"HAVE YOU PACKED EVERYTHING?" June asked Leo. Her mind was running at a million miles an hour, worrying about whether Annabeth had her vitamins and Piper had her EpiPen and if their stash of ambrosia was enough and whether Jason had remembered all his stuff from the cabin.

Leo threw an arm around her, squeezing her reassuringly. "Relax, muñeca, we've thought of everything. No need to worry. Either ways, Annabeth will triple-check everything on board."

June and Leo were standing in front of their warship, the Argo II. They'd placed it on the outskirts of Camp, on a patch of the strawberry field that June had hastily cleared out. A small group of demigods were approaching them from the dining pavilion; Annabeth, Piper, and Jason, along with some of their half-siblings.

As they reached the ship, the others crowded around them, hugging them and giving them going-away gifts. Lacy gave Piper a Versace scarf, which neither June nor Piper seemed to get the point of, but the way Lacy's eyes shone when she whispered that she bought it herself and she hopes that Piper likes it was enough incentive for Piper to take it and wrap it around her neck immediately. Malcolm gave Annabeth a leather-bound notebook that they could use to keep in touch with Camp, and some kids from the Hephaestus Cabin gave Leo a bunch of nuts and bolts that June couldn't really see the use of, but Leo accepted them as if they were the holy grail.

June's eyes fell to the ground, grass being crunched under the shoes of the variety of demigods gathered around— differently colored converse, combat boots, and sneakers, and, of course, June's shiny black Doc Martens. They weren't much use when she was running from monsters but she never went anywhere without them.

She tried not to think about her own siblings. Katie, Miranda, Billie, Steve, and little Doug— all of them, gone. She could imagine what they'd be saying right now if they were here. Miranda would still be Head Counselor— fussing over her, giving her treats, trying to convince her to ditch the quest last-minute to stay at Camp, safe and sound. Katie and Billie would say that she's so cool, and that they're so jealous, and "Write to us and send a lot of pictures, okay?"

Steve would've tried to act indifferent, saying stuff like "I don't really care," but at the last minute pull her into a fierce hug and make her promise to stay safe. And Douggie would've been the hardest to say goodbye to, looking up at her with those large toddler eyes, latching on to her leg, saying, "Do you really have to go?"

Her mind went to last year's battle at the Empire State Building, how she'd been so busy healing everyone with Will Solace— running around to fetch ambrosia and nectar and gauze and disinfectant— that she hadn't noticed Miranda and Katie leading a cavalry straight into a group of dracaenae, heavily outnumbered. She hadn't noticed Billie getting run through by an enemy half-blood's javelin. She hadn't noticed Steve throw himself in front of Katie, only for both of them to get crushed under a boulder. She hadn't noticed Miranda yelling to her, locked in combat, to keep an eye on Doug. She hadn't noticed Doug crawl away from his tiny cot into the arms of an awaiting empousa.

She hadn't noticed her own family die before her.

All because she was too busy wrapping a fucking band-aid around someone's superficial cuts. All because she thought it was better not to focus on the bloodshed and instead work on healing as many people as she could. All because she was a fucking coward.

A hand slipping to hers brought her back to reality, and she blinked tears out of her eyes. Her shoes, which her eyes had remained on, came back into focus although her vision was still swimming. Small vines had sprouted from the ground, curling themselves sympathetically around her feet and ankles.

June's eyes turned to the person holding her hand. His eyes, sky blue, gazed at her, filled with worry. The sheer thought that he cared so much about her made her so dizzy she couldn't breathe. Her eyes flickered to the scar on his lips, but her thoughts were interrupted by a cough from somewhere to her right.

The others were already on board. Leo was standing at the helm, waiting for her to join him.

Jason's grip tightened on her hand, his smile warm and enticing, as if he knew exactly what she'd been thinking about.

Taking a deep breath and squeezing his hand, June entered the Argo II with him by her side.

✹

ONBOARD, SHE HELPED LEO get the ship in the air as Annabeth, true to Leo's prediction, paced the deck, checking and double-checking the ballistae to make sure they were locked down, confirming that the white 'we come in peace' flag was flying from the mast, and reviewing the plan— and the backup plan, and the backup plan for the backup plan— with Piper, whom she'd gotten pretty close to.

