The Mark of Janus (Book 2)

Chapter 1

Why would the Romans ever, in their right mind, make an exploding statue god? It's complete bullshit.

My nerves were already jumbled. We were going to see Percy, and had to hope we wouldn't be shredded to a kajillion pieces. Not to mention we would be meeting the other two members of the quest.

No offense, but I was too worried to think about the other members.

I hadn't seen Percy in over a decade, and now it was the moment that he had promised would come all those years ago. The only problem was the fact that we had both changed since then. At least, I hoped we had changed. It would be a little awkward if there were just two 16 turning 17 year olds acting like they were four. Since we had both changed, I felt almost sure that he wouldn't like me. I didn't know why, but I felt like he already had a million reasons to hate me and we still hadn't met. I didn't even know if he remembered me.

I bit my lip nervously, looking to the front of the ship. Jason was standing there, a toga put over his regular clothes. I wanted so badly just to talk to him about my problems, but I felt like a nuisance. I had just woken up from a coma a couple of days ago that had worried him enough. Now he had to deal with bringing the two camps together, and seeing people he didn't remember just a few short months ago. He definitely had enough to deal with on his own.

So I kept all my thoughts internalized. It probably wasn't the best for my mental health, but it was the best I could do for now.

I forced my shaking hands to steady as I placed them on the guard rail, looking down at the hundreds of people pointing up to the ship.

That was when the statue exploded.

My fragile coma body wasn't ready for the explosion. Well, none of us were, but at least the others hadn't been knocked over like they were made of paper.

I winced, standing up, using the railing as a support.

Jason looked at me sympathetically. I waved him off gently as the god started to talk.

"Unacceptable." He wailed. He looked like any standard Roman statue, except he was missing both of his arms.

He continued and I winced, his loud voice not helping the stress levels on the boat. "I will not have weapons over the Pomeranian line. Let alone Greeks."

Jason stepped forward. "Terminus, it's me, Jason Grace."

He nodded. "Oh, I remember you, Jason Grace. I thought you had better sense than to consort with our enemies." He frowned like a disappointed parent.

Piper but in. "We're not enemies. We just want to--"

"Don't try that charmspeak on me, young lady. And put down that dagger before I slap it out of your hands." His brow deepened.

"Um, okay. But how would you slap it? You don't have any arms." She yelped as a loud yellow pop knocked the dagger from her hands.

"It's lucky for you I was just in a battle. If not, I would have knocked this ship out of the sky already."

Annabeth raised her hands, showing the lack of weapons she held. "Let's just talk this out. I'm assuming you're Terminus, the Roman god of boundaries. I'm Annabeth Chase, daughter of--"

She was cut off. "I know who your godly parent is. A child of Athena, Minerva's greek form. Scandalous. We Romans know the true place for the goddess." He sneered.

Annabeth was resisting the urge to clench her fists. "What do you mean scandalous?" She muttered.

Jason stepped between the two. "Anyway, Terminus, we're on a mission of peace. We'd like permission to land--"

"Impossible. Lay down your weapons and surrender. Leave the city immediately."

Leo frowned. "Which one do you want? For us to surrender or leave?"

"Both." He snapped. "Surrender, then leave. I am slapping your face for asking such a stupid question. Do you feel that?"

Leo smirked. Oh gods. "You're pretty wound up in there do you have some gears that need loosening?" He tapped the base of Terminus' statue with a screwdriver, which was promptly blasted out of his hands.

"Weapons are not allowed on Roman soil inside of the Pomeranian line."

I glanced at Jason for clarification. "City limits." He mouthed.

"And you cannot land the ship, the entire thing is a weapon." He stated smugly.

Annabeth gasped slightly, turning to Leo. "Stop the ship."

"What?"

"Stop the ship." Leo did as told as Annabeth turned t Terminus. "There's no rule against hovering over New Rome, is there?"

"Well, no." He muttered.

"We'll keep the ship afloat, and get down using a rope ladder. We'll leave our weapons on board. Technically we won't be breaking any rules."

He nodded. "I do like technicalities."

"I assume even your troops marching towards us will not have weapons inside the line?"

Terminus looked offended. "Well, of course. I don't tolerate rule breakers."

"Good." Annabeth nodded.

Leo muttered. "Annabeth, I'm not sure this is such a good idea."

She dismissed his concerns. "It will be fine. No one will be armed. We can talk in peace." She turned to the god. "Do we have an agreement?"

"I suppose for now." He grumbled. "Try not to destroy my city."