One More Day.
Chapter 12: Camp Jupiter.
A week later Persephone could honestly say there was one thing she hated more than any other monster (besides the Minotaur, for reasons she could barely remember). Gorgons, and what made it worse was there were two of them.
Percy didn't think monsters were stalkers, but these two wouldn't leave her alone. The whole time, from the second day of her journey until now they'd chased after her. If it were not for Hela Percy wasn't sure she'd have the chance to fight them without worry about Maeve the entire time.
It wasn't like she could fight both monsters while Maeve was in her arms. She had to compromise, and that meant placing Maeve done, nestled among the bags of supplies she'd stolen while she fought the monsters.
The point was, without the lioness, Percy didn't think she'd trust to leave Maeve unattended like that, even if she was a few feet away. Hela could also fight monsters, and Percy had been more than shocked when the lioness began glowing silvery-green and killed a hellhound that had attacked them the third day.
It turned out Hela could change her teeth and claws to Silver Othrys at command, allowing her to kill monsters – a blessing of Rhea ops she figured, and she figured all lions were not like normal lions in the wild.
A week after she'd left the wolf house she'd made it to where her own internal GPS (or gut feeling) told her she should be, and of course Hela was very good at tracking. The lioness seemed to know where she was going at all times.
Breathing hard, Percy stood at the top of a hill overlooking the highway, a tunnel that look like a skull, and directly below what looked like a eighty foot drop were the roof tops of apartment buildings.
Lovely, she thought, as she tried to figure out a way to get down there. She might be able to jump down and walk away from it alive.
She'd realized some time ago she was invulnerable, though she vaguely remembered something about a river and a curse that made this possible.
While she may be invulnerable, Maeve was not and there was no way in hades she was going to jump with Maeve in her arms. Not to mention, she didn't think Hela would like it too much. After all, Hela was her protector as much as her companion now.
"Sister, I found her!"
Percy looked behind her, and groaned as she saw the two gorgons coming towards her.
This was the last thing she needed! She'd lost track of the number of time she'd slashed her way through those sisters, and all they wanted to do was either sell her samples some sort of wieners or kill her in the most brutal way for kill their sister, Medusa.
She couldn't remember ever meeting Medusa, much less killing the snake haired monster. She now regretted going to that bargain mart, where she'd first met the gorgons, stocked up on a few things. Even going as far as to get a new pillow pet (they were nice to have when taking naps in a tree or on the hard ground) seeing as a Hydra had used her first as a chew toy.
She'd barely gotten away from the Hydra, and she was more than happy not to run into another one. Thankfully, or maybe strangely enough, Maeve had been able to slow down time long enough for Percy to use the matches she had to burn the stumps of the Hydra's head. It had been something she never wanted to repeat.
Before the Hydra she'd strangled a sea serpent (which was not easy) going towards San Francisco. All of this in a week, not to mention the gorgon sisters and she was up to her neck in frustration.
Sighing she looked for a way down, but It was impossible, the west side of the summit was too steep to get down without breaking every bone in her body – if she landed on the wrong spot at the wrong time anyways.
She wasn't sure how far this curse that gave her iron skin would go, but she wouldn't risk her being wrong and dying from stupidity.
Not to mention Hela and Maeve wouldn't simply jump, and she wouldn't risk jumping with Maeve in her arms. Who knew how she'd land, but she wasn't seeing much choice in the matter.
That being said, the rest was worse. If she tried from the opposite direction it was more like a clear drop onto hard rocks and the ground. Possibly more than a hundred feet in that direction, at least with the east side there was an apartment building to land on about fifty feet down, built into the hillside.
If she could get past the highway and to the San Francisco Bay she'd be safe, but then her mind rebelled against that. She was nearly there, and her eyes found the tunnel that reminded her of a skull.
That was it, she was sure of it, the entrance to Camp Jupiter!"
"Found you!"
Persephone jumped at the sudden sound beside her and she turned, cursing he own distraction. It was the one who smiled way to much, Beano.
Or at least that was what it had looked like, she learned when the Gorgon's sister arrived her name was actually Stheno.
Apparently monsters these days were obsessed with selling demigods free samples of Crispy Cheese 'n' Wieners before they killed them.
"Lucky," Percy said, stepping back only to remember there was about eighty feet between her and the ground – assuming she didn't go splat by hitting the apartment building roof instead of simply missing it completely.
"Crispy Cheese 'n' Wieners before you two die?" Stheno asked and Percy opened her mouth to speak when the other Gorgon popped up on her right.
she was so shocked she didn't even register that she should shove Riptide through either of them. Luckily it seemed the Gorgon's were to busy arguing over killing her and the free samples to do anything about her.
