It took a while before Festus find some Celestial bronze in Salt Lake City, Leo, Jennifer and Hazel went to get the celestial bronze while Annabeth, Percy and Frank went to get the tar. While everyone else remained on the Argo II, Phil and Aubrey were in Phil's cabin while Emily, Bucky, Steve and Lauren were in Bucky's and her cabin. Gleeson was in his cabin, doing who knows what with the satellite down, and Piper was with Jason. For during the fight with the HYDRA that Jason was hit with a falling brick of which he pushed Piper out of the way before it could hit Piper. Emily was sitting on the bed with her head on Bucky's shoulder, there so many times that she wonder of how things would be different if she was never adopted by that one family all those years ago. She figured that there was a chance that they would have married much more sooner than they were. If they did, than they would have been married for over seventy years . For they married for about seventy years or even sixty nine years and the could have been married for about seventy four or seventy five years instead, that was an odd thought. After a few minutes of silence that Steve and Lauren left the cabin to go to their cabin, Emily snuggled close to Bucky.
"Emily?"
"Hmm."
"What do you think could have happen if things turned differently?"
"Like what?"
"Like if Steve and I find out being demigod around the same time as you did."
"I think pretty much the same thing as if I was never adopted, that we would have dated sooner and got married sooner." Emily could tell Bucky was smiling when Emily said that.
"If that was the case than we would be married like seventy four years or maybe a little longer. That is an odd thought. Though when you think about it, we are really close of being ninety."
"You hit ninety five already." Bucky laughed when Emily said that. Bucky was about ready to say something when there was horse hooves clomping across the deck over their heads. Emily and Bucky got out of their cabin just as Jennifer, Leo and Hazel got below deck and went to Jason's cabin of where Piper and Jason were. Emily and Bucky went over to Leo, Hazel and Jennifer. Between the three of them they were carrying a large sheet of hammered bronze, Emily was looking at Leo as Piper spoke.
"Gods of Olympus. What happened to you?" Leo's hair was greased back, he was wearing welding goggles on his forehead. Not only that but he has a lipstick mark on his cheek, tattoos all over his arms and a t-shirt that read HOT STUFF, BAD BOY and TEAM LEO. Emily looked at Bucky of who looked just as confused as she did, she looked back at Leo as he spoke.
"Long story. Others back?"
"Not yet." Leo cursed in Ancient Greek but than Emily noticed that Jason was sitting up, Leo must have noticed it to.
"Hey, man! Glad you're better. I'll be in the engine room." Leo ran off with the sheet of bronze, Jennifer followed closely saying she would help him in the engine room. Emily could see the slight blush on Jennifer's cheeks when she looked at Leo, she couldn't help but smile when she saw that. However, Hazel remained in the doorway.
"Team Leo?"
"We met Narcissus. Also Nemesis, the revenge goddess." Jason sighed when Hazel said that.
"You meet Nemesis?" Hazel nodded.
"I miss all the fun." On the deck above something went thump as if a heavy creature landed. Than Annabeth and Percy came running the hall, Phil, Aubrey, Lauren and Steve come out of their cabins, so that the hallway was filled with demigods. However Percy was carrying a steaming five gallon plastic bucket that smelled horrible, Annabeth has a patch of black sticky stuff in her hair and Percy's shirt was covered in it.
"Roofing tar?" Frank stumbled up behind them, making it even more jam pack than before, Frank has a big smear of black sludge down his face.
"Ran into some tar monsters. Hey, Jason, glad you're awake. Hazel, where's Leo?" Hazel pointed down the hall.
"Engine room." Suddenly the entire ship listed to port, the demigods stumbled. Emily was close of falling over and if it hadn't been for Bucky she would have fallen to the floor. Percy was close of spilling his bucket of tar.
"Uh, what was that?" Hazel looked embarrassed.
"Oh... We may have angered the nymphs who live in this lake. Like...all of them." Emily stared at Hazel.
"What? Why?" Hazel opened her mouth but closed it and gave Emily a looked that she would explain later. Percy handed the bucket of tar to Frank and Annabeth.
"Great. You guys help Leo. I'll hold off the water spirits as long as I can."
"On it!" Frank and Annabeth went to help Leo, Emily looked at Phil, Lauren, Aubrey, Steve and Bucky. Phil shrugged like may as well, so they went to help Leo in the engine room. Leo was glad for the extra help and they managed to get most of the repairs done. After who knows of how long that they managed to leave the engine room, they were pretty much caked in sweat, lime, dust and tar. Emily was rather tired as well Lauren, Emily figured that was partly due to the fact that they both were with a child. Leo was grinning like a madman, the TEAM LEO now says AM LEO instead.
