CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
FINLEY                       BRIGGS

The ghosts formed ranks and encircled the crossroads. There were about a hundred in all—not an entire legion, but more than a cohort. Some carried the tattered lightning bolt banners of the Twelfth Legion, Fifth Cohort—Michael Varus's doomed expedition from the 1980s. Others carried standards and insignia Finn didn't recognize, as if they'd died at different times, on different quests—maybe not even from Camp Jupiter.

Most were armed with Imperial gold weapons—more Imperial gold than the entire Twelfth Legion possessed. It made Finn nervous. Imperial gold was deadly to both demigods and monsters, and she got the feeling that all of their eyes were unanimously on her. Finn couldn't tell if that was her just being paranoid or not.

"Thanatos!" Hazel turned to the robed figure. "We're here to rescue you. If you control these shades, tell them—"

Her voice faltered. Finn knew why. The god's hood fell away and his robes dropped off as he spread his wings, leaving him in only a sleeveless black tunic belted at the waist. He was the most beautiful man Finn had ever seen.

"If I had a dick, it would be hard," Finn mumbled dazedly.

His skin was the color of teakwood, dark and glistening. His eyes were as honey gold as Hazel's. He was lean and muscular, with a regal face and black hair flowing down his shoulders. His wings glimmered in shades of blue, black, and purple.

Finn reminded herself to breathe.

Beautiful was the right word for Thanatos, in the way an angel was beautiful—timeless, perfect, remote.

"Oh," Hazel said in a small voice.

The god's wrists were shackled in icy manacles, with chains that ran straight into the glacier floor. His feet were bare, shackled around the ankles, and also chained.

"It's Cupid," Frank said.

"A really hot Cupid," Percy sounded stunned.

"You compliment me," Thanatos said. His voice was as gorgeous as he was—deep and melodious. "I am frequently mistaken for the god of love. Death has more in common with Love than you might imagine. But I am Death. I assure you."

Finn didn't doubt it. She felt as if she were made of ashes. Any second, she might crumble and be sucked into the vacuum. She doubted Thanatos even needed to touch her to kill her. He could simply tell her to die. She would keel over on the spot, her soul obeying that beautiful voice and those kind eyes.

"Uh—" Finn couldn't remember how to speak. "I—Um—Wh... We're—We're here to save you. Where's Alcyoneus?"

"Save me...?" Thanatos narrowed his eyes. "Do you understand what you are saying, Finley Briggs? Do you understand what that will mean?"

Percy stepped forward. "We're wasting time."

He swung his sword at the god's chains. Celestial bronze rang against the ice, but Riptide stuck to the chain like glue. Frost began creeping up the blade. Percy pulled frantically. Frank ran to help. Together, they managed to yank Riptide free just before the frost reached their hands.

"That won't work," Thanatos said simply. "As for the giant, he is close. These shades are not mine. They have come by his will, under Gaea's command. They are essentially her forces."

Finn's legs felt weak at that—She hated that this nauseousness had nothing to do with intoxication. Thanatos turned his attention to her and Hazel.

"Daughter of Pluto, child of my master, you of all people should not wish me released. Neither should you, daughter of Bacchus. You should heed the warnings given to you."

"Don't you think I know that?" Finn's body shook, but she was done being afraid. She'd been the useless Camp Jupiter kid for nine years. She was never a true soldier of Rome. She couldn't fail, nor could she let down her friends.

Hazel seemed to think the same.

"Listen, Death." She drew her cavalry sword, and Arion reared in defiance. "I didn't come back from the Underworld and travel thousands of miles to be told that I'm stupid for setting you free. If I die, I die. I'll fight this whole army if I have to. Just tell us how to break your chains."

Thanatos studied them for a heartbeat. "Interesting. You do understand that these shades were once demigods like you. They fought for Rome. They died without completing their heroic quests. Like you, Hazel Levesque, they were sent to Asphodel. Now Gaea has promised them a second life if they fight against you, Finley Briggs. Of course, if you release me and defeat them, they will have to return to the Underworld where they belong. For treason against the gods, they will face eternal punishment. Are you sure you want me to release me and damn these souls forever?"

Frank clenched his fists. "That's not fair! Do you want to be freed or not?"

"Fair..." Death mused. "You'd be amazed how often I hear that word, Frank Zhang, and how meaningless it is. Is it fair that your life will burn so short and bright? Was it fair when I guided your mother to the Underworld?"

