The Untold Stories (Heroes of Olympus)

XVII - JASON

CHAPTER 17

JASON

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            “So what do you want to talk about?” She asks once she’s settled a cup of juice in front of me and sat. Now, this didn’t seem so wise, but maybe keeping it to myself might be less wiser.

            “Uh. I’m not really sure I want to talk about this now” I said and I can’t help my voice. It’s some effect that happens when you see what might happen to a person who you love so much.

            “Come on, you really look like you need to drop a load and I’m the best one you’ve got, if it’s not something Piper should know” She says very convincingly with a small smile and wonder how she could smile at a time like this. I release air I didn’t know I breathed.

            “Well, Venus came to see me last night” She said and the reaction on her face is immediate I had to stop.

            “Venus? You mean Aphrodite?” She asked, and I simply bobbed a nod. “Don’t believe anything she tells you all right?” She asks of me again and so I just make another nod. I don’t remember anything that makes her why she’s this mad.

            “Why?” The question came out before I could even conclude if I should say it or not. She seemed stressed and I can’t help but wonder if she was here about a few seconds ago being bubbly and cheerful.

            “Sorry, that had been rude of me not hearing you out first. Now what did you want to tell me?” She said all this in one big breath. And I was so stunned I didn’t reply immediately.

            “As I was saying, Aphrodite came here last night and then she said I had two choices and decide wisely” I summed up the situation as best as I could without having it to be so hard for me mostly.

            “What?” She said stunned, who wouldn’t be? Goddesses don’t come in the dead of night, show you things, say you have two choices, decide and leave. “Clearer” she told me and I did. I told her how she came and what happened. Everything to the last detail since I trusted her enough and when you’re close to dying, you might as well say things to the people around you.

            After my recount of the story, she slouched back in her seat, sighing, trying to figure out what to make sense of it. I feel deeply touched by the way she wants to help me in this mess I got myself into even though she has enough problems of her own. Then something ticks me off like bells I should know the meaning. And when again she opens her eyes, I remember it.

            “Annabeth?” I say cautiously.

            “Yeah?” She said expecting me to continue and I do, even though it’s setting off mine fields in my mind.

Too Dangerous.

No, wrong choice.

Turn back and say never mind. But I didn’t give them thoughts and continued. “You seem to be so upset about Aphrodite, why?” I said and by the look she gave me, it was instantly the worst question I could have asked her. I expect her to get cross at me or something like that yet she doesn’t and seems to consider things in her mind.

“Well, first things first, I already have no clear good history with her and we’re pretty much in the same situation right now.” She says, at first it doesn’t seem clear but then I finally get it. She has to choose between two things like me and I’m not sure I want to know.