The Mark of Athena (Fan-Fiction)

Chapter 16- Jason

Chapter 16

Jason

     Jason could only think of Piper. She was on his mind all the time. He finally realized that she was the one. Now he couldn’t even see himself with Reyna. And he had to admit- for a while, he had been thinking Reyna was right for him.

     In his room, Jason had total privacy. He was on the computer, looking at pictures of himself, Piper, and Leo. He was so absorbed that Percy had to yell his name.

     “Jason!” Percy yelled. “Get on deck!” He ran out.

     “Wait, why?” Jason called back.

     “Just come on!” Percy yelled.

     Sighing, Jason shut down his computer and ran. Everyone was out on the catwalk, looking in the water. Two demigods were missing.

     “Where are Leo and Piper?” Jason demanded, panicking inside.

     Annabeth pointed across the seawater to dancing lights. “Those put Piper under a trance or something. Leo went to go get her. Once those lights fade, Percy will go get them.”

     A few seconds later, the lights dimmed. But a voice spoke in Jason’s head. It wasn’t Gaea, and it seemed younger.

     Demigods, the lights you saw were my magic, the voice whispered. The two demigods in the water saw a vision. I am Hecate. Gaea tricked me and made me show that to the two. I’m very, very sorry.

     “Stupid goddess of magic,” Percy grumbled as he jumped overboard. He cut through the water and went under the waves.

     Even though Jason was worried about Leo, all he was really thinking about was his girlfriend. Piper was trying to be strong for Jason, and he knew it. He knew that her ankle was really killing her, and now she was under the water.

     Percy’s head popped above the surface. He rode a wave up, carrying only one person with him. It was Leo, who was pale.

     Jason’s throat felt dry. “Percy, thank the gods you have Leo. But where’s…” He couldn’t get the name out.

     Percy shook his head. “I couldn’t find her. I’m sorry, Jason.”

     Annabeth made a loud gulping sound before covering her face and bursting into tears. Hazel was more composed, the tears streaking down her cheeks noiselessly as her face remained the same.

     Grief ripped at Jason’s chest as he gripped onto reality. Piper was gone and probably never coming back. Jason would never see her dark hair in those choppy braids, her loved snowboarding jacket, the faces she made at Leo, her pout, her smile…

     When Leo began to breathe again, Jason was happy. But that couldn’t make up for Piper’s loss.

     Percy announced something was in the water. And he retrieved Piper. She wasn’t breathing regularly. Percy and Jason worked on her, trying to get her okay. At first, she wasn’t responding to anything. Jason was about to give her CPR, but she gasped quietly.

     The happiness felt like it would crush Jason. But Piper collapsed immediately, exhausted and hurt. He carried her in and set her gently on the couch.

     “Are you okay?” he demanded as he wrapped her in blankets.

     She shivered. “I think so. I just got so cold I let go of Leo. Then I drifted for a while underwater until I came to my senses and realized I was drowning. So I came up and swam closer to the warship so Percy would realize I was there.” She snuggled closer into the big blanket, trying to warm her purple lips.