Sorry again for the wait, guys. It happens. But at least I don't make you wait a month, right?
theboundseries: No, no, don't worry! Constructive criticism is very much appreciated; I don't get enough of it. And your arguments are definitely very valid; I'll make sure to work on the rough points you pointed out. Part of the reason I started writing this fanfic was to better my writing, and I can't do that if all people tell me is that it's good-constructive criticism is extremely necessary to anyone to get better at anything.
Percy Underwood (guest): Actually, that's a really good idea. I think that works-I mean, over 200 reviews in just a few days, for one update (even if it was a double update) is just insanely crazily awesome. So, yeah, when you guys reach 3000, I think I'll give you a triple update. Works well, doesn't it? Gives everyone the perfect motivation.
Me or Cdazz (guest): I think Cdazz is pretty cool.
Please read this (guest): Hey, I read it. ;p And your ideas are definitely being thought about. Extensively. ;)
BunnyBo: I don't have Instagram. But I saw that pin on Pinterest, so I've heard about it. Chill, though-do you really think Rick will kill Percy and Annabeth? He's had more time than any of us to fall in love with them-he created them. I understand him killing minor characters, or the characters that haven't been in the series for too long-he hasn't had as long to get attached to them. He's a lot like us-think about that. I don't think he's going to kill Percy and Annabeth-I'm a lot more worried for the others, especially Frank, Hazel, and Nico.
Blackberry Explosion: Kind of what I'm going for, I think. Things are going to be slowing down for a bit here, and then BAM-lots of big things kind of happening all at once. Sounds awesome, right? Oh, and this chapter has us back at camp again...so you may be seeing punching of the it soon. ;)
Maia Jackson (guest): See, that's the thing about writing-the readers hate but love it at the same time when you put the characters through painful situations. Like, Percy and Annabeth in Tartarus-everyone says they hate that, that they hate what they had to go through because of Rick, but then, the story wouldn't be the same without that happening, would it? It would almost be kind of boring.
christmascookie26: Yep, Frazel is being naughty. Tsk tsk tsk. *shakes head* They've been spending much too much time with Percabeth and Jasper. They need to hang out with Leo some-he'll bring them down a few notches with his teasing, won't he? And thanks for reviewing all those chapters; that's really great of you!
H202 (guest): Great! I like new people. Oh, and also, AresWarMax152 told me to tell you not to swear. 'Kay? :)
AresWarMax152 (guest): You realize if I kill Nico I'll have a mob after me. Of course, that'll happen if I kill anyone at all-except maybe Octavian. :D
Aurora (guest): I really want to read his other books, but the library closest to me doesn't have them, so I'm gonna have to see if the library in town has them. My sister's friends spoiled it for her, too, but none of my friends had read it before I did, so I didn't know what was going to happen. I recognized the hints and clues, though, so I was like yelling at the book before I even found out for sure what was going on with Gus because I just knew it was going to happen. Which made it even worse, I think.
Glitterin'AquaPrincess12: Oooo, I would love to be Uncle Ricki's apprentice. That'd be awesome. Hey, there should be a program like that-like an internship for aspiring authors, where they get to shadow famous authors like Stefanie Meyer, Rick Riordan, John Green, J.K. Rowling, etcetera. That would be so cool.
Hope Garrit (guest): I'm glad you're back! And criticism is welcome; I promise! Also, yes, read The Fault in Our Stars. It will make you cry, but it is soooo worth it, and it's a really good example of absolutely excellent writing that I aspire to achieve one day.
WisegirlAnnabethChase: Yes, it was. Every time I think about it I have to force myself not to cry.
Percabeth's1fan: A bunch of fluff is going to happen soon, and Percy and Piper are also going to have some bro/sis bonding. I swear it on the River Styx. *distant thunder*
Awesomeness (guest): The times I update kind of vary. Like a lot. But usually it's later in the day, in the afternoons some time. Around four or five.
HoOisawesome (guest): Yeah, I've read that too. And I almost started crying-I miss both of those characters so much. Poor Zoe. Poor Bob.
Albert25Einstein: Weirdness. Maybe just look up Jason Grace, either on google or Pinterest. I know some of the pictures come up then, as that is how I first discovered Brason.
