ALEA IACTA EST ; GRACE

023.

PHILOMENA DIDN'T LIKE IT   when people told her what to do. So on most occasions when she was clearly instructed to do one thing, she preferred doing the exact opposite, just out of spite.

But this time it was different. She could gain something from working on this newfound ability of hers, even if it was only the reassurance that she wasn't completely useless.

Her powers grew stronger and Philomena had learned how to control the emotions of other people pretty quickly, even if she only tried it on a few occasions, not feeling comfortable with controlling her fellow legionnaires.

Also, Philomena didn't want to please the strange woman that liked to appear in her dreams, much less for her to come and get her, as she had said she would do during her last appearance.

Right now, Philomena was sitting at the shore of the lake, once again contemplating everything that had happened and would happen.

Jason was still missing.

Frank and Hazel were part of Camp Jupiter and now the only other person missing from her strange dream was the guy with messy black hair. A hunch told her he would appear sooner rather than later and from there on out, things would only go downhill, she was sure of that.

But maybe ... maybe the appearance of this guy would bring her closer to finding Jason, wherever he was hiding out now.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the horn blowing, warning the legionnaires of an attack.

Without thinking, Philomena ran in the direction of the gate. She wasn't on duty right now, but she sure wouldn't let the opportunity to manipulate some monsters slip through her fingers (if she even was able to do that).

Though as she reached the gate and could see what was happening, she realized that perhaps she had spoken too soon. There were only two gorgons and they were being crushed by gigantic fists of water? And then those fists threw the monsters into the water, finally killing them successfully.

She was a bit confused, but watched the spectacle that the guy standing by the shore of the little Tiber presented them with.

When the gorgons were finally killed, the old woman at the shore spoke up, "Well, this was a fun little trip. Thank you, Percy Jackson, for bringing me to Camp Jupiter."

Reyna, who was standing in the front lines, gasped. Philomena's head whipped around to look at her praetor, she had never seen Reyna act so surprised. "Percy ... Jackson?"

It sounded as if Reyna knew him, but judging by her expression, Philomena guessed that the feelings she harbored for this guy were anything but positive ones.

Hopefully he would survive his initiation to Camp Jupiter.

The woman laughed. "You will have lots of fun together!"

And then, as if this whole thing wasn't strange enough already, the woman began to glow and her body changed. She grew, until she was a radiant goddess, over two meters tall, dressed in a blue dress and with a cape around her shoulders, which was made of goatskin. Her features were serious and regal. In her hand she held a scepter, crowned by a lotus flower.

Everyone around her recognized the goddess immediately and just like the rest of them, Philomena fell to her knees at the sight of Juno. Hazel, who stood much closer to the goddess and the boy, whispered her name.

The boy, who must have a death wish, stood still, looking around himself in confusion, but he didn't bother bowing down. "Juno, huh?" he said. "If I passed your test, could I get my memories and my life back? Please?"

The goddess only laughed. "All in good time, Percy Jackson, and only if you are successful in this camp. You did a good job today, and that is a good start. Perhaps there is still hope for you after all." She turned to the legionnaires who were still on their knees (Philomena hoped the goddess would leave soon, her knee was beginning to hurt).

"Romans, I introduce to you the son of Neptune. He has been sleeping for months, however now he is awake. His fate lies in your hands. The feast of Fortuna is coming closer and death has to be freed, if you want to stand any chance in the battle. Don't disappoint me."

She glowed once again and disappeared. Slowly the legionnaires rose back to their feet, still unsure what to think of whatever had just happened.

Reyna took a step forward and Philomena really didn't want to be in the guy's skin. It was almost as if the praetor was trying to kill him with her eyes alone.

Philomena didn't really listen to their exchange. She just stared at the guy, more specifically, his hair. It looked exactly like the guy's in her dream. He had to be the guy that was with her, Frank and Hazel on the little boat.

But now the question arose: why had they been on this wooden boat and where were they headed? Would they survive?

She sighed, if only Jason was here. She could've shared her thoughts with him and he would have helped her find a solution, or at least calmed her racing thoughts. But no, he had to disappear.

Really, if Jason Grace ever showed his face in Camp Jupiter again, Philomena would kill him. 

HOPE speaks! 

okay any guesses of what could happen next? 

bc I know what will happen (for once xD) and wanna see what y'all think! 

love you lots <3