"Meeting in the mess hall, one hour, Crazy day, huh?" He said that as Emily and Bucky walked past him, once in their cabin that they took a shower to get cleaned up. Once everyone was cleaned up that Gleeson took the helm as the demigods gathered below deck in the mess hall. It was the first time that all of the eight, as well as the added six to help the eight, sat down together. Now that all eight of them were together that it was clear that the prophecy of the eight was unfolded. The tension in the mess hall was like an electrical storm, of which was possible considering that they have Percy and Jason in the room as well as Lauren but it was more clear that it was Jason and Percy would be the cause of the storm than Lauren. Percy and Jason tried to sit in the same chair, but Annabeth sat in the chair, so they sat on opposite sides of each other. They started eating and compared notes on what happened in Salt Lake City, even with Leo's story about tricking Narcissus didn't improve the mood of the group. Leo spoke with a mouthful of pizza.
"So where to now? I did a quick repair job to get us out of the lake, but there's still a lot of damage. Though it went quicker and more repairs were covered with the added help. We should really put down again and fix things right before we head across the Atlantic." Percy was eating a piece of pie of which was blue, filling, crust and the whipped cream. Emily was close of laughing but she held that in and spoke.
"We need to put some distance between us and Camp Jupiter. The last thing I need or to worry about is more monster attacks or even any of my old enemies coming back from the war or anyone else to attack New Rome, the further we go, the better. Besides there is a chance that John could try to come after us, if he brings enough people in and manages to bring the outcast of New Rome that he could have a legion to attack Camp Halfblood." Silence followed this statement, everyone was starring at their food and it was Piper who spoke up first.
"You're right. We have to keep going. Not just because of what happen at New Rome. We have to hurry." Hazel nodded when Piper said that.
"Nemesis said we have only six days until Nico and Arabella dies and Rome is destroyed."
"You mean Rome Rome, not New Rome?"
"I think. But if so, that's not much time."
"Why six days? And how are they going to destroy Rome?" No one answered, depending of how long they been there, that it could easy to destroy Rome. However Piper spoke
"There's more. I've been seeing some things in my knife." Frank froze with a forkful of spaghetti halfway to his mouth.
"Things such as... ?"
"They don't really make sense, just garbled images, but I saw two giants, dressed alike. Maybe twins." Emily looked at the magical video feed from Camp Halfblood on the wall, Emily bit her lip. She watched as it showed a room in the big house, the video made Emily feel homesick. It seem to have that affect on everyone but Jennifer, Frank and Hazel, Emily wasn't sure of the videos would make Frank and Hazel feel. Even though Emily no longer lives at Camp Halfblood that it was still her first real home after her father died and it was still was a big part of her life.
"Twins, like in Ella's prophecy. If we could figure out those lines, it might help."
"Wisdom's daughter walks alone. The Mark of Athena burns through Rome. Annabeth, that's got to mean you. Juno told me...well, she said you had a hard task ahead of you in Rome. She said she doubted you could do it. But I know she's wrong." Annabeth took a long breath before she spoke.
"Reyna was going to tell me something right before we were left on the Argo II. Just before I went on the Argo II that she held me back and said there was an old legend among the Roman praetors - something that had to do with Athena. She said it might be the reason Greeks and Romans could never get along." Leo, Jennifer and Hazel exchanged nervous looks.
"Nemesis mentioned something similar. She talked about an old score that had to be settled - "
"The one thing that might bring the gods' two natures into harmony, 'An old wrong finally avenged.'" Emily closed her eyes, Emily knew just from that of what they were talking about, even though they were unaware of that fact.
"I was only a praetor for about two hours. Jason, you ever hear a legend like that?" Emily looked over at Jason, it was clear that he had an idea of what it was, but to was clear that he didn't want to say it.
"I...uh, I'm not sure. I'll give it some thought." Percy narrowed his eyes at Jason.
"You're not sure?"Jason didn't respond, so Emily spoke.
"I know exactly what it is and I know it for some time. It is part of the cause of this rivalry between the Romans and the Greeks. The first part was the Trojan war of when Aeneas left Troy after the war ended and he founded Rome. Many years later, after the gods gain their two aspects that the Romans took a statue." Annabeth was looking at her as through she was trying to figure out something. Silence fell upon the group till Hazel broke it.
"What about the other lines? Twins snuff out the angel's breath, Who holds the key to endless death."
"Giants' bane stands gold and pale, Won through pain from a woven jail."
"Giants' bane. Anything that's a giants' bane is good for us, right? That's probably what we need to find. If it can help the gods get their schizophrenic act together, that's good."
"We can't kill the giants without the help of the gods." Jason turned to Frank and Hazel.
