Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this chapter- and Reyna shows that she has a heart, yay! Also- she is secretly kinda terrified of the girl who once flooded her home.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Bellerophon gave her the diadem in Elysium- she wore it to Theseus' party when Bianca showed up. And I will say Leo won't be getting possessed and causing trouble.
The Official Clarisse: Bellerophon gave it to her in Elysium and she was wearing it when Bianca brought her back to life if that helps!
Weirdhead: Percy is just offended that people think she looks like a Greg.
Loki the necrogod: You shall have to wait and see with my plans for Tartarus- it should be very angsty and fun.
Guest: The diadem and the band were gifts from Bellerophon and Helen, which she wore to Theseus' party.
Guest: Percy doesn't remember it, but she can feel in her gut that she's been in worse situations- besides at least they might not want her dead lol. And the sign is actually in the book, I take the descriptions from the books so yeah, that's something Rick wrote.
Drizzle: Bellrophon gave the diadem as a gift.
Percy felt tension easing out of her shoulders in a rush as Reyna stood, "For the record, next time I'd like to take a polygraph-" she eyed the dogs wearily as Reyna started to pace in front of the banners- and the dogs just watched as their mistress moved back and forth.
"Even if I accept that you're not an enemy," she said, "you're not a typical recruit. The Queen of Olympus simply doesn't appear at camp, announcing a new demigod.
The last time a major god visited us in person like that…" She shook her head. "I've only heard legends about such things. And a daughter of Neptune…that's not a good omen. Especially now."
"What's wrong with Neptune?" Percy asked. "And what do you mean, 'especially now'?"
Hazel shot her a warning look.
Reyna kept pacing. "You've fought Medusa's sisters, who haven't been seen in thousands of years. You've agitated our Lares, who are calling you a graecus. You show up with a crown of gold- which you believe was some form of gift- so somewhere out there there must be people who care for you. There must be somewhere you come from."
"I don't know who gave it to me- I just-"
"You're not even dressed for travel-" Reyna eyed her dress and Percy flushed.
"I- it's what I was wearing when I woke. I did buy new clothes- well- stole new clothes but they got destroyed and eventually I just put the dress back on because it's all I have-"
"You're dressed for some sort of party- clearly you're important. A diadem like the one you showed me- it's not something the average person would have. And your sword?"
Percy checked her pocket. The pen had reappeared as it always did. She pulled it out, but then realized she'd never shown Reyna the sword. Hazel and Frank hadn't seen it either. How had Reyna known about it?
Too late to pretend it didn't exist.…She uncapped the pen. Riptide sprang to full form. Hazel gasped. The greyhounds barked apprehensively.
"What is that?" Hazel asked. "I've never seen a sword like that."
"I have," Reyna said darkly. "It's very old—a Greek design. We used to have a few in the armory before…" She stopped herself. "The metal is called Celestial bronze. It's deadly to monsters, like Imperial gold, but even rarer."
"Imperial gold?" Percy asked.
Reyna unsheathed her dagger. Sure enough, the blade was gold- and something in Percy's gut told her to run- run run run away. That gold- it scared her, but she forced herself not to let it show as Reyna kept talking. "The metal was consecrated in ancient times, at the Pantheon in Rome. Its existence was a closely guarded secret of the emperors—a way for their champions to slay monsters that threatened the empire. We used to have more weapons like this, but now…well, we scrape by. I use this dagger. Hazel has a spatha, a cavalry sword. Most legionnaires use a shorter sword called a gladius. But that weapon of yours is not Roman at all. It's another sign you're not a typical demigod. And your arm..."
"What about it?" Percy asked.
Reyna held up her own forearm. Percy hadn't noticed before, but she had a tattoo on the inside: the letters SPQR, a crossed sword and torch, and under that, four parallel lines like score marks.
Percy glanced at Hazel.
"We all have them," she confirmed, holding up her arm. "All full members of the legion do."
Hazel's tattoo also had the letters SPQR, but she only had one score mark, and her emblem was different: a black glyph like a cross with curved arms and a head.
Percy looked down at her own arms- they were covered in scars- lots of them, she'd often wondered how she got them- she had a burn scar in the centre of her left hand, dozens and dozens of scars on both of her arms, and marks that had to be from claws going down her right arm.
She heard Hazel inhaling sharply, and Reyna too for that matter- Percy didn't blame them, they were pretty bad.
"So." Reyna's voice was firmer than Percy expected, "You've never been a member of the legion. These marks can't be removed. I thought perhaps-" she shook her head, clearly pushing a thought away. Percy wondered what it was.
Hazel leaned forward. "If she's survived as a loner all this time the scars would make sense, maybe she's seen Jason." She turned to Percy. "Have you ever met a demigod like us before? A guy in a purple shirt, with marks on his arm—"
"Hazel." Reyna's voice tightened, "Percy's got enough to worry about."
Percy touched the point of her sword and Riptide shrank back into a pen. "I haven't seen anyone like you guys before. Who's Jason?"
Reyna gave Hazel an irritated look. "He is…he was my colleague." She waved her hand at the second empty chair. "The legion normally has two elected praetors. Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, was our other praetor until he disappeared last October."
And Percy faltered. Jupiter was the king of the gods- that was familiar, and so was the name- like she should know something, like it was important- "I- I don't think so." she said after a moment before pausing, Juno had mentioned that it was June, "You mean he's been gone eight months and you haven't replaced him?"
"He might not be dead," Hazel said. "We haven't given up."