Once the Argo was sailing smoothly, June sent Leo down to his cabin for a nap, knowing that he'd been up all night worrying almost as much as she had been. Annabeth and Piper were huddled on the deck, talking among themselves. Jason was making sandwiches in the galley. Annabeth had sent Coach Hedge to his room to watch reruns of mixed martial arts championships, because gods knew the last thing they needed as they flew a magic trireme into a potentially aggressive Roman camp was a middle-aged satyr/ gym coach waving a club and yelling "Die!"

Besides, her relationship with Coach Hedge had been weird ever since he'd tried to get her to grow him some weed.

She steered the ship a bit to the left, trying not to think about anything else, but in the back of her mind, she could hear the quiet chanting.

Before, it was erratic, the quiet, icy whispers in Greek and sometimes Latin only audible from time to time, but now they were constant, engulfing almost all other noise unless she forcibly drowned them out.

The first time she ever heard them was when she'd gone full ballistic mode during the battle— the chanting had given her strength, enough strength to go on an insanely powerful rampage through the streets of Olympus. So, she'd looked at the whispers as a good thing. As a boon.

She'd next heard them at the funeral, when the war was over. When she'd been standing there in her mum's old black gown, the sole representative for Demeter's cabin, several burial shrouds she'd clumsily stitched on her own stacked in her arms.

One minute, her eyes were teary as she averted them from practically everyone else's; all of them looking so sad for her. What pathetic luck— she was the last one left. She'd heard Chiron's concerned murmur of survivor's guilt before the whispers tuned him out, guiding June, steadying her trembling hands and helping her lower the shrouds without flinching, one by one, into the fire. Somewhere in the jumbled Greek and Latin she could make out: you are a daughter of Earth. Stand firm. Behave like it.

That night, to honor their new promise of being involved, the Gods appeared in each of their respective Cabin Leaders' dreams; whether to console them, to catch up, or to give advice, June didn't know. She never found out.

Because Demeter never showed up.

The whispers blabbered away, reminding her of this, one of the voices muttering its distaste for the gods, another reminding her to check the gauges, and another voice recounting the tale of the Iliad. Most of the voices murmured about famous myths, actually. She often found herself lying awake at night, staring at the empty bunk above her with Jason snoring softly by her side, listening to tales of Orpheus and Achilles and Atalanta inside her head.

She much preferred when she heard the myths. Occasionally the voices were a hive-mind of one, speaking to her in an eerie chorus. But sometimes they spoke individually, cluttering her mind and confusing her to the point where she wasn't able to focus on anything. She was never able to find their source, however much she tried.

Even now they hadn't quietened, the voice that had been narrating the Iliad rising in volume, another that had been rambling in Latin also becoming louder to counter it. One of the voices yelled, EVERYBODY, SHUT UP! Which only lasted for a second before a small group of them began to argue with one another, the Iliad one was back to narrating, and June was pretty sure one of the voices was teaching another how to speak German.

She was so focused on steering the ship and trying to ignore the voices simultaneously that she didn't notice the boy walking towards her with a platter in his hands until he stopped beside her.

The flash of movement in the corner of her eye startled her, and she let out a yelp as her hands jerked on the steering wheel, making the ship swing to the right, which in turn made the plate fall out of Jason's hands.

He stumbled forward, reflexes sharp enough to catch all the sandwiches on the platter before they fell to the ground.

His panicked eyes met her wide grey ones as she quickly righted the ship, ignoring Piper and Annabeth yelling out curses from below as well as the voices in her head scolding her in unison for not seeing him coming.

One shaking hand clutching her heart, the other reaching for her gun holster (which, like an idiot, she had not worn that day), and the only thing June could think to say was, "Dam, those are some sturdy sandwiches."

Jason was back on his feet, eyebrows furrowed, gripping the food tray tightly as he opened his mouth to say something— only to get cut off by Leo, who had emerged from below deck.

"Jeez, muñeca— had a seizure or something?" His left hand was buried in his dark curls, clutching a lump on his head. "I fell out of my bed!"

His ebony eyes landed on her, quick to notice her hands; one placed over her heart and the other grasping for a handgun that wasn't there, the steering wheel left unattended; before he rushed to take it under his control. His panicked gaze met her glazed-over one.

"Rule number one, June!" His voice was almost comedically shrill. "Never let go of the steering wheel!"

June blinked. She'd barely heard what he said or why he was freaking out— she'd been locked into debate with the voices (which were now back in chorus)

"Hmm?" She muttered, fiercely trying to quieten the voices in her head.

Jason seemed to notice her internal struggle, because he handed the platter of sandwiches to Buford, Leo's walking table that had followed him above deck. Taking June gently by the shoulders, he told Leo, "She needs a nap," and leaving no room for arguments, took her down to her room.

