Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Just a reminder for those who don’t remember or haven’t read the first part (in which case, go read it! Haha) that the characters and their dynamics have been modified for the sake of this fanfiction.
So if some situations feel a bit different or not entirely in line with the books, that’s why. Also, some characters are older—mainly because I didn’t feel comfortable writing certain dynamics while thinking of them as minors. 😊

The first chapter is coming soon! Hope you like it!

Chapter Text

The city of New Rome was buzzing, vibrant with energy and color, as its streets filled with voices and swift footsteps. The warm October air infused the atmosphere with a sense of urgency that permeated every corner of the city. Typical of California, the heat seemed unwilling to relent, but today there was something different. It wasn’t just the frenzy of everyday preparations, but a frenzy that bordered on excitement. It was the time for the grand festival, a week-long celebration that New Rome had organized to welcome a delegation of Greek demigods. An unprecedented event, designed to strengthen the bonds between the two worlds—Roman and Greek—that, despite sharing many stories and legends, had always lived separately, with only a direct encounter able to reduce the distance between them.
The news of the Greek demigods' visit had triggered a wave of unprecedented preparations. The city was transforming into a grand stage, ready to host not only gods and warriors but also the demigods and deities that had shaped the lives of entire generations. The preparations were so intense that even New Rome itself seemed to breathe in rhythm with what was about to happen. Temples were being decorated with garlands and flags in vibrant colors, while the usually quiet and solitary squares filled with stalls offering delicacies from all regions of the empire, as if each one wanted to show itself at its best. Ovens churned out fragrant food, while kitchens worked tirelessly, preparing sophisticated dishes to satisfy the tastes of the dignitaries who would soon arrive. Even the fountains, usually tranquil, were now adorned with colorful flowers and pots of fragrant oils, creating a magical setting at every corner of the city.
But the enthusiasm in New Rome wasn’t just about food and decorations. The fighting arenas, usually reserved for more serious and dangerous competitions, were now ready to host a series of games. The legions, trained for months, were reviewing their moves with determination, trying to sharpen not just their swords, but their competitive spirits. Chariot races, where the best riders from Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-blood would challenge each other on the same track, had already been meticulously planned. It was said that the Greeks were masters of the art of racing, and the Romans were eager to prove they could hold their own against their ancient rivals. Traditional dances, representing centuries of history, were being rehearsed under the guidance of the city’s best choreographers, ready to offer a display of lights and colors that would enchant anyone present.
There were also individual challenges, such as the power struggle between demigods, who could not resist the temptation to test themselves in front of such a large audience. Athletes, gods, and legends were preparing for the week that promised to be epic—not just in terms of physical challenges. The real challenge, the one New Rome had aimed to build with this celebration, would be the chance to break down barriers, heal the wounds of the past between the two worlds, and forge a stronger bond between the people of New Rome and Greeks.
Expectations were high, and the atmosphere was thick with palpable tension, as if every step taken, every decision made, could tip the balance of this historic gathering. All eyes in New Rome were focused on the arrival of the Greek demigods, and the city was preparing to offer them a welcome worthy of its greatness. In every corner, there was a sense of magic in the air, as if the event about to take place were destined to write a new chapter in the history of both peoples.
But not everyone was happy about this possibility...

"Those idiots!"
Frank looked at her with a mix of understanding and fear. "It’s not a bad idea."
Reyna shot him a glare. "Then why aren’t they the ones handling it?" She exhaled. "The Senate wants to take credit for this peace? Fine, but it’s easy to do that by ordering a week-long party and leaving all the work to us!" Not to mention all the other problems, she thought. No, it wasn’t the right time for a festival with the Greeks.
"We could add an award for the best praetor…" A pencil flew straight to his head.
Hazel shook her head at the scene. "Frank, shut up." The boy nodded, rubbing his forehead.
The day was drawing to a close, but the activity at the praetor’s headquarters showed no sign of slowing. Reyna and Frank’s office was a blur of voices, desks cluttered with papers and maps, and the incessant sound of quick footsteps echoing down the hall. The grand celebration for the Greek demigods’ arrival was right around the corner, and there was no time to lose. Every detail had to be handled with precision—from preparations for the games, to managing the delegations, to the ceremonial protocols. The entire city was changing, but inside the praetor’s office, the atmosphere was thick with solemn and rigorous energy.
Reyna, her face marked by exhaustion but her eyes locked on the task at hand, was consulting a list of tasks to complete. Occasionally, she would write something down with a firm hand, never hesitating. Despite the frantic pace and her body starting to crave a break, she let nothing slip through the cracks. Every event, every person, every detail had to be considered. It was in her nature, and it was why she had been chosen as praetor.
Frank, sitting across from her, fidgeted with scrolls and safety plans, alternating between reading notes and having quick conversations with some of his subordinates. It was clear that, though more cheerful and relaxed than Reyna, he too was giving his all.
With his younger appearance and slightly more impulsive nature, Frank tried to lighten the atmosphere, but Reyna never let herself get distracted. She moved with a steady calm, like a well-oiled machine that never stopped, even in the face of fatigue.
"Reyna, we need to decide where the Greek demigods will sit during the opening ceremony," Frank said, jotting something down on a scroll and glancing at Reyna. "I was thinking of placing them next to our champions, so it’s clear who won the games. But what do you think? Would that be too provocative?"
Reyna looked up from her list, her eyes fixed on Frank as she pondered for a moment. "No. We need to show respect, but without undermining the authority of the Legion. Place them between the ranks of the Roman officers, but make sure they have a central space. We can’t appear weak, but we can’t seem arrogant either." Her voice was calm and measured, as always, but her face betrayed a slight sign of weariness.
"I understand," Frank replied, noting the change on the plan. "I just wanted to make sure everything was perfect."
"Maybe you can put the prophecy kids near the champions," Reyna said. "Oh, maybe a bit more centrally."
No one said it out loud, but everyone knew that the most important event would be the reunion of the great seven from the prophecy after a year. Even though tensions between the Greeks and Romans were still high, the Seven were considered true heroes by both sides. In New Rome, fan clubs even existed for each one of them.
Both Frank and Hazel grimaced almost disgusted at the thought. "No, please."
Bellona’s daughter nodded silently.
"You should be there too, along with Nico and Hedge," Hazel added with slight disapproval.
"Exactly," Frank agreed. Reyna shrugged, not upset about the lack of recognition. And she knew Nico wasn’t either. Both of them preferred to deal with their personal matters without people watching them or writing fanfiction about them (oops).
"I have enough to think about as Praetor; I don’t want to be a sideshow attraction too," she said while moving some papers, then realizing what she had said, she turned to the two. "Sorry."
Both shook their heads and got back to work.
"And what about the games? We need to put Greek demigods in charge of the different teams, right?"
"Exactly," Reyna said without hesitation. "Put one of them in charge of each competition, but they’ll need to follow our rules, Frank. This isn’t just an entertainment event."
"It’s a matter of diplomacy." She paused for a moment, staring at Frank with a more intense gaze. "And I want maximum security. No room for distractions."
Frank nodded quickly, continuing to write. "Security first, of course. And for the official speeches, have you decided who will speak for Rome? Is there anyone we need to invite to represent us?"
Reyna took a deep breath, her face remaining impassive despite the heavy workload. "I’ll handle the speeches myself," she said with determination. "I think it’s important for me to represent the Legion on an occasion like this. We need to show unity."
"There’s no doubt about that," Frank responded with a smile, trying to lighten the weight of the situation. But even he couldn’t shake the pressure weighing on their shoulders. "And what about the accommodation for the Greek demigods? Are our accommodations ready for them?"
Reyna quickly glanced at the map on the table. "Yes, but we need to make sure everything is perfect. We can’t afford any mistakes." Her voice showed no sign of fatigue, but Frank could see it: the slow movements of her fingers, the slight tension between her eyebrows, and the way she never looked away from the list of tasks.
"Reyna, we need to stop for a moment. Eat something? Maybe sleep for even just an hour?" Frank asked, his tone trying to be more concerned than relaxed. Not that he was worried for himself, but for his colleague.
"I don’t have time," she answered without looking at him, but her voice was firm. "The party won’t wait, Frank. And if we don’t prepare it properly, it will be a disaster. There’s too much at stake."
Frank didn’t insist. He knew that when Reyna set her mind on something, there was no way to distract her. But, as he watched her continue to work with that unstoppable energy, he couldn’t help but feel a deep admiration for her dedication. Reyna never stopped, not even when her body was clearly asking for rest.
"Alright, let’s continue," he finally said, standing up to take another stack of documents that had been brought to him. But the unspoken thought they both shared was that this frenetic pace couldn’t last much longer.
The daylight was slowly fading, and a cool evening breeze began to filter through the praetor’s office windows. Frank closed the last folder he had in his hands, letting out a long breath. Despite his usual optimism, he too felt the pressure building with every passing minute. He looked at Reyna, who was still focused on her tasks.
"Okay, Reyna. I’ve checked the Greek camp. Everything seems fine, but I’ll make another round, just to be sure. If you want, you can stop for today, eat something, or... maybe even rest. You deserve it."
Reyna lifted her gaze from her list, her eyes tired but sharp. "It’s not the time yet. But if you need to, go ahead and check the camp. I’ll finish up here."
Frank nodded, pausing for a moment in silence, watching her with a look that mixed concern and respect. "Alright, but don’t forget to take a break, Reyna. Tomorrow is going to be even busier."
"I know," she replied, but she didn’t seem ready to stop. Frank gave a small smile, then stood up and headed for the door. "See you tomorrow, Praetor."
"Wait, Frank." He looked at her curiously. "Did you take care of the... well, you know?"
He nodded seriously. "I tried asking around, but it seems like the Senate’s already taken care of everything."
She sighed. "The guard?"
He shook his head. "The Senate is handling the guard; they’ve put some veterans in charge."
Reyna furrowed her brows. "Since when?"
"Today."
"Perfect." She sighed again. "We should have dealt with it before the party."
"Reyna, we’ve done what we could. Once the Greeks leave, we’ll wrap it up."
"Unless it’s wrapped up while the Greeks are still here." She rubbed her forehead. "And why is the Senate excluding us? We’re the praetors."
"I don’t know," he answered quietly.

Reyna was left alone in the office, her gaze fixed on the disorganized papers and her mind racing through all the things still left to do. The silence of the room surrounded her, but she couldn’t relax. There was always something missing, something that kept making her more and more anxious.
She stood up, deciding she would think about it tomorrow.
After running with Aurum and Argentum for a bit, she headed home to prepare for the night. She had just finished her shower when she heard the sound of instruments falling in the living room.
She sighed as she got dressed. Same story every time.
"I hope you have a good reason for barging into my house, you know there are doors, right?" she asked, still drying her long black hair.
Nico lay down on the couch. "Reyna," he said with his deep voice, "I just did a shadow travel for you. Instead of scolding me, you could give me something to eat."
"You could have stopped by the McDonald's before coming here," she replied, tossing him a chocolate bar.
"Is this all you have in your house?"
She shrugged. "I usually eat in the mess hall."
"But you have a kitchen."
"Nico, are you here to scold me, or do you have something useful to say?" The boy took a bite of the chocolate bar, asking only for five minutes to regain his energy.
Reyna settled on the couch next to Nico, her mind still perplexed by everything that was happening, but her expression remained impassive.
"So, what’s this about? I’m tired, Nico, so you’d better not waste time with useless chatter."
Nico stared at the ceiling for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. "I’ve investigated what you asked, and I’ve heard some rumors. I’m not sure if it’s anything serious, but it seems like there are some strange movements going on. It’s not the first time I’ve noticed it, but... now something feels different."
Reyna looked at him intently, her piercing gaze fixed on him. "What do you mean by ‘different’?"
"Things aren’t what they seem," Nico replied, speaking slowly, as if trying to make sense of what he had discovered. "There’s a tension that can’t be ignored. People are acting... weird, like they’re hiding something. And I’m not just talking about the Greeks or the Romans. I feel like something’s going on beneath the surface. Things don’t add up."
Reyna stood up, starting to pace the room, her step measured but restless. "It’s not the first time something like this has happened, but never at this level. And the Senate seems really worried, like they’re trying to control everything. I don’t understand what they’re trying to hide."
Nico slowly got up from the couch and walked over to the window. "Sometimes it’s not so much what they’re hiding, but what we’re trying to ignore. There’s something going on, Reyna. And if we want to find out what it is, we’ll have to be careful. I suspect that if we dig too deep, we’ll find answers that we might not be ready to face."
Reyna looked at him, her expression betraying no emotion. "We’ve never really been ready, Nico. But we have to move forward, anyway. If something big is about to happen, we need to be ready to act."
Nico nodded, but his gaze grew more serious. "There are too many secrets out there, Reyna. And the more we try to solve the puzzle, the more I see pieces that don’t fit. But for now, we have to be cautious. If there is a truth, we won’t uncover it all at once."
"I know," Reyna replied, pausing for a moment to reflect, before slowly turning toward him. "As for..."
The boy shook his head, an expression of understanding, but also a little frustration on his face. Reyna sighed heavily and walked over to the shelf, where, besides a candle that seemed almost forgotten and a dusty painting, there were two drachmas and a note, sitting there for months, waiting for a meaning that never seemed to come.
"I’m sure when she’s ready, Jade will come back," Nico said in a calm, almost reassuring voice.
Reyna hissed, frustration clear in her eyes. "Oh, maybe not." She picked up one of the drachmas and studied it, her eyes fixed on the coin as if it could reveal something she still didn’t understand. "I should have used this drachma to call her. I tried for an entire month, but every time I tried, the drachma was thrown back at me by a rainbow."
"Maybe she was just busy," Nico suggested, trying to lighten the mood with a smile, but he was immediately struck by Reyna’s piercing gaze.
"I get it," he quickly added, standing up from the couch. "I’ll try sending her the invitation to the games, maybe she’ll show up."
Reyna raised an eyebrow, a vein of irony in her words. "If she does, I’ll skewer her with a sword."
"Great way to convince her to show up," Nico replied with a mischievous grin, but his tone was light, almost as if trying to ease the pressure they both felt mounting.

Chapter Text

New Rome was buzzing with excitement. The streets, paved with marble and basalt, stretched between the imposing columns of temples and houses with red roofs, the air vibrating with a mix of anticipation and underlying tension. The Festival Week, that ancient tradition that brought Roman demigods together for a rare moment of leisure and celebration, would this year welcome a distinguished guest: the Greeks from Camp Half-Blood.
The city gates opened with the sharp sound of trumpets, and the first guests crossed the threshold. The legionary guards stood impassive, their golden armor glinting in the sunlight as they observed the procession. It was a colorful parade: demigods in light armor and colorful t-shirts, faces full of equal parts curiosity and suspicion.
The people of New Rome crowded along the streets, some with welcoming expressions, others with watchful eyes, as if they expected something to go wrong at any moment.
From atop the walls, Reyna watched in silence. The wind gently lifted her purple praetor cloak as she studied the procession with sharp eyes. She hadn’t spoken when the first Greek set foot in the city, but she perceived every detail: tense postures, fleeting glances exchanged, subtle gestures that spoke louder than words.
The demigods knew how hard it had been to reach this moment. The war was over, the alliance between the two camps sealed with the blood and sweat of too many fallen comrades. But trust? That was another story.
Reyna brushed her fingers over the hilt of her sword. She hoped she wouldn’t have to draw it.
The central square of Jupiter’s Camp was alive with energy. Brightly colored flags fluttered between the marble columns, and the afternoon sun reflected off the armor of the disciplined legionaries. The entire city seemed to have paused to witness the meeting.
At the center, alongside the Roman Senate, stood the two praetors, commanding the authority their roles required. Reyna, her purple cloak elegantly draped over her shoulders, surveyed the crowd with her usual unflinching gaze. Beside her, Frank Zhang nervously adjusted the sword at his side, his chest swelling with pride, but with a glint of anxiety in his eyes. It was the official moment to welcome the most anticipated guests.
As the Greek demigods moved forward, a murmur passed through the crowd. Even though many Romans had already fought alongside their Camp Half-Blood companions, seeing them here, in the heart of the camp, was a different story.
Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase led the delegation, walking side by side. Percy, with his usual relaxed grin, appeared comfortable, but Reyna noticed the way his eyes moved—always alert, always ready. Annabeth, on the other hand, had that born strategist air, her mind always working, analyzing every corner of the square, every escape route, every face in the crowd.
Behind them, the other Olympian heroes formed an imposing group. Jason Grace, with the golden Eagle cloak draped over his shoulders, looked like he was born to be there, standing between two worlds he had learned to reconcile. Piper McLean walked beside him with her usual grace, Celestial bronze daggers hidden at her waist, but her expression betrayed a constant vigilance.
Leo Valdez made no effort to hide his amused expression. "Wow, guys. This place is incredible, almost forgot how it looked. But... are there too many statues? I think a few explosions could really give it an artistic touch." Piper punched him in the head, silencing him. Several Romans shot him glares of resentment.
“I was joking!”
Reyna remained unflinching, but Frank coughed beside her. “Leo…”
Hazel Levesque gave a half-smile, shaking her head. “Ignore him.”
Next to her, Nico di Angelo remained silent, as always. His hands were stuffed in his black jacket pockets, and his gaze was darker than ever. But those who knew him well could notice how his eyes scanned the area—not with hostility, but with attention. Among the first rows of the Greek demigods, his boyfriend, Will, wore a satisfied smile.
Reyna took a step forward. “On behalf of the Senate and the Legion, we welcome you to New Rome. The Festival Week has begun, and, as tradition dictates, all guests will be treated with respect and honor.”
Frank nodded, trying to adopt a solemn tone. “The rooms have been prepared in the guest dormitories near the Temple of Asclepius. We’ve also left open areas for those who prefer to camp outside.”
Annabeth nodded with a small smile. “Thanks, Frank. After our last journey, a real bed feels like a dream.”
"Many monsters?"
Percy sighed. "Too many," he complained. "Next time, let’s meet somewhere with less travel."
Jason cleared his throat and turned to his friends. “Alright, guys. Let’s settle in, then we’ll see how this famous Festival Week works.”
The crowd around them watched the scene with a sort of reverence. The Seven heroes, side by side, reunited once more. For many of them, those kids weren’t just warriors—they were living legends.
But as the welcoming ceremony continued and speeches went on, some glances between the Romans and Greeks lingered longer than necessary. Not everyone had forgotten the past. And not everyone was ready to lower their guard.

