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TW : mention of sexual assault and abuse bracketed with •

Part one. Chapter fourteen.

Rome

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Aris didn't sleep. She had been sleeping for the last couple of nights since Percy had decided he was done listening to her because she was "clearly incapable of making good choices" by herself. He had started sleeping in her room so that she had someone there to ward off the nightmares. (He was also pissed that his girlfriend was willing to make time for Jason and not him while her stressing over the Mark of Athena, but Aris chose not to point that out to him).

But after the pirate with the golden mask attacked, she didn't sleep. Percy hadn't been happy when she mentioned she would stay on deck after that. Neither had Frank. They both became even unhappier when Jason mentioned he was also staying. The only thing that kept them from lunging at the blond was Hazel and Annabeth grabbing them and literally shoving them down the stairs and to their rooms.

Piper hadn't seemed too happy about it either but she just listlessly left.

Aris didn't know how long they had spent on opposite sides of the deck before she felt Jason's presence next to her.

"Are you okay ?"

He didn't speak loudly but she felt every syllable and word of it. It felt so good to hear his voice directed at her again after days of them ignoring each other.

Aris nodded, glancing up at him. "Are you ?"

The bruises he had sustained from those dolphin men were no joke. Even after the ambrosia and nectar, he looked like hell.

"I'm fine."

She nodded again, looking away, leaning her forearms against the railing. It was nice that she could do that. The Mediterranean was no joke. There were practically always monsters trying to kill them.

The fact that there wasn't at the moment was literally a miracle. But it was also a curse. Because the lack of monsters forced Aris to think back to Chrysaor the golden pirate.

"Such a pretty girl," he purred, running a finger down her face as he kneeled in front of her. When Aris turned away from him, he roughly grabbed her face in one hand and forced her to look at him. "Feisty too. I like my women feisty."

"I'm not your woman," she spat with a glare.

"You will be. Whether you want to be or not."

•

She wanted to fight back. But upon hearing his words, Aris was back in her childhood home. Whimpering and trying to push her father off as he forced himself onto her. The alcohol on his breath fanned her face as her growled, "Stop fighting, Venus." The harsh and terrible feeling of his hands on her. The tears that rolled down her face as she begged him to stop. The helpless and disgusted and angry feeling the grew in her as she felt herself lose more and more of her innocence, feeling dirty and used and broken.

She was back in a New Rome alley way, trying to fight Octavian off but being unable to. He might be a skinny thing but he was smart enough to find a way to incapacitated her just enough to have the upper hand by first catching her by surprise and then squeezing her air from lungs enough to make her woozy and unable to fight off his assault. He forced his way into her, calling her the most disgusting and cruel things. Claiming how he was "owed some of the pretty little ass" since he had to deal with her after her actions.

Gods, Aris still remembered how he had just dropped her there, unable to move or do anything. How he had reminded her that she couldn't go to anyone because it was her word against his and everyone thought she was a traitorous skank who had seduced their perfect praetor into sparing her from her execution.

•

"Don't you fucking touch her," someone growled.

She blinked, looking over at to the source. Jason looked downright murderous, fighting against the restraints on his wrists and the three dolphin-men holding him.

"It's cute how you think you can do anything about it," Chrysaor laughed coldly. He nodded to his men.

"Jason !" Aris yelled, trying to go to him when they hit him over the head but the pirate grabbed her harshly and kept her in place.

"You're mine now, little dove."

Aris didn't think Percy would ever understand how grateful she was that he had come up with such an insane plan to get rid of the stupid pirate and his golden mask. She didn't know if she could deal with the sort of thing Chryslor had planned for her. Not again.

But the sickening crack of Jason's skull getting hit still echoed in her ears.

"You said you were done caring," she found herself saying. "Done with me."

"I did say that."

Aris looked up at Jason. He was looking down at the sea, shoulders tensed as though the entire weight of the world was resting on it. His beautiful eyes were red from lack of sleep, the shadows under them turning his skin pale. His hair moved in the wind, but it was disheveled instead of its usual neat and proper style.

He was still the most handsome person Aris knew.

"Did you mean it ?" She whispered.

He was silent for a minute. Only the wind filled it, a chilly breeze making Aris shiver as she waited.

