The Beginning of the End (J. Grace)

I: I threaten a God

Hey everyone!! Lara here, I am now taking charge of narrating because, well, Zeus is pretty mad at Hestia and it won't really affect you if I'm now narrating. Sorry to break the fourth wall, we're having it fixed. Anyways...

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I knew that Jason was nervous even before the exploding statue.

They were all on the Argo II and headed straight for Camp Jupiter; Jason hadn't spoken to any of us at all and was continuously pacing and gripping the length of his spear so tightly, his knuckles were turning white.

I still couldn't believe that in the six months that Percy had been missing from our camp and Jason had been missing from his... no one had come looking for him. There were no signs of demigods in purple shirts searching for someone and... well... it made me really upset: why would they not go looking for Jason? Were they glad he was gone? Was there something he isn't telling us?

Annabeth was also pacing, checking, double checking and triple checking that everything was in order: the white we come in peace flag had been hoisted high up on the mast, the ballistae had been locked down, we'd convinced Hedge to take the morning off in his cabin watching a martial arts program, she had reviewed the plan with the rest of us and was now mumbling it to herself as she paced.

Piper was also muttering to herself, pacing, too (why was everyone pacing?!) practicing her lines: lower your weapons. We just want to talk. Her charmspeak was disarmingly powerful, making me want to put my sword -which was secured in its scabbard at my hip- down on the deck floor.

Leo was happily steering the ship, seemingly the only on above deck apart from myself who wasn't pacing. I was glad for that.

He gave me a madman's grin which I returned, noting that he'd had way too much caffeine this morning, but who am I to judge.

I felt a shiver being sent down my spine, like Jack frost or a psychotic snowman was breathing down my neck. Turning, I found no one there which was arguably worse. If there was the snowman there, then at least I could beat it up; I can't beat up the air... can I? I've never tried... huh. Worth a shot someday before my impending doom actually comes into play.

I caught Annabeth's eye and was about to go over to her and ask her if she felt that chill too or if I was going insane when, in the valley, horns sounded. The Romans had spotted us.

Jason strode over to the prow of the ship, looking really calm, and stayed there, unmoving as we continued. My Wise Girl had decided that it would be the best move if there was a familiar face at the front, encouraging the Romans to not kill us.

When she posed this plan to us, a few hours before we set sail, Lightning Boy had visibly paled, but agreed. I asked him if he was alright once we were on board (after Annabeth had refused Leo and I's suggestion of painting "WASSUP?" in big red letters on the belly of the ship with a smiley face) he had nodded and told me that he was fine, so I let it drop, this time. I won't if anything similar happens again.

Looking down now, my breath hitched and caught in my throat as I gaped at a camp probably twice the size of my home, ringed by the Oakland Hills and had a beautiful river snaking around one side like the letter G, emptying into a large, sparkling lake.

The city of New Rome gleamed in the sunlight by said lake: there were temples, parks, colourful villas and a whole freaking coliseum. Wow, they live in luxury.

As I hurried to Jason's side and leaned over the rail to get a better look at this fantastic place, dozens of kids in togas were streaming out of what I could only assume to be the Senate House to get a better view of us and Leo's handywork (and I helped a bit, but not much really). More Romans came from shops and cafés, gawking and pointing up at us.