"I thought you guys killed that one giant in Alaska without a god's help, just the two of you."
"Alcyoneus was a special case. He was only immortal in the territory where he was reborn - Alaska. But not in Canada. I wish I could kill all the giants by dragging them across the border from Alaska into Canada, but... Percy's right, we'll need the gods." Emily wasn't sure if it was going to be that easy, there was a chance that they may not help. From the sounds of it that the gods were having a personality disorder at the moment, it was apparent that the gods hadn't paid much attention to the fighting at New Rome. Since it seems that Hera ran away from Olympus. But she remembered what Hera told her that she, along with Phil, Aubrey, Steve, Lauren and Bucky needed to help and protect the eight on this journey. Emily would have done that anyway as well as the other five, so it was pointless for Hera to tell her that.
"So... First things first, I guess. We'll have to put down in the morning to finish repairs."
"Someplace close to a city, in case we need supplies. But somewhere out of the way, so the Romans will have trouble finding us. Any ideas?" No one said anything at first, than Piper spoke.
"Well, how do you guys feel about Kansas?" Emily was sure that everyone was having trouble sleeping that night. For Gleeson spent the first after hour curfew doing his nightly duty, walking up and down the passageway. He was yelling as well of which didn't help at all.
"Lights out! Settle down! Try to sneak out, and I'll smack you back to Long Island!" He banged his baseball bat against a cabin door whenever he heard a noise and kept shouting at everyone to go to sleep. Emily wondered why Gleeson come along on this trip, Gleeson was about the oldest person or creature on this ship, than it would most likely be Bucky. Emily has her arms around his neck with her face nuzzling into his neck as she tried to sleep but couldn't. She knows Bucky was just having as much of a hard time with sleeping as Emily because of Gleeson, but she managed to get sleep after Gleeson stopped. Emily woke up as Bucky started to stir as well as when the breakfast bell rang, there was a knock on the door than Lauren spoke through the door.
"Come you two, we are landing." Emily got up and changed out of her night clothes as well as Bucky, just after she put her brown leather jacket on than she put her hand over her stomach. When she did that, that she felt Bucky's hand on her cheek and she looked up at him.
"Don't worry, the baby will be fine." Emily sighed, she wanted a child and it seem scary that she was with one even if she only be with the child for a few days now. But she couldn't help but worry of what kind of life the child would have, even without having a demigod parents, the child still wouldn't have a normal life.
"I know, it's just that I am thinking of what could happen after the brith." Bucky hugged Emily and spoke softly.
"I am sure the child would grow up fine, the child may not have a normal life but the child would not have a dull life. More so with Tony or even Arabella around. Can you think of what it would be like for Tony with two babies around?" Emily smiled when Bucky said that, she was about ready to say something when she heard Gleeson yelling.
"Thar she blows! Kansas, ahoy!" Emily looked up and shook her head as Bucky and herself smiled. They left their cabin and grabbed a bagel from the mess hall as the ship's landing gear extended. Emily could hear the ship's landing gear extending, as they climbed the stairs that they were joined by Piper. When they reached the deck that they joined the others as the Argo II settled in the middle of the sunflowers, the oars retracted and the gangplank lowered itself. Emily noticed that Percy was wearing a new orange camp Halfblood shirt and he was standing at the rail with his arm around Annabeth. The funny part was that Phil was also at the rail with his arm around Aubrey, Emily was present when Phil and Aubrey first meet as well as Arabella. For Aubrey repeating of what the one blond woman did to Steve seventy years earlier was just a funny sight. It also made her wonder if every girl did that with a son of Demeter, Emily noticed that both Phil and Aubrey were wearing orange camp Halfblood shirts and blue jeans. Annabeth took the bagel out of Piper's hand before she took a bite from it, Emily was aware of their running joke back at camp of stealing each other's breakfast.
"So! Here we are. What's the plan?"
"I want to check out the highway. Find the sign that says Topeka 32." Leo spun his Wii controller in a circle and the sails lowered themselves.
"We shouldn't be far, Festus and I calculated the landing as best we could. What do you expect to find at the mile marker?" Piper explained of what she seen in the knife, a man in purple with a goblet, Emily has a feeling that Piper wasn't telling them everything but Emily wasn't going to question that. From how Piper describe the man it sounded like Dionysus' roman form, Bacchus, for Dionysus wouldn't wear a purple shirt for it wouldn't be loud enough.
"Purple shirt? Vines on his hat? Sounds like Bacchus."
"Dionysus, If we came all the way to Kansas to see Mr. D - "
"Bacchus isn't so bad, I don't like his followers much..." Emily noticed that Piper shuddered.
