Never written from Leo's perspective, but might as well try :D I'm just pumping out chapters like mad, now the story is gonna get... Interesting. =3=

[LEO]

The temple was so deep underground. Like, deep. The sort of hopeless deep that I really don't like.

I had woken up in here, sand in my mouth and with no idea where Festus or Calypso was. Just the faint feeling that something had dropped me here like an old toy it had gotten bored with.

Around me rose columns hopefully keeping the roof up, shaped like the craziest female man I've ever seen, and probably ever will seen. Everywhere, him and what looked like little monkeys. [Carter here- That's his kids, Leo, not monkeys.]

[Carter, give me the mic back man! This was my moment!] Er, anyways. Female bro and his monkey kids. Everywhere, it was nuts. The room was super pitch dark though, thank the gods I can just make myself fire.

The problem is, even if I have fire, I don't have food. Or water. My toolbelt is gone as well, I'm guessing whoever dumped me here thought I didn't need it. Gee, thanks.

After exploring for a bit, I couldn't find an exit that was obvious. Lots of sand, boulders, some rotten wood, some more rotten wood, and more sand.

Judging by the sheer amount of sandstone, limestone and sand in this place, I figured I must be under some desert or something. I was definitely not above ground, since once in a while some sand fell through cracks in the ceiling, and the air pressure felt all wrong.

For a moment, I panicked. Air. How am I going to breath if I'm underground, if there's no way out? I tried to control my breathing, until I remembered a very simple lesson.

Fire needs air to thrive. So, if I started a fire, I should be able to see where it's blowing and follow that to some sort of exit to the topside world.

I felt relieved at the fact I had a plan. I was going to get out. I was going to see Calypso, and Festus, and Percy and Jason and everyone, Coach Hedge included. And once I found out who'd put me here and ditched Calypso out in a world she didn't understand, teeth were gonna break, and skin was going to burn.

Once I sparked up my hand, the flames immediately started pulling me in a direction. Like a breadcrumb trail, I followed as the flame to it's air source.

A large slab of stone, rectangular, propped up against the wall. The flames tugged eagerly at the bottom of it, where I could hear audibly, the faint woosh of air.

It was a door... But it was huge, there was no way I could move it conventionally...

Melting it, maybe? But then I would have to deal with lava, and that couldn't be fun. No, it was pounds and pounds of hopelessness starting at me in the face, my hand dancing with flames that teased me as they tried to slip through the crack on the bottom.

The flame dissipated. I stumbled down and pressed my back up against the stone door, feeling the air tear at my skin as it seeped into the room. I brought my knees up to my chest, looking around as tears welled and fell. Calypso...

I'd never see her again, most likely. She was out free in the world but it was a world that she was not familiar with or used to. She'd probably get thrown into an asylum for acting like a lunatic, raving about Greek Gods and Titans...

If someone had told me that I'd be stuck in a temple to a female man, crying my eyes out, I would have called them the raving lunatic.

Here I was though, and I missed her. Badly. And I was worried about her... I just wanted to see her alright.

"You must love her very much."

I looked up, and between my tears I saw a woman with pretty caramel hair done up like a Greek Goddess. She wore a figure-hugging white sheath, and for a moment I did think it was Calypso. But this person was taller, clearly older. And Calypso wouldn't have just been standing there looking at me.

I quickly rubbed my eyes, and finally saw her. And I groaned. There was only one person this could be.

"Aphrodite."

The Goddess of Love smiled at me, crossing her arms, "You called?"

"No, I didn't." I groaned again, standing up, annoyed. I didn't like the fact she was here. Aphrodite, according to Percy, messed with him and Annabeth on occasion, 'All for the good of love!' he said.

"You were weeping over the loss of your true love," She said dramatically, "So, yes, you did call me."

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. I didn't want to piss off the Lady of Doves with disrespect, unless I wanted to become a dove myself. I didn't.

Aphrodite continued talking, "Well, I am here to offer my services. Your little story touched my immortal heart. I'd like to offer you a deal."

Now she had my attention, "To get out of here?"

"Yes," She said slowly, and before I could say something she held up her hand, "However. This isn't for free. I have a price."

"What is it?"

"Telling you would ruin the story," She said in an irritated tone and I decided to stop with the questions, "Leo Valdez, as the Goddess of Love, I promise you, everything will turn out as it should. I will help you escape these ruins and reunite you with your beloved, if you pay my price."

"Which you won't tell me."

"Spoilers, spoilers." She said idly, pulling out a nail file and starting to daintily grind it against the end of her perfect nails, "Deal, or no deal, Son of Hephaestus?"

If I said no, I would die here. If I said yes, Aphrodite would help me escape. I could see Calypso again. On my own in here, my chances were comparable to nothing, "I have to say yes."

Aphrodite smiled, and for a moment she did look like Calypso and my knees felt weak. Suddenly I fell over, feeling loose and limp as the Goddess of Love hummed a soft tune. My eyelids shut against my will, and I felt a part of me screaming that I was making a very big mistake.

When I opened my eyes, the rock was gone. I groaned and sat up, putting a hand to my head. I looked down what the rock had been hiding and it revealed a long, dark corridor.

I stood on shaky legs, and limped on in. I flicked my hand, ready to light up this place...

Nothing.

I stared in confusion, trying again, focusing as hard as I could. No, it couldn't... But the flames didn't appear.

Aphrodite had extracted her price.

-hides in the bunker-