Ch.13
A young girl with dark skin and a young Asian boy were huffing as they carried an unconscious man over the magical barrier that protected their home and refuge. He was heavier than the duo had originally thought. A fact the Asian boy grumbled under his breath about.
To say he was surprised when he saw his petite partner trying desperately to move the three times bigger, muscular male would be a complete understatement. When Hazel had told him what had happened, he was reluctant. However, with a few flutters of her eyelashes and a puppy dog face, he caved and crouched down to help her.
Hazel was apprehensive. Something about this man made her incredibly nervous and jumpy, to say the least.
The power she was able to sense within him shocked her. The rolling waves of unbridled potency should be impossible, considering he appeared to be a demigod. But then again, she had seen many things in her life that looked normal… and moments later they had tried to eat her. But she had not seen evil in his sea-green and gold feline-like eyes. Only confusion.
So, even though her mind screamed at her to call Reyna and have her deal with the situation, Hazel decided to go with her gut and bring him into camp. She just couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not. But she had a feeling that she would soon find out.
As Frank and Hazel dragged the man through the city streets, people, and quite a few fauns, glanced their way with looks of confusion and utter bewilderment. It must have been a strange sight. A tiny girl and an average Asian boy, both in Roman war armor, supporting a huge and unconscious man.
After an hour of traversing the streets and shops, and weaving through crowds of people, a winded Frank and Hazel stopped in front of an ornate building. The building was massive and regal, with two intricate, white columns that held an equally impressive overhead ledge that protected the two armored guards posted on either side of the large double doors from the sun. When the two halted in front, wheezing from the weight and exertion in full armor, the guard on the left sighed,
Loudly.
"What do you want this time, Hazel?" He asked in an annoyed tone. The guard's dislike for the younger girl was crystal clear. The older boy's face may have been hidden behind his helm, but the Asian boy could practically see the boy's sneer by the way he addressed Hazel.
Frank stood straight and puffed out his chest, "Hey-"
"It's fine Frank." Hazel cajoled softly. With her hand gently squeezing his shoulder Frank's hard gaze softened, his figure relaxing as he gave her a nod and a small smile.
Hazel straightened her spine and hardened her eyes, allowing her partner take the full weight of the young man as she stepped forward to confront the guard. Frank's eyes widened beneath his helmet as he struggled to hold the man up right.
'What is this guy made out of? Iron?' Frank knew he couldn't have been far off.
"We have found an unconscious demigod outside the borders. We request a word with Praetors Reyna and Jason, Cress." She spoke, glaring at the armored figure who sneered at her.
The two guards glanced at one another, having a silent debate. The one who had not yet spoken shrugged.
"How do you know he's a demigod?" The one called Cress asked, turning his attention back to Hazel.
"He spoke to me before he passed out. He said 'Camp Jupiter'." The dark skinned girl responded in a matter-of-fact tone. Frank grunted and nodded his agreement. Even though he wasn't present at the time, he would always agree with Hazel.
Cress narrowed his eyes in contemplation before nodding. Hazel smiled her thanks, taking Percy's left arm and helping Frank carry the demigod through the now opened doors.
The duo continued through a hallway decorated with a wide variety of weaponry and trophies from past battles and wars. When they came to a stop in front of a large desk with papers and scrolls stacked upon each other, they noticed that a sliver of black stone, about the size of Frank's forearm, was encased in a glass case. The last relic of Saturn's throne. They had been told of the war by older campers. How Jason fought hand to hand with a Titan and won. They were told multiple time by cohorts one and two how they fought off what seemed to be thousands of monsters. If only they knew Percy's track record.
On either side of the desk, two canine statues stood guard, one gold and one silver. Their metal eyes watched each movement made by the two demigods.
When Frank had first been brought here, to this room, he remembered having been incredibly unnerved by the dogs. Overtime, however, he has become accustomed to them. In fact, he kind of thought they were cute. Taking his eyes off of the dogs, he scanned the room for any signs of life. Other than Hazel and the unconscious boy they were supporting, that is. His gaze finally landed on the area behind the desk where two high-backed chairs sat. Those tall, leathery chairs were clearly meant for two people of great importance, but only one was occupied at the moment.
