"How is Will doing?"

Nico frowns at the path ahead, stepping over a fallen tree to pace back into step beside Juliette. He sighs and shakes his head. "I have no idea."

Julie raises an eyebrow at him. "He hasn't talked to you?"

Nico snorts. "Yeah, right."

Groaning, Julie fiddles with the quiver strapped around her waist, counting the arrows she has with her. "And, I thought you were emotionally constipated."

Nico swats at the back of her head. She ducks to avoid it. She's learned to anticipate his revenge slaps by now.

They keep pushing ahead through the woods. They've been out here for hours now. Julie tried transforming earlier to look for the missing campers' auras. Unfortunately, all she was able to find was Nico right next to her and a fruity scented one in the far side of the woods across camp. She assumes that one was Meg based on the undertone of BO and the image she got of a peach demon in a diaper.

Plus the cluster of her siblings still sleeping in their cabin. They'd all been various fashion colors and smelling like expensive perfumes. It reminded Julie she needs to hit the mall to refill her stock of the lavender one Mitchell's bright purple blob smells like.

So, they've been searching on foot for a while instead so Julie can stop bonking her wings on every tree they pass. It must be well past lunchtime at this point, though, and Julie can feel them both starting to lose hope.

"Did you talk to Nyssa?" Nico asks.

Julie nods, fidgeting. "Yeah. The other day. She said to come see her again tonight."

"Good."

She nods again. The two of them keep walking in silence, occasionally holding back branches for one another. Well, mostly Julie holding them for Nico. She's pretty sure he's purposely holding them back long enough to let them go at just the right time to slap into her face. Her first question wasn't really answered. It's bugging her still.

"Do you know why Will hates me?" She blurts out.

Nico slows to a stop, turning to stare at her, a funny gleam in his eye. The look makes Juliette panic that her question might have crossed a line.

"I'm just curious!" She explains hastily, twisting the unbound front strands of her hair around her finger. "I just have been wanting to make up with him for a long time. But, I don't know what I did. It's probably obvious, and I'm just stupid, but I guess it feels important because he's important to you and you're my best friend and-"

"You're not stupid, Julie," Nico interrupts, dark eyes twinkling at her like he's finding her distress amusing. Hand on the pommel of his sword, he turns back to continue trecking through the woods. Julie follows him. "Remember how I was with Percy?"

"Was?" Julie asks bemusedly, remembering how last time her older brother visited, Nico laughed hysterically for the first time in years after watching the son of Poseidon eat shit tripping down the steps of the arena.

Nico might be remembering that as well. He's grinning. "Yeah. We're mostly fine now, but..." He shakes his head, his smile disappearing. "It took a long time for me to forgive him for Bianca. I'm not sure I even fully do now. Even though I know it wasn't his fault."

Juliette looks down at the ground as she steps through the moss and fallen leaves. She doesn't think Percy will ever forgive himself for that either.

Julie glances at Nico. "Are you saying Will blames me for Lee?"

Nico stops again. He turns around to look at her. He's still at least half a foot shorter than Julie is. It's almost funny how scary he can be when she could probably pick him up with one hand. He isn't being actively intimidating, but there's a slight tension in his shoulders as he studies her that makes Juliette feel uneasy.

She lets him stare, though, hoping he might have a real answer for her.

Eventually, Nico takes a deep breath, and his gaze falls down to the forest floor. "It's easy to get confused between hating someone and loving them."

Silence.

Juliette stands very, very still. The buzzing in her head feels mixed between confusion and...fear.

"I-...what?" She chokes. Her hands are starting to shake. She twists them into the hem of Jason's jacket. "Will was...but, he's-I mean, he's with you, so isn't he-"

"Bi," Nico shrugs. "It's really not that surprising."

He turns to continue walking through the woods. Julie lets out a startled sound and rushes up to snag the back of his jacket. "Wait! Why do you think he-?"

"Like you said. It was obvious."

"No, it most certainly was not!" She yelps. "I mean, he didn't talk to me for years! He avoided me every time I walked in a room. He was mean when we actually would talk, and..." The amusement is back in Nico's eyes. Juliette's shoulders slump in realization. "He did everything you did with Percy. Just...more polite."