June was still stuck inside her head, trying her best to quell all the noise, but in her peripheral vision noticed Jason leading her to her cabin.

It was admittedly the prettiest one; you deserve it, Leo had said as they furnished the ship. You've been a huge help to me these past few months. I couldn't have done it without you.

Of course, that was before the whispers became incessant and intolerable. If only June knew what a burden she would become to her crewmates. She would've abandoned the project then and there.

Actually, she wouldn't have. There were other factors in play, the most important being Percy. Nothing would stop her from getting him back.

Her eyes flickered to the polaroids strung above her bed frame— one of her, Annabeth, and Percy at Camp; one of her in a green bikini, being carried on Percy's shoulders at the beach; one of her, Piper, Leo and Jason, taken right after they'd gotten back from their quest; a candid taken of her by Jason, sitting at the campfire, mid-sentence, gesturing wildly; one of her and Jason immediately after that, taken by Piper— the glow of the campfire reflecting on both their smiling faces.

Her eyes went back to Jason, sitting quietly on the bed beside her, looking at her both patiently and apprehensively.

She didn't deserve him.

Only after she realized a full five minutes had passed, he leaned in and whispered, "You good?"

She was alright, it seemed. The whispers had died down.

She managed to nod and lie down on her bed, the floral sheets wrinkling underneath her. She tugged on his wrist and, wordlessly, he lowered himself beside her, keeping a respectful few inches between them.

What good would that do? They always woke up wrapped in each other's arms anyway.

✹

WAKE UP, the voices chorused. June, wake up.

June's eyelashes fluttered open as she yawned. How long had she been asleep?

She was curled on her side, something heavy slung over her waist and a warmth emanating from behind her. Turning her head slightly, she was met with Jason's peaceful face, slowly stirring awake. How embarrassing, one of the voices told her. You're the little spoon.

She didn't have the heart to pry his arm off her waist, so she just lay there for a few more minutes before Jason woke up.

Finally, she heard him rasp, his voice laced with sleep, "Mornin', June. Slept well?"

Was it just her or had his voice deepened considerably?

"Um," she said, blushing furiously, still facing away from him. "Hi."

The arm on her waist pulled her so that she rolled over onto her other side, face-to-face with Jason. The corners of his mouth curled upwards in a small smile. "There we go. You didn't answer my question."

She nibbled at her lower lip. "I slept well, thanks."

She really had. Her brown curls were strewn over her silk pillowcase in a tangled mess, and her white ABBA shirt was slightly rumpled. Always a good sign that she'd had a nice, restful nap.

She rolled out of bed and went straight to her small bathroom, splashing cold water over her face to cool her burning cheeks. It didn't matter how many times she woke up beside Jason; she was always a blushing mess.

She entered her room again, avoiding making eye contact with Jason (it isn't fair that someone can look so good after they've just woken up) running her fingers through her hair and slipping back into her Doc Martens.

"Here," Jason said from across the room. He threw her her leather holster, but June looked up too late. The voices screamed at her, CATCH! so forcefully that her hand shot up and caught it at such a speed that it left both June and Jason stunned silent.

Jason blinked. "Uhh."

June blinked back at him, her hand that was holding the holster still raised. "Um."

They stared at each other for a second, before shrugging it off. 

"Can you get the white ribbon from my bedside, please?" June asked, grabbing her gun from her drawer and clipping her holster onto her jeans.

Jason slipped into his shoes and passed her the ribbon, straightening out his rumpled clothes. She turned towards him expectantly, tilting her head.

Wordlessly, he made his way behind her and gathered her long hair into his right hand, the other resting on her shoulder. As he carefully made sure none of her curls were falling out, the fingers on his left hand tapped her on the neck lightly. She handed him the ribbon and made sure to stand perfectly still as he tied up her hair.

"There," he stood back and looked at her ponytail, satisfied.

"You've improved!" June flashed him a dimpled smile, turning to face him. His eyes flicked from her smile to the carpeted floor below them and back.

"Can you help me put on my toga?" He asked. "It kinda looks like a bathrobe, but since I'm wearing a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, I figured I should put that on with my cloak to honor my old rank as praetor."

June giggled. "Bathrobe. Sure."

They made their way to Jason's room, which was right next to hers. Leo's was across from her and Percy's was on her other side. Annabeth's was across from Jason, and Piper's across Percy.

