Percy Jackson and the Dark Elites

XXXXXIV

Leo

Leo and Charlie had hijacked another Rider ship on their way out. Leo didn't know where Bianca was headed with Piper and the others, but he was pretty sure he could get around the Rider security and track the old Rider ship, if only for a moment. 

Leo was sitting in the back, working on an Elite Laptop as he tried to find a way into Rider security. 

Grover was in the copilot's seat, with Charlie flying the ship.

Leo Valdez was with Octavian. Octavian was laid out on the floor. He quietly stared at the ceiling. As far as Grover could tell, Annabeth had broken his back and neck. Grover wasn't in much of a hurry to help heal him, but he did what he could. 

Leo wished he would just die so they could be done with him. Except Charlie was adamant about taking them with him. It seemed so important to him and Leo was pretty sure he used to know why. Kronos' soul had shown him several things. 

But Octavian was still important. Leo had seen Percy and Bianca, alone, in an Elite jet. And it had something to do with Octavian. It had something to do with Charlie. 

Great, another mystery. That's just what he needed. 

He got a ping on Bianca's location. The ship was stationary, about twenty-five miles from the Canadian border. 

They could've easily flown across the border and back into the territory of the gods, call for help, then get to camp. Leo hoped Bianca had gotten Jason, Will, and Piper across the border, then flown back to Alaska to get Percy and Annabeth. 

Leo hoped that was the case, but he suspected Piper had refused. Piper had been so stubborn earlier, insisting on coming with him. If Piper had refused to leave again, then Jason wouldn't leave her, and Will wouldn't leave his patient. They could all be on that ship. 

Leo didn't feel like getting up, so he sent the coordinates to Charlie and shut the laptop. Leo closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall. They'd meet up with Bianca, fly to Camp, then get Octavian in a holding cell. 

The door opened. Lee Fletcher, one of the Knights, peeked through the door. "Everyone made it out. All of us. Only Bianca and Percy aren't here.

"Thank you," Leo mumbled. 

"Are you all right?" Lee stepped in. 

"Fine, just... tired. I'm waiting for it all to be over. It's been so long." 

"Sure, but we've been okay." Fletcher sat down. "Charlie said... Charlie said that you, Bianca, and Percy wouldn't betray us. Not this many times—together and separately."

Leo nodded. 

"What's going on, Leo?"

"Don't ask," Leo decided. "I can't give you an answer. I will, but trust me for now."

"Leo?"

"Give me the benefit of the doubt," Leo said. "That's an order."

Lee looked at his hands. "Yes, Alpha." 

He got up to leave. Leo smiled. "Do you remember the Circle?"

Lee stopped. "The Circle..."

"Before you were a part of the Knights, you were a part of the Circle. My inner Circle, remember?"

Lee frowned. His eyes darted back and forth. "I know that... I think... Why wouldn't we be..."

Leo sighed. "Go please, see Castor, help him on watch."