Her friend nods. "Will isn't good at admitting he's upset. You read people's emotions. It makes sense he'd have wanted to be away from you after everything happened."

Julie finds herself staring at Nico. Her beautiful, hilarious, powerful, incredible best friend who she knows Will Solace has been head over heels for ever since the end of the battle with Gaea. That devotion that she sees in the son of Apollo's eyes every time he looks at Nico...no. She'd have noticed if that was directed at her once.

Right?

"How do you know?" She asks quietly.

Nico shrugs. "The way he used to look at you. It was like he couldn't decide between kissing you and smothering you in your sleep. I've been there." There's a hint of nostalgia to the smile that starts to grow on his face. He looks up at the sun peaking through the canopy of leaves. "It's one of the reasons he and I understood each other, I think."

Julie's heart is pounding. She puts a hand over it, wishing she could pull on the invisible tether there. She wants to summon Jason here from all the way across the country. She wants to run her fingers down his face. In a not creepy way.

"You aren't...mad?" Her question is soft and hesitant. The fondness Nico hits her with in the hand he clasps to her shoulder springs tears to her eyes.

"Why would I be mad?" He snorts her like she's stupid. "If I were able to be, I'd probably be in love with you too."

What an embarrassing thing to say. Julie turns bright purple and knocks his hand off her shoulder. "Shut up."

Nico shrugs. "He's out of your league, anyway."

Juliette's jaw drops. "Excuse me?!"

He just smirks and turns around to continue their search. She sputters in offense and leaps forward to chase after him.

"He is not out of my league!"

"He's out of my league too."

"I-You-That's not true either!"

Nico raises an eyebrow at her, a smug grin on his face as he glances back up at the sun. "You missed out, Aster. Sucks for you."

If the lovestruck expression on her friend's face weren't so cute, she might argue with him. It might be horrible to say, but she'd break Will Solace's heart a million times if it meant she could keep loving Jason Grace. Instead, Julie just punches him gently in the shoulder and shakes her head. "Yeah, yeah...I'd say he's not my type, but our boyfriends are practically identical."

Nico snorts in agreement. They both hop over a log, and then Julie sidles up next to him and takes his hand. He surprisingly lets her lace their fingers together.

"I'm really happy for you, Nico," She says softly.

He keeps looking forward. No response comes out vocally, but his lips twitch upwards, and he gives her hand a gentle squeeze.

'Me too.'

"You didn't find them?" Malcom asks, spotting Julie and Nico emerging from the woods at sundown.

Julie sighs and shakes her head. "I take it that means Apollo and Meg didn't either?"

Malcom pulls at his blonde hair and frowns anxiously at the forest. Chiara hugs herself beside him, looking cold and nervous.

"They aren't back yet," She tells Julie and Nico.

Something drops in Julie's chest. She looks over to where she saw Meg and Apollo disappear earlier. "Well, they'd better get back soon. It's sunset."

"Apollo said dawn," Nico reminds her. He looks at her earnestly. "They'll be fine. Let's go see Nyssa."

Her friend starts to lead the way to Cabin 9. Juliette hesitates before following him. She glances back at the woods, remembering the feeling of Meg's peachy aura earlier.

If she isn't back soon, Julie can still track her. It'll be fine.

That's what she tells the dread building in her chest as she turns from the forest to follow after Nico.

Juliette's first exposure to the God of the Sun was a bedtime story from Purple Aster.

She remembers having snuggled up to Azalea, who rolled his eyes and pretended to be annoyed as she curled against his arm in hopes of shelter from the pebbles Sugar Maple had been lobbing at her all day. They'd spent the afternoon replanting the perennials in the main garden, and Julie's arms and eyes were feeling already too heavy to be awake much longer. She'd been half in Hypnos' realm as she listened to Aster's tale of woe.

It was the story of Daphne, the beautiful naiad cursed with Apollo's maddened affection, which was afflicted on him by a scorned and vengeful Eros. She remembers being horrified at the thought of the poor river spirit's terror - of how afraid the girl must have been as she fled around the globe over and over in a desperate attempt to escape Apollo's pursuit.