"But, Euryale . . ." Percy heard once she came out of her thoughts.
"No, now let's kill the demigod scum. she killed Medusa!"
Percy rolled her eyes at the broken record Eurayle the gorgon seemed to be. She still, for the life of her, didn't recall ever meeting Medusa, much less killing her.
"Look. I've never even met Medusa, much less remember killing her," she said. "So why do you even want to kill me? What would it gain you?"
The Gorgons exchanged looks.
"You must be joking," Euryale said, blinking. "You're Persephone Jackson, bane of monsters, we'd be famous if we destroyed you."
Percy blinked.
That was new, apparently she had a reputation amongst monsters.
Then again, she knew she'd known she was a demigod for years now, she just couldn't remember every monsters she'd faced. She seemed to remember a lamia, and a few others as well.
"Yep," Stheno said, nodding. "Our mistress would reward us as well."
Percy raised an eyebrow as she looked behind her and then at the tray Stheno held. She had no parachute or sled but maybe she could create one. She didn't like the idea but maybe, it would have to do.
"This mistress of yours, don't I deserve to hear her name before you slash me to bits?" she asked.
The two Gorgon's exchanged looks before they answered.
"The goddess Gaea, of course," she said proudly. "She will bring this world to a new age."
Percy frowned, cursing herself for not realizing this, after all her patron had mentioned Gaea more than once. She hadn't expected Gaea to somehow have two gorgons that should have been faded already in her command.
Nonetheless, Persephone nodded and then took a step back. It was all the lioness needed, and Hela took action, jumping both sisters and knocking them away from Percy and Maeve.
The tray of samples Stheno had clattered to the ground and Percy sighed.
"Stupid Idea time," she muttered, picking it up with Maeve balanced on her left side.
She then, after making sure she had a tight hold on Maeve jump on the platter and off the hill, cursing mentally the entire time as she had both arms around Maeve who seemed to be wide awake at this new expereince.
She prayed to every diety she knew of. Her husband, her father, her great-grandmother; Venus.
Just as she opened her eyes, and saw once again, Maeve had slowed time slightly. She had no idea how Maeve, barely a month old could use her powers – she'd have to ask her mother when she saw her if she'd ever done that.
Soon though time speed back up and she held her breath, knowing this would end badly.
It never did, since she noticed a soft golden-pink hazey glow coming over her and a tingling, and slight pain in her back before she realized she was no longer falling but floating – or hovering in mid air.
Looking down at her clothes she bit her lip when she realized she no longer wore the same thing as before.
She now wore a sleeveless dress (stola) right out of roman times. Form fitting golden armor, which didn't clash with the nearly white pale blue dress under it. On her feet were golden roman sandles which had straps up until just below her knees.
Riptide was no longer in pen form, but at her side (probably because of the lack of pockets), but what shocked her the most was the fifteen foot white dove wings potruding from her back.
She had to wonder what the mortals saw, a large bird perhapse?
'The blessing of Venus' she thought to herself, though she wasn't sure how she knew this. She vaguley remembered seeing it somehwere before, but didn't remember them ever growing wings.
Hopefully it was temporary, she didn't think she could hide fifteen foot wings under her clothes.
Shaking her head, Persephone moved the wings and slowly desended from the air till she was just next to the highway.
Looking back she could see Hela running from the hillside, much faster than should be possible for a lioness, but she was used to Hela doing the unexpected.
The gorgons were nowhere to be seen. At least for now.
"You look beautiful, Persephone," a familiar voice said from behind her and she turned to find her husband.
"Luke, you're here," she said, a bit surprised to see her husband there.
Lucian smiled at his wife. She did indeed look beautiful, but that was to be expected after Venus had her way. The blessing of Venus was much like the blessing of Aphrodite, only usually some sort of armour was involved since Venus was more militaristic compared to Aphrodite.
The wings... well that wasn't common but it wasn't common for the complete blessing of Venus to be gained. Being Lady of the Doves it wasn't that unusual and Cupid had to have gotten his wings from somewhere.
They'd fade completey in a week or two, though they could be easily hidden with a simple thought as a tattoo on her back. Venus had exsplained this to him before he'd left Olympus, so Percy would know how to hide her wings.
"Percy, you remember what Lupa mentioned about Greek and Roman names?" Lucian asked, realizing it was time she knew. Once inside if she called him Luke it might cause trouble.
"Yes, but is this really the time?" she asked, worried the gorgons might return.