DollyDaycare (guest): Okay. This review is like impossible to respond to. Um...spoilers are prohibited, but authors don't like killing off their fave characters, okay? Does that work? Please don't stop reviewing...
RMS Titanic (guest): Yes, you were right. :) And, yes, read The Fault in Our Stars. It's worth it, although it will most likely make you very sad. And I'm trying to update Five Ways to Die, I'm just having writer's block issues.
Rajell Cellar (guest): See, I knew that one. I totally knew that one. Unfortunately, I have no idea for this one. None at all. No bells are ringing. Sorry.
justme (guest): Yeah, I went to see it on Saturday with my sister. And yes, I cried. I am not ashamed to admit that. I bawled my eyes out, especially when we got back home and I didn't have to worry about looking ugly in front of dozens of other people.
Naomi MK Jackson: Smarties are pretty good. For some reason, though, a couple years ago, I started eating only the white ones and now I won't eat any other colors. I'm weird, I know. 'Rick Riordan's female form,' huh? Hmmm. Better than saying that I'm Rick right out, I suppose, since I am a girl. Maybe I'm just distantly related or something. Very distantly-but you never know, right?
Percabeth4ever (guest): Cool. And, yeah, we can bond over our love of PJO. That's what I do with a lot of people, so why should you be different? :)
ElijahS34 (guest): Yes, I know. That's kind of the point. I thought I put it in there...I was pretty sure I said something about her doing it to push back the power of the Cocytus-even if he wasn't actually in Tartarus, the affects were the same, so her thoughts were that maybe if she did the same thing to bring him back and get him going again, it would work.
daughterofzeus911: Can I have multiple OTPs? Ha, stupid question, otp means one true pair. But I can't help it. Oh, and do you mean in general, or in the Mortal Instruments series? I have read them, by the way, I'm trying to get my hands on the last book that just came out.
Wild-at-Heart14: Yeah, I bet my mom would be pretty worried if I started doing that to. You know, where she can see. I usually read alone in my room, so people don't see me when I freak out. But the other night my sister Lyndsey heard me yelling at my book and thought I was talking to myself...yeah, she got a little worried.
Enjoy!
Chapter LXXXVI
Reyna
Reyna and Nico are, of course, the last ones to the meeting, as according to the plan-they didn't want any of those in attendance to find out about her presence until after they'd agreed.
'Fashionably late.' Reyna quotes mentally. She's never been late before-it's somewhat of a strange feeling to be standing outside when you know everyone's waiting for you. I suppose there's a first time for everything.
Aurum and Argentum stand unwaveringly by her side, waiting for her, and Nico's warm hand in hers is a comforting feeling. Perhaps too comforting...But she decides to push that away and focus on the courage that comes from their linked hands-even if they're only linked because Nico has to be touching her to keep her invisible.
Reyna sighs. "Okay, Nico. Are you ready?"
He nods. "Are you?"
"Not really." She mutters. He laughs quietly, and she can't help but smile at the sound.
"Time to get this over with." She tells him when he quiets. "Let's go."
Together, they step into the tent, and then Nico releases her hand-after one last, lingering squeeze that Reyna can't help but hope might mean something more...
The centurions and senators are gathered around the table, most of them sitting, arguing heatedly about something or other. Probably the meeting.
Reyna clears her throat, clearing her expression of all emotion and sweeping the room with a cold gaze.
Everyone turns to her, and upon seeing her, they're absolutely silent. You could hear a pin drop.
Gwen nods to her once from across the room, and Dakota does a clumsy salute-slightly melodramatically, but that's Dakota.
As the silence stretches on, Reyna strides over to the head of the table, with Aurum and Argentum heeling on either side and Nico following quietly behind her and to her left. No one seems to notice him-their eyes are all on her.
"I'm assuming, if you're here, that it means you haven't completely fallen for Octavian's tricks." Reyna says, addressing the table as a whole. "For that, I applaud you-Octavian's words aren't the easiest to resist. But for all his promises, his pretty speeches, Octavian is a liar.
