True Blue ✷ Leo Valdez.

27 : Disaster.

BLAIRE WAS ALMOST thankful when Leo went insane and started firing on the Romans, for it saved her from Octavian's obnoxious, nagging questions. Though, Leo's actions did cause a litereal battle to ensue below, the scrawny descendant of Apollo was no longer drilling her on the Greek Camper's loyalty like he was the entire trudge over to the Argo which was a large blessing in her eyes.

When they climbed aboard the ship, Leo's demeanor completely changed, and the chill taunting Blaire seemed to worsen, sending goosebumps up and down her arms and rendering her light headed. It was near July, yet Blaire was frigid. Something wasn't right.

The Valdez boy halted for a moment in front of the ships controls, his hands hovering above them as Blaire told Octavian dryly, "Welcome aboard."

Skeptically, Octavian eyed her. She wasn't quite sure what he thought they had planned or why he deemed himself worth enough of as much time and energy it would take to betray him.

  "Neither of us are planning on killing you," Blaire began, "Are we Leo?"

  Apparently, Blaire was merely speaking for herself. Not any more than thirty seconds after Blaire said that, Leo toggled a control and the entire ship trembled, sending everyone but Leo falling to the floor. A fiery explosion rocked Camp Jupiter, and Blaire swore she could almost hear the pandemonium errupt below as the column caught fire.

  "Valdez, what the hell!" Blaire exclaimed in panic, pushing herself off the ground immediately. "What did you just do?"

  The air was cold, hostility hanging in the balance between the three. The chill was back, and a dozen times more prominent. Blaire felt sick with dread.

  Octavian was sprawled out on the floor a few feet away, shouting all types of profanities at the greek demigods. The ship was still trembling, so by the time Blaire had managed to cross the room, Leo had already launched another fiery missle at the forum below.

  Blaire gripped his shoulder tightly—angrily, spinning him to face her. He didn't look like himself— for starters, his eyes were gold and glossed over. And his expression was completely foreign, Blaire had never seen Leo alight with such malice. She didn't even know it exsisted within him. This wasn't Leo.

  "Stop it! You're gonna kill them," Blaire commanded. Instead of responding, Leo shoved her over like it was no problem, sending her toppiling in surprise yet again. Definitely not Leo.

  "Destroy them all," Leo said in a monotone voice. His movements were precise like they belonged to a robot. "Kill them."

  Still lying down, Blaire kicked his ankles, sweeping him off his feet. Then she stood, conjuring her sword from her bracelet and forcing it against Leo's— who was lying flat on his back—throat. He couldn't move without being impaled by her blade.

  The Romans seemed to have begun to fight back. One of their catapults had fired, and the ship tilted to the side with a daunting creak. Octavian whined, scrambling away from Leo and towards the latter. He had the right idea.

  "You two are crazy," He shouted. He was covered in soot from the explosions, and his eyes were blown wide with genuine fear.

  "Go!" Blaire shouted. She wasn't necessarily concerned for his safety— more so just annoyed by him. She couldn't care less if he dropped dead that second, she just wanted him out of her hair. It was hard enough having to deal with her friend going crazy without him there. He only made things more stressful.

He didn't hesitate to evacuate the ship. Thank the gods.

"Must destroy them," Leo uttered again, his voice devoid of any life. She forced her sword further against his throat.