Variance [A Percy Jackson/Divergent Crossover]

Chapter 21

Piper's P.O.V.

A Candor man narrows his eyes at me, and I shrink back. 

"An Amity girl," he says, glaring at my yellow dress. "Why are you here?"

"I..." I try to think of a reasonable explanation, but words fail me.

"You're coming with me, girl," the man says, tugging my arm.

"No!" Jason blurts. I want to smack him.

The man raises an eyebrow. "What?"

"You can't take her," Jason says.

"I can and I will. Now go back to your room, initiate. I will deal with her."

I wonder how he will 'deal with me'. 

Defeated, Jason shoots me a worried look and leaves the room. The man turns to me.

"I am Jack Kang, representative of Candor. And you are an Amity initiate, are you not?"

"Yes," I say.  

"Might I ask what you're doing here?"

"Um...I wanted to see my boyfriend," I say lamely.

Jack shakes his head. "Dumb Amity girls," he mutters under his breath, but I hear him. My vision turns red. I hate being called dumb because I'm a daughter of Aphrodite, but this is low. 

"I'll keep you in a cell for the remainder of the night. I don't want to see your face again."

I have no intention of staying here. So I swing my leg and kick him in the head, Coach Hedge style. I wonder how I ever learned how to do a roundhouse kick, but I'll dwell on that later. Jack Kang falls to his knees, unconscious. I massage my foot and take off running.

"Hey!" a Candor woman shouts as I pass her. I flinch and quicken my pace.

She hits a button on the wall, and an alarm goes off, ringing in my ears. The room is tinted red, and lights flash. The alarm keeps blaring. 

I reach the exit as soon as a dart embeds itself in my leg. I collapse.

Leo's P.O.V.

I sit in front of Evelyn Johnson, eyes darting around the room. Her gaze is cold and her hands are folded on the table.

"I think you know why I called you here, Leo," she says, and her voice sounds commanding. Like a queen in her palace. If you could call this place a kingdom.

"No," I answer, fidgeting in my seat. This woman freaks me out.

"Allow me to ask you some questions, then," she says, leaning forward. I nod, it's not like I have a choice anyway.

"Is it true you are former Dauntless?"

I nod again and try to avoid eye contact. Her eyes are sharper than Annabeth's.

"Why are you factionless now?"

"I...I was cut from initiation."

"Hmph," Evelyn says, and I can tell she isn't impressed. "Did you happen to know anyone by the name of...Four?"

"Yeah. He was our instructor," I reply.

"How is he faring?"

"Um...I don't know. He's expressionless most of the time. I think he likes a girl, though."

Evelyn sits up straighter. "A girl? Who?"

"Tris Prior, former Abnegation. Sixteen years old. She's pretty cool for a Stiff." I wonder if I used the slang right. Evelyn will buy the act, hopefully.

"Hmm. I will determine if she's good enough for my son."

I suddenly felt irritated. "Lady, no offense, but you abandoned your son. You don't control what he does anymore."

Evelyn freezes, and I gulp. I've gone too far, haven't I?

She regards me coldly. I can't tell if her eyes are brown or black. 

"Watch your words, boy," she warns. "I do not easily forgive."

I, being the doofus I am, keep going. "Cut to the chase, lady. Why do you want me here?"

She glares at me. I imagine the headstone of my grave saying: "Leo Valdez, died age 17 due to scary eye contact."

"You would help tremendously in making our weapons, son of Hephaestus," Evelyn says.

I'm about to make up an intelligent retort, but my mind draws a blank when she says 'son of Hephaestus'. Then I realize.

"Hold on," I say. "How do you know that?"

"When a half-blood sees another half-blood, she can just tell."

"Wait. You're a half-blood?" Frankly, with all this crazy stuff going on, I'm not that surprised.

"Of course, boy. Daughter of Bellona."

"You're...A Roman demigod?" I squeak.

"Yes. My instincts tell me to kill you straightaway, but I can be lenient. I despise Greeks, but you could be useful. You are good at...tinkering, right?"

"Tinkering," I mutter, personally offended. "Yeah. I build the coolest warship of all time and I'm a tinkerer."

She frowns. "Warship?"

I shake my head. "Lady, where were you when the world almost ended?"

"Anyway, your knowledge of the outside world must remain a secret. The citizens of this city would panic if you told them."

"Lady, you're freaking me out," I say matter-of-factly. "Are there anymore secret demigods I should know about?"

"Only one, other than your group of outsiders. My enemy, Jeanine Matthews, is a daughter of Athena."

My mind is already reeling. I exhale slowly. "Man, saving this city is gonna be ten times harder now."

"Saving the city? Is that why you came to Chicago?"

"Yeah. The faction system is messed up."

"I'm glad we're on the same page. I plan on abolishing the faction system."

"What? How? There's no way! You can't go against all the factions and win!"

She smirks. "I want to make some alliances."

I shake my head. "You're psycho."

Her expression darkens. "Are you on my side, Leo Valdez? After all, we have the same goal: to exterminate Jeanine and to rid this city of the faction system. Are you with me?"

She extends her arm, and I hesitate. "You want me to forge your weapons and be a part of the rebellion."

"Precisely. War is coming, and we need to be prepared. You'll just have to trust me, son of Hephaestus."

I shake her hand. "I'm in."