Hi guys! I'm going to wrote consistently the next few days to make up for the lost time. I'm so sorry for being late with updates. I went on a camping trip with my friends so I wasn't able to work.

I'll be better!

Please review and thank you all for your support! XXX

Leo POV: Chapter 7

Okay…okay. It's over. Leo took a deep breath. He didn't want to see his Mother's...what he did- the police- Festus. No. Leo knew that demigods don't exactly have happy lives so what's one more. He doesn't matter. People are dying-have died. Leo is lucky. If anything, Leo felt guilty. In his short sixteen years, he's brought so much pain and danger. What he had done he could not un-do to his Mother. He could make amends in subtle ways, but confession was out of the question, even to his priests. Although, it's not like they don't know that he accidentally killed his mother. It's fine-He's fine. In the end he-

"Leo?" Piper asked tentatively, "Are you good?"

Leo directed his gaze back up from the rocky ground and forced a grin on his face. "Shut up, Mclean. Let's just get to the next room."

Percy snorted, more like a heavy exhale, "yeah, man."

Glancing to the next door, the group shuffled forwards. It seemed as if everyone was a bit uncomfortable around each other. Annabeth and Jason each had deep creases in their foreheads whilst the rest, including Leo, clutched their weapons awkwardly as they approached the newest door in the cavern. Leo still felt slightly funny. In his memories, the temperatures changed often. One point his face was nearly melting off him and the next the frostbitten wind nipped at his cheeks and nose. A heavy silence settled over them, thicker than the uneasy tension in the atmosphere. Unsettled eyes glanced unceremoniously around and tried to avoid catching other glances that passed by. Leo could tell that Piper was trying to get his eye but he just didn't need her sympathy. He didn't need anyone. The newest door was clearly in the shape of a lightning bolt. Blue licks of light flowed through the indentations, it made Leo wonder how long these doors have been here.

Jason sighed heavily. The seven shuffled their feet against the dirt of the floor, awkwardly tracing the outlines of each lone stone while daring anyone to speak. Jason walked towards the door as if it were any other, keeping it open for the others to pass through. Chivalry is not dead, Leo thought. Jason grabbed his wrist as Leo walked past. He was so on edge it was a wonder that he didn't torch his bro. Then Jason smiled. There was kindness in his smile, a gentleness that made Leo feel immediately better. Like he had his back.

Leo cleared his throat. "Get ready man. It kinda sucks."

"Oh, I don't doubt it."

Leo felt himself wink as he slipped past and settle himself among the rest of the group that was gathered around the plate.

Leo really hated these rooms.

Without wasting any time, Jason marched up to the plate and stepped down. Leo felt like he should've been expecting an explosion or something by the way everyone was glancing around. Then the room once again filled up with the familiar smoke and Leo held his breath.

Leo found himself in a dense forest. The sky was pitch black but it wouldn't have mattered anyway as the trees covered up their sight overhead. A child's cries could be heard echoing through the dense bush. Leo would be lying if he said he didn't find it creepy in any way. It was as if the Gods had adjusted the colours of the world in the night like it was as easy as twisting one of those old plastic dials on a TV set. All the colours were muted greys and blacks, only illuminated by a few streaks of strong moonlight. The bare branches spiked into the sky - no sign of life to be found anywhere. It was so dark the group was barely able to see where they were going. The ground underneath them blurred, pushing them closer and closer to the sounds of crying. There were only small sounds of rustling bushes and the howl of the wind. Leo didn't know what laid in the dark forest, all he knew was that it wasn't going to be a peaceful journey. They approached the source of the noise. It was a toddler - no older than maybe three? - clutched in the arms of a woman. She was dressed in black robes. Her face was hooded, but her eyes glowed in the darkness. Over her shoulders, she wore an animal skin cloak. Leo didn't know what type of animal it was but he could take a guess and think it was goat or sheep. She was holding a toddler-sized bundled of flailing limbs and ghoulish shrieks. Out the top of the blanket was a tuft of blonde hair and almost glowing electric blue eyes.

