The Shadow Summoner | Book Three - PJO Universe

twenty one

DEPARTURES

At first light, Hazel and Frank met them at the coffee shop for one final thank-you. Then they were off to rouse the legion.

They intended to get right to work on repairs to the camp to take everyone's minds off the many losses before shock could set in.

Watching them walk away together down the Via Praetoria, Ariana felt a warm certainty that the legion was about to see a new golden age.

Like Frank, the Twelfth Legion Fulminata would rise from the ashes, though hopefully wearing more than just their undergarments.

Minutes later, Thalia and Reyna came by with their pack of gray wolves, their metal greyhounds, and their pair of rescue pegasi.

Their departure saddened Ariana as much as her sisters, but she understood their ways, those Hunters.

Always on the move.

Reyna gave her one last hug. "I'm looking forward to a long vacation."

Thalia laughed. "Vacation? RARA, I hate to tell you, but we've got hard work ahead! We've been tracking the Teumessian Fox across the Midwest for months now, and it hasn't been going well."

"Exactly," Reyna said. "A vacation." She kissed Meg on the top of her head. "You keep Lester in line, okay? Don't let him get a big head just because he's got a nice new bow."

"You can count on me," Meg said.

Thalia and Reyna both smirked at Ariana.

"You and him official now?" Thalia asked with a teasing tone.

Ariana rolled her eyes playfully, admiring Apollo who was already bickering with Meg over something. "I would say unfortunately but I don't think there's anybody else I would ever want other than him."

Thalia gave Ariana a hug. "You deserve it. To be happy, I mean. You've done so much for both Camps. For the gods. For everyone."

Reyna smiled, nodding along with her new boss. "It's true." She quickly glanced at Apollo, making sure he wasn't listening. Then she lowered her voice. "If you really love him, Ariana. Do what you want. If that's becoming immortal, becoming a god or whatnot. Do it because if anybody deserves to be happy? It's you."

When Ariana, Meg and Apollo left the café for the last time, Bombilo actually cried.

Behind his gruff exterior, the two-headed barista turned out to be a real sentimentalist. He gave them a dozen scones, a bag of coffee beans, and told them to get out of his sight before he started bawling again.

Apollo took charge of the scones. Meg, gods help them, took the coffee.

At the gates of camp, Lavinia waited, chewing her bubble gum while she polished her new centurion badge. "This is the earliest I've been up in years," she complained. "I'm going to hate being an officer." The sparkle in her eyes told a different story.

"You'll do great," Meg said.

As Lavinia bent to hug her, Ariana noticed a stippled rash running down Ms. Asimov's left cheek and neck, unsuccessfully covered by some foundation.

Apollo cleared his throat. "Did you perhaps sneak out last night to see Poison Oak?"

Lavinia blushed adorably. "Well? I'm told that my centurionship makes me very attractive. Besides, Apollo you can't say much."

In Ariana's defence, it was a birthday present and her concealer had begun to run out and they hadn't stopped at any makeup stores since they left camp.