𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

19

"𝐄𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬," 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 in his room. It had to be late in Italy. "Percy, the blonde girl, then there will be your nemesis—"

"Don't be ridiculous, he's not my nemesis." Dante scoffed.

"You hate him with a burning passion and actively wished he never returned to Rome."

"But he did, so—"

"He has friends, a son of Vulcan and a daughter of Venus."

Dante thought back to the guy with curly hair who chose to show Octavian around on their warship and the pretty girl who didn't leave Jason's side. He hadn't told Dorian about them, so he must have seen them in his dreams.

"Did I get that right? Are you amazed yet?" Dorian grinned. "Am I the coolest person you know?"

"No," Dante lied.

He was hiding behind buildings after lunch. At first he had called just to wish his brother Happy Birthday, but Dorian ended up curious about the warship and the battle with the giant.

"There's also this weird harpy Percy and the others brought back. She said something that definitely sounded like a prophecy and then broke off midway," Dante hadn't been able to get that out of his mind. He remembered the way his heart beat furiously in his chest.

"Wisdom's daughter walks through Rome," he recalled, "Which I guess is Percy's girlfriend, Annabeth. She's a daughter of Minerva, which is quite frankly ridiculous."

"Why? Because she's a maiden goddess?"

Dante nodded.

"But didn't she pop out of Jupiter's head like a nasty migraine?" Dante waited for his brother to get smited (smote? smitten?) Nothing happened. "Is it that much of a stretch to assume her children come out the same way? Through her head?"

"Like giving birth to imaginary friends," Dante said bitterly. "Whatever, I don't care about how she was born."

"Tell me the rest of the prophecy."

"What use is it?" He groaned. "They're going to reconvene in the senate house which means I need to fix my fucking toga." He grappled with the fabric, frustration taking over him when it didn't fold the way he wanted it to.

"Mr. Centurion now," Dorian grinned, "Why are you shaky, you should be happy."

"Maybe its the connection?"

"No, like you're shaking. What did she say next?"

"Wisdom's daughter walks through Rome, Mark of Mercury to his son shown, Twins snuff out the Angel's breath." Dante recited quickly. He usually had shit memory, but prophecies dealt with death. As a demigod, you were quick to memorize a poem that foretold your death.

"That's not a full prophecy." Dorian scratched his chin.

"So? Let them figure it out," Dante scoffed.

"Are you serious? You cannot be that stupid," Dorian gaped at him, "Things are stirring, my visions are increasing. I told you we'll meet soon. You're a part of all this, maybe I am too."

"Mercury has like fifty children and legacies, there are tens of sons of Mercury. There's no way its going to be me."

"What if it is though?" 

"It's not," Dante shut it down. "Reyna or Octavian would never pick me for the quest. And there's only one more spot remaining—"

Dante trailed off when he noticed Dorian standing entirely too still. It had to be pretty late in Italy, still, he stayed awake to talk to Dante.