"Jason!" The real Piper exclaimed. "Is that-is that you?"

Jason bit his lip and nodded hesitantly. "I think this is the exchange. Juno and Jupiter agreed my life would be...would be like repaying a debt." he gestured to the woman. "Juno's my patron."

The woman's voice boomed suddenly making Leo jump.

"I trust you, Lupa. Know that I will do everything in my power to ruin you should you fail."

A large wolf with dotted grey and brown fur stepped out from the line of trees.

"Believe me, my Queen." She snarled, "the boy will be safe."

Seemingly satisfied, Hera, or Juno, Leo thought, waved her hand and silenced the screaming Jason. She placed him on the forest floor and vanished in a burst of light.

Leo felt slightly sick as the scene blurred around him. The group were standing in a beautiful Italian looking house. The walls were sandstone and draped with all sorts of silks, most of them a rich purple. Different types of sofas and couches were set in circular layouts, Leo thought it seemed like a sleepover would start. Bowls of fruits were placed on pillars, not a fly in sight. The sun beamed down on Leo's sweaty back, like it was the heat of July. There were two people standing in the middle of the room both faces so bright red and so anger-filled that Leo immediately felt like he was intruding. But isn't that the point of this debacle; invading his friends' personal memories for the gain and emotional leverage of a madman.

"I thought you wanted to prove yourself?" Shouted the girl in the duo fighting. Her thick hair was popping out of her braid in heaps as a vein stuck out of her tan forehead. Leo realised with a jump that this was a much younger Reyna. Her armour and cape were gone, instead replaced with a purple shirt and jeans. It was weird, like seeing a teacher out of school. "You're a coward Jason Grace!"

Leo turned to see an equally infuriated younger Jason. This time he was the one dressed up. He had a white toga that made him look like he was wearing a bedsheet. "I'm NOT a coward! But this is clearly a suicide mission! What do you want me to do?"

"Arguing with you is so pointless because your retort is based more on your own emotions than the quality or intention of my response."

"Gods! You just think you're so smart, don't you?"

"Holy Jupiter! I'm trying to help you! You've said all your life you wanted to prove yourself, well, this is your chance, you imbecile!"

The heated quarrel continued. It was definitely a war of words and who can hurt the other one worse. Both of them at each other throats like savage hungry dogs fighting over dominance. They both drew their swords in anger. Leo felt dread fill his stomach; this couldn't end well. Reyna held her gold blade even, a perfect, undaunted horizon; levelled with Jason's nose. Jason mirrored her stance. Like time went in double, they attacked with speed and strength. If Leo didn't know any better, he'd think it was a fight to the death with the way the fighters were stabbing and slashing. Reyna seemed to fake her next hit to Jason's chest before striking him right across the cheek, drawing blood in a deep gash.

Finally, Jason seemed to step back, lifting his hands in a surrender motion. "I-I just need time."

Reyna ran a hand through her messy hair and pushed her shoulders back. "You don't have time."

"But.."

"This is your fate, Jason." She paused, her eyes shutting as if trying to banish her thoughts. "I can't force you to do anything but...please, if not for you, for Rome."

With that, she left the room in a flourish leaving the bleeding Jason to clutch his cheek. He sat himself down on one of the couches and let his head hang with his shoulders hunched. Before the seven were transported to the next memory Leo could have sworn he could see mist Jason's hunched shoulders shaking as if he were...crying?

Leo was now in a similar-looking room as he was in before except the furniture was different. Instead of sofas and couches, there was a double bed and piles of clothes on the ground. The night sky shone from outside the window, white curtains billowing with the soft breeze. There was absolute stillness in the room. No air stirred the potted plants or sheets of the bed. No clouds drifted in the sea of blue above that Leo could see. No water dripped or flowed. Not a sound could be heard either close at hand or in the far off distance. Even Leo's own breath seemed to die as soon as it left his mouth. It was an eerie sort of tranquillity, so instead of being soothing to Leo, his senses became heightened. His attention was quickly pulled to the pacing figure near the door of the room. The mist Jason was pulling on the left side of his head, sweat coating his forehead and stains could be seen on his light blue shirt. Leo felt really bad for his bro. He could see his eyes were tightly shut as if trying to banish all his negative thoughts. The mist Jason seemed a lot older than the Jason from before but that didn't mean this kind of stress was good either way. Both mist Jason and Leo were startled out of their thoughts when a knock came from the other side of the door.

