𝓢𝓞𝓝 𝓞𝓕 𝓝𝓔𝓟𝓣𝓤𝓝𝓔

EVANGELINE WASN'T LEFT ALONE WITH THE NEW HOTTIE.
Once they made their way inside the Camp: Reyna, Frank, and Hazel tagged along. The Praetor led the entourage as Frank trailed behind Eva and Hazel, who walked on either side of him.

She didn't really mind, but a part of her couldn't shake the fear that Julia's comment had something to do with it...

Realistically she knew that Reyna would never think that of her, she knew her well enough to not fall for the gossip and exaggerations. But Evangeline had learned to never fully trust someone who claimed to love her. That was something her relationship with her father taught her...

As they walked, shimmering purple warriors stood outside the armory, polishing ethereal swords. Others hung out in front of the barracks.

A young lare chased his dog down the street. And at the stables, a red-tinted lare with the head of a wolf guarded the Unicorns of the Camp.

Evangeline walked with confidence through the streets of her home. Her chin was up as she flashed smiles and greeted the lares who tried to talk to her. She also wasn't blind to those same spirits stopping what they were doing and staring at Percy. Except they stared at him like they wanted his head on a stick.

Percy inched behind Reyna and closer to Eva to look more inconspicuous.

"If you don't want to grab their attention, Getting closer to me won't do it, Pretty Boy." She hummed, bumping his shoulder softly.

He looked at her, his cheeks tinted red, "Am I seeing things?' He asked. "Or are those—"

"Ghosts?" Hazel turned and answered for Eva. "They're Lares. House gods."

"House gods," Percy said. "Like...smaller than real gods, but larger than apartment gods?"

"Oh, Honey, no..."

"They're ancestral spirits," Frank explained. "The Lares are kind of like mascots," He continued. "Mostly they're harmless, but I've never seen them so agitated."

"They're staring at me," Percy said. "That ghost kid called me Greggus. My name isn't Greg."

"Graecus, Darling." Evangeline corrected, his tan face burned redder. She felt a glint of pride at that. "You'll start understanding Latin the longer you're here. Demigods have a natural sense for it. Graecus means Greek."

"Is that bad?" Percy asked her, he gulped and shifted uneasily under her amber eyes.

She shrugged. "Maybe not. You've got that type of complexion, the sexy dark hair and all. Maybe they think you're actually Greek. Is your family from there?"

"Don't know. Like I said, my memory is gone."

"Ah yes, The soap opera." Evangeline hummed, "Well. Romans and Greeks also have an old rivalry. Sometimes Romans use graecus as an insult for someone who's an outsider—an enemy. But I don't see why you'd be an enemy—yet."

Percy didn't look reassured by her words,

They stopped at the center of camp, where two wide stone-paved roads met at a T.

A street sign labeled the road to the main gates as VIA PRAETORIA. The other road, cutting across the middle of camp, was labeled VIA PRINCIPALIS. Under those markers were hand-painted signs like BERKELEY 5 MLES; NEWROME 1
MLE; OLD ROME 7,280 MLES; HADES 2,310 MLES (pointing straight down); RENO 208 MLES; and CERTAIN DEATH: YOU ARE HERE!

The buildings were freshly whitewashed, laid out in neat grids. The barracks had shady porches, where campers lounged in hammocks or played cards and drank sodas. Each dorm had a different collection of banners out front displaying Roman numerals and various animals.

Along the Via Praetoria, tons of shops advertised food, armor, weapons, coffee, gladiator equipment, and toga rentals.

A chariot dealership had a big advertisement out front: CAESAR XLS WANTILOCK BRAKES, NO DENARII DOWN!

At one comer of the crossroads stood the most impressive building: The principa— a two-story wedge of white marble with a columned portico like an old-fashioned bank.

Roman guards stood out front. Over the doorway hung a big purple banner with the gold letters SPQR embroidered inside a laurel wreath.

"Your headquarters?" Percy asked.

Reyna faced him, her eyes cold and hostile. "It's called the principia."

She scanned the mob of curious campers who had followed them from the river. "Everyone back to your duties. I'I give you an update at evening muster. Remember, we have war games after dinner."