"But the god himself is okay, I did him a favor once up in the wine country."
"Whatever, man. Maybe he's better on the Roman side. But why would he be hanging around in Kansas? Didn't Zeus order the gods to cease all contact with mortals?" Frank grunted, he was wearing a blue tracksuit of which Emily found amusing.
"The gods haven't been very good at following that order. Besides, if the gods have gone schizophrenic like Hazel and Jennifer said - "
"And Leo said." Frank scowled at Leo.
"Then who knows what's going on with the Olympians? Could be some pretty bad stuff out there."
"Sounds dangerous! Well...you guys have fun. I've got to finish repairs on the hull. Coach Hedge is gonna work on the broken crossbows. And, uh, Annabeth - I could really use your help. You're the only other person who even sort of understands engineering. I can use Steve's, Aubrey's, Lauren's and Bucky's help as well." Steve, Lauren, Bucky and Aubrey agreed to stay behind as well.
"He's right. I should stay and help." Percy kissed Annabeth's cheek.
"I'll come back to you. Promise." Franks slid his bow off of his shoulder and propped it against the rail
"I think I should turn into a crow or something and fly around, keep an eye out for anything like if John was following us with Soldiers."
"Why a crow? Man, if you can turn into a dragon, why don't you just turn into a dragon every time? That's the coolest." Emily slapped herself in the face, sure, Leo can be annoying but Frank was already having a hard time dealing with the fact that Leo looked like Sammy. But Leo was not helping Frank with his jokes and was just making it worse, Emily was used to Leo and his jokes. She even pulled a couple of pranks with him at camp already, however Leo was a male, so makes can be clueless when it comes to some things.
"That's like asking why you don't bench-press your maximum weight every time you lift. Because it's hard, and you'd hurt yourself. Turning into a dragon isn't easy."
"Oh. I wouldn't know. I don't lift weights."
"Yeah. Well, maybe you should consider it, Mr. - " Thankfully Hazel stepped in.
"I'll help you, Frank, I can summon Arion and scout around below."
"Sure. Yeah, thanks." Emily watched as Jennifer went to Leo's side and grasp his hand. Emily hoped that the four of them could settle this before it went overboard. Jennifer spoke.
"I will stay here and help with the repairs as well." Hazel turned to Percy.
"Just be careful when you go out there. Lots of fields, lots of crops. Could be karpoi on the loose."
"Karpoi?"
"Grain spirits, You don't want to meet them."
"That leaves three of us to check on the mile marker. Me, Jason, Piper. I'm not psyched about seeing Mr. D again. That guy is a pain. But, Jason, if you're on better terms with him - "
"Yeah. If we find him, I'll talk to him. Piper, it's your vision. You should take the lead."
"Of course. Let's find the highway." Emily walked to the rail and looked down at the field before she spoke.
"Phil and I can check the perimeter of the ship. We can walk on the ground without too much of a worry. We have to go a little ways out though." When she looked at Phil that he gave her a look, like you're kidding right. However it seem Jason liked the idea.
"That is a good idea and you two would have better luck with the Karpoi. Other than Steve." When Jason said that, that Emily and Phil left the ship first, they walked as far as Emily dared to go. When they were out of ear shot of the Argo II that Phil spoke.
"Is there a reason you wanted to do this and drag me along with you?" Emily looked over at Phil.
"Well, neither one of us have anything to do, I figure we may as well do something. Besides I wanted to talk to you."
"About what, you know what my life is like, I will admit though, I hadn't been on a quest in a long time." Emily smiled and laugh, Phil stared at her.
"Phil, if you think about, you have done quests in a way." Phil raised an eyebrow when Emily said that. "You been on missions for S.H.I.E.L.D. I am pretty sure in the godly world those would be considered quests." Phil shook his head when Emily said that.
"Emily."
"Hmm."
"I know that you heard that legend before. How come you didn't say anything more about it." Emily stopped walking and looked at Phil, he stopped as well.
"I told you, that I was swore under the river Styx not to tell either side about each other. True, it might be just a story but there was a chance it would fall under the oath I made since I was aware of groups when I came across it." After a while they reached far enough out to form a circle around the ship, as they walked in the circle that Emily spoke. "So tell me, are you thinking of asking Aubrey to marry you." Phil glared at her when she said that, Emily didn't glare back though and spoke instead. "I can out glare you, you know." Phil looked away from her.
"You know, we are not the only unmarried couple on the ship."
"Of course, but you two are at least twenty years older next to the unmarried couples." Emily watched Phil as he put his hand into one of his pockets, Emily smiled lightly when he did that. "You have the ring don't you?" Phil was close of blushing when Emily said that, Emily was always glad when the static expression comes off of his face. It was fun to make fun that she knows what he was thinking even with the static expression on his face, but it was more fun when he didn't have the static expression on.