As they entered, June couldn't help but note the stark differences between his room and hers. For one, his walls were plain white, a contrast to her pale green-and-pink stripes. The floor wasn't carpeted either, and he hadn't hung up any pictures. He'd only pasted a few maps onto the wall above his bed; one of Camp Half-Blood, one of Camp Jupiter, and one of Rome.

He had a study table instead of a bedside table, on which were several scattered sheets containing diagrams of intricate weapons and battle plans. Roman ones.

Beside those lay a small handcrafted journal, which June knew was half-full of his messy handwriting, recounting his memories of his time as praetor. And his writing was barely legible; June had seen it, once, when he'd tried to draw her a diagram of the Senate House.

Because, seriously, the guy was raised by wolves. He never exactly had time for calligraphy lessons.

June looked back at him. He was across the room, rummaging through his small wardrobe. Finally, he pulled out something that looked like a long white bedsheet, with a neatly folded purple cape on top of it.

June raised her eyebrows when he held out the bedsheet expectantly. "Nuh-uh. No way."

"Oh, come on," he grumbled. "I'll show you how to drape it on me."

So he did, and the next ten minutes consisted of June trying very carefully to follow Jason's instructions while he stood very still, amused by her ministrations, like a statue that was also a smug bastard.

June let out a disgruntled hum as she pinned the last bit of cloth in place. "All done."

Jason grinned, dropping his arms from where he'd held them outstretched, and grabbed her around the waist, lifting her up slightly. "My favorite toga draper."

She shrieked as he spun her around and tickled her. "Jason, your bathrobe will come undone, and I swear to the Gods I'm not helping you wear it again!"

Laughing, he put her down, and she remained leaning on his muscular frame for a moment, gasping for air. "You're mean."

He flicked her on the forehead. "You like it."

✹

They made their way to the quarterdeck just in time to see clouds break around the hull, revealing the most beautiful sight June had seen in a while: the gold-and-green carpet of the Oakland Hills below them.

Immediately, her senses were assaulted; she could feel each and every tree and plant down there, calling to her. The whispers in her head, which had receded into the background, came back in full force as Jason stepped away from her and toward the raised crossbow platform.

She heard a group of shrubs beckoning to her, before the whispers chorused, IGNORE THEM. Once again, the voices were so forceful and compelling that suddenly June found out that she was able to sort of mute the calls of the plants below her.

Satisfied, the whispers quietened on their own. Interesting, but June didn't want to read too much into it.

Her eyes went to her friends at the starboard rail— Annabeth, with her arm around Piper (who was wearing the Hello Kitty t-shirt that June got her as a joke. Leo and June had matching ones tucked away somewhere). The girls were leaning into each other, discussing their plan.

June joined Leo at the stern where he was rushing about, checking gauges and wrestling levers. He seemed to be stuck on a particular one, tugging at the handle and failing to pull it down. His cheeks were red from the effort, curls plastered to his forehead with sweat.

"Alright there, McShizzle?" She called softly, grinning when he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Oh, just peachy!" He cried. "DOES IT LOOK LIKE I'M ALRIGHT?"

Snickering, she joined him in front of the lever and grabbed the handle. The voices in her head were buzzing again, but at a lower volume. They appeared to be chanting. Ugh, not again, June thought distractedly, but then averted her focus to helping Leo. 

Without warning, the voices yelled, PULL, just as she began to tug at it, and the next thing she knew the lever was all the way down. Leo's eyes were wide. They both knew she'd barely applied any force. 

"WHAT THE—" 

"June!" Annabeth's voice interrupted him, beckoning her over.

June gave Leo an apologetic shrug and backed away, ignoring his shocked, "Wait!" and jogged over to Annabeth and Piper.

"You called?"

Piper smiled at her, but it looked a little forced. "Nice ribbon."

"Thanks!" June smiled brightly, trying not to think of her sudden burst of strength. What was that? "Nice top. I wonder who got that for you— probably someone with excellent fashion sense."

Piper laughed— this time, a real, genuine laugh. June smiled to herself. Mission accomplished.

Beside her, Annabeth's lips were pursed. June asked, "What's wrong, Beth?"

"It's this horrible, cold feeling—" Annabeth and Piper exchanged meaningful glances. "Don't you feel it too, June Bug?"

"What?" June couldn't keep the confusion off her face. "No, I don't. Are you guys alright?"

Piper winced. "You really can't feel it? It's all dreadful— makes me feel like turning back."