While Frank continued discussing details with Percy and Annabeth, Reyna allowed her gaze to wander beyond the group of Seven heroes.
Not far off, beyond the main square, a large group of Greek demigods, wearing the signature orange shirts of Camp Half-Blood, gathered in anticipation. Some seemed uneasy, others chatted excitedly among themselves, and a few cast curious glances at the city beyond the walls. They knew they wouldn’t set foot in New Rome until the following evening, when the opening dinner would officially kick off the festivities.
It was a precautionary measure, more political than anything else. A way to give the Romans time to get used to their presence without forcing the coexistence too quickly.
Reyna watched the groups move with a natural division: the more confident ones conversed with the Romans, testing the limits of their hospitality, while others kept to themselves, still unsure of how to behave in this new environment.
Then, through the crowd, her gaze froze on a figure.
It was just for a moment, a shadow between cloaks and tunics, but something about the silhouette, the way blonde hair cascaded over the shoulders, made her clench her jaw.
Jade?
Reyna blinked. The figure moved, briefly obscured by a group of laughing Greeks. When her view cleared, the figure was gone.
Perhaps it was her imagination. Perhaps the sun was playing tricks on her.
And yet, the sense of something familiar—a memory, an echo of something she had tried to bury—lingered with her, even as she turned her attention back to the ceremony.
Not now. Not yet.

Twilight had descended on New Rome, wrapping the city in a golden light that softened the edges of columns and ancient streets. Lanterns had been lit in the gardens and porticos, and the great Forum had been transformed into an enormous outdoor banquet hall. Long tables were arranged in a semicircle around the large central fountain of the camp, laden with abundant food and drink.
Roman and Greek demigods sat side by side, speaking to each other in an atmosphere that seemed—finally—relaxed. Seemed.
Reyna sat at the main table, alongside the other praetors and the Seven Olympian heroes. Her plate was still half full, but she merely poked at her food with a fork while conversation around her flowed with contained energy.
She was tired. Exhausted.
And yet, she didn’t show it.
None of them did, really.
After an entire afternoon spent quelling even the slightest hint of a skirmish between Romans and Greeks, intercepting dark glares, sharp words, and tensions ready to explode, every single person at the table carried the weight of that invisible work.
Frank sipped his grape wine slowly, absentmindedly massaging his temple with his other hand. Percy and Annabeth spoke softly to each other, too tired for their usual jokes. Jason kept his back straight as though still in battle stance, and Piper fiddled with her fork, her chin resting on her hand, visibly worn out.
Leo, who would normally have been the loudest, had even stopped making jokes and was concentrating solely on devouring his food. Hazel occasionally threw worried glances at Frank, while Nico...
Nico seemed like Nico. Silent, still, as if the entire day hadn’t touched him.
Reyna closed her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself just a beat of rest, then reopened them and took a sip of water. The night was still long.
It was only then that she heard Nico’s voice, low but clear.
“You saw her, didn’t you?”
Reyna slowly turned toward him. There was no need to specify who he was talking about.
She didn’t answer right away. She scanned the crowd of demigods at the lower tables, searching for that fleeting figure she thought she had glimpsed earlier that afternoon.
“So it really was her.” His tone was neutral, controlled. But the fist on his thigh tightened imperceptibly.
Nico nodded, his gaze lowering to his plate. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know.”
Reyna didn’t react. Or rather, she made sure she didn’t react. Her breath remained steady. Her face impassive.
But inside, she knew that the apparent calm of the dinner wouldn’t last forever.

The night enveloped New Rome in a deep silence, broken only by the rustle of wind through the columns and the distant sound of a fountain. The streets were now deserted, the celebrations had quieted, and Reyna moved through the city like a shadow, her step light yet determined.
The day had been long. Too long.
After dinner, she had spent another hour with Annabeth, discussing logistics, security, and potential setbacks. Details both of them already knew, but which had served to fill the silence, to avoid more uncomfortable questions.
Now, all she wanted was to reach her home, close the door, and have at least a few hours of solitude.
But as soon as she crossed the threshold, she knew she wouldn’t have it.
The sensation was immediate. The air had changed somehow.
Her hand instinctively slid to the hilt of the dagger at her side as her eyes scanned the shadows of the room. Someone was there.
And then she saw her.
Seated at the table, her body relaxed as though she had always belonged in that spot, arms crossed with the same natural confidence as a strategist observing the battlefield.
Jade.
Her light-colored hair framed her face, her gray eyes—so similar to Annabeth’s, to every child of Athena—were fixed on Reyna, analyzing her, measuring her reaction.
For an instant that felt like eternity, neither of them spoke.
Reyna remained still, her breath controlled, her shoulders straight as if she were still wearing her armor. For months, she had buried the possibility of this moment, forced herself not to think about it. But now, Jade was here, real and present, after disappearing without a word.
Finally, it was Jade who broke the silence.
“You should lock the door.”
Her voice was calm, with that all-too-rational tone, but in the way she lowered her gaze for just an instant—just a blink—there was something more. A hint of regret, almost imperceptible.
Reyna didn’t move, didn’t bite at the remark nor the faint shadow of an apology contained within it. She simply stared at her, jaw clenched.
She silently prayed to Bellona for patience… because if she had the strength, there would be one less daughter of Athena tonight.

Chapter Text

The room was wrapped in a heavy silence, one that seemed to grow thicker with every passing second. Jade approached Reyna with her usual determined stride, but this time, despite her apparent confidence, there was something off in her demeanor. She stopped a few steps away, keeping her distance.
Jade’s eyes darted nervously from side to side, betraying the agitation she tried to mask behind a facade of indifference. When she finally spoke, her tone aimed for casual, but it was clear she didn’t quite manage it.
"Not saying anything?" Jade paused, but Reyna didn’t respond. "I would’ve brought flowers, but you don’t strike me as the type. Maybe a dagger would’ve been a better choice?" She smirked but quickly sobered up when she saw Reyna’s unwavering expression.
Reyna looked at her but said nothing. Her cold, steady gaze left no room for comments. Every word Jade tried to say seemed to shatter against an invisible wall, making her increasingly uneasy. Her hand trembled slightly, but she maintained an outwardly calm expression. She took another step forward, as if closing the physical distance would somehow help her find the right words—but by now, her smile had vanished.
"I didn’t think this would be… so complicated." Jade tried to mask her discomfort with a hint of defiance. "I got the invitation for… whatever this thing is that you’ve put together, but I still don’t quite understand it."
Reyna didn’t flinch. Her gaze remained locked onto Jade, and the tension between them thickened. The silence separating them grew heavier, impossible to bridge with empty words.
Finally, Jade closed the gap, stepping even closer to Reyna. This time, her voice softened—forced, almost—like she was trying to dismantle the rigid barrier suffocating the air around them.
"Look, Reyna, I didn’t mean to cause trouble." She moved another step forward, but Reyna’s expression never changed, as if she were carved from stone, untouchable. That only made Jade’s nerves worse. Once again, she tried to act nonchalant, but her smile was tight, unnatural. "I know. I left without warning, without saying a word. And you have every right to be angry, princess, but—"
Jade’s voice carried a faint smirk, as if she were trying to joke, to lighten the suffocating tension. But it didn’t work. What was meant as a tease was nothing more than a trigger that sent Reyna over the edge. And that nickname, that damn nickname…
Without thinking, Reyna’s hand shot up, and she slapped her. Hard.
The sharp sound of the impact tore through the silence, leaving the air charged with something raw and electric.
Jade didn’t move at first. Her head tilted slightly from the force of the hit, her eyes widening for a split second as the sting of Reyna’s palm burned against her skin. She didn’t recoil, didn’t step back. She just stood there, as if trying to process what had just happened. Her hands trembled faintly, but she didn’t speak right away.
Reyna’s expression, however, had changed. The impassive mask was gone. Now, her face was twisted with something deeper—pain, the kind that had been buried too long to stay contained.
Hand still raised, Reyna glared at Jade, her eyes saying more than words ever could. Her breathing was uneven, betraying the storm of emotions raging inside her.
"You left." Reyna’s voice was low, but her words cut through the air like a blade. "You walked away. No explanation. Not a single word about what was happening. And I was left wondering where you were, what I had done wrong." Her voice wavered, turning into a sharp whisper. "I didn’t even know if you were alive."
The words poured out of her like a flood—anger, pain, frustration—all the emotions she had swallowed for months now bursting free, unstoppable.
"Back in Chicago, you accused me of forgetting you, of abandoning you. And then you were the one who left!" she spat. "And now you show up like nothing happened, calling me ‘princess’?"
Jade, for a moment, had nothing to say. The usual confidence on her face cracked, replaced by something more vulnerable. She had hoped her return would be met differently, but now she knew—no words could undo the damage. There was no point in pretending the wound wasn’t real. Because she had been the one to inflict it.

Jade swallowed hard, lowering her gaze as she took a deep breath. Her face was finally serious, stripped of the carefree, easygoing attitude she had tried to maintain before.
"Okay… I deserved that."
Her words were no longer a joke. There was no space left for irony. When she spoke, her voice was lower, heavy with regret—it was nothing but the truth.
The room felt suffocating, as if the air had thickened around them. Reyna stared at Jade, her eyes burning with anger. Every word Jade tried to utter seemed insufficient, as if she was still holding something back, still trying to escape from the truth. Frustration was about to boil over.
"Why did you leave?" Reyna’s voice was raw, razor-sharp. "Why did you walk away without a word? You disappeared—gone, without an explanation, without a single damn message. Just a fucking note." Her heart pounded as she fought to keep the fury from consuming her.
"It’s complicated."
Reyna let out a bitter laugh. "I don’t understand you, Jade. I thought I did, but I was wrong."
Jade lowered her gaze, as if Reyna’s anger hit harder than she had expected. Her hands clenched into fists, but she didn’t dare look her in the eyes. A crushing weight settled on her chest, tightening like a vice.
"I don’t know..." Jade’s voice wavered, but she fought to keep it steady. "I don’t know why I did it."
Reyna, daughter of Bellona, shook her head. "Not good enough. You can’t expect me to accept that as an answer."
Jade exhaled, her breath heavy as she searched for the right words.
Reyna pointed to the door. "If you won’t give me an explanation, then leave."
"Reyna—"
"No." Reyna’s voice cracked like a whip. "Either you give me answers, or you walk out that door. Did you think you could just show up, make a few jokes, and I’d forget everything?"
"I was scared, Reyna!" Jade snapped, the words bursting out of her. "All of this..." Her voice faltered for a second, but then she pushed forward, as if she had finally decided to face her own pain.
"It was too much. I... I didn’t think I could handle it."
Reyna watched her, anger still burning in her eyes, but now laced with confusion. "Too much of what?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the space between them like a knife. "What were you so afraid of? What stopped you from telling me, instead of running away?"
"Everything!" Jade’s voice cracked, nearly a shout, as if the tension inside her had finally reached its breaking point. "You, me, everything we were—it was too much to handle. We were meant to be something neither of us could fully understand, something too big." She held her breath, frustration and anxiety clouding her gaze. "Two daughters of war goddesses, from two completely different worlds. I had no idea how to deal with it." She hesitated, then added, "And then there’s you—you’re a praetor, Reyna. Everyone admires you. The entire Camp Jupiter, even Camp Half-Blood, looks up to you. My mother adores you—the first Roman Athena’s ever respected." She let out a joyless laugh. "How was I supposed to stand next to you? To ruin that? To ruin you?"
"Jade, you wouldn’t have ruined anything."
Jade shook her head, clenching her jaw. "What would the legion have thought? Your mother?"
Reyna stepped closer, her anger rising again, her eyes blazing. She wasn’t sure what infuriated her more—the excuses or the way Jade kept tearing herself down. Her voice dropped lower, dangerously quiet, and Jade felt the weight of it press down on her.
"Then why did you come back?" Reyna’s words were like a challenge, like a sword pressed against Jade’s throat. "If you truly thought it was too much, then why are you here?"
Jade swallowed, her throat dry, trying to gather the words. She didn’t want to say it, but she had no other choice.
"Because I missed you." Her voice wavered for just a second, but when her eyes met Reyna’s, there was nothing uncertain about them. "I missed you, Reyna. I missed..."
The silence that followed was unbearable, thick with emotions neither of them could name.
Reyna hadn’t expected that answer. Her heart pounded in her chest as frustration, anger, and something far more vulnerable tangled together inside her.
"I missed you, but I was terrified of everything I couldn't control." Jade continued, her voice lower now, but filled with a sincerity she could no longer hide. "I thought it would be easier to disappear, to pretend that nothing ever happened, but... that was a lie."
Reyna couldn’t stop looking at her. Every word, every confession, unraveled everything she had tried so hard to hold together. But the anger didn’t completely fade. Her heart was still a storm.
"You shouldn’t have left," Reyna whispered, her tone softer now, but still heavy with a pain she couldn't hide. "You shouldn’t have run from me, Jade. You know I don’t care about your past or what anyone else thinks."
Jade lowered her head even more, feeling trapped, not knowing what to say or do.
The praetor took a step forward, as if she wanted to close the distance between them, but something twisted in her stomach, holding her back.
"I ruined everything. I’m sorry." Jade glanced around, as if making sure she had everything before leaving. "I didn’t come back to ask for forgiveness—I know I won’t get it. I just… I just wanted to see you."
At those words, without thinking, without hesitating, Reyna moved.
She grabbed Jade by the back of the neck and pulled her in.
She kissed her.
It wasn’t a soft kiss. There was no tenderness in it. It was raw, desperate—a reckless need to feel her again, to know she was still there, that she hadn’t truly left. Reyna moved like a spring wound too tight, snapping suddenly, without warning, without restraint.
Jade stiffened at first, caught off guard.
Reyna pulled away just as fast, realization hitting her like a cold wave. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have—" she started, stepping back, but Jade didn’t let her.
She grabbed Reyna and pulled her in again.
"Permission granted." She said it just before crashing their lips together once more.
Reyna didn’t need to be told twice. In seconds, she took control, her hands finding their way to Jade, holding her close—like she was afraid she might disappear all over again.
The kiss stretched into something deep, urgent. Their breaths came in ragged gasps as they struggled to find balance, as if the world had shrunk to just this moment, just them. And when they finally broke apart, their bodies still pressed together, Reyna was breathless, her eyes shut for a brief second, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.
Her hands were on Jade’s waist, every touch sending sparks through her skin, the desire between them so tangible it was almost unbearable.
They stumbled back, deeper into the room, until Jade found herself perched on the desk, and Reyna’s lips moved to her neck.
Jade took the opportunity to unfasten parts of Reyna’s armor, leaving her in just her purple shirt.
Reyna moved slowly, with an intensity that made Jade shiver. She watched her, wide-eyed, as the air between them grew thick, a silent force pushing them closer. Reyna’s hands trailed upward, brushing against Jade’s skin with both hesitation and certainty. Another kiss—deeper, hungrier—made time and space fade away.
Her fingers toyed with the hem of Jade’s orange shirt, alternating between skimming her sides above and below the fabric. The movement was so natural, yet in this moment, it felt like a step that would change everything.
Jade held her breath, her body frozen, as if she were standing on the edge of something she couldn’t escape.
But just as Reyna’s hand started to lift the shirt, Jade suddenly tensed.
Her eyes widened for a second, and then her hand shot up, gripping Reyna’s wrist with surprising strength.
"Stop!" Jade’s voice trembled, almost breaking. "I can't..."
For a moment, Reyna didn’t understand. She looked into Jade’s eyes, searching for an answer, but the fear she saw there made her skin prickle. She took a step back.
"What’s wrong?" Her voice was low—not confused, just concerned. The tension that had been frantic moments ago now dissolved into a heavy silence, thick with a truth they were both trying to ignore.
Jade stood up abruptly, looking away, as if she wanted to physically remove herself from the moment—but she couldn’t. "I can’t… I don’t want to… That’s not what I mean..." She swallowed, her hands shaking as she ran one through her hair, trying to keep herself together. "It’s not that I don’t want to... But it’s... it’s too much right now, Reyna. It scares me..."
Reyna stared at her, speechless for a few moments. Then, understanding settled in, tightening her chest. Slowly, she stepped closer.
"Alright."
There was pain in her voice, but also an understanding that had finally clicked into place, like a silent revelation.
Jade didn’t respond right away, but her body was tense, like she was on the verge of breaking. "I didn’t think this would happen..." Her gaze darted away, but Reyna could see all the fear hiding in that distance.
Reyna stopped, her hand still hovering inches from the hem of Jade’s shirt. There was no need to ask anything else.
"It’s okay," she whispered, pulling her hand back slowly. "Take the time you need."
Jade looked up, her eyes filled with confusion and a kind of pain she didn’t know how to handle.
"I’m sorry," she said, her voice breaking.
Reyna shook her head. "You have plenty of things to apologize for, but this isn’t one of them."
Jade stayed silent. Reyna stepped back.
"Are you hungry? Nico made me buy food for the kitchen."
Jade raised an amused eyebrow. "Isn’t all food meant for the kitchen?"
Reyna rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