The crowd dispersed reluctantly. Some muttered comments about Percy's chances.

"He's dead," said one.

"Would be those three who found him," said another.

"Yeah," muttered another. "Let him join the Fifth Cohort.
Greeks and geeks."

Several kids laughed at that

Evangeline smirked, her eyes narrowing with a touch of mischief.  She walked towards the boy who just spoke with her arm crossed over her chest. "You think you're a funny kid don't you?" She asked, her voice dripping with sweet venom. She used her powers so each word that came next could jab at the boy with extreme accuracy and intensity. Accessing what she could find out about love in his life. "Your jokes are lacking, much like the attention and affection you get from your parents— And you don't even have the excuse of either being Gods. Your mommy's status might have granted you a higher cohort but your family's prestige won't ever buy you the warmth you so desperately overcompensate for with stupid ass jokes."

"Evangeline, Enough." Reyna chided with a strict glare. Evangeline grumbled at the full usage of her name. She knew that meant Reyna wasn't playing with her.

"He started it."  She pouted innocently, but her eyes showed she was proud of herself for hitting the boy where it hurt.

"And I am ending it." Reyna began, "Come Here."

She turned away from the now speechless boy and fell back in line to be beside the boricuan girl.

Reyna's scowl then turned onto the campers, and they cleared off.

"Hazel, Eva. Come with us. I want your reports on what happened at the gates."

"Me too?" Frank said. "Percy saved my life. We've got to let him—"

Reyna gave Frank such a harsh glare that he took a step back.

"I'd remind you, Frank Zhang," She hissed, "You are on Probatio yourself. You've caused enough trouble this week."

Frank's ears turned red. He fiddled with a little tablet on a cord around his neck.

"Go to the armory," Reyna told him. "Check our inventory. I'll call you if I need you."

'"But—" Frank caught himself. "Yes, Reyna." He hurried off.

Reyna waved Hazel, Eva, and Percy towards the headquarters. "Now, Percy Jackson, let's see if we can improve your memory."

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

EVANGELINE KNEW RAW BEAUTY WHEN SHE SAW IT. And the Principa was one gorgeous building. She'd never get over it, every time she went inside she couldn't help but admire it for not only its appearance but all the power within its walls.

On the ceiling glittered a mosaic of Romulus and Remus under their adopted mama she-wolf. The floor was polished marble. The walls were draped in velvet.

Along the back wall stood a display of banners and wooden poles studded with bronze medals. In the center was one empty display stand. Evangeline's face twisted in annoyance and disappointment when she saw it.

So she looked away.

In the center of the room, a long wooden table was cluttered with scrolls, notebooks, tablet computers, daggers, and a large bowl filled with jelly beans. Evangeline had to admit she'd always wondered what it would be like to sit on the other side of that table, but with her rank, cohort, and parentage, it was doubtful she'd ever become Praetor in her lifetime. Even if deep down it was an enticing idea to run for the next election, the truth of the matter was that no one would ever vote for a child of Venus to lead the legion...

Reyna walked behind the table and sat in one of the two high-backed chairs, her dogs Argentum and Aurum standing at her sides. Evangeline felt her heartstrings get pulled on as she stared at the empty seat beside the dark-haired girl. She could still imagine him there, sitting beside Reyna handsomely.

He'd be wearing his toga with his purple praetor cape and eagle medal. His electric blue eyes would be stoic as he worked and talked to the new boy, but they'd soften and turn vibrant when he looked over at Evangeline. He'd give her a gentle and subtle smile, one that caused his scar to curve up and her heart to race. But then he'd go right back to business until he was alone with her—then he'd let himself loosen up...

She hadn't told anyone about her real feelings for Jason. Not even Reyna knew. Sure she would flirt with him shamelessly: anytime and anywhere to be exact. But she never revealed to anyone—not even him—that she truly wanted to be with him.

It was something she hid for dear life, the thought of being that vulnerable with anyone terrified her. However, it was also isolating. Reyna, Hazel, Frank, and everyone she cared about would never understand how his disappearance had actually shattered her.

They knew she was sad, but they didn't know how she'd cry herself to sleep because her heart ached for his return. They didn't know how she still sat on their rooftops at night, hoping he'd show up. Or how their first and only kiss haunted her so much that no matter how many times she kissed someone else to erase it—She'd still think of how electrifying his lips felt on hers.