A dark-haired girl with long and straight brunette hair and a slightly upturned nose stood from her seat. The seventeen-year-old brushed back her deep purple cape as she asked, "Who is this?", while gesturing toward Percy. The demigod's long, dark raven hair fell over his face, preventing anyone from seeing it.
Hazel shifted slightly from side to side on her feet.
"Well, I don't know his name, Praetor Reyna." She replied with her head cast down. Reyna's thin eyebrow rose slightly while crossing her arms over her chest.
Frank quickly glanced to his left; seeing Hazel's terrified expression melted his heart. "Praetor Reyna," He covered, garnering his superior's attention. "It was I who found him."
Hazel snapped her head up and looked at Frank in shock. Before she could speak, Reyna began.
"What do you mean 'found him'?" She demanded with narrowed coal-black eyes as she absentmindedly stroke the dogs' heads when they had begun to growl.
Reyna knew he was lying to cover for the daughter of Pluto because he was crushing on the girl hard. Despite what most of the legionnaires or her subordinates thought of her, Reyna did in fact have a soft heart beneath the cold, hard exterior that made her the great leader she is. So, Reyna decided not to call him out on it, a fact for which Frank was forever grateful for.
Frank cleared his throat. "I was on watch when he crawled through the underbrush. He immediately collapsed in front of me. I didn't know if it was a trick or not, so I drew my blade and cautiously approached him. This man looked up at me and whispered 'Camp Jupiter', before he blacked out." Frank had kept shifting his grip on the male's arm. He needed a break from carrying this sack of muscle.
Reyna nodded before she looked at Hazel. "And where were you during all of this?" She questioned, her tone hard.
Hazel chewed her lip nervously, her gaze downward. "I um... I was..."
"I told her to scout the surrounding area."
Both girls looked at Frank as he broke in. The daughter of Pluto gave him a relieved smile, gratitude shining in her eyes. Frank returned her smile with one of his own. Reyna looked between the two, as a small pang of jealousy shot through her.
How she wished she had someone that would selflessly take blame for her like Frank did for Hazel. The Praetor shook her head and cleared her mind of flowery thoughts. She was not here for romance. She was here to protect her people and serve the Legion with honor. Reyna opened her mouth to speak when a painful groan caught their attention.
Percy groaned as his eyes slowly fluttered open. He looked around, confusion clear as day in his eyes. Hazel and Frank slowly lowered him onto the floor. When they were sure he was not going to do anything stupid, or fall, they released their hold on him. Percy sat on the ground and rubbed his head and abdomen, moving his eyes around the room and unconsciously searching for any immediate threats.
"Where am I?" He groaned, glancing at the three flustered teenagers in front of him.
He smiled at Hazel, remembering how she had tried to help him when he fainted… Well, after drawing her sword on him. She blushed but smiled back, causing Frank to huff in annoyance. Hazel was slightly taken back by his fangs, but decided to speak to him later about it. Whenever she got the chance, that is.
Percy looked at Frank next. He smiled at the Asian boy, but it turned into a frown when Frank crossed his arms and turned his head away.
Finally, Percy's gaze landed on Reyna, who had a dangerous scowl on her face. Percy tilted his head at her, like a confused pup, with that same beautifully confused smile on his face. Reyna stared at his overly large canines. He did not have them the last time she had seen him, a fact she took note of.
"Where am I?" He repeated again, his tone kind and friendly, like he wasn't in the heart of enemy territory. Percy put his hands on the floor in front of him, and slowly but surely made his way off the floor and onto his feet.
"Camp Jupiter." Reyna snapped harshly. Percy took a step back and it was his turn to frown before his eyes lit up in recognition. Reyna bit back a startled gasp when she caught sight of them. They were breathtaking and abnormally beautiful. She had never seen human eyes in that particular shape, nor with that particular shade of sea-green which had been deliciously mixed with molten gold and silver.