"Praetor Jason, I know you're awake." A snivelling voice shouted, completely ruining the silence of the night.

Jason exhaled through his nose and went to open the door. Before he could even reach the knob the door burst open, slamming Jason to the wall. Octavian walked in with two much larger "friends" behind him. They all crossed their arms looking very similar to boy band wannabes.

"Yes, Octavian? Do you need anything?" Jason asked, clutching his side that was banged by the door.

Octavian surged forwards and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt. It looked quite funny to Leo seeing as Jason was at least a head taller than Octavian.

"I just had a vision of your little nightmare, don't think I don't know about your true intentions. You'll lead Rome to the dust. Mark my words."

Jason lifted Octavian's hand off his shirt, glare focusing on the smaller boy like a death ray. "Remember who you're talking to, Augur." Jason spat.

Octavian sneered then clicked his fingers. One of the boons behind him went up and punched Jason right across the face. He fell to the floor in a heap.

"Remember who you're talking to, Praetor."

Leo found himself somewhere familiar. The seven were sort of floating alongside the fast travelling bus, seeing through the walls and getting a full view of the scene. Leo saw a very confused Jason lift his head and glance at his and mist Piper's hands that were together. So this was the moment that it all went downhill, huh? A few dozen were sprawled in the seats all around the pair. Leo could spot himself in front of Jason and Piper fiddling with a pencil. Leo remembered all of the kids on the bus; they all sucked. The bus rumbled along the bumpy road. Out of the windows, desert rolled by under a bright blue sky.

"Jason, you okay?" Piper squeezed Jason's hand.

Piper was wearing faded jeans, hiking boots and a fleece snowboarding jacket. She looked like the normal Piper, before all the Aphrodite shenanigans and monster killing.

Jason let go of her hand. "Um, I don't -"

In the front of the bus, a familiar teacher shouted, "All right, cupcakes, listen up!"

When he stood up in the aisle, one of the students called, "Stand up, Couch Hedge!"

"I heard that!" The coach scanned the bus for the offender. His eyes seemed to fix on Jason, and his scowl deepened. Coach Hedge cleared his throat and continued, "We'll arrive in five minutes! Stay with your partner. Don't lose your worksheet. And if any of you precious little cupcakes causes any trouble on this trip I will personally send you back to campus the hard way."

He picked up a baseball bat and made like he was hitting a homer.

Jason looked to Piper. "Can he talk to us that way?"

She shrugged. "Always does. This is the Wilderness School. "Where kids are the animals.""

She said it like it was a joke they'd shared before.

"This is some kind of mistake," Jason said. "I'm not supposed to be here."

Leo could see himself turn and laugh. "Yeah, right, Jason. We've all been framed! I didn't run away six times. Piper didn't steal a BMW."

Piper blushed. "I didn't steal that car, Leo!"

"Oh, I forgot, Piper. What was your story? You "talked" the dealer into lending it to you?" He raised his eyebrows in a comical way. "Anyway, I hope you've got your worksheet 'cause I used mine as spit wads days ago. Why are you looking at me like that? Somebody draw on my face again?

"I don't know you," Jason said.

Leo gave him a crocodile grin. "Sure. I'm not your best friend. I'm his evil clone."

Jason's breathing seemed to quicken, his chest rising and falling with a much faster pace. His forehead started sweating as Jason started to wipe his hands on his shirt. Leo felt really bad that he didn't take his friend seriously the first time. It seemed as though Jason was on the verge of a panic attack. Regret washed over him like the long slow waves on a shallow beach. He couldn't even begin to imagine what Jason must've felt. The talking seemed muted as one person by one person melted back into mist, shifting into a newer scene.

