Halcyon [Leo Valdez x Reader]

The House of Hades

The side quest to get the scepter was successful. Nico looked pretty winded and almost shaken. I figured it was probably his fatigue from being so unwell lately. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that something more had happened. Whatever it was, Jason didn't tell any of us.

Hazel had avoided me for quite a bit now. I didn't mind it, but I felt kinda guilty? I didn't mean to attack her like that, it just... I don't know. The fear and panic after being brought back to my last injury... is that what PTSD felt like?

It was a unanimous decision that I would not work swords. The waterbending worked well enough, I suppose.

So back on the road (or waves) to Epirus we were headed. I tried to keep my distance from the group, only putting in my part of the conversation when needed. My eye ached a little less, but Dolos didn't seem much of a talker. Surprisingly, I felt kinda bad that I didn't know much of his story besides being an apprentice for Prometheus. Well, the titan did mention one little tale or something about clay? I don't remember it much.

I started to shake away my thoughts. a chill ran up my spine- I mean actually. I was freezing. Which... was wrong.

I didn't know much about the Mediterranean, but I was pretty sure it wasn't supposed to freeze in July.

We were only days out to sea from Split, yet gray clouds swallowed the sky. The waves turned choppy. Cold drizzle sprayed across the deck, forming ice on the rails and the ropes.

"It's the scepter," Nico murmured, hefting the ancient staff. "It has to be."

I wondered. Ever since Jason and Nico had returned from Diocletian's Palace, they'd been acting nervous and cagey. Something major had happened there as I suspected. Nico never acted this way.

It made sense that the scepter might have caused this weather change. The black orb on top seemed to leach the color right out of the air. The golden eagles at its base glinted coldly. The scepter could supposedly control the dead, and it definitely gave off bad vibes. Coach Hedge had taken one look at the thing, turned pale, and announced that he was going to his room to console himself with Chuck Norris videos. (Although I suspected that he was actually making Iris-messages back home to his girlfriend Mellie; the coach had been acting very agitated about her lately, though he wouldn't tell anyone what was going on.)

So, yes...maybe the scepter could cause a freak ice storm. But I didn't think that was it. I feared something else was happening-something even worse.

"Tell me what's going on," I murmured to myself, yet nobody responded. My head was empty- blessing or not.

"We can't talk up here," Jason decided. "Let's postpone the meeting."

We'd all gathered on the quarterdeck to discuss strategy as we got closer to Epirus. Now it was clearly not a good place to hang out. Wind swept frost across the deck. The sea churned beneath us. I could sense something stirring, though it wasn't from the ocean. I took it as my warning sign from the element.

I didn't mind the waves so much. The rocking and pitching reminded me of the California coast. But I could tell Hazel wasn't doing well- like always. The poor girl got seasick even in calm waters. She looked like she was trying to swallow a billiard ball.

"Need to-" Hazel gagged and pointed below.

"Yeah, go." Nico kissed her cheek, which I found surprising. He hardly ever made gestures of affection, even to his sister. He seemed to hate physical contact. Kissing Hazel...it was almost like he was saying good-bye.