The Mark of Athena (Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 10- Jason

Chapter 10

Jason

     Before Jason’s eyes, the engine to the Argo II’s engine exploded in a fiery ball of doom. Leo was immune to fire, so he would be okay. Piper was running to him. Her eyes were filled with nothing but fear. But the blast of the explosion hit her, causing her to collapse. Her mouth opened and she screamed. Her eyes fluttered, and she was silent.

     The fire suddenly cut off. Jason jumped next to her, yelling, “Stay with me, Piper! You will be fine!”

     Leo began to yell, “Come on, Beauty Queen! Make faces, give me disgusting coffee, and even skewer me if you want! Just don’t leave!”

     Jason’s eyes scanned outside. He saw a flash of white in the trees. A white timber wolf was studying him before giving a little yelp.

     From the trees, a silvery blur suddenly burst from the trees and bolted next to Jason. It was a girl with camouflage jeans and a halo in her spiky black hair. It was Jason’s sister Thalia.

     “Thalia, Piper needs help,” Jason said.

     “This is the greeting I get?” Thalia teased, but called over her shoulder, “Phoebe!”

     Another tall girl came into view. She sniffed when she saw the two boys, but she saw Piper and immediately picked her up.

     “Take care of her in a tent, will you?” Thalia asked. Phoebe nodded before carrying Piper away.

     “What brings you here?” Jason asked.

     Thalia’s forehead creased with worry. “We’re tracking the signs that Lady Artemis found. The gods are still wary of working with mortals, but I heard Dionysus went back to Camp Half-Blood and Hermes is delivering his mail again.”

     “What signs?” Jason demanded.

     “Calm down, baby brother. Artemis found signs of two new giants.” Thalia looked to the east.

     “One of them is Porphyrion, right?” Jason fiddled with his fingers.

     Thalia nearly fell over. “Porphyrion has risen already? Gods of Olympus, Lady Artemis didn’t tell us. No. She doesn’t know which giants are next. But they’re strong.”

     “So we have to deal with three giants?” Leo’s face would have been funny if things weren’t so frightening.

     “How do you know so much about these giants?” Thalia asked, suspicious. “I know you have to go to Greece to stop Gaea, but why are you hunting the giants?”

     “We have to go to Rome to close the Doors of Death,” Jason answered. “The giants are rising and probably guarding the Doors of Death. We knew Porphyrion was in Rome, but we had no idea two more giants were on the loose.”

     Thalia whistled. “Man… and I thought I had it tough.” She eyed Jason. “You have to kill them all?”

     “The ones who rise,” Jason muttered.

     Leo slicked his hair back. Uh oh, that’s not good. He scooted by Thalia and smiled.

     “You know…” he began. “You could help us find these giants, beautiful. You seem vicious, but oddly pretty at the same time.”

     One second Thalia was glaring daggers at Leo, and the next second he was on his back. Thalia had hit him with her bow and that sent him toppling on his back.