FOR CURRENT READERS: Hello, I'm Fate's Second Apprentice and I'd like to tell you that a serious plot change has occurred, if there are inconstancies that is why, other than this, you don't have to re-read the last chapter (which is the only one that has been changed).

Octavian's Slightly Biased Diary of Events

Chapter 7: Battle for Camp Jupiter Part 1

Octavian sat on the dew drop grass a sense of melancholy about him. Each day the Feast had come closer and closer but now it was here. He felt calm somehow, though perhaps it was due to the fact he was already drinking before morning had really woken the rest of the city up. He doubted that was a good thing but he found it harder and harder to care as each day came and went. He gazed out over the Lake. Would he ever see it again? Or would it all change today? He glared at the ground.

The dream he'd had last night was nothing less than haunting. He'd woken up just before midnight and every time he closed his eyes to go back to sleep the images bathed in green would return to him. He'd had dreams like this all the time, he knew the deal, but none of them had been like this. This had felt real, he wasn't just watching, he was there. Octavian had watched as the monsters had charged and destroyed the army. He'd see the giant kill and kill. He'd walked through the massacre, assuming he couldn't be touched. He came across Reyna's fallen body, covered in blood and dirt. She had spoken but it had not been her voice, and she suddenly stopped looking like Reyna altogether.

"Septem dimidium-sanguines ejus respondet, Tendere, igni, pereat mundus. Denique ut cum iuramento spiritus, Ad portas hostium arma Mortis…" Terra had said, but it was as though the ground spoke instead of her. "Tomorrow you all will die and the gods' plans will never complete." Octavian turned around to find a giant shadow over him. "Fall to my son.", and then a spear had impaled him and he'd died in his own dream.

He's woke then and when he fallen back to sleep the dream had been different, as if the future was changing, which hardly ever happened, history didn't change and neither did the future. Octavian had opened his eyes in his dream – even though he still felt like he was dead – and he'd found the army alive. They lifted up three shadows to the sky and shouted out. He watched unable to move, unable to talk. No one seemed to be able to see him. And suddenly all three looked right at him, but there were no longer three, there were Seven. Jason was among them his face twisted into a smirk. "So, you're still here?"

Octavian had not gotten back to sleep again.

He sighed throwing a stone into the water before standing and walking out into the main garden, only to run into Gwendolyn. "-ah, sorry. Oh, it's you, what are you-oh, right." Her face dropped what she saw him.

"My house if you wanted to know. Why are you still here, shouldn't you be at home." Gwen scowled at him. "I- your mother offered me a room while I sorted myself out financially." Octavian raised an eyebrow, "Well, that's was awfully nice of her." His mother sounded like more and more like a charitable person; maybe his 'new daughter' thing was more serious than he had first thought. Maybe he needed to get rid of her, again. He glanced down at the book in her hand. "So you worked out to read Latin yet?"

"I knew how to read Latin in the first place." She glared at him.

"Now, now, is that how you talk to people that are offering charity? Hmm? Beggars can't be choosers Gwendolyn." Her eye twitched. "I am no beggar, and you have nothing to do with my apprenticeship,-"

"You realise I could say a word and you'd be gone right? And a position on the Upper senate? Forget it." Gwen scoffed, "What, you don't believe me? When Jason comes back, ask him. Though, he's not that sort of person so I doesn't really affect him, but you, what will you do Gwen?" Her nose wrinkled in distaste, "You are –" she stopped suddenly and glanced around, "Just don't talk to me." She said rudely and walked passed him, she walked down the path toward the extra building off the main house for people like her, as his father would put it nicely, plebeians.

He glared at her back and shook his head, more annoyed than angry. She had so much confidence, even when she stood surrounded by enemies, she didn't even understand, that was the sad part, she actually trusted the woman that gave birth to him. "What did she want?"

"Hey Severus," Octavian said looking down. He had his head to the side and was looking very concerned. "She's nothing for you to worry about. What are you doing here?" Octavian said, Severus looked down, "No reason." Octavian raised an eyebrow, like I'm going to believe that, you don't want to wait until you get your birthday present. "Oh, good. I'm going to be out today so make sure Pater doesn't start calling for war." Severus scowled at the ground but nodded. "Go on, run away."

