━━ chapter twenty-four
praetor for two hours
(or around that)
✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑
━━So, Percy was today years old when he realised that the Feast of Fortuna had nothing to do with tuna. Which he was completely fine with. Like, seriously fine with. Fish aren't food!
Campers, Amazons and Lares crowded the mess hall for a lavish dinner. Even the fauns were invited since they'd helped out by bandaging the wounded after the battle. Wind nymphs hovered around the room, delivering pizza, burgers, steaks, salads, Chinese food and burritos. Despite the exhausting battle, everyone was in good spirits. Causalities had been light, and the few campers who'd previously died and come back to life, like Fiona, hadn't been taken to the Underworld (which was honestly making him smile like an idiot), and no one complained. Colourful Amazon and Roman banners hung side by side from the rafters. The restored golden eagle stood proudly behind the praetor's table, and the walls were decorated with magical horns of plenty (cornucopias).
The cohorts mingled freely with the Amazons, jumping from couch to couch as they pleased, and for once the soldiers of the Fifth were welcome everywhere. Percy changed seats so many times he lost track of his dinner. He tried to find some time with Fiona━preferably alone, so they could talk. Because they needed to talk. But everyone kept distracting him, pulling him away into a conversation (some people who practically hated him four days ago). Every time he found himself free, Fiona wasn't. Instead, she was chatting and sitting with her mother, who looked very much like her. Brown hair in loose curls, soft features and yet a look that told you that if you messed with them, you were going to be six feet under in seconds.
Sometimes, Fiona would look over, see Percy and give him a bright smile and a wave, which wasn't something he'd think of her doing. But it was nice. It made him go red and hope he didn't have food in his teeth or something. To be honest, Percy had been scared. Fiona wanted to be praetor above anything━her ambition, she said, was her fatal flaw. And Percy wished for her to be praetor, too, because she would be amazing at it. The way she had commanded those shades back in Alaska? He had been stunned. He felt bad for being dubbed the new praetor. For not only had he stolen that role from Jason, and not actually want to be praetor, this was also Fiona's dream━and the fact that he was carried on a shield and not her angered him. So what it had to be a boy and a girl? Fiona deserved this place far more than he did.
But if it was bothering her, she didn't show it. In fact, Fiona looked quite happy for him━really happy. Though he was sure that if she had seen Kinzie ask Percy out and him having to turn her down, she would have gotten very murderous very quick. When Percy's first stripe of service was burned into his skin, he managed not to scream: a trident for Neptune and SPQR with it. He suddenly panicked in thinking: Oh, gods, what will Mom think about me getting a tattoo?
Hylla and Reyna shared a speech together, which Percy was sure a first in history: an Amazon and a Roman laughing and clinking drinks. But it made him smile. Reyna looked like a whole lot of years had aged off of her while being around her older sister.
When dinner was finally over, and the entire legion got the night off, Percy could breathe. He and his friends drifted down to the city, which wasn't quite recovered from the battle, but the fires were out, most of the debris had been swept up, and the citizens were determined to celebrate. At the Pomerian Line, the statue of Terminus wore a paper party hat.
"Welcome, praetor!" he said. "You need any giants' faces smashed while you're in town, just let me know."
"Thanks, Terminus," Percy shared a glance with Fiona, who looked very amused. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Yes, good. Your praetor's cape is an inch too low on the left. There━that's better. Where is my assistant? Julia!"
The little girl ran out from behind the pedestal. She wore a green dress tonight, and her hair was still in pigtails. When she smiled, Percy saw that her front teeth were starting to come in. She held up a box full of party hats. Percy tried to decline, but Julia gave him big adoring eyes and Fiona didn't give him any choice. She picked up a blue crown and stood on the tips of her toes to settle it on Percy's head.
"There you go, Barnacle Biceps," she grinned. Percy still had to fix it properly, because even on her toes, she hadn't fully managed to reach.
Julia then offered Fiona a pink tiara, "I'm gonna be Percy Jackson when I grow up," she told her solemnly."
As Hazel took a gold pirate hat, she ruffled the little girls hair. "That's a good thing to be, Julia."
"Although," Frank picked out a hat shaped like a polar bear's head, "Frank Zhang would be good, too."
"Frank!" Hazel scolded, but she was trying hard not to laugh.