"Some of you might be here because you have experienced Octavian's treachery firsthand-perhaps he has attempted to blackmail you into following him, or threatened you. Others might find that hard to believe-but a good number of Octavian's followers are forced into it. Others have been drawn in by his promises, his convincing opinions on everything. But I tell you now: Octavian cannot be trusted."
"And how do we know you can be trusted?" One of the centurions calls from the back. "You left us here with him, in the middle of the night. You abandoned us to his leadership-that doesn't seem very trustworthy to me."
There are a few murmurs of approval, but Reyna focuses her attention on the centurion. "I intended to leave at night to avoid Octavian-not you. I planned to be back by morning, but as you now, that's not how it happened."
She draws herself up taller. "That night, just as I was about to leave my tent, someone else snuck in, injuring one of the guards to do so. What his intentions were, I don't know, nor will I pretend to-but he was one of Octavian's followers, and he came armed."
The people present turn to each other and mutter a few exclamations of surprise-some of outrage. "What are you implying, Reyna?"
"I believe I can guess Octavian's intentions-he sent his follower for me. Perhaps not to kill-to capture-but to put me out of commission. Octavian is power-hungry, he wants the praetorship more than anything, and as long as I'm praetor, he knows I won't let him have it. He also knows he'd be hard-pressed to gather enough support in a fair election-so his solution is to get the praetorship passed to him in the quickest, smoothest way possible that doesn't involve an election. As the augur, he becomes praetor in my absence-as you well know. So he decides to get rid of me." Reyna explains smoothly. She doesn't let herself betray a hint of doubt-she needs them to believe her, and for that to happen, she has to believe what she says.
"Why would he do that?" A senator asks. "Why not just get himself raised on the shield for valor in battle, like Percy?"
Reyna allows herself a short, dry laugh before answering. "Octavian is no warrior. Have you ever even seen him fight before? No, he's better suited to sitting back and giving orders-which he well knows. He's the puppet master in the show-he pulls the strings, and has others to his dirty work. It is a rare occasion in which he uses violence himself-and even then, he resorts to underhanded trickery."
Dakota's expression turns angry, and he glances quickly at Gwen before returning his attention to Reyna. A few others whisper to each other and glance at her as well, murmuring her name. She looks around at them suspiciously, but obviously decides to ignore it.
"We see your point, Reyna-Octavian needs to be kept from the praetorship. We don't support him-as you said, that's why we're here. But unless we have another candidate for praetor, I don't see how we can keep it from him." Felicity speaks up-she's one of the oldest centurions. She's quiet, and it's rare that she talks, but she's cunning and intelligent.
"I understand this-but there already is another praetor." Reyna says.
"Who?" David asks incredulously. Most of the others echo his statement.
"Frank Zhang." Reyna replies simply.
"Frank?" Is the general reaction.
"He's a clumsy oaf!" "He can't be praetor!" "He was only just elevated to centurion!"
Reyna raises her hands for silence, and they quickly quiet-at least they all possess the Roman standards of obedience.
"Frank Zhang was recently elevated to the position of praetor by Jason Grace himself-Jason resigned his post and raised Frank's rank during battle in the Necromanteion in Epirus." Reyna informs them smoothly.
"Why would he do that?"
"For several reasons-not least of which is the fact that Frank is an excellent warrior and battle strategist. Since he left Camp Jupiter, he has achieved much. He is one of the seven most powerful demigods in the world, and he is no longer the clumsy oaf you knew him as. He is blessed by his father, Mars. He is a descendant of Poseidon as well-that is where his gift comes from. Frank Zhang has ancient blood-his ancestry stretches back to Ancient Rome, and then back even further to Periclymenus, Prince of Pylos, in Ancient Greece. He is deserving of the title praetor and I approve his rise in rank." Reyna explains briskly, raising her chin and daring them to disagree.
She can see doubt on many of their faces, but wisely, they don't contest her words. Gwen is the first to speak.
"I trust Reyna-she has done much for us in her years of service as praetor. If she says Frank is worthy, I believe her. The least the rest of you can do is suspend judgement until you see Frank again." She tells the others.
They talk quietly amongst themselves for a few moments-then Felicity turns back to Reyna. "Very well. We will suspend judgement on Frank Zhang until he returns from war. For now, we will support him, and you, as our counter move against Octavian."
