[acta deos nunquam mortalia fallunt / mortal actions never defeat the gods]

Tessa stuffed her hands in the pocket of her hoodie, staring down at the tide lapping over her feet. It was the last day of the summer session at camp, and Tessa had been back from the quest for nearly four weeks. However, it still haunted her in every action of every day, the face of her best friend filled with determination as he stayed behind.

The daughter of Poseidon raised her gaze to the horizon. The sky was tinged orange with sunset, and she should probably have spent the past two hours getting ready for the end of summer party in the arena, but instead, here she was.

Tessa exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. She crossed to sit on one of the rocks nearby, hugging her legs to her chest as she did. Things just felt off, no matter how normal things had gotten for the rest of camp. For the whole camp, things were fine. For four campers within it, things were far from fine.

In the weeks since Tessa's awakening in the infirmary, lots of things happened. Celebrations for the victory of the quest lasted the week that Chiron promised, and Tessa, as well as Kaden, Reese, and Dale, were constantly being acknowledged for their work. Amelie, Flynn, Calum, and Nova were all congratulated as well for their efforts in the battle. Sophia, on the other hand, was put to trial.

Tessa shook her head at the memory. She'd never felt more hatred for two people than she had for Deimos and Matthew during their trials atop Olympus. She, the quest group, Chiron, Mr. D, and the senior councilors of each cabin were called to the 600th floor of the Empire State Building to watch and testify in the trials.

As Tessa had sat beside her friends, gripping Kaden's hand all the while, she couldn't suppress the urge to sprint up to the podium. She wanted to shove Nemesis and Athena and the Furies out of the way and give Matthew and Deimos a piece of her mind—but mostly her fist—for what they had done. Because of them, she'd lost a friend. Because of them, Mark was most likely dead.

Thankfully, Sophia had been pardoned, as Hypnos and Morpheus proved that she was subject to hypnosis by Matthew's hand. The wrongdoer himself, however, on the count of arson and treason to Olympus, was banished to the depths of the Underworld to serve in the Fields of Punishment. If he lived during his ten-year sentence, he'd be pardoned and brought back to the surface world. If he died, then he would continue to serve his fate for all eternity.

Deimos' punishment would be determined on a godlier scale, as he was immortal. Tessa didn't wait around to hear the verdict; she had stormed out of the throne room of the gods during the first free moment she could find.

Tessa shivered as she reminisced. The memory of how Matthew had stared at her and Kaden during the trials still sickened her. It seemed like he had something hanging over their heads, just waiting to reveal what it was to everyone.

When they had returned to camp, they had gathered to burn Mark's burial shroud. It was made of pure iridescent silk that formed rainbows in the light, and even when it burned, it still burned bright. A final tribute to the hero Tessa had always admired, always loved, always wished to see prosper in the future.

And just like that, he was gone like a rainbow after a thunderstorm. Something you always liked to see and hoped to witness after a dark moment. Only now, this rainbow wouldn't be returning.

Tessa took a ragged breath, wiping away her tears as they fall. She sniffed, staring back out to sea.

"How did I know to find you here?" A voice that Tessa had become used to hearing lately asked softly.

Tessa turned and saw Madi standing nearby, a box of tissues in one hand and a bead necklace in the other. The dark haired girl was smiling apologetically at Tessa, and her gaze flicked down to the rock she was seated on.

"Mind if I join you?" Madi asked.

Tessa shook her head and shuffled across the rock, allowing Madi more room to sit. The prospect of having a half-sister was still odd to Tessa, who had lived for three years as the sole child of Poseidon. Was it a blessing or a curse that she now had a sister to deal with?

"I can't say I know what you're going through." Madi sighed, her hazel eyes fixed on a point out to sea. "But I can say that you can come to me at any time if you need me."

Tessa tried for a smile. "Thank you, Madi," she said. "May I?" She pointed to the box of tissues.

Madi held up the box, and Tessa snatched a handful of the tissues up. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose, but the pain in her heart was still there when all the tears were gone.

"We should get ready. The party starts soon, y'know?" Madi said. "It'll cheer you up." She sing-songed.

Tessa turned to look at her sister. "If I go, will you shut up about it?"

"Absolutely."

"Then fine."

Madi grinned, a smile that Tessa could recognize in herself and her—their—father, Poseidon. Her sister had an infectious kindness to her, and was probably even more competitive than Tessa, if such a feat were possible.

"Come on, Brennan, up we go." Madi hopped off of the rock, nodding to the path behind them. Realization filled her eyes and she held up her other hand. "They passed out this summer's bead, by the way."