They continued to the forum, which was lit up with multicoloured lanterns. The fountains glowed purple, the coffee shops were doing a brisk business, and street musicians filled the air. The goddess Iris must have been in the party mood, too, for as Percy and his friends strolled past the damaged Senate House, a dazzling rainbow appeared in the night sky. Unfortunately, with it came a gentle rain of gluten-free R.O.F.L. cupcake simulations.
For a while, Percy wandered the streets with Fiona, Hazel and Frank. Walking a little bit back, Percy could see Hazel and Frank continuously brush shoulders, and he wanted to give them some time alone. And not to mention, he also wanted to talk to the girl beside him, who was busy kicking a muffin across the streets and grinning to herself.
So, finally, he said, "I'm a little tired, guys. You go ahead."
Fiona quickly took the chance, and added, "Uh━yeah, me too. That battle took a lot out of me."
Frank protested, but with a smack from Hazel, they got the cue and continued on. When Percy glanced back over his shoulder, he saw the two of them hold hands.
Fiona quirked a brow at them, "She's so tiny and he's a moose. I love it."
Percy smiled down at her. Fiona had taken her hair out of it's messy ponytail and instead loosely braided it down over one shoulder. "You're short, too."
She quickly narrowed her eyes at him. "Shut up."
They walked in silence for a bit after that, heading back towards the camp. Their fingers kept brushing each others, before Fiona took a brave step and took his hand, interlocking her fingers with his. Percy glanced at her, and gave her a small smile. She blushed, then furrowed her brows and looked away. He grinned. He found out that whenever she blushed, she hated it, and got annoyed, which only made her cuter.
They stopped at the Fort gates and gazed out at the valley. It seemed so long ago that Percy had first seen Camp Jupiter from here.
Still holding hands, Fiona swung her arm a little before saying, "So ... I'm taking a guess and saying that you don't have a girlfriend waiting back home?"
Percy raised his brows, glancing down and smirking. "You seem pretty happy about that?"
She quickly hid the fact, and just stared at him innocently. "Hmm? Do I?"
He rolled his eyes good-naturedly and shrugged. Looking back out to the horizon, Percy let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Well, I guess I don't have a girlfriend back home, which means I guess I'm single, which sucks."
Fiona bit her lip to stop herself from smiling, "How sad."
"Very sad."
"Well," she let go of his hand and started to walk towards the gates, "let me know when you find one━"
Percy gaped, not expecting her to do that. Reaching out, he grabbed her hand and tugged her back. Fiona laughed, loving his reaction. Percy shook his head in disbelief. "I'm trying to be funny and you're not making it easy."
There was a mischevious glint in Fiona's dark eyes. She rose up on her toes again and wrapped her arms around Percy's neck. She looked breathtaking in the moonlight, and Percy wondered how someone like her could actually like him. "Did you really think I'll ever make things easy, Barnacle Boy?"
With that said, she leaned in and kissed him; a real, proper kiss with no one watching. Percy pulled her closer, bending down so he could meet her lips because she was so much shorter than him. It made his stomach flutter with butterflies. Fiona chuckled into the kiss, and it was like those butterflies flown up to his chest. He could stay there, kissing her for the rest of time. Nothing else mattered at that moment━and Percy could say, it was the best kiss ever.
✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑
━━Fiona didn't know how to feel when she woke up next morning and didn't recieve anything, or heard anything from her godly parent, or godly grandparent. She understood her father's reason, because as soon as he recogonised as her being alive, he would have to send her back, and so maybe it was a gift in its own. She opened her locket, and would see the seed no longer shrivelled, which perhaps was Prosperpina's own present ... could you call it a present? Either way, instead of seeing it as a bad omen, Fiona saw it as a second chance.
(This quest has changed her a bit, hasn't it?)
Her grandmother hasn't spoken to her or given her much of a sign at all, ever since she blatantly told her she was a coward. Fiona wouldn't admit it, but she had hoped she would take it back after they were victorious in the quest, but she was without luck. Tracing the pattern of the veins on her wrist, Fiona joined her friends (and boyfriend???) the next morning for breakfast. Percy asked whether she was okay, and she nodded. She had a feeling he knew, just by the way she was fiddling, but didn't ask anymore. Fiona had no problem telling him ... she was just more of the person to tell people in privacy when there was no one else around.
