My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Make a Girl Cry

Helping out around the infirmary turns into full time training with the Apollo cabin. Michael Yew is a strict teacher, quick to roast her intelligence into oblivion when she makes stupid errors, but Juliette actually appreciates the abrasiveness. He's difficult to impress, so the rare nods of approval when she wraps an Ace bandage correctly or hands him the right tools first try mean all the more. Lee Fletcher is softer with his corrections. He always pairs his direction with an encouraging smile and applauds loudly the first time Julie does adequate stitches (he had her practicing on the Stolls to teach them a lesson). She isn't completely clear on why they wanted to teach her in the first place, but she's not complaining. Learning to heal takes focus, and it's keeping her mind off of Annabeth's quest.

The group has been in the Labyrinth for almost two weeks when they get their first update.

"Why don't we all learn this?" Julie asks Lee distractedly. She's using tweezers to pick splinters out of a Hephaestus kid's bicep. She glares at her patient in frustration. "Would you please relax? The more you flex, the deeper these things go."

The Hephaestus boy (Tom? Thomas? Something like that) smirks at her. "I ain't flexing, honey. They're just that firm." He says with a wink.

Lee smacks the kid on the head with his paperwork. "Tim, no flirting with my apprentice. She's thirteen." He addresses Julie again. "And, kid, I've been saying that for years. Maybe if a first-aid course joined the camp activity rotation, I'd get my 8 hours more than once a month. Mr. D isn't interested in making any changes, though. Plus, I'd have to teach it." He sighs. Juliette frowns at the shadows framing his eyes.

"Maybe I could eventually help out for real? I'd take a shift if that would help you guys." She offers.

Lee smiles at her warmly. "Right now, let's just focus on skills you'll need in the field. If we've got a fight coming up, we'll need medics in action."

Almost immediately, Will and Michael come charging into the infirmary, pale faced. Julie's stomach drops.

"What is it?" She asks urgently.

Michael swallows. "Mount St. Helens." His voice trembles. "It just exploded."

--

Chiron hushes the frantic voices bouncing off the columns of the dining pavilion. Every eye in camp turns to him, the nervous energy so palpable, Julie's pores feel like they're vibrating. He clears his throat.

"I assume you have all heard about the explosion in Washington. We have dispatched protectors in the area to investigate and report back to us with any pertinent information. I do feel it is fair to inform you," He pauses. "We have had reason to believe this is the location of one of Hephaestus' private workshops. It is likely, in my opinion, that the explosion may have been caused by an attack of Kronos' forces."

Luke.

Julie squeezes her eyes shut against the flash of green that threatens to tint her vision. The crowd mutters unhappily. The son of Hermes' name is uttered a few times.

"Why would they be after Dad's workshop?" Nyssa asks. Beckendorf sighs.

"'Why wouldn't they be' would be a real question. With the right hands to work it, one of those forges could make anything imaginable. Any weapon of destruction. Any method of transportation. You name it. If Luke has control of one of those, that's a big problem." He declares.

Silena shifts uneasily next to Juliette. She goes to grab her older sister's hand comfortingly, but Silena snatches it away. Hurt pricks at Julie's chest. She ducks her head to hide it, following the motion through like she was just stretching.