Honestly, I don't know why i took so long to write this. Sorry.

Later on, This chapter includes a time skip to november.

When she found Nico, she immediately went to tell him the news. But it seemed that he was confused about the commotion in camp and he himself asked Cinta, frowning, "what's going on? Who's missing?"

Cinta looked at him sadly, and sighed. "Jason," she answered. "Do you know anywhere he would be? I mean, you travel a lot don't you? " she asked that, regardless of that she knew Nico wouldn't know.

The son of Pluto shook his head. "No, when did he disappear?"

"The night you went to visit Hazel." She then realized it slightly sounded as if she was implying something Octavian would. "But, he disappeared unusually. "

Nico considered her words carefully. He stared at Cinta, and pointed out nonchalantly, "you don't seem so worried."

Ah. Her eyes slightly rounded, turning her head away. "If….if he isn't dead, I think that's enough." she hesitated, "He isn't dead, Right?"

Nico paused, trying to sense Jason's live force. But he felt something preventing him. He blurted, "what?"

Cinta's head snapped to look at him. "What do you mean 'what'? Is there something wrong?"

"I..well, it's just that–"

"It feels like something making you unable to sense him?"

Nico jumped at Lavelle's sudden appearance, staring widely at the amount of butterflies surrounding him. Meanwhile, Cinta just smiled tiredly and patted his head. "Hi, little brother. "

Nico felt something in his chest clench uncomfortably, as if enviousa, as if he was reminded of his sist– he shook his head, as if trying to make the thought disappear, and asked, "you feel it too?"

Lavelle nodded, his loose blond bangs drooping slightly. "It's troublesome. Very annoying. "

He said that, but Cinta knew he was awfully bothered by it. She sighed, "Well, if you both can't sense him, this is a really big problem. " As if it wasn't before.

Nico shifted his weight stiffly, frowning. "I could check if his soul is in the Underworld," he offered.

He got a disproving shake of Cinta's head, her hand on his shoulder after some hesitation. "No, Nico. You don't have to. " she knew that Jason shouldn't be dead at the very least. "Besides, gods know who many dead people are there. Won't it take years to just check there? Anyways, you can just help by searching the places where you go, " like camp half-blood "i don't know, maybe he's just leaving to grab some McDonald's. "

Lavelle and Nico looked skeptical at her try at a lighthearted joke, but didn't point it out. The son of Pluto nodded. "Alright, I'll do my best."

"Thank you," she said sincerely, smiling. "Nico."

~••~

With her finger circling a strand of dark-brown hair, Cinta whispered, her breath on Reyna's neck, "it's frustrating. "

Not turning her head, Reyna replied, "What is?"

"I don't know," she sighed, letting go of the piece of hair. "Why did he have to disappear now? Things were.." a pause. "We were getting better, or at least, camp was."

Reyna shifted her body to face her lover, her hand on the face buried in her neck. "It seems we can't be given a break, can we?"

Breathing out a sigh, hot air brushing Reyna's skin, Cinta said, "I'm glad I have you by my side."

"Don't you mean you're glad to have me beside you on my bed?"

Cinta flushed, but not turning away in embarrassment. "Stop, I'm the one that's supposed to be flirting. You can't do this to me."

Reyna laughed.

~••~

Cinta sighed, stepping inside the male Praetor's room in Principia.

She didn't visit Jason's room often, probably just knocking on the door to find him once in a while, but even so, it just looks soo empty. She knew Jason isn't in total danger – unless she counts being in the clutches of a shitty queen of the gods (which really should be considered the worst of worst.) – so she wasn't that worried. Though don't ask Reyna that, she'll beg to differ.

If she recalls right, Jason should meet Piper and Leo, arrive at camp, start his quest three days after Percy's own disappearance – and that should be in December… she shouldn't worry till next month. She won't be too concerned. Yep.

"What are you doing, Cinta?"

Cinta turned her head to look at the only possible person that would be in the Principia without their permission, Reyna. Cinta smiled sadly, "reminiscing, " if staring at an empty room of a missing friend counts as that.