In the end, the Sun God's lust proved greater than Daphne's legs could outrun. Hearing his daughter's cries, her father, Peneus, had mercifully transformed her into a laurel tree at the last moment, freeing her from a life trapped by unreturned desire.

Afterwards, the God of the Sun had grieved her. He had taken a branch from her new body and fashioned it into a crown. A symbol of victory to honor her.

That part of the story didn't make sense to Julie back then.

A spirit of nature died to escape him, and to honor her, Apollo desecrated her corpse and found a way to make himself seem like the victim.

Unfortunately, now that she's grown, Juliette finds that to be an unnervingly accurate metaphor for Olympian 'love.'

Now that she's had this realization and has seen a few laurel trees in her sixteen years, Julie shouldn't have been surprised to watch Apollo go into those woods with her little sister and walk back out alone. If Nico hadn't been standing close enough to catch her around the middle, Juliette's heel would be planted in the middle of Lester Papadopoulos' face.

The former god has the nerve to take one look at her seething face and pass out on the grass.

"Julie, calm down!" Nico barks at her, arms locked around her waist as Julie tries to break his grip so she can go curb stop his future father in law. He turns to Malcom and Chiara, the only other demigods still awake, and jerks his head towards Cabin 7. "Take him to Will. Tell him I'll be there soon."

The other two nod, and Julie struggles harder as Nico drags her away from the unconscious ex-god. Cabin 1 is closest, so he hauls her up the steps and pushes her in there, following after and blocking the way out as she rounds on him.

Juliette growls in frustration. "Why are you so strong?! You're tiny!"

Nico scowls at her. "Get a fucking grip."

"He left my sister-!"

"I've got eyes."

"How am I supposed to just-"

"Sit here?" Nico snaps. "By dropping your ass in a chair. You're not going out there. It's dark, and you'll go missing too. Or die."

Juliette scoffs. "Oh, please. I've handled Nero before, and I can do it again."

He stares her down. "Nyssa isn't done yet. You're not going anywhere until morning."

"Nico, she's my-"

"Sister," He snaps. "Yeah, I know. I'm trying to keep from losing another one of mine."

Some of her anger fizzles out. Julie stills, eyes widening, and her words turn to monster dust on her tongue.

Nico sighs heavily and rakes a hand down his face. Juliette is noticing now how tired he looks. Between her and Apollo and Will...It's actually impressive he's been keeping it together like he has. She didn't even realize how much has piled up onto him until now.

"Okay," She mumbles. "I'm sorry."

Nico shakes his head. "Don't be sorry. Be smart. You know how this could end. Have you thought through what we talked about?"

Julie flinches.

Yeah, she's thought about it. In true Nico di Angelo fashion, he came up with the most batshit crazy, horrible, terrifying, excellent plan Julie's ever heard. And, like all his others, it's either going to go off without a hitch or be the biggest mistake of her life.

"I'll do it," She says quietly.

Nico softens. He surprises her by stepping up and setting a hand on the back of her head, pulling her down to rest their foreheads together. He doesn't say anything, but something about the intimacy of such unprecedented physical contact from him makes the tension melt out of Julie's shoulders. She closes her eyes.

There's a strange prodding sensation against her powers. Like Nico's energy is reaching for hers. It's strange, but Julie leans into it.

For the first time in her life, Juliette's abilities function backwards. Little by little, Nico reaches through the connection between their brows and untangles the mess of fear and anxiety in Julie's mind. He pulls it from her like he's unwinding a spool of yarn, and Juliette starts to feel the beginnings of a little bit of courage.

Nico must sense it too, because he draws back and nods at her. "Get prepared, then. I'll let you know when Apollo wakes up."

He turns on his heel and exits Cabin 1. The bronze doors slam shut behind him. Maybe it's Zeus' way of expressing his distaste at a son of Hades setting foot inside. The cabin doesn't seem to have a problem with her. Which is good because she's not in the mood to deal with questions from her siblings right now.