At that, Tessa's attention perked up. She turned to look at her sister and pushed herself off of the rock. "What is it?" She asked.

Madi pooled the necklace into Tessa's hand. "See for yourself." 

Tessa knit her eyebrows as she looked at her camp necklace, left behind in her cabin during the quest. Her first summer's bead was a trident made of fireworks, to represent her arrival on the fourth of July as the most memorable event. The second, a chariot, symbolizing the revival of the chariot games at camp. The third, the head of a silver dragon, and now the fourth, a bead in rainbow colors, with a single drawing of a spear on it.

Tessa didn't realize she'd teared up until Madi forced another wad of tissues under her nose. Sheepishly, Tessa pocketed the necklace and plucked the tissues from her. "Thanks," she mumbled.

"Don't mention it, Sniffles. Now come on, we've got a party with our name on it." Madi grinned, linking her arm through Tessa's and corralling her away from the beach.

"Sniffles?" Tessa repeated incredulously.

"You heard me. That's your name, don't wear it out."

For the first time in a long time, Tessa tossed her head back and laughed.

~~

The party in the arena did manage to lift Tessa's spirits to some degree, that was for sure. The music was infectious, the laughter and chatter like something out of a movie. Tessa was asked to wear the laurels she had received upon the crowning after the quest, and the same standard went for Kaden, Reese, and Dale. For the last time that summer, they'd be honored as victors, and for the last time that summer, a whole camp would pay their respects to the fallen son of Iris.

Only now, as Tessa stood outside of the arena, waiting for her friends to arrive, she held an extra pair of laurels in her hand. The crown of a fallen hero, a righteous possession.

Tessa glanced back into the arena, and tried to scan the crowd for her sister as she waited. Soon enough, the other daughter of Poseidon had been spotted, laughing at something Ben, one of Sophia's siblings, had said to her.

Tessa smiled softly. Even if she had only known Madi for a little while, she still wanted her sister to be happy. It was rough to be subjected to a whole new lifestyle so suddenly, and must have been even harder for the only person who knew what it was like to be a distant wreck.

"I think you're mistaken, Tessa, the party's inside the arena, not outside of it," Reese's voice called.

Tessa turned and sure enough, the son of Apollo was walking towards them, Dale at his side. Her two friends were donning their party clothes, laurels on their heads. The only thing missing from both of them was their normally positive dispositions. But Tessa couldn't blame them, especially with what they were about to do.

"Mind you, Hale, I was waiting for you both." She crossed the distance between them, hugging Reese, and then hugging Dale even tighter.

Upon seeing her best friend, Tessa felt her heart break even more. Dale had been more distant than ever, deteriorating even more with each day since their completion of the quest. She was still herself, just...still lost in that crumbling cavern where Mark. was most likely trapped.

"Hey," Tessa said softly to the daughter of Demeter. "Just think of what Mark would say if he saw us moping around right now."

Dale smiled weakly. "He'd yell at us for not enjoying the party,"

"And then sprint into the arena, guns blazing," Reese continued.

"And most likely trip on his way in." Tessa finished.

The three heroes laughed, but the sound died down quickly.

"Where's Kaden?" Tessa asked, looking around for the son of Aphrodite, her...boyfriend?

Reese sighed, running a hand through his blond hair. "He said to go on with the laurel thing without him. He'd catch up with us later."

Tessa pursed her lips. "Has he been feeling alright?"

Reese met Tessa's gaze, and instantly, she knew. Ever since they'd returned from the trials on Olympus, where Matthew had continued his threats of some betrayal that Kaden had committed, the son of Aphrodite seemed distant as well. He was more closed off, no matter how hard Tessa tried to get him to talk.

She took a breath, looking down at the golden wreath in her hands. "Well, let's go then. We'll fill him in later."

And the three heroes walked away from the arena, down the winding paths through camp to the Big House.

~~

"It belongs up here," Dale noted, tilting her head to the side as she inspected the wreath.

Tessa stepped back from the wall, her hands on her hips. "In memory of a hero," she said, her voice solemn.

While Deimos' spear, the true spoil of war, had been recovered by the gods and now locked up in their armory, Phobos' shield still remained up in the attic. Tessa still wondered how it had gotten up there to begin with, but that was a story for another day because right now, a new one was unfolding behind the golden laurel wreath she had just hung up.

VICTORY LAUREL WREATH ACHIEVED BY APPREHENDING AND DEFEATING DEIMOS, GOD OF PANIC.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARK AKAGI, SON OF IRIS

"He'd want more of a pedestal to put it on, but this will have to do." Reese tried for a laugh, but no one seemed to be in a laughing mood.

