𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

2

𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫, naturally.

Percy's entourage made its way through the camp, Reyna in the lead, and Frank and Hazel on either side. all the Lares stopped what they were doing and stared at Percy. A few looked angry. One boy ghost shrieked "Graecus." and turned invisible.

"Am I seeing things?" he asked. His voice was playful, trustworthy, and yet Dante couldn't bring himself to trust he wasn't a monster. He just seemed too... good. "Or are those—"

"Lares," Dante spoke up, grinning as he slipped into the entourage. Reyna didn't tell him to fuck off so he took it as a good sign. "They look like ghosts but they're house gods."

From up close, Percy Jackson was even more impressive. He was tall, with a lean frame, but he had the obvious muscle Dante had spotted in his show of power.

His eyes were green, not like grass, more like a lake, a small body of water. They shone when he grinned. His troublemaker smile drawing Dante in like a whirlpool.

"House gods," Percy said. "Like... smaller than real gods, but larger than apartment gods?"

Oh Dante liked this guy.

"They're ancestral spirits," Frank explained, standing up straighter when he noticed Dante had joined the conversation. He'd removed his helmet, revealing a babyish face that didn't go with his military haircut or his big burly frame. He looked like a toddler who'd taken steroids and joined the Marines.

"The Lares are kind of like mascots," Dante continued. "Mostly they're harmless, but I've never seen them so agitated."

"They're staring at me," Percy said. "That ghost kid called me Greggus. My name isn't Greg."

Dante stifled a snort. The edges of Percy's lips twitched like he appreciated someone appreciating humor. Dante got the feeling. The Romans were always too uptight. Never ones for a practical joke or a prank.

"Graecus," Hazel said. "Once you've been here awhile, you'll start understanding Latin. Demigods have a natural sense for it. Graecus means Greek."

"Is that bad?" Percy asked.

Frank cleared his throat. "Maybe not. You've got that type of complexion, dark hair and all. Maybe they think you're actually Greek. Is your family from there?"

"Don't know. Like I said, my memory is gone."

"You said Juno took it?" Dante eased into the conversation once more. The only way to get information was to go seek it. He wouldn't get much from rumors.

"She told me she did," Percy shrugged. "I woke up with no memory and then got chased by those gorgons for a few days."

Dante could tell. Percy smelled, not terrible, just enough to shatter the illusion if he actually was a god in disguise. And besides, Dante had ruled out him being a monster or a god for several reasons. Though he still had that aura of power.

His clothes were tattered and worn. A t-shirt that once might have been some shade of orange was now entirely brown. Though his red skin had come back to its natural color.

Concern flashed across his face when another Lare called him a Graecus. Dante didn't like the tone they used, it was far too accusatory, far too unkind. He didn't want that to be Percy's first impression of New Rome.

"Probably nothing," He shrugged. "Romans and Greeks have an old rivalry. Sometimes Romans use graecus as an insult for someone who's an outsider—an enemy. But then again, some of the Lares have lost their marbles decades ago. Don't worry about it."