Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter! In which Percy is perceptive when it comes to other peoples feelings, as usual.
Replies:
Undeath9087: One of my favorite scenes between Percy and Octavian happens when she gets her memories back- because she just does not give a shit about his threats.
The Official Clarisse: It's also because the Greeks are just used to Percy like 'Eh, we can't tell her its impossible this girl would probably take that as a challenge.' and I will figure out ways to get around stuff like that! And I can imagine Frank doing that.
Guest: Percy would just be totally unsurprised by it, she'd just be like 'Who gives a shit if they're Roman, I'm Egyptian and Greek! Now let's go fight a bitch' But also, can you guys imagine what would happen if Hera tried that shit with a Percy who's the baby of the Kane family? It would not go well.
Guest: I won't be erasing flaws- she will probably be a bit OP but I mean, that comes with experience and it's not like there won't be other flaws.
PJ Fan 285: I mean, very interesting suggestion, you shall have to wait and see.
Percy was very relieved that Riptide had returned to her pocket when Reyna arrived- mainly because based purely off the expression on her face she felt like she might end up needing it.
She was sat down in one of the Praetors chairs, which she'd pulled to the visitors side- which admittedly probably wasn't the proper thing to do, so she started to rise.
"Stay seated," Reyna growled. "You leave after lunch. We have a lot to discuss."
She plunked down her dagger so hard, the jelly-bean bowl rattled. Aurum and Argentum took their posts on her left and right and fixed their ruby eyes on Percy.
"What'd I do wrong?" Percy asked. "If it's about the chair—"
"It's not you." Reyna scowled. "I hate senate meetings. When Octavian gets talking…"
Percy nodded. "You're a warrior. Octavian is a talker. Put him in front of the senate, and suddenly he becomes the powerful one."
Reyna looked startled for a moment before she pressed her lips together. "You're smart aren't you? You say ridiculously stupid things but you are smart."
"Uh, thanks, I think." Percy gave the other girl a tight smile. "I hear that he might get elected praetor- y'know, as long as the camp survives that long."
"Which brings us to the subject of doomsday," Reyna said, "and how you might help prevent it. But before I place the fate of Camp Jupiter in your hands, we need to get a few things straight."
She sat down and put a ring on the table—a band of silver etched with a sword-and-torch design, like Reyna's tattoo.
"Do you know what this is?"
"The sign of your mom," Percy said. "The…uh, war goddess." she tried to remember the name but she didn't want to get it wrong—something like bologna. Or salami?
"Bellona, yes." Reyna scrutinized him carefully. "You don't remember where you saw this ring before? You really don't remember me or my sister, Hylla?"
"Reyna you know this. I don't even remember my own family." Percy let out a huff of frustration. "It's annoying as fuck but I know less about me than you probably do."
"It would've been four years ago."
"Just before you came to camp."
Reyna frowned. "How did you—?"
"You've got four stripes on your tattoo. Four years."
Reyna looked at her forearm. "Of course. It seems so long ago. I suppose you wouldn't recall me even if you had your memory. I was just a little girl—one attendant among so many at the spa. But you spoke with my sister, just before you and that other one, Annabeth, destroyed our home. We gave you makeovers." Percy tensed, her eyes going wide.
"Why would we do that?"
Reyna pressed her lips together in a thin line, "I don't talk about the past much. But- I believe your brother- a blond boy, older, handsome enough with blond hair and blue eyes and scar-"
"Luke-" Percy saw a flash of a face, laughing brightly, bright blue eyes shining with mirth, "My older brother- I think. What about him?"
"He was... turned into a guinea pig." Reyna admitted, "You and your friend managed to get him and leave the spa- but you didn't just leave. You drowned the island with a tidal wave."
"I-" Percy swallowed hard, "I'm sorry."
"You destroyed my home. My sister and I had to cling to driftwood- we ended up finding a little row boat- we nearly drowned several times before we found a real ship and even then... it was not a friendly one."
"That's why you were so- when I first got here it's why you looked at me like that."
"Yes." Reyna nodded.
"I wish I remembered, I do. I-" she swallowed hard, "I hate it. I feel half blind. Do you believe me?"
Reyna's gaze moved to the dogs, which snarled, but they didn't attack her, which was probably a very good sign.