Lucian smiled and looked back to were the lioness was only feet away, and then saw the reformed gorgons on top of the hillside.
"You're right, I'll have to exsplain more once inside Camp Jupiter," he said. "Until then, call me Lucian."
"Lucian?" Persephone questioned, but for some reason it made sense to her. "Alright, I'll let it go for now. But you owe me an exsplanation, lover."
"Come one," Lucian said, grabbing her free hand and the two moved towards the tunnell, which unfortatley meant part of the highway.
Hela was right behind them. Looking back she saw the gorgons had also grown wings and were coming at them at a fast speed.
"Smart girl, has the help of a god," she barely heard one of the gorgons say.
She felt Lucian's hand tighten around hers in reasurance and she breathed out a sigh of releif and saw the glow around her – the Blessing of Venus – receed to a barely noticable aura, though the white wings remaind. Looking back towards the tunnel she realized exactly where Lucian was leading her.
In the center at the tunnels, where the cement separated the two tunnels from each other, was a cement wall with a metal door; like the entrance to a bunker.
If she'd been mortal she'd assume it was just a maintenance tunnel, if she would have noticed it at all. Persephone wasn't mortal, though, and she saw it for what it truly was.
There was also the fact two kids in armor flanked the entrance, standing guard against what she assumed to be intruders, mortals who could see through the mist, and monsters.
They wore a mix of plumed Roman helmets, breastplates, scabbards, blue jeans, purple T-shirts, and white athletic shoes. One looked to be female, with curly black hair peaking from under her helmet, the other male, but the amount of amour made it hard to be one-hundred percent sure.
The Gorgons were maybe twenty feet behind them, screaming, now. As she turned to check she noticed one car meet an unfortunate fate when Euryale's claws swept across the hood.
She got the feeling Euryale was very angry for a Gorgon, and thought momentarily about suggesting anger management to her.
She thought better of it as she focused on the tunnel once more, they were maybe twenty or so feet away now. Maybe, she was more focused on getting there safely with Maeve and Hela who was running at her heels behind them.
She noticed the two standing guard had spotted them, and had reached for their weapons. The one she assumed was a boy was pulling a bow an arrow, the other had a spear of some sort, a harpoon type weapon. She thought she saw what looked like a spatha at her (once again assuming it was a girl) side as well.
"We're almost there, Percy, Maeve," she heard Lucian say.
Then her eyes widened as she noticed the arrow being notched by one of the guards.
"Don't worry, you can trust those two," Lucian said, smirking back at her momentarily when he noticed what had drawn her attention.
She realized seconds before the boy released the arrow it wasn't aimed at them, but at the gorgons behind them.
"That should have killed her!" the one who shot, a boy she now knew for sure, said.
The other shook his or her head and looked at Percy hesitantly, eyes wide at what Persephone assumed was her wings (they were really beginning to annoy her, though she was thankful for them. She would have to remember to thank her great-gran for them later).
"Welcome to my world," Percy snapped, as they finally got up to the door.
"We don't have time for this," the other one said, a girl if her voice and a closer look at her face was anything to go by. "Frank, take them inside. Those are Gorgons."
"Gorgons? I thought they'd faded besides Medusa," the archer protested and the girl sighed.
"Obviously not, now go!"
Persephone used this time to notice that the boy was stout, sort of like a wrestler, but shorter. Like a kola bear.
The girl had dark curly hair, as she'd noticed before, dark coffee colored skin, and eyes that reminded her of a golden nugget. Similar but also very different from Maeve's green flecked golden eyes. Both appeared between thirteen and fifteen.
"Listen to her, we must keep moving," Lucian urged, startling both the archer, Frank he thought, and the girl.
"Lord Lucian?" the girl asked, surprised and Lucian nodded.
"No time," he said.
The girl, Hazel, nodded.
"Lord Lucian is right. We haven't any time. Go on, I'll hold them off."
"Hazel," Frank began, looking worried.
Percy looked back to find the Gorgon's were getting closer and closer. There was no time to get into it and Percy followed Lucian and Frank in through the door once the girl, Hazel, had convinced the koala-like boy to leave without her.
Persephone felt bad about having to abandon the girl, but she couldn't chance Maeve's safety, and Lucian wouldn't have allowed it even if she'd tried.
"Will that door hold?" she asked, concerned.
"Probably not, we should hurry," Lucian told them and Percy noticed Frank staring at her wings, Maeve and then Lucian strangely.
As they ran deeper into the tunnel Percy noticed the cement floors changed to tiled mosaic. The lights changed to reed torches, torches that burned but didn't smoke or light anything on fire.