"hm?"Reyna raised an eyebrow, then sighed. "We still can't find Jason anywhere in San Francisco. Though if we assume that it is a work of something or someone Devine, I am certain they wouldn't have made it easy for us to sniff around and find him hiding in some random bush."

( One of the team that was a part of searching Jason shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Reyna, Cinta. There's literally no sigh of him anywhere. And the Venti aren't making it easier to search by air."

Reyna paused, considering his report, then answered, "Alright then. You are dismissed. "

The scout nodded and turned away, exiting the Principia.

The praetor turned her head to Cinta. "What do you think?"

Asking for Cinta's opinion, a sign that Reyna is..

Cinta tried for a reassuring smile, but said, "it's a bad situation. But… as long as he is not found dead, we will continue. "

Though, she knew very well that it is a hopeless search.

Reyna scowled. "Well, Obviously," she sighed tiredly.

"Reyna," Cinta said carefully, eyes drifting to the clock. "it's getting late. You should rest."

Reyna looked up from her desk, slightly dark shadows under her eyes. Cinta felt something inside her saddened, but chuckled, "if you continue to lose sleep you're going to have a major resemblance to Nico soon, Reyna. "

Her girlfriend grimaced, then buried her face in her palms. "Why would you say that?"

"Well," Cinta brought her hand on Reyna's braid, bringing it near her face, "if you don't want me to compare you to a racoon, rest." She kissed Reyna's temple.

"Fine." )

Ruby pupils glanced back at Reyna's greyhounds behind her. "Would you like for me to order a search outside of San Francisco?"

"Well," Reyna contemplated. "...yes."

Cinta gave a small smile, nodding. "Of course. "

Turned away, heading to find her little brother, she considered just trying to convince Reyna to stop searching for Jason. Her 'Victoria judges' told her that it is a waste of manpower, and pointless. While her 'Cupid and Psyche side' whispered that she should try harder. But why should she? She already knew that Jason is hidden from camp and the other gods by Juno. But still–

She sighed.

Changing the original plot, or whatever the fates planned is risky. A gamble. But hey, gambles are her thing. And so, the real reason she went to find her brother was to see if he sensed new arrivals, one particularly named Frank Zhang.

Cinta stepped near where her brother stood, just a meter from the gate. Lavelle didn't turn to greet her. Cinta directed her gaze to see what her brother seemed to closely stare at something afar. And she met with a small silhouette of a person, growing larger and larger as they went closer. Realizing it's a potential camper, Cinta raised her hands, cupping her mouth, and shouted, "hey! You there, get in here!"

Even though there weren't any obvious monsters near them, It was clear that the person should be tired, walking all the way from the wolf house. Nearing the pair of siblings, Cinta deemed the person to seem somewhat male; a dreadful bald head and a large build. The thing that stood out, though, was the bow on his back. Not many romans were archers, since only few roman gods use a bow (e.g Apollo, Cupid). It would be curious to see who's their parentage -the dude doesn't look like the average Apollo kid. No eyes that go golden in sunlight, or the typical blond hair‐ he was obviously of Asian descent, with a baby face that doesn't quite match with his large build,(but hey! Cinta isn't one to body shame) now that he's right in front of her.

Cinta tired for a receptionist smile. "Welcome, to camp Jupiter! What's your name, and do you know your parentage?"

Awkwardly standing, the guy said, causing the widening of Cinta's eyes,

"I'm Frank Zhang. And, um, is there someone in charge that I could talk to?"

~••~

After Cinta led Frank to the Principia, asking Lavelle to not follow in, much to his dismay, she tried not to look awkward watching Frank 'beg forgiveness' awkwardly for his ancestor, obviously not knowing what Shen Lun did. Examining him now, Frank doesn't hold much resemblance to the other son of Mars that Cinta knew. Arnold was confident and sure, but Frank just looked as if he wanted to run away from both of them, from camp Jupiter.

And Cinta's lips twitched proudly when Reyna told him, "I judge people by their own merits, But do not mention the name Shen Lun to anyone else. It must remain our secret, or you'll be treated badly. "

Frank's gaze shifted to the other girl in the room, and Cinta smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. I always obey my praetors."