My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Temporarily Lose a Tooth

Juliette lags behind as Nico leads them through the Fields of Asphodel. Her suspicion grows as she watches the tenseness of his shoulders, the way his pale hands grip the pommel of his sword like he's holding on for dear life. The closer they get to the palace doors, the stronger his scarlet tendrils of shame seem to slap at Juliette's senses, crying out for attention. Finally, she's had enough.

"Stop."

The boys turn around to look at her. Percy looks just mildly curious, and the pure trust in his demeanor makes Juliette's blood start to boil. She narrows her eyes on Nico.

"What are you doing?" She snaps. He looks taken aback by her tone.

"I told you, I need to-"

"You know I'm not an idiot right?"

He freezes and stares at her with wide eyes. His guilty aura grows stronger.

"I'm not stupid, and I'm definitely not incompetent. The longer we've been down here, the guiltier your aura has felt. So, I'm gonna ask you one more time," She stalks up to him until they're inches apart and releases her hold on her powers. Scales paint her cheeks and her pupils narrow into serpentine slits. He looks up at her. A hint of his fear flicks at her skin. "What are you doing, Nico?"

His mouth opens and closes, but words fail to escape. Just as he starts to respond, three shapes slam into the ground on all sides of them.

Juliette pushes Nico away and spins around to stand back to back with Percy as he draws his sword. She nocks an arrow, and they're suddenly face to face with three red lipped and smirking women. They all wear variations of the same distressed velvet gown, bat wings protruding from their backs and bronze clawed talons stretching from their hands and feet. Percy tenses against Julie's back.

"Mrs. Dodds," He greets the tallest.

She sneers at him. "Welcome back, honey."

Nico stands from where Julie had shoved him to the ground, brushing off his aviator jacket. "You know Alecto?"

"If you mean the hag in the middle, yeah. She was my math teacher."

Juliette files that information away in her mental Weird Percy Tidbits folder and makes a plan to ask for that context when they're out of mortal peril. Instead, she glares harshly at the son of Hades, who drops his gaze to the floor.

"Are you serious, Nico?" She hisses. He flinches and turns to address Alecto.

"I've done what my father asked. Take us to the palace."

That's all Juliette needs to hear. She looses an arrow right into the smallest Fury's wing. The other two lunge at them, and she and Percy duck and roll out of the way.

Percy, the sweet trusting fool, lowers the tip of his sword and stammers out, "Wait a second, Nico what are you-"

"I'm afraid this is my new lead, Percy." Nico cuts him off. He's pale and stricken, his sword still sheathed. Juliette pushes his emotions from her. She rejects the strength absorbing his shame offers. No. She wants him to feel it. "My father promised me information about my family, but he wants to see you before we try the river. I'm sorry."

"You tricked us?" Percy breathes out in horror. The two uninjured Furies swoop down and snatch his arms, sending Riptide flying.

Juliette acts fast. She slings her bow over her shoulder and leaps into the air, letting her transformation wash over her as her feet leave the ground. Alecto drops Percy's right arm and meets Juliette's wyvern head to head, claw to claw.