Juliette approaches Jason's corner of the cabin slowly. The bed is so neatly made, the surfaces so empty that it looks like he never even lived here. The only sign he did is the single framed photo on his desk.

It's the two of them on Julie's sixteenth birthday. They'd gone to Coney Island. Jason had never had cotton candy before, and Juliette felt the need to remedy that ASAP. The picture had been taken by one of those random photographers that walk up and down the pier snapping photos and charging a million dollars if you actually want to take one home. Julie hadn't even noticed Jason stop to buy one off a guy that day. She's glad he did, though.

In it, the two of them are standing in front of the observation spire, which is lit up purple. There are fireworks in the sky. Jason and Juliette are barely more than silhouettes where they're standing, Julie's arms around Jason's neck and his supporting her at the waist as she bends back to pull him down into a kiss.

She'd been so happy that day. Looking at the way that past her is smiling against Jason's lips makes Julie's heart feel like it's clawing itself out of her chest cavity. She sets the photo down and walks to the bed.

At least when she collapses on it, the sheets still smell like summer. Julie swaddles herself in Jason's scent and tries not to cry.

There are a few errands Julie needs to run before beginning her rescue mission. She is leaving the second the sun rises, whether Apollo is awake or not.

She's already stopped by Cabin 9. Nyssa hadn't been pleased to be woken up, but she'd given Julie what she needs all the same. Now, Julie's standing in the middle of Cabin 10 and staring down at her letterman jacket.

She's barely taken it off since Jason gave it to her in November. Just to wash it, shower, and sleep. It's her most important possession. Now instead, she has a pink hoodie on over her wool lined leggings.

Julie folds the jacket neatly, carefully and places it into the middle of her bunk. Silena's locket follows a moment later. Then, Juliette's camp necklace.

The three beads are pretty small compared to the memories they represent. Julie blows them a kiss and pulls her blanket up to hide them all before she turns to leave the cabin. She glances back at her sleeping brothers and sisters on her way out. Mitchell's snoring again. Loudly. It makes her smile.

She gets to Cabin 7 at the exact time that Lester comes stumbling out. Nico and Will are in the doorway watching as the ex-god nearly runs right into her. He screeches to a halt last second, eyes wide and aura brimming with adrenaline.

"Juliette," He gasps in surprise. "Forgive me, I need to get to the armory. I need a bow. Meg is-"

"In trouble." Julie nods, glaring. "I know."

They look at each other. Then, a ray of run shines down onto the porch a few feet away. Julie looks to the horizon.

Sunrise. It's time to go.

She turns back to Apollo and slaps her palm hard against his cheek.

He yelps, stumbling back. Juliette scowls at him and yanks the charm from her wrist, summoning her Stygian Ice bow. Apollo's eyes widen, and he squeaks in terror at the sight of her weapon.

Julie looks down at it. Gods, it's so beautiful. White crystal and carved with the visages of damned spirits. It emanates a soft white light that has been a life saver for Julie in several contexts. She gives the grip a squeeze of affection, thanking her old friend for her years of protection.

Then, she holds it out to Apollo.

"Take it," She commands. "We need to go now."

He gapes at her. Julie's a bit surprised he doesn't just snatch it out of her hands like he's been wishing to for days. Since 'such is his right as the God of Archery.'

No, instead, he looks at her cautiously. Hesitantly. Maybe a little bashfully.

"A-Are you sure?" He asks.

Juliette frowns and reaches down for his hand. It's warm and rough. Human. Imperfect. She puppeteers it upwards to grasp the bow and transfers it into his possession.

"You can do more with it than I ever could," She says.

Apollo looks touched. It annoys her. Julie turns, his wrist still held tightly, and begins pulling him towards the woods. She nods at Nico. He nods back. Will and her lock eyes for a few steps.

Even if Nico was right, there's no sign of anything romantic in the way Will looks at her anymore. There is something fearful, though. Like he might actually care if she makes it home.

Julie does everything she can to put how sorry she is into one meaningful blink.

She and Apollo break the treeline, and Juliette looks forward.

"Now, where is my sister?" She asks.

She can almost hear the sound of Apollo's teeth grinding nervously at the question.

