𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄, PJ2

𝟎𝟏𝟑.𝟑

The next day when all of them woke up, Leo had docked the ship at a pier in Charleston Harbor, right next to the seawall.

Along the shore was a historical district with tall mansions, palm trees, and wrought-iron fences. Antique cannons pointed at the water. By the time Juliet came up on deck, Jason, Frank, and Leo had already left for the museum. According to Coach Hedge, they'd promised to be back by sunset. Piper, Daphne and Hazel were ready to go, Annabeth was busy fussing and talking with Augustus, Juliet found Percy, who was leaning on the starboard rail, gazing over the bay.

She took his hand. "What are you going to do while we're gone? And please don't say dunking Gus in water,"

He gave her an amused smile, resting his hand around shoulder, "Jump into the harbor," he said casually, like another kid might say, I'm going to get a snack. ", though dunking Gus is tempting, but I want to try communicating with the local Nereids. Maybe they can give me some advice about how to free those captives in Atlanta. Besides, I think the sea might be good for me. Being in that aquarium made me feel...unclean."

Juliet kissed him. "Good luck, Perce. Just come back to me, okay?"

"I will," he held her close to his chest as he promised. "You do the same."

Annabeth and Augustus joined them, one of the them grinning while the other looked agitated, "What are you going to be doing Gus?" Juliet asked, her arms around Percy.

"Fly around a little, scour the area for any romans," Gus shrugged before grinning mischievously, "Scare some people on the streets,"

Annabeth shook her head in exasperation while Percy grinned.

Juliet sighed in amusement and turned to Piper, Daphne and Hazel. "Okay, ladies. Let's find the ghost of the Battery."

Afterward, Juliet wished she'd jumped into the harbor with Percy. She even would've preferred a museum full of ghosts. Not that she minded hanging out with the girls. At first, they had a pretty good time walking along the Battery. According to the signs, the seaside park was called White Point Gardens. The ocean breeze swept away the muggy heat of the summer afternoon, and it was pleasantly cool under the shade of the palmetto trees. Lining the road were old Civil War cannons and bronze statues of historical figures, which made Juliet shudder.

Mostly she breathed in the sea air and thought about Percy. The park wasn't crowded. Juliet imagined that most of the locals had gone on summer vacation, or were holed up at home taking a siesta. They strolled along South Battery Street, which was lined with four-story Colonial mansions. The brick walls were blanketed with ivy.

The facades had soaring white columns like Roman temples. The front gardens were bursting with rose bushes, honeysuckle, and flowering bougainvillea. It looked like Demeter had set the timer on all the plants to grow several decades ago, then forgotten to come back and check on them.

"Kind of reminds me of New Rome," Hazel said. "All the big mansions and the gardens. The columns and arches."

Annabeth nodded while Juliet shuddered.

She remembered reading how the American South had often compared itself to Rome back before the Civil War. In the old days their society had been all about impressive architecture, honor, and codes of chivalry. And on the evil side, it had also been about slavery. Rome had slaves, some Southerners had argued, so why shouldn't we? Juliet shivered.

The other girls didn't say much. Piper kept looking around like she expected an ambush. She had said she'd seen this park in the blade of her knife, but she wouldn't elaborate. Annabeth looked around and talked about the architecture with Daphne who surprisingly provided good inputs here and there.