The room was wrapped in a heavy silence, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils against plates.
Jade ate slowly, her movements measured, almost distracted. She had a simple meal in front of her—bread, fruit, a few pieces of cheese. Nothing heavy, nothing that would make her uncomfortable.
She had never been good with food. Too much, too little, never just right. Some days, the mere thought of eating felt suffocating; other times, she forced herself to do it just to avoid drawing attention. Meals were a battlefield.
And yet, as she looked down at her plate, she realized—Reyna had chosen carefully.
It wasn’t random. Reyna never did anything randomly.
"Thank you," Jade murmured, not looking up.
Reyna didn’t pause or tense. "I just didn’t want you complaining that there was nothing you’d actually eat."
Her tone was neutral, almost distant, but Jade caught the unspoken message: I knew what you might be able to eat, so I made sure it was there for you.
Of course, she didn’t say it outright. Reyna was never good with soft words.
Jade lifted her gaze, studying her.
There was no trace of what had happened between them earlier. No sign of the way Reyna had kissed her, touched her, as if, for a moment, they could forget everything else.
That was what hurt the most.
For Reyna, it was as if it had never happened.
After another long silence, Jade sighed, resting her elbow on the table. "So... what happens now?"
Reyna didn’t answer right away. She chewed calmly, took a sip of water. Then, without breaking eye contact, she said simply:
"Now, we finish eating."
Jade blinked. "Reyna..."
Reyna set her knife down and crossed her arms. "If you think what happened earlier means I’ve forgiven you, you’re wrong."
Jade felt a small knot tighten in her stomach. She didn’t look away, but the weight of those words hit her hard.
She knew that.
But hearing it out loud was different.
"I know."
Reyna studied her for a long moment. Her eyes were dark, focused—heavy, like she was trying to understand something even she couldn’t explain.
Then she looked away and returned to her plate.
Silence filled the room again.
Jade’s shoulders dropped slightly.
So this was it? They would just keep going like this—like strangers bound only by a past that no longer belonged to them?
She clenched her fists, frustration rising in her throat.
Maybe she could never make things right.
Then, unexpectedly, Reyna spoke again, her voice quieter, more controlled.
"But..."
Jade’s head snapped up. "But?" she repeated, too quickly, too eagerly.
Reyna leaned back in her chair, exhaling slowly through her nose.
"I didn’t say it’s impossible."
Jade’s heart skipped a beat. "What…?"
Reyna held her gaze, and there was something in her eyes—something dangerously close to hope.
"Stay."
Jade stiffened. "Stay?"
Reyna nodded, calm and steady. "For the entire festival week. And the week after that."
Jade’s eyes widened slightly. She opened her mouth to respond, but Reyna raised a hand, stopping her.
"No disappearing. No running. No excuses." Her tone was firm—not angry, just unwavering. "If you want to prove something to me, start by staying."
Jade looked down at the table, biting the inside of her cheek.
Staying meant exposure.
It meant facing every stare, every judgment, everything she had spent months avoiding.
It meant facing Reyna.
But wasn’t that the whole point?
She took a slow, deep breath, then met Reyna’s gaze.
"Okay."
Reyna nodded and picked up a piece of bread. "Good."
And just like that, the meal continued.
But this time, Jade felt like—maybe—she had a chance.

Chapter Text

the sun shone high above Camp Jupiter, warming the dusty ground and making the Roman demigods’ armor gleam. The arena and surrounding woods were filled with excited voices—the first day of the festival week had officially begun.
Reyna observed the scene carefully. Every movement, every glance exchanged between Romans and Greeks, every potential spark of tension.
The truce held, but it was fragile. One wrong word, one unnecessary push, and the entire day could spiral into disaster.
Beside her, Frank shared the same concern. She could tell by the way he kept his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze scanning the teams on the field. He was a capable leader, and having him by her side made the weight of responsibility more bearable.
The game chosen to open the festivities was a classic for both camps: Capture the Flag.
The goal was the same—seize the enemy flag and bring it back to base—but their strategies couldn’t have been more different.
The Romans had organized themselves in a structured, almost military formation. They divided the field into control zones, set up defensive patrols, and positioned their fastest demigods for counterattacks. Among them were Dakota, unpredictable as ever, and Leila, giving orders with a precision nearly matching Reyna’s own.
The Greeks, on the other hand, moved with their usual adaptability. Their formation wasn’t rigid, yet everyone seemed to know exactly where to go. They weaved between the trees, hid in the shadows, and attacked in small groups rather than a unified front.
Annabeth led their side with a strategic coldness that could put many Roman centurions to shame. She had divided her team into reconnaissance, combat, and deception units. Percy, of course, was part of the assault team. His job was to infiltrate the enemy base and claim the flag, using his speed and ability to manipulate water.
Leo, in his usual exuberance, had appointed himself as the “living distraction.” He had spent the last fifteen minutes building some contraption that now sparked and spewed colored smoke whenever someone got too close.
Piper was among the infiltrators, using her charmspeak to sow doubt and confusion among the Roman defenders. Meanwhile, on the Roman side, Hazel had stationed herself near the flag, ready to stand her ground.
And then there was Jason. He and Frank were the unofficial generals of the battle.
While Frank shifted between different animal forms to adapt to the strategy, Jason soared above the battlefield, providing an aerial view and intervening at critical moments.
As soon as the referee gave the signal, the field erupted into movement.
The Romans advanced like a disciplined army—a wall of shields and swords, maintaining their positions with impressive precision.
The Greeks, meanwhile, slipped through the trees, relying on speed and unpredictability.
Reyna spotted a group of Romans attempting to corner Connor Stoll, but he, with a cocky grin, feinted and vanished into the underbrush.
A little further ahead, Hazel summoned a shimmering barrier of minerals, blocking a pair of Greeks trying to snatch the Roman flag.
Dakota, laughing, charged forward with a group of legionnaires, pushing back the attack. Not far away, Percy had already crossed enemy lines.
He moved effortlessly, as if the very ground worked in his favor. Each step was smooth, every motion swift. He dodged a sword strike, slipped under another attack, and—
A wall of Roman shields closed in around him.
Percy smirked.
A second later, the ground beneath him flooded with water.
“Really?” Frank huffed, watching the scene unfold.
Percy shrugged. “Hey, if I have an advantage, I might as well use it.”
The battle continued, full of twists and brilliant maneuvers. Everywhere on the field, duels broke out, chases unfolded, ambushes sprang to life.
Romans and Greeks fought with determination, but despite their rivalry, there was no real hostility.
This was a battle of strategy and skill—not bitterness.
Reyna should have been focused solely on the game, on the strategies, on keeping the peace. And yet, once again, her gaze searched for Jade.
She was there, lingering at the edge of the field, a shadow unsure where to settle.
She wasn’t playing. She wasn’t cheering. She wasn’t approaching anyone. Even Annabeth, who should have been her natural anchor, seemed uncertain about how to include her.
For a brief moment, Reyna wondered if forcing her to stay had been the right choice.
She pushed the thought away immediately. This was no time for doubt.
Jade had returned—but whether her return meant something or was just another temporary escape waiting to happen…
That was up to her.
And Reyna wasn’t sure if, this time, she would stay long enough to find out.

The sun was high in the sky as the demigods gathered for lunch. The air, filled with the scent of freshly served food, blended with the lively chatter of Greeks and Romans.
Despite the rivalry, the overall mood was surprisingly relaxed.
Maybe because the first competition had ended without too much drama. Or maybe because, after all the tension of the past few days, everyone just needed a few hours to breathe.
Sitting next to Frank, Reyna watched him as he meticulously cut his food. He seemed more at ease than he had been that morning, and when he turned to her, his smile confirmed he felt the same way.
"I would’ve preferred if we had won," he admitted, "but I have to say—Annabeth is a formidable general."
Reyna nodded. "She is. But we fought well too."
Frank smiled, setting down his fork. "We’ll get our revenge tomorrow."
Around them, the tables were a mix of orange shirts and deep red tunics. Some groups still stuck to their respective factions, but many demigods had started to mingle. Percy and Jason were laughing together, while Leo gestured animatedly as he talked to Hazel. Dakota and a few Hermes kids seemed to be swapping stories about the best pranks ever pulled at their camps.
Maybe there really was hope for this truce.
Lunch carried on with the hum of conversations, bursts of laughter, and shared stories filling the air. It was the first true moment of peace after days of tension, and even Reyna had to admit—seeing Romans and Greeks together without conflict was a relief.
And yet, her eyes kept scanning the tables. She took in the scattered groups, recognizing familiar faces. Percy and Jason deep in conversation, Annabeth seated among the Athena kids, Hazel and Leo debating something, Frank at her side…
But Jade was nowhere to be found.
Not that she had expected to see her there—not really. Reyna knew her habits. She knew how hard it was for her to eat with others, especially in moments of chaos like this.
And yet, she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling twisting in her stomach.
Beside her, Nico seemed to pick up on her tension. He didn’t say anything at first, then turned toward Annabeth, who was sitting just a few seats away.
"Hey, have you seen Jade?"
Annabeth looked up, surprised by the question. "Jade?" she repeated, slightly confused. "Why are you asking?"
Nico shrugged, feigning indifference. "Just curious."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, studying him for a moment before shaking her head. "I wouldn’t know… She’s not someone I talk to much." Her tone was almost indifferent, as if Jade were nothing more than a vague acquaintance rather than her stepsister. "Honestly, I don’t even know where she is right now. She’s never been the type to socialize."
Reyna tensed ever so slightly.
Annabeth continued with a casual shrug. "I suppose she’s doing what she always does—keeping to herself."
At that point, one of the Hermes kids sitting nearby chuckled. "I don’t even get why she’s here—she’s useless."
Reyna clenched her jaw.
Nico shot the boy a frosty glare, while Annabeth just sighed. "Mike, don’t start."
The demigod shrugged. "I’m not starting anything. I mean, has she ever stood out in anything? Never seen her in battle, never seen her on a team. She didn’t even try to play today. Honestly, I wouldn’t trust her to take care of a plant, let alone someone's life in a fight." A few people laughed at the comment.
Reyna dropped her gaze to her plate, absently pushing her food around with her fork without taking a bite.
She didn’t know what was worse—hearing Annabeth talk about her sister like she was a stranger, or realizing how others saw her, like a shadow that could disappear at any moment and no one would even notice.
And yet, Reyna cared.
Maybe too much.
Lunch had been a breath of fresh air, the sound of laughter and conversation mingling with the aroma of grilled meat. But when the shout tore through the air, Reyna felt it like a punch to the gut.
"Are you challenging me, Greek?!"
She spun around. A son of Mars, broad and imposing, was squaring off against a young Greek—a son of Ares—who didn’t look intimidated in the slightest.
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Anger sparked between the two demigods, and Reyna knew right away that things were about to spiral out of control.
"Enough!" Percy tried to intervene.
"You have the same parent, idiots," Leo added, only to be shoved aside immediately.
Jason attempted to hold back his fellow Roman, but the boy shoved him aside forcefully, ignoring his presence. The tension escalated with every word thrown, every sharp movement. The Greek, furious, swung a punch at the Roman, but the son of Mars dodged it with ease.
"Stop!" Reyna commanded, trying to make herself heard over the chaos. The hostility between the two was growing thicker by the second, and too many eyes had already turned toward the scene.
Frank stepped forward to help defuse the situation, but an unexpected blow knocked him back. The demigods from both camps crowded around, some trying to break up the fight, while others seemed eager to jump in. The fragile peace shattered completely.
Reyna pushed her way through the crowd, determined to take control.
The son of Ares threw another insult, and the Roman responded by raising his fist. This time, though, the movement was too fast.
The punch, meant for a Greek who had gotten too close, was heading straight for Reyna—her back turned, too focused on restraining another girl to see it coming.
A figure moved with incredible speed, and Reyna recognized her immediately—Jade.
In an instant, Jade stepped between Reyna and the punch, taking the full force of the blow to her face.
The sound of the impact was sharp and brutal, sending a shockwave through the crowd.
"Jade!" Reyna rushed forward, her heart pounding.
Jade staggered, her breathing unsteady. The punch had weakened her, and her face had gone pale. Her hand instinctively went to her mouth, now smeared crimson.
Reyna didn’t hesitate for even a second, moving to help her stay upright, but the pain didn’t seem to shake the determination in Jade’s eyes.
The son of Mars lowered his fist slowly, looking horrified. The Greek opposite him stared, guilt written all over his face. No one seemed to know what to say. The silence that fell was sudden and suffocating.
"W-what have you done?" the Roman muttered, his voice disbelieving.
Everyone stood frozen, waiting to see what would happen next. If Jade wanted revenge, if she decided to strike back—well, for once, the Greeks might actually take her side.
But Jade, despite the impact, held herself upright. She pressed a hand to her cheek, her gaze locking onto Reyna’s, but she said nothing.
Reyna, however, knew that the fury in her eyes wasn’t because of the punch. It was because of everything else—the sheer stupidity of it all.
The silence stretched thick and heavy.
The Greek didn’t apologize, but the regret in his eyes was obvious.
Reyna stepped closer to Jade, trying to assess her condition. Jade clearly didn’t want to draw attention to herself, but Reyna saw it in her expression—she had no intention of backing down.
The blonde composed herself, pressing a hand against her mouth. "Next time, be more careful," she said, then turned and walked out of the circle without another word.
For the first time, Reyna felt torn. She didn’t know how to react. She wanted to go after Jade, to make sure she was okay—but she was still a praetor. She needed to respond, now, to what had just happened.
Luckily, Nico came to her rescue. As if reading her mind, he quickly ran after Jade.
"Come on, let’s get you checked out," he said, grabbing her wrist and leading her away.
Reyna exhaled sharply, then turned toward the two sons of the war god. She didn’t say a word, but both of them immediately stiffened under her gaze.
They knew better than to anger the daughter of Bellona.
But she wasn’t just angry.
She was furious.
"You're coming with me," she ordered, her voice like steel.
"Annabeth."
The daughter of Athena stepped up beside her.
Oh, they were going to regret this.
-----
The meeting had just concluded, and Reyna slowly walked away from the group, searching for a quiet corner to reflect. The image of the punch Jade had taken was still too fresh in her mind, and she couldn’t shake the weight of her anger. Not just because of the Roman’s actions, but also because Jade had ended up in the middle of it all, protecting her.
Reyna leaned against the wall, trying to organize her thoughts. Her mind buzzed, a storm of emotions she couldn’t stop. The sound of approaching footsteps made her flinch. When she saw Frank coming, she tensed, trying to appear calmer than she felt.
"I've never seen you this angry," Frank said, his smile curious but tinged with concern. "You're always so composed, Reyna."
Reyna didn’t respond immediately, her gaze dropping to the ground. "That situation... It went too far," she said, her voice betraying her frustration. "We almost ruined the truce."
Frank stepped closer, placing a hand on Reyna’s shoulder, trying to comfort her. "You didn’t have to be so harsh with them. I know it was a tough situation, but maybe you could have handled it without going so far," he said, referring to the punishments she has given the two boys.
Reyna shook her head, her eyes still fixed on the floor. "I had to, Frank. I had to stop it before it got worse. There was no other choice."
Frank studied her in silence for a moment, then spoke calmly, "It’s not that I don’t understand why you made that decision, Reyna. It’s just... I’ve never seen you like this. You’ve never lost control like you did today." He cleared his throat. "Not that you lost control, but..."
"You really were terrifying. You were really angry," Annabeth added, stepping forward with a determined stride, curiosity in her eyes. "Is something wrong, Reyna?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
Reyna looked up at Annabeth, her face hardened, but her eyes betrayed her uncertainty. "Of course, I was angry. We’ve been planning this event for weeks, working for peace for a whole year, and they were about to ruin everything."
Annabeth nodded, trying to understand her words. "I get it. But... you’ve never been... like this before." Annabeth seemed to think for a moment, unable to fully comprehend the situation. "Don’t make it always feel like a battle. No one can carry everything on their own."
Reyna smiled bitterly. She sometimes forgot how the children of Athena could be. "Alright," she simply said, beginning to head toward the field.
Annabeth watched Reyna for a moment, as if she wanted to say something more, but eventually, she changed the subject. "Anyway, it was really strange seeing Jade step in like that. She never gets involved in conflicts. It’s like... something just snapped inside her."
Reyna stared at her intensely, but didn’t say anything. She knew what Annabeth was trying to say, but she didn’t want to talk about it. Not now. Jade had made a decision, but Reyna wasn’t sure if it had been the right move or just an impulsive action. And even though Reyna herself was angry, part of her couldn’t help but wonder what had happened for Jade to act that way.
"I don’t know," she finally responded, her voice softer. "But I don’t think we should dwell on it too much. There’s too much else to do."