Frank staggered like he'd been punched.

"No," Death said sadly. "Not fair. And yet it was her time. There is no fairness in Death. If you free me, I will do my duty. But of course, I am not responsible for what these shades do."

"So if we let you go," Finn summed up, "I get mobbed by a bunch of shadow ghost dudes with gold swords. Fine. How do we break those chains?"

Thanatos smiled. "Only the fire of life can melt the chains of death."

"Without the riddles, please?" Percy asked.

Frank drew a shaky breath. "It isn't a riddle."

"Frank, no." Hazel said weakly. "There's got to be another way."

Laughter boomed across the glacier. A rumbling voice said: "My friends. I've waited so long!"

Standing at the gates of the camp was Alcyoneus. He was even larger than the giant Polybotes they'd seen in California. He had metallic golden skin, armor made from platinum links, and an iron staff the size of a totem pole. His rust-red dragon legs pounded against the ice as he entered the camp. Precious stone glinted in his red braided hair.

The giant approached, grinning at Hazel with his solid silver teeth.

"Ah, Hazel Levesque," he said, "you cost me dearly! If not for you, I would have risen decades ago, and this world would already be Gaea's. But no matter!"

He spread his hands, showing off the ranks of ghostly soldiers.

"Welcome, Percy Jackson! Welcome, Frank Zhang! And a special welcome, Finley Briggs! I am Alcyoneus, the bane of Pluto, the new master of Death. And this is your new legion."

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"Hazel," Frank started in a voice of forced-steadiness. "That package you're keeping for me? I need it."

Hazel glanced at him in dismay. "Frank, no. There has to be another way."

"Please. I—I know what I'm doing."

Finn didn't know what was going on. Not really. But there were heavy implications between Hazel and Frank that made her think, maybe, Finn wouldn't be the only one dying today.

That horrible intuition rose when Thanatos smiled and lifted his manacled wrists. "You're right, Frank Zhang. Sacrifices must be made."

Alcyoneus stepped forward, his reptilian feet shaking the ground. "What package do you speak of, Frank Zhang? Have you brought me a present?"

"Nothing for you, Golden Boy," Frank said. "Except a whole lot of pain."

The giant roared with laughter. "Spoken like a child of Mars! Too bad I have to kill you. And this one... my, my, I've been waiting to meet the famous Perseus Jackson."

The giant grinned. His silver teeth made his mouth look like car grille.

"I've followed your progress, son of Neptune," said Alcyoneus. "Your fight with Kronos? Well done. I'm sorry I can't kill you right away, but my brother Polybotes wishes to keep you as a pet. He thinks it will be amusing when he destroys Neptune to have the god's favorite son on a leash."

"Yeah, flattering." Percy raised Riptide. "But I'm actually a son of Poseidon. I'm from Camp Half-Blood."

The ghosts stirred. Some drew swords and lifted shields. Alcyoneus raised his hand, gesturing for them to wait.

"Greek, Roman, it doesn't matter," the giant said easily. "Gaea has plans for all of you. Especially you, Finley Briggs."

Finn looked around nervously, and she could confirm now that the shades were looking straight at her. Alcyoneus was, too. She felt more than just wine course through her veins.

"Gaea hates you above all others," he told her. "She even hates you more than that Silviana Duvall."

When Percy clenched his sword tighter, glaring so fiercely that a large portion of ghosts cowered, Alcyoneus waved a hand.

"Oh, don't worry, Perseus Jackson. It's not your girlfriend's time yet." Alcyoneus shifted an amused grin back over to Finn. "But you, of course, daughter of Bacchus... you will die, here and now. That Great Prophecy of sorts won't even get the chance to touch you when this legion is done with you."

Finn felt shaky, and clammy, and sick, but she couldn't tell if that was from sobriety or fear. Maybe both. Probably both.

"You thought you could go on for this long just disgracing your camp without consequence?" he asked. "No, not at all. These shades are very unhappy with you."

"Funny," Finn commented. "Believe it or not, people are unhappy with me all the time."

"Your humor won't spare you from a gruesome death," the giant told her. At least he thought she had humor. "Nothing will spare any of you measly demigods. We will crush both camps underfoot. You see, the Titans didn't think big enough. They planned to destroy the gods in their new home of America. We giants know better! To kill a weed, you must pull up its roots. Even now, while my forces destroy your little Roman camp, my brother Porphyrion is preparing for the real battle in the ancient lands! We will destroy the gods at their source."

