𝓢𝓞𝓝 𝓞𝓕 𝓝𝓔𝓟𝓣𝓤𝓝𝓔

"WHO DIED?" Evangeline announced her presence to the rest of her quest mates that ate silently over their lunch. Hazel and Frank sighed, Percy jokingly chided her for being late to the funeral party.

People talked in hushed tones, eating silently. Nobody seemed remotely happy. The other campers kept glancing over at Percy, boring holes into his face, "I feel like a corpse bride," he murmured.

Evangeline snorted and sat down, "Sorry I'm fashionably late on your special day."

"No problem." He grunted and popped a french fry into his mouth. "I'm not really a Bridezilla."

"Good to know." Evangeline smirked, he looked up from his plate and laughed. Talking to her made the stares almost bearable.

"'Cause I hate to break it to you but I look better in black than you do." She teased.

"Now i'm offended." He played along, "Frank quick spill that wine on her."

"It's a Coke—" Frank muttered.

"Shhh." Hazel shushed,"They're doing a thing."

Frank and Percy were about to speak when Reynas voice rang around the mess hall. She made a brief speech wishing them luck.

Octavian then ripped open a frog Beanie Baby and pronounced grave omens and hard times ahead, but predicted the camp would be saved by an unexpected hero (whose initials were probably octavian).

Then the other campers went off to their afteroon classes that Evangeline was excused from—gladiator fighting, Latin lessons, paintball with ghosts, eagle training and a dozen other activities she was usually assigned.

Eva couldn't think of any of that. She was ready to get going. Her mom personally came and gave her this quest. In no way was she going to focus on anything else. In no way was she going to disappoint her.

She dreamed of this since she was a kid.

A moment of victory.

She'd been underestimated for too long. She would no longer take it.

Not by anyone. No matter how powerful they thought they were.

Eva and the trio got their roommate, Bobby, to give them a ride to the border of the valley on Hannibal the elephant.

From the hilltops, Evangeline could see everything below The Little Tiber snaked across golden pastures where the unicorns were grazing.

The temples and forums of New Rome gleamed in the sunlight. On the Field of Mars, engineers were hard at work, pulling down the remains of last night's fort and setting up barricades for a game of deathball.

A normal day for Camp Jupiter—but on the northern horizon, storm clouds were gathering. Shadons moved across the hills, and Evangeline imagined the face of Terra getting closer and closer.

I intend to save this camp. She asserted.

They got off the elephant. Bobby wished them a safe journey. Hannibal wrapped the four questers with his trunk. Then the elephant taxi service headed back into the valley.

A familiar voice said, "IDs, please."

A statue of Terminus appeared at the summit of the hill.

The god's marble face frowned irritably. "Well? Come along!"

Evangeline pouted. "Be nice Terminal."

"Terminus!" He cried

"You again?" Percy asked. " thought you just guarded the city."

Terminus huffed. " I'm glad to see you, too, Mr Rule Flouter. Normally, yes, I guard the city, but for international departures I like to provide extra security at the camp borders. You really should've allowed two hours before your planned departure time, you know But well have to make do. Now come over here so I can pat you down."

"But you don't have—"

Evangeline shook her head when they made eye contact.

Percy stopped himself. "Uh, sure."

He stood next to the armless statue. Terminus
conducted a rigorous mental pat down.

"You seem to be clean" Terminus decided."Do you have anything to declare?"

"Yes," Percy said. "I declare this is stupid."

"Hmph! Probatio tablet: Percy Jackson, Fifth Cohort, son of Neptune. Fine, go. Little miss Evangeline Delilah Bellerose, daughter of Venus, any evil seductress trinkets i need to know about and Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto. Fine. Any foreign currency or, ahem, precious metals to declare?"

"Oh yeah i've packed two love potions" Evangeline teased

"No." Hazel muttered.

"Don't jest Evangeline. and Are you sure little girl ?" Terminus asked. "Because last time i saw you—"

"No!" Hazel cried

"Hurry this up. " Evangeline whined.

"Well, this is a grumpy bunch," said the god. "Quest travellers! Always in a rush. Now, let's see—Frank Zhang. Ah! Centurion? Well done, Frank. And that haircut is regulation perfect. I approve! Off you go, then, Centurion Zhang. Do you need any directions today?"

"No. No, I guess not."

"Just down to the BART station," Terminus said anyay.

"Change trains at Twelfth Street in Oakland. You want Fruitvale Station. From there, you can walk or take the bus to Alameda."

"You guys dont have a magical BART train or something?" Percy asked.

"Magic trains!" Terminus scoffed."You'll be wanting your own security lane and a pass to the executive lounge next. Just travel safely, and watch out for Polybotes. Talk about scofilans—bah! I wsh I could throttle him with my bare hands"

"Wait—who?" Percy asked.

Terminus made a straining expression, like he vas flexing his nonexistent biceps. "Ah, well. Just be careful of him. imagine he can smell a son of Neptune a mile away. Out you go, now. Good luck!"

