Claimed by Twelve

18. Division

3rd person POV

"He must not fall." The demigods glanced at each other while muttering. Jupiter stood before them.
"If he falls, Olympus will fall." The demigods chatter grew louder. "Protect him. He will see the light."
"How? You telling us he will doesn't help us help him!" Annabeth was seething. A few of the other demigods present were trying to work out what she had said.
"Find a way. Julian Glynn must not fall." Jupiter turned around and started to disappear.
"How are we suppose to just find away? He's as stubborn as Percy!" Piper fumed.
      "Gee. Thanks." Percy muttered next to her.
Jupiter looked back at them. His gaze found Jason. "Find a way."
Jason stared at the spot where his father had disappeared long after he had vanished. Another shout drew his attention back to the group. Percy was right. Heroes never did rest.
      "He's....." The demigod gasped for breath. "He's...gone....the....tunnel...."
      "Gods of Olympus!" Piper cursed. "That boy..." Piper started to march toward the tunnel.
      "No." Jason's voice wasn't very loud but it got Piper's attention.
      "No? You want to leave him? You heard Jupiter! We can't let him go!" Hazel sided with Piper this time.
      Percy placed a hand on Jason's shoulder before he said anything. "Let him go, Hazel."
      "You're going to let Olympus' downfall just walk away?" Annabeth glared daggers at Percy.
      "Bringing him back won't help. There's still good in him. We can't force that out." Jason stared back at Piper.
      "The seaweediest of all brains..." Annabeth muttered.
      "Khione will get him. Then he's gone." Frank looked at Jason and Percy.
      Percy squeezed Jason's shoulder before he walked away. I trust you.
      Jason looked at the four demigods across from him. Annabeth. Frank. Hazel. Piper. Jason almost flinched from Piper's gaze. He drew in a breath.
      "I'm not helping you push him over the edge." Jason turned around, but not before he saw the look of hurt that flashed across Piper's face. He drew in another shaky breath then walked away.
Piper stared after him. He was going to walk away?! She couldn't believe this.
"Come on." Piper turned around and started toward the tunnel. The other three followed her, although Frank and Hazel hesitated to do so.
We are going to find him, Piper decided, and we are going to bring him back. The four demigods walked to the tunnel silently. Piper and Annabeth set on finding Julian. Hazel and Frank weren't so sure. If Percy and Jason refused to look for him, was it really a good idea?
Annabeth nudged Piper as they walked. Hazel and Frank were behind them, out of earshot. "Hey. Are you and Jason okay?"
Piper sighed. "Yeah. He's just been worried about Julian."
"Gotcha." Annabeth nodded. "Percy's pretty much the same. The thing that worries me is that I've never seen Percy so upset about something before."
"Jason either. Maybe it's because Julian is a child of Neptune." Piper said.
As they got closer to the tunnel Piper's earlier anger start to fade. Piper hesitated at the entrance.
"Second thoughts?" Annabeth's eyes were hard. Piper shook her. She wasn't sure what they were going to do with Julian when they found him. Something inside told her that Jason was right, bringing Julian back would only push him away.
      But there was only way to find out.