Once again, Leo was in a familiar setting. They were in the looming Jack London's dream home—a massive ruin of red and grey stones and rough-hewn timber beams. Leo could imagine how it had looked before it burned down—a combination log cabin and castle, like a billionaire lumberjack, might build. But in the mist and sleet, the place had a lonely, haunted feel. The seven were witnessing the battle to free Hera. He saw the hunters, Leo, Piper and Jason all fighting Porphyrion, the hulking giant that was the bane of Zeus. Half flying, half leaping, the mist Jason landed on the giant's scaly reptilian knee and climbed up the giant's arm before Porphyrion even realized what had happened.

"You dare?" the giant bellowed.

Jason reached his shoulders and ripped a sword out of the giant's weapon-filled braids.

He yelled, "For Rome!" and drove the sword into the nearest convenient target—the giant's massive ear. Lightning streaked out of the sky and blasted the sword, throwing Jason free. He rolled when he hit the ground.

When he looked up, the giant was staggering. His hair was on fire, and the side of his face was blackened from lightning. The sword had splintered in his ear. Golden ichor ran down his jaw. The other weapons were sparking and smouldering in his braids. Porphyrion almost fell. The circle of monsters let out a collective growl and moved forward—wolves and ogres fixing their eyes on Jason.

"No!" Porphyrion yelled. He regained his balance and glared at the demigod. "I will kill him myself."

The giant raised his spear and it began to glow. "You want to play with lightning, boy? You forget. I am the bane of Zeus. I was created to destroy your father, which means I know exactly what will kill you." Something in Porphyrion's voice told Leo he wasn't bluffing even though Leo had already lived through it all.

"Got it!" Leo yelled.

"Sleep!" Piper said, so forcefully, the nearest wolves fell to the ground and began snoring.

The stone and wood cage crumbled. Leo had sawed through the base of the thickest tendril and apparently cut off the cage's connection to Gaea. The tendrils turned to dust. The mud around Hera disintegrated. The goddess grew in size, glowing with power.

"Yes!" the goddess said. She threw off her black robes to reveal a white gown, her arms bedecked with golden jewellery. Her face was both terrible and beautiful, and a golden crown glowed in her long black hair. "Now I shall have my revenge!"

The giant Porphyrion backed away. He said nothing, but he gave Jason one last look of hatred. His message was clear: Another time. Then he slammed his spear against the earth, and the giant disappeared into the ground like he'd dropped down a chute. Around the courtyard, monsters began to panic and retreat, but there was no escape for them.

Hera glowed brighter. She shouted, "Cover your eyes, my heroes!"

But Jason was too much in shock. He understood too late. Distantly Leo thought that they should cover their eyes but it was too late. Leo watched as Hera turned into a supernova, exploding in a ring of force that vaporized every monster instantly. The mist Jason fell, body smoking like chicken in a barbeque. Just as well none of the seven was affected.

Leo looked at Thalia's grim expression and recognised that this was right after they had defeated Khione and her lackeys.

"I need to find Annabeth," Thalia said. "She has to know what's happened here."

"Thalia …" Jason gripped her hand. "We never got to talk about this place, or—"

"I know." Her expression softened. "I lost you here once. I don't want to leave you again. But we'll meet soon. I'll rendezvous with you back at Camp Half-Blood." She glanced at Hera. "You'll see them there safely? It's the least you can do."

"It's not your place to tell me—"

"Queen Hera," Piper interceded.

The goddess sighed. "Fine. Yes. Just off with you, Hunter!"

Thalia walked up to Jason slowly and pulled him closer to her wrapping her arms around him. Her embrace seemed warm, and her big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around Jason's currently weak and frail body after seeing God's true form. Thalia and Jason seemed so at peace that it must have been ten times worse when they had to let go after all those years apart. It seemed like neither Jason nor Thalia wanted to leave. It looked as though when Jason was in his older sister's arms all his pain went away - mental and physical, mostly the depressing pain. The hug was much too short and Leo could see both of them wipe their eyes as they separated.

"You need to stay safe for me, okay?"

Jason laughed dryly. "Yeah, okay."

