Fields of Kansas
Night passed annoyingly fast, and Kassandra stayed on the deck the whole time. To distract herself, she asked Hector to tell her stories of his travels and when he was still alive to roam the mortal world. The Trojan prince didn't often speak of his past life, but for Kassandra he made an exception and wove wonderful stories for her based on his thousands of years of existence.
As a goddess she too would live for thousands of years, and wondered if she too would live to see so many years fly by. Then again, her father had turned to a god and been beaten just under a year, how much longer should he have thrived?
She had seen a few of the demigods pass by throughout the time, including Frank, Jason and Hazel. Whenever she saw any of them, they gave her a reassuring smile or some look, but kept on moving. Maybe they thought she was crazy, talking to herself.
Her short but sweet conversation with Reyna was enough motivation too. Where she had lost Aspen, she had gained a sister. Even the praetor confirmed it by calling Kassandra her sister. It was a shame she got cut off before they finished talking, she wondered what Reyna wanted to talk to her about.
The loss of Aspen... ugh, she was just stupid thinking back on it. Then again, at the time of meeting her she was going through what mortals called 'puberty phase', so there were probably signs she had just been too love stricken to see. Besides, not all relationships were fated to be perfect. It's just that basically everyone she knew had achieved their loves first try. (Maybe not her father.)
After a while more time yapping away with Hector, she heard footsteps coming closer. Kassandra quickly shut her mouth and Hector disappeared. From around the corner, Percy Jackson emerged in all his Greek glory. As the second or third mortal she had properly met, he had always set a high bar for the standards of all mortals she met.
"Oh, hey Kassandra!" the son of Poseidon introduced, walking over to her. "You're out here this early?"
Early? Surveying the landscape, it was indeed becoming early morning, the sun rising from the east. She had the pleasure of watching Apollo take off once in his sun-sports car after Bellona had promised to take her and so pulled some strings. Where was that protective mother for Reyna?
"Yeah, you know I don't have a cabin to bunk in. Anyway, it's nice out here and I don't really need to sleep. Or eat for that matter, it's just the novelty and taste."
Percy slumped down against the wall opposite her where the prince of Troy just was.
"So," started Jackson, "About earlier, are you sure you're ok? We're all here for you if there's anything you need. I'm kinda in debt to your dad anyway-"
"So you knew what happened to him all this time?" she asked bluntly. "And don't deny it, I saw everything. Gaia showed me."
Percy tensed up a bit, his muscles going rigid.
"Yeah," he said, defeated. "I did. But I only did so because I was forced into secrecy by-"
"And did you know that he was there, bleeding out and dying as you had your little sorrow overt that traitor Luke?"
The earth-shaker was clearly at a difference with her as she called Luke a traitor, but decided against it to say anything on it. He was already on thin ice.
"No, he was hidden in the shadows, it was only when Grover heard him that any of us were alerted to his presence."
Kassandra nodded as she began to mess with her hair. Inside her mind, Hector sat in the void of her mind. With a snap of his fingers, an armchair rose from the inky ground for him to take a seat in. The daughter of Bellona's mind was often filled with other objects depending on what she was thinking of, but it was unusually quiet and empty.
"You know, that's not actually the case," she said.
Percy raised a brow to that.
"Annabeth saw him when you guys went in, before she even registered the situation."
Jackson shook his head. "No, that can't be. She would've told us or gone to help him if that was true."
Kassandra could only look at him with empty eyes. She had no evidence of her claim, but Percy had a knack for such things.
"She did love Luke like a brother, I can see that. If I'm being honest, I can't completely hold it against her. I won't take any action, but just don't expect it to be all sunshine and rainbows between us."
Percy nodded. "I just... I can't understand why..." He stuttered and started, not sure how to phrase his words until eventually getting a grip on himself. "Kassandra, I'm so sorry for that day. If I could've done anything I would've. (Y/N) was a friend and he got me out of so many sticky situations, I never got the chance to repay him. Now that you know the story, feel free to ask me anything."
And with that the son of the sea god stood up, and walked away to continue his patrol duty. She felt a little guilty for throwing that at him, but it lightened the weight off her chest a little more.
Soon enough the ship was awake once more, the crew rising from their cabins like the undead and getting ready for another day. The morning air smelled of irrigation, warm plants, and fertilised earth. Like Gaia.
