Chapter 22 - Limnos
published: Monday, 24 April 2019

Leo gave the steering wheel a whirl as he stared into the horizon. The sun had become simply a spot in his vision.

"We're almost at Limnos," he said nervously. "And we still have no idea where the ring could be. Not even a general direction."

Piper, who was sitting on the deck with a jar of cookies tucked under one arm, groaned as she seemed to reach the same conclusion. "You're right. Mnemosyne didn't leave us any clues."

"Limnos is a whole island," Leo added. "One of the biggest in Greece. What are we supposed to do? Scour every square mile until we find it?"

Piper snorted. "It's worse than looking for a needle in a haystack."

Leo chuckled. He placed Festus on autopilot and walked over to join Piper on the deck. "You feeling better?"

Piper made a face. She'd been through a whole flurry of vomiting, leaving her in the bathroom for majority of the previous evening. "Well, I'm not throwing up anymore."

"Thank gods," Leo murmured under his breath, letting out a yelp as she elbowed him pointedly.

"I'm getting all sorts of weird cravings now," Piper told him.

Leo shrugged. "That's not too bad. Everyone wants a skittle now and then."

Piper snorted and shifted to face him. "Last night, I cried because Jason couldn't find me any Oreo cake on the entire boat." She spread her arms in frustration. "Leo, I don't even like Oreos!"

He wrapped an arm around her and let her lean into him. "Think about it, when you're done with this, you'll have a beautiful baby to make up for it."

Piper looked down at her feet. "Yeah, I guess."

"Don't even try to lie to me."

"When the baby's here," Piper started slowly. She groaned and interrupted herself, "Oh, I can't say it! It's too horrible. You'll think I'm a bad person."

Leo laughed. "Yeah, you're a bad person," he said sarcastically.

"I won't even be able to help with the quest," Piper continued, visibly upset. "Leo, I feel so helpless — useless, even — whenever I have to stay on the boat. It's just like the first time we went on a quest."

Leo kissed her forehead. "You're not useless. You're Piper McLean. You help us in different ways, Pipes. Everyone has a place on this team. Everyone."

"You too," Piper reminded him. "Without you, we wouldn't even have made it off of Long Island."

He chuckled. "That's right. I'm the Iron Man of the team."

Piper rolled her eyes as she struggled to her feet. "Okay, don't go getting all arrogant now."

Footsteps sent vibrations through the ship deck as Hazel and Jason came up the steps, deep in discussion.

Leo glanced in between them. "What's going on?"

Frank came up behind them, his face a pale white and eyes bright with alarm. "I think I'm going crazy."

Leo held up his hands with raised eyebrows. "Okay, Frank. Bold first statement."

Piper coughed discreetly and kicked Leo in the shin.

He shot her a look of betrayal. "I was getting to the better part." Leo turned back to Frank. "But did you wonder if — maybe — you aren't going crazy?"

Frank glared at him.

"Just a thought," Leo said helpfully.

"Hold up," Piper interrupted as she held up a mediating hand. "Frank, now, why do you think you're going crazy?"

Frank glanced warily at Hazel and Jason. It appeared they'd already had this conversation.
"I've been seeing these...images — flashes, more like — in my brain."

Leo kept the straightest face he'd ever had. "A message from God?"

"You know what—"

"No, stop," Piper ordered. "Frank, tell us about these flashes. What are they like?"

Frank shook his head distractedly. "There are moments — the first one being a half hour ago — where a cave flashes before my eyes. I've seen a dark places, bright stones, but nothing that I can really make sense of."

Jason frowned. "Nothing that might relate to the quest."

Frank shook his head miserably.

Hazel slid her hand in his and gave it a squeeze for reassurance. "Look, it's probably just a message from your dad—"

"Mars?" Frank snorted.

"Or Ares," Piper offered.

Frank held a grim expression. "Greek or Roman, I haven't heard from him in five years. Or any of the gods, as a matter of fact. Why would they contact us now? What's changed?"

"Frank," Hazel said more sharply. "You know that, even with their mysterious ways, you have to trust in the gods."

Frank clenched his jaw. "When have they ever done anything for me? Or for any of us?"

"Your dad gave you that spear," Hazel reminded him. "Gave you the blessing of Mars, and Poseidon gave you the power to shape shift."

"Look," Jason broke in. "Thalia told me once about a friend who lost trust in the gods. He ended up starting a war and dying. None of us want you to go down that path."

An angry light seemed to dispel in Frank's eyes. He sighed and slumped into the couch. "You're right. I know you're right. I just get so angry sometimes..."

"We all do." It was Leo, to everyone's surprise — even his own.

Frank gave him a begrudgingly grateful look.