Jade was in the infirmary after being forcibly dragged in by the son of Hades. He was observing her from the corner. The infirmary, though usually associated with injuries and treatments, had a strangely calm atmosphere. Light filtered through the curtains, casting soft reflections on the beds and shelves. But Jade, sitting on a stretcher with her swollen cheek, felt the air thick with unasked questions. Will and Nico were attending to her injuries, but there was something in the way they looked at her that made her uncomfortable.
"Why are you here and not a... Roman?" she asked the son of Apollo.
He shrugged. "I thought you'd prefer a Greek after what happened."
Will, with his usual reassuring smile, gently placed an ice pack on Jade's cheek, trying to ease the swelling. "Don’t worry, the damage isn’t serious. The swelling is already going down, you're doing great," he said in a calm voice, but there was something in his tone that couldn’t hide his concern.
"Does it hurt?"
"It’s fine," she replied, trying to sound indifferent. The truth was, she didn’t want to talk, didn’t want anyone to worry about her, and especially didn’t want them asking questions. In fact, she didn’t want to be here at all. She avoided places like this like the plague. But Reyna had asked her to stay.
Will, however, didn’t seem willing to stop. "Okay, this part is done," he said, looking at her for a moment. "But if you need anything, let me know. For now, I recommend resting."
Jade glanced at him briefly, trying to seem calm. But in her chest, her heart was beating faster. Then, another silence. Will took a step back, but Nico, who had been standing aside, didn’t seem satisfied with the situation.
Nico approached slowly, with a look of almost curious interest. "I have to admit, I was surprised by how you got involved earlier. You didn’t seem like the type to do something like that," he said, not with malice, but with a tone that revealed interest.
Jade stiffened immediately. She didn’t want to talk about that.
"It was the right thing to do," she responded quickly, not looking him in the eye. Her voice was firm, but there was none of the usual strength she used to hide what she felt.
"Are you sure?" he asked, and the daughter of Athena raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Yes."
The boy studied her. "That punch was meant for Reyna. The boy would’ve hit his superior. Do you know what that means? Punishment." He observed Jade closely. "By stepping in, you changed the dynamics: it wasn’t subordinate and superior anymore, it was Roman and Greek. Do you know what that means? War."
Jade shrugged. "It’s good that I’m not worth starting a war over."
The boy scoffed. "For being the daughter of the goddess of strategy, I expected you to be smarter."
"For being the son of the god of the dead, I thought you’d not be interested in the lives of others."
Will stiffened at the cold exchange of words. "Guys..." he started.
"You risked starting a war, and I want to know why," the boy stated. He didn’t care about the relationship between the two camps, but he wanted to understand what Jade felt toward Reyna. But from the harsh look Jade gave him, he realized too late that he had taken the wrong approach.
"Are you here to scold me? Oh no, the daughter of Athena makes a strategic mistake."
"No, I want to understand."
Jade felt like something inside her was about to explode. Why did they keep asking questions? Why couldn’t they leave her alone? She shifted on the stretcher, uncomfortable, trying to find an answer that wouldn’t put even more pressure on her. "It’s not that complicated," she muttered. "I just did what I had to do. I didn’t think about it much, okay?"
Will, who had remained silent until then, noticed Jade’s expression and immediately realized that she was starting to get annoyed. He glanced at Nico, somewhat puzzled, but with a warning look. It wasn’t a secret that Jade was an introverted person, and perhaps they had rushed too quickly to ask questions. Will stepped in front of Nico, positioning himself between him and Jade, and with a low, calm voice said, "Maybe we should let her breathe a little."
Nico looked at him, visibly confused, but realized that Will was right. He didn’t want to be the cause of Jade’s stress. "Yeah, sure," he said, taking a step back. The son of Hades didn’t want to admit it, but he was already regretting the interrogation.
Jade glanced at him quickly, but didn’t say anything. She felt oddly relieved that they were stopping with the questions, even though she couldn’t quite understand why Nico seemed so curious about her. But now, finally, her breath was a little easier, and the atmosphere seemed less heavy.
Will, seeing that Jade wasn’t responding anymore, refocused on his work, trying to distract her from the situation. "You should rest a little. I promise there won’t be any more questions for today."
At that point, Nico left the infirmary, leaving Will to handle the situation. As he looked at Jade, he reflected on how she had acted during the incident. There was something deeper behind her reaction, but he felt it would be a mistake to force Jade to talk about it. She wasn’t ready, and he had understood that too late. But a part of him found himself intrigued by her. He had never considered her before. Deep in the camp, he lived like a ghost, spending little time with anyone except Will. he had noticed Jade a few times, but before Reyna had asked him to look for her, he didn’t even know she existed. But now, she intrigued him. What did the daughter of Athena have that could break through Reyna’s barriers?

The afternoon passed with the usual duties of a praetor, decisions to make and meetings to moderate. Reyna focused on her tasks, trying to push aside the lingering tension from earlier. Though the conflict between Romans and Greeks felt distant, her mind kept returning to the lunch.
As the sky shifted to hues of orange and pink, the evening approached. Despite the busy pace, Reyna felt each hour dragging on. With sunset came the start of the official dinner in New Rome, the annual event marking the beginning of a week of celebrations.
The grand hall was lit with warm lights, reflecting off golden plates and goblets, while classical music played in the background. Long tables were filled with orange aprons and crimson tunics, blending the two factions, though occasional silences fell as old tensions surfaced.
Reyna sat beside Frank, her face calm but shadowed with thoughts she couldn’t shake. Despite the festivities, her heart remained distant.
As the pretors’ speeches were followed by applause, Reyna’s thoughts drifted. She couldn’t focus, the words around her fading as her mind returned to Jade
Frank noticed her distracted gaze. "You okay?" he asked, but Reyna just smiled faintly and shook her head. "Just thinking," she murmured.
Annabeth, seated across from her, cast a curious glance but said nothing. Reyna felt as though time had stopped, the celebration continuing around her but feeling worlds away.
As the evening wound down and the final rituals were observed, Reyna stood. She had no desire to stay. The laughter, the food, the lively chatter—all felt distant.
Without a word to anyone, Reyna quietly slipped away from the hall, making her way down the corridors toward the infirmary. It didn’t matter that it was an official night. She needed to see Jade.

Reyna entered the infirmary with a determined stride, though the plate of hot rice in her hands betrayed her. The air was thick with the scent of medicine, clean bandages, and a faint hint of healing herbs. The room was quiet, illuminated only by the soft glow of torches outside the tent.
Jade was lying on the bed, one arm tucked under her head as she stared at the ceiling with a vacant expression. Her posture seemed relaxed, but Reyna immediately noticed the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers moved nervously on the sheet. It was the same way Reyna herself acted when trying to ignore something that bothered her.
Jade only noticed her presence when Reyna placed the plate on the nightstand beside her. She turned quickly, surprised, and stared at her for a long moment, as if making sure she was really there. Then, a sly smile curved her lips.
"Wow, I didn't think I'd have such an important visitor," she said lightly, propping herself up on her elbows. "Should I feel honored, the princess herself?"
Reyna observed her calmly, crossing her arms. "Will told me you could leave, but I didn’t see you at dinner."
Jade glanced down at the rice and then back at her. "I’m not exactly the type for big fancy events," she replied with a half-smile. "And I find this place... quieter than the dorm."
Reyna didn’t answer right away. The bruise on Jade’s cheek was more visible under the dim light, a dark spot against her pale skin.
"How are you?" Reyna finally asked, her voice softer than usual.
Jade studied her for a moment, then let herself fall back onto the pillow with a theatrical sigh. "Oh, I’ll survive. I’ve been hit with worse." She paused, and her smile became more playful. "You know, like by an icy praetor when she’s pissed."
Reyna raised an eyebrow but didn’t bite the bait. "Did you eat?"
Jade huffed, rolling her eyes. "Ah, I knew there was an ulterior motive to your visit. You came to check if I'm sticking to a balanced diet?"
Reyna didn’t let herself be shaken by the banter. "I thought you might be hungry."
Jade sat up, eyeing her for a moment before taking the plate with a more relaxed expression. "You know, you’re almost adorable when you do that."
Reyna blushed, sitting down on the chair beside the bed. "When I do what?"
Jade scooped some rice before replying, pretending to think it over. "When you pretend to be detached, but really, you care."
Reyna said nothing, but the small clench of her jaw betrayed her thoughts. Jade smiled to herself, as if winning a small victory.
"Anyway, thanks," she added, with a more sincere tone. "For the rice and... everything else."
Reyna nodded slightly. "You don’t have to thank me. I should be thanking you, for today."
"It was nothing," Jade shrugged. Then, with a flash of mischief in her eyes, she shifted on the pillows and looked at Reyna almost provocatively. "But you know? There is one thing you could do for me..."
"What's that?"
"You could give me a kiss." She smiled. "You know, they say they're the cure for everything."
Reyna stared at her, caught off guard by the sudden change in tone. Then she shook her head in exasperation. "You're impossible."
Jade didn’t seem as provocative as usual. Sure, there was the usual cheekiness in her expression, but beneath that playful surface, Reyna sensed something more.
An attempt to lighten the tension. Maybe even to test the waters.
Reyna watched her for a long moment, as if deciding whether to indulge her in this whim or not. Then, without saying anything, she leaned in and brushed her forehead with a quick, light kiss.
Jade blinked, surprised, then burst out laughing. "Oh, great, the goodnight kiss," she said, pretending to be outraged. "You’re not romantic at all, princess."
Reyna stood with a faint smile. "Eat the rice, Jade," she ordered. "Only after that could I think about giving you another."
Jade didn’t need to be told twice, finishing the bowl of rice in no time.
"Can I have my prize now?" Reyna laughed at the look Jade gave her, almost like a child hoping for a candy.
Standing above her, Reyna slowly took her chin, guiding her face toward hers. The kiss started more slowly than the one from the night before. Both almost hesitant to go too far.
They pulled away after a few seconds, staring into each other’s eyes in silence.
The moment was interrupted by a vase falling to the ground. Reyna quickly stood, heading toward the sound, and Jade followed.
Not far from their room, they found an open window and a broken vase on the floor.
Jade was the first to speak up. "Someone was here."
Reyna nodded.
"Do you think they saw us?"
"Very likely." The praetor turned to Jade. "Is it a problem?"
The daughter of Athena shook her head. "No, but why did they run?"
They didn’t get any answers, as moments later, the infirmary door swung open. Frank entered, panting and agitated.
"Reyna!" he shouted. "We have a problem. A Big problem."

Chapter Text

Reyna had feared that something might go wrong in this forced coexistence between Greeks and Romans, but she had never expected something like this.
Maybe arguments, a punch, even a fight—but not this.
She and Jade had followed Frank through the camp, the boy too shaken to even explain what had happened. They arrived at one of the main training grounds, where a crowd had gathered, murmuring in hushed voices, all staring at the center of the circle. No one dared to speak.
Reyna pushed through the onlookers until she reached the source of their attention. She froze at the sight before her. Jade caught up to her, and upon seeing it, she covered her mouth with a hand.
The son of Ares—the same one who had started the fight that morning—was lying on the ground. Lifeless.
Reyna felt paralyzed. A death. Someone had died under her watch. And now, they were all standing there… waiting for her to do something. But she—she didn’t know what to do.
“Praetor.” A whisper.
She turned slightly, finding Jade just inches away. Her usual playful gray eyes had hardened into something serious. She was looking at her, as if reminding her of where they were. What needed to be done.
“The crowd,” Jade murmured in a strategist’s tone.
Reyna snapped back to herself. “Frank, clear the area,” she ordered, her voice carrying the authority of a true commander.
Frank nodded, but the crowd didn’t move. The murmuring grew louder, fear and anger feeding into each other.
“Someone needs to say something!” a Greek demigod shouted, stepping forward.
Clarisse approached her fallen brother, her face contorted with rage. “Who did this?” she roared.
Percy tried to calm her. “It could’ve been a monster.”
“This wouldn’t have happened if we had stayed separate!” someone else yelled.
Reyna clenched her jaw, her fist tightening around the hilt of her sword. She had to stop this chaos before it spiraled out of control.
“Silence!” Her voice rang out, cutting through the rising tension. A brief moment of stillness followed. “Everyone, step back. No one moves until we understand what happened.”
But it wasn’t enough.
“It’s the Romans’ fault!” a son of Apollo accused, his face flushed with anger.
“Our fault? That guy picked fights with everyone!” a Roman legionnaire shot back.
The situation was about to explode. Then, a familiar presence stepped up beside Reyna.
Annabeth.
The daughter of Athena studied her for a moment before turning to the Greeks.
“That’s enough,” she said, her tone sharp as a blade. “No one accuses anyone without proof. We’re not here to kill each other.”
Percy stepped forward next to her, his face dark. “Listen to Reyna. Go back to your quarters. Now.”
“And what if the killer is still among us?” a dark-haired boy hissed.
“That’s exactly why we need order, not chaos,” Reyna cut in, shifting her gaze to her officers. “Frank, make sure the Romans return to their tents. Jason, help Annabeth and Percy with the Greeks. Anyone who stays here without permission will be considered a suspect.”
Grumbles of protest rippled through the crowd, but the combined presence of Annabeth, Percy, and Jason was enough to keep any rebellion at bay. Begrudgingly, the demigods began to disperse, though their lingering glances and whispered words carried unease.
Only four remained.
Will, who had been examining the body, muttered a curse under his breath.
“What?” Nico asked, drawing the attention of Reyna and Jade as well.
“It wasn’t a monster,” Will stated, pointing at the wounds. “These are blade cuts. And from the traces left behind, I can tell it was an imperial gold weapon.”
Reyna swallowed at the confirmation.
Jade, who had been silent until now, crouched beside the body, her eyes narrowing at the tightly clenched fist.
“Jade, what are you doing?” Nico asked as the daughter of Athena pried open the lifeless hand, revealing a small note.
She picked it up, and only then did they all clearly see the symbol carved into the victim’s palm.
“What is that?” Nico asked.
Jade shook her head, just as clueless as he was.
But Reyna—Reyna barely held back a gasp.
That symbol… she had seen it before.

