Curse of the Triblood

Chapter 32

Percy POV

When I woke up once more, I was next to a campfire on a log. I saw both Aperio and Aioniotita vigilant and making sure everything was safe around me. They saw me and came to nuzzle into my hand. When I raised my hand to pet them, I noticed that my right hand was bandaged. I noticed some tents and some Roman demigods sharpening some weapons. Romans!

Every ounce of my body screamed to leave; every fiber told me to run. As a Greek, I did not want to work with Romans, and when I was a Roman, I did not want to work with Greeks. While I should not want to be near them, this life was different; this life was worse. I was a son of Poseidon and a legacy to Athena. Part of me wanted to seek retribution for how the Romans downplayed my father and grandmother. My mind raced on ways to get back at them. My body subconsciously began to cause the ground to shake. Revenge, in the name of my father and grandmother. Justice for them.

Aperio and Aioniotita began to nuzzle deeper into my hand, and their lion cub sounds broke me from my thoughts. I got up and noticed that the rest of me was bandaged up like my arm. I didn't feel all that bad since my three-quarters of godly blood made it so I heal faster. I opened my hand, and Olethros rushed towards me as a spear to help me steady myself. My black lion's fur coat was placed next to me on the log.I ripped off the bandages on my right arm and saw that it was perfectly fine. I hesitated on doing what I was going to do next.

Once I put the tattoo on, I could take it off, even if I went to the Greeks. I pulled the butt of the staff of Olethros to my right forearm. When I did, a burning sensation began to form. The tattoo of the Roman legionaries started to form. It was a trident, for Neptune, with the wings of an owl, for Minerva. Under it were the letters of SPQR. Under that were two lines with an infinity symbol between them. The infinity symbol shows that I had been a part of the legion since the beginning and continue to do so for eternity. The lines that the infinity symbol was between were covered in vines to symbolize the love of Venus.

"The current Wielder of Perniciosa," someone told me. Perniciosa, which was the Latin name of Olethros.

I turned to see a woman with blonde hair and violet eyes. She was a few years older than me and was in Roman armor. It was more intricate and designed for a higher official. I turned to her and stood tall to salute her.

"It's an honor, ma'am. My name is Perseus Jackson, son of Neptune, legacy of Minerva, current Wielder of Perniciosa," I told her while showing my tattoo to confirm who I was.

"Son of Neptune? Legacy of Minerva?" she asked confusedly before steeling her nerves and going back to the serious face. "I am Praetor Veronica Amare, daughter of Venus."

"An honor, ma'am," I struggled. While I didn't feel comfortable with Romans, but she was the daughter of Venus; I naturally wanted to protect her and spend time with who would be my stepdaughter.

"Let's stop with the formalities. We both know as Perniciosa, you and my mother are very close. I have to say being a son of Neptune is rare but adding the fact you are a legacy of Minerva. You being a Wielder of Perniciosa might not help much."

I sat down next to her as my lions began licking her hands. I began to put on my black lion's fur coat. "Preaching to the choir."

"One of my legionaries found you fighting a titan by yourself. You destroyed the Hoover Dam, and now most of Nevada is under a foot of water. Thankfully there was more property damage than actual deaths, but nonetheless, there have been casualties," Veronica told me. "Why are you fighting titans by yourself?"

"Venus has been kidnapped, and so has Diana. So, I'm on a quest to find them and rescue them," I told her.

Her eyes widened in shock. "I see. If there is any way for us to contribute, don't be afraid to ask."