"Back to the flashes," Leo cleared his throat. "Any ideas?"

"Wait, you mentioned bright stones," Piper said suddenly.

Frank nodded. "Diamonds, rubies, emeralds and some others I don't really know."

Jason glanced at Hazel. "You don't think..."

Her brow furrowed. "I didn't think it was gems."

Frank studied their faces. "What is it?"

"Hazel was telling me — on our way up here — about something pulling on her senses," Jason explained.

"Another entrance to Tartarus," Piper realised.

Hazel hummed in agreement. "But if there's a hoard of gemstones somewhere in Limnos, then that might be the cause of all this."

"Why would I be seeing gemstones?" Frank asked in confusion.

Hazel felt another tug on her gut that led her gaze to land in the Sight ring resting on Frank's left ring finger. "The ring."

Everyone glanced down at the simple crystal-encrusted band of silver.

"The other rings," Hazel guessed. "They're trying to be found. The Sight ring must be connected to them somehow, and it's trying to lead us to the nearest ring."

"In Limnos," Jason finished with understanding.

Hazel nodded. "I figure, if we use Frank's visions and my senses, we can find the ring."

A silence settled over them as they look at one another in astonishment.

"We did it," Piper said in a muted tone. "We figured out how to find the ring."

Jason let out a small laugh that broke the quietness. "What are we waiting for?"

Leo rushed up to the wheel and took the Argo II off autopilot. "Okay, Hazel, Frank, stand at the bow of the ship. Try and get as much of that GPS things as you can, and tell me where to go."

"As we get closer, Pontus will send his army to stop us," Jason warned, but his voice sounded upbeat with renewed positivity. "Piper and I will guard."

A loud creaking noise pierced the air and Festus clanked onto the deck, as if the say, me too.

Piper hugged Leo from behind. "Come on, let's do this."

^^^^^

"That way!" Frank yelled, his voice travelling over the ship deck, alerting the rest of his questmates.

The Sight ring was on his left ring finger, clutched so tightly in his fist that it left a mark on his palm. Frank's eyes were squeezed shut as he shouted instructions for Leo to follow.

"Getting closer," Hazel hollered over the rushing wind. Her eyes were closed and her hand clasped in Frank's. "Go slightly right."

As the hull creaked and the ship began to shift its angle, Jason's shout could be heard, "We've got company!"

A pounding on the deck made Hazel's eyes spring open as she turned around.

Three enormous winged demons had landed on the deck of the Argo II, each carrying a few invicta on either wing. The demons appear to be a cross between an incredibly large bald eagle and a griffin.

"Leo, keep steering!" Hazel screamed as she raced towards her friends and picked her longsword off the deck.

She slashed at the first invictus, successfully creating a gash in its shell. Unfortunately, it healed back and lifted its sword to launch a strike on her.

Hazel yelped as she rolled out of the way, her dad slamming into the ground. She groaned at the sudden wave of dizziness and groggily glanced to her right.

The invictus' sword was embedded in the wood just next to her head, and the creature roared as it ripped it out of the wood.

Hazel swept her legs across the deck with as much force as she could muster — a martial arts move taught to her by Coach Hedge himself — bringing the invictus crashing to the ground.

She sliced down the length of its shell and kicked it roughly open. The stone opened and the water seeped into the wood aimlessly, until just two halves of an empty shell remained.

Hazel forced herself to look up and ease her panting.

Piper was having trouble defending herself against one of the large eagles. It slashed its iron talons at her and had cornered her against the ship's side.

She was pale, and Katoptris was gripped weakly in her hand as she desperately tried to land a hit. Hazel spotted the bloody stripes that lined her forearm. 

Hazel gritted her teeth and flung her sword with as much might as she could, grotesquely impaling the eagle from behind.

It reared back with a screech, leaving Piper with a few moments to get away. She scrambled to safety as quickly as she could, breathing heavily as she rushed over to Leo.

Hazel was peripherally aware of Piper and Leo arguing at the wheel. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she felt like screaming at them to stop fighting with each other and start fighting the monsters.

Ignoring her friends, Hazel bounded up to the eagle and ripped the sword out of the eagle's back. It let out another bloodcurdling screech, allowing her to sling one arm around the eagle's neck to grab the lower part of her sword.

Hazel pulled as hard as she could, using the shaft of her longsword to cut off the eagle's airflow, strangling it in the process.

She held it there, wincing at the stinging of cuts on her palms, until the eagle flopped onto the deck with a final whine and cease moving completely.

Hazel stumbled back, exhausted. Her sword clattered to the ground as she keeled over, her knees hiring the deck.

The deck shook once more, and Hazel gazed up to see an invictus standing over her, its sword raised for a triumphant final strike.