The tent was filled with tense silence. Reyna had called the others to regroup before addressing the factions—before she had to face the Senate.
Around the table, the demigods sat with grim expressions, trying to process what had happened. A demigod’s corpse found in the middle of the training grounds had shaken everyone. It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a monster.
It was murder.
But there was something else—something that made the situation even more unsettling.
A note.
Percy placed it at the center of the table, his face tense. The crumpled piece of paper, stained with blood, seemed to burn under everyone’s gaze.
The letters were scrawled in uneven handwriting, as if written in haste—or with a trembling hand.
"One has fallen. How many more before you realize?"
A message. A threat.
Frank ran a hand over his face, visibly shaken. “That means this could happen again.”
“Not could,” Annabeth corrected, her expression set in stone. “It will. This wasn’t an isolated event. Someone wants to scare us.”
Jason crossed his arms. “Or worse, divide us.”
Hazel nodded, her voice quiet. “And it’s working.”
They all knew the camp was a powder keg. Tensions between Greeks and Romans had been simmering beneath the surface for days, hidden but ever-present.
Now, someone had taken the first step to make it explode.
Nico tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. “If it was a Roman, that would mean someone is trying to undermine the alliance from within. But if it was a Greek—”
“If it was a Greek,” Jason interrupted, “it would be the same thing in reverse. It would mean someone is trying to sabotage everything.”
Annabeth sighed. “We have to accept that it was a Roman.”
Her words hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over the room.
Frank tensed, Hazel looked away, and Jason exhaled, while Percy glanced between the two groups, clearly uncomfortable.
“We can’t be sure,” Jason countered.
Annabeth turned to him, practical as ever. “The hostility has always been stronger on your side. We built this truce, but we all know plenty of Romans never wanted it in the first place.” Then, she locked eyes with Reyna. “We let it slide once, but we can’t ignore it again.”
The praetor didn’t respond. They were allies, yet at that moment, there was a wall between them.
Silence followed.
Then, a hesitant voice spoke.
“…Not necessarily.”
All eyes shifted to Jade. Until now, she had stood apart, arms crossed, watching the discussion without offering an opinion.
Annabeth looked at her, surprised and irritated. “What?”
Jade barely lifted her gaze, her storm-gray eyes unreadable. “I’m saying it could’ve been a Greek. With a Roman weapon.”
A wave of tension rippled through the room.
Annabeth blinked, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. “And what exactly are you basing that on?”
Jade hesitated for a moment. She clearly didn’t like the attention, but she still answered. “Just because the body was found with a Roman weapon doesn’t mean the culprit has to be one of them.”
Annabeth clenched her jaw. “Jade, we have to be rational. The chances that a Roman was responsible are—”
“We can’t point fingers without proof,” Jade cut in, her voice controlled but firm. “If we want the truth, we need to consider every possibility.”
An uncomfortable silence filled the tent.
Annabeth stared at her for a long moment, then let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Who even invited you? Why are you here and not with the others?”
Jade swallowed but stood her ground. “I saw the cuts. They’re not in places Romans usually strike. They don’t—” she tried again.
Annabeth scoffed. “And since when do you study Roman techniques? You, of all people—”
“Annabeth.”
Percy’s voice was quiet, a warning, but she didn’t stop.
“You don’t even know our techniques, and now you’re comparing them to Roman ones? Why are you so desperate to defend them and blame us? I get that you don’t feel like you belong—”
Percy placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her mid-sentence.
Reyna didn’t like where this was going, and from the silence of the others, she could tell they didn’t either.
Jade swallowed, clearly unsettled by the attack. “No… that’s not it,” she tried. “I’m just saying the wounds look more like a Greek’s style—”
Annabeth ran a hand over her face, frustration leaking into her voice. “You know what, Jade? Not all Greeks kill their own brothers.”
Jade went completely still.
Her expression vanished, like Annabeth had just hit her with a sucker punch.
No one spoke.
Percy shot Annabeth a disapproving look. Nico shifted, his fists clenched at his sides. Even Jason looked uncertain.
Jade lowered her gaze, her jaw tightening slightly. She didn’t say a word.
Then she turned and walked out of the tent.
Annabeth opened her mouth as if to say something, but before she could, Reyna stood up so fast her chair scraped against the floor.
“Annabeth.”
The daughter of Athena snapped her head toward her, but when she saw the expression on Reyna's face, her confidence wavered for a second.
The praetor’s gaze was cold and restrained fury. Her stance was rigid, her fists clenched at her sides. Reyna didn’t often use that tone—but when she did, it meant trouble.
Annabeth parted her lips to speak, but no one dared to break the silence.
Frank quickly stepped in, desperate to change the subject. “We need to get to the Senate and gather the groups before this gets worse.”

The Senate Hall of New Rome was illuminated by torches and braziers, their flickering flames reflecting off the white marble walls. Despite the grandeur of the setting, the air was thick with tension.
On either side of the great hall stood the two groups of demigods: Greeks and Romans. Though no one had officially separated them, it was clear they had instinctively divided, forming two distinct factions.
On the raised platform, seated in orderly rows, were the members of the Senate—former praetors, demigods now too old to fight but still influential in New Rome’s political decisions. Among them, Marius stood out, an elder with gray hair and an inscrutable gaze.
Reyna stood at the center of the hall, back straight and expression severe. Beside her, Frank maintained a rigid, controlled demeanor, while Annabeth stood slightly behind, arms crossed and face tense. Percy, on the other hand, already looked like he was running out of patience. Octavian was testing everyone in the room.
"We have received news of today's incident," Marius began, his voice firm. "A murder. And not just any murder, but that of a Greek demigod. A son of Ares, under your watch."
A murmur spread through the hall.
Octavian rose to his feet, his expression contemptuous. "I warned you from the very beginning that this was a mistake! And yet here we are, pretending that this situation is still sustainable. The Greeks within our walls are a ticking time bomb. And today, we’ve seen the proof.”
Percy stepped forward, fists clenched. "Oh, sure, because all Romans are saints, right? Let me remind you, a Greek died."
"Percy," Annabeth murmured in warning, but Octavian pressed on.
"This isn't about morality, Jackson," he countered with a sharp smile. "It’s about security. A son of Ares is dead. With a Roman weapon. In Roman territory. A clear sign that our hospitality has been repaid in the worst possible way.”
Frank fixed him with a dark glare. "Are you saying a Greek did this?"
"I'm saying that coexisting with them is a mistake," Octavian replied, crossing his arms. "Have we ever had a problem like this before they arrived?"
"We have no proof it was one of us," Annabeth said coldly.
"But neither do we have proof that it wasn’t," Octavian shot back, his jaw tightening. "So tell me, why should we continue this farce?"
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
Reyna scanned the room. The Greeks looked ready to retaliate with words or, in Percy’s case, with a well-placed punch to Octavian’s face. The Romans, on the other hand, had closed-off expressions, though not all of them seemed to side with the augur.
She took a deep breath and spoke.
"This situation is delicate, and pointing fingers without proof will only make it worse." She turned slightly toward Octavian. "You will not decide what happens next, Octavian. The Senate will."
Octavian hissed but did not reply.
Marius nodded. "Then tell us, Praetor, what do you propose?"
Reyna clasped her hands behind her back. "We will investigate. And in the meantime, the games will continue."
Octavian’s eyes widened. "What?"
Annabeth turned to Reyna, raising an eyebrow. "You actually want to continue the games?"
Reyna nodded firmly. "Yes. If we suspend them, it will show that we’ve lost control of the situation. The Greeks will start seeing the Romans as a threat. The Romans will start believing we're accusing them. No one will trust each other anymore. It would be the perfect way to turn a single murder into a civil war."
"And if I sent you home, we might let the killer escape," she thought but did not say aloud.
Jason nodded, understanding the logic behind her words. "And in the meantime, we investigate who did this."
Marius glanced at the senators beside him, then slowly nodded. "The Senate approves this decision. But we expect results, Praetor."
"You will have them," Reyna answered confidently.
Octavian shook his head, displeased. "You’re making a mistake."
But no one listened.
The session was closed. The games would continue. And the hunt for the killer had just begun.
Reyna waited for the others to leave before calling Senator Marius back.
"What do you need, Praetor?"
Reyna showed him a hastily drawn sketch she had made before the meeting. The uneven lines depicted the symbol carved into the dead boy’s hand.
"What does this mean?" The senator stiffened.
"Why are you bringing this up now?"
Reyna studied him. "Because how could I be sure you wouldn’t send the Greeks away and cover everything up?"
The senator didn’t reply. "Focus on the games, Praetor. This is not your concern."
"It is if it led to the death of a boy under my watch."
Marius scoffed. "Do your job. We’ll handle the rest." Then he snatched the paper from her hand and walked away.

Reyna entered her house. It was really late, and in just a few hours, she would have to return to work.
However, when she didn’t see her dogs running to greet her, she became suspicious. She advanced slowly until she understood why.
“Jade.”
“You really should learn to lock your door. Especially with a murderer on the loose,” the girl replied without looking up. She was sitting on the floor, reading a book, the two metal dogs curled up beside her, sleeping peacefully.
Reyna sat down in front of her, observing her. The bruise on her face was darkening, and the faint wetness beneath her eyes told Reyna she had been crying.
“I’m sorry for sneaking in, but I wanted a quiet place,” Jade apologized, looking at her. Then, she stroked Aurum. “And they didn’t maul me, so I’d say they like me.”
Reyna smiled. “Annabeth shouldn’t have said those things.”
Jade shrugged, feigning indifference.
“Jade—”
“What’s that symbol?” Jade cut her off.
Reyna followed Jade’s gaze and noticed she was staring at the desk. There, among the various documents accumulated over the day, was a piece of parchment with a symbol engraved on it. The same one they had found near the murdered demigod’s body.
The daughter of Bellona reached out and picked up the paper, holding it lightly between her fingers. “We’re trying to figure that out,” she answered in a measured tone.
Jade tilted her head. “Is it a Roman symbol?”
Reyna hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. “Not exactly. It doesn’t belong to any known legion or any specific time period. I’ve already tried reading every book in New Rome.” She slid the paper toward her.
“So this isn’t the first time you’ve seen it if you’ve already had time to research it.”
Reyna shook her head. “We’ve been finding flyers like this for months,” she admitted. “Last week, they stopped, and we thought it was just a prank—until we found the entire training ground covered in these markings.”
Jade picked up the parchment, examining it closely. “And how did the Senate react?”
Reyna shook her head. “They did nothing. They cleaned it all up and didn’t say a word to me or Frank.”
“That’s strange,” Jade commented. Then she murmured to herself, “It feels… familiar.”
Reyna tensed. “You’ve seen it before?”
Jade hesitated, her thumb brushing the edge of the parchment. Then she shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. It reminds me of something, but I could be wrong.”
It wasn’t a satisfying answer, and Reyna realized it immediately. She knew Jade well enough to tell when she was hiding something.
She studied her in silence for a moment, then spoke calmly. “If there’s anything you know, even the smallest detail, you have to tell me.”
Jade handed the paper back with a half-smile. “I’d love to, Princess, if only I knew.”
Reyna sighed. She didn’t feel like pushing any further—not after the day they had both been through. Instead, she placed the parchment back on the desk and rubbed her temples.
“It’s just one more problem to add to the list.”
A long silence settled between them. Jade watched her intently until Reyna, her voice quieter than usual, admitted, “I don’t know what to do.” She rarely shared her struggles with others, but with Jade, it felt almost natural.
Jade tilted her head slightly, surprised.
“The Romans are suspicious, and the Greeks feel out of place. After what happened today, I saw them divide even further. I don’t know how to keep them together.”
Jade remained silent for a few seconds before resting her elbows on her knees. “You’re a strategist, Reyna. You know how to do this. But if you want my advice, stop treating them like two separate factions and start treating them as one army.”
Reyna looked up at her.
“Give them a common goal. Something that forces them to cooperate instead of eyeing each other with distrust.”
Reyna mulled over her words. “We’ll continue the games.”
“You made the right choice. You can’t send the Greeks back to Camp Half-Blood,” the daughter of Athena quickly understood her reasoning. “And it’s also a great way to bring the two groups together. But this time, change the rules. Mix the teams—Romans and Greeks together. Force them to stop thinking in terms of ‘us and them.’”
It was a crazy idea. Tensions would flare, arguments would break out, maybe even fights. But… it made sense.
Reyna ran a hand through her hair, already thinking through the details. “And what kind of game should I have them play?”
“Definitely not war games.”
Reyna shot her a glare.
“Sorry.”
Jade stretched as she stood. “They may be Greeks and Romans, but they have the same enemies.”
“You want me to bring monsters into the camp?”
“That would be fun, but no.” Jade shook her head. “Ask the children of Vulcan and Hephaestus to work together and build something to destroy. They love creating deadly things.” She smirked. “Then release it in the Arena or something, with mixed teams of demigods who have to work together.”
Reyna studied her for a few seconds. “You should be part of my strategy team more often.”
Jade smiled. “Too much work.”
She softened her gaze. “You should get some sleep.”
Reyna huffed. “There are a lot of things I should do.”
Jade grinned, this time genuinely. “Then start with this.”
Reyna glanced at the metal dogs, fast asleep beside Jade, and shook her head.
Jade stretched, setting down her book. “Can I stay here? I promise I won’t take up too much space.” She asked without looking at her.
Reyna shot her a suspicious glance but didn’t say anything. In the end, she let out a long sigh. “Fine. But tomorrow, you help me plan the game.”
Jade tilted her head, confused. “Isn’t that Annabeth’s role?”
“I want you.”
Reyna was silent for a moment, watching her, then spoke with a slight hesitation in her voice. “I thought… after what Annabeth said, you would have left.”
Jade lifted her gaze slightly, without anger or bitterness. Just a quiet certainty.
“You asked me to stay.”

Chapter Text

The next day, the games had resumed, but the atmosphere had changed. The mixed teams were working better than anyone could have imagined. Greeks and Romans were collaborating with each other, albeit with some hesitation, but it was clear that Jade’s plan was bearing fruit. However, Jade wasn’t there to see the result of her efforts. She had helped Reyna organize everything and then preferred to step away because "I hate team games."
Reyna and Annabeth were watching from a distance, both paying attention to how the demigods were behaving on the field. Annabeth, with her arms crossed, was looking at the various groups with a critical eye. She didn’t seem entirely convinced, but there was a slight admiration in her eyes for how things were going. "I didn’t think it would work," Annabeth admitted, her tone betraying some surprise. "But it seems like the plan is actually working."
Reyna kept watching the field, but her mind was elsewhere. "Yeah, me neither. I didn’t think things would go this smoothly."
Annabeth, offering a faint smile, turned to Reyna. "To be honest, I was skeptical. But now I have to admit I was wrong. Congratulations."
Reyna stared at her for a moment, with a more serious expression, before replying. "It was not my idea"
Annabeth looked at her, confused. "What do you mean, it’s not your idea?"
Reyna sighed and turned to her. "The idea came from Jade, not me."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Jade? Really?" The surprise in her voice was palpable. "I never thought she could come up with an idea like that."
Reyna let out a bitter smile, her gaze becoming more thoughtful. "I know, it’s strange... a daughter of Athena who knows how to come up with strategies…" she said with an overly ironic tone.
Annabeth noticed. "You know that’s not what I meant."
Reyna didn’t respond. An expression of embarrassment appeared on the face of the daughter of Athena. "I’m sorry for what I said to her… About her brother, I shouldn’t have said that. I apologize."
However, Reyna didn’t seem to appreciate the sincerity of her apology. Her lips barely twitched, and her voice showed no hint of forgiveness. "You don’t need to tell me."
"You’re right," Annabeth said. "I’ll apologize as soon as I see her." Reyna nodded in agreement. The blonde looked around. "But I don’t know where she is."
"She’s definitely not here. She hates crowds."
Annabeth looked at her and then sighed. "You understand Jade more after knowing her for two days than I do after sharing a room with her for years."
Reyna looked at her, confused. "Two days?" she asked. "We already knew each other before. We went on a mission for Ares."
Annabeth’s eyes widened. "Wait, so in the mission against Eris that you did… Jade was with you?"
"Yes," Reyna replied, surprised. "We traveled for about two weeks. Didn’t you notice she wasn’t at camp?"
Annabeth lowered her gaze and didn’t answer. The answer was all too clear.

