The Lost Girls
Prologue
It was raining again today. It had rained then too. These were Piper's thoughts as she trudged up the hill towards the senate, towards the scores of half-bloods who had arrived from both Camp Half-Blood and the city of Camp Jupiter to pay tribute to those who had fallen just two months prior. Everything was quiet, save the droplets that hit puddles with sad monotones. No ghosts to be seen, no nymphs in the fields, not even preparation for the war games that took place every week. Not a trace of life to be seen but the girl who walked alone in silence, mud clinging to her trainers. There was a light on in the senate window. A lone figure in the steady downpour that mirrored Piper's mood. The door was open slightly; she could see it now, but the ones who had done so were nowhere to be seen. Furthering the gap just enough to squeeze herself inside without notice, she slipped through the ranks of Roman and Greek demi-gods that lined the walls, past the rows where the satyrs sat, down to the platform where six demi-gods stood.
Nodding politely to the long brown haired girl in a purple cloak, she took her place beside the blonde haired, blue eyed boy she had long associated with comfort and peace.
The crowd held its breath.
"Today, we Greeks and Romans, our camps united, acknowledge the two month anniversary of a tragedy…" Reyna's voice was clear and devoid of emotion, reaching the farthest corners of the hall. "Our battle with Gaia was tough on us all, and our losses will weigh heavily on our shoulders for years to come… but no amount of wishing and wanting will repair the damage that has been done to the seven brave demigods who risked everything to bring us together."
She turned in Piper's direction.
"We thank the daughter of Pluto, Hazel Levesque. We thank the son of Mars, Frank Zhang. We honour the son of Hephaestus, Leo Valdez. The daughter of Aphrodite, Piper McLean. The sons of Zeus and Poseidon respectively, Jason Grace and Percy Jackson."
The demi-gods in question bowed their heads in recognition as their names were spoken.
"But one among their number was stolen this time two months ago…"
Piper fought the tears that welled up in her eyes and clutched Jason's hand tightly. The sound and sight of the explosion running through her mind.
"I ask that you raise your swords, with me- to Annabeth Chase."