Myrmekes.

Of fucking course it's myrmekes.

Julie and Apollo locate the den easily enough. Meg's aura is dim, but it leads them straight to the colony of giant ants. Julie's stressed, unarmed, and buzzing with anticipation, but she can't help the lick of amusement she gets from the girlish scream Lester lets out when she transforms without warning and snatches him up by the back of his shirt.

Now that they're here, scouting out the threat waiting for them inside the mountain of dirt before them, Julie doesn't know quite how to go about this.

She's never actually fought myrmekes before. Usually, they take one look at her wyvern and run for the hills. Unfortunately, it's the hills they're trying to get into now, and Julie isn't sure she could drive a schoolbus through those tunnels.

"You're going to have to go in without me," She grumbles reluctantly.

Apollo looks at her in horror. "What?! I can't do this alone!" He whispers.

She glares at him. "You'll have to. My wyvern is too big to get around in there."

He still looks like he's going to vomit. Julie grabs his shoulder and pulls him behind a rock to whisper her plan.

"You go stand over there-" She points at the edge of the clearing the myrmeke's den is in. "To draw them out towards you. Find a way to stall them for a minute, and then I'll sneak up behind them. That way, when I transform, it'll drive most of the ants away from the hill, and you can go in and get Meg while I chase them around in the woods. Sound good?"

"No!" He squeaks, eyes wide and fearful. "Is there a version of this plan where I don't get eaten by giant insects?!"

Juliette smirks at him. "That depends on how fast you can run."

Apollo blanches at her. It makes Julie grin and have to hold in her laughter. She can't help but be amused by the teen beside her. He's scared, yeah (a total wuss, to be honest), but he's here. He may not be happy about her plan, but...surprisingly, Juliette trusts him to follow through.

This guy actually cares about Meg. It's a new day, there's danger, and Apollo is still caring. Who would have thought?

This might be Julie's last chance to get some info before shit hits the fan. She squeezes Lester's shoulder, and he looks at her fretfully. She decides to take the plunge.

"Hey, you knew Achillea, right?"

The boy beside her freezes. He looks sort of like he's scared Julie's going to slap him again.

She huffs a laugh. "I'm not gonna hit you. Just," Julie presses her lips together. "What was she like?"

Apollo fumbles for a moment. He seems lost for words. "Well...she was..."

Juliette's eyes roll without her permission. "I know she was cuffed. I mean, what was she like outside of that? Was there an 'outside of that'?"

Seeing sadness in that shade of blue will never not give Julie unpleasant chills.

"There were times the emperor's power would release her, yes. When he was too far away, too distracted, or fast asleep," Lester says softly. "But, Achillea was very young when she was Gifted-"

"Don't call it that," Julie snaps under her breath.

Apollo winces and nods. "My apologies. When she was shackled." His face screws up in pity at the thought of Juliette's long dead sister. "The girl that I knew, after all she had endured, all the atrocities she was forced to commit..." He shakes his head. "She was little more than a wounded animal clawing at those around her for her freedom."

It's hard to say what Julie's reaction to those words is. Mostly, she just feels her skin go numb.

Apollo's gaze drifts to the forest floor, his voice barely audible. "To know that it was I who failed her...I have never forgotten that fact. Achillea remains in my heart a millennia after her death."

Julie stares at the man. There are pimples down his nose. He's a whole head shorter than her. He's wearing her older brother's ratty old band t-shirt.

If he were anyone else from Olympus, she would brush those words away. If he were blonde and sparkling, strumming his lyre and winking as he spoke, she'd call him a liar without blinking.

But, there's a sunburn on his forehead that's peeling like a snake skin. So, Juliette believes him.

One of the myrmekes by the main tunnel entrance makes a loud clacking sound. Juliette peeks around their rock to see an entire group of giant ants exiting the den. She turns back to Apollo with a smirk.

"Looks like you're up," She snickers.

He pales. "Could we discuss a Plan B?"

"Good luck, roadkill!" Julie grins, happily planting her palm in the middle of his chest and shoving him out from behind the boulder.

