Equilibrium

Chapter 24: Luka's POV

We were flying on Harper yet again, in search of our third relic, technically fourth if you count visiting Percy Jackson and his sword. This time we were on our way to Pennsylvania to find Zeus' relic.

I keep thinking about the talk that Jackie and I had last night.

Equilibrium.

I know exactly what it means. And I know exactly what we need to do. I'm not sure how it's going to help save our camps but if that's what we need to do, that's what we need to do.

The dictionary definition of equilibrium: a state in which opposing forces or influences are balanced.

To simplify that, it means that Jackie and I have to stop fighting and be neutral with one another. We can't hate each other, and we have to start being kind, otherwise, for some ungodly reason, everyone will die. Fun. This just makes everything about this quest a whole lot worse. I mean, if I can't be sassy then what can I be? Normal? Ew.

Jackie was sitting in front of me and getting pretty restless. I'm pretty sure we were almost there since we've been flying for a really long time already. I breathed in the fresh air around me, taking in the view of the clouds and the birds that were flying around us. Nothing better than to think like Zeus while on a quest for Zeus right?

After another half an hour we reached our destination. This time in the middle of a busy city. Harper started to descend, going slowly, trying to find a spot to land.

Finally, Harper touched down on a small grassy patch that was outside of a building that looked like a library. There were lots of people milling around, some sitting on benches reading a book or gossiping to friends. An overall calm mood. Hoping we dont fuck that up, but if we do, oh well. Blame it on the gods right? I think that's my new motto, not sure yet though, I'll have to think about that a little more.

I looked around trying to figure out where we were supposed to be going. Jackie hops off Harper and I do the same, running my fingers through my hair.

"Where do we have to go?" I ask Jackie, being as polite as I could because, you know, eQuIlIbRiUm.

"Umm we have to find a really tall building and go to the top, but that's all I know." She seemed distracted, searching for the building. It wasn't very hard though. Within two seconds of me looking around some more, I see a building two blocks away that's quite a bit taller than the rest. Jackie is still squinting around looking, and it takes everything in me not to say anything rude or sassy.

I gritted my teeth, "uh Jackie, I think I found the building we're supposed to go to." She twirled around, startled. Was she even looking? She seems really distracted today. What's going on with her?

"Oh, uh, yeah lets go," she mumbled. We started to walk in the direction of the building, side by side. Halfway there, I realized that I had no idea what the relic actually was. Oops. I'm going to have to blame that on Jackie, she still hasn't given me the list of all the relics and their location.

"Hey, Jackie, what's this relic supposed to be?" I asked. She sniffed, "A talisman. Whoever is in possession of the relic can bring on a whole storm whenever they feel like it. We have to be careful in case someone's guarding it."

We have to be careful? Gee, I had no clue. I thought we could just waltz in while listening to old Taylor Swift songs and have a quick game of cards before grabbing the relic on our way to the ice cream store. But of course, as much as I wanted to say that, I couldn't, because EQUILIBRIUM. UGHHH.

So instead I said, "ok."

When we got to the bottom of the building, Jackie stopped for a minute taking a deep breath. She turned to me, her face all scrunched up in a strange expression. "Whatever we do, we have to work together this time, the last two...." her voice trailed off. I nodded my head, knowing that she was right.

With that she grabbed my hand lacing her fingers through mine, which surprised the fuck out of me, and dragged me inside the sliding doors of the building.

Inside there were many people bustling around with large shopping bags. I realized that we were inside a mall. There were elevators on the left wall next to Forever 21, the most disgusting store to ever exist. Just looking at that store gives me major anxiety.

Jackie was still holding my hand, I think she was scared, which didn't seem like her at all. She, again, dragged me with her, pushing the up button on the elevator.

"Ready Godzilla?" She smirked letting go of my hand. I spluttered,"What did you call me?!" She looked up at me with an expression I was unable to read before saying "well since you always call me short, I thought I'd come up with a nickname that embodies your tall, tallness, tall sir."

That didn't even make sense, but she seemed content with it and since- nope I don't even want to think about that goddamn word. I have to be nice to her, that's the bottom line.

I heard the ding of the elevator, and the doors slid open. We got in and Jackie pressed the button for the highest floor. Thankfully there was no shitty elevator music. That bugs me so much because it's really not that hard to put on a good playlist, I swear. Within a minute or two, the doors slid open again, we were at the top.

I hesitated a bit before stepping out, I'm not sure why, but I wanted to stay in this elevator with Jackie forever.

But of course, as life goes, we have to move on. That's me being hypocritical. Why can't I move on from my mom's death then? I cannot think of that right now. We have a quest to get on with.

This time, I was the one to grab Jackie's hand, she looked up at me confused.

"Let's do this," I whispered before stepping out of the elevator, Jackie right beside me.

A team.