Death's Touch | Jason Grace

Two

Cary sat down beside Reyna, head in her hands. The tears dropped out of her eyes into her denim covered lap.

"He can't be dead. Dad w-would've told me. My bracelet would've warned me!"

Reyna rubbed her back. "It'll be okay, Cary. He'll come back."

Cary wiped her face and struggled to her feet.

"I-I'm going to go with Percy and Hazel."

Reyna nodded, a concerned look on her face.

Cary wiped her face and strode out of the principia, making her way towards Hazel and Percy.

"He called the legion...Fulminata?" Percy said.

"'Armed with Lightning,'" Cary translated, walking up behind them. Percy jumped. "That's our motto. The Twelfth Legion was around for the entire Roman Empire. When Rome fell, a lot of legions just disappeared. We went underground, acting on secret orders from Jupiter himself: stay alive, recruit demigods and their children, keep Rome going. We've been doing that ever since, moving around to wherever Roman influence was strongest. The last few centuries, we've been in America."

"And you're in the Fifth Cohort," he guessed, "which maybe isn't the most popular?"

Hazel scowled. "Yeah. I joined up last September."

"Six years ago," Cary said. "I didn't do anything spectacular, so I had to wait the full year. But," she added. "I think a proper introduction is in order."

She checked her bracelet briefly. "I'm Cary Arden. Daughter of Letus, better known as Thanatos, adopted and step- sister of Leon Arden. Legionnaire in the Fifth Cohort, and 'Death Girl'."

"Huh?"

"I have been dubbed Death Girl by the others since one of my powers is a death touch. My bracelet on my left hand restricts that power. You aren't in danger of dying."

Percy laughed nervously.

"Come on," Hazel said at last. "I'll show you my favorite view."

~dead~

They stopped outside the main gates. The fort was situated on the highest point in the valley, so they could see pretty much everything.

The road led down to the river and divided. One path led south across a bridge, up to the hill with all the temples.

The other road led north into the city, a miniature version of Ancient Rome. Unlike the military camp, the city looked chaotic and colorful, with buildings crowded together at haphazard angles. Even from this far away, Cary could see people gathered in the plaza, shoppers milling around an open-air market, parents with kids playing in the parks.

"You've got families here?" he asked.

"In the city, absolutely," Hazel said. "When you're accepted into the legion, you do ten years of service. After that, you can muster out whenever you want. Most demigods go into the mortal world. But for some—well, it's pretty dangerous out there. This valley is a sanctuary. You can go to college in the city, get married, have kids, retire when you get old. It's the only safe place on earth for people like us. So yeah, a lot of veterans make their homes there, under the protection of the legion."

Percy asked, "But if this valley is attacked?"

Cary pursed her lips. "We have defenses. The borders are magical. But our strength isn't what it used to be. Lately, the monster attacks have been increasing. What you said about the gorgons not dying... we've noticed that too, with other monsters."