MΛЯK ӨF ΛƬΉΣПΛ
NEW ROME WAS A HARD PLACE TO HATE.
With its terraced gardens, fountains, and temples, winding cobblestone streets, and gleaming white villas, the whole place screamed peace and beauty.
Lucia watched her blonde friend admire the littlest details in the architecture. Her cheeks blushed pink as her eyes dilated in joy.
"We have the best architects and builders in the world," Reyna said as if reading their thoughts. "Rome always did, in the ancient times. Many demigods stay on to live here after their time in the legion. They go to our university. They settle down to raise families. Percy seemed interested in this fact."
Lucia didn't like what that could have insinuated. She must have scowled fiercely because Reyna laughed. "You're a warrior, all right. Both of you are," the praetor said. "You've got fires in your eyes."
"Sorry." Lucia tried toning down her glare,
"Don't be. I'm a daughter of Bellona."
"Roman goddess of war?"
Reyna nodded. She turned and whistled like she was hailing a cab. A moment later, two metal dogs raced toward them—automaton greyhounds, one silver and one gold. They brushed against Reyna's legs and regarded the two girls with glistening ruby eyes. "My pets," Reyna explained. "Aurum and Argentum. You don't mind if they walk with us?"
Reyna led them to an outdoor cafe, where the waitress knew her. "Would you two like some?" Reyna asked. "They make wonderful hot chocolate. Not really a Roman drink—"
"But chocolate is universal," Lucia smiled.
"Exactly."
It was a warm June afternoon, but Lucia accepted the cup with thanks.
The three of them walked on, Reyna's gold and silver dogs roamed nearby.
"In our camp," Reyna said, "Athena is Minerva. Are you familiar with how her Roman form is different?"
Annabeth thought for a moment. "I take it Minerva isn't...uh, quite as respected here?"
Reyna blew steam from her cup. "We respect Minerva. She's the goddess of crafts and wisdom...but she isn't a goddess of war. Not for Romans. She's also a maiden goddess, like Diana...the one you call Artemis. You won't find any children of Minerva here. The idea that Minerva would have children—frankly, it's a little shocking to us."
"Oh." Annabeth's face flushed.
Lucia couldn't help but snort, Beth never was one to get into the details of Athena's children—how they were born straight from the mind of the goddess, just as Athena herself had sprung from the head of Zeus.
Since they were both born magically. Bonding over their births was one bizarre thing Beth and her had in common.
Strangely, when People find out you were born through a brain or a beam of light their first question is to ask whether or not you have a belly button.
Of course, they had belly buttons! Though they couldn't explain how. Lucia wasn't sure if they even wanted to know.
"I understand that you Greeks don't see things the same way," Reyna continued. "But Romans take vows of maidenhood very seriously. The Vestal Virgins, for instance...if they broke their vows and fell in love with anyone, they would be buried alive. So the idea that a maiden goddess would have children—"
No wonder the Romans had been giving Annabeth strange looks.
"Got it." Annabeth nodded her head."I'm not supposed to exist. And even if your camp had children of Minerva—"
YOU ARE READING
²𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘✸ percy jackson
Fanfiction𝄞 𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘.(n.) behold the blood of Hyacinthus, which had poured out on the ground beside him and there stained the grass, was changed from blood; and in its place a flower, more beautiful than Tyrian dye, sprang up. ❝ Near time...
