As a Roman (Prequel to The Lost Hero)

1: The Mysterious Arrival

A/N:

And what do we have here?!? ANOTHER update? In One Day? What is this?

Okay, here's the story. This was written as the original first chapter. . . when I decided I wanted a prologue for a change. Sooooo. . .

Honestly, this is random, but. . . I keep thinking there's someone looking over my shoulder when I'm on my iPod in the kitchen. Wierdness of weirdness. Lol.

Anyway. . . enjoy and all that. I will update once I get 3 votes and comments. Or sooner, but I really must update my Leo Valdez fanfic. Ugh.

Again, this chapter is pathetically short. I did say it was a short story, though! And sorry if I swear, but I think that makes it seem more realistic. Teens don't go around saying "gosh darn it, I broke my dang nail. Shoot." Ehehe. Okay, now just get on with the reading.

"DAMN YOU, YOU FLIPPING IDIOT!"

The words stung. Like a slap to the face. Cato, who was the receiver of that insult, cringed and turned to face the speaker.

"What did I do this time?!?" he cried, exasperated.

"Oh, nothing much. Just. . . hmm, let me think for a moment. . . oh yeah! You destroyed my art project! Literally! It was totally gonna win a prize in the art competition! And. You. Killed. It!!!!" Octavian glared at him. If looks could kill, any other boy would be lying in a casket right about now. . . but not Cato. He was one of the toughest kids at camp. A "bad boy" as some of them called him. He certainly looked the part. Leather jacket, all black clothes, thick mop of black hair. He had tanned skin, and a fairly deep voice. He was almost six feet tall, at only sixteen. All of the Venus girls-and some others-swooned over him. But he didn't have a girlfriend. All the ones that liked him were shallow and superficial, vindictive and manipulative. Not his type.

He glanced at Octavian. How he despised that jerk. Of course, he was pretty tight with Reyna and Jason, the praetors, and crossing him could be a bad idea. Very bad indeed.

Cato had a few friends at Camp Jupiter, the only place children-or sometimes descendants-of the Roman gods were safe. Cato was a legacy himself, not a demigod. One of the gods, though he still hadn't found out, was his ancestor. He was pretty sure it was his great-grandpa, since he was the only one who was out of the picture when his spouse had children. Apparently, he and his great-grandma had met one night, and, well. . . . a few months later his grandma had discovered she was pregnant. She never saw Cato's great-grandpa again.

Cato had yet to be claimed. It was annoying that other kids thought he was inferior because his godly ancestor wasn't his parent like theirs. Making him less powerful, apparently. A load of crap, if you asked Cato.

Octavian was a legacy as well, one of Apollo. He was older than Cato, and they looked nothing alike. Octavian was tall, skinny, and blond. Ugly. And he fancied himself an augur, and liked to stab plushies.

Cato hated his guts. And he was pretty sure the feeling was mutual.

"Honestly, Octavian, shut up. How can Reyna put up with you!?" then Cato walked away.

***

Cato walked into the Dining Hall. He was hungry.

"Cato?" came a voice, that of a young boy. "Can I ask you a question?"

Cato turned around to see Jason Grace, a kind boy looked like a surfer. He was fufteen, younger than Cato, and a son of Jupiter. And he was a praetor.

"Yeah. What?"

"Um. . . it's kind of private. Can you come with me?" he smiled apologetically.

"Sure." Cato sighed, and followed him out of the cafeteria and into his private rooms. As a praetor, you get that kind of luxuries.

Jason sat down on his bed, and motioned for Cato to sit on a chair opposite.

"So, what's up?" Cato asked.

"It's about Reyna. . ." he began.

"Yeah?" Cato prompted.

"I think-that is, I'm pretty sure-she likes me. And not in a "we're-good-friends" kind if way."

"Ah. I see. So what do I have to do with this?" Cato asked, puzzled.

"I want advice. It's just. . . you've had so many girls like you, and so you must know how to deal with that, right?"

"Totally!" Cato grinned. "So, do you like her as well?"

"Well, yes. . .but not in that way!"

Cato looked at him. "Oh. That's my problem, actually. But Reyna's not as bad as the girls who latch onto me. Just tell her very politely, you don't feel the same way about her. If she tries anything like that."

"Okay. Thanks, Cato. I knew you could help!" Jason smiled, Cato grinned back.

"Glad I could help you, Grace. Good luck, anyway."

Cato walked outside, smiling. Jason was funny. He looked up to Cato, apparently.

Cato headed back towards the cafeteria.

"Hi, Cato!" One of the girls who'd asked him out recently-also one he'd turned down, apparently one of the tenacious ones-smiled at him. She was an attractive-in-a-fake-way girl, with red hair and tan skin. Not a natural combination.

She was makeup-encrusted, as usual. He was pretty sure she was one of the Venus kids.

"Hi," he said reluctantly.

"So, I was wondering, how are you?" she asked, batting her eyelashes furiously.

"I'm fine. How are you? You don't look too good. . . have you got something in your eye?"

She scowled. "No, I don't."

"Okay, then. I have to go. See you around!"

She glared at his retreating back, mumbling something about being underappreciated.

Cato chuckled. He sat down at a table with one of his friends, a tall, heavy boy with brown hair named Joe.

"They're still hitting on you, huh?" he said.

"Yup," Cato said, sighing.

"Must be annoying, having hot girls drool over you," he said sarcastically.

"Honestly, Joe!" Cato said exasperatedly. "If I could trade places with you, I would!"

"I'm sure."

"Joe, quit it."

Joe grinned. "I'm just messing with you, man!"

Cato rolled his eyes, and took a bite of his sandwich (turkey and Swiss cheese). "Well, stop, okay?"

"Yes, sir!" Joe saluted him.

Sometimes Joe could be a real pain in the ass. But he was his best friend. He was a son of Mercury. He'd be a cool ancestor, Cato thought. Maybe I'll be claimed soon. . .

Maybe even this month. He'd been at camp for three years now, anyway. If he didn't get claimed now, he'd never get claimed. That would be just his luck.

Then a small girl named Claudia ran into the room, looking excited. Her eyes were wide.

"They just found a demigod! She's been surviving on her own for seven whole years! She just appeared in the entrance!"