The ghosts pounded their swords against their shields. The sound echoed across the mountains.

"The source?" Frank asked. "You mean Greece?"

Alcyoneus chuckled. "No need to worry about that son of Mars. You won't live long enough to see our ultimate victory. I will replace Pluto as lord of the Underworld. I already have Death in my custody. With Hazel Levesque in my service, I will have all the riches under the earth as well!"

Hazel gripped her spatha. "I don't do service."

"Oh, but you gave me life!" Alcyoneus said. "True, we hoped to awaken Gaea during World War II. That would've been glorious. But really, the world is in almost as bad a shape now. Soon, your civilization will be wiped out. The Doors of Death will stand open. Those who serve us will never perish. Alive or dead, you four will join my army."

Percy shook his head. "Fat chance, Golden Boy. You're going down."

"Wait." Hazel spurred her horse toward the giant. "I raised this monster from the earth. I'm the daughter of Pluto. It's my place to kill him."

"Ah, little Hazel." Alcyoneus planted his staff on the ice. His hair glittered with millions of dollars' worth of gems. "Are you sure you will not join us of your own free will? You could be quite... precious to us. Why die again?"

Hazel's eyes flashed with anger. She looked down at Frank and pulled the wrapped-up piece of firewood from her coat.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he said.

She pursed her lips. "You're my best friend too, Frank. I should have told you that." She tossed him the stick. "Do what you have to. Finley and Percy... can you hold your own? Without dying?"

Finn gazed at the ranks of ghostly Romans. "Against an army of over a hundred who all want me dead? Sure. No problem."

"I got your back, Briggs," Percy said. With his free hand, he ruffled her hair easily. "We got this."

"Then I've got Golden Boy," Hazel said.

She charged the giant. 

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The ghosts closed in as Frank unwrapped a piece of firewood and kneeled at the feet of Thanatos. Alcyoneus bellowed and Arion whinnied angrily. Percy began swinging his sword and yelling in defiance.

But the shades didn't want much to do with him.

They were clearly charging for Finn, who had yet to snap out of it. All she could do was repeatedly think, Oh, my gods, I'm going to die.

"A little help here!" Percy shouted.

Right.

Finn brought her gun back up and started firing.

Almost instantly, a rush of adrenaline came alive in Finn's veins. But it was more than that. It was something stronger, more dangerous. When a ghost rushed her with a sword, Finn slid under it, and looked back so she could shoot that ghost in the head. Her eyes were crazy and her smile was manic.

It was the insanity pushing her through.

Finn was so very grateful that her dad chose not to let her gun run out of bullets right now. These ghosts were, quite literally, trying to turn her into one of them. Pilums were hurtled her way that Finn had to dodge and gladiuses were jabbed in her direction that Percy disarmed with Riptide.

"Disgrace to Rome!" one cried at her.

"Humiliation of the legion!" called another one.

Finn fired two bullets, and the two ghosts shut up. But, of course, death wasn't permanent for them. Every time she shot them down, they just simply got up and charged again. But Finn wanted them all permanently dead. Actually, no. She wanted them alive, just so she could kill them herself, and tear their hearts out with her bare hands. 

"What are you doing?" a voice, distant in her ears, asked.

"What?" Finn answered. But she wasn't paying much attention.

"I feel..."

Finn finally spared Percy a glance. He was panting heavily, and there was a certain kind of glint in his eyes. That expression of his was one that Finn only saw when she looked in the mirror. Her eyes felt aflame as she looked at him.

"Insane?" Finn asked.

A smirk found Percy slowly. In unison, they charged forward.

Finn must've been feeling too many emotions that were far too great. She was starting to affect Percy's own emotions, but she couldn't find it in herself to care right now. She had to fight this ghostly legion. She had to prove that she was more than a disgrace and humiliation. She had to live.

Finn fired her gun, and for the first time in her life, bullets refused to stop firing out of the weapon. Percy slashed with Riptide, using the tactless form of Greek fighting that caught the Romans off guard every time. They were an unstoppable force together. The shades didn't even come close to Finn.

"Briggs, look!" Percy shouted, at one point. They could've been minutes into the fight, hours, or days. Finn couldn't tell at this point. She just felt so alight with madness that she didn't want to stop.

She did, however, whip her head to where Percy's finger pointed.