"Mama said…said she was going to be important. She said I was going to have a sister. She said something about…marriage." Octavian choked. "Ah…what?" Severus giggled. "Not you, frater, she said she was thinking to getting Gwen with Cyrus, and then our families would be allies, or something like that. But I thought we hated the Diesias."

"We do, but I think Mater's got a point, a front of an alliance will turn a few of his supporters over to her side." Severus smiled. Octavian raised an eyebrow.

"Shh, remember you have to call her sororis now." Octavian nearly throttled the kid. "That would be lying, now what did I tell you about lying?"

"Lying is bad, and should not be done unless it's important, and things rest upon it, like childrens's innocence. And um…oh, half-truths are totally fine." Octavian shook his head. "No! You are supposed to say you never lie, tâmpit!"

"But that would be lying…" He said his frown deepened. Octavian sighed and rolled his eyes, "Exactly." Severus looked at him not looking very impressed, he wasn't allowed to look like that. Octavian unconsciously raised his chin and looked down on his brother. "Now, now. Are you going to start questioning me? I hope you know that Victoria once questioned me, and look at where she is now." Severus smiled.

"What are you taking about, major frater? You told me you were always right, why would anyone think otherwise?" Octavian shook his head wistfully, and ruffled his brother's hair (no one else was allowed to do this). "Happy Birthday Severus," He walked away, noticing Severus follow him, after picking a flower and killing the bee that had been on it.

Octavian sighed. "Come over here would you?" Severus nodded and rushed over, his eyes bright. Octavian poked his forehead hard, "Look, I'm busy, if you have a reason for following me, spit it out." Severus suddenly looked really sad, and Octavian once again felt like he never fully understood any of his siblings emotions, why weren't they all more like Hadrian with his clear cut emotions?

He rolled his eyes, "I suspect you already know where your present is, so I give you permission to go get it. Don't touch anything other than the handle of the door. Got it?" Severus smiled and nodded at least twenty times before running down the hall. Suddenly Octavian felt seriously concerned; nothing good could come from Severus in his room, but the army was only hours away, which meant no time to guard his room.

"Okay, first things first," he glanced back down the hall but shook his head. Whatever happened in there would be classified as 'Severus's fault' and Octavian knew the boy would know that, therefore he probably wouldn't do anything, unless…Octavian closed his eyes, no, if he kept going like that he'd be there all day pondering. He ate breakfast, had a bath, collected everything he needed and walked over to his mother's office.

She smiled as he reached her, but really it was as fake as the ones she gave Gwen. She was very good a fake smiles though, once he'd believed they had been true. "Octavian, baby, how are you?" She stood, across the table was a map of the city, a bit further away a map of the world. "Bine, Mama, how do the plans go?"

"Oh, they're all going well. I wish your father was more helpful though, honestly. He's calling for all the veterans to join the army again. Now what would happen if the senate approves that? Our society will become unstructured. But he doesn't care, always for the glory, your father, always for the glory."

"A little birdy told me why you really selected Gwendolyn as your apprentice." His mother smiled again, this time however it was half-true. "Octavian, honestly, 'little birdy', I know who told you. Why do you think I told him?" She sighed and leant against the table. "Have you come here to approve?" Octavian shook his head.

"I came here to question it, why her?"

"Gwendolyn…is a good choice, she was centurion, even if it was of the Fifth, as my apprentice her rank socially has gone up a lot. She is almost part of extensa familia. You understood why we need this right?" Octavian nodded, though he suspected her plans reached further than he knew. "For one, Severus is good friends with the girl." Octavian forced her face to remain blank, who the hell was the girl? "Also, with the likely hood of the graecus camp being rediscovered soon, and naturally the war that follows after would, I'd like to have the senate on one side. If Marius agrees of course," Rediscovered? He thought, he knew she knew she was only giving him half the information. Leaving him worse off than he had been before, but this was just a game, and Octavian was good at games.