They didn't know how distraught and heartbroken she was. They had no idea.

I miss you, Jace...

"So..." Percy began, breaking Evangeline out of her thoughts of Jason.

The dog statues bared their teeth and growled. They glared at
him with ruby eyes. Their fangs looked sharp as razors.

Percy froze.

"Easy, guys," Reyna told the greyhounds.

They stopped growling, but kept eyeing Percy as though they were imagining him as kibble.

"They won't attack," Reyna said, "unless you try to steal
something, or unless I tell them to. That's Argentum and
Aurum."

"Silver and Gold," Percy said.

Reyna set her pugio on the table. Her hair was black and glossy as volcanic rock, woven in a single braid down her back. She had the poise of a sword fighter—relaxed yet vigilant, as if ready to spring into action at any moment. The worry lines around her eyes made her look slightly older than she was but she was beautiful to Eva in every way. The epitome of a gorgeous brave warrior.

"We have met," Percy decided. "I don't remember when.
Please, if you can tell me anything—"

"First things first," Reyna said. "I want to hear your story.
What do you remember? How did you get here? And don't
lie. My dogs don't like liars."

Argentum and Aurum snarled to emphasize the point.

Percy told his story—how he'd woken up at the ruined mansion in the woods of Sonoma. He described his time with Lupa and her pack, learning their language of gestures and expressions, learning to survive and fight.

Lupa had taught him about demigods, monsters and
gods. She'd explained that she was one of the guardians spirits of Ancient Rome. Demigods like Percy were still responsible for carrying on Roman traditions in modern times—fighting monsters, serving the gods, protecting mortals, and upholding the memory of the empire.

She'd spent weeks training him until he was as strong and tough and vicious as a wolf. When she was satisfied with his skills, she'd sent him south, telling him that, if he survived the journey, he might find a new home and regain his memory.

None of it seemed to surprise Evangeline. In fact, all of it was pretty ordinary for someone being recruited into the legion—Except maybe for the memory part.

"No memory at all?' Reyna asked. "You still remember nothing?'

"Fuzzy bits and pieces." Percy glanced at the greyhounds. Clearly hiding something.

Evangeline raised an eyebrow. She got a sudden feeling and couldn't stop herself from blurting out, "Who is she?"

Percy faced her, his mouth agape in surprise. He looked hesitant to say anything, but Evangeline's soft gaze convinced him  "I-I don't know. But there's this name I remember...This girl. I think I think we were close...But I'm not sure how."

"Well, you do love her in some way..." She confirmed for him, "Annabeth?" She asked, recalling their talk before they crossed the river.

He nodded,

Reyna spun her pugio. She didn't let their conversation last long. "Most of what you're describing is normal for demigods. At a certain age, one way or another, we find our way to the Wolf House. We're tested and trained. If Lupa thinks we're worthy, she sends us south to join the legion. But I've never heard of someone losing his memory. How did you find Camp Jupiter?"

Percy told them about the last three days—the gorgons who wouldn't die, the old lady who turned out to be a goddess and finally meeting Evangeline, Hazel, and Frank at the tunnel in the hill.

Hazel and Evangeline took the story from there.

Reyna studied him. "You're old for a recruit. You're what sixteen?"

"I think so," Percy said.

"If you spent that many years on your own, without training or help, you should be dead. A son of Neptune? You'd have a powerful aura that would attract all kinds of monsters."

"Yeah, " Percy glanced at the redhead next to him. "I've been told that I smell."

The corners of Evangeline's lips curved upwards, "Guilty."

Reyna almost cracked a smile, "You must've been somewhere before the Wolf House." She said.

"Where else is there to go for a demigod?" Evangeline questioned

Reyna sighed. "Where they can be safe? Nowhere else I can think of. But, the dogs haven't eaten him, so I suppose he is telling the truth."

"Great," Percy spoke sarcastically. "Next time, can I take a polygraph?"

Reyna stood. She paced in front of the banners. Her
metal dogs watched her go back and forth.