One of the black vapory ghosts was wearing the lion-skin's cape of a standard bearer and holding a pole with a golden eagle, icicles frozen to its wings. The legion's standard.

"Oh, we're taking that back," Finn told him.

And that's exactly what they did.

Finn still had to duck and roll from all the attackers trying to maul her down. She was still deflecting and blocking the weapons targeted at her. She did that all while slinging her gun and forcing herself towards the standard bearer with Percy.

Speaking of Percy, he was fighting like a whirlwind. In fact... he was a whirlwind. A miniature hurricane of water and ice vapor churned around him as he waded through the enemy, knocking Roman ghosts away, deflecting arrows and spears. Since when did he have that power?

He and Finn moved through the enemy lines like it was nothing. They plowed through a line of legionnaires, Percy scattering their shields with his personal cyclone, and Finn getting almost all of them with perfect headshots every time.

Finn knocked down the standard bearer and grabbed the eagle.

"You want it back?" Finn shouted at the ghosts. "Come and get it!"

If the ghosts didn't want her dead before, they really did now.

Finn drew the shades away, and she herself drew away from Percy, before Finn got plowed by his storm as well. Even from a few feet away, she could feel its power threatening to suck her in and then spit her out. She split up from him for that reason, but also so they could cover more ghosts at once.

"Amens!" bellowed a ghost, chucking a spear at her head.

Finn leaned to the side sharply, and caught the spear with one hand before she even knew what she was doing. Lunatic, the shade had called her. Crazy, mad, insane.

Anger mingled with the rush buzzing through Finn's veins. Her eyes narrowed so dangerously that the ghosts cowered. She snarled, and in the next second, ran that same ghost through with his own spear.

"Possem facere sanguinem et suffocant tuo sanguine," she spat. I could make you bleed, then choke on your own blood. Finn smiled cruelly as she twisted the spear in, making the ghost cry out in a groan. "Is that Roman enough for you?"

Finn let go of the spear to deflect away more angry shades. She'd overturned the chariot and destroyed several buildings, but every time she took out a wave of attackers, the ghosts simply got up and charged again. Every time Finn gunned one of them down, the ghost re-formed immediately.

Finn had backed up almost as far as she could go. Behind her was the side gate of the camp, about about twenty feet beyond that, the edge of the glacier.

"The eagle does not belong to you!" a ghost bellowed. She tried stabbing Finn with her dagger, but Finn shot her in the hand. "AGH! You're not a worthy Roman!"

"If all of you are the example of what a worthy Roman is, then I don't want to be one!" Finn shouted. She proceeded to duck and roll from a volley of arrows shot her way.

"You will always be one," another shade called, "whether you accept our traditions or not!"

Finn felt so desperate that her eyes flared with a more intense purple. "No!" she decided, finding the words spilling out of her easily. "I'm—I'm going to be better than you guys. I'm going to get out of there."

Then a ghost launched at her.

Finn didn't know why she wasn't expecting that to happen. Yes, the ghosts had been trying to kill her, and yes, they were launching their weapons at her, but never had she seen a Roman launch themselves. Not once in her nine years at Camp Jupiter. It was a fighting style that Finn herself wouldn't even bring to the battlefield.

But the move was being executed now. The ghost gained enough solidity to tackle Finn to the ground. Her body slammed into the ice, her head cracking it (and maybe her skull cracked a little, too). Just for a moment, Finn blacked out in pain.

Her vision didn't clear, because everything had gone so blurry, but she could still see figures. When the buzzing in her ears died down, Finn grabbed onto as much sense as she could. She grappled with her gun to fight back, but the issue here was, that the other ghost did too.

Somewhere, somehow, in the midst of Finn rolling around with this ghost, one of them pulled the trigger.

"Born a Roman," he snarled, "die a Roman."

Finn felt the blood before she felt the pain.

Her hand flew up to hold her neck, like it knew something that Finn didn't. All sound around her had died. So did the ability to move, or breathe, or do anything, really. She tried glancing at her hand, and through the blurriness of Finn's gaze, she just saw red.

The Imperial gold bullet had gone straight through Finn's neck.

The last thing Finn could do before she died a Roman, was wheeze out with an aching burn in her lungs. 

The last thing Finn could think before she died a Roman, was Jason's name. Just a small whisper in her mind. Just Jason, and then, I'm sorry. 

Then Finley Briggs was dead, and her breaths were no longer. 

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Bailey yaps...

Born a Roman, die a Roman