She delayed meeting the others for as long as she could; soaking in the sun light until deciding to call off her lazy attitude and move. Kassandra rose and stretched a bit before making her way over to where she could hear conversation.
"...but the god himself is okay," Jason continued. "I did him a favour once up in the wine country."
As she came into the Romans view he smiled and waved at her.
"Just in time! We were talking about Bacchus, apparently we'll meet him in Kansas."
Kassandra made eyes with the rest of the demigods, lingering on Percy and Annabeth who stood with the son of Poseidon's arm around the daughter of Athena's waist. Reyna deserved someone like Percy, maybe she'd have to help her sister out when she got back.
"Maybe he's better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?" Frank grunted. The big guy was wearing a blue tracksuit this morning, like he was ready to go for a jog in the sunflowers."The gods haven't been very good at following that order," he noted. "Besides, if the gods have gone schizophrenic like Hazel said-"
"And Leo said," added Leo.
Frank scowled at him. "Then who knows what's going on with the Olympians? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there."
"I've met a couple of the Olympians since they ceased contact," said Kassandra. Everyone turned to her.
"Really?" asked Annabeth.
She nodded. "Hermes came to deliver me a prophecy a while back to help you guys-" she said, gesturing to Leo, Jason and Piper, "And Aphrodite helped me out with..."
She lost her ability to speak for a short second. Did the goddess of love know she was indirectly helping Ikari by pushing her and Aspen's relationship forwards?
"With someone. The point is, they're not all that bad and I think Zeus has overreacted over the whole thing. If I'm allowed to be out here with you guys and not recalled to Olympus then it can't be as bad as it sounds, right?"
Everyone nodded, but not with much conviction.
"Sounds dangerous!" Leo agreed cheerfully. "Well...you guys have fun. I've got to finish repairs on the hull. Coach Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, uh, Annabeth- I could really use your help. You're the only other person who even sort of understands engineering."
Annabeth looked apologetically at Percy. "He's right. I should stay and help."
"I'll come back to you." He kissed her on the cheek. "Promise."
****.
Frank slid his bow off his shoulder and propped it against the rail.
"I think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for Roman eagles."
"Why a crow?" Leo asked. "Man, if you can turn into a dragon, why don't you just turn into a dragon every time? That's the coolest."
Frank's face looked like it was being infused with cranberry juice. "That's like asking why you don't bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it's hard, and you'd hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn't easy."
"Oh." Leo nodded. "I wouldn't know. I don't lift weights."
"Yeah.Well, maybe you should consider it,Mr.-"
Hazel stepped between them like she was breaking up a fight between kids. "I'll help you, Frank," she said, shooting Leo an evil look. "I can summon Arion and scout around below."
"Sure," Frank said, still glaring at Leo. "Yeah, thanks."
Hazel turned to Percy. "Just be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could be karpoi on the loose."
"Karpoi?" Piper asked.
"Grain spirits," Hazel said. "You don't want to meet them."
Kassandra didn't see how a grain spirit could be so bad, but Hazel's tone convinced her not to ask.
"That leaves four of us to check on the mile marker," Percy said. "Me, Jason, Piper and you Kassandra. If you want to come of course?"
"I'd have it no other way."
"I'm not psyched about seeing Mr. D again," admitted Percy, "That guy is a pain. But, Jason, if you're on better terms with him-"
"Yeah," Jason said. "If we find him, I'll talk to him. Piper, it's your vision. You should take the lead."
Piper shivered, and Kassandra noted the action. "Of course," she said, trying to sound upbeat. "Let's find the highway."
After trudging half a mile through hot fields, getting bitten by mosquitoes and whacked in the face with scratchy sunflowers, they finally reached the road. An old billboard for Bubba's Gas 'n' Grub indicated they were still forty miles from the first Topeka exit.
"This isn't exactly world saving stuff," grumbled Kassandra, cutting down yet another sunflower behind her with her dagger. It gleamed in the light, as if it smiled at her.
"Correct my math," Percy said, "but doesn't that mean we have eight miles to walk?"
Jason peered both ways down the deserted road. He looked better today, thanks to the magical healing of ambrosia and nectar. His colour was back to normal, and the scar on his forehead had almost vanished.
"No cars..." he said. "But I guess we wouldn't want to hitchhike."
"No," Piper agreed, gazing nervously down the highway. "We've already spent too much time going overland. The earth is Gaea's territory."