"Yes, I do have the ring, I had it for the last month. I wasn't sure when I would ask her."
"How about after we save Rome or after this quest is over would be a good time." For much of the rest of the time that they talked about the things they did together including of when they tried to talk to Tony before he become an avenger. Phil admitted that one party was the first time he saw Emily in a dress and high heels, though hat was not the only time that Emily wore a dress. A few times they had to deal with the Karpoi, but it was not very bad considering they could use their powers to stop them. The Karpoi hates them because of their powers from their mother and the fact that they were children of Demeter, or Ceres as the Karpoi kept calling them. Just after making their second circle that they started heading back to the ship that Phil said something something she didn't expect.
"Emily, I am curious, are you feeling all right?" Emily stopped walking, Phil stopped as well and she looked at him.
"Why are you asking me that question? The only time you ever ask me was when my allergies hit a few times in the past."
"There is something off about you. I know it's not allergies. There is something wrong or have you have nightmares?" Emily would admit that she has some nightmares like she was being dragged to a pit that she could feel something around her ankle and she was unable to cut it. But Emily knows he wasn't asking because of the nightmares unlike everyone else have, he was asking because somehow Phil was able to tell that she might be pregnant.
"I only have a couple of nightmares and they are not as bad as some of the other nightmares, I am sure."
"Something is bothering you." Emily tilted her head.
"You are not going to let this go, are you?"
"Not until you tell me?" Emily sighed.
"Phil, I am sure you are aware of what comes with the blessing of Hestia when I become her champion?"
"Yes, you told me, you can sense family connections. You call tell of what kind of bond forms between certain people when not related as well being able to tell when someone is pregnant. You can heal, make food appear, and use fire. What does this have to do with anything?" Emily walked past him.
"Simple, you said what is bothering me?" Phil quickly followed her as she walked past him.
"No, I didn't say ... " Phil stopped talking and walking, Emily stopped walking as well and looked at him. "Are you saying that you are pregnant?"
"I am." Phil walked over to her.
"Than why didn't you say anything when Lauren revealed she was pregnant."
"Simple, with every other woman on this planet, as long as I talked to them or know them, I would know when they are pregnant when they are about two weeks to a month along. The only exception is me. I would know at once if I am pregnant."
"What are you saying?" Emily rolled her eyes.
"What I am saying is that I am not a couple of weeks or a month along. I am about five days along. The night before Lauren revealed she was pregnant was when I become with a child." Emily put her hand over her stomach. "As a result, I am always feeling that connection to my child, it will only get stronger as the child grows. Even with Lauren, that I only feel that connection when I am standing close enough. Honestly, when I become pregnant, I didn't expect it nor did the thought I would feel that connection to my child at all times." Phil was stunned when Emily said that.
"So you are pregnant? Does anyone else know besides you and me?"
"Bucky knows. I told him just before we entered Alaska. I have to say it was an odd feeling to go to Alaska and not being able to use Hestia's blessing as well as the powers Hades gave to me when he adopted me. I could use the powers that our mother gave me at birth. I have to admit though, it was nice for a day of not sensing that connection and worry about the child growing in me."
"What about Hecate's blessing?" Emily shrugged when Phil said that.
"I never really used it all that much, the only reason I have it is because of Arabella and I would help her training at Hogwarts when I have the time. Usually I would go to Hogwarts shortly after leaving the underworld. Please do me a favor and not tell anyone about what I told you."
"I won't say anything." Phil and Emily started walking once more. "Emily, I am wondering, what is going on with those four?"
"Which four?"
"Leo, Frank, Hazel and Jennifer."
"The love square?" Phil looked over at her with a confused look. Emily raised her eyebrow when Phil looked at her like that. "Phil, I thought you would know when you see something like that with the time we spent together while you were camp as well as afterwards. Though, I would admit that I am glad you don't get as excited as you use to when we meet after you learned what everyone now knows. But that is not important. I will admit I have more background on what is going on between the four of them. Basically it's this, Hazel was raised in the 1940s and she died in the 1940s and during that time she had a boyfriend named Sammy. Only a couple of days ago that Hazel and Frank become boyfriend and girlfriend. Yesterday, Leo and Jennifer got closer and I believe they will become a couple at some point. Provided that they get over one simple fact, though I am still trying to figure this out but I have been unable to do so. That is the fact that Leo looks like Sammy, Hazel's old boyfriend, in every way expect for the fact that Leo is a demigod. As far as I know, Leo doesn't know who Sammy is. But I think sammy and Leo are somehow related to each other." Phil looked stunned but neither one said anything on the way back to the Argo II. Shortly after Emily and Phil got back that Piper came back with Percy and Jason knocked out on Blackjack's back. Emily, Steve, Bucky and Lauren helped with Percy and Jason, as Emily touched Jason's hand that she felt cold. When she touched Jason that Emily has an idea of what happen, when they got to sickbay that they gave the two boys some ambrosia.
