My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Get Ghosted

When the battle is won and the streets are clear, Nico and Juliette are carried like heroes to the Empire State Building by their fellow demigods.

Nico looks uncomfortable with so much physical contact, but one screech of laughter from Juliette and he grins, reaching out to knock his bloodied knuckles against her outstretched fist. The crowd, led by Clarisse, tosses them in the air a few times before lowering them to their feet at the elevator to Olympus. Hades, Persephone, and Demeter come striding through the crowd behind them, and the demigods cheer and whistle for their arrival. They enter the elevator together, and Nico glows with pride when his father rests a hand on his shoulder for the ride up.

The council meeting all feels like a blur to Juliette.

She remembers parting ways with Nico when they reach the throne room, pushing him encouragingly forwards when Hades waves him over to sit beside his makeshift throne. The giddiness in her chest as she watches her friend plop down beside his proud father's seat will be a memory to sustain her for years.

She remembers the awards ceremony: Annabeth's and Grover's promotions, Tyson's stick, and the icy cold terror that gripped her in the moments before Percy's refusal of immortality. He'd looked at Zeus like the god had grown a second head, glancing over at Tyson, at Juliette, and finally at Annabeth. Then, he'd basically told the King of the Gods to go screw himself and pay some child support.

Juliette couldn't be prouder.

Her memories of the event really zero in when it starts to disperse. The gods of Olympus rise from their thrones, a drone of chatter beginning to buzz throughout the chamber, and Juliette's eyes laser focus on one figure in particular.

Aphrodite is standing gracefully from an ornate, golden-wicker chair with a pink cushion. Her blonde hair falls gently across her shoulders in windswept waves as she smiles sweetly to Ares beside her. The god of War kisses her hand and trudges off to greet his children, who erupt into cheers as he joins their midst.

Juliette holds her breath.

Sparkling sky blue eyes sweep the chamber and come to rest upon her. Julie's heartrate picks up. She wipes her hands on her pants. Her palms feel clammy. She can feel her knees shaking as her mother opens scarred pink lips slightly in surprise.

Their gaze connects for a second. Two seconds. Three.

And Aphrodite looks away.

She smiles at Annabeth instead, says something Juliette can't make out, and then sweeps out of the room in a flurry of wind and dove feathers.

Juliette's chest feels empty. There's lead in her shoes. She stares at the place her mother disappeared from for an unknown amount of time until a female voice sighs behind her.

"You are Juliette Aster?"

Julie turns around, feeling hollow. Then, her eyes widen when she realizes who's addressing her. She drops into a bow. "Queen Hera! Um...yes, I am. Hello."

Julie cringes.

Hera hums and hooks a finger under Juliette's chin. She pulls her face up and the girl straightens her posture so the goddess can study her. The queen's eyes are calculating, scanning. She clicks her tongue disapprovingly.

"No." She sighs. Hera releases Julie's chin from her grasp and waves a hand dismissively. "You are not good enough."

With that encouraging statement, the goddess turns on her heel and strides back to her husband's side. The pit in Juliette's chest grows deeper.

"Do not listen to her." Chirps a new voice.

Juliette tries not to groan at being addressed again and turns around, meeting the calm green eyes of a young girl. She has long auburn hair pulled into a tight braid, a gleaming silver circlet resting above her eyes. Julie's emotions dim a bit, and she offers a small curtsy.