Out of the blue, something slammed into the invictus from behind, knocking it over. It was Frank, turned into a bear with enough strength to tackle the monster.

Hazel heard Jason grunt with effort as he fought to disarm the invictus. A figure leaped onto the invictus' back, and the water spirit swirling angrily inside evaporated without warning.

Leo dropped down beside it with a wild grin on his face. He held out a hand, which Hazel gratefully took as she struggled to her feet.

Leo frowned at the cuts on her palm. "You're hurt."

Hazel smiled at him. "I'll be fine. Thanks." She glanced back to see Piper at the wheel, wildly steering it towards Limnos.

A loud growl resounded as Frank the bear suddenly flickered and shifted back into human form, clutching his head.

"Straight ahead!" Frank yelled. "It's in a mountain! The ring's in a mountain!"

A large claw whacked Frank overboard, pulling a yell of fear from Hazel's lips, "Frank!"

The eagle that had hit him over bared its fangs at her. Hazel leaped at it in a rush of fury, slashing and parrying like a madwoman.

She didn't quite know what happened next, but when she staggered to the ground again, the eagle was just a small pile of bronze ashes on the ground.

Leo whooped and cheered loudly. "That was the most bad-ass thing I've ever seen!" He threw another hammer at an invictus, pummelling it backwards where Jason fried it with lightning.

"Where's Frank?" Hazel shouted over the hubbub. She spotted another invictus lumbering towards Piper, and she made a dash for her pregnant friend.

A creature suddenly flopped onto the deck at Hazel's feet. It was a dolphin, and she raised her sword threateningly.

"—it's me! It's me! It's me!" The dolphin quickly changed into a frantic Frank, shielding his face instinctively.

Hazel let out a hysterical sob. "Oh my gods, Frank, I thought you were dead!" She punched his chest with a cry. "Don't ever do that to me again!"

She felt his arms envelop her in his warmth as they held each other in the middle of the battle. Hazel buried her head in the crook of his neck.

The sound of metal clashing against metal rang in her ears, but Hazel refused to leave Frank's embrace.

It made her feel safe.

"We're here!" Piper's shout rang out. "Guys, we're here!"

A blaze of fire from Festus incinerated an invictus as Jason cut down the last one with his sword.

Hazel grabbed Frank's hand and pulled him towards the gangplank, which Piper had already lowered. They were running out of time before stronger forces found them again.

"I'll stay!" Piper shouted. "To watch the ship! Be safe! Good luck!" Hazel watched as she gave Jason a fleeting kiss and he murmured something that made her laugh before rushing off the ship to join Hazel and Frank.

Leo was saying something to Festus, which the metal dragon apparently understood, because he creaked in reply and bounded closer to Piper.

The gangplank lifted as Leo leaped off onto the ground, kicking up sand at his shoes.

Frank forged ahead with Hazel by his side, conversing as they figured out the most direct route to the third ring.

It led them to Mount Skopia, the tallest point of Limnos.

They scrambled up the hill, scrabbling for handholds in the grass as they split up to find the entrance.

Jason discovered the opening under a large boulder, and he and Hazel, together, rolled it aside to reveal the entrance into the mountain.

Hazel ignored the immediate claustrophobia that overwhelmed her and hurried after Jason.

They were soon sprinting down the cobblestone path, with Leo and Frank at their heels.

The inside of the mountain was decorated with large crystals and gemstones of every colour. Hazel was getting an overload on all her senses, and she nearly collapsed before Jason grabbed her by the arm.

She glanced behind to see Frank being helped along by Leo. The visions were stronger the closer they got to the ring, so they had to be nearly completely blinding him by now.

"It's under blue stones!" Frank shouted.

The names instantly ran through Hazel's mind. Topaz? Lapis?

She reached out with her senses for any of them, and ran from area to area, rummaging around for the ring.

"They're here!" she heard Leo groan, meaning that the warriors had finally found them.

Hazel desperately sifted through the gems, and her fingers suddenly grasped something cooler than gemstones. She pulled her arm out from the pile to reveal a silver ring, similar to Frank's and Piper's. She slid it on her finger and slid down a pillar of granite.

Her gaze flickered around, assessing the damage.

The warriors had caved in the only entrance, and most likely, the only exit. Her friends were busy fighting them to even worry about escaping.

Hazel saw Frank glancing around absently, searching for her among the gemstones with an expression of confusion. The visions must've stopped once she'd find the ring.

Hazel didn't know what to do. She was stuck in an impossible situation.

Then she remembered something she had said.

The rings were connected.

Hazel clutched the ring in her fist and closed her eyes, praying that this would work.

^^^^^

"Give up," the warrior snarled.