"Good." Thalia punched his arm. "Because if I find out you died, I'll get my friend Nico to bring you back just so I can kill you."

When the Hunters were gone, the courtyard seemed strangely quiet. The dry reflecting pool showed no sign of the earthen tendrils that had brought back the giant king or imprisoned Hera. The night sky was clear and starry. The wind rustled in the redwoods.

Jason slashed his gladius in a wide arc, vaporizing the nearest suitors, then he vaulted onto the table and jumped right over a ghoulish looking man's head. In midair, he willed his blade to extend into a javelin – a trick he'd never tried with this sword – but somehow he knew it would work. He landed on his feet holding a six-foot-long pilum. As - Leo thinks Jason told him - Antinous turned to face him, Jason thrust the Imperial gold point through the ghoul's chest.

Antinous looked down incredulously. "You –"

"Enjoy the Fields of Punishment."

Jason yanked out his pilum and Antinous crumbled to dirt. Jason kept fighting, spinning his javelin – slicing through ghosts, knocking ghouls off their feet. Across the courtyard, Annabeth fought like a demon, too. Her drakon-bone sword scythed down any suitors stupid enough to face her. Over by the sand fountain, Piper was also fighting.

She stabbed and parried with her right hand, occasionally shooting tomatoes from the cornucopia in her left, while yelling at the suitors, "Save yourselves! I'm too dangerous!" That must have been exactly what they wanted to hear, because her opponents kept running away, only to freeze in confusion a few yards downhill, then charge back into the fight.

Jason lifted his javelin to the sky. A bolt of lightning ricocheted off the point and blasted the ghosts to ions, leaving a smoking crater where the sand fountain had been. He summoned the winds and flung three ghouls off the side of the hill like rag dolls. He skewered a fourth, then willed his javelin to shrink back to a sword and hacked through another group of spirits. Soon no more enemies faced him. The remaining ghosts began to disappear on their own. Annabeth cut down Hasdrubal the Carthaginian, and Jason made the mistake of sheathing his sword. Leo gasped as he watched a ghost shove his sword into Jason's lower back. So this was the incident. Jason winced as it looked like pain flared in his lower back.

Next to his ear, Michael Varus snarled, 'Born a Roman, die a Roman.'

The tip of a golden sword jutted through the front of Jason's shirt, just below his ribcage. Jason fell to his knees. Piper screamed at Annabeth to come help. Leo watched in horror as he watched Jason sway on his feet. He genuinely thought Jason was going to die. Piper charged towards him. He watched with detached emotion as her sword passed over his head and cut through Michael Varus's armour with a metallic ka-chunk. A burst of cold parted Jason's hair from behind. The dust settled around him, and an empty legionnaire's helmet rolled across the stones. The evil demigod was gone – but he had made a lasting impression.

"Jason!" Piper grabbed his shoulders as he began to fall sideways. He gasped as she pulled the sword out of his back. Then she lowered him to the ground, propping his head against a stone. Annabeth ran to their side. She had a nasty cut on the side of her neck.

"Gods." Annabeth stared at the wound in Jason's gut. "Oh, gods."

"Thanks," Jason groaned. "I was afraid it might be bad."

His shirt was soaked red. The wound was smoking. Leo was pretty sure sword wounds weren't supposed to smoke.

"You're going to be fine," Piper spoke the words like an order. Her tone steadied his breathing. "Annabeth, ambrosia!"

The mist swirled for a final time and the demigods were standing in the cavern again.

"Damn." Leo knocked Jason's shoulders, trying - and failing - to relieve some tension. "That looked painful."

Jason was rubbing his lower back as if he could still feel the wound.

"You don't say."

"So..."

Frank lifted his arm and pointed towards the newest door that moulded out from the walls. "My turn, I guess."

The door had a spear and shield, a pulsing red liquid flowing vertically through the indents. Leo noticed that it glowed brighter as Frank approached.

A sense of pride shocked Leo. He didn't know if it was ignorance or overwhelming confidence but Leo felt...good. If his best friend can survive a sword to the back, they could survive some measly memories. Bring it on Epiales.