Turning Tables - Leo Valdez AU

Chapter Eleven

"No one." I finished. The floor started to rumble and Jason frantically pushed me along.

"We will have a chance either way," I grinned with a newfound confidence. "I'm certain of it, Earth Lady."

Jason and I hit the surface right as the cave collapsed behind us. Piper ran over and pulled Jason into a hug. Typical.

There was no sign of Annabeth or Rachel.

"Pipes, did you find Annabeth and Rachel?" I asked. Though she kept her confident posture and expression, I could tell that she desperately wanted to avoid my gaze, and I guessed they didn't make it out alive. Jason hugged her tighter as if to reassure her that it was all okay, but for once Piper didn't want Jason near her.

"I'm sure they're still alive. Only part of the cave collapsed, right? Maybe they only went deeper into it," Jason suggested warily, but he knew there wasn't any evidence to back his theory up. "Maybe they're out there. We could send search parties--"

"How?" Piper asked, reminding Jason of the closed entrance to the cave. Jason slumped his shoulders.

"Well, an entrance might help," I said sarcastically, "but I'm sure there's another way in, like old stories of Indian voodoo magic?" I suggested to Piper. She shook her head, trying to hold back a laugh.

"Cherokee." Piper corrected.

"Pfft, same difference."

"Or maybe you could charmspeak the rocks," Jason laughed. "'I, the all mighty Piper, shall command you to raise yourselves out of the tunnel! Show thyself!'," Jason impersonated. Piper blushed and nudged him.

"You're gonna wake up the rocks again, dummy," she said, looking at the pile of rocks that lay in front of us.

"Yeah, we don't want Gaea on our tails again," I said with concern.

"Speaking of which," Jason started. He glared at me. "Has Gaea been talking to you? Has she been trying to get you to join her?"

"Yeah, but it's not like I'd ever fall for her stupid dirt-y tricks anyways," I said in a joking manor, but Jason didn't necessarily want me joking around at the moment.

"Who would you have saved if you had chosen someone?" Jason asked me. I could tell he was holding Piper close to him like a protective mother bird. (One with a golden sword, that is)

"I could never choose,"I said. "But Gaea says she has a better girl waiting for me."

"Leo..." Piper cautioned. "You didn't accept her offer, did you?"

I shuffled around nervously.

"You've just sealed our fates you idiot!" Piper yelled. Jason stood defensively next to her with his hand on his Imperial Gold sword. "You're going to be responsible for the end of the world!"

What does the Aphrodite girl know? Gaea asked me. I won't destroy you, or Calypso.

"Calypso?" I asked. Jason and Piper turned their heads as well.

Yes, Calypso, the princess trapped on Ogygia. I'm sure she'll absolutely adore you. Just take these demigods out while you can.

Festus the dragon was making his way across the forest along with about a dozen Apollo kids. (Just in case, I assumed.)

"Is it all true about Gaea and Leo?" One asked, thinking I couldn't hear her.

"I don't know, but he's a traitor, just like Selina!" Another yelled.

"Are Piper and Jason traitors too?"