"When Rome forgot about her legions, her legions forgot about Rome."
Chapter 1
November 18th 1999
Manhattan
It was silent in the Jackson household. Windows on each side of the residence overlooked the curving bend of the roads and the tall skyscrapers. Blood. The blood of Sally Jackson was scattered around the apartment while the body of Mrs Jackson lay dead on the ground completely still. Besides here a 4 year old boy sat next to her innocently tears falling down his eyes as he discerns his mother is dead.
Unknown to him, a vague flash of light appears and a woman steps out. By the half-light of a suspensor lamp, dimmed and hanging near the floor, the awakened boy could see a female shape at his door, standing one step ahead of his mother. Gracefully, she walks towards the child picking him up and holding the child in her arms. Her pain was evident in the crease of her lovely brow and the down-curve of her full lips.
"Do not weep child. All will be fine but you await a greater destiny. A greater destiny then Apollo could have imagined. You will get vengeance on the person who did this. But for now rest." Her soothing voice flowed into the ears of the 4 year old child of Sally Jackson as he felt asleep in the hands of the woman.
The woman gave a last look at the dead body of Sally Jackson and noticed bits of mud and grass around her neck. A sign of fear was subtly given in the woman's eyes but quickly disappeared.
The woman laid down a drachma on the body of Sally Jackson and whispered "May you enter Elysium" and with a wave of her hand the body disappeared leaving no evidence of any blood nor a dead body.
A flash of light engulfed the woman leaving the solitary apartment with nothing but cold silence.
Jack London State Park, Glen Ellen, California
Upon the forest floor lie trees of yesteryear, fallen in storms long forgotten. The seasons have been harsh, stripping away the bark and outer layers, yet rendering them all the more beautiful. They have the appearance of driftwood, twisting in patterns that reminds one of seaside waves; even the colour of the moss is kelp-like. They are soft, damp, yet her fingers come away dry.
"Lady Juno. What brings you here? I assume it is not to exchange pleasantries," Lupa said in a wolfish tone as she stood in front of the Queen of Olympus, wondering at why she has appeared here.
"You are correct Lupa. Do you remember that day when I told you sometime in the future I will bring you a boy. A boy that will holds a terrible but heroic fate."
Lupa eyes narrowed towards the child that Lady Juno held in her arms. She could smell the raw power the boy held inside of him, waves of it rolling around him. He would grow up to be powerful. But dangerous. "Ah yes, I believe you want me to start his training. I warn you I will give no mercy. Even if he weeps, even if he is at the inch of death I will push him to his boundaries. Is he not small for his age, Lady Juno?"
Lady Juno laid the boy by the paws of Lupa and gave a slight sigh. "His children are known to start late getting their growth, Lupa. You should not worry about that. He will follow the great footsteps of Romulus and Caesar and even overtake them. Train him well."
"Why is this boy of such great importance?"
"The enemies of Olympus are rising. While it may be some years, we must start preparing. My husband, Jupiter, drowns himself with ignorance and will not speak of the threats. That is why I must take steps Lupa. The boy will be a key play in the future."
Lupa looks at the boy thoughtfully, "And what of Jason?"
"I will arrange his travel to the camp. I am sure one of the guards will find him. I have no doubt that Jason will set in motion his role at camp."
"Very well Lady Juno. Your requests will be carried out, but know this you are playing a very dangerous game here. But I am afraid you are correct in this case.
Lady Juno took a last look at the boy, "We will meet again Perseus by the roads of Rome."
AN : Hello there fellow readers! Just fixed some small edits and now begins the journey for Percy to Rome. I am currently still working out who to pair him with but if you would like to add suggestions, please do. Longer chapters will follow.