The Fire In Me (A Leo Valdez Love Story)

We Interrupt This Fine Quest With a HUGE Problem

Even before the sun was up, we were packing our stuff as fast as we could. Jason practically flew almost everywhere, and I didn't blame him. His only other sister had just disappeared! But the funny thing was that he didn't blame me for the sudden disappearance. He just assumed that something else had taken her. In fact, he had told me that he knew that I wouldn't hurt her. I felt kind of glad that Jason didn't hate me anymore. We had been friends since we were kids- 

A sudden pang of sadness struck me: we hadn't known each other until a few years ago. The Mist had created that false image so I would be nice to Jason. That didn't make me feel any better. 

I quickly tied my stuff to Festus, and clicked him on again. Festus whined, but did as he was told. And we took off. This time, I was in the lead. I had to be the first one to see her. I know that sounds kind of selfish, but even though I knew Jason wanted to save her, she meant more to me than the fanciest machine in the world. She was my spark, my ignition. She was my fuel to my fire inside. I realized just how much she meant to me, and I sped Festus on, knowing just where Laura would be. 

                                                            ______________________________ 

I woke up to the sound of grinding metal. I groaned, and tried to get up, but my arm screamed in protest. I left my arm there, and tried to turn my head, but I seemed to be slightly paralyzed. So I just stared at the top of my enclosure. All around me, metal grinded against metal, water poured on hot tools, and I could faintly hear someone laughing like they were insane! It was like I was trapped in a nightmare. 

Finally, I was able lift my head, and I sat up, cradling my left arm. It seemed to be completely limp, and a huge welt was swelling near my shoulder. It stung. I looked around me, and saw rusted bars barring my way. I realized that I was in a cage! I crawled over to the edge, and I realized that I was in a cage, suspended in midair, right above a flowing pot of molten metal! This clearly wasn't my day. 

Then, I heard it again: that insane laughter like they were really enjoying their wretched scheme. I inhaled sharply, and suddenly coughed violently. Workshop smoke. I'd had my share in school to know metal smoke when I smelled it. 

I laid down, and wondered where exactly I was. Then a blinding light seared my eyes, and I screamed with all I had in me. When the light receded, I blinked several times before I could see again, and when I did, I backed against a bar so hard, I heard a rib crack. 

It couldn't be. It-couldn't! How could he be here?! 

"Welcome," Leo said. "We've been expecting you." 

                                                            ____________________________ 

We flew for maybe 4 hours, before Jason flew up next to me. 

"Leo, we've got to rest. Our horses can't go forever. And flying is taking a toll on Frank!" 

I turned away as a tear dripped down my cheek. I knew I was wearing out our team, and I could feel Festus's gas tank clearing out. I knew we had to stop, and I knew that there was no way we could make it by today. But I didn't want to know. I didn't want to stop. Laura was in there, probably being tortured by a hundred devices, and I wasn't there to defend her. 

Nevertheless, I flew us down to the ground. We were nearing the mountains, so the ground was not at all pleasant. But that didn't stop anyone from passing out cold after dinner. I tried to sleep, but I only found myself sitting straight up, watching the slight glow in the distance getting smaller and smaller. I couldn't sleep. Not while Laura wasn't getting one wink of it. I knew she was in there, and I knew that she wasn't safe. But I didn't want to know these things either. 

Eventually, the sun came up, and the horses were jumpy and ready to go. We took off, and flew for what seemed like an eternity, and it seemed that the mountain was never getting any closer, and all the while, I could feel Laura's life ticking away. I had to get her out of there. 

                                                           ____________________________ 

Almost immediately, I knew this wasn't the real Leo. The real Leo had an elvish grin always plastered on his face. This Leo had a devilish grin, like he really wanted to eat me in two bites. 

I sat up, and tried to look brave. "Who are you," I asked, and I was surprised at how mean and straight-forward I sounded. I had this all under control. 

The fake Leo laughed without humor, which sounded like long nails scraping along a chalkboard. 

"You humans never cease to amuse me, with your petty little thoughts. Of course, you would probably never recognize me. No one ever did!" Suddenly, Leo burst into flames, and when he reappeared, he was a she! 

"I'm Eris, goddess of chaos. Welcome to my workshop." 

                                                        ____________________________ 

We landed near the mountain, because our animals couldn't survive the massive heat coming from the cave. Horrible memories flashed past my mind's eye: weird dreams, truly scary truths, and unmistakable prophecies gone bad. This place was not a dreamboat of rainbows and kittens. 

Percy looked up and whistled. "We're supposed to go in there?" Then he grinned. "Alright, I know that you all want me to rush in there and save the day, but-" he was cut off by Annabeth's awesome arm-slapping. "Ow," he said lamely. 

"Focus, Seaweed Brain. I think we all need to go in there." Nevertheless, a small smile played across her lips. She surveyed the landscape. "I think our best option is to climb around the mountain, so we're not spotted immediately. Whoever's in there is very powerful, and we don't want to be caught right in the middle of a steep cliff." Everyone nodded. No one argued with Annabeth's logic. 

Hazel closed her eyes. "I sense large pits close to the face. We'll need to avoid those, or we might fall in." 

Nico nodded. "There's lots of spiritual activity here as well. And they're not happy." Well, 2 points for team Hades. 

We found a small trail leading up the mountain, and followed it to about the middle of it. After that, it was epic rock-climbing time. I wished that Laura was here, but I just pulled up my britches and started climbing the mountain, one nerve-wracking foothold at a time. 

We made it to the mouth of the cave in little over an hour, and my heart lurched as I saw huge pots of molten metal and gears everywhere. 

We were in Hephaestus' workshop.