Book Cult (New and Improved)

Pepper XXII

"Pepper XXII, " Dionysus began, lounging in his throne.*

Percy couldn't help but roll his eyes. Of course.

Pepper tumbled through the sky...several hundred yards away the body of the bronze dragon spinning out of control, its wings limp, fire flickering in its mouth like a badly wired lightbulb.

Jake, Nyssa, Hephaestus, and Nico frowned at that.

They'll be fine. Thalia quickly told herself. Jason can fly. All he has to do is grab Piper and Leo and land safely.

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

A body shot past her- Lionel, screaming and frantically grabbing at the clouds.

Hephaestus shuddered.

"Not coooool!"

Hermes broke out into laughter.

"Out of all the things to say, you decide to say that?" Percy asked.

Twirling his pen, Leo shrugged. "It was the first thing that came to mind. What else can you say to that?"

"I dunno. Scream? That's usually what people do when they fall from something high." the son of Poseidon said.

"Oh, okay. I'll keep that in mind for next time I fall to my death." Leo said in mock seriousness.

Hephaestus gave them a disapproving look. "We are not having this type of conversation."

Somewhere above her, Jacob yelled, "Pepper, level out! Extend your arms and legs!"

...She fell spread-eagle like a skydiver, the wind underneath her like a giant block of ice. Then Jacob was there, wrapping his arms around her waist.

Aphrodite clutched her chest and breathed out a sigh of relief.

Thank god, Pepper thought. But part of her also thought: Great. Second time this week he's hugged me, and both times it's because I'm plummeting to my death.

"I guess it's the only times he's willing to do it." Drew muttered in mock innocence.

"We have to get Lionel!" she shouted.

Their fall slowed as Jacob controlled the winds, but they still lurched up and down like the winds didn't want to cooperate.

They'll be fine. Thalia reassured herself.

Leo put the pen in his pocket.

...Pepper locked her arms around him, and Jacob shot toward the ground. Pepper probably screamed.

But the sound was ripped from her mouth. Her vision blurred.

And then, thump!

Ares leaned forward.

They slammed into another warm body- Lionel, still wriggling and cursing.

Ares slumped in his seat and sighed. Boring.

Hephaestus let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.

"Stop fighting!" Jacob said. "It's me!"

"My dragon!" Lionel yelled. "You gotta save Freddy!"