The Animal Within

Chapter 70 - Temples

Marcus wasn't in the infirmary when Thalia returned to check how Jason was doing. She poked her head in, only to pause when she noted that Jason, Nico and Piper were all asleep and she quietly shut the door again.

Thalia's gaze lingered on the guards outside the infirmary room, each of them looking firm and determined. That was good, if they were protecting her brother.

But Thalia couldn't help worrying that one or more of them was willing to help the Triumvirate. They were protecting the only family she now had left, and the thought that one of them might stab Jason while he slept kept her lingering outside the room. Thalia was more than prepared to stand vigil outside his room as long as she needed to.

One of the guards hesitated briefly, before glancing to her. "The Pontifex will be fine, Miss Lieutenant," the guard said to her, his tone fierce. "He's strong."

"It's not his injury I'm afraid of," Thalia said.

The guard blinked, realisation dawning on him quickly. "No Roman will hurt him, Ma'am," he said firmly. "Not the Pontifex. You have my word. Our job's to keep him safe, no one's getting through to him." The Roman had a tight grip on the spear in his hands, knuckles white. As he spoke, his grip tightened even further. Thalia wasn't sure if she was relieved that the guards were apparently now permitted weapons within the borders of New Rome or not. "I won't see the Pontifex dead on my watch," the guard fiercely added.

Thalia nodded her head slightly. "What's your name?" She asked. Thalia still wasn't sure how to act around the legionnaires, the Romans were so caught up in formality and titles it just seemed overly stifling to Thalia. Their bureaucracy meant everything took twice as long as it needed to.

"Legionnaire Petrus," the Roman said. "First Cohort, Lieutenant."

Thalia inclined her head slightly to him before she left, deciding that that Roman at least clearly seemed determined to protect her brother.

Thalia emerged out into a darkened New Rome, still in her blood-stained parka as the city began winding down for the night. Her clothes at least had dried properly while they'd been in the Senate session, but it didn't stop the slight chill that crept into her limbs. Thalia tucked the parka around her tighter before she started out of New Rome and towards Temple Hill, intending to find the Temple of Diana so she could try to speak with Artemis before she'd go to the Praetorium, the living quarters of the Praetors where Reyna had offered for her to stay while she was at Camp Jupiter.

Thalia caught the uneasy glances towards her, the Romans seemingly not sure whether to insult her and call her a graecus or respect her position as Lieutenant of Diana's Hunters. It must be terribly confusing for them. At least they'd have no such issues with Chrysaor – insulting him would be the go-to, for all the good it would do.

The daughter of Zeus would much rather have Chrysaor helping them than not, though she certainly wouldn't trust him to fight alongside her. With the absence of Percy and it only being a slim possibility that he'd arrive before the Triumvirate's invasion force, Chrysaor's presence was at least welcome where it came to the Little Tiber. As Thalia left New Rome behind her, she could spot his trireme resting at anchor in the Little Tiber, illuminated by the moon with lights dancing along the deck as his crew scurried around. Within the Legion's quarters of Camp Jupiter, flashlights and other handheld lights bobbed through the streets, making Thalia frown slightly. Maybe she was being overly suspicious, but Thalia was unnerved by the sight of the clustered lights moving between the Legion's barracks after dark.

Thalia was fairly certain that the Romans had a curfew, similarly to Camp Half-Blood. Especially with an incoming invasion.

The Huntress only sighed and strode up Temple Hill, raising an eyebrow at the sight of dozens of Temples, some still under construction. It was certainly more than what the campers on the east coast had for worshipping the gods.