A/N: Thanks to everybody who reviewed, especially DerangedOtakuFangirl who reviewed more than once and favourited (is that a word?) my story. Review some more and enjoy chapter 10.
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Jason
The Romans were divided into the Five Cohorts, with the First and Second Cohorts at the front. Each Cohort was larger than each of the Greek cabins and was arranged in a perfect square. The other three Cohorts followed behind the first two, completing some kind of backwards trident formation. Each Roman was armed with an Imperial gold spear and gladius. They carried rectangular Imperial gold shields and wore golden armour. Their heads were covered with golden Roman helms. Between the Cohorts, demigods, most likely Vulcan kids, manned large scorpion ballistae, cannons and various other heavy artillery weapons. In the air above, giant eagles carried Roman kids on their backs, some on their claws. A single pegasus bearing the Praetor was at the head of this areal cavalry. Centurions stood at the heads of their Cohorts shouting orders. The golden eagle, the Legion's standard was in the hands of a Centurion in the First Cohort. In front of the Cohorts was a single war elephant with a Kevlar vest. Amongst the Cohorts, Jason could see Trivia spellcasters with their spellbooks open and their staffs humming with power. Apollo archers were also among the Cohorts, their bows hidden under brilliant gold shields.
Jason watched the entire army march uphill towards the waiting Greek army. Jason almost couldn't watch. They were going to tear each other apart. The gods were going to have splitting migraines for weeks. Jason was Roman. He was supposed to look at this glorious army with pride, but he only had dread in his eyes. He couldn't pick sides. He wanted neither camp to win.
With a shout from the Greek cabin counsellors, the Greek army charged downhill, Greek kids screaming at the top of their lungs although Jason couldn't hear them. At the same time, the Roman army surged forward, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. The Greek cavalry galloped on the ground, with surprised Jason. Why weren't they flying? The answer came as the Roman eagles dove towards the Greek cavalry, looking to pick demigods of their steeds. Before the eagles reached, cannons and ballistae from the flying triremes were fired and blasted four giant birds out of the sky. Jason watched one tumble and roll in the dirt while the Roman riding it climbed off, seemingly unhurt. The eagle riders must have been enchanted by Trivia kids to prevent such attacks. Another Roman was not so lucky. His hand could be seen twitching from underneath his eagle, for the giant bird had fallen on him as they tumbled out of the sky.
More cannons were fired and more eagles fell, but some broke through and attacked the Greek cavalry. Greek kids waved swords and spears above their heads in hopes of driving the birds away, but to no avail. The birds scratched at their armour and pecked at their skulls, with Romans hacking with their gladii from the birds' backs. Greek Apollo archers fired a volley of arrows at the Second Cohort and Roman Apollo kids fired back. Some of the arrows clashed in mid-air, some Greek arrows fell on Roman shields and some Roman arrows fell on Greek shields. Others found their mark. A flaming arrow from the Romans hit one of the triremes, causing it to crash into the ground. Hephaestus campers who could still walk jumped off and ran to join the fight. Meanwhile, the demigods on foot charged each other and half-way down Half-Blood hill they clashed. The Second Battle of Half-Blood Hill had officially begun.
It was utter chaos. More than four hundred ADHD kids were trying to kill each other. Celestial bronze met Imperial gold as the Greeks and Romans battled to the death. Jason watched as the Aphrodite/Demeter unit in phalanx formation tried to skewer the Third Cohort with their long spears. He knew that in the Legion, the Venus kids fought as well, and that they were more experienced at fighting than the Aphrodite kids. Magical weapons crackled with electricity and fire, some even changing forms. Overhead, the sky above the aerial battle churned and twisted as thunderclouds brought a fierce magical storm. From the Greek side, Hecate spellcasters conjured up an intense blizzard and aimed it at the Legion, which was impressive considering it was still summer. Trivia spellcasters retaliated by summoning a thunderstorm worthy of Jupiter. The two forces of nature clashed and battled, leaving some demigods blown away in their wakes. The Legion's standard gave the Romans morale, but did not electrocute any Greeks like legend states. The Greeks released Peleus the dragon who terrorised the Fourth Cohort, but the Romans battled the fierce dragon until it crumbed to fine dust. Jason felt horror rise up to his throat like bile. The death of Peleus made him realise just how serious the situation was. Heroes were going to fall, people he knew would die, if they were not already dead.
His two homes were destroying each other.