After breakfast, they headed into the city before the senate was due to convene. Since Percy was a praetor now, he could go pretty much wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and he could drag his mates along with him. On the way, they passed the stables, where Tyson and Mrs O'Leary were sleeping in. Fiona couldn't help but chuckle at the cyclops who snored on a bed of hay next to the unicorns. Mrs O'Leary had rolled on her back and covered her ears with her paws. On the stable roof, Ella roosted in a pile of old Roman scrolls, her head tucked under her wings. Fiona was glad they managed to get her away from Phineas, but she was also scared. If Octavian somehow found out about the possibility of her having read the books of prophecy ...
When they reached the forum they sat by the fountains and watched the sun go up. Percy thought he would be funny and keep accidentally splashing Fiona with bits of water. She was nervous on what to do now, since they kissed, and were now ... well ... boyfriend and girlfriend. But what does she do? Does she hold his hand all the time? Does she hug him from behind? Because, let's be serious, she really wants to do that━or him hug her from behind, because he's really tall ... but she'll be very angry about it because she will give no satisfaction to actually liking it.
In the end, Fiona splashed him back and he grinned, happy to get a reaction. She just rolled her eyes. What a dork. The citizens were already busy sweeping up the cupcakes Iris had left, confetti and party hats from last night's celebration. The engineer corps were working on a new arch that would commemorate the victory over Polybotes. Fiona wished her grandmother was here, so she could show her that arch with a shout of, look at that! Take that! Who's the coward now?!
(Probably still you, she told herself).
Hazel told them all about talk of a formal triumph for the four of them━a parade around the city followed by a week of games and celebrations. Fiona really wished she could be apart of it, but she knew they'd never get the chance. They didn't have time.
Percy told them about his dream of Juno, and Fiona frowned. Immediately, she tried to think through it to help him. Hazel frowned as well, "The gods were busy last night. Show him, Frank."
Frank reached into his coat pocket, and for a second, Fiona thought he might bring out his piece of firewood, but instead, he produced a thin paperback book and a note on red stationery. "These were on my pillow this morning," he passed them over to Percy. Beside him, Fiona looked over and tapped her finger on the book.
"I've read that," she said. The Art of War by Sun Tzu. "Mom made me read it before I left for Lupa. It talks about how educated guesses are better than gut feelings. It's a pretty interesting read."
Percy stared at her with a blank expression as if to say, you're strange if you think this is interesting. But he didn't say anything because this was Frank's gift from his father. The letter beside it read: Great job, kid. A real man's best weapon is his mind. This was your mom's favourite book. Give it a read. P.S ━ I hope your friend Percy has learned some respect for me.
"Wow," Percy handed back the book. "Maybe Mars is different than Ares. I don't think Ares can read."
(Fiona thinks thats about as much respect from Percy Mars is going to get).
Frank flipped through the pages. "There's a lot in here abou sacrifice, knowing the cost of war. Back in Vancouver, Mars told me I'd have to put my duty ahead of my life or the entire war would go sideways. I thought he meant freeing Thanatos, but now ... I don't know. I'm still alive, so maybe the worst is yet to come."
He glanced nervously at Percy, and Fiona arched a brow, curious as to what that was about. But Percy seemed to be just as clueless as she was. He didn't ask about it, however, and instead just said, "You risked your life. You were willing to burn up to save the quest. Mars can't expect more than that."
"Maybe," Frank mumbled.
"He's right," assured Fiona, reaching out and squeezing her friend's shoulder.
Hazel also squeezed his hand as well, and Fiona could see that they were much more comfortable around each other this morning. She wondered whether they had started dating━which was most likely a yes. Fiona shared another glance with Percy, and she went a bit red. Does she squeeze his hand like that?
"What about you guys?" Percy then asked Fiona and Hazel. "Any word from Pluto?"
Fiona was back to playing with her fingers. She felt a little jealous, if she was to be honest, that Percy and Frank receieved dreams and gifts from gods and she got nothing. Yes, her father's gift was letting her live, but at what cost? The first time he talked to her, might as well also be the last.
Hazel looked down, and several diamonds popped out of the ground at her feet. "No," she admitted. "In a way, I think he sent a message to us through Thanatos. Our names weren't on that list of escaped souls. It should have been."
Percy gazed warily at Fiona, "You think your dad is giving you a pass?"
