Rise of the Lotus - Percy Jackson Fanfic

Chapter Four

Evie's Notes: Happy Friday! I hope you all are having a wonderful week ! Thank you so much your support of this story, it really and truly means the world to me 💜! See the end notes for translations. I hope that you all enjoy the this new update 🌺.

-------------------------

Antonia woke up to the soft humming of the radio and quiet pattering of Annabella's feet as the woman moved about the room. Pushing up her sleep mask Antonia saw the maid opening the shutters and letting in the cool winter light.

"Good morning Antonia" greeted the woman

"Morning Anabella" she yawned back.

"You have quite the busy day ahead of you. Philomena has requested an audience with you after ientaculum, she is waiting in the atrium with your other hopeful audiences"

"Has she eaten yet?"

"I'm not sure Miss"

"Have Delores send out a tray of pastries and coffee. It will hardly do for my guests to be hangry when I meet with them"

"Of course Miss," agreed the woman before popping out of the room to pass on the message.

As much as Antonia loathed to leave the warmth and comfort of her bed, she knew that she had to get moving. As her housekeeper had mentioned, Antonia's schedule was quite full today. Her morning would be spent hearing requests and concerns from her constituents. She then had a lunch meeting with the priest of Mercury to chat about possible new travel regulations. After that was another senate session followed by a visit to the fields.

Climbing out of bed, Antonia set about her morning routine. Wrapping her dressing gown tightly around her, she opened the doors to her balcony for the first step.

The flame from last night's sacrifice was still faintly flickering, but the wick had burned low. Dousing the dish with purified water she chanted "gratias agimus tibi pro benedictionibus tuis, et per noctem nos servas incolumes".

Turning her attention to the trio of candles placed in a golden tray on the railing, Antonia lit them in honor of the gods Dies, Apollo and Janus. She prayed that they would ensure her day would be bright, safe and successful.

The final sacrifice she had to offer was to her patron. The corner of her balcony was dedicated to a small fountain with an icon of the goddess Juno. Plucking a few petals off a Lotus blossom she tossed them into the running fountain along with a sprig of wintergreen and a few drops of peppermint and tea tree oils. "Salve, mi patrone, tibi gratias ago pro alio die mihi permittens. perfice voluntatem tuam et nomini tuo honorem afferam".

With her morning sacrifices complete, Antonia headed back inside to wait for Anabella.

* Rise of the Lotus * Rise of the Lotus *

Mollie and Antonia were enjoying their ientaculum of dried apricots, scrambled eggs, toast and jam, in the triclinium when they were interrupted by a surprise visitor.

"Sorry to interrupt but there is a messenger from the Senate, Miss Antonia" announced Cecilia.

"That's strange, I thought the session wasn't being held until this afternoon" wondered Antonia. "Send them in please"

"What could the Senate want from you?" asked Mollie

"I'm not sure, but we're about to find out," admitted Antonia as the messenger appeared in the doorway.

"I'm sorry to interrupt my lady," apologized the messenger. "I bring urgent news from the early Senate Council meeting this morning".

The Senate Council was made up of the praetors, Pontifex Maximus and Cohort leads.