He didn't look at her when he said, "You should go."

Aris scoffed, shaking her head. Gods, she felt dumb for hoping to get something else. She always did. Every time she thought maybe, just maybe, there was something there, he went and proved to her that there wasn't. That she had let herself get fooled again. Every time she dared let her guard down and hope, dream that he felt what she felt, he said something that just shattered every odd and delusional thought in her head.

"Happy birthday, asshole," she told him.

Aris didn't see the longing look he gave her when she walked away. She didn't know that he more than anything just wanted to sweep her up and kiss her senseless. If she had stayed there, Jason didn't trust himself not to. And after what had just happened, that was the last thing she needed.

So he sent her away. Not because he didn't care. But because he cared too much.

🖤💔🖤

The sky was brilliant blue, as if the stormy weather that had been plaguing them since they entered the Mediterranean had never happened. The sun rose over the distant hills, so everything below them shone and sparkled like the entire city of Rome had just come out of the car wash.

Aris grew up in a place was meant to be a replica of the city. But the sheer vastness of Rome grabbed her by the throat and made it hard to breathe. The city seemed to have no regard for the limits of geography. It spread through hills and valleys, jumped over the Tiber with dozens of bridges, and just kept sprawling to the horizon. Streets and alleys zigzagged with no rhyme or reason through quilts of neighborhoods. Glass office buildings stood next to excavation sites. A cathedral stood next to a line of Roman columns, which stood next to a modern soccer stadium. In some neighborhoods, old stucco villas with red-tiled roofs crowded the cobblestone streets, so that if Aris concentrated just on those areas, she could imagine she was back in ancient times. Everywhere she looked, there were wide piazzas and traffic-clogged streets. Parks cut across the city with a crazy collection of palm trees, pines, junipers, and olive trees, as if Rome couldn't decide what part of the world it belonged to—or maybe it just believed all the world still belonged to Rome.

"We're setting down in that park," Leo announced, pointing to a wide green space dotted with palm trees. "Let's hope the Mist makes us look like a large pigeon or something."

Aris shot him a disdainful look because how was a large pigeon inconspicuous ? If she ever saw a pigeon the size of the ship they were on, she would have been terrified out of her wits.

But whatever the Mist made them look like, it was a good enough disguise. No cars veered off the road. No Romans pointed to the sky and screamed, "Aliens!"

The Argo II just set down in the grassy field and the oars retracted.

The noise of traffic was all around them, but the park itself was peaceful and deserted. To their left, a green lawn sloped toward a line of woods. An old villa nestled in the shade of some weird-looking pine trees with thin curvy trunks that shot up thirty or forty feet, then sprouted into puffy canopies.

To their right, snaking along the top of a hill, was a long brick wall with notches at the top for archers—probably a medieval defensive line, probably Ancient Roman.

To the north, about a mile away through the folds of the city, the top of the Colosseum rose above the rooftops, looking just like it did in travel photos.

Aris felt her lungs constrict. And then her heart as she turned to excitedly look at Jason before remembering that he didn't care anymore. He wouldn't care about her lifelong dream of coming to Rome being accomplished.

Ever the practical and efficient one, Jason pointed to the base of the archers' wall, where steps led down into some kind of tunnel.

"I think I know where we are," he said. "That's the Tomb of the Scipios."

Percy frowned. "Scipio...Reyna's pegasus ?"

"They were a noble family from here," Aris mentioned. "That's who Reyna named her pegasus after."

"Oh," Percy nodded, dropping his elbow onto Aris' shoulder.

"Wow, this place is amazing," Annabeth said in awe.

Aris nodded. "I've studied maps of Rome before. I've always wanted to come here, but..."

Nobody bothered finishing that sentence. Looking at everyone's faces, Aris could tell they were just as much in awe as she was. They'd made it. They'd landed in Rome—the Rome.

"Plans ?" Hazel asked. "Nico has until sunset—at best. And this entire city is supposedly getting destroyed today."

"You're right." Percy turned to his girlfriend. "Annabeth...did you zero in on that spot from your bronze map ?"