"I believe you're sincere," she said. "But not everyone at camp does. Octavian thinks you're a spy. He thinks you were sent here by Gaea to find our weaknesses and distract us. He believes the old legends about the Greeks."
"Old legends?"
Reyna's hand rested halfway between her dagger and the jelly beans. Percy had a feeling that if she made a sudden move, she wouldn't be grabbing for the candy.
"Some believe Greek demigods still exist," she said, "heroes who follow the older forms of the gods. There are legends of battles between Roman and Greek heroes in relatively modern times—the American Civil War, for instance. I have no proof of this, and if our Lares know anything, they refuse to say. But Octavian believes the Greeks are still around, plotting our downfall, working with the forces of Gaea. He thinks you are one of them."
"I-" Percy swallowed hard, giving a weak shrug, "I don't know what I am." she ran her fingers through her curls. "But- wherever I come from I don't think- I don't think working for Gaea would be on the agenda." Percy's brows furrowed. "What do you believe though. I mean, that's what matters right?"
"I believe you came from somewhere," she said. "You're important, and dangerous. Two gods have taken a special interest in you since you arrived, so I can't believe you'd work against Olympus…or Rome." She shrugged. "Of course, I could be wrong. Perhaps the gods sent you here to test my judgment. But I think…I think you were sent here to make up for the loss of Jason."
Jason... Percy couldn't go very far in this camp without hearing that name.
"The way you talk about him…" Percy said. "Were you two a couple?"
Reyna's eyes bored into him—like the eyes of a hungry wolf. Percy had seen enough hungry wolves to know.
"We might have been," Reyna said, "given time. Praetors work closely together. It's common for them to become romantically involved. But Jason was only praetor for a few months before he disappeared. Ever since then, Octavian has been pestering me, agitating for new elections. I've resisted. I need a partner in power—but I'd prefer someone like Jason. A warrior, not a schemer."
Percy waited for Reyna to say something else- but the other girl was just staring at her, and Percy blinked, realisation flooding through her.
"Are-" Percy swallowed hard, her eyes going wide. "You mean me?"
"I believe the gods sent you to help me," Reyna said. "I don't understand where you come from, any more than I understood it four years ago. But I think your arrival is some sort of repayment. You destroyed my home once. Now you've been sent to save my home. I don't hold a grudge against you for the past, Percy. My sister hates you still, it's true, but Fate brought me here to Camp Jupiter. I've done well. All I ask is that you work with me for the future. I intend to save this camp."
The metal dogs glared at her, their mouths frozen in snarl mode. Percy found Reyna's eyes a lot harder to meet, her face was flushed a bright shade of red. "Listen- I-" She swallowed again- she felt as if she had a lump in her throat. Reyna was showing her a great deal of trust. "But- I'm not- I'm new here Reyna. You've got a lot of good people who know this camp better than I do. If we succeed on this quest, Hazel and Frank will be heroes. You could ask one of them—"
"Please," Reyna said. "No one will follow a child of Pluto. There's something about that girl…rumors about where she came from.…No, she won't do. I might have considered Bianca but she's not even truly a member of the Legion, and she is also a daughter of Pluto-" And was it just Percy or did Bianca look almost disappointed for a brief second when she said that, "As for Frank Zhang, he has a good heart, but he's hopelessly naïve and inexperienced. Besides, if the others found out about his family history at this camp—"
"Family history?"
"The point is, Percy, you are the real power on this quest. You are a seasoned veteran. I've seen what you can do up close and personal. A daughter of Neptune wouldn't be my first choice, but if you return successfully from this mission, the legion might be saved. The praetorship will be yours for the taking. Together, you and I could expand the power of Rome. We could raise an army and find the Doors of Death, crush Gaea's forces once and for all. You would find me a very helpful…friend."
She said the word like it had several meanings- and while Percy got the feeling she wasn't very perceptive with this sort of thing usually- but she was able to see what Reyna was implying. "I'm flattered- I- I really am Reyna. But- I think I have girlfriends, or I did. I don't know. And I feel like it was very much a closed thing- just us. I mean you're beautiful and all and it'd be an honor but I'm not interested in... Besides I get the feeling I- you're only- I mean you don't even really know me. I don't even really know me." she paused, remembering the look Reyna's had on her face when Bianca had been talking, that flash of disappointment, "I don't think I'm the one you really like, and as for power-" Percy shook her head, "I just-" she swallowed hard. "I just want to survive. I don't think I've ever been that interested in power. Besides- y'know even if she can't be praetor- you don't have to date the other praetor right?"