"Hmm..." Jason snapped his fingers. "I can call a friend for a ride."
Percy raised his eyebrows. "Oh, yeah? Me too. Let's see whose friend gets here first."
Jason whistled. Percy simply closed his eyes and concentrated.
Thunder crackled in the clear sky. Jason smiled. "Soon."
"Too late." Percy pointed east, where a black winged shape was spiralling toward them.
"A black pegasus?" Piper said. "Never seen one like that."
The winged stallion came in for a landing. He trotted over to Percy and nuzzled his face, then turned his head inquisitively toward Piper and Jason.
"Blackjack," Percy introduced, "this is Piper, Kassandra and Jason. They're friends."
The horse nickered."Uh, maybe later," Percy answered.
"What does Blackjack want?" she asked.
"Donuts," Percy said. "Always donuts. He can carry all three of us if-"
Suddenly the air turned cold. Kassandra's ears popped. About fifty yards away, a miniature cyclone three stories tall tore across the tops of the sunflowers like a scene from . It touched down on the road next to Jason and took the form of a horse—a misty steed with lightning flickering through its body.
"Tempest," Jason said, grinning broadly. "Long time, my friend."
The storm spirit reared and whinnied. Blackjack backed up skittishly.
"Easy, boy," Percy said. "He's a friend too." He gave Jason an impressed look. "Nice ride, Grace."
Jason shrugged. "I made friends with him during our fight at the Wolf House. He's a free spirit, literally, but once in a while he agrees to help me."
Percy and Jason climbed on their respective horses. Piper accepted a hand from Jason and pulled up onto Tempest.
Kassandra and Percy looked at each other awkwardly.
"You need a hand up or?...." he offered.
The sister of Reyna shook her head. "I know where we're going, I'll see you there."
Then, with a snap of her fingers, she vanished and reappeared exactly where she needed to be. Long form air travel, she had practised often. Like her hand gun, one of the many cool tricks she had learnt since fighting Enceladus, determined not to be bested so easily again.
She stood by the wheat field, and about a minute or two later the others arrived. Percy looked at her incredulously.
"You've come a long way!" he admired from his pegasi. The looked at her differently too, and Kassandra could just about hear Piper mutter something under her breath.
"She really is a goddess."
That made her heart flutter, she could see how the power went to someones head, especially the more egotistical and powerful Olympians.
Blackjack whinnied."You're right," Percy said. "No sign of the wine dude."
"I beg your pardon?" said a voice from the fields.
Kassandra, startled, twisted around so fast she almost lost her footing.
The wheat parted, and the man from her vision stepped into view. He wore a wide-brimmed hat wreathed in grapevines, a purple short-sleeved shirt, khaki shorts, and white socks. He looked maybe thirty, with a slight potbelly.
"Did someone just call me the wine dude?" he asked in a lazy drawl. "It's Bacchus, please. Or Mr. Bacchus. Or Lord Bacchus. Or, sometimes,Oh-My-Gods-Please-Don't-Kill-Me, Lord Bacchus."
Percy urged Blackjack forward, though the pegasus didn't seem happy about it.
"You look different," Percy told the god. "Skinnier. Your hair is longer. And your shirt isn't so loud."
The wine god squinted up at him. "What in blazes are you talking about? Who are you, and where is Ceres?"
"Uh... what series?"
"I think he means Ceres," Jason said. "The goddess of agriculture. You'd call her Demeter." He nodded respectfully to the god. "Lord Bacchus, do you remember me? I helped you with that missing leopard in Sonoma."
Bacchus scratched his stubbly chin. "Ah... yes. John Green."
"Jason Grace."
"Whatever," the god said. "Did Ceres send you, then?"
"No, Lord Bacchus," Kassandra said. "Were you expecting to meet her here?"
The god snorted. "Kassandra (L/N), didn't expect my first meeting with you to be in such a situation. Anyway, Ceres asked me here for a council of war. What with Gaea rising, the crops are withering. Droughts are spreading. The karpoi are in revolt. Even my grapes aren't safe. Ceres wanted a united front in the plant war."
"The plant war," Percy said. "You're going to arm all the little grapes with tiny assault rifles?"
The god narrowed his eyes. "Have we met?"
"At Camp Half-Blood," Percy said, "I know you as Mr. D—Dionysus."
