𝓢𝓞𝓝 𝓞𝓕 𝓝𝓔𝓟𝓣𝓤𝓝𝓔

  ON THE WAY TOWARD OCTAVIAN THEY PASSED SOME FAUNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. Evangeline hoped to walk past without a word but she should've known better to think that they'd be left alone by them. Especially by a certain faun who just loved to run over every time he saw her and Hazel walking by. Especially her.

"Evangeline! Hazel!" one of them cried.

Don trotted over with a big dopey grin on his face. He wore a faded Hawaiian shirt and nothing for pants except thick brown goat fur. His massive Afro jiggled. His eyes were hidden behind little round rainbow-tinted glasses. He held a cardboard sign that read: WILL WORK SING TALK GO AWAY FOR DENARII.

"Hi, Donnie, " Evangeline sighed. "I'm sorry hon but we really don't have the time—"

"Oh, that's cool! That's cool!" Don trotted along with them.

"Hey, this guy's new!" He grinned at Percy. "Do you have three denarii for the bus? Because I left my wallet at home, and I've got to get to work, and—"

"Don, " Hazel chided. "Fauns don't have wallets. Or jobs. Or homes. And we don't have buses."

"Right," he said cheerfully, "but do you have denarii?"

"Your name is Don the Faun?" Percy asked.

"Yeah. So?"

"Nothing." Percy fought to keep a straight face, but Evangeline saw the amusement peeking out in the slightest grin. "Why don't fauns have jobs? Shouldn't they work for the camp?"

Don bleated. "Fauns! Work for the camp! Hilarious!"

"You sure are creative, Pretty boy," Evangeline laughed, "Fauns are, um, free spirits, "

Hazel explained further. "They hang out here because, well, it's a safe place to hang out and beg. We tolerate them, but—"

"Oh, Hazel and Evangeline are awesome," Don cheered. "They're so nice! All the other campers are, like, "Go away, Don. "But they're like, Please go away, Don. I love them! Especially Evangeline." Don's voice softened, he turned to Evangeline and admired her, she only smiled nervously. "I'm saving up Denarii for our wedding Evangeline Baby, so why don't you convince that new guy to pitch in!"

Evangeline sighed, tired of repeating herself to the poor faun. "I'm not marrying you, Donnie. I'm never marrying anyone."

The words seemed to go through one ear and out the other, Don kept grinning until he looked at the ground in front of Evangeline and gasped. "Score!"

Hazel screamed as he reached for the diamond, "No! Eva!"

Evangeline heard Hazel's plea for help and pulled Don out of the way, he stumbled closer to her. This allowed Hazel to stuff the gem away into her pocket.

The girls avoided the curious glances Percy sent them.

Evangeline realized they weren't very sneaky or subtle, okay they weren't at all. but she flipped her hair and held her hands on Don's shoulder to distract him. Her main focus was getting the faun to forget what he saw.

"Oh Come on, Evangeline," Don complained. "I could've bought a year's worth of doughnuts with that! Hazel give it b—!"

"Donnie." Evangeline flashed her dimpled smile and the faun fell into a trance. He listened to her intently, sniffing in her sweet scent. Evangeline tried not to wrinkle her nose at the deep inhale. "I really, really want you to Go away. Could you do that for me?"

The Faun sighed dreamily, "Anything for you Evangeline, Goodbye Hazel!"

"Goodbye, Don, " Hazel said quickly. She marched forward. "Let's go, Percy."

She sounded shaken, which concerned Eva greatly.

The younger girl started jogging. Percy and Evangeline had to sprint to catch up.

"Hazelnut! Honey!"

"What was that about?" Percy asked. "That diamond in the road—"

"Pretty boys look much better when they don't ask too many questions," Evangeline advised with a hard look, she moved to walk shoulder to shoulder with Hazel. Leaving the boy to trail behind her.

Despite what most people thought, Evangeline's love for her girlfriends ruled over anything else. She'd throw anyone and everyone under the bus for them.

Percy looked taken aback and honestly a little offended. Evangeline didn't mean to bitch at him, but if there was one person she would bare all her teeth for it was Reyna and Hazel.

