MΛЯK ӨF ΛƬΉΣПΛ

"OUT OF THE FUCKING QUESTION," Lucia growled out,

"We are not leaving her!" Piper exclaimed in agreement, Lucia could hear her racing heartbeat ever since Jason told them what Annabeth had suggested.

The son of Jupiter had barely made his way back to the Argo with Leo and Frank limping beside him. He told them that he met Annabeth through the chaos and she recommended leaving without her. But of course not a single one of them was going to even think about it. At least Lucia made that clear to them all before shoving a rationed piece of ambrosia in each of the boys' mouths.

"Obviously, I know that!" Jason chewed his tablet with a little bitterness, he made his way towards Percy as they worked out their plan. All as Lucia temporarily messed with the Roman Eagles' senses. She was much too exhausted to make her holograms. Still dressed like she was ready to go herd sheep. But honestly, it was starting to grow on her. Twirling around was the best part.

Leo ran to the helm. Hazel climbed on Frank who transformed back into his Bald Eagle form in an attempt to spot the blonde.

"There she is!" Hazel cried.

Lucia left the boys to defend the ship as she ran over to the edge of the main deck with Piper by her side. They looked over the boat into the battlefield. Annabeth was trapped by Reyna and her hounds. And they seemed to be talking about something. But it didn't look like Annabeth was in any danger, which allowed Lucia to exhale in relief.

"What are they saying?" Piper pursed her lips

Lucia looked at Piper with a knowing look, "Sorry Pipes, But Annabeth would not want me sticking my nose—ear into that conversation... I have to respect that. Also, It's actually impossible for me to focus right now."

Over by the docks, a familiar voice kept shrieking over the wild wind: "Kill them! Kill them all!"

"My point exactly." Lucia hissed.

Piper nodded in understanding, but she didn't look too happy.

Octavian survived his swim in the harbor. He crouched behind his guards, screaming encouragement at the other Roman demigods as they struggled toward the ship, holding up their shields as if that would deflect the storm raging all around them.

Percy and Jason stood together, their swords crossed. The boys were working as one, summoning the sky and the sea to do their bidding. Water and wind churned together. Waves heaved against the ramparts and lightning flashed. Giant eagles were knocked out of the sky.

Wreckage of the flying chariot burned in the water, and Coach Hedge swung a mounted crossbow, taking potshots at the Roman birds as they flew overhead.

"She's letting her go!" Hazel announced as she and Frank landed on deck. When Frank transformed back he gasped to steady his rapid breathing. Having used up a lot of his strength.

Lucia looked down in time to see the praetor walk across the ramparts, her greyhound's behind her. Annabeth ran for the ship. The winds that battered the Romans didn't seem to affect her. She sprinted through their lines.

Octavian yelled, "Stop her!"

A spear almost hit the blonde but changed direction at the very last minute, piercing the ground in front of the Augur. He yelped, clutching his teddy bears to him and cursing back toward the Greek trireme. Lucia's cry still rang in the air as The Argo II pulled away from the dock. Her face was marked with anger.

Piper immediately ran to the gangplank, her hand outstretched.

Annabeth leaped and grabbed Piper's hand. The gangplank fell into the sea, and the two girls rolled onto the deck together.

"Go!" Annabeth screamed. "Go, go, go!"

The engines rumbled beneath her. The oars churned. Jason changed the course of the wind, and Percy called up a massive wave, which lifted the ship higher than the fort's walls and pushed it out to sea.

By the time the Argo II reached top speed, Fort Sumter was only a blot in the distance, and they were racing across the waves toward the ancient lands.

༄

LUCIA COULD HEAR ANNABETH YELLING TO LEO DESPITE THE ROAR OF THE WIND. 'Percy says he talked to a Nereid in Charleston Harbor!'

'Good for him' Leo yelled back.

'The Nereid said we should seek help from Chiron's brothers.'

'What does that mean? The Party Ponies?'

'Not sure,' Annabeth said. 'But I've got coordinates. Can you  input latitude and longitude in this thing?'

'I can input star charts and order you a smoothie if you want. Of course, I can do latitude and longitude!'

"Oh, But I'm ridiculous for asking for some music." Lucia rolled her eyes. She held two water chalices up to the two boys in front of her. Percy and Jason sat with their backs against the mast, their heads slumped in exhaustion and their eyes squeezed shut.