"At this rate, we're going to run out of ambrosia, How come I never get invited on these violent trips?"
"Gleeson, I can conjure up more when we need it. I am the champion of Hestia and I can conjure up food when I need to, even Ambrosia and Nectar." Piper was sitting next to Jason while Annabeth was examining the horse shoe shape dent on the back of Percy's head. Piper spoke up.
"Leo, are we ready to sail?"
"Yeah, but - "
"Set course for Atlanta. I'll explain later."
"But...okay." Annabeth didn't argue with Piper when Piper said that, Emily looked at Bucky, Phil, Aubrey, Steve and Lauren. All of them shrugged when she looked at them.
"What hit him?"
"Blackjack."
"What?" Piper tries to explain while Emily used her healing powers, as Piper tried to explain of what happened that both Percy and Jason started to groan and opened their eyes. Within a few minutes that Jason and Percy were sitting up in their bunks and were able to talk in complete sentences. Emily wasn't surprised that Percy and Jason have fuzzy memories of what happened in Kanas, Emily notice that Percy's shirt was covered with burn holes and his hair was even more disheveled than it was usual.
"Knocked out twice in two days, Some demigod." Jason glanced over at Percy. "Sorry, man. I didn't mean to blast you."
"Not the first time. Your big sister got me good once at camp."
"Yeah, but...I could have killed you."
"Or I could have killed you."
"If there'd been an ocean in Kansas, maybe."
"I don't need an ocean - "
"Boys, I'm sure you both would've been wonderful at killing each other. But right now, you need some rest." Emily snorted and looked at Steve of who rolled his eyes, Steve knew what Emily was thinking. When the brought Loki on the one Quinjet that Emily said something similar to Steve and Tony, Emily and Arabella did have fun with that. Loki thought that was amusing as well, aapparently.
"Food first, Please? And we really need to talk. Bacchus said some things that don't - "
"Bacchus? Okay, fine. We need to talk. Mess hall. Ten minutes. I'll tell the others. And please, Percy...change your clothes. You smell like you've been run over by an electric horse." Leo gave the helm to Gleeson again after making him promise than Gleeson wouldn't steer them to the nearest military base 'for fun'. After that they gathered around the dining table while Piper explained what happened at TOPEKA 32 and what they talked to Bacchus about as well the Eidolons. Emily knew that is what happened and he were still in Jason and Percy as well as Leo, the Eidolons she took care of hadn't entered any of the crew members yet and she wasn't sure what may happen if she tries to get them out of the three boys. Emily spoke.
"That is not the first time they appeared, they were on the ship when the Argo II came to New Rome but I sent them to the underworld. At that time they didn't enter anyone quite yet. I think they were planning doing that when the ship landed. But I prevent that from happening."
"That would explain the cold feeling I got." Emily nodded when Annabeth said that.
"But won't the Eidolons try to do harm to New Rome if we keep going?"
"Maybe, but I doubt it for they need to posses someone and they would prefer a Greek and use that Greek to attack New Rome."
"But wouldn't it be best if we make sure that New Rome is safe."
"I have that covered, Jason. But that is not the point of this quest, Jason, or even the reason of why the eidolon posses you." Than Annabeth spoke.
"The point is, we have to cross the Atlantic."
"You're right. We should just keep going. Once we're over the Atlantic, the quest would become more dangerous."
"How can you be sure?"
"You heard Reyna talking about the ancient lands. They're much too dangerous. Roman demigods have been forbidden to go there for generations. Even Octavian or any Roman couldn't get around that rule."
"So, if we go there..."
"We'll be outlaws as well as traitors. Any Roman demigod would have the right to kill us on sight. But I wouldn't worry about that. If we get across the Atlantic, they'll give up on chasing us. They'll assume that we'll die in the Mediterranean - the Mare Nostrum. That is if John decided to come after us." Percy pointed his pizza slice at Jason.
"You, sir, are a ray of sunshine." No one argued, Emily watched Percy eat. Sometimes she wondered if he was part Satyr, but was possible he spend too much time around Grover or it could be his empathy link with Grover.
"So let's plan ahead and make sure we don't die. Mr. D - Bacchus - Ugh, do I have to call him Mr. B now? Anyway, he mentioned the twins in Ella's prophecy. Two giants. Otis and, uh, something that started with an F?"
