Cursed- A Percy Jackson Fan fiction

Chapter: 14

 Chapter 14

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Rick Riordan does.

Leo opened the access panel in Festus's neck. The astrolabe was humming away, the crystal pulsing like a neon heart. Leo checked his compass and GPS, and a grin spread across his face.

"Festus, good news!" he shouted. "Our navigation readings are completely messed up!"

Creak?

"Yeah! Descend! Get us below these clouds and maybe –"

The dragon plummeted so fast that the breath was sucked out of Leo's lungs. They broke through the blanket of white and there, below them, was a single green island in a vast blue sea.

Leo whooped so loudly they probably heard him in China. "YEAH! WHO DIED? WHO CAME BACK? WHO'S YOUR FREAKIN' SUPERSIZED MCSHIZZLE NOW, BABY? WOOOOOOOO!"

They spiralled towards Ogygia, the warm wind in Leo's hair. He realized his clothes were in tatters, despite the magic they'd been woven with. His arms were covered in a fine layer of soot, like he'd just died in a massive fire ... which, of course, he had.

But he couldn't worry about any of that.

She was standing on the beach, wearing jeans and a white blouse, her amber hair pulled back. Festus spread his wings and landed with a stumble. Apparently one of his legs was broken. The dragon pitched sideways and catapulted Leo face-first into the sand.

So much for a heroic entrance.

Leo spat a piece of seaweed out of his mouth. Festus dragged himself down the beach, made clacking noises that meant Ow, ow, ow.

Leo looked up. Calypso stood over him, her arms crossed, her eyebrows arched.

"You're late," she announced. Her eyes gleamed.

"Sorry, Sunshine," Leo said. "Traffic was murder."

"You are covered with soot," she noted. "And you managed to ruin the clothes I made for you, which were impossible to ruin."

"Well, you know." Leo shrugged. "I'm all about doing the impossible."

She offered her hand and helped him up. They stood nose to nose as she studied his condition. She smelled like cinnamon. Had she always had that tiny freckle next to her left eye? Leo really wanted to touch it.

She wrinkled her nose. "You smell –"

"I know. Like I've been dead. Probably because I have been. Oath to keep with a final breath and all, but I'm better now –'

She stopped him with a kiss.

He felt like there were helicopter blades spinning in his chest. He felt so happy he had to make a conscious effort not to burst into flames.

When she finally let him go, her face was covered in soot smudges. She didn't seem to care. She traced her thumb across his cheekbone.

"Leo Valdez,"she said.

Nothing else – just his name, as if it were something magical.

"That's me," he said, his voice ragged. "So, um ... you want to get off this island?"

Calypso stepped back. She raised one hand and the winds swirled. Her invisible servants brought two suitcases and set them at her feet. "What gave you that idea?"

Leo grinned. "Packed for a long trip, huh?"

"I don't plan on coming back.'"Calypso glanced over her shoulder, at the path that led to her garden and her cavern home. "Where will you take me, Leo?"