"Huh," Jason muttered, his eyes fluttering open as Lucia tilted the chalices at an angle.

"Nothing." Lucia hummed, forcing water into their system. "You just drink."

Lucia sat on her knees in front of them. The silk dress laid out around her. She did her best to care for the two boys despite the boning of the corset making it almost impossible for her to bend over.

"You look like Beauty from Beauty and the Beast." Jason noticed her dress, looking her over. He tilted his head and questioned her. "Why—"

"Aphrodite." She shrugged like it was simple, her hands fell on the corset to adjust once again. It was almost impossible to do anything in it. But it did make her look pretty amazing.

"Oh," Jason muttered. He peeled his eyes away from Lucia to look at Piper.

Percy peeked open one eye, he glanced at Jason before fully looking at his girlfriend.

His eyebrows furrowed together. "Rapunzel is her favorite." He corrected, "And she is a princess."

Lucia rolled her eyes again. She held on to the railing to pull herself up onto the deck without breaking the boning of her bodice. "Percy, love, How many times do I have to tell you Sparta does not exist anymore...I'm not really a princess."

"Then stop looking like one." He closed his eyes again. Huffing in exhaustion. "Also you're keeping that outfit, right?"

"Why?"

"Please don't make me hear what he has to say," Jason grumbled, he shut his eyes, holding his forehead like the world was spinning.

"Perseus Jackson." Lucia stopped him when she saw him opening his mouth. "Behave yourself for two minutes please."

"hmmph." He frowned dramatically.

"I don't know who's worse. You or Blackjack." She shook her head,

"I learned from him." He mumbled under his breath

"Now, go away!" Hedge shooed Leo away from the helm.

He staggered across the deck toward the rest of them. Everybody began to gather at the mast as they prepared for a meeting.

Frank scowled, "No sign of pursuit," he said.

"Or land," Hazel added.

She looked a little green, though Lucia wasn't sure if that was from the rocking of the boat or from the arguing she heard coming from her and Frank moments earlier. Listen, it's not her fault she has super ears...

Lucia scanned the horizon. Nothing but ocean in every direction.  She felt a sense of Deja Vu. Her mind couldn't help but wander to the Princess Andromeda...

Leo turned to Annabeth. "Did you find the map you wanted?"

She nodded, though she looked pale. Lucia wondered what she'd seen at Fort Sumter that could have shaken her up.

"I'll have to study it," she said as if that was the end of the subject.

Lucia made eye contact with her. Annabeth looked down at her feet. "Lucia...There's something Reyna told me that you have to know..."

The golden brunette gulped, "Yeah?"

Her stormy eyes flickered up to meet hers hesitantly. "It's Octavian, His auguries have all been coming back blank...I think, I think you should contact camp...Ask about Rachel."

Lucia's stomach dropped. "As in, he can't see prophecy anymore?

Annabeth nodded with a frown, "Reyna says he's been acting more erratic because of it but refuses to reveal anything to the rest of the legion...And that, he's completely blaming you..."

"Of course he is..." Lucia laughed, she shook her head and inhaled sharply. "It's fine, I have been meaning to contact Aurora..." She turned to Leo, crossing her arms over her chest to calm her racing heart. "How far are we from those coordinates?"

"At top rowing speed, about an hour," Leo said. "Any idea what we're looking for?"

"No," she admitted. "Amor?" love

Percy raised his head. His green eyes were bloodshot and droopy. "The Nereid said Chiron's brothers were there, and they'd want to hear about that aquarium in Atlanta. I don't know what she meant, but..." He paused like he'd used up all his energy saying that much. "She also warned me to be careful. Keto, the goddess at the aquarium: she's the mother of sea monsters. She might be stuck in Atlanta, but she can still send her children after us. The Nereid said we should expect an attack."

"Wonderful," Frank muttered.

Jason tried to stand, which wasn't a good idea. Lucia grabbed him to keep him from falling over, and he slid back down the mast.

"Can we get the ship aloft?" he asked. "If we could fly—"

"That'd be great," Leo said. "Except Festus tells  me  the  port  aerial stabilizer got  pulverized when  the  ship  raked against the  dock at Fort Sumter."

"We were in a hurry," Annabeth said. "Trying to save you."

