RECLUSE ?Leo Valdez?

I feel like I'm drowning

Leo turned toward him. "You cannot command us, child of war. Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment."

Maisie wasn't sure what that meant, but Frank staggered like he'd been punched in the gut. He drew an arrow, his hands shaking. "I—I've faced down worse things than you. If you want a fight—"

"Frank, don't." Hazel rose.

"Put the bow down!" Maisie exclaimed.

Jason drew his sword.

"Stop!" Piper ordered, but her voice quavered.

"Listen to Piper." Hazel pointed at Jason's sword. The gold blade seemed to grow heavy in his hand. It clunked to the table and Jason sank back into his chair.

Percy growled in a very un-Percy-like way. "Daughter of Pluto, you may control gems and metals. You do not control the dead."

Annabeth reached toward him as if to restrain him, but Hazel waved her off.

"Listen, eidolons," Hazel said sternly, "you do not belong here. I may not command you, but Piper does. Obey her."

She turned toward Piper, her expression clear: Try again. You can do this.

She looked straight at Jason—straight into the eyes of the thing that was controlling him. "You will leave those bodies," Piper repeated, even more forcefully.

Jason's face tightened. His forehead beaded with sweat. "We—we will leave these bodies."

"You will vow on the River Styx never to return to this ship," Piper continued, "and never to possess any member of this crew."

Leo and Percy both hissed in protest.

"You will promise on the River Styx," Piper insisted.

All three eidolons spoke in unison: "We promise on the River Styx."

"You are dead," Piper said.

"We are dead," they agreed.

"Now, leave."

All three boys slumped forward. Percy fell face-first into his pizza.

"Percy!" Annabeth grabbed him.

Piper and Hazel caught Jason's arms as he slipped out of his chair.

Leo fell limp sideways. Maisie wasted no time in catching the boy in her arms. His head flailed slightly against her chest at the impact, but his eyes began to flutter slightly as he groaned.

"Are you all right?" Hazel asked.

Leo partially pulled himself up, still using Maisie for support. "Did it work?"

"It worked," Piper said. "I don't think they'll be back."

Jason blinked. "Does that mean I can stop getting head injuries now?"

Piper laughed, exhaling all her nervousness. "Come on, Lightning Boy. Let's get you some fresh air."

MAISIE WAS QUICK TO GET READY FOR BED

The whole day was tiring her out. Physically and mentally. She missed being back at camp, and she missed the simpler days. Just Maisie and Harmony: free to do whatever they pleased.

Maisie felt guilty for wishing for that. Because if it had just been her and Harmony, she may have never met Leo. Or Piper, Jason, Cora, Parker, or anybody else on the Argo II.

Spitting toothpaste down the drain of her sink, she pushed her dreams aside. She had more to worry about than some unreal fantasy that she would never achieve.