It was just another normal day at the camp. After the giant Polybotes attacked Camp Jupiter, all things went to normal. Engineers repaired and coped up with the massive damages, fauns playing their pipes to restore the green pasture and most of all, that feeling that the legion’s gold eagle has been returned after decades. Thanks to the new praetor Percy Jackson, the centurion Frank Zhang and Hazel Lavesque.
Aferdita spent her day at New Rome at the coffee shop where she works as a part time waitress. Aferdita grew up with her father. Aferdita was 8 years old back then, when her father gave her to the she-wolf Lupa to be trained and join the legion.
“Dita, serve this to table 23” the Lar Darius said. He is a lar, which means, he is a ghost. Not necessarily a ghost, but they lived since the time of Rome centuries ago until now. They are transparent and glowing. They spend their lives in New Rome peacefully and some spend their lives at the legion to give advices and battle strategies.
“Okay” Aferdita answered. Aferdita brought the carbonara pasta with soda to Table 23. As she was about to leave, a boom shocked the shop. All customers were stunned and black smoke rose up from the Senate House.
“This is not good.” She muttered. She was stunned as the audience when she saw a huge warship, in gold and bronze colors floating in the sky. She hurriedly rushed out from the coffee shop.
“What happened?” she asked nervously. But the ship wasn’t there anymore.
“Jason is back.” He answered.
“Jaso- who?”
“Grace.”
“Are you kidding me, Troi?’
“I told you! That Percy Jackson can’t be trusted!” the augur Octavian exclaimed. “You should’ve listen to me.” He added.
“Calm down, Octavian.” the praetor Reyna said. “I don’t believe Percy will do such thing. I will send the First Cohort to enforce them.” Reyna added.
Everyone in Camp Jupiter was so stunned and shocked. Aferdita was one of the demi-gods who cheered yesterday for Percy to be the new praetor. Aferdita didn’t know what to believe.
“Isn’t it connected to the Prophecy of the Seven?” Aferdita shouted. The crowd was shocked and looked into her direction.
“It could be but I didn’t expect any attack.“ Reyna said and Octavian butted in.
“This Percy Jackson is a traitor to the legion and so with Jason Grace. ” Octavian announced. Almost all of the demigods gasped.
“Everyone! Retreat! And be ready, the Greeks might come again and attack us. I knew this day is going to come” Octavian announced as if he is the praetor.
All demi-gods retreated. Aferdita glanced back at Reyna. Her eyes were sad. Was it because of Jason? Aferdita couldn’t figure out.
The First Cohort- the so-called modern champions of Rome- went on to follow the Greek warship. The legion saw them as criminals and traitors but it didn’t change what Aferdita thinks about Percy Jackson nor Jason Grace or any of the Seven.
The day busily ran so fast. The First Cohort, primarily, was busy sorting all the Roman weapons for the extraction. Reyna was busy arranging some stuff while Octavian spent the rest of the day in the augury trying to see the future. It was lights off and Aferdita slept.
Weird dreams are normal for a demigod, Lupa used to tell her before. Dreams can be very deceiving but at the same time, dreams use to tell demigods something. On her dreams, she was back in their old house in Columbus, Ohio. Aferdita grew with her father until she was 8.
In her dream, she saw her father arguing with a woman. A woman dressed in white gown with gold robes encircling around her waist and goat cloak in her head. Standing next to her was her blonde muscular dad in plain shirt and jeans. He’s a member of the US troop.
“You have to release her, Romano.” The woman demanded.
“Gave her up? She’s the only one I have in my life!” Her dad cried.
“Whether you like it or not, The Fates have already done its duty. You can’t stop it. Your daughter is going to be part of a big mission.”
“Please, I can’t lose her.” My dad pleaded. Tears fell off from his eyes.
“Romano, she’s going to be the gate.” The woman said calmly
Then suddenly, thunder rumbled from the skies. The woman reached for the window. She suddenly gestured like ‘I don’t have much time’.
“The gate for what?!” Aferdita's dad asked. Still, tears fell off from his face.
“The gate of the Seven.” She answered. Then the woman disappeared.