She shrugged. "Pluto can't visit us or even talk to us without acknowledging we're alive," murmured Fiona. "Then he'd have to enforce the laws of death and have Thanatos and bring us back to the Underworld. I think ... I think he's turning a blind eye. Maybe━well, I'm pretty sure he wants us to find Nico."
"And we will find him," Percy promised her gently. He took her hand, and Fiona's gaze snapped towards it, her breath hitching. "As soon as the ship gets here, we'll sail for Rome."
She wanted to believe him, and so she did. Fiona nodded, and gripped onto his hand tight, not wanting to let go. Instead of playing with her fingers, she settled with fiddling with his, the movement calming her down.
Hazel and Frank, on the other hand, exchanged uneasy looks, as if they'd already had a discussion about Percy's Greek friends.
"Percy ..." Frank said. "If you want us to come along, we're in. But are you sure? I mean ... we know you've got tons of friends at the other camp. And you could pick anyone at Camp Jupiter now. If we're not part of the eight, we'd understand━"
"Are you kidding?" Percy frowned at him, as if the question was absurd. "You think I'd leave my team behind? After surviving Fleecy's wheat germ, running from cannibals and hiding under blue giant butts in Alaska? Come on!"
The tension broke, and all four of them started to crack up. Fiona chuckled lightly while the others seemed to go into hysterics. She shook her head at them, feeling a wash of relief to be alive, with the warm sun shining and not worrying━at least for the moment━about sinister faces appearing in the shadows of the hills. Just holding hands, and smiling, and for once feeling like she belonged ...
Hazel took a deep breath, "The prophecy Ella gave us━about the child of wisdom, and the mark of Athena burning through Rome ... do you know what that's about?"
Fiona remembered Percy told her that Annabeth was the daughter of Athena, and she could see the clench of his jaw that told her that he was thinking the same thing as her. She didn't know Annabeth, but he did━very well. She could tell he was nervous.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "I think there's more to the prophecy. Maybe Ella can remember the rest."
"We need to take her with us━" Frank said as he slipped his book into his pocket, "━I mean, for her own safety. If Octavian finds out Ella has the Sibylline Books memorised..."
Percy shuddered. Fiona pursed her lips, "I've been worrying over the same thing," she said. "Octavian uses prophecies as his power at Camp, and now that Percy's taken away his chance at praetor ... well, I'm sure he'll be looking for any other way to exert influence..."
"You're right," Percy nodded, looking concerned. "We've got to protect her. I just hope we can convince her━"
"Percy!" Tyson came running across the forum, Ella fluttering behind him with a scroll in her talons. When they reached the fountain, Ella dropped the scroll into Percy's lap.
"Special delivery," she said. "From an aura. A wind spirit. Yes, Ella got a special delivery."
"Good morning, brothers!" Tyson had hay in his hair and peanut butter in his teeth. "The scroll is from Leo. He is funny and small."
Fiona frowned, watching Percy spread it across his lap. To her surprise, a video recording flickered on the parchment. A kid in amour grinned up at them━Greek armour: Hoplite armour. He had an impish face, curly black hair and wild eyes, like he had just had several cups of coffee. He looked eerishly familiar, and when Hazel stifled a scream, she realised.
This kid looked exactly like that picture of Sammy. No, not similar, or close. Exactly. Like doppelganger exactly. "What?" Frank asked at the sound of Hazel's gasp. "What's wrong?"
"Hey!" said the guy in the video. "Greetings from your friends at Camp Half-Blood, et cetera. This is Leo. I'm the ..." he looked off screen and yelled. "What's my title? Am I like admiral, or captain, or━"
A girl's voice yelled back, "Repair boy!"
"Very funny, Piper," Leo grumbled, turning back to the parchment screen. "So, yeah, I'm━ah━supreme commander of the Argo II. Yeah, I like that! Anyway, we're gonna be sailing towards you in about, I dunno, an hour in this big mother warship. We'd appreciate it if you'd not, like, low us out of the sky or anything. So okay! If you could tell the Romans that. See you soon. Yours in demigodishness, and all that. Peace out."
The parchment turned blank, and Fiona blinked, trying to comprehend what she just saw.
"It can't be..." whispered Hazel.
"What?" Frank asked. "You know that guy?"
Hazel looked like she had seen a ghost, and Fiona knew exactly why. "It's Sammy Valdez," she said. "But how ... how━?"
"It can't be," echoed Fiona, still staring at the blank parchment. "His name━this guy's name━is Leo, and it's got to be over seventy years ... It's got to be some sort of ..."