"Agh!" Bacchus winced and pressed his hands to his temples. For a moment, his image flickered—fatter, dumpier, in a much louder, leopard-patterned shirt. Then Bacchus returned to being Bacchus.
"Stop that!" he demanded. "Stop thinking about me in Greek!"
Percy blinked. "Uh, but-"
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to stay focused? Splitting headaches all the time! I never know what I'm doing or where I'm going! Constantly grumpy! You-" he said, pointing to Kassandra, "Are blessed to be a mix of Roman and Greek! No fidgety headaches or restrictions from the big boss! You don't know how lucky you are!"
"Thanks?" said Kassandra, but it was more of a question. Jackson persisted his conquest of annoying the god as much as he could.
"Constantly grumpy? That sounds pretty normal for you," Percy said.
The god's nostrils flared. One of the grape leaves on his hat burst into flame. "If we know each other from that other camp, it's a wonder I haven't already turned you into a dolphin."
"It was discussed," Percy assured him. "I think you were just too lazy to do it."
"Lord Bacchus!" she interrupted, slipping off Tempest's back as the only one to realise what a mess they were heading for.
"Piper, careful," Jason said.
"Sorry to trouble you, my lord," she told the god, "but actually we came here to get your advice. Please, we need your wisdom." She used her most agreeable tone,pouring respect into her charm speak.
The god frowned, but the purple glow faded in his eyes.
"You're well-spoken, girl. Advice, eh? Very well. I would avoid karaoke. Really, theme parties in general are out. In these austere times, people are looking for a simple, low-key affair, with locally produced organic snacks and-"
"Not about parties," Piper interrupted. "Although that's incredibly useful advice, Lord Bacchus. We were hoping you'd help us on our quest."
She explained about the Argo II and their voyage to stop the giants from awakening Gaea. She told him what Nemesis had said: that in six days, Rome would be destroyed. She described a vision reflected in her knife, where Bacchus offered her a silver goblet.
"Silver goblet?"
The god didn't sound very excited. He grabbed a Diet Pepsi from nowhere and popped the top of the can.
"You drink Diet Coke," Percy said.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Bacchus snapped."As to this vision of the goblet, young lady, I have nothing for you to drink unless you want a Pepsi. Jupiter has put me under strict orders to avoid giving wine to minors.Bothersome, but there you have it. As for the giants, I know them well. I fought in the first Giant War, you know."
"You can fight?" Percy asked.
Dionysus snarled. His Diet Pepsi transformed into a five-foot staff wreathed in ivy, topped with a pine cone.
"A thyrsus!" Piper said, hoping to distract the god before he whacked Percy on the head. She was trying her hardest to sound impressed, it was obvious to everyone except the god himself. "What a mighty weapon!"
"Indeed," Bacchus agreed. "I'm glad one of you demigods are smart. The pine cone is a fearsome tool of destruction! I was a demigod myself in the first Giant War, you know. The son of Jupiter!"
Bacchus swung his staff through the air, though his potbelly almost threw him off balance. "Of course that was long before I invented wine and became an immortal. I fought side by side with the gods and some other demigod...Harry Cleese, I think."
"Heracles?" Piper suggested politely.
"Whatever," Bacchus said. "Anyway, I killed the giant Ephialtes and his brother Otis. Horrible boors, those two. Pinecone in the face for both of them!"
"Lord Bacchus," she said, trying to control the nervousness in her voice. "Those two giants, Ephialtes and Otis... would they happen to be twins?"
"Hmm?" The god seemed distracted by his thyrsus-swinging, but he nodded. "Yes, twins. That's right."
Cogs turned away in Kassandra's brain. Twins... twins... twins... Of course! Twins snuff out the angels breath, the prophecy the seven had received!
"That's why we're here," Piper told the god. "You're part of our quest!"
Bacchus frowned. "I'm sorry, my girl. I'm not a demigod anymore. I don't do quests. I'm pretty sure you have a goddess anyway who's been forced to help you."
Kassandra shook her head. "I'm not a proper, fully fledged goddess yet. I don't have the blessings or ceremonial rights of my parents to properly ascend like you my lord so I can't really kill giants yet."
"Exactly, giants can only be killed by heroes and gods working together," Piper insisted. "You're a god now, and the two giants we have to fight are Ephialtes and Otis. I think... I think they're waiting for us in Rome. They're going to destroy the city somehow. The silver goblet I saw in my vision- maybe it's meant as a symbol for your help. You have to help us kill the giants!"