Silence filled the attic, and while dust settled on this box and that spoil, the golden wreath of a hero glimmered in the moonlight, a story that would not be forgotten.

No one spoke, not even as the three heroes left the attic and the Big House altogether. They stood outside it, basking in the late summer warmth and cool breeze.

"We should head back now," Dale said, her voice hardly above a whisper. "Tessa, are you coming?"

Tessa nodded, fiddling with the ends of her gold and black party dress. "I'll catch up with you guys. I should probably go check on Kaden, see how he's doing."

Reese and Dale nodded to Tessa in parting, and started off towards the arena. Tessa watched them go, and hoped that Dale would find happiness again. No one could replace Mark, but Reese was a good guy and if it was one person that shared her burden, it was him.

Tessa sighed and took a moment to gather her thoughts. After, she started down the paths to the omega of cabins. As she walked, she remembered how she had taken this exact path over a month ago, following a shroud in the darkness of night to what would lead to be the greatest thing she'd ever done.

Tessa wasn't shaken out of her reverie until she was standing outside Cabin Ten, all decked out in pink and white and blue, a tribute to Aphrodite. Slowly, she rested a hand on the knob and turned.

"Kaden?" Tessa asked as she swung the door open. "It's me, Tessa."

Tessa looked around at the perfectly organized cabin, with its faint smell of perfume and cologne, and bright colors. Kaden had a handful of other siblings, and all of them proved to break the awful stereotype placed on their heads by other campers. However, none of them were to be found, not even Kaden himself.

"Tess?" Kaden's voice croaked. It sounded scratchy, like he'd been crying.

Tessa whirled around and found herself staring at that familiar face, the one she could always count on to distract her from her troubles. What she didn't find familiar was the redness in his eyes, the brooding expression.

"Hey," Tessa greeted softly. "What's wrong? Where have you been?"

Kaden shook his head. "It's nothing, Tessa, I swear. Please, just....please don't ask." He stalked away, bracing himself on the railing of the deck outside the front door.

Tessa narrowed her eyes at the son of Aphrodite. "Kaden, talk to me. You haven't been the same since we got back from Olympus," she said slowly. "Is this about what Matthew has been saying about you?"

Kaden spun back around, a defensive look on his face. "I'm not a traitor," he said, like he was trying to convince himself of it. "I—I'm not like him."

Tessa stared at him incredulously. She approached him, standing right beside him, forcing him to look at her. "Kaden." She breathed. "I know. But I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

Kaden stared into Tessa's eyes, and for a few moments, there was no noise aside from the crickets nearby, the music blaring in the distance, and the sound of Kaden's near-hysteric breathing.

"At first, I didn't know what Matthew was talking about. He always seemed to have an edge on me, like he knew something about me that I didn't. Then, I figured it out. I couldn't tell anyone, because I didn't want anyone to think of me differently. I'm not a traitor." Kaden exhaled raggedly. "But then, we went on the quest. The further west we got...the more I remembered."

"Remembered what?" Tessa asked softly.

"I've been at Camp Half-Blood since I was twelve, you know that. But...but what I haven't told anyone, what only my sister and my mother know, is I was somewhere else before this." Kaden said, his words running into one another.

"Where?" Tessa questioned.

Kaden shook his head. "I thought I could just force away the memories, even when we got to San Francisco and we were so, so close. I could have gone back, I could have explained why I disappeared. But there wasn't a life left for me there anymore. My home is Camp Half-Blood, it's what I know. But...then the marks showed up, the day after the trials. It felt just as painful as it always used to, and I thought that it was just an awful nightmare, but it wasn't. They're back, and they're going to come for me as soon as they figure it out too."

"Kaden, what on Earth are you talking about?" Tessa demanded, worry for the boy she loved in her voice.

Kaden took a deep breath. "Tessa, do you promise that what I'm about to show you won't change your feelings for me whatsoever?"

"Of course," she said, without missing a beat.

Kaden bit his lip, and tore his gaze from Tessa's eyes. Slowly, he lifted up his sleeve, and Tessa saw what he was rambling about.

There, on the tender skin of Kaden's left forearm, were five horizontal black lines, like a barcode, with a tattoo of a dove underneath the letters SPQR.

"SPQR?" Tessa recited. "But what—"

"Senatus Populusque Romanus," Kaden interjected, like the words pained him. "It means the Senate and People of Rome."

Tessa's eyes widened. "Rome? But..." Tessa racked her brain. Everything Kaden had just told her, the tattoo, the actions out of habit as they had neared California. It all added up.

There was another camp, out West, for children of the Roman gods.

And Kaden was one of them.