Daughter of Mother Earth

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Is that all you've got?" Ma Gasket demanded.
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"Take one more step, I'll destroy you with fire!" Leo yelled.

"Idiot! Cyclops are immune to fire! Let me help, if you want to play with fire." Ma Gasket threw hot coals at Leo.

"Um, you missed." Leo laughed.

Ma Gasket picked up a barrel. Once Crystal read the words she panicked.

"Leo! That's kerosene!"

The female Cyclops threw it and the barrel broke on the floor, splashing Crystal with a bit of lighter fluid. The coals immediately caught fire and Leo was ingulfed with flames. Piper screamed and Ma Gasket cackled. When the flames died, they both were shocked that he wasn't burned. Ma Gasket took one step forward and Crystal realized that was when she needed to throw fire.

"Why are you still alive?!" Ma Gasket said.

"I'm the son of Hephaestus. I told you I'd destroy you with fire. Now, Crystal!" Leo yelled.

Crystal summoned up her energy. She had never used her other elemental powers as much as she did with earth. Crystal closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. When she open them, her eyes weren't green anymore. She wasn't sure how she knew, but they were definitely not green. The felt hot, as if they were pure red. Crystal thrusted her hands out and hot flames shot out her hands. She aimed it at the link Leo pointed to. Leo also shot white-hot flames at the link. When the flames died, nothing happened. A few seconds later, the chain snapped. The engine block fell, scarily silent and deadly. It landed right on Ma Gasket's head and she exploded into dust.

Crystal collapsed.

Using all that power and energy left her dizzy and gasping for air. She laid on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Crystal tried to move, but she couldn't. All the adrenaline left her body and she was in pain. She didn't know how long she was lying there, but it must've been a while. She knew Leo had freed Piper and Jason. Leo suddenly was leaning over her. She could see his mouth move, but she couldn't hear anything. Leo looked panicked. He gripped the sides of her head.

A piece of ambrosia was pushed in her mouth. Her taste buds were immediately savoring the taste of homemade chicken noodle soup. The way her aunt used to make it. Her body was flooded with a new wave of energy. She sat up and looked around. Before she could say anything, she was engulfed with a warm body.

"Don't ever scare me like that, Crystal!" Leo scolded.

"I told you it drains my energy." Her voice was muffled by his shirt.

"You didn't tell me it nearly kills you!" He mumbled.

Crystal looked up. "Well-"

She was cut off by a movement out the corner of her eye. It was the yellow dust, moving across the floor like an invisible wind was blowing.

"They're forming again." Leo pointed.

"Impossible! Monsters go to Tartarus once they are killed." Crystal paled.

"We need to go," Piper said.