The Forgotten Olympian |BOOK 1| PJO X HP | Alexandra Marine

Chapter 45 - Reyna - Pontifex Maximus

Obviously, I was scared to death. Hylla had struck a pressure point. The one thing that shouldn't have happened.

I tugged at Hylla's robes. "Sit down," I whispered uneasily. "Don't."

Hylla, who was smiling, turned to me and she looked at me with an arched eyebrow. "What?" she asked, smiling. "Is it not rather uncommon?"

As I whispered urgently, my vision clouded. "Don't let them know just yet," a soothing voice said. "You know what to do."

WHAT? WHAT SHOULD I DO? The question rang in my head like thunder hitting a brass bell.

"A post is empty," the voice said again. It was deep, honey sweet and melodious. I felt like I might fall asleep just listening to it.

And then the skies boomed with thunder. A flash of lightning- Juno stood tall, her face stern and stately. She was dressed in a black dress and a goat skin cloak which hung over her shoulders regally, and held her staff with a white lotus flower on top. Great. Second visit from the one who warns people about wars. Just what I needed.

"Juno," Alexandra spoke up. "What brings you here tonight?"

She didn't have a single speck of fear in her voice. Obviously, she was a goddess herself, so I guess she needn't fear her life. But what if Juno felt offended by her words and burnt down Camp Jupiter? Shivering at the idea, I got up from my seat and bowed low.

Juno's smile travelled miles. "Rise, praetor."

She turned to Alex. "You bring me here tonight, young demigod," she said, still smiling. "You have presented true bravery, and you have learnt the meaning of true sacrifice, learning to let go of the ones you love for the good of all." 

"You have been kind and supportive of your brother, and you have the will to shake the Earth. The gods find your determination as exemplary, and you have the blessing of all the Olympians, until the end," Juno continued.

"You care about all those around you. That is why, Alexandra Marine, your father, the great Neptune, has bestowed more than just a blessing on you. Romans, I present here to you, the first and only Pontifex Maximus of Camp Jupiter in the past five hundred years, Alexandra Marine, the true child of Neptune, and savior of Camp Jupiter."

A deafening silence fell over the Camp. And then-

"All Hail Alexandra!" Hylla shouted, pumping her fist into the air. "Pontifex Maximus!"

"Hail!" the Roman's shouted. Alex was blushing furiously. Apparently, she wasn't expecting it either, I think. Juno smiled one last time and vanished in a flash of thunder.

"What-?" Percy stuttered, grinning madly. "That's- wow!"

"She's a woman!" an Amazon cheered, raising her goblet in the air.

It was not fun having a legionnaire take up the position of a Pontifex Maximus. A position literally way above the praetor. She had control over the whole legion, the barracks, and unfortunately, me. Which meant I'd have to follow every one of her orders.

The chants gradually changed to 'Speech! Speech!' and Alex held her goblet in the air.

"Thank you, thank you," she started. Her cheeks were still bright red, and Percy messed up his sister's head, looking proud. "I'm sure all of you are as surprised as I am. In fact, just as Percy said, I am not capable enough to lead this massive force of chaotic order of men and women, but I will certainly do my best."

Cheering. I may have rolled my eyes. The whole 'I'll try my best thing'. She's a goddess, what can't she do?

Alex raised her hand once more. The crowd went silent. "And for my first order," she started. Her face looked very serious. "I declare that this party be the best one ever in the past three hundred years!"

More cheer.

"I invoke the spirit of Bacchus today and pray that he bless us all!"

People screamed like mad.

"Let us all have wine free, happy memories to cherish forever. Senatus Populusque Romanus!" she finished and sat back down.

The SPQR chant continued for a while until it died down. Personally, I would never back down from a challenge like that. So obviously, I was the last person to finish chanting. Hey, different people take joys in different things. No judging.

The two made their way around the mess hall at least three more times, because all the campers wanted them at their table. The Praetor and Pontifex Maximus were probably the most famous people that day. More famous than Juno.

Vitellius the Lar followed, stumbling over his shimmering purple toga and readjusting his sword, telling everyone how he'd predicted Percy and Alexandra's rise to greatness.

"I demanded they join the Fifth Cohort!" the ghost said proudly. "Spotted their talent right away!"

"Alright, alright," Alex said as Vitellius almost fell over her (of course it wouldn't hurt either of them, but it's still weird having ghost pass through your body), "you certainly made the choice, Vit, we all recognize your talents."

Don the faun popped up in a nurse's hat, a stack of cookies in each hand. "Man, congrats and stuff! Awesome! Hey, do you have any spare change?"

I was happy to see how well Hazel and Frank were being treated. Everyone called them the saviors of Rome, and they deserved it. There was even talk about reinstating Frank's great-grandfather, Shen Lun, to the legion's roll of honor. Apparently, he hadn't caused the 1906 earthquake after all.

Percy and Alex sat for a while with Tyson and Ella, who were honored guests at Dakota's table. Tyson kept calling for peanut-butter sandwiches, eating them as fast as the nymphs could deliver. Ella perched at his shoulder on top of the couch and nibbled furiously on cinnamon rolls.

"Cinnamon rolls are good for harpies," she said. "June twenty-fourth is a good day. Roy Disney's birthday, and Fortuna's Feast, and Independence Day for Zanzibar. And Tyson."

Alex blew a small whistle at that. "Wow."

Ella glanced at Tyson, then blushed and looked away.

After dinner, the entire legion got the night off. The last thing I saw was Percy and his friends drifting down to the city, still in their revels era.

I remembered the words of Venus. "You will never find love," she had said.

Maybe that won't be the case anymore. A new praetor could mean only one thing. New possibilities and new opportunities.

Maybe mine was here. I was determined to prove Venus wrong. She can't decide my future. Because I will always be the one to make my future.

Because I am Reyna- AHHH!

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What was that ending about?