Daughter of Neptune, Book one

XXVIII

Leo's pov

I figured I had the worst luck in the group, and that was saying a lot. Why didn't I get to have the long-lost sister, the missing brother, or the movie star dad who needed rescuing? All I got was a tool belt and a dragon that broke down halfway through the quest. Maybe it was the stupid curse of the Hephaestus cabin, but I didn't think so. My life has been unlucky way before I got to camp.

A thousand years from now, when this quest was being told around a campfire, I figure people would talk about brave Jason, beautiful Piper, powerful Tori, and their side kick Flaming Valdez, who accompanied them with a bag of magic screwdrivers and occasionally fixed tofu burgers.

If that wasn't bad enough, I fell in love with every girl I saw—as long as she was totally out of my league.

When I first saw Thalia, I immediately thought she was way too pretty to be Jason's sister. I liked her dark hair, her blue eyes, and her confident attitude. She looked like the kind of girl who could stomp anybody on the ball court or the battlefield, and wouldn't give me the time of day—just my type! She reminded me of Tori, except for the eyes. And Tori would've given me the time if I didn't...

For a minute, Jason and Thalia faced each other, stunned. Then Thalia rushed forward and hugged him.

"My gods! She told me you were dead!" She gripped Jason's face and seemed to be examining everything about it. "Thank Artemis, it is you. That little scar one you lip—you tried to eat a stapler when you were two!"

Tori laughed. "Seriously?" She had the cutest laugh.

Hedge nodded like he approved of Jason's taste. "Staplers—excellent source of iron."

"W-wait," Jason stammered. "Who told you I was dead? What happened?"

At the cave entrance, one of the white wolves barked. Thalia looked back at the wolf and nodded, but she kept her hands on Jason's face, like she was afraid he might vanish. "My wolf is telling me I don't have much time, and she's right. But we have to talk. Let's sit."

Piper did better than that. She collapsed. She would've cracked her head on the cave floor if Hedge hadn't caught her.

Thalia rushed over. "What's wrong with her? Ah—never mind. I see. Hypothermia. Ankle." She frowned at the satyr. "Don't you know nature healing?"

Hedge scoffed. "Why do you think she looks this good? Can't you smell the Gatorade?"

Thalia looked at Tori and I for the first time, and of course it was an accusatory glare, like Why did you let the goat be a doctor?. As if that was our fault.

"You two and the satyr," Thalia ordered, "take this girl to my friend at the entrance. Phoebe's an excellent healer."

"It's cold out there!" Hedge said. "I'll freeze my horns off."

But I knew we weren't wanted. "Come on, Hedge. These two need time to talk."

"Humph. Fine," the satyr muttered. "Didn't even get to brain anybody."

Hedge carried Piper toward the entrance. Tori and I were about to follow when Jason called, "Actually, guys, could you, um, stick around?"

I saw something in Jason's eyes I didn't expect: Jason was asking for support. He wanted somebody else there. He was scared.

I grinned. "Sticking around is my specialty." Thalia glanced at Tori and looked away. Then she took a double take.

"You look just like him. Like Percy." Thalia said amazed. "I mean, except for the glasses. And the blue eyes and the washed out ends."