"Even if I accept that you're not an enemy," She verbalized, "you're not a typical recruit. The Queen of Olympus simply doesn't appear at camp, announcing a new demigod. The last time a major god visited us in person like that..." She shook her head. "I've only heard legends about such things. And a son of Neptune...that's not a good omen. Especially now."

'What's wrong with Neptune?' Percy asked. "And what do you mean, "especially now?"

Hazel and Evangeline shot him a warning look.

Reyna kept pacing. "You've fought Medusa's sisters, who haven't been seen in thousands of years. You've agitated our Lares, who are calling you a graecus. And you wear strange symbols—that shirt, the beads on your necklace. What do they mean?"

Evangeline looked down at his tattered orange T-shirt. It might have had words on it at one point, but they were too faded to read.

She wrinkled her nose at how terrible the condition of it was. Not only was the orange an ugly shade of pumpkin but It was worn to shreds, he definitely should have gotten rid of it a while ago. —Holy Venus there are those abs!

like a washboard! I'll be his dirty laundry—

Eva no! She chided herself Be respectful and Look away!

Okay, wait, wait...Just one last glance... hot damn! Okay now look away!

As for the necklace, the four clay beads were each decorated with a different symbol. One showed a trident. Another displayed a miniature Golden Fleece. The third was etched with the design of a maze, and the last had an image of a building—maybe the Empire State Building?

Percy looked defeated, "'I don't know," he said.

"And your sword?" Reyna asked.

Evangeline honestly had no clue that he had a sword on him.

But when Percy checked his pocket. He pulled out a pen and uncapped it. What originally looked like a normal blue-capped ballpoint pen grew into a shimmering bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip, and a flat hilt riveted with gold studs.

"That's celestial bronze!" Evangeline gasped, "Why would you have celestial bronze."

"What is that?" Hazel asked. "I've never seen a sword like that"

" I have, " Reyna said darkly. "It's very old—a Greek design. We used to have a few in the armory before—" She stopped herself. "Like Eva said the metal is called Celestial bronze. It's deadly to monsters, like Imperial gold, but even rarer."

"Imperial gold?" Percy asked.

Reyna unsheathed her dagger. Sure enough, the blade was gold. "The metal was consecrated in ancient times, at the Pantheon in Rome. Its existence was a closely guarded secret of the emperors - a way for their champions to slay monsters that threatened the empire. We used to have more weapons like this, but now... well, we scrape by. I use this dagger. Hazel has a spatha, a cavalry sword. Most Legionnaires use a shorter sword called a gladius. Eva—"

Evangeline squealed before Reyna could even finish, "Baby it's your time to shine!" She grinned, while pulling the hairpin out of the top knot she piled her hair into at the river. Her red locks fell over her shoulders in flame-like waves.

She flipped it over in her hand, and In seconds, her fulham gladius was drawn. The pearls and rubies on the handle sparkled brightly. "Her name is Flamma amoris— The flame of love. This, is a  Roman sword."

Reyna nodded, used to Eva's outgoing personality. "That weapon of yours is not Roman at all. It's another sign you're not a typical demigod. And your arm..."

"What about it?" Percy asked.

Reyna held up her own forearm to reveal her tattoo. the letters SPOR, a crossed sword and torch, and, under that, four parallel lines like score marks.

Percy glanced at Hazel who had been silent.

"We all have them," she confirmed, holding up her arm.
"All full members of the legion do."

Hazel's tattoo also had the letters SPOR, but she only had one score mark, and her emblem was different a black glyph like a cross with curved arms and a head.

Evangeline held her arm out before Percy could ask, already getting the sense that he wanted to see hers. Again, there were the letters SPOR with four score marks. Her emblem was a circle with a small cross below it.

Percy looked at his arms. A few scrapes, some mud, but no tattoos.

"So you've never been a member of the legion, " Reyna said. "These marks can't be removed. I thought perhaps."

She shook her head, as if dismissing an idea.

Hazel leaned forward. "If he's survived as a loner all this time, maybe he's seen Jason."

Evangeline's entire body seized up at the mention of his name. She took a step away from the group. Percy noticed her change in mood, glancing at her for a moment.

Hazel addressed Percy. "Have you ever met a demigod like us before? A guy in a purple shirt, with marks on his arm—"

"Hazel." Reyna's voice tightened. "Percy's got enough to worry about."