An invisible force kicked them across the boundary.

When Evangeline looked back, Terminus was gone.

In fact, the entire valley was gone. The Berkeley Hill free of any Roman camp.

Percy looked at the rest. "Any idea what Terminus was talking about? Watch out for...Political something or other?"

"Poh-LIB-uh-tease?" Hazel sounded out the name carefully. "Never heard of him."

"Sounds Greek," Eva decided

"That narrows it down." Percy sighed. Well, we probably just appeared on the smell radar for every monster within five miles. We'd better get moving."

It took them two hours to reach the docks in Alameda.

Evangeline took out a little hand mirror every 45 minutes to check her hair, or makeup, or teeth.

"Don't you get tired of seeing your face." Percy asked

"Would you?" She raised an eyebrow

He swallowed his words and didn't argue.

Frank stored his spear, bow and quiver in a long bag made for skis. Hazel's cavalry sword was wrapped in a bedroll slung on her back. Evangeline had flamma amoris in her thick hair, pulling up half of it and leaving the rest of her locks to flow down in spiraled flames.

Together the four of them looked like normal high schoolers on their way to an overight trip. They walked to Rockridge Station, bought their tickets with mortal money, and hopped on the BART train.

They got off in Oakland. They had to walk through some rough neighbourhoods, but nobody bothered them.

Whenever the local gang members came close enough to look in Percy's eyes, they quickly veered away. Evangeline was surprised to see how intimidating Percy could look.

In the late afternoon, they made it to the Alameda docks. Evangeline looked out over San Francisco Bay and breathed in the salty sea air. Immediately she could hear Percy inhale sharply and sigh in relief.

This was his father's domain. Whatever they faced, he'd have the upper hand as long as they were at sea.

Dozens of boats were moored at the docks—everything from fifty-foot yachts to ten-foot fishing boats.

"Keep us safe, Little mermaid"

He scoffed, "Says you." he pulled up a strand of her hair as evidence.

Eva giggled before she scanned the slips.

Percy asked "Um... any of you know what we're looking for?'

They all shook their heads.

"I didnt even know we had a navy." Hazel sounded as if she wished there wasnt one.

"Oh gods..." Evangeline pointed. "You dont think...? No way! Ugh those losers. That's such a lame use of this outfit."

At the end of the dock was a tiny boat, like a dinghy, covered in a purple tarp. Embroidered in faded gold along the canvas was S.P.Q.R.

Percy frowned. "No way."

He uncovered the boat, his hands working the knots like he'd been doing it his whole life. Under the tarp was an old steel rowboat with no oars. The boat had been painted dark blue at one point. but the hull was so crusted with tar and salt it looked like one massive nautical bruise.

On the bow, the name Pax was still readable, lettered in gold. Painted eyes drooped sadly at the water level, as if the boat were about to fall asleep. On board were tho benches, some steel wool, an old cooler, and a mound of frayed rope with one end tied to the mooring. At the bottom of the boat, a plastic bag and two empty Coke cans floated in several inches of scummy water.

"Behold." Frank said. "The mighty Roman navy."

"There's got to be a mistake, " Hazel said. "This is a piece of junk."

"Sound about right to me." Evangeline rolled her eyes, "It was generous to think they wouldn't get stingy on us."

Evangeline imagined Octavian laughing at them, but she decided not to let it get her down. Also, to remember to tell him where to shove that knife of his next time she sees him.

At least the Pax was a boat.

Percy jumped aboard, the hull hummed under his feet, responding to his presence.

He gathered up the garbage in the cooler and put it on the dock. He willed the scummy water to flow over the sides and out of the boat.

Then he pointed at the steel wool and it flew across the floor, scrubbing and polishing so fast, the steel began to smoke. When it was done, the boat was clean. Percy pointed at the rope, and it untied itself from the dock.

No oars, but that didnt matter. Percy could tell that the boat was ready to move, just awaiting his command

"This'll do," he said. "Hop in."

"Yeah no. I'm not risking falling in and wetting my hair," Evangeline held onto his shoulder for balance before climbing in, "Why thank you."

He winked."No problem."

Hazel and Frank looked a little stunned, but they climbed aboard. Hazel seemed especially nervous.

When they had all settled on the seats, Percy concentrated, and the boat slipped away from the dock.

Suddenly, something startled him so badly the boat rocked.

"Get off my ship," Percy growled.

"Uh, what?" Frank asked.

Evangeline could feel the emotion radiating off him. The anger was almost palpable. She wondered what he heard.

Percy was silent, nothing but the sound of water rung in the air.

"Nothing," he said. "Let's see what this rowboat can do." He turned the boat to the north, and in no time they were speeding along at fifteen knots, heading for the Golden Gate Bridge.

A/N:  Im excited to finish Son of Neptune and get to Mark of Athena<3 so i'll definitely be writing more soon!