My Boyfriend is a Dead Roman Hero | Jason Grace

I Spend a Day at Styx's Water Park

Juliette has no weapons on her, and she can't scratch a ghost's eyes out with her fingernails. So, instead, she starts chucking flaming, razor sharp words.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" She hisses.

Luke huffs an uncomfortable laugh. The corner of his lip quirks up into a half smile. He says nothing in response.

Julie shakes her head in horror. Jason backs up a step until she's firmly tucked against him, his arm wrapped backwards around her waist like a seatbelt made of ice.

"Rosa?" He mutters, tense.

Julie can't spare him a glance. She's too preoccupied tracking every twitch of Luke's face, arms, legs, and fingers.

"You're dead," She hears her own voice marvel.

Luke nods, still smiling humorlessly. "Well, we are in the Underworld."

He just looks at her, mouth downturned, hands in his pockets. His eyes scan her through Jason like the son of Jupiter isn't even standing there. It terrifies her.

She's ten years old again. Ten years old and fighting to come up for air.

"You're grown up," He notes.

She clenches her fists. Julie can feel her knees quaking.

What is she supposed to say to that? No thanks to you?

'Teach her.'

The lump in her throat keeps her from saying anything. She just keeps staring at him and pleading with Hypnos to let her wake up.

At Julie's silence, Luke flicks his attention from her to Jason where he's standing like a guardian in front of her. He straightens slightly in interest, squinting at them both. Luke nods in recognition. "Jason Grace."

Jason's arm tightens around the small of Julie's back. She shivers as his skin saps every bit of heat out of her body. "Do I know you?"

It's less a question than the bite of a wolf. Luke shakes his head, smiling thinly, tiredly.

"No, you don't. I know you, though. Your legion pretty much devastated my western forces during the war."

"Your forces..." Jason is facing away from Juliette, but she can picture the realization dawning in his eyes. "You're Luke Castellan, aren't you?"

Luke opens his arms in showcase, looking down on himself. "That'd be me. Good to finally meet the great Son of Jupiter in the flesh. Or, well...I guess not so much flesh is on either of us anymore, huh?" He nods at Jason's ghostly form. "Sorry for your loss."

Casually rocking back on his heels, he raises his eyebrows at whatever strange expression Jason must be giving him.

The two dead men study each other in silence. Julie feels herself unconsciously shrink back behind Jason, avoiding the sting of Luke's eyes on her.

Then, finally, Jason scoffs. Julie almost whines in protest when he takes a step out from in front of her, instead coming to stand shoulder-to-shoulder, hand laced with hers.

"I expected you to be bigger," He says drily.

Juliette gives Jason a bewildered look, but Luke actually laughs. When he nods again, a real smile tugging at the scar down his cheek, there's respect gleaming in his eyes.

"Sorry to disappoint," Luke chuckles.

He looks again to Juliette, and she nearly stumbles backwards. Jason's hand tightens on hers, almost painfully tight. It roots her in place, preventing her from retreating Luke's gaze. She shoots him a panicked, frustrated glare. Jason pretends not to notice. He holds her right in place, staring down Luke in challenge.