She wanted to say coincidence, but she knew that was never the case. Ever.
They were interrupted by horns blowing in the distance. The senators came marching into the forum with Reyna at the lead.
"It's meeting time," said Percy. "Come on. We've got to warn them about the warship."
"Hey━wait━" Fiona caught him as she stood up before he could walk any further, "━your toga, it's crooked━" she fixed up the fabric, and couldn't help but be proud, even though Percy did not want this at all. It felt weird. She was proud for someone having what she wished, but ... but she felt like she was okay to lose to Percy, or Hazel, or Frank, a few times. She was okay with that, because for the first time, instead of wanting victories for herself, Fiona found herself praying for victories for them. "There we go," she gave him a sheepish smile, going a little red. "Now you don't look like you just put on a bedsheet."
✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑
━━Fiona knows Percy doesn't like the idea that he was praetor, and sat next to Reyna looking very uncomfortable. And she knew she should sympathise with that, but all she could think of how good-looking he was in praetor's robes, and how good she'd look sitting next to him in praetor robes, too.
(She needs to focus).
Anyway, so, Octavian had been pacing the senate floor for the past five minutes, going on and on, trying to counter what Percy had told them about Juno's plan and the Prophecy of Eight. "Why should we trust these Greeks?" he was saying, and the senate shifted restlessly━but most of them were too afraid to interrupt Octavian while he was on a roll. The Senate House was packed. Queen Hylla, Frank, Hazel and Fiona sat in the front row with the senators. Fiona was very smug towards Larry, who just narrowed his eyes back at her. Veterans and ghosts filled the back rows. Even Tyson and Ella had been allowed to sit in the back.
"The camp is safe," continued Octavian. "I'll be the first to congragulate our heroes for bringing back the legion's eagle and so much Imperial gold! Truly we have been blessed with good fortune. But why do more? Why tempt fate?"
"I'm glad you asked," Percy stood, taking the question as an opening, and Fiona smirked to herself at Octavian's stammer:
"I wasn't━"
"━part of the quest. Yes, I know. And you're wise to let me explain, since I was."
Fiona snorted into her mouth, and some of the senators snickered. That's my boyfriend, she told herself, giddy. That's my boyfriend, hehe.
"Gaea is waking," Percy went on. "We've defeated two of her giants, but that's only the beginning. The real war will take place in the old land of the gods. The quest will take us to Rome, and eventually to Greece."
An uneasy ripple spread through the senate, and Percy held up his hands. "I know, I know. You've always thought of the Greeks as your enemies. And there's a good reason for that. I think the gods have kept our two camps apart because whenever we meet, we fight. But that can change. It has to change if we're to defeat Gaea. That's what the Prophecy of Eight means. Eight demigods, Greek and Roman, will have to close the Doors of Death together."
"Ha!" shouted a Lar from the back row. "The last time a praetor tried to interpret the Prophecy of Eight, it was Michael Varus, who lost our eagle in Alaska! Why should we believe you now?"
Octavian smiled smugly, and some of his allies in the senate began nodding and grumbling. Fiona glared at them.
"I carried Juno across the Tiber," Percy reminded them. "She told me that the Prophecy of Eight is coming to pass. Mars also appeared to you in person. Do you think two of your most important gods would appear at camp if the situation wasn't serious?"
"He's right," Gwen said from the second row. "I, for one, trust Percy's word. Greek or not, he restored the honour of the legion. You saw him on the battlefield last night. Would anyone here say he is not a true hero of Rome?"
Nobody agrued. A few nodded in agreement. Fiona spoke up, adding her own thoughts. "And if you don't trust the Greeks, remember that Jason Grace is most likely with them right now, and if any of you knew him, you'd know that he has an excellent judge of character. If he trusts these Greeks, and if Percy does, than I do, too."
Percy met her gaze, grateful, and she nodded back. Reyna stood, and they all watched her anxiously. Her opinion could change everything. "You claim this is a combined quest," she said. "you claim Juno intends for us to work with this━this other group, Camp Half-Blood. Yet the Greeks have been our enemies for aeons. They are known for their deceptions."
"Maybe so," said Percy. "But enemies can become friends. A week ago, would you have thought Romans and Amazons would be fighting side by side?"
Queen Hylla laughed, "He's got a point."
