MΛЯK ӨF ΛƬΉΣПΛ

SIX. SIX MONTHS. THAT'S HOW LONG HE HAS BEEN AWAY FROM HER. Since December fourteenth. And it was now June twenty-second as five demigods rode on a flying Greek trireme two days away from landing at Camp Jupiter.

They had four months of stability before they were ripped away from each other again. By that Bi—Goddess Hera who decided to play wife swap: campers version. If you're looking for a quick recap of those months, it's quite simple. It was like, Lucia's life, which had finally started getting better, came right back around and added a round kick and a slap to the face for good measure.

At least that's how she described it.

Some would say she was exaggerating. Especially looking at her history. She knew she was hardly looking at the good sides of how her life had changed.

But it was hard to be content, let alone happy when a chunk of what contributed to that happiness was gone.

It's true, Percy wasn't her medicine. But he was still her Percy.

He was still the boy she trusted with her heart and soul. Still, the boy who knew her better than herself. Still, the boy she loved

And even if she could 'technically' survive without him. Did not mean she wanted to. Or should have to.

The thought of pulling an Orpheus and storming down to the underworld often lingered in her mind, except she promised herself she would never look back. then she got mad at herself for even thinking about Percy going back down there.

And from there she would immediately panic about the idea of going back underground. It was in those moments, that Lucia knew that not even months would be long enough to fix what was shattered in less than a year. The physical and emotional obstacles she had to overcome may have made her stronger but they also made her that much more vulnerable.

She just hoped she'd be able to keep all her pieces together by the end of this year...

At first disappearance, many expected her to cry or go off on a rampage until she came back with the raven-haired boy and someone's head on a stick.

Honestly, Lucia didn't do either (well in public...and yet?). But it wasn't because she was hiding her emotions. Ask any camper and they'll tell you that Lucia was a force to be reckoned with the days Percy was gone. She was angry. She just didn't take it out on anyone...that didn't provoke her.

Let's just say those Stoll brothers never learn.

And she was Sad. Heartbroken even. But she kept that to the side. Her sadness wouldn't bring him back. And that over everything was her main priority. She had no time for wallowing. She'd done enough of it. Lucia was done getting chased by all kinds of monsters. If they kept chasing her, she'd simply have to run faster.

She was set on finding Percy Jackson and getting her happy ending. Even if she had to keep fighting tooth and nail.

So despite the terrible feelings, the overthinking mind, and the gaping hole in her heart. She persevered and tried coming up with a logical solution for his disappearance. But she'd be a liar to say her actions weren't motivated and facilitated by her emotions. However, that simply allowed her search with Annabeth to be more efficient.

There was nothing to bottle. Everyone knew she was in pain already, just by looking at her face and watching her walk out of his cabin every day. So Lucia said 'fuck it'. It's not like the campers hadn't already seen her at her absolute worst. Plus some were still split between wanting her there and not.

Lucia didn't drastically keep her change nor did she go right back to the same person she was when she started camp. She was in the middle, She took what she wanted and left what she didn't. She was Lucia. Not Lucia Verano. Not Lucia, Apollos daughter. But Lucia. Who she chose.

(Even if she does still have to keep her last name for Government files)

To get Percy back. Lucia knew she had to start taking notes from past quests and dangers.

Because the moment Lucia got sent that dream from Hera. And stepped off the war chariot to see a blonde boy with one shoe on at the Grand Canyon.

She knew her boyfriend's disappearance was simply the calm before the storm.

And now, Eight of them were going to sail right into the eye of it.