"Dude!"

Princess of the Amazons

Jason, Percy, Piper, and Annabeth have traveled to New Rome for the holidays

While they are there, Hylla shows up with an extra person. Her daughter. It's Jason and Percy's job to watch over her while Piper, Reyna, Annabeth, Hazel, Hylla, and Frank visit the new edition to New Rome.

"Honestly I don't see the big deal with staying behind, Percy, you'll just complain anyways." Annabeth told Percy.

He sat down heavily on the lavish purple couch in the conference room. "It wouldn't be a big deal if you told me and Jason exactly what we were watching."

"Exactly." Jason pointed out from behind Piper, who was fussing over a slight injury from the ride over to New Rome.

"Oh, shut up, it's not like it's going to be a monster or something deadly." She reasoned.

Percy and Jason shared a look. Percy turned his head back to the girls. "From what I know about Reyna, or should I say, the legion, I wouldn't be surprised if the left us a-I don't know- a manticore." He waved his hands.

"Why would they do that?"

"I don't know, but they could."

"You're just upset because you can't see the new Neptune statue." Annabeth wrinkled her nose at him.

He sighed and tried to hold back a smile. Jason laughed.

He surveyed the room. Countless times he had held a meeting with all the officers and fellow praetor in here. So why did it feel so unfamiliar, so unwelcoming?

The white chiseled walls stood tall and gleaming and round cylindrical towers ran the length of them. Silky, grape colored cloth draped the windows and large curtains were pulled aside by golden ropes, leaving a majestic view outside the window. The chairs around the circular table were all pushed in and had scratchy, but pretty, cushions and strings decorated the corners. Lanterns were above each opening of the room. An out of place looking drink and vending machine stood dusty in the far corner. Beside it was the beautiful couch that Percy was resting on. Annabeth was mindlessly picking off loose strings from the furniture.

Piper sighed. "Hm?"

She looked back to Jason. "Oh? It's just really peaceful here."

Jason raised an eyebrow. This room that they were standing in, despite its beautiful qualities, had seen hostile attacks and attempts of overthrow of praetorship. He wasn't going to mention anybody but *cough* Octavian *cough*

Piper snorted. " I can't believe I said 'peaceful' in a Roman demigod camp."

"You're right." He smiled.

Percy swung off the couch. He walked over to the window and placed his hands on the sill. "Hey, I see Reyna, and... Hylla?"

"What?" Annabeth strode over. "Hazel and Frank too. Is that a baby?"

Jason groaned. "Pleeease tell me that's not what we are watching."

Piper giggled. "Looks like it is."

Percy was just staring outside the window still, watching with childlike awe. Had he never seen a baby? With the way he was staring, it seemed so.

"They're coming in!" Annabeth jogged over to the door. Her converse made smacking noises when her feet made contact with the hard marble floor. With a squeak, she stopped and pulled the large handle of the door.

"Hello!"

Jason could hear the crunching of gravel underfoot and the coos and awes of the people following.