She had actual family at camp—other children of Venus or legacies of Venus in different cohorts, but those two were her closest thing to family. They say blood is thicker than water... But Blood never does guarantee love and acceptance.

Hazel looked at Eva with a shake of her head, "It's okay Eva. He's just curious." she said. "Percy, Please...Don't ask..."

They walked in uneasy silence the rest of the way to Temple Hill. A crooked stone path led past a crazy assortment of tiny altars and massive domed vaults. Statues of gods seemed to follow Evangeline with their eyes.

Hazel pointed out the Temple of Bellona. "Goddess of war," she informed, breaking the awkward silence. That's Reyna's mom." Then they passed a massive red crypt decorated with human skulls on iron spikes.

"Please tell me we're not going in there," Percy begged. Surprisingly, he didn't sound fearful. More so annoyed, almost angry, as if the temple reminded him of a nuisance.

Evangeline shook her head. "That's the Temple of Mars Ultor."

"Mars...Ares, the war god?"

"No, Mars. Ares is the Greek name," Evangeline explained. " But Same guy. Ultor means 'the Avenger' He's the second-most important god of Rome. He's my mother's lover or side piece as everyone likes to call it." She rolled her eyes.

Percy looked at Evangeline curiously, "But Aphrodite is married to Hephaestus, right?"

"Yes, Venus and Vulcan are in an arranged marriage." Evangeline nodded, too conscious of the judgments the boy in front of her could be making about her mother and herself to realize he called them by their Greek names. Percy waited, and Evangeline realized he was actually expecting her to explain. She didn't share her thoughts.

Hazel pointed towards the summit. Clouds swirled over the largest temple, a round pavilion with a ring of white columns supporting a domed roof. "That's where we're heading." Hazel's voice sounded edgy. "Octavian reads auguries here—the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus."

Percy had to think about it, but the Latin words clicked into English. "Jupiter...the best and the greatest?"

Evangeline clapped an excited grin on her lips, "See, I told you you'd learn."

"What's Neptune's title?" Percy asked her. "The coolest and most awesome?"

"Oh, honey." Evangeline's excitement died down. She looked to Hazel, "Should I break it to him? Or do you want to?"

Hazel frowned and gestured to a small blue building the size of a toolshed. A cobweb-covered trident was nailed above the door.

Percy peeked inside. On a small altar sat a bow with three dried-up, moldy apples.

His face fell. "Popular place." He quipped miserably.

"I'm sorry, Percy," Hazel said. "It's just ... Romans were always scared of the sea. They only used ships if they had to. Even in modern times, having a child of Neptune around has always been a bad omen. The last time one joined the legion... well, it was 1906, when Camp Jupiter was located across the bay in San Francisco. There was this huge earthquake—"

"You're telling me a child of Neptune caused that?"

"So they say." Hazel looked apologetic.

"Neptune is like the opposite of Venus for Romans." Evangeline shrugged, mostly thinking out loud. "They definitely fear him and his power, but they don't love him much."

Percy stared at the cobwebs on the trident.

He reached into his backpack and dug out the last bit of food from his trip—a stale bagel. He set it on the altar. Evangeline and Hazel watched him carefully, waiting to see what he would do.

"Hey...uh, Dad." He muttered awkwardly. "If you can hear me, help me out, okay? Give me my memory back. Tell me—tell me what to do." His voice cracked.

Evangeline's heart sunk in her chest at the sound of his broken voice. She also knew what it was like to be disoriented, completely alone, and wandering the streets alone in search of home....

The boy was exhausted and likely scared, he'd been lost for so long that he was begging his father for some kind of guidance. Evangeline ached for him. Not knowing who you were? Not remembering any of the things you loved?  Now that just had to be awful.

The girl stepped forward and embraced the son of Neptune without a second thought. He stiffened, not predicting the act of comfort.

Percy only relaxed in her arms shortly after, feeling as she pressed her soft hand in between his shoulder blades to rub at his back softly. He rested his chin awkwardly atop her head and loosely hung his arms around her.

Despite her flirting and goofing off before, Evangeline didn't have any secret intentions and didn't consciously try to rob Percy's affection in any way. She simply wanted to help the boy and let him know that he wasn't alone.