"Is there a third reason?" His mother smile, "There is always another reason, even if one doesn't know it themselves." She touched his arm. "You should go, the army should be here soon, and you have had little sleep and too much wine." Octavian glanced away, looking for a mirror, was it that obvious? And he felt sober enough for it not to reflect. He nodded. "Good bye, Mama, and good luck." She smiled.

"Fortunatos, to you too." He walked away, feeling her eyes on him. Who was the girl? Did his mother know of another camp – a graecus camp – if so why had she not said anything before then? Why was he in the dark about everything? He found Hadrian in the area of the house reserved for training, most of it was outside but it was blocked from view from most people, it wasn't a nice place after the rest of the house. Hadrian had just started ripping target to shreds.

"Hadrian, do you know if Severus has a friend, who's a girl?" Hadrian stopped and looked at Octavian, his eyes showing a hint of worry. He nodded slowly. "Who?" Hadrian shook his head, slowly. "Ask Severus." Octavian scowled. "I'm asking you." Hadrian looked at his sword. "Tatiana." Octavian sucked in air and felt suddenly strange. Cyrus's little sister, was friends with…his little brother? Was that allowed? Was that…no, it would not happen. Octavian gestured for Hadrian to continue and went to find Cyrus.

Other things could wait, Severus had lied to him, and about a person Octavian had forbidden him from talking to unless he was insulting her, insults were fine. When it came to that family, insults were always fine. He asked anyone he saw, and found him within minutes. He guy was of average high, he had olive skin, and a permanent scowl on his face. "Oh, look whose coming." Octavian glanced at the three guys that were lounging in the sun. They held wooden swords, sharpened he was sure; those guys could kill if they wanted to. Octavian walked over to Cyrus not showing fear.

"I need to talk to you."

"Oh really?" Cyrus sat looking totally relaxed. "What have you come to offer me to pull out, hmm?"

"Nothing, I want to talk to you about your sister." Cyrus scoffed, leaning forward slightly his body showing his curiosity even if his expression didn't. "She's been fraternising with my youngest brother, I'm requesting you to stop her." Cyrus's eyes narrowed, he doesn't know. It seemed that the children had been pulling the wool over both of their eyes.

"And what if it's your stupid sibling fraternising with my sister, hmm?" Octavian smirked.

"If that was the case, why did I know about this first? My brother came to me, in a plea of distress, telling me to get rid of her. Now, I couldn't rightly do that as things are. So I've come to you, you either make her stop, or I will." Cyrus stood suddenly, and realised it was a bad idea, he was at least ten centimetre's shorter than Octavian. "Look you spineless-"

"I have warned you. Good bye. Oh, and I think you should take a trip to the public baths, clearly your own aren't working." Octavian walked passed him, smiling. Cyrus's minions stood as one but Cyrus stopped them from attacking, calling Octavian a few choice words before he was gone. Octavian was satisfied Cyrus would do what he said and he was happy it had gone smoothly, otherwise he'd had to have talked to the idiot for even longer, and talking to him was bad enough. On his way back home he ran into Aelia. "Salve, Tavian." Tavian? What in Hades is a Tavian? Is this an attempt of a nickname? Why me? Octavian gave her a flat look.

"It's Octavian, don't try to give me a nickname, I'm not interested." Aelia shook her head and patted his back. "Someday, I will find the prefect name, and you will thank me for my hard work." He doubted it, but refrained from comment. "Are you headed to the Senate house?"

"It's not for another hour."

"I know, do you want to…hang out?" She asked looking around from him. He frowned. "Ah, well, I guess. I actually need to talk to Hart though." Aelia stopped for a second then kept walking. "Oh! Alright." Octavian realised he'd said the wrong thing, which was unusual.

"Actually, Hart can wait. What were you thinking?" Aelia blinked. "I…ah, well. Just you know. Walk?" Octavian raised an eyebrow, this girl wasn't really acting the way she normally did. He was instantly suspicious and glanced around to see if anyone one was standing a few metres away and either laughing or watching them, no one, but that didn't stop him just being on full alert.