"And saving me is a very noble cause," Leo agreed. "I'm just saying, it'll take some time to fix. Until then, we're not flying anywhere."

Percy flexed his shoulders and winced. Lucia walked over to his side and rested a hand on his shoulder to try and take away the pain. "Fine with me. The sea is good."

He looked up at her with a small exhausted smile. Lucia frowned as he stopped her hand, and kissed her knuckles. He then flipped it over to begin drawing circles on her palm in comfort.

She smiled softly, he always knows...

"Speak for  yourself." Hazel glanced at the evening sun,  which was almost to the horizon. "We need to go fast. We've burned another day, and Nico only has three more left."

"We can do it," Leo promised... "We can make it to Rome in three days—assuming, you know, nothing unexpected happens,"

Frank grunted. "Is there any good news?"

"Actually, yes," Leo said. "According to Festus, our flying table, Buford, made it back safely while we were in Charleston, so those eagles didn't get him. Unfortunately, he lost the laundry bag with your pants."

"Dang it!" Frank barked, which Lucia figured was probably severe profanity for him.

Lucia was about to chide Leo and tell him to buy Frank new pants when Percy interrupted her by doubling over and groaning.

"Did the world just turn upside down?" he asked.

Jason pressed his hands to his head. "Yeah, and it's spinning. Everything is yellow. Is it supposed to be yellow?"

Lucia frowned. Her face grew in concern. "I've done everything I could. Summoning that storm must have taken a lot of strength," Lucia told the boys. "You both need a lot of rest."

Annabeth nodded in agreement. "Frank, can you help us get the guys belowdecks?"

Frank glanced at Leo, no doubt reluctant to leave him alone with Hazel.

"It's fine, man," Leo said. "Just try not to drop them on the way down the stairs."

"Luz." Percy looked into her eyes, "Take me to my room?"

She nodded, "Annabeth, Help me." She groaned as she attempted to bend down and help him up.

Annabeth chuckled at seeing her struggle with the corset, she walked forward and helped Percy up herself. "You know you could have taken that dress off like 30 minutes ago Lucy." She shook her head, Lucia took her drained boyfriend into her own arms.

The golden brunette gave a sheepish smile, "I had to look after them..."

Annabeth didn't look even a little convinced.

"Okay, I love the dress..." She relented, "Sue me, It may not be functional but it sure makes me look amazing!"

Percy grinned, he nodded lazily into her shoulder.

Lucia rolled her eyes, she adjusted him to keep him upright. "Pipes, Frank, Get Jason to his room. I'll check on him later."

"I got it." Jason huffed, he stumbled up. Almost tripping over his feet.

"Nope," Lucia ordered, grabbing his arm and keeping him steady with her grip. She shoved him into Frank's arms, Frank yelped in surprise but caught him before he hit the floor. "Piper make sure he gets to his room, Please. Beth, help me with the Kelphead."

"Hey!"

She nodded, going to the other side of Percy and wrapping his arm around her shoulder. "Come on Seaweed Brain."

He grumbled, "Aw come on."

༄

"YOU KNOW IF COACH FINDS OUT WE BROUGHT HIM TO YOUR ROOM INSTEAD, THE GOAT MIGHT HAVE ACTUAL STEAM COME OUT OF HIS EARS," Annabeth informed as she helped Lucia lay an exhausted Percy onto her berth.

"What he doesn't know won't kill him." Lucia hummed, she laid a blanket over her boyfriend. Once he hit the bed, Percy pulled a pillow into his arms and was out like a light. Lucia laughed as she saw his mouth fall agape, soft snores falling from his lips.

"He's going to drool all over your pillow you know."

Lucia shrugged, "What else is new"

Annabeth wrinkled her nose, "Gods you really love him"

She chuckled, sitting down on the foot of her berth. Her violet eyes found Annabeth's grey ones. She saw as Annabeth looked at the pair deplorably. "Beth. Are you okay?"

Annabeth frowned, her face etched in fear, "I'm following the Mark of Athena to Rome."

Lucia inhaled sharply, she already concluded what Annabeth's mission would consist of. But hearing it confirmed that one of her best friends would be put in that danger. Was pretty terrifying.

"The quest has to succeed," she said. "But Lucy...I don't know..."

"You are Annabeth Chase." She smiled encouragingly, but her eyes dulled in worry, "If anyone can do this. It is you."