Her father used to tell her that hugging and kissing someone was a way to transfer your love.

Evangeline figured he could use a little love right now...Even if it was by a complete and utter stranger. "Hey, It'll be okay. You're here now. You're one of us."

They broke away, and Percy shifted on his feet, scratching the back of his head. Evangeline didn't miss the flush in his cheeks.

The look on his face made him look so romantic, that Evangeline couldn't help but think he resembled a love interest in one of her romance movies.

She still felt afraid that maybe she had overstepped and made herself look like a desperate fool, so she had to make a joke to ease the tension. "Plus I love a good dip in the ocean. What's life without a little risk?" She hated herself for not thinking before acting. She hated showing too much affection, she liked to stay playful, and frivolous, somehow she felt more in control.

A crooked grin cracked on his lips, and he laughed. "Thank you, Evangeline."

Above them, thunder rumbled. Red lightning lit up the hill.

"Octavian's almost done, " Hazel said. "Let's go."

Compared to Neptune's toolshed, Jupiter's temple was definitely a sight to see. The marble floor was etched with fancy mosaics and Latin inscriptions. Sixty feet above, the domed ceiling sparkled gold. The whole temple was open to the wind.

In the center stood a marble altar, where Octavian stood in his toga doing his Augur rituals in front of a massive golden statue of Jupiter the sky god, dressed in a silk purple toga, holding a lightning bolt.

"It doesn't look like that," Percy muttered.

"What?" Hazel asked.

"The master bolt," Percy said.

"What in the world are you talking about?" Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows.

"I—" Percy frowned. He was struggling to remember something. "Nothing, I guess."

The kid at the altar raised his hands. More red lightning flashed in the sky, shaking the temple. Then he put his hands down, and the rumbling stopped. The clouds turned from grey to white and broke apart.

Octavian was a tall and skinny kid, with straw-colored hair, oversized jeans, a baggy T-shirt, and a drooping toga.

"What's he doing?" Percy murmured to Evangeline. She felt his breath against her ear.

Octavian turned towards him. He had a crooked smile and a slightly crazy look in his eyes. In one hand he held a knife. In the other hand was a butchered stuffed animal.

"I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Evangeline sweetly hummed, "But seriously Octavian, I say this for your benefit— fix that face it's like you want to give off Blonde Norman Bates!"

"The graecus!" Octavian announced. "How interesting."

"Uh, hi," Percy said, this time loud enough so everyone could hear him. "Are you killing small animals?" He looked next to him again, his face twisted in concern. "Evangeline, I think you might be onto something...."

Octavian looked at the fuzzy thing in his hand and laughed.
"No, no. Once upon a time, yes. We used to read the will of the gods by examining animal guts—chickens, goats, that sort of thing. Nowadays, we use these."

He tossed the fuzzy thing to Percy. He caught it and Evangeline saw him flinch and cradle the thing slightly before he properly got a look at it. It was a disemboweled teddy bear. Then Percy noticed that there was a whole pile of mutilated stuffed animals at the foot of Jupiter's statue.

"Seriously?" Percy asked. He glanced at Hazel and Evangeline for answers. The poor boy really was so lost.

"No stuffed animal is safe." Evangeline frowned, remembering the abduction and brutal murder of her childhood bunny. "Rest in Peace, Mr hops-a-lot...."

Octavian stepped off the dais. He was about eighteen, but so skinny and sickly pale, he could've passed for Evangeline and Percy's age. Octavian's eyes glittered with harsh curiosity, like he might gut Percy just as easily as a teddy bear if he thought he could learn something from it.

Octavian narrowed his eyes. "You seem nervous."

"You remind me of someone, " Percy said. "I cant
remember who."

"Possibly my namesake, Octavian—Augustus Caesar. Everyone says I bear a remarkable resemblance."

Evangeline snorted, "Everyone? Oh Octavian, I support your delusions... Have I told you how much I love your unwavering confidence?"

Percy grinned at Eva's comment, addressing Octavian, He asked. "Why did you call me "the Greek"?"

"I saw it in the auguries." Octavian glared at Evangeline, waving his knife at the pile of stuffing on the altar. The message said: The Greek has arrived. Or possibly: The goose has cried. I'm thinking the first interpretation is correct. You seek to join the legion?"