"Ephialtes."
"Twin giants, like Piper saw in her blade... I remember a story about twin giants. They tried to reach Mount Olympus by piling up a bunch of mountains."
"Well, that's great. Giants who can use mountains like building blocks. And you say Bacchus killed these guys with a pinecone on a stick?"
"Something like that, I don't think we should count on his help this time. He wanted a tribute, and he made it pretty clear it would be a tribute we couldn't handle." Emily rolled her eyes when Percy said that, Dionysus, or whatever, can be an idiot even at the best of times. Emily could hear Gleeson singing from above, it sounded awful. Silence was upon them, Emily wondered who would say something first, to her surprise it was Piper.
"She wants two of us." Everyone looked at Piper. Emily could tell that Piper didn't feel comfortable with being the center of attention. "Today on the highway, Gaea told me that she needed the blood of only two demigods - one female, one male. She - she asked me to choose which boy would die."
"But neither of us died. You saved us."
"I know. It's just...Why would she want that?"
"Guys, remember at the Wolf House? Our favorite ice princess, Khione? She talked about spilling Jason's blood, how it would taint the place for generations. Maybe demigod blood has some kind of power."
"Oh..." Percy set down his third pizza slice, down, Emily looked at him in surprise. She expected him to finish eating that pizza slice. He leaned back and stared at nothing, Annabeth gripped his arm.
"Percy?"
"Oh, bad. Bad. Bad." Percy looked across the table at Frank and Hazel. "You guys remember Polybotes?"
"The giant who invaded Camp Jupiter. The anti-Poseidon you whacked in the head with a Terminus statue. Yes, I think I remember."
"I had a dream, when we were flying to Alaska. Polybotes was talking to the gorgons, and he said - he said he wanted me taken prisoner, not killed. He said: 'I want that one chained at my feet, so I can kill him when the time is ripe. His blood shall water the stones of Mount Olympus and wake Earth Mother!'" Emily shivered, she understood what that means, that with a blood of a female and male demigod could wake up Gaea fully. Emily felt Bucky grasp her hand, Emily looked at Bucky and he smiled and gave her a look that said don't worry.
"You think the giants would use our blood...the blood of two of us - "
"I don't know. But until we figure it out, I suggest we all try to avoid getting captured."
"That I agree with."
"But how do we figure it out? The Mark of Athena, the twins, Ella's prophecy...how does it all fit together?"
"Piper, you told Leo to set our course for Atlanta."
"Right, Bacchus told us we should seek out...what was his name?"
"Phorcys." Emily was close of laughing when Percy said that and the surprised look on Annabeth's face, it was like Annabeth wasn't used to having Percy giving the answers.
"You know him?"
"I didn't recognize the name at first. Then Bacchus mentioned salt water, and it rang a bell. Phorcys is an old sea god from before my dad's time. Never met him, but supposedly he's a son of Gaea. I still don't understand what a sea god would be doing in Atlanta."
"What's a wine god doing in Kansas? Gods are weird. Anyway, we should reach Atlanta by noon tomorrow, unless something else goes wrong."
"Don't even say that. It's getting late. We should all get some sleep."
"Wait." Emily knew why Piper said that, everyone looked at her none the less. "There's one last thing. The eidolons - the possessing spirits. They're still here, in this room." Piper explained of why she believes that the eidolon were still there, Gleeson was singing another song while Blackjack stomped his hooves whinnying in protest. It was Emily who spoke after Piper was finished.
"Piper is right." Hazel and Jennifer nodded in agreement when Emily said that.
"How can you be sure?" It was Hazel who spoke before Emily could.
"I've met eidolons. In the Underworld, when I was...you know." Hazel didn't need to finish saying that, for they all know what she meant.
"Not only that but I am immortal and I helped Hades, or my adopted father, in the underworld and usually it is during this time of the year. I seen and meet Eidolons before now. I know that thye were in Jason and Percy when I touched their wounds. I would have taken them out by now but I have no idea of how to get them out of there. It could damage Jason and Percy if I try, now there is three of them and the third one is in Leo." Everyone was shocked when Emily said that and they glanced at Percy, Jason and Leo.
"I think I have an idea of how to do that. We have to take steps, I think I can do this."
"Do what?"
"Just listen, okay? Everybody listen." Piper meet Jason's, Percy's and Leo's eyes, when she spoke that she was using her charm speak.
"Eidolons, raise your hands." There was tense silence, than Leo laughed nervously.
"Did you really think that was going to - ?" His voice died, his face went slack and raised his hand. Jason and Percy did the same, Emily shivered once more and she felt Bucky wrap his arms around her as she shivered slightly. Their eyes turned glassy and gold, Frank scrambled out of his chair and put his back against the wall. Annabeth looked at Piper.
