Warriors || Leo Valdez [2]

19

When Leo climbed aboard, Alex wanted to go check up on him, but she had to keep her concentration on controlling the water and occasionally slapping away some Romans with huge waves of water. 

Annabeth had appeared again on deck and yelled for them to go, The engines rumbled beneath them. The oars churned. Jason changed the course of the wind, and the siblings called up a massive wave, which lifted the ship higher than the fort's walls and pushed it out to sea. By the time the Argo II reached top speed, Fort Sumter was only a blot in the distance, and they were racing across the waves toward the ancient lands.

As the Argo II raced across the waves, Leo had to use all his skill just to keep the ship in one piece. The siblings  and Jason were a little too good at cooking up massive storms. Alex gave him an apologetic shrug and a peck on his cheek before collapsing with exhaustion. 

She wanted to ask Annabeth more about this statue and the mark of Athena, but she knew there would be a time for that. 

---

Alex smiled thinly as Leo walked toward them after hours. Alex had her head in Piper's lap, Percy and Jason sat with their backs against the mast, their heads slumped in exhaustion. Annabeth and Piper were trying to get them to drink some water.

Hazel and Frank stood just out of earshot, having an argument that involved lots of arm waving and head shaking. 

The argument stopped abruptly when Hazel saw Leo. Everybody gathered at the mast.
Frank scowled like he was trying hard to turn into a bulldog. "No sign of pursuit," he said.

"Or land," Hazel added. She looked a little green, though Alex wasn't sure if that was from the rocking of the boat or from arguing.

She scanned the horizon. Nothing but ocean in every direction. Somehow she was comforted being over ocean than land, although Hazel seemed to disagree.

Leo patted his tool belt and immediately frowned. Alex knew he must have been thinking about Nemesis' fortune cookie. 

The moment she had seen the goddess, Alex had hated her. She never wanted to see Gabe's face, and then there was the added fact that she had made Leo insecure. 

She had called him the eight wheel, she had said that the others would accept Alex because she was Percy's sister but not Leo.

Instinctively, Alex tugged on his hand to make him sit down next to her. "You okay?" 

"Never been better" Leo lied, but Alex didn't push further. He turned to Annabeth. "Did you find the map you wanted?"

She nodded, though she looked pale. Alex wondered what she'd seen at Fort Sumter that could have shaken her up so badly.

"I'll have to study it," she said, as if that was the end of the subject. "How far are we from those coordinates?"

"At top rowing speed, about an hour," Leo said. "Any idea what we're looking for?"

"No," she admitted. "Percy?"

Percy raised his head. His green eyes were bloodshot and droopy. "The Nereid said Chiron's brothers were there, and they'd want to hear about that aquarium in Atlanta. I don't know what she meant, but... " He paused, like he'd used up all his energy saying that much. "She also warned me to be careful. Keto, the goddess at the aquarium: she's the mother of sea monsters. She might be stuck in Atlanta, but she can still send her children after us. The Nereid said we should expect an attack."

"Wonderful," Frank muttered.

Jason tried to stand, which wasn't a good idea. Leo grabbed him to keep him from falling over, and he slid back down the mast.

"Can we get the ship aloft?" he asked. "If we could fly-"

"That'd be great," Leo said. "Except Festus tells me the port aerial stabiliser got pulverised when the ship raked against the dock at Fort Sumter."

"We were in a hurry," Annabeth said. "Trying to save you."

"And saving me is a very noble cause," Leo agreed. "I'm just saying, it'll take some time to fix. Until then, we're not flying anywhere."

Percy flexed his shoulders and winced. "Fine with me. The sea is good."

"Very good" Alex mumbled as she sat up.

"Speak for yourself." Hazel glanced at the evening sun, which was almost to the horizon. "We need to go fast. We've burned another day, and Nico only has three more left."

"We can do it," Leo promised. "We can make it to Rome in three days-assuming, you know, nothing unexpected happens ."

Frank grunted. He looked like he was still working on that bulldog transformation. "Is there any good news?"

"Actually, yes," Leo said. "According to Festus, our flying table, Buford, made it back safely while we were in Charleston, so those eagles didn't get him. Unfortunately, he lost the laundry bag with your pants."

"Dang it!" Frank barked, which Alex figured was probably severe profanity for him.

No doubt Frank would've cursed some more-busting out the golly gees and the gosh darns-but Percy interrupted by doubling over and groaning.

"Did the world just turn upside down?" he asked.

Jason pressed his hands to his head. "Yeah, and it's spinning. Everything is yellow. Is it supposed to be yellow?"

"I can hear colours... that's not normal is it?" Alex realised. 

Annabeth and Piper exchanged concerned looks.

"Summoning that storm really sapped your strength," Violet spoke up. "You've got to rest."

Annabeth nodded agreement. "Frank, can you help us get them belowdecks?"

Frank glanced at Leo, no doubt reluctant to leave him alone with Hazel, but Leo was already glaring at Frank. 

"I'll take Alex" Leo said. Which caused Percy to stand up and leaned on Annabeth for support. 

He raised his pointer finger. "No, absolutely not" 

"Aw, but he's so cute when he wants to help" Alex mumbled which caused everyone except Percy and Leo to burst out laughing. 

Leo hid his rapidly reddening face and turned to Piper, "Take her to her cabin yeah?" 

"Don't worry, I will" Piper wiggled her eyebrows at Leo and then helped Alex to her feet. "Let's get you in bed water girl, careful not to make fire boy jealous"

"Piper" Leo whined. 

But she didn't say anything back, she took Alex to her cabin and tucked her in. Alex passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow.