Chào các bạn! Vì nhiều lý do từ nay Truyen2U chính thức đổi tên là Truyen247.Pro. Mong các bạn tiếp tục ủng hộ truy cập tên miền mới này nhé! Mãi yêu... ♥

XI.

MΛЯK ӨF ΛƬΉΣПΛ

"OH...YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE."

Daylight seeped through the glass floor when Frank's voice reached her ears. Her half-awake brain could hardly process what was going on. She felt her body bare, besides a thin wool blanket she was tangled into. Along with someone else's bare chest pressed to her back.

That was when flashes of what she did a few hours ago with Percy entered her mind. Muffled lewd sounds, burning touches. One second they were kissing heavily and clothes were being shed, the next Percy was stumbling to sickbay to get them a condom...

Lucia jolted completely awake as the memories hit her. Her arms flailed as she scrambled to wrap the second blanket they grabbed last night to cover herself with. She tugged the sheets up around her body as she stood, not realizing that she was sharing it with Percy. Lucky for him and Frank, he only flopped over, sleeping with his chest down and face to the side.

Lucia yelped and folded the blanket they were lying on to cover him with. She winced when she realized the consequences of last night on his back.

oops...

Finally, she blinked at Frank awkwardly, "Uh, that? We just—"

Percy groaned, he tried to reach out for the warm body that was just next to him. "Mmm," He whined, frowning. "Mmm"

"Percy." She crouched down, holding a strong grip on her blanket. Lucia shook his shoulder in an attempt to wake him, "Percy. get up."

"One more?" He stirred through a sleepy haze. She could hear him grinning.

"Percy! Frank is here!" She cried, loud enough to finally break through his fatigue.

His eyes fluttered open, he wiped drool off his chin.

Percy ran a hand through his mussed hair while keeping himself covered with the blanket.

When he faced Lucia and Frank, there was a mix of horror, sheepishness, and amusement in his expression. He was also blushing as red as strawberries.

Then he stood and almost tripped on the dispersed clothing.

Frank stood frozen at the entry of the stable door. His eyes averted as if the sight of them together might burn him.

"Frank...Hey man," Percy rubbed his puffy eyes with one hand. The other held the blanket around his lower waist. "Uh, what's up?"

Lucia smacked his shoulder.

"Ow!"

Frank swallowed. He was dressed in running shoes, dark cargo pants, and a Vancouver Winter Olympics T-shirt with his Roman centurion badge pinned to the neck. 

"Everyone thinks you've been kidnapped," He warned. "We've been scouring the ship. When Coach Hedge finds out—oh, gods, you've been here all night?"

Percy didn't even try to hide his satisfaction, or maybe he just couldn't.  "Oh, Yeah."

Lucia's mind wandered to him saying those same words as he towered over her.

"Percy!" She felt a hot warmth rising to her chest and her freckled face. She glared at him but she felt more embarrassed at where her mind ended up. "You are so not helping!"

"We'd better..." Frank pointed to the stable doors. "Uh, we're supposed to meet for breakfast. Would you explain what you did—I mean not in detail. I mean...No, Oh gods. I mean. I really don't want that faun—I mean satyr—to kill me."

Frank ran.

"Percy, I think we traumatized Frank."

He turned to her as mirth overtook his face. His sweaty muscles rippled as he moved to throw on his clothes. Lucia probably produced too much heat while they were asleep because Percy fanned himself to cool down.

Her eyes locked on his bare chest where small hickeys carefully rose to his collarbone, When he tried to slip his shirt on himself, Lucia became mortified at the tear down the front.

"I'm so sorry..."

Percy gaped like a confused fish. He looked at his girlfriend who was throwing her pajamas over herself in a rush.

"What."

"Your shirt, your back... I didn't even realize —"

Percy inched toward her, hands pulling her in by her lower back. "Don't apologize. I am not complaining."

A hand slipped into her hair, smoothing down her sex-tangled curls which now resembled a lion's mane. She cringed when he touched the fluffed-up mess. But Percy thought she looked so sexy, he almost gave into the urge to shut the door and back her into one of the stables.

Lucia gulped, she looked at Percy in admiration.

He mistook her silence and his smile collapsed.  "Hey, you aren't having second thoughts, right?"

She giggled brightly, her eyes wrinkling at the edges as they squinted close. She shook her head and pressed herself closer to him. "No. I'll never regret this, ever."

It was true. Sure, people could judge her for not waiting longer or not choosing celibacy. But giving her virginity to Percy, him doing the same, it had simply felt natural and right.

And she wasn't ashamed to say she enjoyed being intimate with him.

People may scoff and say that no one's first time was perfect. And okay, there were definitely awkward and Nerve-wracking moments.

But nothing compared to last night. Words couldn't describe the feeling of having shared herself with the boy she truly loved. Just being there, with him. Kissing him. Hearing him. Feeling how he loved her. Loving him back. It felt like paradise. It was that one moment, with that right person, And he felt so good. And looked so hot. And his lips were everywhere on her...

She cleared her throat, trying to reel herself back in. "Are you?"

Percy looked down at her with a smug expression. His eyes sparkled like diamonds of the sea.

A genuine smile spread across the girl's lips, "I don't know why I even asked."

ONCE THE BOTH OF THEM WERE SHOWERED and dressed they met in the mess hall. The other demigods sat around the table as Coach angrily grumbled back and forth. When Percy and Lucia walked in, all eyes turned to them.

It wasn't quite as bad as Frank had feared

Annabeth and Piper were mostly relieved and amused. They winked at the couple and giggled at each other. Lucia could already tell the girls were going to prod her for information later. Especially Annabeth.

Leo couldn't stop grinning and muttering, "Classic. Classic."

Hazel seemed scandalized, maybe because she was from the 1940s. She kept fanning her face and wouldn't meet either of their eyes.

Only Jason didn't seem to have a specific reaction, sitting a considerable distance from Piper.

But Coach Hedge. Oh, he went ballistic.

"Never in my life!" Coach bellowed, waving his bat and knocking over a plate of apples. "Against the rules! Irresponsible! Unbelievable!"

"Hey!," Lucia pointed to the apples, "We need those! do you want to get scurvy?!"

"Besides," Percy's grin returned, "you're starting to sound like Terminus."

Hedge narrowed his eyes. "Is that an insult, Jackson? 'Cause I'll—I'll terminus you, buddy!"

"Okay. I know you're upset.," Lucia broke through the tension, "But, it already happened? It can't be undone. Let's not make this harder for everyone and get to demigod stuff now..." She tried rushing through the subject,

"I sure think it was hard for Percy."

"Piper!" Lucia choked, she didn't know why she didn't expect at least some teasing from her, the girl was the daughter of Aphrodite after all.

Percy looked like he was trying not to laugh. But his front row teeth were on full display. Water from his shower dripped from his wet hair down to his neck where Lucia's love bites peaked out from the collar of his shirt.

(He refused to let her give him something that would erase them and the marks on his back).

Coach Hedge seemed to notice, and his eyes widened in outrage. "Is that all you have to say for yourself!" He scolded,

"We won't sneak away like that again, Coach. I promise" Lucia spoke respectfully, but she was also being aware of her wording. "You're our chaperone, we shouldn't have worried you or disrespected your Authority."

Hedge was glaring behind her and Lucia already knew why.

"Percy, Stop smiling."

"I'm not," He defended. He totally was.

Hedge fumed. "Fine! But I'm watching you, Jackson. And you, Lucia Verano, I thought you were better than this—"

"Aht Aht," She stopped him, her anger rising a tad. "I understand you are upset but if you shame me, You better shame him too. What? do you think I did it to myself—"

Piper and Leo started chortling. Annabeth gasped and tried to muffle her laugh behind her two hands.

Jason then cleared his throat. "Grab some food, everybody. Let's get started."

LUCY GULPED DOWN HER SECOND MUG OF BLACK COFFEE AS PERCY ATE HIS FIFTH PANCAKE. The boy was chowing down his breakfast like a starving man. In seconds he summoned another plate of blue bacon and hash browns. Lucia swore this was the most she ever saw him stuff his face.

And that was saying a lot.

"You're going to choke. Go slower." Lucia mumbled as she stuck a grape into her mouth, before Leo could say a word from across her, she put her finger up to his face. "Ni lo piensas Loco." Don't even think about it, crazy kid.

Leo snickered.

Everyone in the room kept on looking at her like she had 'I just had sex' written on her forehead in black ink.

Yes, the looks varied in expression.

When Percy finished eating, the war council finally began. He told them about his dream—the twin giants planning a reception for them in an underground parking lot with rocket launchers; Nico trapped in a bronze jar, slowly dying from asphyxiation with pomegranate seeds at his feet.

Hazel choked back a sob. "Nico... Oh, gods. The seeds."

"You know what they are?" Annabeth asked.

Hazel nodded. "He showed them to me once. They're from our stepmother's garden."

Lucia hummed. "You mean Persephone?" Lucia had met the wife of Hades once back in the battle of Manhattan.

"The seeds are a last-resort food," Hazel said. Lucia could tell she was nervous, because all the silverware on the table was starting to move toward her. "Only children of Hades can eat them. Nico always kept some in case he got stuck somewhere. But if he's really imprisoned—"

"The giants are trying to lure us," Annabeth said. "They're assuming we'll try to rescue him."

"Well, they're right!" Hazel looked around the table, her confidence apparently crumbling. "Won't we?"

Lucia didn't hesitate. "Of course."

"Yes!" Coach Hedge yelled with a mouthful of napkins. "It'll involve fighting, right?"

"Hazel, we'll help him," Frank said. "But how long do we have before... uh, I mean, how long can Nico hold out?"

"One seed a day," Hazel said miserably. "That's if he puts himself in a death trance."

"A death trance?" Lucia scowled. "What is that? Will he be okay?"

"It keeps him from consuming all his air," Hazel said. "Like hibernation, or a coma. One seed can sustain him one day, barely."

"And he has five seeds left," Percy said. "That's five days, including today. The giants must have planned it that way, so we'd have to arrive by July first. Assuming Nico is hidden somewhere in Rome—"

"That's not much time," Piper summed up. She put her hand on Hazel's shoulder. "We'll find him. At least we know what the lines of the prophecy mean now. 'Twins snuff out the angel's breath, who holds the key to endless death.' Your brother's last name: di Angelo. Angelo is Italian for 'angel.'"

"Oh, gods," Hazel muttered. "Nico..."

Lucia stared at the wall in despair. She had a rocky history with Nico after his sister died. But they had been really good friends, almost siblings. Lucia still remembered babysitting him while Bianca crammed for tests and pretending she knew how the points worked when they played mythomagic.

She also remembers saving him, and him doing the same for her. Because of Nico, Lucia wasn't currently being punished for her crimes.

He was a good kid. And he certainly didn't deserve slow suffocation in a bronze jar.

Percy grabbed Lucia's hand under the table and looked towards Hazel with caring eyes.  "We'll rescue him," he promised them. "We have to. The prophecy says he holds the key to endless death."

"That's right," Piper said encouragingly. "Hazel, your brother went searching for the Doors of Death in the Underworld, right? He must've found them."

"He can tell us where the doors are," Percy said, "and how to close them."

Hazel took a deep breath. "Yes. Good."

"Uh..." Leo shifted in his chair. "One thing. The giants are expecting us to do this, right? So we're walking into a trap?"

Lucia looked at Leo like she was going to burn a hole through his skull. "We have no choice. It's what the Prophecy wants as well."

"Don't get me wrong, Lucia—No seriously please stop looking at me like that it's creepy—" He shuddered, "It's just this kid, Nico... he knew about both camps, right Hazel?"

"Well, yes," She hesitated.

"He's been going back and forth," Leo said, "and he didn't tell either side."

Jason sat forward, his expression grim. "You're wondering if we can trust the guy. So am I."

Hazel shot to her feet. "I don't believe this. He's my brother. He brought me back from the Underworld, and you don't want to help him?"

Frank put his hand on her shoulder. "Nobody's saying that." He glared at Leo. "Nobody had better be saying that."

Leo blinked. "Look, guys. All I mean is—"

"Hazel," Jason said. "Leo is raising a fair point. I remember Nico from Camp Jupiter. Now I find out he also visited Camp Half-Blood. That does strike me as... well, a little shady. Do we really know where his loyalties lie? We just have to be careful."

Hazel's arms shook. A silver platter zoomed toward her and hit the wall to her left, splattering scrambled eggs. "You... the great Jason Grace... the praetor I looked up to. You were supposed to be so fair, such a good leader. And now you..." Hazel stomped her foot and stormed out of the mess hall.

"Hazel!" Leo called after her. "Ah, jeez. I should—"

"You've done enough," Frank growled. He got up to follow her, but Piper gestured for him to wait.

"Give her time," Piper advised. Then she frowned at Leo and Jason. "You guys, that was pretty cold."

"Don't be nice." Lucia hissed, sparks of anger flickering in her eye.  "You two acted like assholes!!"

Jason looked shocked. "How? We're just being cautious!"

"Her brother is dying," Lucia grumbled. "A good kid by the way. Who's only thirteen years old. He's suffering, about to die. And you are just going to give up on him like nothing."

Jason huffed, "If you let things like that move you, you can side with anyone who's been hurt before. No matter the harm they've caused. And no matter what they are capable of doing to you."

Lucia swallowed harshly. "No. I don't think someone's pain is an excuse for hurting others. But I think we should have a little more faith in people." Lucia grumbled, "And Nico has not given us a single reason to not have faith in him. So I don't care sparky. I'm saving Nico di Angelo."

"That's not the natural order of things Lucia." Jason sighed. "Bad things are always going to happen. Some people are just bad."

"I know that!." Lucia snapped. "But some people aren't. And that's enough."

Lucia rose from her chair. The friction against the floor causing it to squeak. "Excuse me, I need to be alone."

"I'LL GO TALK TO LUCIA," Percy insisted.

"No," Annabeth said. "Let her cool down first. Trust me on this. I'll go check on her in a few."

"But..." Percy huffed when Annabeth gave him a look. "Fine. I'll wait."

From up above came a whirring sound like a large drill.

"That's Festus," Leo said. "I've got him on autopilot, but we must be nearing Atlanta. I'll have to get up there... uh, assuming we know where to land." Everyone turned to Percy.

Jason raised an eyebrow. "You're Captain Salt Water. Any ideas from the expert?"

Percy wondered if Jason was secretly miffed about the duel in Kansas and their little competitive spats. Jason had joked, but Percy figured that they both harbored a little grudge. Was that resentment in his voice? Or could it be something else?

"I'm not sure," he admitted. "Somewhere central, high up so we can get a good view of the city. Maybe a park with some woods? We don't want to land a warship in the middle of downtown. I doubt even the Mist could cover up something that huge."

Leo nodded. "On it." He raced for the stairs.

Frank settled back in his chair uneasily. Percy felt bad for him. On the trip to Alaska, he had watched Hazel and Frank grow close. He knew how protective Frank felt toward her. He also noticed the baleful look Frank was giving Leo. He decided it might be a good idea to get Frank off the ship for a while.

"When we land, I'll scout around in Atlanta," Percy said. "Frank, I could use your help."

"You mean to turn into a dragon again? Honestly, Percy, I don't want to spend the whole quest being everyone's flying taxi."

"No," Percy said. "I want you with me because you've got the blood of Poseidon. Maybe you can help me figure out where to find salt water. Besides, you're good in a fight."

That seemed to make Frank feel a little better. "Sure. I guess."

"Great," Percy said. "We should take one more—"

"Oh, no!" Coach Hedge barked. He glared at Percy, daring him to mouth off. "I'll go with Frank and Mr. Sneaky Jackson. The rest of you guard the ship and make sure Lucia doesn't break any more rules!"

Wonderful, Percy thought. A boys' day out with Frank and a bloodthirsty satyr, to find salt water in a landlocked city.

For a moment, he wished he could go back to last night. To the dim golden glow where all he could feel was how good Lucia felt wrapped around him.

Percy had to snap out of his trance. He could almost smell Lucia's lingering scent and feel her warm touch. It was clear she had done a number on him but he didn't mind.

Percy had always been starstruck by her.

He now felt complete having taken that step with her. Which was somewhat motivation to prepare him for the worst. Suddenly, he wanted to save the world a second time more than ever. For all of them.

"This," he sarcastically said , "is going to be so much fun."

WHEN LUCIA HEARD A KNOCK ON HER DOOR AND SAW BLONDE HAIR AT HER ENTRYWAY, she didn't expect to see Jason Grace standing across from her.

"Hey, Can we talk?"

"Sure Sparky." Lucia stepped back to let the boy pass. she crossed her arms across her chest. "So...?"

"I'm not the bad guy for being cautious you know."

Lucia huffed. She sat on the edge of her desk and fiddled with her iPod. "No one said that you're a bad guy. I said you acted like an asshole which you did considering a boy is dying and his sister is here counting as the days pass by."

"Fine. Let's say that, Can you at least see that me and Leo don't know this kid and have a right to not trust him."

"That's fine Jason." Lucia shrugged, "You do, but I still think it wouldn't have killed you to not suggest we leave him to suffocate in a jar."

Jason shifted on his feet. "Well, I didn't exactly mean it like that."

Lucia scoffed, "Did you just come here to plead your case Jay?"

"No, I mean well yes. But there's something else." Jason trailed off. "You're close with Annabeth right?"

"Don't ask me stupid questions, Grace."

Jason chuckled, "I just need to tell you something that might involve her. The legend..."

"Why me? Why not tell her..."

"It's not that simple." Jason inhaled. He looked out into the hallway to see that no one was listening in then faced the brunette once again. "The legend that Annabeth mentioned," He said, "about the Mark of Athena... I don't know what's true and what's not. That legend...it could be really dangerous."

