The Heir of a Thousand Lifetimes (A PJO Universe Story)

At least I'm self-aware.

I trudge out of the cabin on Cassius' arm. My rings feel heavy on my fingers.

"Hey," I remember something suddenly, "did I ever tell you about that vision I had? That Apollo and I talked about?"

Cas hums. "The temple one?"

"Yeah! Apparently, the spear of Achilles was hosted in that temple," I say. I kick at a few rocks. "Apollo said we might find it on the quest." Cas stops walking and stares at me like I've grown an extra head. "And Achilles said since it called to Alexander- because Alexander visited the spear in the temple, you know- then it'll call to me too."

Cas blinks. Slowly.

"Are...you...being serious?" he asks carefully. I frown.

"Is this a trick question?"

"Audra," he sighs deeply. "Oh my gods. Darling. Sweetheart. Give me your hand." So I do. He taps my ant signet ring. "What does this turn into?"

"A spear," I say helpfully. He just stares at me, and then exactly four seconds later, it hits me. "Why the hell am I so dumb?"

I facepalm with my free hand. "Oh my- I literally totally interpreted that entire vision absolutely horribly. I'm the most unreliable narrator ever." I gasp suddenly. "Achilles! You were being all wise and encouraging!"

Was I wrong, though? The spear does call to you, does it not? he reasons. I am seriously debating prying the gates of hell open and strangling him.

"So, then, if it isn't the spear in the tomb, what is it?" I demand of no one in particular. "Because this plot hole is irritating the hell out of me."

It is likely my father's sword. Say nothing of my thoughts, Achilles instructs. Research the weapon when you have a moment. It is very, very dangerous. He pauses. Or perhaps, it will be my armor. It was considered a war prize. But perhaps my men had decency enough to return it after death.

"I can't believe you forgot that you own the actual spear of Achilles," Cassius laughs, still stuck on that and ignoring my question. I roll my eyes and push him playfully. We make our way to the dining pavilion, and I catch a few- more like thirty- people staring at us.

"The staring is ticking me off, and it isn't even nine in the morning," I say with a glare aimed at anyone dumb enough to get in the line of fire.

I grab a plate and a goblet. I place a sausage patty on my plate and a fried egg. I also scoop on some very fresh-looking strawberries. Cas gets his fill, because why not? Who in their right mind is going to tell me he can't? I'm not above committing homicide.

At least I'm self-aware. If nothing else, that is certainly not a trait I lack. One of the few positive traits I do have, I'm afraid.

"Alrighty then. I'll send this bad boy over to Hecate," I say, tossing in a very juicy-looking strawberry. Achilles makes a particularly startling grunt in my head. "Oh yeah, and," I have the goblet fill with Red Bull, because I think that'll be an interesting alternative and I tip it into the flames, "to Achilles. And not ever Zeus. The end."

Chiron pinches the bridge of his nose. Cassius curses in Greek under his breath.

"Sweetheart," he winces. He pauses and looks over my shoulder into the brazier. "Did you just offer Red Bull to Achilles?"

"I did, yeah," I say. "Thought it might be amusing."

It was most certainly not, Achilles grumps, and I snicker. It was repulsive. I cough to hide my giggles.

"He didn't like it," I inform Cas, who shakes his head. He tosses in a few raspberries.

"To Aphrodite," he mutters. To me, he says, "Huh. He seems like he would have."

I nod in agreement as we make our way to the table. "I would have thought so." I start to cut up the sausage patty after we sit. "Y'know what I want?"

Cas smiles. It's warm, endearing. "What's that?"

"Pizza. It would be so nice to have pizza again. We could pretend things are normal, just for a few minutes," I sigh wistfully. I lean my head on my hand and look at him. "We should get some before our flight tomorrow."

Cas nods. "Let's do it then. I'm sure there are a thousand pizza places by the airport." He thinks for a second. "I wonder how long the flight will be?"

"Eighteen hours," I say immediately, without even thinking about it. We fall silent and stare at each other. He blinks. I blink. "How do I know that?"

"Well," he begins slowly, thinking. Cas pauses. "Maybe because it's air travel? You know?" He points awkwardly at the sky. "You just kind of...know it?"

I shrug. "I guess so. That would make sense. That's, um, something, I guess?" I poke at what's left of my egg. "I'm gonna be honest, I don't know how useful that'll be."

"Probably not very," he admits.

"Your charmspeak is way cooler." He gives me an incredulous look. "It is. You can literally make anyone do anything you want them to. That's freakin' insane."

He blushes a bit at my praise, and I have to fight to restrain myself from audibly cooing at how cute the sight is. He shrugs and smiles.

"I guess it is, isn't it?" he agrees with me. I nod.

"It really is," I say. A thought strikes me. "Wait- why didn't you just use charmspeak on the myrmekes?"

His eyes widen. "I never even thought of it!" He facepalms. "Shit, that would have been really smart, wouldn't it?" He pauses and glances at me through the fingers of the hand he slapped himself with. "Do you think it would have even worked, though? Because technically, it's attraction-based."

I shrug. "I mean, they probably thought you were an attractive meal. Does that count?" Cas snorts at my answer.

"Maybe," he acquiesces. "I still think it was probably smarter to go with the ant royalty route."

I grimace, shaking my head. "I don't want to talk about that."

The Myrmidons were a great fighting force! You should be honored, Achilles grunts, affronted. I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," I mutter. "I'm sure they were fantastic."

They were, he replies firmly. Truly, you are very fortunate to have command over their memory.

"I sure am," I say dryly.

Cas laughs embarrassingly loudly as he gets the hint of what I'm talking to about Achilles about, and I glare at him. He's lucky he's pretty, or else I'd probably be electrocuting him right about now.

"It's not funny," I grumble.

"It really is," he grins. I want to stay irritated, but dang it- he's just too handsome- and, frankly, adorable- when he looks at me like that. I crack a smile and bow my head.

"It's not fair," I laugh, shaking my head. "I can't even pretend to stay even slightly mad or ticked off or anything at you. You're just- you're you!"

He laughs along with me and smiles brightly. He reaches across the table and takes my hand. His eyes sparkle as he looks at me. I cringe internally as I realize how cliche that sounds, but oh well. It's true.

"It is part of my charm, isn't it?" he smirks. I giggle, smiling adoringly at him. I nod, giving in.

"Yes, yes it is."