V
Percy looked nervous sat on the chair next to Reyna, Frank could tell. He probably just wanted to be with Annabeth who was made to stand with Leo and the other girl in the background. Jason stood a little forward, waiting to be questioned like he was on trial, with Octavian beside him to counteract whatever he said. Hazel who was by Frank's side reached and squeezed his hand, he was glad she had finally noticed him after spending the last half an hour staring at Leo. He wasn't exactly jealous, and it wasn't as if they had made an exclusive rule or anything but he'd only just begun to feel that things between him and her where moving in the right direction.
Up on the stage Reyna rubbed her hand against her forehead before glancing back down. It was a lot for anyone to take in, but now she had to make a decision, along with Percy, though it was obvious whose side he was going to take.
"Start from the beginning." Reyna said tiredly to Jason.
"I woke up on a school bus, with no memory of who I was or what I was doing, Piper and Leo though I had amnesia, they told me I was their friend and that for the last few months I'd been at their boarding school for troubled kids, turns out that was just the mist. In reality we'd never met."
"How long was this after you'd been taken? It took Percy about 7 or so months to make it to Camp Jupiter." Before Jason could respond Annabeth spoke up angrily.
"7 months? What the hell where you doing for 7 months?"
"I had memory loss too, I met Lupa and she sent me on a giant goose chase over America, I've only been here a few weeks."
"We can discuss this later." Reyna said with a wave of her hand.
"As far as I can tell it was only a few days after I'd been taken from here, though my memory still isn't that great. Anyway we got attacked at the Grand Canyon by Venti, I managed to find Ilvis and with the help of Hodge we got rid of them. Then suddenly this flying chariot arrives out of nowhere and Annabeth is yelling at me 'where is he?'."
"He?" Reyna asked arching a brow.
"Percy Jackson." Jason told her. "She was told that by finding me she could find him, he'd already been missing a few days. Along with this kid called Butch she took us to camp half-blood where we discovered Piper was a daughter of Aphrodite." Frank glanced over at the girl, Piper. She didn't look like your typical daughter of Venus; there was something more…fierce about her. "And Leo was a son of Hephaestus. We found out that Zeus had called all the gods back to Olympus because J…Hera was missing, which is why she must have left you for 7 months." He indicated towards Percy. "She needed me to free her first before she could help you. On the way there we met up with the Huntresses of Artemis, the leader of which was my older sister, Thalia." Percy made a chocking sound in his throat.
"Your Thalia's brother!"
"Yes Percy, that's what it means when you have the same dad." Annabeth told him and Frank smiled a little, it was clear she was used to dealing with his stupid comments.
"No but…your last name is Grace….gods I can't believe I didn't realise, you're her full brother aren't you? Same mother and everything." Jason nodded.
"We found Hera and we freed her. Back at camp we figured out that there must be a roman camp, and if I was here that meant Percy must be there. Leo built us the ship and we set sail as soon as it started working." He let the words sink in. Frank could see Reyna thinking deeply about everything had been said whilst Percy cocked in his head and narrowed his eyes like he wasn't sure about Jason all of a sudden.
"Reyna you can't seriously believe this!" Octavian spluttered. "It's the biggest lie I've ever heard!" Piper looked like she wanted to say something back at him but Leo stopped her quickly, the last thing they needed was a fight and Frank quite agreed.
"And you're asking permission to what? Go to Greece with the 7 heroes to find the doors of death?" Reyna asked ignoring Octavian.
"No." To frank's surprise it wasn't Octavian but Percy who had spoken up. Everyone turned to look at him in shock.
"Percy we…" Annabeth started but he cut her off.
"We need to go to Rome first." He said sternly, taking a quick side glance at Hazel.
"There's something that has to be done first."
"Oh, and what's that?" Octavian asked, Percy cleared his throat and looked towards the crowds.
"The ambassador for Pluto has been kidnapped trying to find the Doors of Death; we have been told he is in Rome. That's where we go first." Hazel looked up at him gratefully.
"Surely the end of the world is more important?" Reyna asked.
"No, we have to save him!" Hazel spoke up, ripping herself from Frank's grasp. "Please Reyna, let us go, he's my brother! You would do the same for your sister!"
"Hold up!" Annabeth took control, her gaze only on Percy. "Who in the name of Hades is this 'ambassador for Pluto'?"
"Nico di Angelo, son of Pluto and Hazel's big…no younger…well he's her brother." Annabeth looked like she wanted to respond to this but Percy gave her a warning look with his eyes, he didn't want to discuss it in front of the Roman camp Frank guessed.
"So you'll go to Rome, rescue Nico and then go to Greece, who will be the 7?"
"I'm taking Leo, Piper and Annabeth." Jason said quickly "Percy may choose who he'd like from the Roman camp."
"Now hold on…" Octavian started.
"Hazel and Frank." Percy said not missing a beat. Reyna smiled in response.
"I approve your choices."
"But Reyna just look!" Octavian cried. "There are 4 Greeks and only 3 Romans going!" Jason shot daggers at him.
"Problem?"
"Once we collect Nico there'll be 4 Romans." Hazel insisted and Frank couldn't help but notice the confused look Annabeth sent Percy.
"The prophecy only asks for 7." Reyna reminded her. "and I hate to say it but I agree with Octavian."
"REYNA!" Percy and Jason yelled, she stood from her throne quickly, allowing her hair to jump from her shoulder and flow down her back.
"Percy you've only been praetor here for a day! And Jason…" She looked down at him. "You are a roman soldier, remember your place, remember who you were. Just please remember! The guests may stay here for the night and use the baths, I'm sure we can find accommodation for them in the town, but by tomorrow one of you will stay behind." and with a flick of her purple robe she was gone, the romans began to empty the seats, talking animatedly and Octavian left looking rather smug. The 7 demigods left gathered together, tension hanging everywhere. Hazel placed herself next to Leo so Frank made the point of standing beside her and taking her hand again.
"Well I think that went well." Leo said.
Oh noes D: did you guys get this one or was it too confusing?