Inferno (Leo Valdez x OC) (2)

Annabeth pulls a Jason - but with less Latin

Sets of sofas and low tables were carted into the forum until it resembled a furniture showroom. Romans lounged in groups of ten or twenty, talking or laughing while wind spirits – aurae – swirled overhead, bringing an endless assortment of pizzas, sandwiches, crisps, cold drinks and fresh-baked cookies.

Drifting through the crowd were purple ghosts – Lares – in togas and legionnaire armour. Around the edges of the feast, satyrs – fauns – trotted from table to table, panhandling for food and spare change.

In the nearby fields, the war elephant frolicked with Mrs O'Leary and children played tag around the statues of Terminus that lined the city limits.

I shoved pringles into my mouth as I watched Mrs O'Leary and the elephant roll over each other. I grinned at Percy. "I'm in heaven. This is amazing."

Percy snorted. "You're only saying that because of the food."

I shrugged. "I'm easy to persuade."

Hoots ruffled his feathers behind me. Something's wrong.

I glanced back at him. With what?

I can't tell yet. But something isn't right.

I huffed. Are you sure you aren't just paranoid? Annabeth's been the same, she hasn't touched her food.

Hoots cast me an offended look. Just stay close to me.

I sighed but nodded.

"Are you talking with the owl?" Percy asked, frowning.

I glanced at his confused face. "Percy you've always known I can talk to animals."

"No, I knew you could understand them." Percy squinted at Hoots.

I threw my hands in the air. "How did no one know this? What would be the point in understanding animals if I can't talk to them as well?"

Percy shrugged and turned to talk to Annabeth quietly. I watched as she stared at the new SPQR tattoo on his arm sadly.

Percy stopped talking as Reyna called a toast to friendship.

After introductions all around, the Roman's and the Argo's crew began exchanging stories. Jason explained how he'd arrived at Camp Half-Blood without his memory and how he'd gone on a quest with Leo, Piper and I to rescue Hera from imprisonment at the Wolf House in Northern California. I shot him a warning look to make sure he didn't talk about how I'd made a temporary connection to the wild.

"Impossible!" Octavian broke in. "That's our most sacred place. If the giants had imprisoned a goddess there-"

"They would've destroyed her," Piper interrupted, casting the boy an irritated glance. "And blamed it on the Greeks and started a war between the camps. Now, be quiet and let Jason finish."

Octavian opened his mouth but no sound came out. I noticed Reyna looking between Jason and Piper with her eyebrows furrowed as if just realising they were a couple.

"So," Jason continued. "That's how we found out about the earth goddess Gaia. She's still half-asleep but she's the one freeing the monsters from Tartarus and raising the giants. Porphyrion, the big leader dude we fought at the Wolf House: he said he was retreating to the ancient lands – Greece itself. He plans on awakening Gaia and destroying the gods by... what did he call it? Pulling up their roots."

Percy nodded thoughtfully. "Gaia's been busy over here too. We had our own encounter with Queen Dirt Face."

Percy recounted his side of the story. He talked about waking up at the Wolf House with no memories except one name – Annabeth.

I saw Annabeth's ears turn red as a small smile spread across her face.

I snorted. "Didn't even remember me. I'm disappointed Kelp Head."

"It's not my fault." Percy said indignantly. I grinned.

Percy told us how he'd travelled to Alaska with Frank and Hazel – how they'd defeated the giant Alcyoneus, freed the death god Thanatos and returned with the lost golden eagle standard of the Roman camp to repel an attack by the giants' army.

When Percy finished, Jason whistled appreciatively. "No wonder they made you praetor."

Octavian snorted. "Which means we now have three praetors! The rules clearly state we can only have two!"

"On the bright side." Percy said. "both Jason and I outrank you, Octavian. So, we can both tell you to shut up."

Jason gave Percy a fist bump and Reyna managed a smile, though her eyes were stormy.

"We'll have to figure out the extra praetor problem later." She said. "Right now, we have more serious matters to address."

"I'll step aside for Jason." Percy shrugged. "It's no biggie."

"No biggie?" Octavian choked. "The praetorship of Rome is no biggie?"

Percy ignored him and turned to Jason. "You're Thalia Grace's brother, huh? Wow, you guys look nothing alike."

"Yeah, I noticed." Jason said. "Anyway, thanks for helping my camp while I was gone. You did an awesome job."

"Back at you." Percy said.

I felt a sharp pain on my shin. "Sanctaidd-" I slapped a hand over my mouth and shot Annabeth a glare.

"Sorry, I was aiming for Percy." She muttered. Percy cast her an offended look.

Annabeth cleared her throat. "We should talk about the Great Prophecy. It sounds like the Romans are aware of it too?"

Reyna nodded. "We call it the Prophecy of Eight. Octavian, you have it committed to memory?"

"Of course." He said. "But Reyna-"

"Recite it please." She cut in. "In English, not Latin."

Octavian sighed. "Eight half-bloods shall answer the call, to storm or fire the world must fall-"

"All will fall if not for wild's call," Annabeth continued. "An oath to keep with a final breath and foes bear arms to the doors of death."

All eyes turned to Annabeth.

Hey guys, sorry for the short chapter. I'm currently at my grandparents and I've been struggling to find the time to write.

Also, I have good news and bad news.

Good news:

I'm on half-term break WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO no more work for a week :)

Bad news:

I'm going away with my family in our campervan and won't be able to bring my laptop for writing. 

I know. It pains me as much as you guys :'(

Therefore I might miss next week's update, I'm not entirely sure, I will try my best but if I don't update then that's why. 

I hope you are all having a good day and if not then I hope reading this made you feel better, even just a tad.

Bye from Corgi :)

P.S. (feel free to skip) Just a reminder that all characters (apart from Anwen) belong to Rick Riordan, this is merely a fanfiction based off the Heroes of Olympus series.