From the Greek side of the hill the Hunters of Artemis emerged and joined the battle. Jason watched his sister Thalia lead the hunters with a grim expression. From the Roman side the Amazons climbed the hill and headed for the Greek hunters. The first immortal girls to battle were Queen Hylla and Thalia, their blades locked in mortal combat. The triremes directed their fire towards the Roman artillery which gave the Greek cavalry a chance to gallop into the sky to battle the eagles. Jason saw Bobby on eagleback aim a spear at Butch's chest…
…and the image changed to a modern city with Romanesque buildings mixed with the modern architecture. It took Jason a couple of seconds to realise which city he was looking at. It was Campobasso, the city they were in right now. Jason let out a breath. At least they were on the right track. The image was dark. The city was illuminated in bright lights indicating that it was night-time. A particular building caught Jason's eye as the knife focused on it. It had the word Mario's in bright neon lights and a long line of people, mostly young women, grew from the entrance. Jason heard Piper intake a breath.
"It's a nightclub," she said, surprise showing on her face. "Why is a nightclub relevant to our mission?"
"I'm not complaining," Leo said. "The Fates probably figured we need a break and are rewarding us..."
A scowl from Piper caused him to lapse into silence. Jason continued to watch the surface of the knife. At the head of the line stood a group of girls that looked about a year or two older than them. They were chatting excitedly and giggling. All were dressed in revealing party outfits. One of them in particular caught Jason's eye. She looked younger than her friends yet she was clearly the group leader. She was, funny enough, wearing a striped soccer jersey with black jeans. The knife focused on her features for a few seconds…
…and the image changed to a familiar-looking ancient Roman city overlooking a mountain. The city was in ruins, its columns stunted and covered in solidified ash. Jason saw one ruined building sitting directly in line with the hazy mountain. It was a temple of Jupiter. Jason's gaze was drawn, not by the city, but by the mountain itself. It seemed to be shaking and trembling with rocks tumbling down its sides. Thick black smoke billowed out of it, forming a ghastly tree in the sky. Like a mushroom cloud, Jason thought. The smoke became thicker, the cloud-tree larger. Suddenly the mountain peak exploded. Liquid fire poured out of it, exploding like deadly soup left for too long on the flames. The sight was spectacular. Jason had seen volcanic eruptions before, he had gone on a quest once to Hawaii. But this one was different. For one, a giant rose from the fiery depths of the mountain. He looked larger than the twin giants they had fought in Rome. In fact, he looked almost Porphyrion's height. He was completely encased in lava, his hair braided with pieces of volcanic rock that glowed red in the heat of the eruption. He extended a hand to the heavens and opened his mouth in a fierce roar, and the image disappeared and the knife took on its normal hue.
The demigods returned to their respective seats. Jason sat next to Piper. There was brief silence as they thought about what they had seen. Leo broke the silence.
"This is bad," he said. "The camps are tearing each other to pieces. By the time the statue reaches camp, it will already be too late."
Everyone looked distraught by the battle they had just witnessed.
"So what do we do now?" Frank asked.
"We continue forward," Piper answered him. "We head for Athens."
"What about the last image?" asked Hazel. "What does it mean?"
Piper frowned slightly. "I don't know. The knife doesn't only show present images. It can also show the past…and the future."
Jason looked his girlfriend with sympathy. He knew how seeing the future made her feel. It disturbed her to see all these things, knowing that she couldn't do anything to prevent them. But something told him he should know that city. And that mountain.
"I don't think it's the past," he said. "Anything Piper has seen to do with the giants has been in the future. Besides, I haven't heard of any volcanic eruptions recently."
"It's not like we need to go there, right?" Leo said. "I mean, it's not like we always need to be where giants are."
"I think we have to, Leo," Jason answered him. "That lava giant may cause an eruption that could kill thousands of people."
"Jason's right," Nico said. "Your quest is to defeat the giants. It makes sense to seek them out."
"Problem is," Frank started, "we don't know where this giant is."
Pieces were starting to fall together in Jason's mind.
"I think I know where it is," he told them. "A volcanic mountain, in Italy presumably, there's one famous one. Mount Vesuvius. I think we have to travel to Pompeii."
"Pompeii?" Piper asked. "I've never heard of it. But I do know where Mount Vesuvius is. It's towards the south. Looks like we're headed in the right direction."
"Seems so. Pompeii was an ancient Roman city that was destroyed by the volcano. What I don't know is why the lava giant has his lair there. The city has been in ruins for centuries. It's not like there's much people to destroy."
"Hang on," Hazel said. "I don't think Pompeii is the only city around the mountain. There's more modern cities now."
"Yeah," Piper agreed. "Naples was built near the mountain."
Jason felt his stomach drop. Naples was a major city with millions of people. If the volcano was to erupt…
"Who is this lava dude anyway?" Leo asked.
"I think we're about to find out," Jason replied. He told them about his encounter with Juno. He placed the piece of paper she had given him on the table. "It's the next prophecy. Let's find out what it's says." He unfurled the piece of paper and began reading it aloud.