She was nervous- worried Reyna would be offended, instead the other girl just raised her eyebrows, and her face flushed very slightly. "I understand- though you'd do well not to speculate on who I do and don't like." she had a thoughtful look on her face. "Turning down power though, that's not very Roman of you. Just think about it. In four days I have to make a choice. If we are to fight off an invasion, we must have two strong praetors. I'd prefer you, but if you fail on your quest, or don't come back, or refuse my offer…Well, I'll work with Octavian. I mean to save this camp, Percy Jackson. Things are worse than you realize."
Percy remembered what Frank said about the monster attacks getting more frequent. "How bad?"
Reyna's nails dug into the table. "Even the senate doesn't know the whole truth. I've asked Octavian not to share his auguries, or we'd have mass panic. He's seen a great army marching south, more than we can possibly defeat. They're led by a giant—"
"Alcyoneus?"
"I don't think so. If he is truly invulnerable in Alaska, he'd be foolish to come here himself. It must be one of his brothers."
Percy resisted the urge to groan. "Wonderful. So we've got two giants to worry about."
The praetor nodded. "Lupa and her wolves are trying to slow them down, but this force is too strong even for them. The enemy will be here soon—by the Feast of Fortuna at the very latest."
Percy shuddered. She'd seen Lupa in action. She knew all about the wolf goddess and her pack. If this enemy was too powerful for Lupa, Camp Jupiter didn't stand a chance.
Reyna read his expression. "Yes, it's bad, but not hopeless.
If you succeed in bringing back our eagle, if you release Death so we can actually kill our enemies, then we stand a chance. And there's one more
possibility.…"
Reyna slid the silver ring across the table. "I can't give you much help, but your journey will take you close to Seattle. I'm asking you for a favor, which may also help you. Find my sister Hylla."
"Your sister…the one who hates me?"
"Oh, yes," Reyna agreed. "She would love to kill you. But show her that ring as a token from me, and she may help you instead."
"May?"
"I can't speak for her. In fact…" Reyna frowned. "In fact I haven't spoken to her in weeks. She's gone silent. With these armies passing through—"
And Percy knew that look in Reyna's eyes. She understood it well. She felt like she'd had that look more than once. "You're worried about her and you want me to check on her and make sure she's okay."
"Partially, yes. I can't imagine she's been overcome. My sister has a powerful force. Her territory is well defended. But if you can find her, she could offer you valuable help. It could mean the difference between success and failure on your quest. And if you tell her what's happening here—"
"She might send help?" Percy asked.
Reyna didn't answer, but Percy could see the desperation in her eyes. She was terrified, grasping for anything that could save her camp. No wonder she wanted Percy's help. She was the only praetor. The defence of the camp rested on her shoulders alone.
Percy took the ring. "I'll find her. Where do I look? What kind force does she have?"
"Don't worry. Just go to Seattle. They'll find you."
That didn't sound encouraging, but Percy slipped the ring onto her necklace with her magical locket and her probatio tablet. "Wish me luck."
"Fight well, Percy Jackson," Reyna said. "And thank you."
It was obvious that the audience was over.
Reyna was having trouble holding herself together, keeping up the image of the confident commander. She needed some time by herself.
But at the door of the principia, Percy couldn't resist turning. There was one question she at least needed to last- and she was pretty sure that Reyna was the only person who might be able to answer it for her without using it against her.
"I-" she swallowed hard. "Bianca told me that you guys retook-" she shivered again, "That you retook Mount Orthys. Do you- do you know what happened to Kro-Saturn?"
Reyna's brows furrowed and she frowned at Percy. "That's a strange question Percy Jackson. No, I don't. I can only assume that the gods dealt with him- or that when we retook Mount Orthys he was weakened and he faded back into the abyss. Why do you ask?"
"Just-" Percy pressed her lips together into a thin line. "Just a dream I had. I'm trying to make sense of it."
"Percy-" Reyna faltered slightly, staring at her. "Be very careful- if Octavian hears you asking questions like that- just be careful. Please."
"I will." Percy gave a shaky smile, "Thank you. For trying."