DIVINE » l. valdez

xviii

❝for the moment we've got danger on the run ❞

Leo had to peel Hina off the deck and lead her to the cabins. She was exhausted, and unsure if she wanted to hear why they just fought off an army of nature spirits.

She showered and changed before begrudgingly heading to the mess hall to eat. Coach Hedge took the helm of the ship, letting the eight demigods to gather. It was the first time they had all been together- and the tension was evident. Seeing the seven other in the prophecy all together really solidified what was to come. No more beach days at Camp Half-Blood.

Percy and Jason both reached for the chair at the head of the table, when a spark shot from Jason's fingers. The two boys exchanged a look of 'seriously?' before offering the seat to Annabeth. Jason and Percy sunk into chairs opposite each other. 

The crew exchanged notes from their trips in Salt Lake City, Piper keeping her promise to Hina and not mentioning the attack. Leo's story was more ridiculous than Hina expected, but even Leo's words couldn't lighten the mood.

"So where to now?" Leo asked with a mouthful of pizza. "I did a quick repair job to get us out of the lake, but there's still a lot of damage. We should really put down again and fix things right before we head across the Atlantic."

Hina poked at her pasta salad, her appetite shrinking as she thought about what was waiting for them in Greece. 

Percy was eating a piece of pie, which was completely blue- crust, filling, and whipping cream. Why? Hina wasn't sure.

"We need to put some distance between us and Camp Jupiter," he said. "Frank spotted some eagles over Salt Lake City. We figure the Romans aren't far behind us."

Everyone's faces dropped. Piper spoke up, guilt written all over her face, "I don't suppose we should go back and try to reason with the Romans? Maybe—maybe I didn't try hard enough with the charmspeak."

Jason took her hand. "It wasn't your fault, Pipes. Or Leo's," he added quickly. "Whatever happened, it was Gaea's doing, to drive the two camps apart."

"Maybe if we could explain that, though—"

"With no proof?" Annabeth asked. "And no idea what really happened? I appreciate what you're saying, Piper. I don't want the Romans on our bad side, but until we understand what Gaea's up to, going back is suicide."

"No amount of charmspeak can reason with them, Piper," Hina added.

"She's right," Hazel said. She still looked a little green from her seasickness, but she nibbled on a few saltines. The rim of her plate was studded with rubies and Hina was certain they hadn't been there at the beginning of the meal. "Reyna might listen, but Octavian won't. The Romans have honor to think about. They've been attacked. They'll shoot first and ask questions post hac."

"You're right," Piper decided. "We have to keep going. Not just because of the Romans. We have to hurry."

Hazel nodded. "Nemesis said we have only six days until Nico dies and Rome is destroyed."

Jason frowned. "You mean Rome Rome, not New Rome?"

"I think," Hazel said. "But if so, that's not much time."

"Why six days?" Percy wondered. "And how are they going to destroy Rome?"

"There's more," Piper began timidly. "I've been seeing some things in my knife."

Frank froze, half a spoonful of spaghetti in his mouth. "Things such as... ?"

"They don't really make sense," Piper said, "just garbled images, but I saw two giants, dressed alike. Maybe twins."

Annabeth had her eyes fixed on the screen showing Camp Half-Blood. The monitor was showing footage of inside the Big House, Seymour, the stuffed leopard, snored contently by the fire.