Juliette had figured that today was the day. Still, part of her had been hoping she was just being pessimistic.

She stays flattened to the ground behind a bush, having driven the herd of myrmekes she'd been chasing far off to the other side of the forest. They shouldn't be back for a while. Unless the cries of the ants currently being slaughtered draws them home.

Julie watches as the bodyguards - Nero's bodyguards from before - slam their clubs into the heads of what myrmeke stragglers remain in the den. It's been half an hour since Apollo went in there. He and Meg haven't come out.

And, now Nero is going in after them.

She watches the emperor study the twitching remains of the monsters with sickening glee, ugly face flushed and looking like he's about to start giggling. He gestures for the two enormous guards to lead the way into the tunnels. Nero looks excited. Anticipatory. Like he knows he's about to win the day.

Julie considers stepping in now before he can get to Meg and Apollo. But, she has a feeling that he's about to head right for the hostages, and Julie doesn't know if they'll need his help to free them.

Instead of attacking, Juliette waits until the three baddies disappear into the myrmeke den before creeping out of her hiding place. Julie knows she isn't usually one for stealth (shocking, right?), so her treck behind the emperor and his goons is from a good distance away.

The inside of the myrmeke hill is like a cross between a regular cave system and the kind of hole you'd imagine being drilled by a worm in the soil. The rocks are clearly chewed on, some dripping with fluids from passing larvae. She steps around random shiny objects the bugs have collected - a swingset, a horse off a merry-go-round, a-is that Beckendorf's old motorbike? Along the way, she steps over a rusty old bronze shortsword.

Better than nothing, she guesses. Julie takes it with her.

She tiptoes through what seems to be the queen's chamber. Through there, she finds the exit. Or, at least, the exit into the section of the woods where the standoff is taking place. Julie presses her back to the wall and peeks around to listen.

Nero and his bodyguards have their backs to her. On the other side of them, Meg and Apollo are side by side. The sight of her sister unharmed makes Julie almost fall over with relief, but the little girl looks terrified. She's clearly trying to appear unbothered, but she's shaking from head to toe, and slimy tendrils of fear are protruding from her aura. Julie grips the pommel of her weapon tighter and narrows her eyes.

Her friends are at the back of the clearing. All of the missing campers in one place. Plus some random dude Julie's never seen before. They're wrapped in some sort of cocoons, unconscious with only their heads visible. Juliette doesn't know what that gunk is, but the way Apollo is glancing at Austin and Kayla fearfully doesn't make her feel good about it.

"Wh-what do you want, Nero?" Meg asks, fists clenched in defiance, but trembling voice betraying her. Julie's heart clenches.

Nero chuckles. "Straight to the point. I've always admired that about you, Meg."

Don't fucking say her name, you disgusting, pathetic, cowardly, piece of-

"Really, it's simple. You and Apollo will open the Gates of Dodona for me. Then, these six will be released."

Gates? What, to that grove behind them? Is this the magic grove Rachel was talking about? If so, it's important, right? They can't let Nero have it.

Apollo seems to agree with her. He shakes his head. "You'll destroy the grove. Then you'll kill us."

Yeah, that's definitely what would happen.

Nero laughs loudly again, sounding like a barking seal. A stupid, ugly, dirty, fucking-

"Only if you force me to," He denies with a smile. "I'm a reasonable god-emperor, Apollo!"

God-emperor? What, was he sick the day they learned how to make up cool titles at Villain School?

"You had a chance at being the guardian of the Oracles. You failed miserably."

Okay, true.

"Now, it's my turn. My responsibility. Mine...and my partners'."

Juliette tenses. So, she and Chiron were right. There's more than just him.

"Once we have the Oracles, we'll expand and do what Romans do best." Julie can hear the smirk in his voice. "Conquer the world."

Seriously? Again? Julie's getting really tired of saving this stupid planet.

Nero steps forward towards Apollo and Meg, and Julie watches the ex-Sun God pull her younger sister behind him protectively. For the first time, Julie feels a burst of urgency at the sight of Apollo in danger.