Percy touched the point of his sword, and Riptide shrank back into a pen. "I haven't seen anyone like you guys before. Who's Jason?"

Evangeline quietly wrapped her hair back into a bun and pinned it up with flamma amoris. She crossed her arms over her chest, the pressure within it kept her silent.

Reyna gave Hazel an irritated glance. "He is...He was my colleague." She waved her hand at the second empty chair next to her. "The legion normally has two elected praetors. Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, was our other praetor until he disappeared last October."

Percy furrowed his eyebrows like he was concentrating on something, or in this case, calculating something. "You mean he's been gone—eight months, and you haven't replaced him?'"

"He isn't dead," A pained sound erupted out of Evangeline's lips without her consent. She grimaced at the thought of death getting anywhere close to the boy she held such strong feelings for. At the thought of someone else sitting in that chair while he was nowhere to be found. The ambiguity of his well-being almost killed her. She wished she knew something—anything. Even if he left because he was tired of it all, she wished she'd have the confirmation, maybe that could kill the pain and erase him from her heart. ..." And Jason Grace isn't easily replaceable... We haven't given up on him..."

"Elections only happen in two ways, " Reyna revealed, taking the attention off her grieving friend. "Either the legion raises someone on a shield after a major success on the battlefield—and we haven't had any major battles—or we hold a ballot on the evening of June twenty-fourth, at the Feast of Fortuna. That's in five days."

Percy frowned, the poor boy looked so lost. "You have a feast for tuna?"

Evangeline cracked a smile, despite her thoughts of Jason. She was easily amused by the dorky but incredibly fine-looking boy. She couldn't believe how serious he was too. He's so lucky that he's pretty

"Fortuna," Hazel corrected. "She's the goddess of luck.
Whatever happens on her feast day can affect the entire rest of the year. She can grant the camp good luck ... or really bad luck."

Reyna, Eva, and Hazel glanced at the empty display stand. All of them thinking about the golden eagle that was meant to be there.

Percy's face turned grim. "The Feast of Fortune...The Gorgons mentioned that. So did Juno. They said the camp was going to be attacked on that day, something about a big bad goddess named Gaia, and an army, and Death being unleashed. You're telling me that day is this week?"

Evangeline frowned at the sound of that.

Reyna's fingers tightened around the hilt of her pugio.
"You will say nothing about that outside this room," She ordered. " I will not have you spreading more panic in the camp."

"So it's true, " Percy said. "Do you know what's going to
happen? Can we stop it?"

"We've talked enough for now" Reyna decided. "Hazel, Eva, take him to Temple Hill. Find Octavian. On the way, you can answer Percy's questions. Tell him about the legion."

Hazel nodded, "Yes, Reyna."

"Got it Rar—" Reyna gave her a pointed look. One that told her if she called her by her nickname in front of them she'd make their next training session unbearable. "—ayna"

"Eva." Reyna continued, "Do not- I repeat to you Evangeline--Do not get into trouble. I do not want to hear that Octavian was punched in the nose and that for the third time this month, I must think of another way to save your sweet behind."

"Oh, so you think my behind is sweet?" Evangeline wiggled her eyebrows with a eat shitting grin. "Good to know, My Praetor." She winked.

Reyna glared, she'd known her long enough and well enough to build an immunity to her silly flirting. Even if it did cause her cheeks to blush with heat. "Evangeline Delilah Bellerose."

Evangeline pursed out her lower lip. "Fine. I'll do my very best but that guy is suchhhhh aaaa painnn." She whined, "He doesn't even make moves on me and I still get annoyed at every little word that comes out of his mouth. On another note, He's either gay or Something seriously has to be wrong with him—because I mean just look at me." Eva signaled to her face and body with a sense of ultimate pride. And as she did, she felt a pair of eyes subtly watching her movements.

Reyna shook her head, accepting quickly that that was the best answer she was going to get from the Redheaded girl. She made it clear the audience was over by sheathing her pugio. The metal dogs stood and growled, inching towards Percy.

"Good luck with the augury, Percy Jackson," she said. "If Octavian lets you live, perhaps we can compare notes...about your past."