They walked slowly through the Forum. "So, what did you want?" He finally asked after minutes of silence. Aelia literally jumped. "Ah! That's a great question. I…well, you see-"

"Octavian! Here I heard I can't believe it. Thank you! Thank you! I'm forever indebted to you!" Rebecca Hart appeared out of nowhere, completely ignoring the glare Aelia was giving her and plunged into a heartfelt speak about leadership. "Excuse me." Aelia said cutting her off, the only word to describe her at that moment was pissed. "What do you think you're doing?" Rebecca blinked and then smirked.

"Well, excuse me, but I'm simply thanking Octavian for my selection as centurion of the First, which, if you didn't know, makes me your superior. So I'd rather you didn't use that tone, Centurion of the Second." She said it like being in the Second was like a curse and being a centurion was thinking the curse was a good thing. Octavian forced himself not to laugh; instead he gave Rebecca a quick look and shook his head ever so slightly. The girl instantly stepped away and gave Aelia an apologetic smile, Some more practice is she'll be a perfect right hand, he thought happy that most of the nominations had been for Hart, this girl was perfect.

"Sorry, Aelia, I have to talk to Hart, we have important things to discuss before her official promotion. Thank you for inviting me on this nice walk." He tried to keep the sarcasm from his voice, he couldn't help it, her expression was the best. "Sorry." He said was walked away, Rebecca followed, her head high her new position filling her with amorous pride. He smiled to himself, yes, this girl was the right choice.

They walked around the corner. "So, since you already know, I don't have a lot to tell you. I am, however required to instruct you on your duties as a centurion, especially of the First cohort, now I'm sure you know the basics," She nodded vigorously; she was truly a relief after Victoria. "So I'll just tell you about the things, you'll be in charge of. When it comes to giving punishments, I have a list of ones you can give, if anything is too serious, or you think another punishment is more appropriate, than you must consult me. You will be tasked with calling the roll, dealing with things such as bedding arrangements, and minor disputes. If someone from the other cohorts comes to you, you may not assist them in anything in anyway, without my permission. For these first weeks, I plan to show you the ropes, if I am, however, voted as Praetor, you will likely not be head centurion until you have at least won ten wargames in a row. After this, I will entrust the First to you."

She nodded seriously. "Well, we should get to the Senate Meeting, next year you may run for a position as senator, however you make watch the proceedings if you wish later,"

"Oh yeah, Victoria wasn't a senator." She said more curious than disdainful. Octavian nodded and checked the time. There was no need to rush so they walked slowly, he brought a snack and ate it in the way. "Rebecca, what carrier path are you thinking about going down?" Rebecca blinked and grinned. "Oh, I'm going into architecture, but my back up plan is politics." Octavian simply hmmed, then she started to ramble, he wasn't really listening but he made the appropriate noises hoping she'd get the message. By the time he got to their destination he was regretting his question, in fact he was regretting promoting her, he hadn't realised how stupid she was.

He sighed, where had the smart people all gone? They obviously weren't in New Rome that was for sure. "…Octavian, I know you're not listening to me, but I think Reyna is looking at you like she wants to have a serious talk. Are you going to go talk to her?" He glanced at Rebecca, and smiled. "Now why would I do that?" They entered the building and Octavian sent her up to the higher seats, she nodded and he thanked the gods she had the decency enough not to gawk. This Senate House was nothing compared to the originals.

He walked over to the empty chairs and felt like sitting on one just to spite Reyna, but he couldn't that was seem like he already knew he'd won, which of course he had, but that was beside the point. Instead he pulled out the only toy he'd brought, he doubted they would need it though; it was clear from his dream, and all the other signs, that today was the day the army of monsters lead by a son of Gaia was to march on them. No one looked happy when they came into the room. Reyna entered last and walked to the front. She looked over them all, her face a great show of strength which only hinted at weakness.

"Romans, the day has come for us to test our strength, however our ranks have recently been compromised. Today we promote Rebecca Hart to the rank of centurion of the First Cohort, Jiordan Rei is now her optio," A gasp echoed through the room, "Graham Cambridge a captain of 8, Marcus Quetria, captain of eight." A second gasp. "In the Third, Kelly Mark his temporarily recalled her position due to that fact she is suffering from a curse and will not be able to lead the attack; her replacement will be Will Ikeia. All those who are being promoted and…demoted. Please filled to the front thank you."