"Oh yeah! Lady Lupa did mention this place." He brushed off the rudeness. Percy's eyes, which had been darting around the room at a faster than normal pace, finally settled on the small metal dogs resting on the desk. Strange as it sounded to others, and even stranger to the small group of Romans in the room, the normally vicious-to-strangers dogs seemed to find this demigod's presence enlightening. The dogs even looked like they were smiling at the young man, much to Hazel's and Frank's surprise.
They glanced at each other but Frank shrugged, not having a single clue as to why the dogs were behaving the way they did.
Reyna was snapped out of her eye-induced stupor when she heard him speak.
'So he is a demigod,' she mused, and returned to her seat. The female Praetor clasped her hands on her desk, attempting to form a pyramid of intimidation.
"So… Lady Lupa sent you." It was more of a statement than a question, but Percy nodded as he took a seat in a simple wooden chair that sat in front of the Praetor's desk.
Reyna leant forward in her chair.
"Okay, then who is your godly parent?" She asked as she ran her intense eyes over him. From his unruly raven hair to his worn high-top sneakers, Reyna tried to guess exactly where his godly DNA had come. But no matter how hard she tried to pinpoint it, Reyna came to the same conclusion as the wolf goddess.
Percy shrugged, "No clue." Frank's eyes widened while Hazel gasped. Reyna just raised her eye brow at him.
"You don't know who your godly parent is?" She asked skeptically. Percy smiled and shook his head. His fangs flashing in the afternoon light. "What do you know then?" Her tone hard. A thoughtful look clouded his face for a moment before he spoke.
"Nothing other than my name and that I'm a demigod." He said softly. His hand wondered to the back of his neck as he rubbed in a nervous habit. Reyna glanced at Argentum and Aurum, waiting for the growl as signal of his lie, but they just looked at him, tails wagging like crazy. To say she was dumbfounded would be an understatement. Never in her time being at camp has she seen the dogs act like that towards anyone, well other than her. Casting that thought to the side, she looked at the demigod before her more closely.
"What is your name?" She asked sharply.
"Perseus Jackson. Call me Percy, though. And what may I call you?" He replied. Reyna held back a flinch, 'So it really is him.' She thought glumly. Could she not catch a break for gods sake?
Reyna sighed as she rubbed her temples. "Reyna. Praetor Reyna." Percy displayed his understanding with a small smile.
The Praetor looked sharply at Hazel, "Will you mind showing him around new Rome?" She asked hopefully. Hazel's eyes widened and nodded vigorously.
"Good. But before you go, Percy," She turned her black gaze onto him, and ended up staring into the endless swirl of silver, gold and green.
"Do you wish to join the Legion and serve new Rome?"
Even before he answered, she knew what he would say. His muscled, tanned body gave it away; one doesn't get that kind of body without hard work put into creating it. The small scars that also adorned his body (what she could see of it) showed he was a warrior, and a brave one at that.
"Sure." He said with a lazy shrug. Reyna rolled her eyes at his carefree attitude before she waved them away with her hand.
Just as they turned to walk out the double doors, Reyna shouted after them.
"Be at the arena before dinner for your entrance test. It's high time we get to see what you're capable of, and how well you will fit into the Roman Legion."
Hazel led the star-struck Percy down the hall, eyes glued to the many artifacts that adorned the bare spaces on the walls. Frank rolled his eyes at Percy while the daughter of Pluto giggled into her hands. When the group finally made it outside, Percy gazed at the different buildings with an open mouth.
Some buildings looked similar to shrines with statues and mosaics that depicted characteristics of specific gods. Others looked like they were built for decorative purposes. The city below them was bustling with life as people, both young and old, swarmed the streets, heading into shops or browsing the stands at the open markets.
Hazel nudged him back to reality with her shoulder. Percy snapped out of his reverie and closed his mouth, looking at her with a blush deep enough to light his cheeks aflame with a blood red.
