Heading back to her room, Mason quickly missed the reinforcement of Wesley and Trinity when he saw how Andy was. Mason slowly approached and sat on the edge of her bed and wrapped his arms around her. "This could be a good thing," he heard himself tell her softly even when he believed the complete opposite. It'd probably be more like torment but right now it seemed like the girl needed hope. "At least he's here." But the both of them knew there were fates worse than death. Like having a soul removed, being tortured and near broken, tormented by ghosts of your loved ones.
He sighed out and drew away from Andy to meet her eyes. No more bullshit, she deserved better. "I never saw Daniel in the Underworld. Hades kept me pretty busy but from what I saw...not in our domain anyway," he shook his head. "I'm so sorry, and I know that doesn't change anything but I am. I wanted to tell you sooner but you just looked like you were getting happy again and I couldn't ruin that for you."
Mason wanted to comfort her but for the life of him he didn't know how or what better news was on the horizon for her. "I’m gonna be here for you this time. No matter what. You got a whole support system at camp.” The son of Zeus, son of Hades, daughter of Ares who'd all try their hardest to protect Andy and pick her up when she was down.
"If you want to see him, when you're ready, we could search for him together. There's no rush," he told her gently.
"Daniel," Ajax called.
Keith glanced over his shoulder for a moment before engaging in eye contact with the son of Zeus. Apparently he meant him.
"I'm sorry for interrupting anything if I did, but this is urgent." Keith expected as much, seeing as they didn't cross hairs that much and the way Ajax headed towards them. But what news did he bring? Keith entwined his hands behind his back, listening patiently. "Is there anything any of you can do, like some kind of spell to protect and hide Alex while she's outside of camp? she's leaving for a little while, and I won't rest unless I know she's safe. Please, I'm begging you."
Keith rose his brow quizzically. "I'm sorry?" He turned on his heel to look at Evelyn then twisted back to Ajax.
"I will do anything. I will wash your dishes or something."
Keith's head jerked back. He never thought he'd see the day or prank Ajax offered to be a slave. When it came to Alex though, it most likely wasn't a joke. So as to prevent igniting the wrath of Zeus, Keith cleared his throat. "It's not that I don't want to help you, Ajax. It's more the fact that I..." he shifted uncomfortably and shot a nervous glance between his company then rested his gaze on the ground.
Before he could finish, Evelyn cut in unbeknownst to her that she was sparing him from more humiliation. “I might be able to bless a possession of hers, as long as it's always on her being. What is it she needs protection from?”
Keith's brows shot up. It wasn't forbidden to ask Ajax questions but he thought it might have been - fair and a good question, completely, but a little brash. "If you want this done right, it's better to know what we're hiding her from," Evelyn justified. Keith found himself nodding along. The perfect question followed by the perfect explanation. Hitting that nail on the head.
He cleared his throat. "We can always try," he finally answered and shrugged. It was Ajax's call if he wanted to follow through with it or not. Well technically it was Alex's since the charm or cast was going towards her and everyone knew she could be a firecracker but Ajax was the scarier sibling and Keith didn't fancy letting the camp suffer severe storms until Alex came back. "Hey..um, ha- has Alex consented to this or..?"
"Duke..." Alex called to him softly. Initially he turned to her with a ready smile and some taunting on the game but something in her expression made him stop before it could even begin. "I...I'm leaving camp for a little while. I wanted to say goodbye to you and Wes first. You need an explanation, and the only one that I can give right now is that I need to clear my mind, and to find who I am again... then I'll come back."
Duke understood her desire for meditation and to get away from camp and if she wanted that break, she'd get it. There'd be no stopping her. And Duke wasn't trying to stop her, merely pointing out that she didn't have to escape. He could guess a large part of her desire to clear her mind and find herself was related to the death of Hades daughter and it wasn't something she could run from or reset. Just learn to live with it...and that was the reality.
After a moment of staring at her and helplessly hoping she got the revelation and inner peace she needed, he continued, "Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it." Because the alternative was she would be gone without a trace and it was discourteous to those who did care for her. He opened his arms, apple still in hand and gestured for her to come to his chest. Once she did, he closed his arms around her and gave her a tight hug. "I wish you the best. Don't be gone too long, you'll give Ajax a heart attack." He chuckled and pulled back rubbing her arm.
"Oh, since you're gonna see Wes," he paced out the hall and down to his workshop, his long strides clearing the distance efficiently so as not to delay Alex. He nudged the door open and left it ajar for Alex to follow. Duke grabbed the bionic make-up sitting on his table. "A prosthetic arm," he handed it to Alex. "Early stages," he stated eyeing his work fondly. "I'm sure Wes would have fun being terminator for a while but I trust he'll want something more fitting...that replicates skin..." Duke smiled at Alex. "It helps if someone he trusts puts it on for him. So put this on his rotator cuff, strap the buckle across his chest and spine, like a saddle and he should be two armed again," he told her making the gestures across his own body.
"Plus, between you and me," he said leaning in like he was going to tell a secret, "I don't really want McKenna around him." And he grinned projecting his first big brother line. He knew Wesley was a decent guy and wasn't aiming to get in every girl's pants and McKenna wasn't charmed so easily regardless.