"Turning back? What?" June was appalled. Why were they suddenly thinking this, when they were so close to Percy? When they'd spent the past six months building a disgustingly overpowered warship to complete the Great Prophecy? Why would they do all that, just to reverse course?

The whispers stirred in her head, as if they didn't like that notion. One said something in Greek about June being their territory, but the others quickly shushed it. Huh?

The decision was made for them, however, when horns sounded in the valley below. It seemed like they had been spotted by the Romans.

June was in awe of the magnificent sight before her as the Argo II descended towards Camp Jupiter. The valley, which was twice the size of Camp Half-Blood, was bordered by the Oakland Hills. The small river that flowed around one side of the valley snaked around like a capital letter G before emptying into a sparkling blue lake. 

At the edge of the lake, the city of New Rome shone brightly in the sunlight, with landmarks such as the hippodrome, the coliseum, the temples and parks, the Seven Hills neighborhood with its colorful villas, winding streets, and flowering gardens. However, she also saw the aftermath of the recent battle between the Romans and an army of monsters. The dome of the Senate House was cracked open, the forum's plaza pitted with craters, and some fountains and statues were in ruins. 

She recognized everything from the pictures Jason drew for her.

As the Argo II descended, dozens of kids in togas came out of the Senate House and other shops and cafes, gawking and pointing at the ship. 

About half a mile to the west, a Roman fort stood on a hill, where the horns were blowing. The defensive trench was lined with spikes, high walls, and watchtowers armed with scorpion ballistae. Inside the fort, perfect rows of white barracks lined the main road, the Via Principalis. 

A column of demigods came out of the gates, their armor and spears glinting as they hurried towards the city, led by an actual war elephant. June longed to land the Argo II before the troops arrived, but the ground was still several hundred feet below.

Her stomach lurched as she realized that Percy was down there. She scanned the crowd, frantically trying to spot his head of tousled black hair, when her inner voices began to scream at her to GRAB SOMETHING!

Startled, she clutched the railing just as she heard a loud BOOM! behind her. The explosion would've thrown her overboard if she hadn't been holding on to the side of the ship, and she turned around, wondering what could have caused such a commotion.

Huh. A shrieking statue. Whatever she'd expected, it wasn't that.

"Unacceptable!" He was yelling. His features were weathered, like that of an older man (or maybe the stone had eroded), with a hooked Roman nose and curly hair. His chest was muscular and would've been bare if not for the toga carved into the stone. From the waist and below, he was just a marble pedestal. She took a quick peek behind him. Ooh, he had a booty.

Hm. Why was he kinda...

No, she scolded herself. Bad June.

Wait, she has a point, one of her voices said. A few murmurs of agreement echoed in her head.

What the—

And how had he just randomly appeared?

"I will not have weapons inside the Pomerian Line!" he said sternly. "I certainly will not have Greeks!" 

Jason stepped in front of June, shooting her a look that said he knew exactly what she'd been doing checking the statue out, and it would be very wise of her to stop before he noticed.

She sent him a sheepish smile in return.

"Heyy, Terminus, buddy." He said. "Remember me? Your old pal, Jason Grace?"

Terminus looked unimpressed. "What I remember is you getting drunk with your buddy Reyna and spray-painting me pink for a day. But still, I thought you had better sense than to consort with the enemies of Rome!"

Annabeth and June exchanged looks from the corners of their eyes.

"Um," Jason said. "They're not... enemies...?"

"What he meant to say," Piper cut in. "Is we're not enemies! We just want to talk."

"Hey," frowned the statue, looking genuinely offended. "Don't try to charmspeak me, girl. And put down that dagger before I slap it out of your hands!"

Jason's mouth twitched like he was trying not to laugh.

Piper blinked. Her eyes went to her bronze dagger in confusion, like she'd forgotten she was holding it. "I— huh? How— no offence, but... you don't really have arms."

"Impertinence!" There was a flash of yellow, and June heard a sharp POP sound. Piper's dagger began to glow, smoking and releasing some sparks. She yelped and dropped it.

"You kids are lucky I'm recovering from a battle," Terminus announced. "If I were at full strength, I would've blasted this flying monstrosity all the way to Nepal by now!"

"Watch it," June scrunched her nose. "I helped build this monstrosity, you butt-nugget."

Leo stepped beside her, wagging his Wii controller and narrowing his eyes at Terminus. "You wanna catch these hands—?"

Annabeth raised her hands, interrupting them. "Let's all calm down."

