1006 words

"Hey, kiddo," Grandma said. "How're you doing?"

I noticed that like Grandpa, she had a tattoo as well. Hers had a trident above the SPQR, as well 20 little lines below the letters.

"We're good," Aidan and I said together.

"Hello, Arion," Dad said, talking to the horse.

The horse's ears went back when he saw Dad.

Orion Theron. The horse snorted coldly. I'm gonna give you five seconds to run before I trample you!

"Arion," Grandma said, patting him on the neck. "I thought we talked about this. You agreed not to trample him."

I know I did, Arion snorted, pawing the ground with his hoof. But-

"Then we're good, then," Grandma interrupted.

She turned to address the rest of us.

"Has your grandpa explained anything yet?" She asked.

"No..." Aidan said slowly.

Grandma sighed.

"He said he would explain," She said irritably. "Well, I suppose it'll have to wait longer. I wish I could tell you, but I have to go talk with the Centurions. Orion, you know where to go."

She then clucked to Arion and squeezed his sides with her heels, and they turned around and galloped away over the bridge spanning the river.

"Follow me," Dad said.

He led us over the bridge, along the path past the sunflower field, and toward a domed building.

Raiden stood there waiting for us. She looked much better.

"How're you feeling?" I asked her.

"A lot better," Raiden said. "I'm actually conscious, at least."

"Glad to hear it," Aidan said.

Before we even stepped off the path, a flash of white and marble appeared in front us, blocking our path.

"No weapons are allowed inside the Pomerian Line!" a voice yelled.

A bearded statue of a man with no arms was glaring suspiciously at all of us. He only had an upper half, as his waist met a pedestal.

"Hello, Terminus," Dad said, as though talking to statues was normal.

"Orion Theron! And company," Terminus said.

His eyes narrowed at the sight of Aidan and I.

"Graeci!" He said. "You two are the children of that goddess!"

Agro and Pher growled at Terminus.

Don't insult Artemis! Pher barked angrily.

"Tell your wolves to back down," Terminus said, glaring at Aidan and I. "Or I will smite them down!"

"Oh, yeah?" I snarled at Terminus and stepping in front of Agro and Pher. "Come at me then!"

"You wouldn't dare, girl," Terminus growled.

"Try me," I snarled, drawing my daggers and pointing them at Terminus. "I will fight you."

"Anyway," Dad said hastily. "May we we enter Terminus?"

"No!" Terminus shouted, glaring at me. "I will not permit Graeci to enter while the city is under my protection! And especially those who threaten me!"

"Let them enter, Terminus," Grandpa said, walking over. "Please. They mean no harm. They are merely seeking safe passage and assistance on their quest."

"Mean no harm?!" Terminus shouted. "The graecae threatened to fight me! She is a threat and must be dealt with!"

"Wait, Terminus-" Grandpa began, but before he had even finished, an invisible force blasted me backwards.

I slammed into the ground, and stars swarmed in my vision.

Agro ran to my side.

Are you alright?! She demanded.

"I'm fine," I said. "It's Terminus who's not gonna be fine."

I leapt to my feet and charged at Terminus.

"Ainsley, no!" Dad and Grandpa shouted together, but I ignored them.

I raised my daggers and slashed at the marble pedestal Terminus stood on. It didn't really do anything, except make Terminus angrier.

"How dare you!" He roared. "You were granted safe passage, and you betrayed our trust! Traitors!"

His shout shook the ground and a few hundred yards away, the doors to the domed building burst open. The whole camp came pouring out, looking bewildered. Grandma was at the front, staring at me with my dagger pointed at Terminus.

"Legionnaires! Centurions! Praetor!" Terminus shouted. "The Graeci have betrayed our trust! Take your weapons, and kill them!"

"Run!" Dad yelled.

Dad led the way as we sprinted away. I heard Grandma whistle and the thunder of hooves as Arion came running towards her. I stopped and looked back.

Every single member of the camp was chasing us, weapons drawn, Grandma and Grandpa in the lead.

"Kid!" Dad yelled. "What the Hades are you doing?! Run!"

I started running again.

"Legion, form ranks!" Grandpa yelled.

All the campers formed into five groups. Grandpa raised his lightning sword and brought it swishing down. A blast of lightning struck the ground in front of us.

"Arion, forward!" Grandma yelled.

Arion came galloping around us and skidded to a stop in front us.

Grandma dismounted and pointed her swords at us.

"You are all under arrest," She shouted. "For attacking Camp Jupiter after we granted you safe passage."

In an undertone so the other legionnaires couldn't hear, Grandma added, "Orion, I'm going to cause an earthquake to give you time to run. I love you all. Good luck on your quest."

Grandma then stomped her foot down, and the Earth trembled and shook.

"What is this?!" I heard Octavian yell.

I looked back. Most of the campers had fallen over.

"Go! Go now!" Grandma whispered urgently.

Dad turned into a giant eagle. Zoë, Raiden, Aidan, and I scrambled onto his back. Agro, Pher, and Snow stood by his claws. When Dad took off, he all the wolves grasped in his claws.

"Up on your feet, legionnaires!" Grandma yelled. "They're getting away!"

The campers leapt to their feet.

"Archers!" Grandpa yelled. "Load and draw back!"

The archers raised their bows, notched arrows, and drew back their strings, prepared to fire.

"Fire!" Grandpa yelled.

The arrows flew straight toward us.

Ainsley! Aidan! Dad squawked. Take care of those arrows!

"Will do, Dad!" Aidan and I yelled.

Aidan and I shot fire out of our hands toward the arrows. The fire burned the arrows to a crisp.

And together we flew away from Camp Jupiter on a giant eagle, leaving with more questions than answers.