The sun was high in the sky, and the games had been temporarily interrupted. The demigods needed a break, and, as usual, some wandered off to refresh themselves, while others preferred to rest. Reyna detached herself from the group, trying to take advantage of the moment to find Jade. She knew the girl hadn’t eaten, and she didn’t want her to keep skipping meals.
Walking among the scattered groups, Reyna finally found Jade. She was sitting on a rock, with a faun next to her. The two seemed to be chatting, the faun gesturing animatedly while Jade laughed. When Reyna saw them, she stopped for a moment, observing the scene with some suspicion. Fauns had never been among her favorites. Their unpredictable and sometimes deceptive nature made her cautious.
Jade noticed her presence and smiled, signaling to the faun. "Reyna!" she called, standing up while the faun moved aside, almost as if he wanted to leave.
"This is Xylon," Jade said, pointing to the faun. "I met him a little while ago. Xylon, meet Reyna."
The faun looked at Reyna with nervous, almost frightened eyes, and without saying a word, took a small step back, as if trying to distance himself without causing trouble. Jade, confused, watched him run away. "Strange... I don’t understand why he ran off like that."
Reyna, who had been watching the interaction, raised an eyebrow. "You know, it’s never a good idea to trust fauns too much." Her voice sounded almost like advice, but also a bit judgmental. "They’re unpredictable."
Jade didn’t seem bothered at all by the warning. "Unpredictable in the sense that they can give you flowers?" she replied with a smile, showing a calla lily. Reyna was surprised; usually, fauns asked for things, not gave them. And why had he given Jade a flower?
Jade pinned the flower to her armor. "Yes, it looks better on you."
Reyna coughed, trying to hide the growing blush. "Do you like flowers?"
The blonde shrugged. "Yes. But I’m not a fan of roses; they’re prickly." Then she looked at her, amused. "Although, I’m used to it."
The praetor snorted but didn’t remove the flower from her armor.
Reyna changed the subject. "Anyway... I thought you might need something to eat." She placed the food on the rock next to Jade. "I know you haven’t had lunch. You can’t keep doing this."
"Just because you don’t see me doesn’t mean I don’t eat." Jade looked at the food with a smile and, without hesitation, started eating. "But thanks. I didn’t feel like mixing with the others." As she ate, she looked around, then turned to Reyna, adding with a more thoughtful tone. "You know, Annabeth apologized to me."
Reyna raised an eyebrow, surprised by the revelation. "Annabeth?" she asked without much enthusiasm, trying to keep her voice neutral. So, she had found her.
Jade nodded, putting the food down for a moment. "Yes. She apologized for what she said to me yesterday. I didn’t expect her to do that." Jade lowered her gaze, visibly a little confused. "I don’t know... I didn’t expect her to apologize."
Reyna remained silent for a moment. She observed her; it almost seemed like she wasn’t used to receiving apologies or consideration. Maybe because she never got them. Reyna wanted to ask why she hadn’t told anyone about Eris, about their mission. But the answer was obvious: Jade didn’t feel comfortable telling anyone about her life. She was a ghost at Camp Half-Blood.
"It’s a nice thing, Jade," Reyna said. Jade looked up and nodded.
"Yeah." Then she observed a few demigods walking past them, two Greeks and a Roman.
"Wow, they’re not fighting."
Reyna nodded in satisfaction. "Your idea worked."
Jade took another bite of the food Reyna had brought her, but her gaze shifted curiously to the field where the mixed teams were continuing to work. Then, as if remembering something, she looked back at Reyna.
"And the Paw patrols? Frank, Jason, and Percy?" she asked, with a hint of fun in her voice. "Did they find anything? Any signs of the murderer? Anything that could give us a lead?"
Reyna shook her head, her face tense. "Don't call...whatever. No, nothing concrete. They patrolled for a long time, but didn’t find any traces. The area around the camp has been searched, but there’s no sign that could give us a clue about who it might be. The murderer covered their tracks well."
Jade chewed thoughtfully, her gaze fixed. "A good murderer, then. But it’s not possible that they didn’t leave anything. There’s always something."
Reyna sighed. "I know, but so far we haven’t found anything that could lead us to a clear trail."
For a moment, silence fell between them, broken only by the distant sound of voices and laughter from the teams engaged in the games. Jade, focused, reflected on Reyna’s words, and just as she was about to speak, a strange feeling crossed Reyna. She looked around, feeling suddenly observed. Her gaze shifted furtively between the people nearby. No one seemed to be doing anything odd, but the feeling wouldn’t leave her.
"Is something wrong?" Jade asked, noticing the change in Reyna’s posture. Reyna, visibly uneasy, tried to shake off the feeling. "I don’t know. It feels like someone is watching us, but... I can’t figure out where it’s coming from." She tried to look around, but Jade stopped her.
The blonde, with one of her usual enigmatic smiles, raised her gaze and carefully scanned the field. "You’re not the only one feeling it," she said, in a low tone. "I noticed a gaze a while ago, but I couldn’t tell who it was coming from. And I think we shouldn’t make ourselves too noticeable."
Reyna stiffened; she didn’t like it. "Stay close to me today."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "Reyna, I kno—"
"Jade, please. I’m not saying you should stay glued to me... just in my line of sight."
The daughter of Athena didn’t seem happy with the restriction but shrugged. "Fine. You know, you could have asked in a different way if you wanted me close, Princess. Like, on a date."
"Stop it."
-----

Jade sighed heavily, fiddling with the dagger they had given her for the challenge. The afternoon sun was still high in the sky, and the air was thick with the smell of the trampled earth and the dust kicked up by the games.
Being kept in Reyna's line of sight meant, basically, not being able to have a peaceful moment. And that had brought her here, surrounded by a group of demigods she didn’t know, forced to take part in a team challenge.
In front of them, in the middle of the makeshift battleground, stood the mechanical monster that the children of Hephaestus and Vulcan had built. A massive creature, with metallic claws and glowing red eyes that shone ominously. Jade raised an eyebrow. It looked like a cross between a dragon and a steel tiger, with electric cables moving like exposed nerves. The children of the god of fire had put in some effort, she admitted to herself. Instead of creating more monsters, they had built just one that had dominated the arena all afternoon, defeating the mixed teams. Even the famous Percy had to retreat, to the great delight of the mechanics. Well... he would have won by flooding the arena, but Reyna had prohibited it.
The last group was being defeated like the others, and Jade was waiting with a group of four others—three Romans and one Greek.
"So, do we have a plan?" she asked, trying at least to be useful.
One of the Roman boys in the group—a centurion named Mattias—turned to look at her dismissively. "Yeah, stay out of the way. We have enough capable people without needing an extra Greek."
Jade blinked, surprised. Then she burst out laughing. "Oh, sure, because your incredible strategic plans have definitely worked the last time you fought a monster, right?"
Marcus stiffened, but before he could reply, a Greek boy from their group hurried to intervene. "Listen, no one’s saying you can’t fight, but this isn’t your kind of battle. It’s a mechanical beast. We need firepower, not strategy."
Jade rolled her eyes. "You’re telling me the only way you think you can handle this thing is to charge at it blindly and hope for the best?"
The group fell silent.
Jade sighed. "Typical." Then she moved closer to the monster, studying it more closely. The gears moved with an almost unnatural fluidity, and every now and then, electricity crackled across the metal plates.
"If they wanted a simple target to hit," she mused aloud, "the children of Hephaestus wouldn’t have bothered building something so detailed. There has to be a weak point, something that makes it vulnerable."
Mattias snorted. "And what do you want to do, take it apart with your mind?"
Jade gave him an amused smile. "No. But I know who built it." She turned to look at the side of the arena, where some children of Hephaestus were watching with smug expressions. "And if I know the children of Hephaestus and Vulcan... I know they have enormous egos. If they’ve made something, they’ll want to brag about how it works."
She moved to the edge of the field and addressed a Greek boy with messy hair, who seemed quite pleased with himself. "Hey, nice job. Really impressive."
The boy looked at her suspiciously, but couldn’t help puffing his chest out in pride. "Yeah. We spent hours perfecting it."
Jade nodded, pretending to be interested. "And I guess no one found the weak point, right?"
The boy laughed. "Ha! It doesn’t have any weak points. We put the energy generator inside the chest, protected by double armor, and activated only by a specific signal!"
Jade smiled. "Interesting."
Then she turned and went back to her group, finding Mattias looking at her skeptically.
"Tell me you have an idea, Daughter of Athena."
Jade shrugged. "Oh, just that we need to open the chest and shut down the generator. Nothing complicated."
The group stared at her.
"Okay, maybe a bit complicated," she admitted with a crooked smile. "But who said winning has to be easy?"

Jade prepared herself as the mechanical monster powered up completely. Its red eyes flashed, and sparks flew from its joints, a sign that the children of Hephaestus and Vulcan had really put effort into making it a worthy opponent.
The group formed up, or at least what could be called a formation: Marcus and the other stronger members stood at the front, ready to charge, while the more agile demigods remained on the sides, waiting for the right moment to strike. Jade, however, stayed slightly back, mentally calculating every possible move.
From the top of the bleachers, Reyna watched the scene with her arms crossed, but inside, she was anything but calm. She knew Jade could take care of herself, but that didn’t mean she trusted the rest of the group. Even Annabeth, standing beside her, seemed to be watching with some curiosity, perhaps wondering if her sister would prove her worth once again.
"She has a plan," Annabeth said, and Reyna nodded in agreement.
Annabeth gave her a sideways glance and then smiled, returning her gaze to the arena. "Nice addition to the armor."
Reyna furrowed her brow and blushed slightly when she noticed the Calla. She took it off and set it aside. She didn’t reply.
A metallic roar shook the air as the monster moved suddenly, lunging forward with an unexpected speed. Mattias and the others charged in, their swords clanging against the metal, but the opponent was more resistant than they had thought.
Jade darted to the side to avoid a tail swipe, rolling swiftly on the sand and landing on her knees. Her brain was working feverishly. The generator is in the chest… but how do we open it without getting torn to pieces in the process?
"It’s not working!" shouted one of the warriors, jumping back to avoid a slash from the metal claws. "The weapons aren’t doing enough damage!"
Jade gritted her teeth. Of course, it wasn’t working. The children of Hephaestus and Vulcan knew how to build something tough, but every machine had a weak point. And they had just told them: the generator was protected by double armor, so they couldn’t just smash it with brute force.
She had to think like a builder, not a warrior.
A flash of electricity hit the ground beside her, sending a cloud of dust into the air. Jade coughed and ran for cover, finding a small rise from which she could better observe the monster’s movements. She noticed that after each attack, the metal plates covering its chest shifted slightly, as if there was a cooling mechanism.
If I can figure out the timing...
"Get it away from the center!" she yelled, drawing her group’s attention. "Force it to move faster, if we overheat it, the armor will open by itself!"
Mattias looked at her skeptically, but another swipe from the monster convinced him to obey. The group split up, attacking from the sides and forcing the creature to turn constantly, its internal engines whistling with the effort.
Reyna noticed what Jade was doing. The daughter of Athena wasn’t throwing herself into battle like the others; she was analyzing the battlefield, identifying patterns, and using logic against instinct.
She’s a strategist.
Reyna already knew that, of course, but seeing it in action was different. Watching how Jade calculated the enemy's movements quickly, exploiting even the slightest mistake, reminded her of the precision with which generals led their wars.
After a few minutes of intense fighting, the monster made a strange sound, almost like a hiss of steam. The plates on its chest opened slightly, exposing the energy core for a brief moment.
Jade didn’t waste any time.
She sprang forward, darting between the fighters, and jumped onto the creature’s back, grabbing one of the exposed cables to avoid falling. The metal burned, but she wasn’t about to stop.
"Cover me!" she shouted, as she tried to reach the core.
Mattias, reluctant as he was, obeyed and ordered to the archer to focus their fire on her to distract the monster. The beast roared, trying to shake her off, but Jade gritted her teeth and drove the dagger between the joints. A surge of sparks ran through her arm, but with one final effort, she managed to disable the generator with a precise strike.
The monster trembled violently, then froze abruptly. Its metal body collapsed, the red lights in its eyes went out, and the battle was over.
For a moment, everything was silent. Then a roar of cheers and applause erupted from the bleachers.
Jade rolled away from the lifeless body, exhausted but satisfied. She looked at her teammates, who were staring at her with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief.
Mattias swallowed. "...Okay. Maybe you're not completely useless."
Jade laughed softly, still on the ground. "Wow. What a compliment."
From the bleachers, Reyna allowed herself a small smile but didn’t let her concern show. Seeing Jade so close to that mechanical monster, risking being electrocuted, had made her hold her breath more than once.
Damn it, Jade.

The dinner was in full swing, the pavilion illuminated by torches and lanterns that cast dancing shadows on the long tables. The demigods were laughing and chatting among themselves, still excited from the day's games.
Reyna sat next to Frank, who was devouring a plate full of meat with the energy of someone who had spent the day chasing shadows without success.
"Nothing?" Reyna asked, keeping her voice low.
Frank sighed, setting down his fork. "Nothing." He shook his head. "Jason, Percy, and I scouted the whole area, but we found nothing. No trace of the killer, no sign of suspicious activity."
Reyna clenched her jaw. It was frustrating. The more time passed, the more it seemed like the culprit was toying with them.
"We’ll keep looking," Frank said, trying to reassure her. "But whoever it is, they’re good at hiding."
Reyna nodded, but her gaze drifted past Frank, caught by a scene she wasn’t sure she had ever seen before.
Jade was at the center of attention.
She was surrounded by demigods from both factions, all congratulating her on her victory over the mechanical monster. Some patted her on the back, others asked her how she had figured out the creature’s weak point.
Even Mattias, the guy who had belittled her earlier, now seemed to acknowledge her abilities. "Admit it, you're a little genius," he said with a half-smile. "If it weren’t for you, we’d still be there getting electrocuted."
Jade laughed, but Reyna noticed the way her shoulders were slightly tense.
At first glance, she seemed happy, her expression pleased and her tone playful as she responded to the compliments, but there was something off. Something that didn’t quite fit with the festive atmosphere.
She wasn’t eating.
Her plate was untouched, the utensils abandoned beside the food. And she kept fiddling with the cuff of her jacket, a small nervous gesture.
Reyna narrowed her eyes. It was Jade. Jade, who, since Reyna had known her, never liked being the center of attention.
She had been a brilliant fighter, an incredible strategist, but being in the spotlight like this? It probably made her more uncomfortable than she wanted to admit.
Reyna watched her for a moment, reflecting. Maybe it was time to intervene.
But it wasn’t Reyna who saved Jade from the attention, but a demigod who rushed into the room, shouting.
"They found another body!"
The buzz and laughter abruptly stopped. The pavilion fell into an unnatural silence as everyone turned toward the panting boy at the door. His face was as white as a sheet, his hands trembling.
Reyna was already standing before she even realized it. "Where?" she asked firmly, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Near the weapon storage, a Roman... I don’t know if he's still alive."
The tension exploded in a wave of movement. Frank and Jason immediately stood up, followed by Percy and Annabeth. Reyna spun around and locked eyes with Jade. The girl nodded without needing words.
They rushed outside, the evening cold stinging their skin. The camp was lit only by scattered torches, casting irregular shadows on the tents and paths. The crowd had already gathered near the storage, and the Roman soldiers were trying to maintain order.
Reyna pushed her way through. She stopped when she saw the body on the ground.
A young legionary, his tunic stained with blood, his face pale and motionless. But when Reyna knelt beside him, she immediately felt his chest rise. He was alive.
"Will!" called Annabeth, and the son of Apollo rushed forward, already pulling bandages and ointments from his bag. He bent over the boy, placing two fingers on his neck to feel for a pulse.
"He’s breathing. Weak, but it's there," he declared. "Someone help me get him to the infirmary, now!!" without taking his eyes off the wound on the Roman's side.
Reyna let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Another attack, but this time not a murder.
But then Jade crouched beside her and clenched her jaw. "Reyna."
Reyna turned and saw that Jade had picked up something next to the body. A piece of parchment.
Jade read the piece and clenched her fists around the paper, turned it around, and showed it to Reyna.
The symbol. Again that triangle wrapped by a snake.
And underneath it, a phrase written in uncertain, almost angry handwriting:
"You dared to unite what should have remained divided. Soon you will see what is most dear to you fall, Praetor."