Evangeline and Hazel spoke for him. They told Octavian everything that had happened since they met at the tunnel— the gorgons, the fight at the river, the appearance of Juno, their conversation with Reyna.

When Evangeline mentioned Juno, Octavian looked surprised.

"Juno," he mused. "We call her Juno Moneta. Juno the Warner. She appears in times of crisis, to counsel Rome about great threats."

He glanced at Percy, as if to say: like mysterious Greeks, for instance.

"I hear the Feast of Fortuna is this week," Percy said. "The gorgons warned there'd be an invasion on that day. Did you see that in your stuffing?"

Evangeline smirked. Good one, New boy.

"Sadly, no." Octavian sighed. "The will of the gods is hard to discern. And these days, my vision is even darker."

"Don't you have...I don't know," Percy said, "an oracle or something?"

"An oracle!" Octavian smiled. "What a cute idea. No, I'm afraid we're fresh out of oracles. Now, if we'd gone questing for the Sibylline books like I recommended—"

"The Siba-what?" Percy asked.

"Books of prophecy," Hazel said, "which Octavian is obsessed with. Romans used to consult them when disasters happened. Most people believe they burned up when Rome fell."

"Some people believe that," Octavian corrected "Unfortunately our present leadership won't authorize a quest to look for them—"

"Because Reyna isn't stupid,'" Hazel said.

"Or wasteful." Evangeline hissed. "She's not going to risk her legionnaires for a quest that has no point to it. She's a true praetor..."

"—So we have only a few remaining scraps from the books" Octavian continued with a scowl. "A few mysterious predictions, like these."

He nodded to the inscriptions on the marble floor.

Percy stared at the lines of words. He almost choked.

"That one." He pointed, translating as he read aloud, "In the shadows, where the threads of fate entwine,
Eight half-bloods, their destinies align."

"Yes, yes." Octavian finished it without looking: "—An oath sworn deep, a final breath taken, Powers dormant, from love are awakened. Foes bear arms to Death's abode, The enchantress rising, a destiny foretold. Whispers of irrevocable love's resurrection echo. A fate strung, destiny's dance in tow.."

'I—I know that one." Percy looked pale. That's important."

Octavian arched an eyebrow. "Of course it's important.
We call it the Prophecy of Eight, but it's several thousand years old. We don't know what it means. Every time someone tries to interpret it... Well, these girls can tell you. Bad things happen."

Hazel glared at him. "Just read the augury for Percy. Can he join the legion or not?"

Evangeline began filing her nails, and yes, she pulled out the file from her bra. "Seriously, I don't have all day. I've got training with Reyna and a date with—erm— Aw Fuck what was his name again... Marcellino? Marcus?"

Percy glanced at her, before he could stop himself he blurted out "Do you store everything in there?"

"Mhm." Evangeline nodded, "Candy?" She pulled out a handful of hard candies from her shirt. She held out her hand towards the trio in front of her. "Strawberry? Lemon? Blueberry?"

He glanced at her hand, quickly deciding. "The blue one—"

"Enough!" Octavian smacked the candy out of Evangeline's hand. She pulled her hand away. Cradling it closer to her. The unexpected smack caused her to frown in disappointment.

Percy grimaced.

Evangeline glared at the boy, "You miserable little meerkat! That was good candy!"

Octavian held out his hand for Percy's backpack. "That's a beautiful specimen. May I?"

"Here he goes." Evangeline sighed in exasperation. She looked to Hazel. "I swear if Barney were real this guy would stick him with an ice pick the second he starts singing I love you—"

Octavian snatched the Bargain Mart panda pillow that was sticking out of the top of Percy's pack.

Octavian turned towards the altar and raised his knife.

"Hey!' Percy protested. "My Panda!"

Octavian slashed open the panda's belly and poured its stuffing over the altar. He tossed the panda carcass aside, muttered a few words over the fluff, and turned with a big smile on his face.

"Good news!" he said. "Percy may join the legion. We'll assign him a cohort at evening muster. Tell Reyna that I approve."