"The Gates have given me quite a bit of trouble, I'll admit. But, Meg has a way with trees." Nero bends at the waist, leaning over Julie's sister. She feels all her muscles tense in preparation. "So, dear...Get to it, would you?"

Apollo stands tall. "We would rather die." He glances at the girl behind him when she doesn't back him up. "Right, Meg?"

Julie watches Meg's face spasm. She sees the moment that her life's worth of abuse catches up to her. Nero probably sees it too. His body language looks smug when the first tear slides down Meg's cheek. He knows he's seconds away from her being wrapped once more around his finger.

So, Juliette decides it's time for her to interrupt.

Tossing her hair over one shoulder and stepping out of the cavern, Juliette puts her fingers to her lips and whistles.

Apollo goes pale. Meg's eyes widen. Nero and his bodyguards whip around, weapons high, and Julie gives them a waggly finger wave.

"Hey, fellas," She chirps, batting her eyelashes. "What are boys like you doing in a place like this?"

The bodyguards both falter, cheeks flushing. Nero glares at her and snaps his fingers, though, and his minions shake off her charm and re-strengthen their stances.

The emperor's focus has fully shifted onto Julie. Hopefully, Apollo and Meg can make use of that so maybe she won't have to take this interaction where she's thinking she'll have to take it.

"Juliette Aster," Nero greets. He's smiling, but his eyes look angry. More than angry. He looks murderous. If he weren't so ugly, Julie might even feel intimidated. "You left me so quickly the other night," He laments. "I've missed you."

Ew.

Julie shrugs, leaning onto her rusty old sword like it's an expensive walking stick. "Well, I'm not a girl who likes to be tied down. I'm a bit too important around here for commitment. You understand."

"Of course," He agrees, lip curled dangerously. "I hope you don't think you'll be getting away from me twice, though. Especially not with that little trinket of mine on your arm."

Julie raises an eyebrow. Before she can respond, though, Apollo makes a choked sound behind Nero.

"Juliette, you-Are you bound?" He asks in horror.

Julie cuts her eyes at him, wanting to snap at him to take her sister and go...But, then her gaze catches on Austin. Apollo is inches in front of him - a measly teenager with acne, but standing in front of his son prepared to shield him with his own body. A body that can die a mortal death.

There's no way out of this situation, is there? Juliette is going to have to make the trade.

It's time.

Julie makes a point to stare Nero down as she pulls her pink sweatshirt over her head. She has a camp shirt on underneath. One of Jason's. Big enough on her that it keeps the disgusting man from running his eyes over her body. It's also big enough that she has to roll her left sleeve up to reveal the now healed golden band around her bicep.

Julie glances at it when Apollo gasps. Honestly, now that it's not swollen anymore, it's kind of pretty. How sick is that?

"Beautiful," Nero says lowly. He's looking at her like he's about to start panting.

Juliette raises her chin and narrows her eyes at him. "Meg betrayed you, Nero."

Her sister jerks in Julie's peripheral vision. She feels the flash of fear her words cause her. They also knock the smile off of Nero's face.

"She came running to me a few days ago," Julie explains. "I'm sure probably on your orders."

He doesn't argue. Juliette nods.

"I figured." Meg looks devastated. Julie sends her a brief smile to try and reassure her. "I don't think you ordered her to bring me this, though."

From the pocket of Julie's discarded sweatshirt, she pulls out another golden armband.

The reactions throughout the clearing are all very different. The bodyguards' eyebrows all go up. Nero lets out a snarl and whirls to glare venomously at Meg. Meg looks hopelessly confused, glancing between Nero and Julie while tears pour down her cheeks. Apollo lets out a yell and shakes his head pleadingly.

"Juliette, you can't!"

"Shut up, roadkill," Julie snips. She drops her sweatshirt, cocks a hip, and begins twirling the bracelet around in circles on one finger. "I've poisoned your little lieutenant against you! She's not going to be of any use anymore, unfortunately."

"Meg," Nero growls. "What have you done?"

Meg flinches back. Apollo puts an arm around her shoulders. The sight of that helps Julie relax enough to force out her next words.

"So, Emperor Nero," She tilts her head. "Want to cut a deal?"