Bacchus glared at her, and Piper realised she'd chosen her words poorly."My girl," he said coldly, "I don't have to do anything. Besides, I only help those who give me proper tribute, which no one has managed to do in many, many centuries."
Blackjack whinnied uneasily.
"What kind of tribute?"
Bacchus waved his hand dismissively. "Nothing you could handle, insolent Greek. But I will give you some free advice, since this girl does have some manners. Seek out Gaea's son, Phorcys. He always hated his mother, not that I can blame him. He didn't have much use for his siblings the twins, either. You'll find him in the city they named after that heroin- Atalanta."
Piper hesitated. "You mean Atlanta?"
"That's the one."
"But this Phorcys," Jason said. "Is he a giant? A Titan?"
Bacchus laughed. "Neither. Seek out the salt water."
"Salt water..." Percy said. "In Atlanta?"
"Yes," Bacchus said. "Are you hard of hearing? If anyone can give you insight on Gaia and the twins, it's Phorcys. Just watch out for him. And as for you (L/N), you will find the path of guidance where the work of your grandfather is carried out."
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, what does that mean?" asked Kassandra.
The god glanced at the sun, which had climbed almost to high noon. "It's unlike Ceres to be late, unless she sensed something dangerous in this area. Or..."
The god's face suddenly went slack. "Or a trap. Well, I must be going! And if I were you, I'd do the same!"
"Lord Bacchus, wait!" Jason protested.
The god began to dissipate into the air, but suddenly his vanishing act stopped. He frowned and checked himself over. "What the-"
He was violently interrupted when the ground behind him burst open, and from it a massive earthworm-like beast erupted. It screeched a horrendous noise, thousands of teeth gnashing and roaring. It climbed 30 or so feet into the air before falling down, its mouth right in front of them.
The circular jaw fell slack open, and a tongue rolled out for a figure like a red carpet.
Bacchus gasped. "You!"
"Yes, me," greeted Ichiro.
Ichiro laughed as he walked through the wheat and sunflowers.
"Bacchus, I remember you from, oh when was it now, 450 at the sack of your temple? You had good wine stored there, and your priests made good hunting games for my beasts."
The god of madness grit his teeth. "What do you want hell-spawn? Are you the one who tricked me here?"
The son of Gaia nodded and the worm beast collapsed to dust. "Oh yes, that was me. I need a messenger after all, I wouldn't like to return to that dump you call a 'city of the gods'. No taste."
"You dare use me as a messenger? I'm an Olympian god, second to none of your likes!" roared the son of Zeus, inspiring fear into the demigods and goddess who now watched on in confusion and shock. He may be a drunkard in his Greek form, but none the less Bacchus/Dionysus was still a divine being of immense and awe-worthy strength.
"Keep telling yourself that, perhaps tell my brother that when I cast you into Tartarus with him. But anyway, I need you to scurry back to your father and deliver my word; Surrender whilst Gaia permits it. It will not be long before the giants rise and all is lost for your pitiful cause, so submit and keep what scraps of dignity remain."
Bacchus' eyes burned a fiery purple, and the air began to smell strongly of grapes and alcohol. Kassandra herself felt a little woozy, and it clearly had an effect on Percy, Jason and Piper, the three just about managing to not collapse.
Putting her hands together and mumbling in Latin, she felt a strong amount of energy flow from her and into her surroundings. Ever since learning of Reyna's ability to inspire others with strength, she had figured that she should learn such a technique too, and now it was paying off. The demigods shook their heads and got back to their regular selves.
"I have heard rumours of your power, but when Olympus fights a war, it always wins. Even now I could crush your-"
The god was stopped short when Ichiro was at his throat faster than Kassandra could comprehend. If he had chosen to go for her allies, they may not have been able to tank a hit with such force.
"You disgust me," he hissed like an animal. "Now scramble back to daddy."
In an instant, Bacchus shimmered and disappeared with the sound of a popping soda-can. Ichiro's now vacant hand gripped into a fist, before he released it and his arm dropped back to his side. His whole demeanour lightened as he ran a hand through his long hair.
"Well, now the god's gone the civilised people can talk!" he chuckled as if it were all suddenly sunshine and rainbows.
"What do you want," asked Kassandra, forcing herself to stay composed. This... man was a demon.