"Well, there you go" Evangeline hummed, "Down goes the Panda but at least you get to live another day."

"Err thanks."

Hazel's shoulders relaxed. "Great. Come on, Percy."

"Oh, and, Hazel, "Octavian said. "I'm happy to welcome Percy into the legion. But when the election for praetor comes up, I hope you'll remember—"

"Jason is not dead." Evangeline interrupted him, blowing a strand of hair out of her face with a huff. "And You're the augur of this legion. you're supposed to be looking for our praetor. Not trying to replace him."

"Oh, I am!" Octavian pointed at the pile of murdered stuffed animals. Evangeline frowned when she saw her bunny gutted down the middle atop the pile. She had willingly sacrificed it for some answers, but nothing worthwhile came...

"I consult the gods every day! Alas, after eight months, I've found nothing. Of course, I'm still looking. But if Jason doesn't return by the Feast of Fortuna, we must act. We can't have a power vacuum any longer. I hope you'll support me for praetor. It would mean so much to me."

Evangeline clenched her fists. "Me. Support. You? You're crazy if you think the legion would look to you as their leader."

"So what—" Octavian hissed, he looked her over mockingly  "You think a meretrix like you would be better to lead the legion? You bring shame to all Romans."

"Does your bony little ass want to join your playthings!" Evangeline hissed, She went to lunge but Hazel pulled her back.

"Eva! No!" Hazel held her forearm back before she could swing her fist at Octavian's throat. "Remember what Reyna said!"

Evangeline bit her tongue. She let Hazel pull her back. Her chest rose and fell, her manicured nails dug into her own palms.

"You don't fucking call me that." was all she spat.

Percy sent a cold look to Octavian. "What did he call you—?"

Octavian took off his toga, setting it and his knife on the altar. Revealing the seven lines on his arm for seven years of camp, Octavian's mark was a harp, the symbol of Apollo.

Octavian looked at Hazel, "I might be able to help you. It would be a shame if those awful rumors about you kept circulating...or, gods forbid, if they turned out to be true."

"Octavian I swear to the gods! Don't mess with Hazel!"

Percy took another step to Octavian. His hand was slipped into his pocket where Evangeline figured his pen was.

"No."  Evangeline blocked his hand. "Don't ruin your chances here." She warned.

Evangeline stepped towards Octavian. If she couldn't punch his face in. At least she could get into his head. "Apollo doesn't give a fuck about you. And you're going to die alone if you don't get your shit together and stop acting like a pompous asshole!"

Evangeline twirled on her ankle, and began to storm away "Hazelnut. Ignore him. Let's go."

The younger girl frowned at Evangeline and took a deep breath. Her knuckles paled. She walked behind her. 

Octavian smiled. "By the way, your brother is here... You know... Your dear brother who led you here...."

Hazel stopped, her body stiffened. Evangeline furrowed her eyebrows. Whatever he has on her, he is weaponizing it right now. That dickhead. 

"I'll think about it...." Hazel sighed. "My brother? Wh-Why is he here."

Octavian shrugged. "Why does your brother do anything? He's waiting for you at your father's shrine. Just...ah, don't invite him to stay too long. He has a disturbing effect on the others. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to keep searching for our poor lost friend, Jason. Nice to meet you, Percy.  Evangeline, never a pleasure to see you."

"That's because you have terrible eyesight."  Evangeline stormed out of the pavilion, Hazel and Percy followed.

As Evangeline marched down the hill, she cursed in Latin, mixing in English and a little bit of French. Percy didn't understand all of it, but he got son of a gorgon, power-hungry snake, and a few choice suggestions about where Octavian could stick that knife.

"I hate that guy," Hazel responded in English. "If I had my way-"

"You didn't actually get convinced into voting for him, right?" Evangeline frowned. She ran her hand through her hair. "Hazelnut! He's Octavian! He'd be so terrible if he got a higher-ranking position! And Rar—Reyna would be so miserable! We all would! He can't be Praetor he just can't! You—You could vote for me instead!"

Hazel looked taken aback by her suggestion. "Eva...You want to become praetor?"

Evangeline huffed, she looked down to the concrete. "Forget it..."

