²𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃𝐘✸ percy jackson

XX.

MΛЯK ӨF ΛƬΉΣПΛ

UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, walking through Rome would have been a dream come true. 

Even though Lucia could feel the unease that bubbled in her stomach becoming more potent, she let herself enjoy the laughs and unique moments she shared with the girls as they traveled through the Eternal City.

If she tried hard enough, she could almost imagine that she was on a girl's vacation with her closest friends.

It made her wish Hazel was with them until she thought back to why they were in Rome.

The three girls navigated the winding streets with their arms linked together. They stayed close as they dodged cars and crazy Vespa drivers, squeezing through mobs of tourists, and wading through oceans of pigeons.

The day warmed up quickly. Once they got away from the car exhaust on the main roads, the air smelled of baking bread and freshly cut flowers.

They aimed for the Colosseum because that was an easy landmark, but getting there proved harder than Lucia anticipated.

As big and confusing as the city had looked from above, it was even more so on the ground. Several times they got lost on dead-end streets. They found beautiful fountains and huge monuments by accident.

Annabeth commented on the architecture, but Lucia kept her eyes open for other things. Once she spotted a glowing purple ghost—a Lar glaring at them from the window of an apartment building.

Another time she saw a white-robed woman—maybe a nymph or a goddess—holding a wicked-looking knife, slipping between ruined columns in a public park. Nothing attacked them, but Lucia felt like they were being watched, and the watcher was not friendly.

Finally, they reached the Colosseum, where a dozen guys in cheap gladiator costumes were scuffling with the police plastic swords versus batons. The girls had decided to keep walking. Sometimes mortals were even stranger than monsters.

They made their way west, stopping every once in a while to ask directions to the river.

Lucia was glad that she had started practicing Italian.

It was useful for certain things, until some natives assumed she was fluent and started flirting with her. She usually got lost after the: Sei Bellissima.

Italians also used euros, and they didn't have any. She regretted that as soon as she found a tourist shop that sold sodas and espresso. By then it was almost noon, getting really hot, and Lucia could tell her friends were feeling the heat.

Annabeth solved the problem. She dug around in her backpack, brought out Daedalus's laptop, and typed in a few commands. A plastic card ejected from a slot in the side.

Annabeth waved it triumphantly. "International credit card. For emergencies."

"Only Emergencies?" Lucia began. "You're so much better than me..."

"You never fail to amaze me." Piper complimented.

Annabeth blushed at that.

Lucia grinned mischievously, she figured she'd end up third wheeling, "So when are you two going to—"

Annabeth and Piper glared, "Lucy!" "Lu!"

"Get the sodas." She faked an innocent look. Raising her hands in defense. "Forgive me for not wanting you guys to collapse from heatstroke."

Annabeth rolled her eyes at her antics.

She hummed. "Also Beth, can I get something hot with an espresso shot?"