Her gray eyes turned extra thunderstorm dark. She glanced at Jason before clearing her throat and carefully saying, "Yes. It's on the Tiber River. I think I can find it, but I should—"

"Take me along," Percy finished. "Yeah, you're right."

Aris brought a hand to her mouth to hide her amusement when Annabeth glared daggers at him. "That's not—"

"Safe," he supplied. "One demigod walking through Rome alone. I'll go with you as far as the Tiber. We can use that letter of introduction, hopefully meet the river god Tiberinus. Maybe he can give you some help or advice. Then you can go on alone from there."

They had a silent staring contest, that the rest of them were observing with baited breath. Percy clearly wasn't backing down. Aris had to smile at how much Percy loved Annabeth. Most boyfriends had trouble walking their girlfriends to the door. Percy was willing to walk her to her deadly solo quest so she wasn't too in her head and worrying on her own.

"Fine," Annabeth sighed, giving in. Aris patted Percy on his chest as he proudly looked down at her like 'did you see what I did ?'. "Hazel, now that we're in Rome, do you think you can pinpoint Nico's location ?"

Hazel blinked, as if coming out of a trance from watching the Percy/Annabeth Show. "Um...hopefully, if I get close enough. I'll have to walk around the city. Frank, would you come with me ?"

Frank beamed. "Absolutely."

"And, uh...Leo," Hazel added. "It might be a good idea if you came along too. The fish-centaurs said we'd need your help with something mechanical."

"Yeah," Leo said, "no problem."

Frank's smile turned into something more like Chrysaor's mask.

Aris grimaced. She knew Hazel wasn't the type to two time someone but....there was something weird going on. Ever since they'd gotten knocked into the Atlantic, they hadn't acted quite the same. It wasn't just the two guys competing for Hazel. It was like the three of them were locked together, acting out some kind of murder mystery, but they hadn't yet discovered which of them was the victim. Aris didn't like this at all since it involved two of her favourite people. She seriously hoped they figured it out soon.

Piper drew her knife and set it on the rail. "I guess, Jason, Aris and I can watch the ship for now." She didn't look thrilled about it. Neither did the other two she mentioned but staying by the ship meant they could all avoid each other to their heart's content. "I'll see what Katoptris can show me."

"But, Hazel, if you guys get a fix on Nico's location, don't go in there by yourselves," Aris told the younger girl. "Come back and get us. It'll take all of us to fight the giants."

Aris decided not to point out that they would also need a god to accomplish that. Everyone already knew.

"Good idea," Percy said. "How about we plan to meet back here at...what ?"

"Three this afternoon ?" Jason suggested. "That's probably the latest we could rendezvous and still hope to fight the giants and save Nico. If something happens to change the plan, try to send an Iris-message."

Percy scowled a little earning him a nudge in his stomach. He glanced down at Aris who shot him a look. He sighed and nodded.

The others nodded too.

Aris noticed that a lot of them glanced at Annabeth, herself included. It was hard not to when you knew that she would be on a different schedule. She might be back at three, or much later, or never. But she would be on her own, searching for the Athena Parthenos.

Coach Hedge grunted. "That'll give me time to eat the coconuts—I mean dig the coconuts out of our hull. Percy, Annabeth...I don't like you two going off on your own. Just remember : behave. If I hear about any funny business, I will ground you until the Styx freezes over."

Aris shot him an odd look. They were about to go on a deadly quest that Annabeth might not survive and Coach Hedge was....threatening to ground them if they kissed ? Saytrs were fucking weird. At least with fauns, you knew what you were getting.

"We'll be back soon," Percy promised. He looked around at his friends and then looked down at Aris, pressing a small kiss to her forehead. "Good luck, everyone."

Leo lowered the gangplank, and Percy and Annabeth were first off the ship. Aris stood at the railing, watching them. There was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach.

Pari Speaks !

Helloooo ! Here's an early Christmas gift for you guys !

I am so sorry it took me so long and that when I do, it's this tiny little scrap. But uni has been kicking my ass. But I've also been focusing on some of my other writing which is more personal and "original" to try and grow as a writer and a storyteller. But I have definitely missed Aris.

I hope you guys like this ! Happy holidays, and hopefully see you in the new year. Bye !

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