Percy Jackson and the Dark Elites

XXXVII

Leo

The night that Leo was called up to Alaska had been full of bad dreams. 

A blurred mix of images and voices had trapped him in a prison of his own mind. He saw Calypso, staring up at him happily with her head in his lap. Then the grass around him turned black. He could smell smoke and flesh. Her beautiful, fair skin had been pulled tight and crisp, with only oily pink spots dancing up one side of her body. 

He saw Ruin, towering over him in a dark tower. Black crystals spiraled around him and overwhelmed Leo. His throat and lungs burned. As he choked on the glass Ruin advanced on him. His deep and cracked voice blaming him. 

She could have lived. They all could have lived. 

No! Leo wanted to scream, but he could feel the glass multiplying in his nose and throat, seconds from spilling out his mouth. 

You have the power over fire. Ruin's voice omitted from his entire body, echoing around them. You held the secrets. You knew the prophecy. 

Leo coughed the crystals out. They spilled out onto the metal catwalk with a shining coat of red. Ruin punched him in the cut. He kicked him. He hit him.

Leo pulled the knife from his belt and stood as fast as possible. 

He found himself alone in a large room painted red and white. A bed lay in the corner, completely covered in screws and nails. A single blanket and pillow were sprawled out sloppily by the furnace. 

He was holding Riptide where Ruin's dagger should have been. He rushed to the table and set it down, pulling out a white cream from his box of dangerous materials. He used his finger and carved the words, OMEGA. He took a step back and blasted it with his fire. 

The sword exploded, sending shards in all directions of the room. A small fragment impaled Leo's shoulder. He pulled it out slowly. 

I do know the prophecy. He had thought at the time. He warmed his hand up reaching inside himself, calling on the death cure in his veins, a white and orange flame danced in his palm, he touched the delicate heartbeat to his shoulder and watched as the wound healed.

Don't forget. It was Omega's voice. He wasn't bossing him around,  commanding him, or ordering him to shut his ADHD down. His voice was soft, caring. Not something Leo expected from him. Even with their cleansing ceremonies, where Percy would smile and laugh...

Leo shuddered. He, Lee, Michael, Charlie, and Zoe all refrained from the activity that gave the knights their name. But Ethan, Castor, and Bianca... They must've decided that it would be better to add a little something extra to their little ritual. 

Like they were trying to remember something.

Don't forget.

Don't forget.

Don't forget.

****

Leo's legs shook from the long ride in the jet. It was only a couple hours, but Leo had decided to skip the seat belt portion like a moron. He hated the way they held him down. 

But his burning thighs and core reminded him why Omega never let him slide. 

He approached the frosted metal compound, his steps growing more confident and sturdy as he got moving. The cold air bit at his skin and turned his breath to ice in the air. 

Hard to believe people actually spent their summers this way. 

"They're waiting for you inside." A Rider pawn informed him.