Chapter 3: Jason

Jason couldn't have heard right. Octavian wanted to come with them? It can't happen, Jason thought. No one trusts him. And even if people did, Octavian wasn't one of the seven best demigods of the age. He couldn't even through a spear 20 yards. Apparently the others were thinking the same thing, as they frowned and looked around at each other. Octavian was still smiling, as if he delivered good news.

"Octavian," Jason began, "I don't think that's a very good idea."

"I know I'm supposed to go on this quest." said Octavian. "I foresaw it. If your going to battle Gaea, you'll need my ability to-"

"Ability to cut open stuffed animals?" interrupted Leo. "No offense dude, but I think we'll be fighting stuff slightly stronger than teddy bears."

"Silence!" roared Octavian. "It's not just teddy bears, there are other animals I use, but that's not the point." He took a deep breath. "Before the Feast of Fortune, I said that a mysterious hero would save the camp. That person is me."

"Actually, that person is not you." Percy stood up. "When we were on our quest. We came upon a burnt page of the Sibylline Books. Those books said that a daughter of Athena would accompany us as one of the seven."

"Lies!" said Octavian

"It's true!" Hazel had spoken up. "We heard it! Right Frank?" she asked.

"Yeah. What she said...It's true!" said Frank.

"Wait a minute. Percy said you came upon the page. Your saying you heard it. Which is it?" asked Octavian.

Percy, Hazel, and Frank looked at each other. Jason could tell they were hiding something.

"Ha!" laughed Octavian. "Your lying! You see Romans! Greeks can't be trusted, they are on Gaea's side."

A murmur broke out through the crowed. Jason could see what was happening. Octavian was turning the Romans on the Greeks. Jason looked over to Reyna trying to catch her eye. Surely she knew what Octavian was up to but she didn't look at him.

"No!" said Percy. "The only reason Hazel and Frank heard it was because I read it to them."

"I see," said Octavian "And where is this page?"

Percy didn't answer. Reyna came to his rescue.

"I have a better idea." she said. "Why don't you and Annabeth fight for the spot? One vs One."

"Fight?" said Octavian, not sounding so confident now. "I don't-"

"You are a Roman." Reyna said. "You should relish this opportunity, especially if you believe the Greeks are our enemy"

Octavian said nothing. Jason knew Annabeth could beat him easily. Annabeth wasn't as intimidating as Clarisse, but she had fought Kronos with her knife and Jason knew that few Romans had even trained against knives. I'd pay to see this, he thought, smiling to himself.

"Are you afraid?" asked Reyna. "This is why you can't be on the quest."

Octavian still said nothing although his eyes were murderous. Finally he talked.

"I know why you don't want me with you. You don't trust me." he said. His voice dangerously calm. He opened is mouth but closed quick. He was silent, almost like he was listening to something. Then he spoke again.

"Very well...I tried...No..." It was like he was talking to himself.

"Fire?" He looked up at Leo, and smiled. "I will do whatever you ask" he said to himself again.

He was silent for a couple seconds, unaware that all eyes on the room were on him. Finally he looked up.

"Go on the quest," he said, his voice full of rage. "Only pain awaits you. And you," He said, looking to Reyna. "You'll regret ever doing this," He stood up, looking at the entire room. "I swear to you, Rome will burn. And after that, Greece and Olympus."

With that, he turned a ran out of the room.

"Well...looks like we got our seven!" said Leo.