California | Piper McLean

one

adriana glanced up, her lips twitching up in an amused smile, "damn, he's not fazed."

it certainly was a surprise to all (excluding percy... probably) when the old lady revealed that she was, in fact, the queen of olympus herself - juno. adriana knew that there was just something (that she couldn't pinpoint what it was) about the old woman, but she never exactly expected that.

"adri," hazel called beside her, nervous when she saw the blonde suddenly rise up. she had no reason to kneel when she already did. though, it seems like not a lot thought the same as the blonde does. "oh dear..."

"juno, huh?" percy said, looking at the goddess, "if i passed your test, can i have my memory and my life back?" he asks, feeling the same tug of longing in his heart.

juno smiles, though, adriana wasn't sure if it was for show or if it's genuine. knowing the gods, it's unlikely that it's genuine, but she gave them the benefit of the doubt. "in time, percy jackson, if you succeed here in camp." the goddess replies, confusing other kids around them, including adriana. will he do a trial here at camp? "you've done well today, which is a good start. perhaps there's hope for you yet."

the daughter of salacia was torn whether or not she should be worried or confused.

turning to the many romans around her, juno's eyes landed on her - and adriana stared back, noticing how realization flashed in her eyes.

so this is the girl... juno thought, taking in the daughter of her brother's wife. frankly, she never knew who the blonde was - hell, even know her name.

all she knew was that she would be involved...

no, not now. the goddess thought. juno needs to focus on what she planned first.

"romans, i present you the son of neptune-" juno missed the way adriana starts smirking. don't blame the girl, she's glad to have a brother (step-brother, but same thing) and what's better, he's a child of neptune - you don't see a lot of them these days. well, they're always out in the real world worrying about adult stuff, so the blonde doesn't see them often. "for months, he has been slumbering, but now he is awake. his fate is in your hands."

"he won't be coming out unscathed," adriana notes to herself once she hears those words, "that, i'm sure of."

she crossed her arms and glanced at the praetor who's been looking at the green-eyed boy since he saved frank. the look in her eyes made the blonde think that somehow, she knew percy before all this. but who was she to assume things?

even adriana had a feeling she knew the boy from somewhere before.

"the feast of fortune comes quickly, and death must be unleashed if you are to stand any hope in the battle." juno stops, taking one last glance at the blonde, expectance in her eyes. if minerva is right, and he did get involved with her... then i hope she was worth the trouble he did.

"do not fail me!"

she had a feeling that she was one of the few juno was actually saying it to.

as the goddess shimmered and disappeared, percy took a sharp intake of air. feast of fortune? death? battle? if he knew that he would be signing up for death, then he'd rather still be on the run with a bunch of gorgons up on his ass every few minutes. endless annoyance was better than suffering.

he turns to hazel, and frank - and finally adriana, as if he was looking for some explanation to all the goddess had said. alas, the trio were as lost as he was, not exactly knowing what the hell just happened and why it did - and why he's introduced to camp in a way that made some feel suspicious, wary, or slightly awed. the gods don't exactly drop off demigods (especially of other gods) at the gates.