The Animal Within

Chapter 74 - Dead In The Night

The legionnaire looked to Jason with wide-eyed alarm, horror gleaming in his eyes.

Jason snapped into focus after a moment of stunned silence. Nico faintly heard the screams starting up outside again following the explosion which had momentarily cut them out.

Antonius was already reaching for his armour, whilst Marcus' gaze was grave as he turned to Jason. "Here," he said as he pulled open the crate that Julius Caesar had brought with him. "This is for you too. Wear it with the pride of a Roman, Pontifex," Marcus Aurelius said. "Waste no more time arguing with us about what a good man or a good Roman should be. It is time for you to be one now," Marcus Aurelius said with a stern look at Jason.

Nico's eyes widened as Augustus reached into the crate and pulled out a Roman helmet, freshly polished and he handed it over to Jason. "Julius made some adjustments at my request," he said. A pair of eagle wings were engraved into the sides of the helmet.

Jason's expression twisted.

A second explosion outside had Nico jerking his head towards the doors.

"Nico," Piper said. She was waiting just inside the doors, looking expectantly at Nico with some armour on that made Nico raise an eyebrow since it was clearly Legion-supplied. "Jason needs to get ready," she pointed out to Nico. "I think the Romans are going to need every pair of hands that can help them."

Nico's gaze hardened and he nodded slightly. "I don't have my armour," he said to Piper. He crossed over to her as Jason continued his discussion with Augustus and Marcus.

"I will go with you two," Antonius said, his expression tight. It hadn't taken him long to strap himself into his armour, thousands of years of muscle memory hastening his movements. "There will be a secure perimeter around the infirmary and it's best not to disturb it."

Nico nodded, holding out a hand to both of them. Neither of the two hesitated to take his hand.

"Nico," Jason called. In the corner, a trio of healers were still fretting over Reyna. Nico took one look at the blood spilling over the bed and their hands before returning his gaze to Jason, his hand tightening slightly around Piper's and Antonius'. "Stay alive, please," Jason said, his bright blue eyes intense as they flickered briefly to Reyna and back to Nico. "And do what you can."

Nico nodded. "Always," he promised Jason before he pulled the others into his own shadow.

As a testament to how much she'd grown since first being introduced to the world of Greek myths and legends, Piper didn't even look the slightest bit queasy as they stepped out into the room Nico used as Pluto's Ambassador. Antonius too looked more than prepared to face the army of the Triumvirate.

"How did they get into the city?" Piper demanded sharply as Nico moved to his set of Stygian Iron armour and began pulling it on over his shirt. Piper crossed over and helped him fiddle with straps so it would be faster.

Nico shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "We'll have to find out." He grabbed his sword once his armour was on, pulling on his helmet. "Antonius, any ideas?"

"They can't come through Terminus' boundary," Antonius said flatly. "So the only route in is from below." He pressed his lips together as he slipped on his own helm. "We already know that Caligula has been interested in the Labyrinth."

"Zeus' underpants," Nico swore. The sky didn't even rumble overhead in response. Nico didn't know if that was a good sign or not, perhaps the King of the Gods was too busy fretting over New Rome to take offence. "Come on," he said, grabbing hold of Antonius again. Piper grabbed his hand which was holding his sword. "We'll come out into the city – make sure you're ready."