Reyna nods once in recognition and gratitude. "That is all I ask. Now, we need to move on.
"My visit to Camp Half-Blood was quite successful. The leaders there have agreed to a peace treaty-they have no more wish of bloodshed than I." She continues briskly.
"Yeah, because we'd beat them to a pulp." David mutters.
Reyna turns the full force of her gaze to him, and he shrinks slightly. "The Greeks are formidable enemies. Make no mistake of that-if we were to go to war with them, both of our camps would be utterly destroyed."
"As if." David scoffs. "The legions would crush them."
Reyna studies him for several minutes, until he starts to shift uncomfortably. "Arrogance isn't an admirable quality, David. I suggest you adopt a different attitude."
She turns so that she's addressing everyone-she knows David isn't the only one who's thinking that way. "We may outnumber the Greeks, but as I said, they're formidable fighters. And their fighting style is one we're not accustomed to-you do recall the way our best legions fell apart at the assault of Percy Jackson during the war games? They couldn't fight him because of his unorthodox style-he took them completely by surprise. And the Greeks fight using their powers as well-like the way Percy used his powers over water to make the cannons explode. If we fight the Greeks, we might beat them-but hundreds will die. Do you want that?"
A few shift uncomfortably at her question, but no one answers.
"Do you want to see your sisters and brothers falling in battle beside you? We've already lost friends and family in this war-not the war against the Greeks. The war against Terra-to the Greeks, Gaea."
She slams her fist on the table to make her point, and several people flinch. "Terra is the real enemy here. She is the one we should be focusing our energies on. She has an army marching against us this very minute-and if that army finds us fighting, they will crush us with no problem. If we're going to survive this, the camps have to unite-Greek with Roman. We have to work together-that's why I traveled to the Ancient Lands. That's why I returned the Athena Parthenos to the Greeks. That's why I created a peace treaty with them without your approval, without so much as mentioning it to you. All of my actions have been for this camp-they always have been, and they always will be. New Rome is my home, and I will protect it until the day I die-but the Greeks are not the threat here. We don't need to protect ourselves from them."
Every single eye is riveted on her face-she has their complete attention. Even Dakota is listening to her every word.
"The demigods in that camp," she gestures in the direction of Camp Half-Blood, "had nothing to do with the attack on New Rome when that warship starting firing on us. Leo Valdez was the one who did that-and he was being possessed by an eidolon at the time. He wasn't in control of his own actions-and do you know who ordered that eidolon to possess him? Terra-the one we should be fighting right now.
"We will be utterly destroyed if we don't fight together. The people of Camp Half-Blood are not our enemies-they're our sisters, our brothers. And you want to fight them, to kill every single one of them-to kill our family."
Reyna's eyes fall on Felicity. "Felicity-you're a daughter of Mars. You're one of our leading battle strategists-and the leader of Camp Half-Blood, the one who gives orders in battle during Percy and Annabeth's absence-she's your half-sister. Her name is Clarisse, and she's a daughter of Ares."
"Ares isn't the same as-" David starts to protest, but Reyna cuts him off.
"Yes, he is. Ares is Mars, and Mars is Ares. We adopted the Greek gods and made them ours, but that doesn't mean they ever stopped being Greek. Ares and Mars are the same, just as Zeus and Jupiter are the same. Our own Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, has a sister who's a daughter of Zeus. Unlike most siblings, they're fully related, not just half-they share the same last name. Their mother was the same person-Zeus fell for her twice, once in his Greek aspect, and again in his Roman aspect. That's more evidence that we're family-and killing your own family has been a crime since the Ancient times."
Reyna looks at each person in turn, staring them down, letting them see the fierce fire burning in her eyes. She can feel her aura of command in place around her once more, and she could swear the crossed torch emblem on her arm is glowing again.
"We have to work together for this plan to work. So I ask you-are you with me? Or are you against me?" Reyna looks around, waiting for their answer.
For a few seconds, there's complete silence. And then, together, the gathered centurions and senators roar their approval of her speech, raising their fists to her and saluting her as their leader. Those that don't immediately join in soon do, prompted by the others, and pledge allegiance to her as well, albeit reluctantly.
Reyna leans back a little and smiles at them.