Yes, the voices in June's head said. Or we could make vines grow around his stony ass and—

"Shh," she whispered. Next to her, Leo looked at her as if she was crazy.

Annabeth was speaking to Terminus. "... you protect New Rome, right? My name is Annabeth Chase, daughter of—"

"Oh, please. I know who you are!" He glared at Annabeth. "Minerva... er, Athena's daughter. Scandalous! No decency! We Romans know where that goddess belongs."

Annabeth's hand flexed. Her stormy eyes were narrowed. "What do you think you're talking about?"

June swore she saw Piper swoon, just a little.

"Right!" Jason cut in. "Terminus, my dude, chillax. We're on a mission of peace. If you could just let us land..."

"Impossible!" He declared. "I am the god of boundaries! Surrender! Leave this city at once."

"What do we do?" Leo asked. "Surrender, or leave?"

"Yeah, man," June said. "This stuff is confusing."

His head snapped toward her so fast she was surprised his statue didn't crumble. 

"YOU!" He shrieked.

June blinked, and then looked behind her, as if he was talking to someone else. Then she pointed at herself. "Me?"

His eyes flashed yellow, and suddenly June felt her body overheating. She began sweating rapidly, her insides churning. She felt lightheaded. "Wh... what's goin' o— what are you d—"

"Stop!" Piper screamed, and this time her charmspeak worked. June swayed, and her legs buckled from under her. She would've fallen down if Leo hadn't caught her.

HEAL, her voices commanded. Slowly, she felt her body temperature lowering. She heard faint yelling in the background. When Leo finally managed to steady her on her feet, she looked up to see Jason, Piper and Annabeth arguing with Terminus, gesturing wildly.

Jason's appeared panicked, more panicked than when they were on their quest to rescue Hera seven months ago. She heard him hoarsely yell, "—JUST TRY TO SMITE HER?"

"It was necessary," Terminus was insisting. "And if any of you are smart, you would do the same."

"You can stand?" Leo confirmed with June. When she nodded in response, he took a deep breath, letting her go, and grabbed a screwdriver from his magic tool belt.

Then he just. Fucking... attacked the statue.

Annabeth wrestled Leo away from Terminus just before he could land a blow. He was swearing loudly in Spanish, but all June could understand was motherfu— before Annabeth muffled him.

There was another small explosion, and Leo dropped his screwdriver.

"ENOUGH!" Terminus roared. "Get that girl to leave immediately. Weapons are not allowed inside the Pomerian line!"

June was so confused, and her head was spinning, and her legs felt weak as she took a few steps forward. In a small voice, she asked, "Why do I have to leave?"

Terminus' eyes glowed as he looked at her, and suddenly June felt the voices in her head... stop. They just stopped, no explanation. It was the most quiet she'd felt in a year.

For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, Terminus said, "Oh."

"Oh, what?" Piper snapped. Annabeth placed a warning hand on her arm.

Terminus said nothing. The statue looked deep in thought.

"What if we stop the ship?" Annabeth suggested suddenly.

"What?" Leo said.

Annabeth ignored him. "Terminus, can we hover over New Rome?"

Terminus was still examining June, and she shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze. Then, he announced, "Very well."

June looked at Leo, whose eyes were still narrowed. "It's fine, Leo," she said softly. "Keep the ship aloft."

Reluctantly, he pulled out his controller and yanked it upward. June felt a tug at the bottom of her stomach as the ship froze in place.

She risked a glance over the side. Her eyes roved over the demigods gathered below, still trying to adjust to the newfound silence in her head, when she spotted him. Oh, gods. Percy.

"If we use a rope ladder to reach the forum," Annabeth was explaining. "The ship won't technically be on Roman soil."

The statue rolled his eyes. "Do whatever, Greeks. I already said yes."

"Um, Annabeth..." Leo said. "Is this a good idea?"

June saw her best friend shiver, and she remembered what she and Piper had been trying to tell her, something about a cold feeling. June hoped it was just a case of nerves, or the weather.

She caught Annabeth's eye, and pleaded silently, Percy is so close. Please don't turn back.

"It'll be fine," Piper said, trying to manipulate the atmosphere with her charmspeak. "No one will be carrying any weapons. We'll talk in peace. I'm sure Terminus can make sure each side obeys the rules."

Terminus sniffed. "Just go. And please, try not to destroy my town."

rory speaks !

i did not expect to be blatantly

objectifying terminus in this chapter

but oh well!! june is just like me fr

[ 15/02/24 ]