"Oh, gods. Can you cure them?" Even though Emily was used to Eidolons, this was freaking her out since she never saw them posses people before, Piper was focused on Leo. Emily figured that was because he was the least scary.
"Are there more of you on this ship?"
"No, the Earth Mother sent three. The strongest, the best. We will live again. She sent three weak ones earlier. But this one destroy them." Leo looked at Emily when he said that, his voice was hollow, it was creepy.
"Not here, you won't, All three of you, listen carefully." Jason and Percy turned toward Piper, Emily could hear Lauren almost whimpering as she nuzzled against Steve. Emily could tell that Lauren felt unnerved and was scared, but she was sure part of it was because she was pregnant and being pregnant can affect women.
"You will leave those bodies."
"No." Leo let out a soft hiss before he spoke.
"We must live." Freak fumbled for his bow.
"Mars Almighty, that's creepy! Get out of here, spirits! Leave our friends alone!" Leo turned toward Frank
"You cannot command us, child of war. Your own life is fragile. Your soul could burn at any moment." Emily grasp Bucky's hand as Frank staggered like he been punched in the face, he drew an arrow and his hands were shaking.
"I - I've faced down worse things than you. If you want a fight - "
"Frank, don't." Hazel rose, next to Hazel, Jason drew his sword,
"Stop!"
"Listen to Piper." Hazel pointed at Jason's sword and the gold sword seem to grow heavy and it clunked to the table and Jason sank back in his chair. Percy growled in an unPercy like way.
"Daughter of Pluto, you may control gems and metals. You do not control the dead." Annabeth reached towards as if to restrain but Emily waved Annabeth off. Emily pointed at Percy and he turned to look at her and he hissed, Emily knew that the eidolon in him knew who and what she was even if she wasn't her her daughter of Hades appearance. Than Emily spoke sternly.
"Listen, eidolons, you do not belong here. I can command you and I command you to listen to Piper." Emily looked at Jason and Leo. "That goes for you two as well. Obey her." Hazel nodded when Emily said that, Emily turned towards Piper and her expression was clear, try again, you can do this and you are the only one who to do without causing harm to them. Emily knew she was putting a lot of pressure on Piper but she knew in her heart that Piper was the only one who could do this without causing harm to the three of them. Piper looked straight at Jason before she spoke more forcefully with charmspeak.
"You will leave those bodies."
"We - we will leave these bodies."
"You will vow on the River Styx never to return to this ship and never to possess any member of this crew." Leo and Percy hissed in protest.
"You will promise on the River Styx." A moment of tension, Emily could tell the Eidolons were trying to fight back but were having a difficult time. Than they spoke in unison.
"We promise on the River Styx."
"You are dead."
"We are dead."
"Now, leave." When Piper said that, that Emily saw the three eidolon leave the three boys and went through a wall. All three boys slumped forward. Percy fell face first into his pizza.
"Percy!" Annabeth grabbed him, while Piper and Hazel caught Jason's arms as he slipped out of his chair. Leo wasn't as lucky, he fell toward Frank and Frank made no attempt to intercept him so that Leo hit the floor.
"Ow!"
"Are you all right?" Leo pulled himself up, he has a piece of spaghetti in the shape of a three stuck to his forehead.
"Did it work?"
"It worked, I don't think they'll be back."
"Does that mean I can stop getting head injuries now?"
"Come on, Lightning Boy. Let's get you some fresh air." Piper helped Jason to get up and walked to the door, when they reached the door that Jason turned around to look at Emily.
"Ghost girl, do you mind if at some point you make those brownies that I had at New Tome?" Hazel was about ready to say something but Emily spoke, since she know Jason was talking to her.
"Just get up on the deck, Lightning Boy." Than they left the room, Hazel turned and looked at Emily.
"Ghost Girl?"
"Yeah, since he basically grew up in New Rome and I went here plenty of times that he got to know me. When he was younger he had a hard time saying Rachel. For some odd reason he found it easier to say Ghost Girl, ever since it had been Jason's nickname for me. No one else uses it, even Arabella doesn't use it." After Emily said that, that everyone left to go to their own cabins. Emily and Bucky went to their cabin, when Emily laid down next to Bucky that he put one arm around her but he place a hand on her stomach.
"Do you know if it is a boy or a girl?" Emily smiled.
"I have no idea, that is the only thing that my Hestia powers can't tell me. However I know that they work differently when it is me that is pregnant. I might be able to tell the gender when I am far enough along. But there is no way of knowing till later on." After a few minutes of laying there that Emily and Bucky fell asleep.