"Foes bear arms at the Doors of Death
An oath to keep with a final breath
Two half-bloods bear a hero's curse
With heroes' blood the king is nursed
A giant clad in a molten gown
The Eldest rise where shadows drown."
There was silence as they all thought about what the prophecy meant. Jason's mind was in turmoil. Here was the hero's curse again. Was it that important for him to accept Juno's blessing? What would happen if he did accept?
"Oh great," Leo said at last. "Now we have to go to lava guy."
'A giant clad in a molten gown," Hazel said. "That must be the lava giant. But who is he?"
Frank looked deep in thought. "It must be the giant born to oppose Vulcan. Or Apollo."
"Whoever he is, he must be stopped," Piper said, and sighed slightly. "This prophecy is more confusing than the last. Who are the Eldest? What king will be nursed?"
"Yeah," Leo agreed. "And what's this hero's curse? It doesn't sound very good."
Jason took a deep breath. He had to tell his friends.
"Um, guys?" he started. "I think I may have an idea about what that is." He told them the rest of Juno's message.
"So you have the hero's curse?" Frank asked.
"Not yet," Jason replied. "Juno said she will give it to me when the time was right."
"When the time is right?" Leo asked incredulously. "Is there a right time to receive a curse?"
"It's not a negative curse, Leo," Jason said. "It's more like a gift. At least that's what Juno said."
"So Jason's the first half-blood with a curse," Hazel said. "Who's the second?"
They all looked around at each other.
"I hope it's not me," Leo said. "After the fortune cookie incident, I really do not need more bad luck."
"It could be anyone," Piper said. "It could even be Nico."
Everyone turned to look at the son of Hades. He shook his head.
"It can't be me," he said. "I'm just a guide. I'm not part of the prophecy. It has to be one of you guys."
Jason wanted to argue with him, but what he said made sense.
"Look, we'll worry about the curse later." He paused. "Juno also mentioned di indigetes. They might help us with fighting the giants, since the gods are still incapacitated."
"di what?" Frank asked.
"di indigetes. Traditional Roman gods that were not influenced by the Greeks. We still need a god to help us with the lava giant. Maybe they could help."
"Maybe they could," Piper said. "But hopefully by the time we reach Epirus the gods will have snapped out of it and join the fight."
"It would be nice to fight alongside my dad," Leo added.
Jason could only nod. He had never seen Jupiter in person, much less fought alongside him. The Romans rarely saw their immortal parents, and if they did it was for some important quest. No Roman has ever been to Olympus. The closest Jason has ever been to his dad was when Jupiter helped him defeat Enceladus and injure Porphyrion. Apparently the Greeks could stay in contact with their parents. All Jason could get was a stepmom that was planning to curse him.
"Yeah," Frank agreed. "But in the meanwhile we're alone. What about Percy and Annabeth? Why didn't the knife show them to us?"
The mood around the table was grim. The last they had heard of the pair they were in deep dark Tartarus fighting an unkillable giant spider. Who knew what they were doing now.
"Maybe this is good news," Hazel said uncertainly. "Maybe the knife only shows them they are in danger."
Jason wanted to believe Hazel. He really did. Too bad the other child of the Underworld had other ideas.
"I doubt it," Nico said. "They'll be extremely lucky to go for this long without getting captured." Nico ran his hand through his messy hair nervously. "Something else I forgot to mention." All eyes were on him now. "If Annabeth and Percy stay in Tartarus for longer than five days, they'll be stuck there…"
Jason's face blanched. "Forever?" he managed to say.
Nico nodded grimly, his pale face illuminated harshly by the room's lights.
"Then we have to do something," Hazel almost shrieked. "We have to leave this city now."
"We can't," Jason said. "Not yet. We still need to find that girl in the knife."
"You mean that really hot one with bad fashion sense?" Leo said. "Does anybody know who she is?"
It was clear none of them had ever met this girl.
"She's probably another mortal brought back by Gaea to make our lives a misery," Piper said. "But I suppose we have to go check her out."
"I know I'd like to," Leo said with a slight grin. "Anyone else want to come with me?"
"No thanks," Hazel said. "I'll stay here. Why don't you guys go," she motioned at Leo, Frank and Nico, "since you got to relax while we went shopping."
"I think I'll sit this one out," Nico said. "I need a nap right about now."
"I'll go with them," Jason volunteered. He didn't like the idea of sitting back with the others went on this mini-quest. He was their leader, after all. He glanced at Piper, to see if she wanted to come as well, but she shook her head and gave him a look that said, it's fine go ahead.
Leo rubbed his hands mischievously. "Alright boys," he said to Frank and Jason. "Let's go clubbing."
A/N: I'm not too sure about the dialogue in this chapter. It took me the entire morning to write it out. Tell me what you think. Next chapter, real trouble begins and we finally find out what this curse of Juno really is, so stay tuned!