Chapter Text

The Senate hall was illuminated by torches lining the marble walls. The atmosphere was tense, the murmur of the gathered senators blending with the heavy silence filled with expectation from the demigods present. Reyna sat at the center, her hands intertwined on the table, her face impassive, but inside, she felt the weight of the situation bearing down on her shoulders.
Next to her, Frank spoke in a firm yet frustrated tone. "We’ve increased patrols, searched every corner of the Camp and the city, but no one has seen anything. No shadows, no suspicious movements. It's as if the murderer is a ghost."
Whispers spread through the room. Some senators exchanged worried glances, while others nodded grimly.
"Yet, they’ve struck again." Annabeth’s voice broke the silence. She and the other members of the Greek group were standing at the edges of the room, watching the scene closely. "We have a survivor this time. Maybe they can tell us something."
An older senator cleared his throat. "If they survive."
Another shook his head. "We can't afford any more attacks. The security of the Camp is compromised."
That’s when the shrill voice of Octavian echoed through the room. "I warned everyone about this danger, but no one wanted to listen." He stood slowly, scanning the room with a smug smile. "The Greeks bring only chaos. The union of the Camps was a mistake, and this is the result."
Percy huffed, crossing his arms. "Oh, here we go."
"Nothing has been proven," Reyna replied coldly. "The attack could have come from anyone."
"Yet, the attacks began the moment we opened our doors to them." Octavian pointed an accusing finger at the Greek demigods. "If we had kept our traditions, we wouldn’t be in this situation. But no, our esteemed Praetor decided to ignore common sense."
Reyna clenched her jaw. "Enough."
The room fell into silence.
Reyna stood up, fixing the senators with a steady gaze. "There is no evidence that the murderer is Greek or Roman. But we know they want to challenge the unity between our Camps. If we fall into mutual accusations, we’re only playing into their hands."
Some senators nodded, others remained doubtful. Octavian merely smiled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "If you want to continue ignoring the signs, go ahead."
Annabeth moved slightly closer to Reyna, lowering her voice. "This is a problem."
"I know." Reyna responded in a low, stern tone, as the discussion continued around them.
The session continued with many criticisms and few suggestions. The Senate adjourned, and when Reyna tried to speak about the symbol again, she was harshly silenced.
"At least they didn’t kick the Greeks out and erase everything," Frank said to her.
"Because now a Roman has been attacked too."

it was decided that the next day, a group of Greek demigods would return to Camp Half-Blood. Percy had insisted that the younger ones, aged twelve to fifteen, should go home to stay safe, while the older ones would remain at New Rome.
"They’ll think we’re accusing them," Piper argued.
"We have to keep the games going." Everyone turned toward Annabeth.
Frank observed her, nodding. "But how? Everyone has seen the victims of the attacks. How can you convince them to play?"
"We need help from the centurions," Reyna decided. "We’ll gather all the leaders of the legions, convince them to look after their groups. Maybe we can send them on a mission away from the camp."
Annabeth seemed to appreciate the idea. "We can do the same with the cabin leaders. And while they focus on the demigods, we can investigate."
Nico looked at Reyna. "And for..."
The others looked at the praetor with concern. "We’ll deal with empty threats later."
Annabeth stood up. "It’s late, and I still need to figure out who among ours has a solid enough alibi to send with the younger ones. I don’t trust sending them back alone."
The daughter of Bellona’s face lit up. "I think I have an idea."

It was a new day, but no one was celebrating as they had in previous days. The room was filled with voices, all engaged in a serious discussion. Annabeth, Reyna, Percy, Frank, and Jason were gathered around a table, planning the details of the younger demigods' departure from Camp Jupiter to Camp Half-Blood, with Nico occasionally chiming in from his corner. The atmosphere was tense, and the words were heavy.
"We’ve chosen which older Greek demigods will accompany the younger ones," Annabeth said, moving a map across the table. "We made sure they all have alibis. We need to get the younger ones out of here as soon as possible; their safety is our priority."
"I agree," Reyna added, her face serious.
The injured demigod was still unconscious and unable to provide useful information, but after realizing that the murderer wouldn’t stop, the first priority for the Greeks was to get their youngest home. The others would stay at Camp Jupiter.
A brief silence fell over the room as everyone considered each other’s words. Then the door suddenly opened, making everyone turn. Jade entered, her face marked with frustration and anger.
"What’s going on here?" Jade exploded, her gray eyes full of indignation. "Why was I chosen to accompany the kids? Annabeth??"
Reyna stepped between the two sisters. "It wasn’t her decision, it was mine."
Annabeth turned toward Reyna, but before she could speak, Jade silenced her with a furious glare. "And why in the fucking hell would you want to do that?"
Frank stepped forward. "Watch your language, she’s—"
"Reyna!" Jade shot him a scowl. "It’s Reyna for me."
Reyna slowly raised her head, staring at Jade. "Any demigod is a suspect, and we decided to send only those with a strong alibi with the younger ones," she replied in a low, serious tone. "You were the center of attention all afternoon and evening yesterday." She looked at her seriously. "This gives you, perhaps, the strongest alibi of all."
"It’s the same for at least twenty other demigods!"
"Jade."
The girl huffed, but then a light seemed to spark in her face, and Reyna immediately understood that she had found something to hold on to. "But you can’t say the same for the first attack," she retorted, crossing her arms. "You were all at dinner, and no one was with me to confirm I stayed there. That makes me the prime suspect."
The others in the room were surprised by her statement. Nico rubbed his forehead. "A daughter of Athena so stupid," he muttered.
"I can confirm that," Reyna answered.
The daughter of Athena smiled playfully, tilting her head slightly. "Can you? As far as I know, you weren’t with me the entire evening."
Reyna huffed, stepping closer with determined strides. "Stop blaming yourself for things you didn’t do. If any senator or Octavian heard you, you’d already be under observation in a cell."
The blonde shrugged. "So, it takes so little to stay here?"
Everyone could see the patience of the daughter of Bellona starting to wear thin quickly. "You’ll leave today with the group."
Jade’s reaction was immediate and violent. "I’m not running away!" she snapped, her voice trembling with anger and determination. "I’m not here to hide. If you think I’m leaving out of fear, to hide among the kids, you’re seriously mistaken. I’ve done my part, I’ve fought, I’ve risked my life like everyone else, and I’m still ready. I won’t let you do this, Reyna."
The tension in the room became palpable, like a tight wire on the verge of snapping. The other demigods watched in silence, aware that they were in the middle of something they shouldn’t be hearing. Frank lowered his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck in clear discomfort. Percy sighed heavily, while Jason remained still, watching the scene with furrowed brows. Annabeth, next to him, refrained from intervening, but the expression on her face betrayed some unease.
Reyna lifted her head defiantly, her dark eyes locked onto Jade's. Her face was a mask of impassivity, but the clenched jaw betrayed her frustration.
"If you don’t want to listen to me as a friend, then listen to me as your superior," her voice grew harder. "Consider it an order."
Jade laughed without humor, her gaze full of disdain. "Friend?" she repeated sarcastically. "Interesting choice of words." She then crossed her arms, her posture rigid. "And as for your order... I remind you that I’m not Roman, Praetor. I don’t follow your orders."
"But you follow mine," Annabeth intervened, her tone firm but not hostile. "I am still the leader."
Jade turned to her with an incredulous and angry look. "You didn’t even know I existed until two days ago, and now you want to give me orders?"
"Jade."
"No!" The girl raised her voice, returning her gaze to Reyna. "I’m not leaving." Her voice cracked slightly, revealing the anxiety beneath the anger. "Reyna, they threatened you, do you understand?"
Reyna didn’t look away. "That’s my business."
"My business?!" Jade stepped forward, her eyes shining with indignation.
But Reyna didn’t yield. "If you don’t want to leave, then I’ll throw you out of the camp. You’ll be escorted out, by force if necessary."
The silence that fell in the room was as heavy as a stone. Frank and Nico stepped forward, visibly concerned, but Reyna raised a hand to silence them before they could protest.
Jade stiffened, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Inside, she felt a note of betrayal, a dull pain she never expected.
"You asked me to stay," she whispered, her voice almost trembling. "And now you’re sending me away?"
Reyna gritted her teeth. "I asked you to stay before there was a target on your back!" she shouted, surprising everyone in the room.
Percy straightened abruptly. "What do you mean?" he asked confused, but Annabeth gave him a slight elbow, signaling him to stay out of it.
Nico sensed the imminent danger and, with a nod, motioned for the others to leave, leaving the two girls alone in the room.
Jade took a deep breath, trying to control the furious beat of her heart. "They threatened you," she repeated firmly.
Reyna shook her head. "No." She stepped forward, and for the first time, her voice lost its authoritative tone, revealing something deeper. "They said they would strike those closest to me."
Jade stood frozen.
Reyna inhaled, her fists clenched. "They know, Jade. Someone in the infirmary saw us."
A chill ran down the spine of the daughter of Athena. For the first time, fear slipped into her anger.
"You’re not staying here."
Jade shook her head stubbornly. "I’m really curious to see how you plan to stop me." She crossed her arms, and with defiance in her eyes, she uttered words Reyna wished she’d never hear. "And I swear by Olympus, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, if you have me kicked out, we’re done. Whatever this is between us, it’s over."
Reyna froze. Her breathing grew heavier, her chest rising as she fought to maintain control. She had always admired Jade’s tenacity, but now that it was turned against her, she wasn’t so sure anymore.
The silence between them was thick with something unresolved, something neither of them had the courage to confront.
Finally, Reyna lowered her gaze slightly, as if making a mental calculation. When she looked up at Jade again, her expression was the same as always: resolute, determined, unyielding.
"Fine," she conceded slowly. "You want to stay?"
Jade nodded firmly.
"You’ll stay," Reyna confirmed. "But you’ll always have someone with you."
Jade’s eyes widened. "What?"
"If you want to stay, you’ll follow my rules," the Praetor reiterated. "I’m still in charge here."
"Let me guess, I’ll have to stay glued to you all day?"
"No. You’ll sleep with me at night."
Jade opened her mouth to protest, but Reyna stopped her with a stern look.
"During the day, you’ll be with someone else. They’ll decide how to organize."
Jade was speechless for a long moment. Then, with an incredulous expression, she exclaimed, "You’re giving me babysitters?!"
Reyna crossed her arms, unflinching. "If you won’t act like an adult, then you’ll be treated like a child."
Jade gritted her teeth, but the spark of defiance in her eyes didn’t die down. Reyna knew her well enough to realize this battle wasn’t over.

Reyna sank down onto the stone bench at the edge of the training field, exhaling a long breath as she watched the demigods training in the distance. Whatever training they were undergoing, it was nothing compared to dealing with a stubborn daughter of Athena. The echo of swords clashing and the hectic voices filled the air, but in her mind, there was only silence. A heavy, uncomfortable silence, full of thoughts she didn’t want to face.
Beside her, Nico casually leaned against the same bench. With his arms crossed and a mischievous smile on his pale face, he looked at her with an expression Reyna had learned to fear.
"So," he began, tilting his head slightly. "How does it feel to have a rebel underfoot?"
Reyna snorted, massaging her temples. "Are you here to mock me, or to help me?"
Nico shrugged, pretending to think about it. "Both, I guess." Then his smile widened. "Not that you need help, of course. You handled everything perfectly. You gave her babysitters, Reyna."
She shot him a sharp look. "They're not babysitters. It's protection."
"Protection?" Nico repeated with a muffled laugh. "You basically forced Jade to stay glued to someone all day and stuck her in your house at night. If I didn’t know you, I’d think you did it for other reasons."
Reyna turned suddenly, giving him a dangerous glance. "Nico."
"What? I’m just saying what everyone’s thinking," he retorted. "And if they didn’t know who to target before, now even the ones who threatened you know how much you care about her."
Reyna shrugged. "They already know, Nico. Someone was spying on us the other night, and both Jade and I noticed someone keeping an eye on us."
Nico rubbed his face, processing the new information. "I can't judge what you did. If it had been Will, I would have done the same."
"I shouldn’t have gotten attached."
"You can't decide that."
She clenched her jaw and turned her gaze away, focusing on an indeterminate point ahead. She didn’t want to admit that Jade’s reaction had affected her more than it should have. The way the girl had looked at her, the fury in her eyes, the pain in her voice... It was as if Reyna had betrayed her.
It was absurd, because the only thing she had been trying to do was protect her.
"We’ll sort this out," Nico said, his tone calmer now, almost gentle. "And I know you’re trying to protect her. But Jade isn’t the type to take orders without a fight. And she’s definitely not the type to be protected without feeling suffocated. In short, she’s going to give you a hard time."
Reyna nodded slowly without saying anything. She knew Nico was right, but she couldn’t let Jade be alone. Not after that note. Not after the threat.
After a moment of silence, Nico grinned again. "But today, you entrusted her to Will. Smart move."
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing..." Nico stretched theatrically, pretending to talk to himself. "Only that Will is extremely sunny, patient, and doesn’t get intimidated easily. Jade will try to push him away in every possible way, but he won’t back down. It’ll be fun to watch."
Reyna shook her head, but a small, imperceptible smile brushed her lips. "I just hope she doesn’t drive him crazy."
Nico chuckled. "Will’s a son of Apollo. He puts up with me every day. He can handle Jade."
Reyna stared at him for a moment before sighing. "So, I’m supposed to take lessons from him?"
Nico pretended to think about it. "Maybe you should worry more about Jade than Will. He can be scary when he’s angry."
Reyna took a moment to process. Then, with another sigh, she ran a hand through her hair. "This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?"
Nico gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Probably. But we’ve beaten titans and gods, we can take down a murderous demigod."
"I might survive a stubborn blonde, too."
"Yeah, if it weren’t Jade. Right now, I’m betting more on her than on you."
She shook her head, her gaze lost in the distance. She wasn’t sure if she found the situation funny. Something inside her told her things were only going to get worse.

Chapter Text

That evening, Reyna and Frank walked along the border, the twilight casting an orange glow on the stone walls of New Rome. The air was cool, but the tension between them was palpable, like a mist that never truly lifted.
"Another murder," Reyna said in a low voice, frustration evident in her tone. Unfortunately, the Roman they had saved the night before hadn't survived the night. "And no leads, no real suspects. This isn’t normal."
Frank nodded, hands in his pockets as he tried to make sense of it all. "Yeah, and every time we think we have a lead, it disappears. Like someone wants to make sure we don’t find out anything." He paused, looking at Reyna. "And yet the Senate... we can’t rule them out."
"Don’t say their name too much—they have ears everywhere." Reyna studied him carefully. "Yes, but I don’t think they’re directly involved," she replied. "Not yet, at least. But they clearly know something. They’re not stupid. And they’re not telling us."
"Why?" Frank asked, stopping in his tracks. "What are they hiding?"
Reyna crossed her arms, deep in thought. "I don’t know yet. But something feels off. The Senate knows more than they’re letting on. And if they’re keeping secrets from us, it must be something big. Maybe they aren’t directly involved—but what if they are?"
Frank made a dismissive gesture, as if trying to push away the unsettling thought. "We can’t think like that—not yet. But someone out there knows more than they’re saying."
Reyna took a slow breath, her mind racing. "Yeah. And if they won’t tell us, it means there’s something bigger behind this. We can’t just rely on what we know. We need to dig deeper."
Frank stepped closer, meeting her gaze. "So, what’s the plan?"
"We need to talk to the senators," Reyna said, her expression firm. "But we can’t do it in a group. We have to question them separately—without them knowing we’re asking around."
Frank nodded slowly, immediately understanding where she was going with this. "But we also can’t make too much noise. If they realize we’re looking for something… they might try to stop us."
Reyna met his eyes with a steely look. "I know. That’s why we have to be careful. Every senator has their own alliances, their own reasons for keeping quiet. But if one of them knows something, we need to find out before they decide what to do with that knowledge."
Frank thought about her words and shook his head. "So we separate the five senators, ask about who saw who, who might have outside connections, ties to other groups..."
"Exactly," Reyna said, calmer but still determined. "And then we see who seems the most suspicious. If someone turns out to be more involved than they should be, we need to be ready to act."
Frank rubbed the back of his neck, already anticipating how difficult it would be to navigate such a tangled web. "Let’s hope we don’t have to take drastic measures. But if we don’t get answers..."
"Then we will take those measures," Reyna cut in. "New Rome is under our protection. I won’t let anyone threaten it."
Frank nodded, recognizing the resolve in her voice. "I get it. So, we prepare for a long round of questioning—one by one."
Reyna gave a firm nod. "Yes. We start with the senators closest to Roman politics, the ones who might have external connections. If they don’t give us anything, we move on to the more suspicious ones—the ones who might have a grudge against me or my command."
Frank took a step back, studying her with a thoughtful look. "And what if no one knows anything?"
Reyna held his gaze, unwavering. "Then we dig even deeper. And no matter what it takes, we will get to the truth. We can’t stop now."
"You’re right," Frank said. "Alright, tomorrow we start. We separate the senators, one at a time. And we see what we can find out."
Reyna nodded, determined. "Exactly. I don’t want anyone interfering. The safety of New Rome comes first. And if someone is trying to hurt us… they’ll know soon enough that we won’t let it happen."
They walked away together, the weight of their mission pressing down on their shoulders, ready to face the senators and whatever hidden truths lay behind the murders threatening their home.

