I can't stand being in New Rome. I have a constant feeling of nausea and a screaming voice in the back of my head telling me to get out. But, I have to admit, it's quite beautiful. We walk through the city, Heracles at my side, happy to follow me anywhere.
"We have the best architects and builders in the world." Reyna tells me as we walk down the streets. "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 that fact.
"I'm not sure how Annabeth would feel about that." I note, smiling to myself. "She's been at Camp Half-Blood since she was seven." I wonder what it would be like to live here. To be safe, have a home and a family without worrying about monsters attacking at any moment. But I could never stay here. I'm too Greek. This whole place just feels so wrong to me. I start to feel a little annoyed with myself. Why can't I just accept the fact that this is Roman land and I'm Greek? Why do I have to keep feeling this way?
She stops and examines me. "You're a warrior all right. You've got fire in your eyes."
"Sorry." I try to relax myself.
"Don't be. I'm the daughter of Bellona."
"Roman goddess of war?" I ask.
She nods, then turns and whistles like she's calling a cab. Two metal dogs race towards her, one silver, one gold. They come and sniff Heracles, who wags his tail and sniffs them in return. After greeting my wolf, they fall in line beside Reyna obediently. They regard her affectionately with glistening ruby eyes.
"My pets." She explains. "Aurum and Argentum. You don't mind if they walk with us?"
I shake my head.
She nods to my wolf. "That is an impressive pet. And he is well trained. Where did you find him?"
"At the Wolf House." I admit. "He was one of Lycaon's wolves, but after I almost killed him, he decided I was his new master, and started following me everywhere. "
Reyna leads me to an outdoor cafe, where the waiter clearly knows her. He hands her a to-go cup, then offers one to me.
"Would you like one?" She asks me. "They make wonderful hot chocolate. Not really a Roman drink-"
"But chocolate is universal." I finish.
"Exactly."
I take the drink, despite the heat outside. We walk on, with Reyna's dogs roaming nearby.
"That boy, the one showing Octavian the ship..." She starts, but I don't think she knows where she wants to take the sentence.
"That's Leo." I offer. "Son of Hephaestus."
"He's your boyfriend?" She asks, raising an eyebrow at me.
I laugh to myself for a moment. "Yeah."
She laughs too. "He seems a little..."
"He's a bit goofy." I agree. "But he's good people. And he's very clever."
"You seem like a good match." She notes, which I did not expect.
"Really?"
She nods. "There are people like Annabeth, Jason, and I, who are natural leaders, who take everything very seriously, and who tend to be very rigid. But that isn't you."
I tilt my head to listen more. I think she's really hitting the nail on the head with this train of thought.
"People like you and Leo, you want to find the fun and joy in everything, you want to enjoy the moment and live life to the fullest. You are doing a marvelous job, don't get me wrong, but I can tell that you don't want to be in charge of all off this."
