True Blue ✷ Leo Valdez.

28 : Olivia.

    SAFE TO SAY, the Argo II didn't manage a peaceful landing when they finally touched down on the lake. With the oars damaged and the foresail torn, the ship was in near critical condition.

  Everyone besides Leo and Coach Hedge strapped themselves below-deck in hopes of avoiding the brunt of the disaster that would surely come. Festus creaked and whirred warning signals, which were relayed through the intercom to the quarterdeck. And then, the whole ship shuddered in each and every direction and landed atop the shimmery surface of the lake with the largest splash possible. If Blaire wasn't already sitting, she'd have been knocked off her feet.

   The sound of the all clear bell rung through the interior of the Argo, and Blaire exhaled in relief. She and a few of the others were sitting in the mess hall, gathered around their dining table and conversing wearily.

  The lounge was suprisingly nice. The cupboard was lined with magic cups and plates from Camp Half-Blood, which would fill up with whatever food or drink you wanted on command. There was also a magical ice chest with canned drinks, perfect for picnics ashore. The chairs were cushy recliners with thousand-finger massage, built-in headphones, and sword and drink holders for all your demigod kicking-back needs. There were no windows, but the walls were enchanted to show real-time footage from Camp HalfBlood—the beach, the forest, the strawberry fields— you name it.

   When Leo found them Blaire was staring at her trainers, which were incredibly worn down, trying to avoid eye contact with the others.

  "So we've landed," Percy said at last. "What now?"

  Frank plucked on his bowstring. "Figure out the prophecy? I mean...that was a prophecy Ella spoke, right? From the Sibylline Books?"

   "The what?" Leo asked.

  Frank explained how their harpy friend was freakishly good at memorizing books. At some point in the past, she'd inhaled a collection of ancient prophecies that had supposedly been destroyed around the fall of Rome.

  "That's why you didn't tell the Romans," Leo guessed. "You didn't want them to get hold of her."

  Percy, who had been staring at the image of half-blood hill for the past ten minutes, said,"Ella's sensitive. She was a captive when we found her. I just didn't want..." He made a fist. "It doesn't matter now. I sent Tyson an Iris-message, told him to take Ella to Camp Half-Blood. They'll be safe there."

  Blaire wanted to speak up—- to say that after what Leo had pulled, they'd probably never be safe again. But she didn't. Becasue it would do nothing but upset her peers, and because she knew it wasn't Leo's fault. She shouldn't shame him for something he said he really had no control over.

  Annabeth laced her fingers. "Let me think about the prophecy—but right now we have more immediate problems. We have to get this ship fixed. Leo, what do we need?"

"The easiest thing is tar," Leo supplied, visibly glad for a subject change. "We can get that in the city, at a roofing-supply store or some place like that. Also, Celestial bronze and lime. According to Festus, we can find both of those on an island in the lake, just west of here."

"We'll have to hurry," Hazel warned. "If I know Octavian, he's searching for us with his auguries. The Romans will send a strike force after us. It's a matter of honor."

Unconsciously, everyones gaze switched onto Leo. He cowered beneath near a dozen eyes, flushing at all the unwanted attention. "Guys...I don't know what happened. Honestly, I—"

Annabeth raised her hand. "We've been talking. We agree it couldn't have been you, Leo. That cold feeling you mentioned...Blaire and I felt it too. It must have been some sort of magic, either Octavian or Gaea or one of her minions. But until we understand what happened—"