A few hundred yards ahead, Percy saw a square of daylight. Something she couldn't be happier to see.
"Not far now," Lucian muttered, relief obvious in his voice.
Hazel yelled from inside the tunnel and Percy stopped, turned back and her now free hand went towards Anaklusmos at her side. Another hand, stronger intercepted her.
"Oh no," Lucian said, smiling. "We have to go, no playing hero today. Hazel is a capable fighter."
Persephone rolled her eyes at her husbands teasing tone but knew he was right. She still felt bad about leaving Hazel to fend for herself.
"Lord Lucian is right," Frank said.
"Your friend though, Hazel?" Persephone asked, looking at Frank.
Frank shook his head, but smiled a little.
"It's cool, Hazel is good underground," he said and ushered them to continued forward.
Percy nodded and they were once again running towards the light at the end of the tunnel. It was only moments later the they burst out of the tunnel and stopped.
Percy gaped for a solid minute at the sight before her.
Spread out at her feet was a bowl-shaped valley several miles wide. There were many smaller hills along the basin floor. Along with golden plains, and stretches of forest.
A small clear river cut a winding course from a lake in the center and around the perimeter, like a capital G. She took notice of the live oaks and eucalyptus trees, gold hills and blue skies.
That big inland mountain, Mount Diablo, rose in the distance, and yet Percy felt like this was some fantasy world which she'd dreamed up. Yet she stood here, and there was more to be seen.
In the center of the valley, by the lake, was a small city of white marble buildings. Some had domes and columned porticoes, like national monuments, but not exactly as modern. Others looked like palaces, with golden doors and large gardens.
She could see an open plaza with freestanding columns, fountains, and statues. She thought it looked similar to something she'd seen in a book on about Rome. Had it perhaps been a text book? Assuming she went to school before, she couldn't really recall.
Her eyes moving around she saw a five-story-tall coliseum gleamed in the sun, next to a long oval arena like a racetrack, in appearance. Across the lake to the south, another hill was dotted with even more impressive buildings—temples, to the gods she realized.
Several stone bridges crossed the river as it wound through the valley, and in the north, a long line of brickwork arches stretched from the hills into the town. An aqueduct.
The strangest part of the valley was right below her. About two hundred yards away, just across the river, was some sort of military encampment.
It was about a quarter mile square, with earthen ramparts on all four sides, the tops lined with sharpened spikes. Outside the walls ran a dry moat, also studded with spikes. They must like spikes, she thought to herself.
Wooden watchtowers rose at each corner, manned by sentries with oversized, mounted crossbows. They didn't look like people to be messed with. Definitely shoot first, ask questions later.
Purple banners hung from the towers and a wide gateway opened on the far side of camp, leading toward the city.
A narrower gate stood closed on the riverbank side. Inside, the fortress bustled with activity: dozens of kids going to and from barracks, carrying weapons, polishing armor. She could hear clearly the hammer of hammers at a forge and smelled meat cooking over a fire.
Something about this place felt familiar, and like home, yet not quite right at the same time.
"Camp Jupiter," Lucian told her proudly. "You'll be able to find a home here as well, Percy."
Frank nodded.
"We'll be safe once we can get across the river.." he trailed off as Hazel burst from the tunnel.
She looked a mess. Her armor was slashed in places and her helmet was gone. Her curly hair fell loose and she was breathing hard, a scratch on her cheek and a fifty percent off tag on her forehead. Stheno must have tagged her, she thought with a small amused smile.
"I held them off but they're on their way," she said, pulling off the discount tag. "We've got to move for the river."
"Right," Percy said and the they all took off at breakneck speed to the river.
It didn't take as long as she'd feared for them to reach the riverbank and they stopped to catch their breath. This didn't last long as the Gorgon's came at them quickly.
"Hazel, take Percy and get across the river. You have to get her past the Sentries so they don't shoot her," Frank said, nocking an arrow on his bow.
Hazel looked ready to argue, but gave in realizing he was right.
"Fine," she said. "Don't die."
Hazel darted across the river, and Percy look on with slight dread. For some reason this river made the wings on her back shiver. Her wings, she realized, she could simply fly over... but she wasn't sure she could control them properly yet. She was still sort of hoping they'd go away soon, they were drawing attention she didn't want or need.
"Percy!" Hazel called, waving her over.
"You're right to be weary of the river," Lucian said, sighing. "The Little Tiber. It flows with the power of the original Tiber, river of the empire. Your curse, the mark of Achilles is a Greek blessing. You can't retain it if you cross into Roman territory. One touch of this water will wash it away. You'll be vulnerable again. As easy to kill as any other who let's their guard down."
