Rockland - Jason Grace

8. The Real Ice King is nothing like Adventure Time

.

Chapter 8
The real Ice King is nothing like Adventure Time

.

As unsure as Tessa was about whether or not Cal would have tried to 'destroy' her, she actually would have preferred to be down there with him in the creepy and cold penthouse. They could have talked hockey for crying out loud ! Instead, she was trailing behind the ice princess with Jason and Piper.

As they climbed the icy staircase, Zethes stayed behind them, his blade drawn. The guy might've looked like a disco-era reject, but there was nothing funny about his sword. Tessa figured one hit from that thing would probably turn them into Popsicles.

Then there was the low rate Elsa. Every once in a while she'd turn and give Jason a smile, but there was no warmth in her expression. She regarded Jason like he was an especially interesting science specimen—one she couldn't wait to dissect. It made Tessa step closer to Jason. She wasn't sure exactly what she could do to protect him against a goddess but it made her feel better to know that she could be there to defend him. That prompted the ice princess to glare at her like Tessa had murdered her dog or snow monster or whatever pet she might have. She seemed to hate Tessa and Tessa wasn't all the sure why. As far as she knew, she had never met this woman before.

That seemed to be a theme of late. Hating Tessa for no justified reason. Or at least, none that she knew of.

If these were Boreas's kids, Tessa was genuinely worried about meeting their dad. She personally did not know much about the god but apparently Annabeth had told Jason that Boreas was the friendliest of the wind gods. That meant he didn't kill heroes quite as fast as the others did. Not high praise since 'not as fast' could mean he waited five minutes instead of smiting them on sight but it was something.

Tessa was examining the ceiling to make sure there weren't any jagged icicles hanging there and just waiting to drop on them when a hand took hers. A familiar hand. A hand with which her fingers immediately melded, fingers lacing together as if that's what they were made for. Two puzzle pieces clicking together. She looked up at Jason, smiling softly.

"It'll be okay."

"You sure ?"

"No," she admitted making him smile slightly. At least she was honest. "But we'll face it together."

He squeezed her hand in his tightly, nodding to her words. Neither noticed Piper glare at their hands from behind them.

At the top of the stairs, the ice princess looked back and noticed them holding hands. Her smile faded. Suddenly Tessa felt her hand burning with cold. She let out a small grunt as her and Jason pulled apart, their fingers smoking with frost. Jason's were in a similar state. "You crazy-ass bitch ! I need these," Tessa glared.

Probably not the safest move but she was already worked up and her filter had needed work since the war. Not to mention, Tessa was saving her best behaviour for when she was in front of the king.

"Warmth is not a good idea here," the princess advised, "especially when I am your best chance of staying alive. Please, this way."

Tessa narrowed her eyes after her, shaking her hand out as they kept walking and followed the princess down a massive hallway decked in frosty tapestries. She chanced a glance up at Jason who seemed lost in his head, his jaw clenched. Tessa was about to shake him out of it and ask what was up when Piper touched his arm. "Hey. You still with me?"

Jason blinked, looking over and offering a small smile of reassurance. "Yeah...yeah, sorry."

Tessa liked to believe she was not a jealous person. She had a pretty good life all things considered and jealousy was a very ugly and petty emotion. There was no real use to it. That was why she had tried to help Amaya over her jealousy so many times (and you know, the fact that it would make her life easier too). Gods, Amaya used to get so jealous. It was understandable in a way. She had never had anything that was just hers until Tessa. She was scared to lose her and wanted to hold onto her at all costs. That made everyone a threat to her, even Tessa's twin sister. They often got into arguments about it but always managed to resolve them (and the makeup sex was definitely worth it). Didn't mean it was easy though. It made Tessa promise to herself not to let jealousy eat at her the way it did the girl she loved.