Hey, guys! Here's chapter 16! Enjoy!


Percy's POV:

The Roman Forum.

More specifically, the Mamertine Prison.

I curse under my breath. A prison? There is a small tugging at my head, like if I knew something about that place, something helpful… I shake my head, and quickly rise from my bench. Checking again that no one has followed me, I start toward the infamous place.

I curse again, remembering I don't have Piper's trusty charmspeak with me to hitch a ride. Sighing, I keep walking along the sidewalk, shoulders sagging.

A prison? Gaea has Annabeth in a prison? Oh gods, I wonder what has Gaea's done to her?

I decide to stop thinking about it and keep walking. Halfway down the street, a loud commotion at the other far side breaks my train of thought. My eyes shift to the source, and I spot a girl, about my age, standing in front of a horse and carriage, her hands on her hips. The horse is neighing loudly, and seems refusing to walk.

Quickly, I cross the street, and once I get into earshot, I listen: "…Shh, Rosie, it'll be okay," the girl coos. Up close, I notice the girl has dark brown hair tied in a long ponytail. She has dark chocolate brown eyes and her brows are tugging together. Her clothes are normal street clothes, jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers. She reminds me deeply of Reyna. But then again, what doesn't remind me of my fellow praetor?

"Rosie," the girl tries again, this time her voice shows a tint of impatience. The horse grunts.

Leila, I'm tired. Just give me a break, hun, it says. The horse turns to look at me dead on. Excuse you, son of Poseidon, but I'm not an "it."

I smile sheepishly. Sorry, I "say".

"What are you even looking at," Leila says, turning to follow Rosie's gaze. Her eyes lock with mine. "Uh, you a lost tourist or what? I can't give you a ride right now," she snaps, crossing her arms, and pointing at her horse with her eyes, as if it was the horse's fault.

"You know, the reason the horse won't move is because it's tired." I say simply.

Rosie neighs, "saying", Thank Jupiter all mighty! Someone understands!

I chuckle quietly, and Leila scowls. "So, you some kind of horse expert, tourist?"

I shake my head, shrugging. "I own a horse, if that counts as anything. His name is Blackjack." I smile slyly at my own joke now, and Leila's scowl deepens.

"What, you don't believe me?" I say innocently, but smiling all the same.

Water! Water, I need water, too, Rosie pleads.

"Uh, she needs water too." I add, making Rosie grunt in satisfaction.

Leila narrows her eyes at me, but goes back inside the carriage. When she walks out, she is carrying a bucket with five bottled waters.

"This may not be much," she says, uncapping a bottle and spilling its continents onto the bucket, "but water is water, right, Rosie?"

Rosie devours the water in seconds, and sighs contently. That's the stuff, she says, making me smile wider. After Rosie gulps down all five bottles' worth of water, she neighs, and starts to walk again.

Leila's lips pucker as she turns to me, her eyes cold. I grin. "See?" I smirk, enjoying being right. After a long moment filled with glares from the girl, Leila's shoulders sag in defeat.

"I suppose the least you deserve is a free ride to wherever you were going," she says quietly, avoiding my gaze.

I smile, and this time, it's sincere.

"Thanks," I say, making her look up. She smiles now too and hops onto her carriage, patting the seat beside her.

"Where to?" she asks, as I slip in next to her.

"Um, the Roman Forum," I say, and Leila's eyes shimmer.

"My grandfather used to take me there every summer when I stayed over at his place," she says, smiling to herself. "Papa used to make me remember every little detail about the place."

She turns to look at me, a smile still in her eyes. "It's a great place to go, tourist. I'm Leila, by the way."

I grin. I know that already, I think, making Rosie laugh. "Percy Jackson," I say, and Leila's eyes widen.

"Wait, the Percy Jackson?" she stammers, looking at me weirdly. I narrow my eyes at her. "Yes…" I say cautiously. How does she know me?

"Uhh…" Leila gulps, returning her eyes to the street. Our carriage continues its trek on it.

"Leila, who are you and how do you know me?"

The girl fidgets in her seat. "My grandfather, he believes in the gods. The Greek gods— the Roman ones, too." Leila finally says. She lifts her eyes to meet mine. "He, uh, heard stories about you from people, Seers. They can see through the veil of enchantment the gods supposedly put up so mortals cannot see them and the mythical creatures. I usually thought all the stories he told me were bogus, but now that I know you're real…"

Now it's my turn to widen my eyes.

"Wait; there are more people that can see through the Mist?" I say, incredulous.

This is bad, really bad. More people that can see through the Mist means more people in danger.

Leila nods. Then shakes her head. "Wait, the Mist? Is that what you demigods call it?"

I look at her. "What do you know about us?"

Leila shrugs. "That you are the son of Neptune—err, sorry, Poseidon—that fought against the Titans not too long ago, in New York City. You were the child of the Great Prophecy, and you almost became a god."

I'm taken aback. "Whoa, and how did those 'Seers' know all that?"

The girl shrugs again. "How should I know?"

Never mind, this is horrible. The mortals—they know waayy too much.

"Percy, you're a legend to all of us." Leila says, and I sit back, too shocked to say anything.

Me? A legend?

"Of course," Leila says, and I realize I've said this out loud.

I look up to see we've arrived at the Forum. I step off silently, still stunned by everything.

I'm halfway through the high sculpted arches when Leila's voice stops me.

"Percy?"

I turn around. "Yeah?"

"If you ever need anything, at all, I'm always at the corner of Via Cavour and Via degli Annibaldi. It would be an honor to fight beside you, especially since there are rumors of an unsettling in the Underworld." she says, her eyes determined.

I nod slightly. "Uh, thanks."

"No, thank you, Perseus Jackson, for saving us all." she says simply, and rides off before I can say anything else.

I just stand there for a while, speechless.

Mortals know of my existence? And I'm a hero to them? A legend?

They know about the gods, the Underworld, everything? What's not to say they know about Gaea as well and the new prophecy.

Gods, this is bad.

I clench my teeth. I'll have to wonder about that later. Right now, I have to focus on saving Annabeth. With a deep sigh, I turn around, and walk into the grand Roman Forum.

As much as I try though, the thought of mortals knowing the truth never leaves my mind.


Because I felt like adding an AU character... haha.

I, uh, thought I was going to write about Percy finding Annabeth when I first started this, but suddenly I got an idea, and this happened. I hoped you liked it though, 'cause I actually do. :o Haha.

Anyways, thanks for reading, and please leave some feedback, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

-The TimeMachine