood and bathe in it. She would eat her enemies alive.

Gaea hummed. I guess you could make a worthy treat too.

Piper's heart raced. Gaea meant to kill her. That was no surprise. But what was this about choosing one of the boys ? Why would Gaea let either of them go ? It had to be a trap.

"You're insane !" she shouted. "I'm not choosing anything for you !"

Suddenly Jason gasped. He sat up straight in his saddle.

"Jason !" Piper cried. "What's wrong—?"

He looked down at her, his expression deadly calm. His eyes were no longer blue. They glowed solid gold.

"Percy, Aris, help !" Piper stumbled back from Tempest.

Aris only slowly curved her lips up into a dangerous smile. Piper gasped. Golden eyes stared back at her.

And Percy ? Well, he galloped away from them. He stopped thirty feet down the road and wheeled his pegasus around. He raised his sword and pointed the tip toward Jason.

"One will die," Percy said, but the voice wasn't his. It was deep and hollow, like someone whispering from inside the barrel of a cannon.

"One will live," Aris whispered, an unnatural rasp in her voice.