Shot Through the Heart

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Amoriel had showered to get rid of the machine oil Leo had left on her hair and to wash her grazed forehead that was completely healed from how it had been that morning. She was refreshed with her hair once again  perfectly curled, she was ready for dinner.

Coach Hedge took the helm of the ship so Amoriel felt safe enough to sit next to Leo at the table without a satyr's width between them. Leo was eating his pizza with one hand, and holding hers under the table with his other.

There were still waiting on Percy, Jason and Annabeth and when they arrived, there was a weird energy in the room. Both the boys went to take the seat at the head of the table. Amoriel's water began to shake in the glass and Jason's fingers that held the chair sparked slightly. Ugh... boys. Amoriel rolled her eyes. Jason spared a quick glance at her and she shook her head. He conceded, stepping back and Percy went to take the chair but instead he pulled it out for Annabeth to sit on.

Both boys sat on opposite sides of the table, only adding to the uncomfortable energy.

Then they compared notes on what had happened in Salt Lake City, but even Leo’s ridiculous story about how Amoriel tricked Narcissus wasn’t enough to cheer up the group.

“So where to now?” Leo asked with a mouthful of pizza. Amoriel squeezed his hand under the table to remind him to swallow. He did before he spoke again. “I did a quick repair job to get us out of the lake, but there’s still a lot of work to do." Amoriel smiled to herself. He was so modest. "We should really put down again and fix things right before we head across the Atlantic.”

Percy was eating a piece of pie, which for some reason was completely blue—filling, crust, even the whipped cream. “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.”

That didn’t improve the mood around the table.

Piper fiddled with her eagle feather. “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.”

Amoriel turned to her friend. “ Pipsquick, no. It wasn’t your fault. Or Leo’s,” she added quickly. “ I taught you, it wasn't about your charmspeak, it was Gaea’s doing, to drive the two camps apart.”

Amoriel was confident in what she said, but she still felt uneasy. If Gaea had means to mind control others at her will, she didn't wanted to think about what other powerful weapons she had. Suddenly her Chicken Caeser salad didn't seem so delicious.

Piper was grateful for her support, but she still felt uneasy. “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.”

“She’s right,” Amoriel said with a grim look. “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.” Amoriel bowed her head and Leo ran his thumb over the back of their joined hands.

"We have to save Nico." She said and 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?”

"It must be." Amoriel pointed out. "It's no coincidence that Porphyrion talked about the roots of the gods - Rome is the root of the Romans, if the city is destroyed, they'll have more reason to destroy the Greeks and then we won't be able to stop the attack on Greece. I have to admit it's a good plan." She said and Annabeth looked at her with an impressed look.