Annabeth frowned, putting her hands out towards her. Lucia felt a memory flash in her head of her doing that same motion just a day before Lucia and she entered the labyrinth. Something about the familiarity made Lucia shudder.

The recurring feeling of a worse darkness approaching made goosebumps rise on her skin.

But she still walked into the arms of the blonde. Squeezing her tight. "Beth." She hummed,

"Yeah?"

Lucia hesitated. There were so many things she wanted to tell the blonde. She wanted to warn her about her dreams. Ask her about her fears. Confide in her on this growing dread she was beginning to feel fester inside her. But the only thing she managed to say was, "I'm going to call camp now. See what's wrong..."

Annabeth and Lucia separated. The blonde nodded in understanding,

Lucia's heart got stuck in her throat when Annabeth turned around and walked away.

The golden brunette proceeded to shake off the feeling she felt and the huge dress that clad her body. When she was finally changed into jean shorts and a tank top. She felt much less fabulous but at least she was able to move.

Finally, Lucia sat at her desk to call her sister, but when the iris message went through. It was not her sister on the other side.

She gulped, "Eunice. Hi..."

Her cat-like eyes stared back at Lucia in disdain. Her lip curled up in a sneer as she tucked her shaggy hair behind her ears. She was in the forest at camp. Lucia could tell she was by Zeus' fist. She remembered flying around there with blackjack before they spotted Ethan. When he was hurt after nemesis took his eye... When Lucia was so worried about him..."What the fuck do you want.."

"I don't have time for this. I need to speak to Aurora." She didn't bother beating around the bush. Too much was at stake. Too much was going on. She already knew how Eunice felt about her. She had made it clear to her back at Auroras mothers funeral... "Where is she."

"I told you to leave her alone" Eunice glared, "Now you have her waiting on your calls...You only make her feel worse."

Lucia wrinkled her eyebrows together, "You do realize I've begun a huge life-altering quest to save the entire freaking world right now. Forgive me if I don't have the time to check in every now and then." She spat, but when she realized her tone she tried to settle down her anger. "Aurora knows I love her. But anyway, that is not the point of this call at all. Can you please just, just work with me here? I know you hate me but gods! This is not personal. I just need information--"

"You're wrong." Eunice hissed, "This is more personal than you can imagine."

"I did not kill him." Lucia's voice wavered, and her chest tightened as the memory resurfaced in her head. "You don't-"

"Don't talk about him!" She hissed, "You don't deserve to speak about him after what you did."

"What I did? Where the hell even were you!" Lucia screamed, her voice bouncing against the walls. "Because all I remember was--"

"Luz?." A tired voice mumbled

Eunice scoffed, her glare turning icier.

Lucia's stomach twisted into knots. She had forgotten she brought Percy to stay with her. She had done it to have him close, but now, she regretted it. For both their sakes.

"You act all innocent Lucia. But you are just as much to blame. Ethan would be here, the world would have been different if you were just never born! Don't call Aurora back. Deal with the consequences of your actions now. And don't forget that it's all on you."

Every word that left her lips felt like a stab through the chest. Eunice grinned as if she could visually see the wounds she opened and watch as Lucia's blood spilled from her body.

The golden brunette swallowed the painful lump in her throat. "Forget it. I'll contact Chiron."

"No. You said you wanted information. Fine, I can give you it. Rachel can't see into the fucking future anymore. Neither can the red harpy. No one knows what's going to happen and everyone is terrified and stuck waiting. Aurora is forced to help out Will with the cabin, despite being in mourning. And you, you're still a no-good tramp. whos going to get what's coming to her."

With those final words, the call dropped. And the image faded into mist.

Lucia stared at her pictured wall, she jumped when she felt a hand fall on her shoulder.

"No." She moved away from his touch, and her desk chair skidded against the floor. Her frown deepened when she saw how Percy's face fell.

"I'm s-sorry..." Her voice cracked, "I just need a second." Lucia shook her head as if she was trying to shake out all the negative thoughts that flooded it. "It's on me. I should have just called Chiron, w-we need to warn them and confirm about Rachel a-and—"

He opened his mouth to interrupt her, but before he could. The ship lurched to one side.

"Leo!" Coach Hedge yelled.

The ship's bell rang.

"Those monsters we were worried about?" Hedge shouted. "One of 'em found us!"