The Lost Hero

Then there was Khione. Dang, that girl was fine. Leo knew he‘d acted like a total fool, but he couldn‘t help
himself. He‘d had his clothes cleaned with the one-hour valet service —which had been totally sweet, by the
way. He‘d combed his hair—never an easy job—and even discovered the tool bag could make breath mints, all
in hopes that he could get close to her. Naturally, no such luck.
Getting frozen out—story of his life—by his relatives, foster homes, you name it. Even at Wilderness
School, Leo had spent the last few weeks feeling like a third wheel as Jason and Piper, his only friends,
became a couple. He was happy for them and all, but still it made him feel like they didn‘t need him anymore.
When he‘d found out that Jason‘s whole time at school had been an illusion—a kind of a memory burp—
Leo had been secretly excited. It was a chance for a reset. Now Jason and Piper were heading toward being a
couple again—that was obvious from the way they‘d acted in the warehouse just now, like they wanted to talk in
private without Leo around. What had he expected? He‘d wind up the odd man out again. Khione had just given
him the cold shoulder a little quicker than most.
―Enough, Valdez,‖ he scolded himself. ―Nobody‘s going to play any violins for you just because you‘re not
important. Fix the stupid dragon.‖
He got so involved with his work, he wasn‘t sure how much time had passed before he heard the voice.
You‟re wrong, Leo, it said.
He fumbled his brush and dropped it into the dragon‘s head. He stood, but he couldn‘t see who‘d spoken.
Then he looked at the ground. Snow and chemical sludge from the toilets, even the asphalt itself was shifting
like it was turning to liquid. A ten-foot-wide area formed eyes, a nose, and a mouth—the giant face of a sleeping
woman.
She didn‘t exactly speak. Her lips didn‘t move. But Leo could hear her voice in his head, as if the
vibrations were coming through the ground, straight into his feet and resonating up his skeleton.
They need you desperately, she said. In some ways, you are the most important of the seven—like the
control disk in the dragon‟s brain. Without you, the power of the others means nothing. They will never reach
me, never stop me. And I will fully wake.
―You.‖ Leo was shaking so badly he wasn‘t sure he‘d spoken aloud. He hadn‘t heard that voice since he
was eight, but it was her: the earthen woman from the machine shop. ―You killed my mom.‖
The face shifted. The mouth formed a sleepy smile like it was having a pleasant dream. Ah, but Leo. I am
your mother too—the First Mother. Do not oppose me. Walk away now. Let my son Porphyrion rise and become
king, and I will ease your burdens. You will tread lightly on the earth.
Leo grabbed the nearest thing he could find—a Porta-Potty seat—and threw it at the face. ―Leave me
alone!‖
it.
The toilet seat sank into the liquid earth. Snow and sludge rippled, and the face dissolved.
Leo stared at the ground, waiting for the face to reappear. But it didn‘t. Leo wanted to think he‘d imagined
Then from the direction of the factory, he heard a crash—like two dump trucks slamming together. Metal
crumpled and groaned, and the noise echoed across the yard. Instantly Leo knew that Jason and Piper were in
trouble.
Walk away now, the voice had urged.
―Not likely,‖ Leo growled. ―Gimme the biggest hammer you got.‖
He reached into his tool belt and pulled out a three-pound club hammer with a double-faced head the size
of a baked potato. Then he jumped off the dragon‘s back and ran toward the warehouse.
LEO STOPPED AT THE DOORS AND TRIED to control his breathing. The voice of the earth woman still rang
in his ears, reminding him of his mother‘s death. The last thing he wanted to do was plunge into another dark
warehouse. Suddenly he felt eight years old again, alone and helpless as someone he cared about was trapped
and in trouble.
Stop it, he told himself. That‘s how she wants you to feel.
But that didn‘t make him any less scared. He took a deep breath and peered inside. Nothing looked
different. Gray morning light filtered through the hole in the roof. A few lightbulbs flickered, but most of the
factory floor was still lost in shadows. He could make out the catwalk above, the dim shapes of heavy
machinery along the assembly line, but no movement. No sign of his friends.
He almost called out, but something stopped him—a sense he couldn‘t identify. Then he realized it
was smell. Something smelled wrong—like burning motor oil and sour breath.
Something not human was inside the factory. Leo was certain. His body shifted into high gear, all his
nerves tingling.
Somewhere on the factory floor, Piper‘s voice cried out: ―Leo, help!‖