The Altered Seven

Memories. On A Boat!

One of their roommates, Bobby, gave them a ride to the border of the valley on Hannibal the elephant. From the hilltops, Killian 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 death ball. A normal day for Camp Jupiter-but on the northern horizon, storm clouds were gathering. Shadows moved across the hills, and Killian imagined the face of Gaea getting closer and closer.

Looking down at the valley, Killian understood why Reyna cared so much about New Rome. Even though he was new to Camp Jupiter, he felt a fierce desire to protect this place. A safe haven where demigods could build their lives-it felt like he'd been somewhere like this before. Some place he shared with Lilly...

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

Killian sighed. He turned to Piper and Annabeth and tried to think of something upbeat to say.

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!"

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

Terminus huffed. "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 we'll have to make do. Now, come over here, McLean, so I can pat you down."

"But you don't have-" Piper stopped herself. "Uh, sure."

She 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," Piper said. "I declare this is stupid."

"Hmph! Piper McLean, Fifth Cohort. Fine, go. Annabeth Chase, daughter of Minerva, First Cohort Centurion. Killian Vixon. Ah! Centurion? Well done, Killian. And that haircut is regulation perfect. I approve! Off you go, then, Centurion Vixon. Do you need any directions today?"

"No. No, I guess not."

"Just down to the BART station," Terminus said anyway. "Change trains at Twelfth Street in Oakland. You want Fruitvale Station. From there, you can walk or take the bus to Alameda."

"You guys don't have a magical BART train or something?" Killian 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 scofflaws-bah! I wish I could throttle him with my bare hands."

"Wait-who?" Killian asked.

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

An invisible force kicked them across the boundary. When Killian looked back, Terminus was gone. In fact, the entire valley was gone. The Berkeley Hills seemed to be free of any Roman camp.

Killian looked at his friends. "Any idea what Terminus was talking about? Watch out for. ..Political something or other?"

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