"There's not much you can give me that I can't just take," mused the summoner. "I think Jason Grace and Piper McLean learnt that from our last encounter."
The two began to unsheathe their weapons, but Ichiro merely laughed. He was acting a lot more loose than usual as if he had something to be happy about. His reasoning for such mood swings, which he wouldn't dare tell anyone besides his pest of a 'brother' was that he had just come from spending time with Ganymede.
"I'm not here to fight you Kassandra, there's no fun in beating up someone who's not even a year old. No, I just wanted to check in on the progress of your quest since it clearly means so much to you!"
Kassandra didn't see it, but from behind his back the son of Gaia released three spirits into the wind from his arsenal. As requested by Gaia, his three strongest eidolons.
"You won't be saying that when we do fight," challenged the daughter of Bellona. She knew she couldn't win, but hoped she could at least stall so the others could prepare to run. He really could kill all of them now.
"You seem to have bounced back from our family meeting pretty fast, that's good of you," he smiled, opening old wounds.
"I won't fall into your hands so easily," she snarled.
The ex-huntress revealed her dagger and held it blade down in her hand, slightly bending her posture to get ready for the inevitable fight. Percy brought out Riptide and stood beside Kassandra. Jason and Piper moved forwards too so that now all the children of the gods were standing together, weapons drawn.
"Oh, I remember being so young and naive too. Then I grew up and got here, much like you all will soon. Well, not all of you," he smirked, glaring into the eyes of the son of Jupiter, but diverting his gaze before anyone noticed.
"Come on, bring out your beasts to hide behind, we're ready you coward," taunted Percy, rolling his neck. His confidence was to be admired.
"Pshh, you are a strong team but not worthwhile. Besides, why would I fight you when you'll fight each other for me?"
As Kassandra opened her mouth to question him, Percy and Jason tensed up suddenly, gasping for air. They turned around and began to march back to their steeds, mounting their rides and keeping their swords firmly gripped in their hands.
"What's going on?" demanded Kassandra.
"Jason!" Piper cried. "What's wrong—?"
He looked down at her, his expression deadly calm. His eyes were no longer blue. They glowed solid gold.
"Percy, help!" Piper stumbled back from Tempest.
But Percy galloped away from them. He stopped thirty feet down the road and wheeled his pegasus around. He raised his sword and pointed thetip toward Jason.
"One will die," Percy said, but the voice wasn't his. It was deep and hollow, like someone whispering from inside the barrel of a cannon.
"I will choose," Jason answered, in the same hollow voice.
"No!" Piper yelled.
The fields crackled and hissed, laughing in Ichiro's voice as Percy and Jason charged at each other, their weapons ready. Kassandra looked around, and sure enough the sorcerer had vanished.
Jason and Percy charged each other, but Tempest and Blackjack balked long enough for Piper to leap out of the way. The boys crossed swords, gold against bronze. Sparks flew. Their blades blurred—strike and parry—and the pavement trembled. The first exchange took only a second, but the speed of their sword fighting was incredible.
The horses pulled away from each other—Tempest thundering in protest, Blackjack flapping his wings.
"Stop it!" Piper yelled.For a moment, Jason heeded her voice. His golden eyes turned toward her, and Percy charged, slamming his blade into Jason. Thank the gods, Percy turned his sword—maybe on purpose, maybe accidentally—so the flat of it hit Jason's chest; but the impact was still enough to knock Jason off his mount.
Blackjack cantered away as Tempest reared in confusion.The spirit horse charged into the sunflowers and dissipated into vapour. Percy struggled to turn his pegasus around.
"Percy!" Piper yelled. "Jason's your friend. Drop your weapon!"
Percy's sword arm dipped. Piper might have been able to bring him under control, but unfortunately Jason got to his feet.Jason roared. A bolt of lightning arced out of the clear blue sky. It ricocheted off his gladius and blasted Percy off his horse.Blackjack whinnied and fled into the wheat fields. Jason charged at Percy, who was now on his back, his clothes smoking from the lightning blast.
This had all happened so fast that Kassandra had only just knocked herself out of her mesmerised state. She shook her head and assessed the situation. Something had possessed the boys, and that was tricky. If she attacked one, sure she could beat it but only at the cost of injuring the host. She felt powerless, only able to watch.
"No!" McLean screamed. "Jason, stop!"