Reyna grimaced. Percy got the feeling this guy Jason might've been more to her than just a colleague. At the very least she'd assume he was a close friend if not more. You didn't get that look for someone who you just worked with.
"Elections only happen in two ways," Reyna said. "Either the legion raises someone on a shield after a major success on the battlefield—and we haven't had any major battles—or we hold a ballot on the evening of June 24, at the Feast of Fortuna. That's in five days."
Percy frowned. "You have a feast for tuna?"
"Fortuna," Hazel corrected. "She's the goddess of luck. Whatever happens on her feast day can affect the entire rest of the year. She can grant the camp good luck…or
really bad luck."
Reyna and Hazel both glanced at the empty display stand, as if thinking about what was missing.
A chill went down Percy's back. "The Feast of Fortune…The gorgons mentioned that. So did Juno. They said the camp was going to be attacked on that day, something about a big bad goddess named Gaea, and an army, and Death being unleashed. You're telling me that day is this week?" Percy forced back a rush of panic- that didn't exactly give much time to prepare.
Reyna's fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger at Percy's words- she didn't look happy.
"You will say nothing about that outside this room," she ordered. "I will not have you spreading more panic in the camp."
"So it's true," Percy pushed. "Do you know what's going to happen? Can we stop it?"
Percy had just met these people. She didn't know them- didn't trust them- heck she didn't even think she liked Reyna- clearly the girl was hiding something from her. But- she wanted to help. She had the feeling that this was why she was here- not just because of Juno but- something more. Anyway, they were all demigods, they all had the same enemies. Besides, it wasn't just this camp at risk from what Juno had said. Her old life- the gods. The whole world was at risk. Whatever was coming was huge and she was going to have to help stop it she was sure of it. And why did that just feel familiar to her? None of this made any sense.
"We've talked enough for now," Reyna said. "Hazel, take her to Temple Hill. Find Octavian. On the way you can answer Percy's questions. Tell her about the legion."
"Yes, Reyna."
Percy still had so many questions, her brain felt like it would melt. But Reyna made it clear the audience was over. She sheathed her dagger. The metal dogs stood and growled, inching toward Percy.
"Good luck with the augury, Percy Jackson," she said. "If Octavian lets you live, perhaps we can compare notes…about your past."
"I would very much like that." Percy gave Reyna a questioning look. "You-" she shook her head, "Very much-" she paused, "Have- Juno- I remember two names and Juno told me another- she said- my brother. Luke-" and Reyna tensed, her eyes flashing with something before she turned her head and looked away.
"I told you we would discus thing later."
"But-"
"Did you not hear me?" Reyna's voice had a note of warning in it- but if there was one thing Percy did, it was push boundaries- and she was sick of all of this. Sick of not knowing who she was, sick of never getting a clear answer that made sense.
"Why won't anyone help me?!" She shouted the words, and Reyna jerked backwards, a stunned look on her face. Clearly she wasn't used to people shouting at her like that, "I don't know what's happening here I don't know why I don't remember things it's all so fuzzy and I want to understand what's happening to me! You know something I know you do so please, help me. I am- I-" Percy shook her head, voice catching as Hazel reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder, trying to pull her backwards, away from Reyna.
"Percy you can't-" Hazel started to speak, Reyna held up a hand to silence the younger girl.
"I'm not angry." her expression was slightly more sympathetic as she eyed Percy, "I understand your distress- I do. Which is why I'm not angry at you for your outburst- but you will need to learn to control yourself Percy Jackson." was there almost a nervousness in her eyes when she said that. As if she was worried about what Percy might do if she didn't calm down.
"I need to control myself?" Percy shook her head, "I- I was content." she swallowed hard, "I think- happy, though I don't know for sure- and then- everything's been torn away from me. I'm scared and I'm alone and lost so excuse me for being a bit emotional right now!"
Reyna closed her eyes, taking a slow deep breath, "Listen to me right now." she stepped closer to Percy, "I will talk to you later, I will try and help you- I don't know much more than you do right now, I need time to consider things too." she laid her hands on Percy's shoulders as Hazel stepped back slightly and removed her own hand. "But after you've spoken to Octavian and settled in some I will talk to you I swear to you on my honor and my position as Praetor."
And Percy stared at the other girl, meeting her dark eyes- and after a long moment of searching she nodded slowly. "Okay." she pressed her lips together and took a small step back, "Thank you." she swallowed hard, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I'm sorry. For the record I just-"
"I understand." Reyna shook her head, "You have every right to be lost and scared. But you will need to watch yourself Percy Jackson- not everyone here will be as understanding as I've been. And you're lucky that the only other person here is Hazel." Her eyes flicked to the younger girl. "I trust you know well enough to be discrete."
"Yes Reyna." Hazel nodded quickly, her eyes wide and shocked looking.
"I still want you to take her to Octavian. He needs to accept her into camp."
"Of course." Hazel nodded before straightening her back slightly, "Can I get her something to eat and drink on the way to Temple Hill?" that made Percy's eyes widen in surprise, "From what she's said she's probably not had much time to eat or drink."
"Are you hungry Percy?" Reyna turned her gaze to Percy, who gave a small nod.
"Actually yeah. I've been having to mostly steal what I could get my hands on on my way here so I am pretty hungry." she admitted, giving a sheepish look.
"Then yes, you have my permission Hazel- though I would advise you not to take your time. Octavian will probably have heard about our new arrival by now and he'll be expecting to see her."
"Right." Hazel's smile became slightly strained, "Come on Percy. Let's introduce you to Octavian."