"I'm Hazel Levesque, and that pouting fellow over there is Frank Zhang." She began with a smile.
Percy grinned sheepishly and chuckled nervously, "Hello! I'm Percy, but you already know that."
She took his hand and practically dragged the wide-eyed male behind her as she ran off into New Rome. "Come on! I'll show you around."
Frank followed behind reluctantly with a glum expression on his face. He didn't want to go and he didn't want Hazel to go either, but Praetor Reyna issued a direct order that Hazel would be stupid to disobey, especially after the narrow brush with punishment earlier.
He would also be damned if he was going to leave his Hazel alone with some strange guy.
Percy stood outside the arena with Hazel. The setting sun casting a glow around the daughter of Pluto that creating an almost ethereal halo around her but Percy was to busy staring off in the distance and trying to push past the fog in his head to notice. He tried this time to time throughout the day, or whenever he had gotten a spare moment, but he never seemed to get anywhere.
"So, are you ready?" Hazel asked him. Percy glanced at her and nodded, a small smile on his lips. He slid the hand that wasn't shielding his eyes from the blazing sun into his pocket, and was immediately comforted when he felt himself rubbing the familiar, smooth surface of Riptide.
"Yeah. I'm ready." He replied with fierce determination in his eyes. The unusual duo made their way inside where Hazel took a seat in the stands with her cohort.
Percy walked into the middle of the arena. All around him, Romans chatted with one another, laughing and goofing around.
Percy smiled. They looked so happy and calm. If he passed this test, he could get used to that.
Percy was brought out of his thoughts when the crowd went silent as Reyna walked into the arena. She made her way to her seat, one of an elaborately sculpted set of two high-backed chairs placed at the head of the stands.
Reyna cleared her throat, "Today, we have a new recruit for the legion!" She yelled loud enough for all to hear. "His name is Perseus Jackson!"
A chorus of mirth and cheers erupted throughout the crowd. Many began to take bets on how long Percy would last. The bookies grins threatened to split their faces; they looked as if they had struck gold.
'Fool's.' Reyna was thoroughly amused at this point.
She raised a hand, effectively silencing the roaring crowd. "First up, Cassy from cohort five."
A lean girl with waist length brown hair and kaleidoscope eyes stood up in her seat from the front of the crowd and made her way down to stand in front of Percy. Her lightweight armor glinted menacingly in the soft light of the setting sun as she moved. Cassy looked him over, assessing his abilities. A hand made its way to her hip.
"You're not going to wear any form of armor?" She asked in a southern accent.
Percy smirked. "Nope."
Cassy watched him for a moment, trying to see if he was joking or not. When his smirk didn't fade, she shrugged and drew her golden gladius. The girl frowned when Percy withdrew a pen from his pocket.
Cassy opened her mouth to ask if he was serious when the writing utensil clicked and quickly grew into a large, celestial bronze blade. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Percy's smirk became sinister as he felt the adrenaline rush begin.
The soft glow from Riptide cast shadows over his face, making him intimidating. His sharp, white fangs peeked out from his blood-red lips, adding to the effect. Percy loved the smell Cassy gave off; apprehensiveness and just a sliver of fear. It was intoxicating.
Cassy's face hardened with determination as she took a defensive stance, while Percy held Riptide at his side, both awaiting the signal to begin.
Reyna watched carefully as Percy's demeanor took on a predator-like quality. The lines in his face cut a cruel edge that was only enhanced by his reptilian eyes.
The Praetor raised a hand before letting it drop. "Begin!"
Cassy ripped the shield from her back as Percy beckoned her with two fingers.
"Come at me."
A/N: You can thank my wonderful and talented beta, Wordsequalmight. She made this chapter hundreds times better then the original. She really has a way with words. Any ways, let me know what you think about this chapter. We are finally getting into some action and starting to move the plot along. Well, until next chapter.
'Spread chaos in my name and you shall be gifted...'