He froze, his sword six inches from Percy's face.Jason turned, the gold light in his eyes flickering uncertainly. "I cannot stop. One must die."
Something about that voice...it wasn't Ichiro's. It wasn't Jason. Whoever it was spoke haltingly, as if English was its second language.
"Who are you?" Piper demanded.Jason's mouth twisted in a gruesome smile. "We are the eidolons. We will live again."
"Eidolons... ?"
"You're—you're some sort of ghost?"
"He must die." Jason turned his attention back to Percy, but Percy had recovered more than either of them realised. He swept out his leg and knocked Jason off his feet.Jason's head hit the asphalt with a nauseating conk.Percy rose.
"Stop it!" Piper screamed again, but there was no charm speak in her voice. She was shouting in sheer desperation.Percy raised Riptide over Jason's chest.
Now she had to act. Almost flying forwards, the daughter of (Y/N) crashed into Percy and sent him barrelling off of Jason and into the field. He got back up quickly though, and within no time was now duelling Kassandra.
She had formed a sword of energy, but it was clear that her swordsmanship skills were outmatched by Percy Jackson. His speed and aggressive style on top of hr not being able to go for any critical hits made it more than difficult to manage.
And within ten seconds, she was already back at Jason's body. Then, her hail Mary came through.
"Eidolon, stop."
It was Piper, her voice oozing control. Percy froze.
"Face me," Piper ordered.
The son of the sea god turned. His eyes were gold instead of green, his face pale and cruel, not at all like Percy's.
"You have not chosen," he said. "So this one will die."
"You're a spirit from the Underworld," Piper guessed. "You're possessing Percy Jackson. Is that it?"
Percy sneered. "I will live again in this body. The Earth Mother has promised. I will go where I please, control whom I wish."
"Leo... that's what happened to Leo. He was being controlled by an eidolon."
The thing in Percy's form laughed without humour. "Too late you realise.You can trust no one."
Jason still wasn't moving. Kassandra hadn't dared to yet move, but from the corner of her eye she saw the tip of a black wing move out of the wheat fields. Percy began to turn to look at the sound too.
"Ignore it!" yelped Piper. "Look at me."
Percy obeyed. "You cannot stop me. I will kill Jason Grace."Behind him, Blackjack emerged from the wheat field, moving with surprising stealth for such a large animal."You won't kill him," Piper ordered, "You will knock him out."
The charm speak washed over Percy. He shifted his weight indecisively.
"I... will knock him out?"
"Oh, sorry." Piper smiled. "I wasn't talking to you."
Kassandra, looking the pegasus in the eyes, nodded to the steed and enforced its right hoof with her strength. Finally, Blackjack reared and brought the hoof down on Percy's head.Percy crumpled to the pavement next to Jason.
"Oh, gods!" Piper ran to the boys. "Blackjack, you didn't kill him, did you?"
The pegasus snorted.
Tempest was nowhere to be seen. The lightning steed had apparently returned to wherever storm spirits live on clear days.Piper checked on Jason. He was breathing steadily, but two knocks on the skull in two days couldn't have been good for him. Then she examined Percy's head. She didn't see any blood, but a large knot was forming where the horse had kicked him.
"We have to get them both back to the ship," she told Kassandra, to which the goddess nodded.
Kassandra grabbed Percy and slung him over her shoulder like he was made of feathers and then did the same with Jason, jokingly squatting the two before dumping them onto Blackjack.
Piper got them reasonably secured on and climbed onto the black pegasus' back herself.
"You able to pull off that teleportation, air travel thing again?" asked the daughter of love.
The ex-huntress nodded, but suddenly she was swept off her feet as the snake/worm from earlier came crashing into her, almost swallowing her if she didn't force its jaw open by stretching herself out in its mouth.
She held out for a while before dropping one hand down and forming her finger gun directly down the beasts mouth. Then... bang.
The creature stopped moving instantly, screeching until it faded into dust. Ichiro was still nowhere to be seen and the dust lay on the floor stationary. He mustn't be nearby if it wasn't being attracted towards him.
Kassandra threw a thumbs up towards Piper, who nodded unsure of what just happened before taking off into the sky with the boys on Blackjack.
Travelling back to the ship would be a distance she hadn't yet attempted, but she was fairly confident in herself. The daughter of Bellona clapped her hands to transport herself back to the ship, but as she did so she felt slightly faint headed for a brief moment.