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Islands of Guilt

Chapter 16

Percy--

"It's not my fault, I can't help it!" Exclaimed Leo. I scoffed.

"Then whose fault is it? Reminder: you're the only one with fire powers," I was so upset, all the water from the ground was collecting into my hands. The grass around me was wilting, as if I were a child of Hades, due to the lack of water. "You could've killed her. Can't you learn to keep that under control?"

"Speak for yourself, Jackson," Leo said, he was trying to keep his cool but there was obviously something different in his voice. My face scrunched up in confusion, and I heard Isabelle and Annabeth laugh at something. I looked down. There was a mini hurricane swirling around me, and it seemed to have taken away my shoes and was working on my pants, because it was that powerful. "Shit," I say, and attempt to calm down the hurricane. But then a dark idea developed in my head. If I had been thinking right, I wouldn't have done it, but I was thinking like a mad man. Normal and right were out the window. I noticed Leo's hands conjuring fire balls, so I acted out my plan quickly. In a matter of seconds, I was back on the ground rather than levitating from the winds of the hurricane, and it began to snuff out Leo's fire as it raised him in the air while it grew bigger. Before I let myself get out of control, I dropped Leo out of the sky. I admit, I was abrupt on his landing, and he hit the ground with a thud.
Of course looking at Leo crumpled on the ground made me fill with guilt. Gods, how could I do this? Leo’s my friend; we’ve fought together, helped each other out, and shared fun memories at Camp. I couldn’t do anything now, my actions were done. But I had right now, so I walked up to him and checked how he was. His breathing was shallow, but he was breathing. “Man, I’m so sorry,” I tell him, even though he can’t hear me because he’s unconscious. Annabeth came rushing next to Leo and me, and pushed me to the side. “Move aside, Knock-Out, I’ve got about as much medical skill as an Apollo kid,” Annabeth says. She puts two fingers to a spot on Leo’s neck to feel his pulse. I was uncomfortable seeing her so close to him, but it was mandatory.
“Can you get me some gauze?” Asked Annabeth, “He sprained his wrist. I’ll also need some sticks about four and a half inches long.” I wanted to question why she was so specific, but I didn’t really have the right to ask. I was the one who caused it. I stuck my hand in Leo’s tool belt, which looked awkward. I pulled out some gauze and the right sized sticks. Annabeth looked at me all confused, for once. “Magic tool belt,” I said.
I looked around for Isabelle, Alec, and Magnus. They should at least help, but they were nowhere to be seen. I scanned the big grassy opening again and spotted . . . nothing. “So…” I say to Annabeth, as she began making a splint on Leo’s right wrist. “How do you know what to do?” Her face grew grave and she shuddered slightly.
“I…” She began, “My mother had sent me on a mission about six months ago. She had sent me to find the Athena Parthenos. She had been acting strangely, all schizophrenic, for the past six weeks. The only time she had talked to me was when she told me how disappointed in me she was. She said I needed to avenge her, by following the Mark of Athena. I accepted the challenge expecting death. My mother had really been my only companion, and she was upset with me, so I really didn’t have much of a reason to fear death.” Annabeth paused, and shrugged. “I wanted to avenge her, and prove myself worthy of being a child of Athena. I set out on the island. I found a passageway here that I was led to by the Mark of Athena, which magically connected into underground passageways in Rome. In one of my challenges, I fell and sprained my ankle, and could only use what was around me to help me make a splint.” Another shrug. I looked at her in wonder. How could such a beautiful girl be so cunning and brave? The full package.
“That’s...really impressive.” I say. Annabeth turned to me and grinned, “Well of course, Seaweed Brain. I’m not just a brain cell-less blonde hippy chick.”
“I don’t think anyone who’s met you can think that,” I laugh. Annabeth joins just as Leo regains consciousness. My smile quickly fades and the guilt returns. I remembered the last five minutes again. I look down at Leo, and he looks up at me, with confusion then anger. “Dude, I’m really sorry. Please forgive me.” I say, which is a pretty good apology for me.
“Go to hell, for heaven’s sake,” Leo says, but he ends his sentence with a smile, and lays his head on the ground. “Ow, ow, ow! What’s wrong with my hand?” Leo notices his hand for the first time and looks down at his splint. “Yeah, sorry ‘bout that…,” I say, and rub the back of my neck, “But hey, you’re lucky we have Annabeth. She’s pretty good when it comes to medical stuff.” Annabeth gave a proud smile, and stood up. I see her face suddenly go serious when she remembers, “Dammit, we have to go to the city. Now.”
“What?” Leo says, “Now? But I just—“
“Yes!” I say exasperated, “There are people who need saving!” I get up with Annabeth, and help Leo stagger up on his feet. Annabeth’s already started walking, obviously waiting for us to catch up with her. “Come on,” I tell Leo, and we run up to her, only to chase after her to the town. This has been a long day.