"The demigods of Camp Half-Blood have already been working with Camp Jupiter," said Percy. "We just didn't realise it. During the Titan War last summer, while you were attacking Mount Othrys, we were defending Mount Olympus in Manhattan. I fought Kronos myself."
Reyna backed up, almost tripping over her toga. "You ... what?"
"I know it's hard to believe. But I think I've earned your trust. I'm on your side. Fiona, Hazel and Frank━I'm sure they're meant to go with me on this quest. The other four are on their way from Camp-Half-Blood right now. And Fiona is right, one of them is Jason Grace, your old praetor."
"Oh, come on!" Octavian shouted. "He's making things up, now!"
Reyna frowned. "It is a lot to believe. Jason is coming back with a bunch of Greek demigods? You say they're going to appear in the sky in a heavily armed warship, but we shouldn't be worried."
"Yes," Percy nodded, looking very striking and confident despite being awkward from the start over this. "Just let them land. Hear them out. Jason will back up everything I'm telling you. I swear it on my life."
"On your life?" Octavian looked meaningfully at the senate. Fiona winced━Romans take swears on lives very seriously. "We will remember that, if this turns out to be a trick."
Right on cue, a messenger rushed into the Senate House, gasping as if he had run all the way from camp. "Praetors! I'm sorry to interrupt, but our scouts report━"
"Ship!" Tyson called out happily, pointing at the hole in the ceiling. "Yay!"
Fiona looked up, and her breath hitched in her throat. A Greek warship appeared out of the clouds, about a half a mile away, descending towards the Senate House. As it got closer, Fiona could see bronze shields along the sides, billowing sails and a metal dragon figurehead. on the tallest mast, a big white flag of truce snapped in the wind.
"Praetors!" the messenger cried. "What are your orders?!"
Octavian shot to his feet. "You need to ask?" his face was red with rage. "The omens are horrible! This is a trick, a deception. Beware Greeks bearing gifts!" He jabbed a finger at Percy. "His friends are attacking in a warship. He has led them here. We must attack!"
"No," stated Percy firmly. "You all raised me as praetor for a reason. I will fight to defend this camp with my life. But these aren't enemies. I say we stand ready, but do not attack. Let them land. Let them speak. If it is a trick, then I will fight with you, as I did last night. But it is not a trick."
All eyes turned to Reyna.
She studied the approaching ship, eyes hard in thought. The wait for her orders was with bated breath, until she said. "Hold your fire. But have the legion stand ready. Percy Jackson is your duly chosen praetor. We will trust his word━unless we are given clear reason not to. Senators, let us adjourn to the forum and meet our ... new friends."
And so, the senators scrambled out━whether it was out of panic or excitement, Fiona wasn't too sure. Tyson ran after them, yelling, "Yay! Yay!" with Ella flutering around his head. Octavian threw down his teddy bear, giving Percy a look of distaste before following the crowd.
Reyna stood at Percy's shoulder, "I support you, Percy," she said. "I trust your judgment. But, for all our sakes, I hope we can keep the peace between our campers and your Greek friends."
"We will," he promised. "You'll see."
As Reyna glanced up at the warship, her expression turned a little wistful. "You say Jason is aboard ... I hope that's true. I've missed him."
She marched outside, leaving Fiona, Hazel, Frank and Percy alone. He stepped off the podium towards them.
"They're coming down right in the forum," Frank said nervously. "Terminus is going to have a heart attack."
That wasn't what Fiona was worried about. Instead, she met Percy's gaze to tell him softly, "Percy, you swore on your life. Romans take that very seriously. If anything goes wrong━even by accident━Octavian is going to kill you ... you know that, right?"
He smiled at her, and she frowned. Did he not just get what she had said? Walking right to her side, Percy threw an arm over her shoulder and brought her close to his chest. Her worry soon turned to blushing, and she hated herself. Stop! Let me be serious! Stop it! He tugged Hazel and Frank closer, as well, throwing an arm over Frank as well. Hazel arched a brow, slipping an arm around Frank's waist to join the huddle.
"Come on," said Percy. "Let me introduce you to my other family."
END OF PART ONE!
*
a/n: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH PART ONE IS FINISHED OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG IM LITERALLY SO SCARED FOR WHAT IS PLANNED FOR THE MARK OF ATHENA GAHHHHHH (AND SO EXCITED!!!!)