Anti-Hero || Leo Valdez

49 - What's the Point? Haha Get It, POINT

Shit shit shit shit crap fuck piss shit godsdamn FUCK.

This was Via's internal monologue as the dracaenae advanced. They should've come in on Festus after all. They should've dive-bombed the place, torched it, and left Lamia's forces scrambling around. She should've known that a sneak attack wouldn't work.

"Lay down your weaponsssss, and we can continue thisssss peacccccefully," Janisssss commanded.

"Peacefully?" Thalia retorted. "You've taken a mortal prisoner. Peacefully isn't happening."

"Daughter of Zeusssss," Janisssss mused. "Why do you involve yourssssselvesssss? We have no quarrel with the Huntersssss of Artemisssss."

"You sure about that?" Thalia replied. "Your leader is in kahoots with the same being who is trying to kill our leader's brother."

"They're in kahoots," Leo agreed. "They're kahooting."

"Leo."

"Sorry."

"Your goddesssss doesssss not care about her brother," Janisssss said.

"If that was true, she wouldn't have sent us. Now, let the mortal woman go."

"Or what? We have you sssssurrounded."

"That doesn't mean shit," Leo announced. He pulled out Festus' whistle and blew. The snake women groaned and covered their ears at the shrill tweet the whistle made. There was a familiar roar. "You got two minutes, if that."

Janisssss's eyes narrowed to slits. "I only need one."

Apparently done talking, she lunged for Via with her spear. Fortunately, Via had been expecting it and ducked out of the way. She reached for her blades and brought them out in time to block Janisssss' next strike. Thalia shouted something, and the Hunters joined the fight that was breaking out. Janisssss struck again, forcing Via back, and she tried to get angry enough to summon any Sun Wrath energy. If anything, she was angry enough at herself to glow up.

Okay, forget Thalia's plan. She'd get into that silo by herself if she had to. She just needed to get past Janisssss.

Gold clouding her vision, she blocked each strike. Once she was comfortable enough, she tried to catch one between her blades, but while she had strength, she didn't quite have the dexterity for it. After the third try, Janisssss caught on to what Via was trying to do and switched tactics, starting to circle Via instead, her serpentine eyes narrowed to slits as she searched for a weakness.

Okay, screw the blades. Via wasn't good enough with them for this. Janisssss attacked again, and Via quickly sheathed her swords, ducked under the swing of the spear, reached up, and grabbed hold of the shaft right beneath the spearhead. Via drove the spear downward, causing it to stab into the ground. She kicked the snake woman in the face, causing her to stumble back, and took off for the silo.

"Ssssstop her!" Janisssss shrieked, and some of the snake women disengaged from whatever brawl they were in to go after her. However, Festus chose that moment to make his appearance and immediately went to protect Via. He blew flames, torching the snake women. Via just kept running for the silo, hyperfocused on the ladder that led to the door.

"Via!"

Via's hands closed around the nearest rung of the ladder and pulled herself up. She dropped the spear and climbed as fast as she could, reaching the small platform in front of the door in seconds. She took a deep breath, grabbed the steel handle of the silo door, and went in.

As soon as she made it through the door, it slammed behind her, cloaking her in darkness. Via tried blinking, letting her eyesight acclimate, but they wouldn't. She could hear indistinct sounds echoing off the walls, but she couldn't tell where they were coming from, nor how far away they were. Should she try to glow? She'd be able to see, but she'd also be alerting anyone in here to her presence.