madness and ecstasy // leo valdez

-muscle memory-

 ⋆˖⁺‧₊🧋🛠️🕯️🍂🥠₊‧⁺˖⋆

________________________________________________________________________________

"We need to talk." Piper said. She sat up properly. "I don't want to hide anything from you guys anymore."

Leo looked up at her, his mouth full of burger. It was good, but maybe he just thought that because he hadn't eaten forever. Teqi had been digging into hers (he had to admit, he was very happy she liked his cooking), but now she paused.

He chewed, watching Piper look between them and then pull her jacket further around her. She took a breath.

"Three nights before the Grand Canyon trip," she said shakily, "I had a dream, but it was a vision, but I knew it was a dream. It was, anyway—a giant, telling me my father had been taken hostage. He told me I had to cooperate... or my dad would be killed."

Jason wiped grease off his cheek. "Enceladus? You mentioned that name before."

Coach Hedge whistled. "Big giant. Breathes fire. Not somebody I'd want barbecuing my daddy goat."

Jason gave him a shut up look. "Piper, go on. What happened next?"

"I—I tried to reach my dad, but all I got was his personal assistant, and she told me not to worry."

"Jane?" Leo remembered. He was still a bit foggy on what exactly had happened in the Mall of horror, but he got the gist of things. "Didn't Medea say something about controlling her?"

Piper nodded. "To get my dad back, I had to sabotage this quest. I didn't realize it would be the four of us. Then after we started the quest, Enceladus sent me another warning: He told me he wanted you dead. He wants me to lead you to a mountain. I don't know exactly which one, but it's in the Bay Area—I could see the Golden Gate Bridge from the summit. I have to be there by noon on the solstice, tomorrow. An exchange."

Leo blinked.

He could see the little loading screen above everyone's heads as they processed.

Piper fiddled with her fingers. "Your lives... for my dad."

Imagining the situation she was in, it hurt his head. He thought he was being brave and smart, embarking on this insane quest with the Greek knowledge of a fourth grader, after finding out this was his new life as of less than a week ago. But here she was with an entire Giant in her head and her real (or mortal, or whatever) parent tied up for barbecuing.

Jason's eyes were wide. He didn't look concerned about the smudges still on his face.

Leo drummed his fingers on the burning log by his feet awkwardly, waiting for him to say something first. He wasn't sure what could make her feel better, and even he could see this wasn't the time to crack a joke.

The vegie patties on the skillet began to smoke, and he flipped them.

"That's awful," Jason said quietly. "He's been telling you this for how long?"

Leo realised what was about to happen about three seconds before it did. He saw Teqi's face, and Piper's vulnerable one, and as he reached out to touch Teqi's arm, for reasons he didn't understand, it was clear he had underestimated the situation.

Piper shrugged, "my dreams started changing about-"

Teqi lunged.

His hand was batted out of the way and sparks erupted, showering them all and lighting up the little cave. Teqi stepped through the fire and pounced on Piper, like an alley cat.