Percy intercepted, "There's no way he'll be elected as Praetor...I mean—Right? I wouldn't trust that guy to command a troop of ducks, stuffed or not, let alone a legion of demigods."

"Octavian has a lot of friends, most of them bought. The rest of the campers are afraid of him." Evangeline sighed,

"Afraid of that skinny little guy?" Percy asked, "He doesn't look like that much of a challenge. Frankly, someone just needs to knock him out."

"Don't underestimate him. Reyna's not so bad by herself, but if Octavian shares her power..." Hazel shuddered. "Let's go see my brother. He'll want to meet you, Percy."

"You enjoy that." Evangeline muttered, "It's time for me to go. I'll see you later, Hazel."

Hazel looked at Eva with her golden eyes blown wide in worry.

Evangeline patted her head full of voluminous curls. Which was a display of reassurance, she wanted Hazel to know that she wasn't holding a grudge against her.

Evangeline knew that Hazel was harboring a big secret, one that she never shared in detail with Eva— The most she knew was about her powers as a daughter of Pluto and how sensitive she was to others knowing about them, or worse touching the gems her essence was able to conjure from underground.

Once they grew closer, and the rumors of the younger girl spread through Camp like wildfire— She insisted that Hazel didn't have to tell her until she was ready to talk. In fact, She said that Hazel didn't have to tell her anything at all.

But if it was so bad that Octavian somehow knew and had control over her...Or if Hazel was in danger. Well, she only wished she knew how to help the young girl. She didn't want her to be taken advantage of...

Percy frowned slightly, "You're not coming?"

Evangeline looked at Percy passively. "Yup. I have to meet Reyna. It was nice meeting you. Good luck Peter. Hope Camp Jupiter treats you well and you get those memories back."

His eyebrows furrowed together, he scoffed. "My name is Percy, You know. The Pretty Boy. Son of Neptune? Carried in a Goddess?" His ego seemed to be crushed to dust in seconds. His face soured in confusion. He couldn't fathom the fact she went from talking him up to completely dismissing him. The girl gave him emotional whiplash.

Evangeline shrugged. "Yes, I've been present for like all of that. Guess it slipped my mind."

"You said I'd be able to go to the Roman bathhouses?" Percy reminded in disappointment. His eyebrows furrowed together. "Are you still taking me?"

"We just met and you're already trying to get me into the bath with you?" Evangeline smirked.

"Eva!" Hazel squeaked

Percy choked on his own saliva, he stammered. "Shit, Yes—I mean, Oh Gods wait No, I meant—Just to show me where—!"

"Oh no, Hazelnut it slipped out. I'm sorry. " Evangeline smiled shyly,  She pursed her lips, recalling what she promised the boy, "I did say I'd get you in there huh? Damn. Well, Don't worry someone will take you after you meet Nicky."

"Erm Eva—you do know his name, it's Nico."

"Yes yes. of course." Evangeline muttered, She glanced at Percy, "Anyway, my part in your welcome party is over so Bye bye. I'll see you around I guess—probably."

Evangeline kissed Hazel on the crown of her head before putting one foot ahead of the other.

She waltzed away. Leaving behind the green-eyed boy in Hazel's care. She didn't think much of her leaving them. Figuring that, that was likely the last time she'd ever truly interact with Pretty Boy (yeah she might have forgotten his name again).

Yet, her mind was on a million things as she took the long way toward the Coliseum:

Jason Grace and where he could be.

If he was still thinking about her.

The kiss. That night...

Shoving cotton stuffing down Octavian's windpipe.

The Feast of Fortuna and how it was approaching.

The praetorship elections.

Hazels secret.

How Reyna was desperately spreading herself thin by still working with Evangeline. And how guilty Evangeline was feeling about it...

How she was totally overcompensating with stupid meaningless dates.

And of course, how retail therapy would help ease all this damn stress.

I just need some new earrings I think!

A/N: So I'm finally on breakkkk just have to finish one more thing and I'll be free to write and post more! I hope you enjoyed this chapter !!. There are so many things I have planned for Eva, her backstory, her part in this prophecy, and her relationships with everyone. Also Tate McRae has come out with a new album and the songs are so Eva. Anyways expect more soon and thank you always for the support <333