Jason gritted his teeth to hold back a retort. The cold metal of the blade was pressed against his neck, makings his heart palpitations speed up.

His sword lay in its coin form in his pocket, and both his hands were held behind his head.
Hazel was nowhere to be seen, and Leo and Frank were in similar positions to him.

The warriors communicated in hushed whispers, keeping all their information away from the demigods. Jason caught snatches of their conversation — they were unsure of whether to kill them or bring them back to Tartarus.

Jason started formulating a plan in his head. Worst case scenario, they were killed. He felt his heart lurch at the thought of never seeing his baby. But Piper would have to find a way to complete the rest of the quest. Maybe meet up with Percy and Annabeth along the way.

Jason regretted that he didn't get to see them one last time. He spent five years away from Percy, and it was even worse now with only a few days with him. And Annabeth was practically his sister. He wanted to make sure that she would be okay.

"Kill them..." Jason heard. "...only foolproof way."

Leo shot him a look of alarm. Jason realised with a jolt of despair that Leo still had Calypso back at camp.

"We're demigods," Leo tried. "Aren't we of any use to Tartarus?"

One of the warriors snorted. "We have the other boy and girl for that. Nyx will capture them once they step foot in her palace."

Jason felt a sudden spurt of hope. Percy and Annabeth were alive and almost to Nyx's palace. Hopefully they would find Hemera, get the spell and return to Earth without getting too hurt.

He glanced at Frank and Leo. Frank was still looking around for Hazel.

Jason caught Leo's gaze, which was hard and full of meaning. Spotting a small knife by Leo's feet, Jason realised that he must have slipped it out of his tool belt.

Move it, Leo mouthed inconspicuously.

Jason frowned. He didn't think he could even do that. That was more telekinetic than wind.

All the same, they were out of options. Jason concentrated on the wind currents in the hill — mostly stale air. He tried to circulate some of them without producing to much noise.

The wind picked up without attracting the attention of the three warriors, and started to buffet the knife into the air.

Jason clenched his hand into a fist behind his head, grinding his teeth as the knife continued to rise into the air. The suspended weapon travelled towards the warriors, high above their head where no one could see it.

And in that moment, a deafening explosion threw them all into their backs, slamming Jason's head into the ground.

Confusion raced through his brain and here was a ringing in his ears as Jason staggered to his feet, roughly pushing aside rubble.

Was there a bomb? Had the warriors tried to kill them? 

The sight he was greeted with was both terrifying and relieving. The Argo II, cannons loaded and sails opened, was hovering overhead, with a familiar face at the bow of the ship.

"Anyone order a pregnant woman?" Piper shouted as Festus swooped down from the ship to knock down the three warriors.

Jason wanted to kiss her right there, but unfortunately, she was a few hundred feet above him.

"Hazel!" Frank shouted.

Jason saw Hazel running out from behind a pile of jewels, the ring glittering in her hand. His gaze shifted, and to his horror, the three warriors were ready to pounce.

"Watch out!" Jason yelled, dashing in front of Hazel and parrying the strikes. Frank promptly transformed into a lion, roaring and leaping onto a warrior.

"Jason!" Hazel shrieked. She tossed the ring, which Jason leapt into the air to catch before whirling around to stab the warrior in the gut.

He wrenched his sword out, panting as the warrior's corpse lay still on the ground. "Leo!"

Festus swooped down with Leo on his back, and the son of Hephaestus triumphantly grabbed Jason's hand, yanking him onto the dragon.

A low rumbling noise alerted Jason to the shaking cavern.

"It's going to collapse!" Jason shouted, hoping Leo could hear him. He seemed to understand and muttered something into Festus' ear.

Festus came down for a second round, lower this time, and Leo and Jason's outreached hands slid into Frank and Hazel's, pulling them onto the metal dragon.

"Yes!" Leo crowed in delight as Festus made a beeline for the Argo II, leaving the lone warrior in the crumbling mountain.

The rubble collapsed below them, burying whoever and whatever was under there for good.

Festus landed on the deck, depositing the demigods.

Jason slid off his back and promptly fell to the ground with a thud. Yellow spots danced before his eyes, and a blurry image of Piper kneeling down beside him with an expression of concern came to sight.

He opened his right hand to reveal the ring.

"Heart," he heard Piper translate.

Either of Jason's arms were slung around Frank's and Leo. He weakly held out the ring to Leo. "Wear it," Jason murmured as they went down the stairs. Everything was fuzzy and fading into black.

Leo was hesitant, but fumbled with it before sliding it onto his right index finger.

Jason sighed, content with the success of this mission, and he lay his head in Frank's shoulder's and allowed unconsciousness to take him.