Percy frowned, her head aching slightly as a blurry memory of pain and a river came back to her.
"I think I remember, at least some of it," she said. "Is there a way around it?"
Lucian looked thoughtful for a second, and she heard the gentle voice of Rhea Ops in her mind.
'My champion, you must not touch the water. Only the water has the power to wash the curse away, as long as you don't touch it the curse remains.'
"I'll have to carry you from here," Lucian said, smiling at her. "If the water doesn't touch you, the curse should remain."
Persephone nodded and allowed her husband to pick her (and Maeve, who was still in her arms) up bridal style. Lucian darted forward, across the river. Once on the other side, Lucian placed his wife and daughter back on the ground.
"Frank!"
Hazel's scream of concern startled Percy, who turned to find Frank trying to fend off the Gorgon's and failing, Hela trying to help. He was holding his arm to his side and backing away towards the river, Hela in front of him growling as she back away with him.
Percy glared.
"Lucian, hold Maeve, please," she said, and handed their daughter to him.
He took her without hesitation and watched as his wife thrust her hands out in front of her. The Little Tiber rose up and mimicked her movements, grabbing the Gorgon's and consuming them in the river.
Once they were in the river she threw her hands out to the side and effectively ripped the Gorgon's into monster dust.
During all of this she never noticed the camp's gates open and dozens of kids in armor poured out.
"Thanks," Frank said, once he'd finally crossed the river with Hela who made her way to Percy's side.
"You're welcome," Percy said. "I'm Percy Castellan, and this is my daughter Maeve."
She motioned to the blonde baby Lucian now held.
"Percy…Castellan?" A girl asked, stepping forward.
She sounded as if she recognized her name, but she also heard a hint of fear and confusion in her voice.
She turned her attention to her, hoping to find someone who might know her there. Might be able to tell her more about herself. She was disappointed to find she didn't recognize her, not really. The girl, around fifteen or sixteen, was obviously their leader.
She wore a regal purple cloak over her golden colored armor which laid over the same purple t-shirt the others wore. Her chest was decorated with medals. She had dark, piercing eyes and long black hair.
Her eyes held both hesitance at her presence and a glimmer of fear which she'd heard in her voice. Like she'd seen her in her nightmares. She wasn't to sure how she felt about that.
"Do you know me?" she asked, and the girl's eyebrows came together in confusion.
"No," she said but her eyes told her otherwise.
She didn't push it though, she could tell this wasn't someone to have as her enemy.
"Praetor Reyna," Lucian said, drawing everyone's attention away from Percy.
It wasn't everyday a girl with the complete Blessing of Venus walked into camp – few had seen it but it was heard of, especially by the children or legacies of Venus.
It was almost like an explosion that everyone was kneeling before Lucian, though she didn't, she was after all his wife.
"Lord Lucian," the girl with the purple cloak said. "What gives us this honor?"
"I have come here to to bring you Persephone Castellan. Treat her well, but know that things are being set into motion. In order to prevail and save Rome from a tragedy you must unite as one." Lucian looked over the legionaries. "Thanatos must be freed."
Then he took a hold of Percy's hand in his free one, holding Maeve securely with the other.
"All hail Persephone Castellan, Daughter of Neptune, Legacy of Venus, and my wife," he said after a moment of letting his words sink in, and smiled at the shocked gasps. "Do not fail me or the other gods. I will be here until tomorrow, to help Percy settle in."
"Lord Lucian... how is it possible for you to be married to a mortal?" a brave legionary asked.
"Percy will not be a mortal for long, she will join me as a goddess in coming months," Lucian said. "It is why I have you building an extra temple. The temple is for her once she's a goddess."
There were mutters, and whispers before the assembled demigods nodded, bowing respectively to Percy. She suppressed a blush of embarrassment at the gesture.
"Welcome Persephone, I am Reyna, Praetor of the Twelfth Legion," the girl with the purple cloak said, now known as Reyna.
"And I'm Gwen Maxwell, daughter of Venus," the blonde beside Reyna said. "I guess that makes us family, Lady Persephone."
Percy shook her head.
"It's just Percy, or Sephie if you want. I'm not a goddess yet, so you don't have to treat me any differently from a normal demigod."
The Romans blinked a little surprised but nodded.
"What now?" Hazel asked.
"We return to camp," Lucian said. "I want to show Sephie around and I have some things to talk to her about."
Percy kept her hand intertwined with Lucian's as he led her into Camp Jupiter, and let out a breath of relief. She had finally made it.