𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 •| ⊱ Jason Grace¹

•| ⊱ TWENTY-ONE

[ chapter twenty-one: hermia ]

° • ° • °

Hermia was pretty certain she and her friends would've died five times on the way to the front door if not for Leo.

First it was the motion-activated trapdoor on the sidewalk, then the lasers on the steps, then the nerve gas dispenser on the porch railing, the pressure-sensitive poison spikes in the welcome mat, and of course the exploding doorbell.

Leo deactivated all of them. It was like he could smell the traps, and he picked just the right tool out of his belt to disable them.

"You're amazing, man," Jason said as Mia sent a smile his way.

Leo scowled as he examined the front door lock. "Yeah, amazing," he said. "Can't fix a dragon right, but I'm amazing." Hermia couldn't understand why Leo kept blaming himself, but she knew he was just upset over losing his dragon.

"Hey, that wasn't your-"

"Front door's already unlocked," Leo announced.

Piper stared at the door in disbelief. "It is? All those traps, and the door's unlocked?" She was right. Hermia couldn't help but think this was too easy. But she was also hoping this wouldn't be a trap.

Leo turned the knob. The door swung open easily. He stepped inside without hesitation. Mia was a little hesitant to walk through the door and while Piper walked a couple feet after Leo, Jason stood by Mia.

He noticed how hesitant she was, so without much thought to it, he grabbed a hold of her hand. Jason sent a reassuring smile her way and Mia couldn't help but smile back. Together they walked through the door.

Before they got far, Piper caught Hermia's arm. Her gaze on the other hand was on Jason. "He's going to need some time to get over Festus. Don't take it personally."

"Yeah," Jason said as he shared a glance with Mia. "Yeah, okay."

Even if he seemed okay Hermia knew Jason didn't feel so great. Back in Medea's store, he'd said some pretty harsh stuff to Leo-stuff a friend shouldn't say, not to mention the fact Jason almost skewered Leo with a sword. Hermia knew that if it hadn't been for both girls the boys would be dead. And both girls hadn't gotten out of that encounter easily, either.

"Piper," Jason said, "I know I was in a daze back in Chicago, but that stuff about your dad-if he's in trouble, I want to help." He than turned toward Hermia. "I also remember seeing some guys in a mist like dream? Hermia, if they're your family I want to help you find them. I don't care if it's a trap or not. I want to help you both."

Hermia couldn't help but sent him a heartbroken smile. She appreciated what he said, more than he would ever know, but she couldn't risk telling him everything now.