"For who?"

"All of us," he said grimly. "The story goes that the Romans stole something important from the Greeks, back in ancient times when the Romans conquered the Greeks' cities."

Lucia waited, but Jason seemed lost in thought.

"What did they steal?" she asked.

"I don't know,"  he said. "I'm not sure anyone in the legion has ever known. But according to the story, this thing was taken away to Rome and hidden there. The children of Athena, Greek demigods, have hated us ever since. They've always stirred up their brethren against the Romans. Like I said, I don't know how much of that is true—"

"But why  not  just  tell  Annabeth?"  She pressed. "She's not going to suddenly hate you. Beth has more sense than that."

He seemed to have trouble focusing on her. "I hope not. But the legend says that the children of  Athena have been searching for this thing for millennia. Every generation, a  few are chosen by the goddess to find it. They're led to Rome by some sign...the Mark of Athena."

"If Annabeth is one of those searchers...we need to help her." Lucia insisted. A replay of the conversation she crashed between the mother and daughter along with her dream played in her head. Dread bubbled within her stomach.

Jason hesitated. "I'll tell her what little I know. Honest. When we get closer to Rome, But the story, at least the way I heard it—it claims that if the Greeks ever found what was stolen, they'd never forgive us. They'd destroy the legion and Rome, once and for all. After what Nemesis told Leo, about Rome's being destroyed five days from now..."

Lucia studied Jason's face. He was, without a doubt, a brave person but she realized he was afraid. This legend—the idea that it might tear apart their group and level a city—absolutely terrified him. She wondered what could have been stolen from the Greeks that would be so important. She couldn't imagine anything that would make Annabeth suddenly turn vengeful. Then again, Lucia couldn't imagine herself doing a lot of things she's done...

"You tell her what you know." Lucia nodded in confirmation. "And we figure the rest out."

"Thanks, Lucia," He nodded, his gaze lingered as silence hung in the air for a few beats. "Does Percy still trust me?"

"Why wouldn't he?" She cleared her throat.

Jason's eyes met Lucia "Nothing...I know it was the Eidolon but I could have killed him, and I guess..."

"Lucy." Annabeth pushed the door open wider, interrupting Jason. "Did you cool off yet, Candela."

Lucia's gaze snapped to the other blonde. "I don't feel like I'm burning up so I call that progress."

"We'll see how long that lasts."

Lucia rolled her eyes,

"Oh, Jason. I think Piper was looking for you."

"You sure she didn't confuse me for you?"  Jason quipped

Color rose to Annabeth's cheeks as she gave Jason an incredulous look.

Jason cleared his throat and excused himself. When Lucia saw the back of his head disappear into the hallway she pulled Annabeth into her cabin and shut the door.

"What was that about." Lucia pressed in an instant.

"Someone's a chismosa." Nosy person

Lucia huffed, "I didn't show you that word to be shamed for my research. Now spill."

"There's nothing to spill." Annabeth sat on her berth. Her blonde ponytail swung behind her. Lucia looked at the blonde with fondness. She knew without a doubt that she loved Annabeth to the point her fatal flaw could catch up to her. That was scary, but it also pushed Lucia to want to protect her best friend.

She put a hand on her hip. Lucia smirked. "You've got the hots for Piper don't you?"

Annabeth's eyes widened. Her cheeks flushed and she looked suddenly interested in Lucia's wall. "Shut up! No."

"Here I thought Reyna had a chance."

Annabeth hid her face in her hands. "If you weren't you. You'd be dropkicked."

"Oh, I know." Lucia laughed as she hopped onto the bed next to her. She wiggled her eyebrows. "So you've got options and one includes a love affair."

"Lucy!" Annabeth grabbed a pillow and smacked her torso with it.

Lucia yelped on impact, "Believe it or not this is worth the bruises."

"I came to squeeze information out of you, not the other way around."

Lucia shrugged, she shimmied her shoulders "I like to shake things up."

Annabeth snorted, "You're ridiculous."

"But you love me, Smarty pants."

Annabeth rose an eyebrow.

"Fine, not my most creative moment." Lucia huffed,

The blonde's face twisted in intrigue. She looked at the girl beside her. "If you tell me about Percy. I'll tell you about...how I'm feeling."

A grin stitched on Lucia's lips, "Annabeth Chase are you asking me to gossip about our love lives to each other."

"Do you want to know or not."

Lucia hopped up on the bed and pulled the pillow into her lap. "Get comfortable, tell me everything."

"As long as you don't tell me everything."

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen247.Pro