They stood, Victoria's optio stood in disgust and marched down to Reyna first. "This is uncalled for! It's a conspiracy. Reyna I can't go from a optio to a common soldier. It's unheard of. The next centurion should be me! What have I done wrong?" She asked, not Reyna but Octavian. Octavian simply raised an eyebrow. "It is what you haven't done, Abigail, you've been optio for a year and yet, nothing. It is time for others to get a chance, others…more worthy of rank." They was a general agreeing sounds from the senate and Abigail stared at the floor stunned.

Then suddenly she ran from the room, tears coming down her face. Reyna gave him a look but he shrugged. "These are hard times, Reyna, the legion has no use for officers like her." He said quietly to her. Reyna looked away. "Octavian," she gestured for him to transfer the ranks.

Octavian gave Jiordan an apologetic look, "Don't worry about the badge, everyone will know anyway. News travels so fast here."

"Why weren't you at Aelia's? It was great fun." He shrugged. "I was busy." She moved away and Reyna stepped forward, in her hand Victoria's old badge, she pinned it onto Rebecca Hart's shirt. "Congratulations, Rebecca." Rebecca smiled and hugged Reyna. Octavian rolled his eyes. Once that was over everyone climbed out, Reyna turned to him. "If you think placing her as a centurion is going to make me like you, your mistaken." Octavian scoffed and shook his head.

"Reyna, why should I care what you think of me, today of all days? I have picked the person I thought has the best ability, it was a tough decision you see, as my cohort is filled highly qualified people." Reyna scowled at him, he smirked. "Just so you know, while this impending doom approaches, I am putting our past behind me in hopes that you will lead us to victory. Please don't disappoint."

He walked away, wondering if he'd call him back. She didn't. Somehow, if he sad by that, he scowled and walked faster. The quicker he got away from that girl the better his sanity would be. Hadrian came to side. "Are you scared?" Hadrian asked, Octavian laughed. "Have I ever been scared?" Hadrian shook his head. "Never has an army marched."

"True, are you scared?"

"No." Octavian raised his eyebrow as if his point was proven. "And if I was scared then I wouldn't be the eldest, would I? No, you're going to have to do better than this." Hadrian nodded.

"The demi-gods say Death is freed." Octavian nodded. "The mission was a success."

"Only if they survive to bring back the eagle, I doubt it." But it might be our only hope. Octavian kept walking. Hadrian followed, he understood what wasn't said. He always understood what wasn't said, and what was said. Octavian pushed the thought away, as long as he could use his brother, it didn't matter what he could do. "Is everyone ready?" Hadrian nodded.

"Good." He said then, "Now we wait."

Please review thank you.

Please read rant:

I've just finished reading HoH and frankly I'm a bit disappointed. There are a lot of inconsistencies in the book and I felt the ending was rushed. One of the biggest things that's annoyed me in the book and taken a lot of the pleasure out of it was that I was wondering if some of these things would actually be explained later in the book, they weren't however and now I have to wait another year for Blood of Olympus, which would have been fine if the book met previous standards.

One of my major issues is the scene where Rachel refers to Octavian as a "Son of Apollo", now if this is because she's ignorant of the existence of legacies and doesn't think he would be one if she wasn't ignorant anyway. Now, as the Oracle you'd hope she'd have known something about this, but if she didn't I accept that, but what really threw me was Octavian just let it slid. So maybe he liked that she thought he was a demi-god, and some how he took that as a compliment, but I think he should have at least corrected her in saying something like, "Well actually I'm a legacy," or something along this lines.

What annoys me still is that the wiki is now taking a half-way approach to this in saying that he is a son of Apollo on some pages, but a legacy on others. Now as we all know, in previous books it has been clear that Octavian's family has been in New Rome for a long time. Now, I won't go into that idea that a god would of had to come see Octavian mother, while she was living in the camp, probably multiple times, for that match to even happen. And if his mother was a legacy and his father was a god, this logically makes him more than a half-blood, meaning he'd probably be pretty powerful and have lots of gifts. But he only has one. Now either the world is shitting on this guy or Riordan needs to clear this up

If any of you read this. Thank you.