𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

72

"We're setting down in that park," Leo announced, pointing to a wide green space dotted with palm trees. "Let's hope the Mist makes us look like a large pigeon or something."

Percy wished Jason's sister Thalia were here. She'd always had a way of bending the Mist to make people see what she wanted. Percy had never been very good at that. He just kept thinking: Don't look at me, and hoped the Romans below would fail to notice the giant bronze trireme descending on their city in the middle of morning rush hour.

It seemed to work. Percy didn't notice any cars veering off the road or Romans pointing to the sky and screaming, "Aliens!" The Argo II set down in the grassy field and the oars retracted.

The noise of traffic was all around them, but the park itself was peaceful and deserted. To their left, a green lawn sloped toward a line of woods. An old villa nestled in the shade of some weird-looking pine trees with thin curvy trunks that shot up thirty or forty feet, then sprouted into puffy canopies. They reminded Percy of trees in those Dr. Seuss books his mom used to read him when he was little.

To their right, snaking along the top of a hill, was a long brick wall with notches at the top for archers—maybe a medieval defensive line, maybe Ancient Roman. Percy wasn't sure.

To the north, about a mile away through the folds of the city, the top of the Colosseum rose above the rooftops, looking just like it did in travel photos. That's when Percy's legs started shaking. He was actually here. He'd thought his trip to Alaska had been pretty exotic, but now he was in the heart of the old Roman Empire, enemy territory for a Greek demigod. In a way, this place had shaped his life as much as New York.

Jason pointed to the base of the archers' wall, where steps led down into some kind of tunnel.

"I think I know where we are," he said. "That's the Tomb of the Scipios."

Percy frowned. "Scipio...Reyna's pegasus?"

"No," Annabeth put in. "They were a noble Roman family, and...wow, this place is amazing."

Jason nodded. "I've studied maps of Rome before. I've always wanted to come here, but..."

Nobody bothered finishing that sentence. Looking at his friends' faces, Percy could tell they were just as much in awe as he was. They'd made it. They'd landed in Rome—the Rome.

"Plans?" Hazel asked. "Nico has today and tomorrow—at best. And this entire city is supposedly getting destroyed then."

Percy shook himself out of his daze. "You're right. Annabeth... did you zero in on that spot from your bronze map?"

Her gray eyes turned extra thunderstorm dark.

"Yes," she said carefully. "It's on the Tiber River. I think I can find it, but I should—"

"Take me along," Percy finished. "Yeah, you're right."

Annabeth glared daggers at him. "That's not—"

"Safe," he supplied. "One demigod walking through Rome alone. I'll go with you as far as the Tiber. We can use that letter of introduction, hopefully meet the river god Tiberinus. Maybe he can give you some help or advice. Then you can go on alone from there."

They had a silent staring contest, but Percy didn't back down. He'd known her for years. Even if he didn't feel the butterflies he did when he first saw her, he still cared. He would always care. Because it was Annabeth.

"Fine," Annabeth muttered. "Hazel, now that we're in Rome, do you think you can pinpoint Nico's location?"

Hazel blinked, as if coming out of a trance from watching the Percy/Annabeth Show. "Um... hopefully, if I get close enough. I'll have to walk around the city. Frank, would you come with me?"

Frank beamed. "Absolutely."

"And, uh... Leo," Hazel added. "It might be a good idea if you came along too. The fish-centaurs said we'd need your help with something mechanical."

"Yeah," Leo said, "no problem."

Frank's smile turned into something more like Chrysaor's mask.

Percy was no genius when it came to relationships, but even he could feel the tension among those three. Ever since they'd gotten knocked into the Atlantic, they hadn't acted quite the same. It wasn't just the two guys competing for Hazel. It was like the three of them were locked together, acting out some kind of murder mystery, but they hadn't yet discovered which of them was the victim.

Hadrian twirled an arrow in his hand. "So we should scout at noon, but for now, is it cool if we just uh- eat?"

Annabeth's horn of plenty was on her belt. She gave him a curious look as she eyed the horn. Without a warning, a sea green birthday cake blasted out it, landing on Percy's chest, covering him with the frosting.

"GAH" He yelled as the three tiers collapsed on him. He went down under the mountain of food.

The others watched him in horror as he tried to stand back up but slipped on cake and fell backwards on his butt.

Hadrian was the first to burst out laughing. "Your face-"

"Hads, why did the horn spew a birthday cake?" Annabeth narrowed her eyes as she stared at the writing which was now plastered to Percy's face. Some of the words were missing so it just read- Happ bithy

"So uh... it's my birthday" He shrugged. "No biggie, I thought we could eat some cake?"

"No biggie?" Percy remembered Octavian saying the same words, "Dude, why didn't you tell us it was your birthday?"

"Never really celebrated a lot. One time, when I was ten, my mom straight up ignored me all day and then accused me of being an attention seeker when I cried" He meant it as a sort of joke, but no one laughed, "And... I'm just now realizing that's not a normal mom thing and mine was just fucked up"

"Dude, that's so sad"

Hadrian took a deep breath, "Eh, she's done worse. All in all, it was a great day, I got called slurs and a boy kissed me for the first time on the cheek so it was fine"

"We're having a party" Hazel decided. "No arguments, you're having a birthday party"

"But Nico?"

"Hads, we have tons of time" Jason assured him, "We shouldn't leave till noon, I'll go check the perimeter"

"Wait, seriously guys, you don't have to do this, just eat some dam cake with me"

Percy grabbed a handful of cake that had fallen on top of him. He was going to smell sugary for days. But he found out he didn't care. He stuffed it in his mouth. "So I guess green's your favorite color?" He pointed to the sage green and sea green cake plastered all over him.

"Uh-"

"I take that as a yes" Annabeth helped him to his feet. "Guys, party in the mess hall"

"First off-"

"No" Annabeth interrupted. "We need this, something to get our minds off this stuff. How old are you?"

"Seventeen"

"HEY FESTUS" Leo yelled, "PLAY DANCING QUEEN"

Festus, who apparently had a bluetooth speaker, blasted the song.

Hadrian had never felt so loved.