As a Roman (Prequel to The Lost Hero)

7: Realizations

Hello everyone!

I'm planning on ending this story, very soon... so... yeah. Just thought you should know. If there's anything you want to change about it (PLEASE, NO CHARACTERS!!!!), feel free to tell me (that rhymes. #YOLO).

I'm sorry if this sucks, 'cause it kinda does... I'm running into writers' block with this story.

AND THERE WAS A FREAKING MAJOR PLOT TWIST...

Enjoy it while it lasts... DUN DUN DUN...

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Cato had begun to realize that there was something Sophia was hiding. Definitely. And he intended to find out what.

It was a month later, and he knew she was lying to him. He'd been fooled by her pretty looks and convincing time.

But he was absolutely sure she was lying. He had proof-well, for himself, anyway. He'd seen her in the cabin when she thought she was alone, muttering a word in a language that sounded like it could have been Greek, looking at a picture of someone who he couldn't really make out-but that person was clearly a demigod, because it had a sword in its hand and the picture was modern-looking.

She must have known she was a demigod for a while, maybe even had been friends with some of them.

Cato hadn't spoken to her since that discovery. He felt betrayed. He had thought they'd become friends that night in the dorm, when they'd exchanged stories about their families. Or when they'd won the War Game together. But clearly, that was all a trick. She didn't care for him any more than she cared for the rest of this camp.

Well, he thought, I'll have to tell Reyna and Jason. But I'll confront her first and give her a chance.

And so one day, he invited her for a walk in the woods where the War Games had been held.

"Um, sure," she agreed reluctantly. "Why?"

"Because Joe hates walking and I need a walk, and I'll look stupid on my own," he replied. "Come on."

He led her through the woods. When they walked for about twenty minutes and were away from the rest, he stopped and looked at her. Right at her, his dark eyes meeting her emerald ones.

"So. Apparently Ellie was right."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she stared at him.

"You were lying to me," he said, his voice getting louder. "I saw the picture and heard you speak in some other language. Do you think I'm some kind of an idiot?"

"I don't know, you fell for that trick pretty easily! All I had to do to fool you was bat my eyelashes and you were sold. You're just as stupid as everyone else here. Everyone but Ellie, who realized it. But even she I managed to convince. And you... you were easy," she said harshly.

Cato felt a heavy feeling in his stomach. "I can't believe you. Was that hole story about your family a lie, too?"

"Partially," she confirmed. "I am from Ireland. But my family is still alive and well."

"And you knew you were a demigod before, right?"

"Yes. I was at another camp... and I don't know why I'm telling you this. I guess you've figured it out anyway."

Cato would have smirked, if he didn't feel horrible.

"The camp was for children of the gods in their Greek aspect. I was one of them..."

"You couldn't be a daughter of Bellona then, could you?"

"No. You're right. I'm not." She sighed and sat down on a rock across from him. "I guess you're going to turn me in?"

"Maybe."

"Well, why else would you drag me out here and interrogate me?"

"I just want to know the truth, okay? That's all. Why you're here. But if I find out you're endangering the camp, I'll have to turn you in."

"I see." She took a breath and looked down, and a strand of her fiery hair fell on her face. Cato had an urge to brush it away-and then he realized she'd betrayed him and he hated her.

"Well," Sophia began, "I'm Greek. My parent... I don't tell anyone who it is, much less you. So yeah.

"I was sent here to find out more about the Romans. We're enemies, and my camp wanted to discover what your weaknesses are. Rachel, our... augur, I guess you'd call her, I dunno... she predicted an attack on you, and we decided to send people to get an inside look on you. Weaken some of you if necessary. More people were supposed to come with me, but they didn't. We decided it would be less suspicious if only one of us went. I was the best spy-my dad was part of the MI6 before he retired and married my mum, and he sort of trained me-so I went."

"Oh." Cato looked at her. "So you basically want to kill us all before we can hurt you?"

"Yeah... pretty much."

"Great. I can't let you do that."

"I know you can't. Just like I can't let you stop me," she said, and stood up. "I'll have to use the mist on the whole camp to make sure you forget about me. I don't want to, but..." she looked at him. "The truth is, Cato... I care for you and I know you feel the same, but what we want will never work."

"That's one thing we agree on," he said, his expression softening. "Sophia... can't you avoid this some way? Maybe now that you know we'll have a war or whatever, can't we stop it? Have the Romans and Greeks come to some kind of an agreement?"

"I want it as much as you do, Cato. But I can't do anything about it. Neither of us can. We've never gotten along."

"But we could," he pressed, rising and walking toward her. The last words he spoke were in barely a whisper, "we could do it. I know we can."

She looked at him. "Cato..."

"Stop. We can do it. We'll think of a way. Together," he said.


Sophia started to protest, but he stopped her with his lips, cupping her face with his hand. Sophia kissed him back, then seemed to realize what they were doing and pulled away. "Cato, I can't get attached to anyone. You know that."

"Yeah. I know. I'm sorry. That was stupid."

"Yes, it was. But I didn't dislike it." She almost smiled.

"Well," Sophia said, "if we're going to save the world as we know it, it's time to get to work. Whatever happens, don't tell anyone."

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I'm sorry romance haters, I was listening to the symphonic version of Ilargia (by Ken Zazpi) and it didn't help much, plus I think that worked alright... idk. Sorry. I know it's rushed. Jeez. It's going to be rushed. I'm sorry. But there's no going back, plus, I'm going to finish this ASAP because I can't write six stories at once.

Oh and then for those who like romance, yay they had their first kiss. Fun. Never mind.........

Okay. I'm done now.