Thank you, Bellona. She thinks, sending a silent prayer of gratitude to her mother.
Then she signals for quiet, waiting for them all to calm down before beginning to speak again.
"Thank you-your support is appreciated, and needed." She starts. "Now, on to the treaty..." She spends the next five minutes explaining the terms of the peace treaty to them-and then the next fifteen minutes after that debating those terms. The senators add a few new terms, and argue about the original ones, but after maybe twenty minutes, they seem satisfied.
Reyna lets them talk with each other for the last few minutes, and steps aside to talk to Nico.
"Looks like they're starting to reach a decision." He observes.
"In record time, too." Reyna comments. "I don't think the senate has ever made a decision in less than an hour."
"There's a first time for everything, right?" Nico says.
Reyna glances at him quickly-those were her exact thoughts at the beginning of the meeting. "There's a first time for a lot of things, apparently."
Nico nods. "I think you were wrong, you know." He tells her.
Reyna tilts her head sideways. "About what?"
"When you said you're a warrior, not a talker-I think you're both." He replies. "That speech of yours definitely got their attention."
Reyna feels color rush to her cheeks at his compliment and tries to hide it by looking away and talking. "Yeah, well, Octavian's still the favorite when it comes to speeches."
"Maybe-but I don't think he will be for long." Nico tells her.
She looks up at him, finally, and sees that he's genuine. "Thanks, Nico." She says quietly.
"For what? I'm just telling the truth." He replies, smiling a little.
Reyna rolls her eyes and smirks at him. "Looks like there's more than one person here who has a way with words." She teases.
Nico just smiles wider, and they share a companionable moment of silence before he suddenly looks past her and gestures to the group of senators. "I think they're done."
Reyna turns just in time to see everyone turn away-they'd obviously been staring. She shakes her head a little in exasperation and walks back over to the table, wiping the smile off of her face.
"Are you finished?" She asks.
Gwen exchanges looks with the people on either side of her and nods. "We've reached a decision."
When she doesn't continue, Reyna raises an eyebrow. "And?" She prompts.
"And we've decided to accept the terms of the treaty-along with the terms we added." Gwen finishes.
The rest of the senate nods and murmurs agreement, backing Gwen's words-Reyna had to bite back a triumphant smile.
"I'm glad. I'm sure the counselors of Camp Half-Blood will be happy to hear that." She tells them.
They look around a bit, their expressions a little confused. "Now what?" David asks.
Reyna lets herself smile this time-revenge isn't far away. "Now," she says, "we wait for Octavian."
So, while I was writing this chapter, I was home alone-my dad was at work, and my mom and sisters had gone shopping-and I decided to take a quick snack break. So I went into the living room and was quietly eating my Oreos at the dining room table, next to the big bay windows that look out on the front porch, when our two dogs suddenly start barking bloody murder, after being completely silent.
I, naturally, jump a foot in the air and almost have an accident, and look to see why the dogs are acting as if a serial killer is on the front porch.
There was another dog. A lab, actually, standing on the driveway. That was it. And it ran away after it heard Cookie and Peaches (our dogs) start barking.
But Cookie and Peaches would not shut up. So, finally, I took matters into my own hands. I went into the kitchen, calling to them and asking if they want a treat-they followed me, still turning to the windows every five seconds and continuing to growl. And then I gave them both big spoonfuls of peanut butter.
Ten minutes later, they were still doing that funny licking thing dogs do when you give them peanut butter. It both made me laugh and effectively shut them up, so I'm quite proud of my brilliance.
Hey, guys, did you know that today is National Piper Mclean Day? Yeah, it's like National Seven Week for the fandom, and it started on Sunday. It goes as follows: June 8: National Frank Zhang Day; June 9: National Jason Grace Day; June 10: National Piper Mclean Day; June 11: National Percy Jackson Day; June 12: National Annabeth Chase Day; and June 13: National Leo Valdez Day. Pretty cool, huh? We're supposed to draw certain symbols on our wrists each day to celebrate them-I've been doing it, although no one but my family has really seen them at all.
I love you (sorry Guest that didn't want me to say that), wear flying shoes, remember that multigrain fighting is not allowed, and listen to music on 8tracks!