So I had a hard time writing this chapter. It isn't easy in writing in Hazel's point of view. Not to mention the conversation with a certain old wise centaur (no spoilers will be given) took me a day to finish by itself, and I still don't believe I did him justice. I am trying to increase the size of my chapters. This ends the character cycle, there will only be these four characters point of view: Reyna, Jason, Frank, Hazel. I would love to write in Percy's or Annabeth's POV, but I am writing to how I think RR will write the story; but do not worry, I will be writing about how Percy and Annabeth are doing in Tartarus, you will get to see their adventures. Just not in the way you are expecting ;) Please write some reviews, some suggestions, I am stuck in the middle of Chapter VII which is in Frank's POV; I wish to keep these stories coming at a steady pace, but I need suggestions. Also some help with developing Reyna's problem with the attack on Camp Half-Blood would be appreciated. Keep the reviews coming! Now let me stop all this blabbering and let you get on with reading the story! Enjoy!
Chapter IV – Hazel
Hazel woke up sweating and shaking, like last night; nightmares sent from Gaia had been torturing her since the night the heroes left Rome; visions. Visions of Frank…
Stop worrying, Hazel told herself, nothing is going to happen, only Gaia messing with me again.
Hazel got up and looked at a picture of Sammy, Leo's Grandfather, on her bedside table.
After the attack yesterday, Leo had told everyone they wouldn't be flying anytime soon. The Venti had zapped some turbulence or whatever. It didn't really matter anyways for Frank had woken up and told them about his conversation with Neptune, and Hazel was glad to be away from the storm spirits.
After that briefing, Nico had fallen asleep at the table, and, since it was late as well, they all decided to at least try to get some sleep; all save for Jason, who stayed awake almost the whole night in case more monsters decided to attack.
Hazel didn't know what to do. Percy, the most powerful demigod of their time, is stuck in Tartarus, along with Annabeth; and missing them from the team showed, the heroes needed their guidance.
Now the Argo II was at sea again, and there was no Son of the Sea-God to guide them, which couldn't be a good thing.
Then Hazel started thinking about her meeting with her father the night they left Rome.
Pluto looked different, and Hazel had realized, only later, that he must've been Greek, Hades, not Pluto.
He had told Hazel that soon Frank was going to need something to help her with the curse, and gave her the ring. Hazel could sense it had great power; powerful magic, and was curious what it could do.
She gave the emerald ring to Frank the morning after, but she didn't give him time to interrogate her about it. Her vision was bothering her. Why had he turning up as Hades, and not Pluto, when she was most definitely Roman. Had it been because of Nico, since he was the son of Hades, Greek? She didn't know.
"What did you mean by it P-… dad?"
No answer. Typical of the gods; come, give some unhelpful advice, not explain fully, and leave.
But then again, she wasn't used to seeing gods. She only saw two in her life, Juno and Mars, and that was because of Percy. Romans weren't exactly ones who saw the gods often; unlike the Greeks, whose director of their camp was Bacchus, or fighting one on one with the war god, Mars.
Leo's voice came over the intercom, saying, "Breakfast! Come get some eggs and Bacon!"
Hazel went to fill her stomach.
"How far we from Cypress?" Nico asked.
Hazel was glad he was feeling well again.
"About day and a half at the rate we're going." Leo replied. "That statue is slowing us down. IF we didn't have it…"
"Well," Jason interrupted, "It's not like we can just dump it. We will just have to be patient. The prophecy said it will be vital to defeating the giants. Plus, it will be able to end the feud between the Greeks and Romans."
"I am not sure the two problems aren't connected." Nico said. "If we are to succeed in defeating the Giants, we will need more gods. They most likely will be sticking together now, so we can't just keep killing them one-by-one. We will need the gods bodily able to fight with us, and that won't happen if the Greeks and Romans keep fighting."
Both were true, that statue was causing a lot of problems: any Roman who tried to go near it was in danger, as if Athena was trying to hurt them. Plus it weighed a ton. That was the reason the venti shot the Argo II out of the sky, it couldn't move fast enough.
"Well," Nico began, "what we need is a plan when we get there. I know where this temple is. Greeks went there to communicate with the dead. Only thing is, Gaia is most likely waiting there with an entire army. As much as we may like to think, we aren't powerful enough to fight an army that can keep walking out the door they are guarding for long."
Piper replied, "Well, we will have to just time this right. We need to be there by the time Percy and Annabeth get there, or they won't last a second. I am sure being in Tartarus for long weakens you. They won't be able to fight."
"Piper," Jason said, "Why don't you use your dagger to see Percy and Annabeth? That way we know they are okay, and we will know when to start the assault on the Doors of Death."
"I've tried, but it doesn't show me anything useful: only a stupid mountain with a red sky. How will that help us?"
No one knew the answer to that, and was worrying about their friends. Hazel knew they shouldn't be depressed that would only slow them down.
"Well," Hazel said, "On that happy note, let us start repairs."
Hazel was washing the deck with Jason when she heard an unrecognizable voice behind her. She whipped around, and saw who she realized to be Chiron the Centaur.
"Chiron!" Jason yelled. Leo must've heard, because he quickly gave the controls to Hedge, and ran down the stairs to talk with him as well."
"Ah, Leo, Jason, it is good to see you. Where is Percy and Annabeth, they should be here to hear this."
The three of them looked down, but Jason and Leo filled him in. The Old Centaur seemed to age 20 more years by the end of the story.
"Alas, I am sure they will be alright. You just need to focus on closing the Doors of Death in Epirus on time. Also…"
But Jason interrupted him, "Chiron, is everything right? I see smoke, has the Romans…."
Indeed, now that Hazel looked closer, she could see buildings smoking, as if an attack had just occurred.
"Well, the war has officially begun. The Romans are attacking; luckily, with the Cyclopes army and Briares, we were able to push them back."
"Briares?" Hazel asked, "The Hundred-Handed-One?" She had heard about the giant in one of her lessons, they helped Jupiter fight Saturn in the first Titan War.
"You must be Hazel." Chiron said. "Yes, the Hundred-Handed-One, the last of his kind. But there is more: the mortals are already feeling the effects of this conflict. States, mainly Texas, are starting to sign petitions to secede from the Union. Though it is still a small matter, the conflict could quickly escalate. Like already in Texas, riots breaking out. If this war is ended, another American Civil War will begin. You must think of something to fix this, or the war will be unsuccessful, even if you close the Doors"
"Were working on it," Leo said, "We thing we have the answer, once we are done here, we will return and set everything right."
Leo still sounded like he felt guilty for causing this by firing on New Rome.
"I am afraid this conflict will have to be resolved BEFORE you finish. Anyhow, I must go. We have more defenses to set up, and I have wounded campers to tend to. Jason, stay sharp, Leo, do not despair on what is done, it is all in the past. Hazel, I can tell something is troubling you; friends are the key to your answer."
With that, the old Centaur shimmered away.
Jason and Leo looked at her curiously, but she got up and said, "I…. gotta lie down." Hazel ran to her room.