The next morning, Reyna and Frank walked through the cohorts, observing the demigods at work. The tension in the air was thick, but Reyna's face remained unreadable as she reviewed the tasks to be assigned. Frank, as always, tried to lighten the mood, but his smile faded the longer he watched Reyna.
"So, how did things go with Jade last night?" Frank asked, hoping to draw a smile from the Praetor. "Did you have a good evening?"
The look Reyna gave him was enough to tell him he’d picked the wrong topic.
"She didn’t say a word."
Frank raised an eyebrow. "Not a single one? All night?"
"That’s how it went," Reyna replied curtly, as if wanting to end the conversation. "I don’t care if she doesn’t talk, as long as she follows the rules."
Frank nodded, but he couldn’t hide his concern. "You know, maybe this isn’t the best way to handle things. You basically gave her babysitters."
Reyna stopped for a moment, her gaze fixed on a group of demigods ahead, then resumed walking, more determined than before. "I gave her guards, Frank. It’s the right thing to do," she said, more to herself than to him. "I don’t want anything to happen to her."
"I get that," Frank said, though his voice carried a hint of doubt. "But I don’t think she sees it the same way."
"Tsk, you don’t say." Reyna took a sharper step forward. "I don’t care how she sees it. It’s for her own good."
Hazel joined them, immediately noticing the tension hanging between Reyna and Frank. "Something wrong?" she asked, trying to break the silence.
"Everything’s under control," Reyna replied, but Hazel didn’t seem convinced.
Frank muttered a simple "Jade," and the daughter of Mercury understood immediately.
"Having trouble with an Athena kid?" Hazel teased.
Reyna didn’t reply right away, letting out an annoyed huff instead. Why did everyone want to talk about Jade?
"Don’t you have anything else to worry about?"
Hazel stepped forward, her voice softer. "Reyna, can’t you see Jade feels trapped?"
Reyna stopped, as if the question had hit her harder than she expected. "She chose to stay," she said firmly. "And I chose to make sure she’s safe."
Hazel gave her a more compassionate look. "But safety isn’t just physical, Reyna. You two need to talk—not just argue."
Reyna sighed, glancing at Hazel before turning her gaze toward the field.
Frank stepped closer, trying to ease the tension. "She’s a daughter of Athena. From what I’ve seen, she’s always been used to her independence. You can’t expect her to just accept all of this without resistance."
Reyna paused, nodding slowly, but a shadow of frustration remained on her face.
"This is my decision," she finally said, her expression firm. "Jade has to accept it, because right now, she doesn’t have another choice."
Frank took a step back, and Hazel remained silent, realizing no one would change Reyna’s mind. The Praetor wasn’t ready to listen, and Jade—whether she liked it or not—would have to adapt to her new reality, at least until Reyna was convinced the danger had passed.
Reyna turned abruptly. "Let’s go," she said to Frank and Hazel, no further words needed. "We have more important things to do."

And while Reyna was frustrated with the situation involving the daughter of Athena, Jade was bored out of her mind. The day before, she had spent her time with Will, who hadn’t let her sleep on a cot but had instead forced her to help him with all the patients. By the end of the day, Jade had learned how to suture wounds, assess whether someone needed hospitalization (though, in reality, she just made it up—her guesses were about 50/50), and clean up vomit without throwing up herself. It had been downright terrible, and spending the evening glaring at the Praetor hadn’t helped her mood.
That day, however, she was under the "protection" of Leo Valdez, who had made it his sole mission to tease her for the entire day. At first, Jade had been excited to be paired with the son of Hephaestus—he was the one she had talked to the most, and she was convinced she had found an ally. But the moment she hinted at being left alone, Leo had just laughed: "Sorry, but I value my life too much—Reyna would kill me."
Resigned, Jade had no choice but to follow the son of Hephaestus through various workshops scattered across the camp.
"So, how's it going?" Leo asked with his usual dazzling grin, approaching with a toolbox in hand. "Still in a bad mood? Guess the wedding night didn’t go so well."
Jade scoffed, ignoring the joke. "If you keep making jokes about my fight with Reyna, I swear I’ll set you and your precious workshop on fire."
Leo raised both hands, which immediately burst into flames. "There, half the work is already done," he replied, grinning even wider. "Anyway, it seems like there's a bit of... tension between you and our beloved Praetor, huh? I mean, obviously, I’m the first to notice these things."
"Leo, if you keep going, you won’t have to worry about Reyna…" Jade muttered, pretending to focus on a project Leo had handed her just to avoid looking at him.
"Oh, so it's your shared homicidal tendencies that brought you together?" Leo ducked just in time to dodge the wrench Jade threw at him. "Whoa! That could've hurt!"
"Sorry, must’ve been the homicidal instinct," Jade shot back, frustration creeping into her voice. "Please, just stop with the jokes, Leo."
"Alright, alright," Leo said, raising his hands in surrender, though he couldn’t suppress a smirk. "No more talk about the fiery relationship between you and Reyna. But..."
Jade narrowed her eyes, trying to stay calm. "What do you want from me, Leo?"
Leo put on a mock detective expression. "Oh, nothing, nothing. But since you’re here, and I am, shall we say, a great friend of science and technology, I’ve got a little task for you."
"A little task?" Jade raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like a child to you?"
"Yup!" Leo made a theatrical gesture toward a pile of tools and scattered parts on a workbench. "Since you're a daughter of Athena, I figured you'd enjoy solving puzzles. And I, being a genius, could use some help getting this stuff to work. I think you might be able to lend a hand fixing up some mechanical odds and ends."
Jade looked at the pile of tools and sighed. "You’re... giving me homework?"
"Exactly!" Leo replied with a mischievous grin. "And don’t worry, no excuses! Everything will be... safe. Or at least, I hope so. There's a tiny chance something might explode, but don't stress. If it does, I’m here to save you. Like... a superhero."
Jade couldn’t help but laugh. "You’re impossible, you know that?"
"Everyone says that," Leo said with a smirk. ".So, you might as well help a genius like me solve a few problems instead of wandering around doing... whatever else you were planning."
Jade eyed him suspiciously. "So, you're basically using me to fine-tune your projects, huh?"
Leo shrugged nonchalantly. "Hey, I’m a practical guy. If you don’t like it, you could always leave camp and find a nice bench to sit on. But before you do that, you might as well lend a hand."
Jade glanced at the blueprints and sighed. "Alright, fine. But don’t think I won’t make some changes. And if anything explodes... it's all your fault."
Leo laughed. "Deal! I promise that if something explodes, I’ll be the first to say I warned you."
Grudgingly, Jade started working, but she couldn’t help thinking that maybe, just maybe, working with Leo wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. Even if she hated his jokes, she had to admit—a little bit of humor wasn’t the worst thing right now.
"So, family dinners must be fun with Athena and Bellona," Leo said, his grin challenging.
"Leo, I swear to the gods…"

A couple of hours passed as Jade maneuvered through the tools, her mind drifting elsewhere. Even though the work was interesting and stimulating, she couldn’t help but feel boredom creeping in. Leo, as always, was focused on something else, so Jade found herself working alone, surrounded by metal pieces and blueprint sketches.
That was when something caught her attention—a quick movement outside the workshop window. The figure she glimpsed looked familiar. Xylon, the faun she had met not long ago, was watching her from a distance. He seemed to be waiting for her.
Jade quickly got up from her workstation, trying not to make any noise. Curiosity pushed her to follow him, but she had to be careful. Leo, lost in his tools and thoughts, hadn’t noticed her movement, and Jade silently made her way toward the door.
From the other side of the window, Xylon made a quick hand gesture—a discreet signal, as if urging her to follow him. Jade hesitated for a moment. She needed to be cautious. She didn’t want to cause more trouble, especially with Reyna and her rules.
Taking a deep breath, Jade crept toward the door, opening it just a crack. Leo still hadn’t noticed her. She bit her lower lip, slightly relieved, and with light steps, slipped outside.
Xylon was waiting for her, hidden behind the corner of the workshop. Jade looked at him for a moment, unsure, but then stepped closer, making sure not to draw any attention.
"Come," Xylon whispered, motioning again. "You need to see something."
"Why are you sneaking me out? What is this about?"
"The symbol," he said quickly. "The one you asked me to find."

Percy and Jason were sitting at a table in the mess hall, while Piper listened to them distractedly. The two were still arguing over which of the Avengers was the strongest, but they were mostly talking in circles, their attention wandering as they glanced around.
"Thor is the strongest," Percy commented, biting into an apple. "He has a hammer that shoots lightning!"
"Oh yeah? What about Captain America then?" Jason shot back. "He has strategy, courage, and a leadership that Thor can only dream of. Plus, he can wield the hammer."
"Guys, we all know Scarlet Witch is the strongest." Both of them turned to look at Piper.
"NO," they responded in unison.
Piper smiled, amused, but before they could continue, Leo burst into the room, his hair more disheveled than usual, and his face betraying his agitation.
"Leo, what's going on?" Piper asked, raising an eyebrow. "And why are you alone?"
Leo stopped in front of them, nervously glancing around before lowering his voice. "Um, guys… you know about the task Reyna gave us?"
Piper, Percy, and Jason exchanged a confused look. "Watch over Jade, yeah," Jason replied, remembering.
Leo nodded, visibly anxious. "Well… it might… just maybe… be that… I lost her."
Percy grimaced. "Lost her? How do you lose someone you're supposed to be keeping an eye on?"
Leo raised his hands in surrender. "I didn't lose her, okay? But I can't find her, and Reyna… Reyna is going to kill me if she finds out I’m not watching her!"
Piper stared at Leo, her eyes wide, but her tone betrayed her growing anxiety. "Leo, what the hell... you left her alone?"
Leo flustered, trying to justify himself. "I didn’t want to! I was working on some stuff with the tools, and then... when I came back... puff, gone!"
Jason leaned forward on the table, shaking his head. "So, what now?"
Leo looked at the three of them, embarrassed but also worried. "Can you help me find her without Reyna knowing? Please, I don’t want to be in Reyna’s line of fire. You know what happens when she gets mad."
Percy and Piper exchanged a nervous glance. "No way," Piper responded skeptically. "I don’t want to be the next name on Reyna’s death list."
"You've got to be kidding," Percy added, standing slowly. "If Reyna finds out we’re not doing our job, she’s going to turn into some kind of... rage tornado. And none of us want to piss her off." It was clear the situation was serious if even the son of Poseidon was in panic. "If something happens to Jade, we’re finished."
Leo approached them with a desperate expression. "Please! If anyone has a solution, I’m all ears!"
Before anyone could respond, the door to the mess hall opened, and Reyna, accompanied by Annabeth, entered with a purposeful stride. Her presence made the air feel heavier, like a wave crashing over the atmosphere. Every demigod in the room, who had been talking or eating peacefully until then, stopped suddenly. Some stood up, others shrank back the moment they saw her. It was as if time itself had frozen. And the four at the table knew exactly what this meant: they were screwed.
Percy was the first to react. Without thinking, he leaned forward and grabbed Leo with a speed he didn’t know he had. He shoved him under the table, trying to cover him with plates and cups. If Reyna saw Leo there without Jade, it wouldn’t take long for her to figure out something was wrong.
"Everything okay?" Reyna asked in her low, calm voice, but with a subtle undertone of suspicion as she approached the group. Her eyes scanned each person's face, immediately noting the tension in the air.
"All good," Piper responded quickly, trying to make everything seem normal. "We were just talking about the Avengers." Her voice was a little too cheerful, as if she were trying to convince herself more than the others. Her hands trembled slightly as she gripped her fork.
Both Annabeth and Reyna exchanged a confused look. They didn’t understand what was going on, but the way the group was acting was putting them on edge. Reyna frowned but said nothing, instead turning to Jason, who was sitting next to Percy.
"Find anything?" she asked, her voice full of expectation.
Jason shook his head, trying to seem calmer than he felt. "No, nothing new, but we’ll let you know if we find something." He answered quickly, hoping his response wouldn’t raise too many suspicions.
Annabeth, out of the corner of her eye, was studying the behavior of her friends. She immediately realized they were trying to hide something. She looked around, noticing their nervous glances and the way they avoided direct eye contact. Then, with a raised eyebrow, she finally saw it. Leo, wide-eyed and with a look of pure panic, was peeking out from the side of the table, trying to hide unsuccessfully. Annabeth’s heart started pounding faster. The situation was about to spiral out of control.
"We’ll resume the search," Jason answered again, trying to sound convincing, while Annabeth tried to keep her composure. "But we’ll let you know if we find anything."
Annabeth couldn’t help but glance at Percy, whose forced smile gave her no confidence. She stared at him for a moment, but when Percy’s lips moved slightly, she immediately understood what he meant: we’ve lost Jade.
Reyna didn’t seem to notice anything unusual and turned to focus on something else. However, Annabeth had no intention of letting the distraction go on for too long. "Reyna," she said, trying to keep her tone calm, "I think we should discuss tomorrow’s formations, if you have time. Maybe we can talk about it while we eat."
Reyna nodded, and without another word, she turned to the table, leaving Annabeth with the others.
Annabeth immediately approached the group, moving silently as Reyna walked away with her head held high. Then she turned to face the others, her expression serious. "Find Jade, and do it fast!" she hissed under her breath, making sure Reyna couldn’t hear as she was now a few steps away. "If Reyna finds out we lost her, we’re finished."

Percy, Piper, and Jason were walking briskly down one of the main streets of New Rome, scanning every corner with tense expressions. Leo, on the other hand, was hopping nervously alongside them, checking every alley as if Jade might materialize out of nowhere.
"I can't believe we’ve come to this," Jason muttered, crossing his arms. "We need to find a rebellious demigod before Reyna finds out and makes us end up."
"We'll figure something out," Piper said, though her voice wasn't as convinced as she’d like it to be. "Maybe she’s just... exploring?"
"Yeah, because sneaking off and getting us all killed sounds like a sightseeing tour," Percy replied sarcastically.
Jason sighed. "You were her keeper, Leo. You had one job! Just one! How could you lose her?"
Leo raised his hands in surrender. "Hey, I don’t have eyes in the back of my head! And besides, I repeat, no one told me I was babysitting Houdini, the demigod version!"
Just then, they rounded the corner and nearly bumped into Nico, who was casually coming out of a small shop with a bag of cookies in hand. The son of Hades looked at them, puzzled, then noticed their tense expressions and, especially, Leo’s agitation.
"Why do you look like you’ve seen a juggling cyclops?" he asked, biting into a cookie.
Percy and Jason exchanged an uncertain glance, while Piper cleared her throat. Leo, on the other hand, laughed nervously.
"Ahahah, well... let’s say we’ve got a little problem…"
Nico squinted, suspicious. "What kind of problem?"
Percy scratched the back of his neck. "Let’s just say... uh... we lost Jade."
Nico froze. The cookie fell from his hand. "WHAT?!"
Jason took a step back, just for safety. "Don’t worry, we’re looking for her!"
Nico, who up until that point had been stoic, now seemed on the verge of summoning an army of spirits just to find out where Jade was. "How the hell did you lose her?!"
Leo raised a finger. "Well, technically—"
"I don’t want to hear technical explanations, Leo!" Nico snapped, his face pale from stress. "Does Reyna already know?"
"No," all four of them answered in unison.
Nico ran a hand over his face, trying not to panic more than necessary. "Oh, thank the gods. If she finds out, she’ll tear us apart. And if she finds Jade before we do... well, goodbye."
Percy nodded. "Yeah, that’s why we need to find her first. You know New Rome better than we do. Can you help us?"
Nico crossed his arms, annoyed. "What if I said no?"
"Please," Leo said with the most wounded puppy dog eyes he could muster.
Nico closed his eyes for a few seconds, probably counting mentally to ten so he wouldn’t strangle someone. Then he sighed heavily.
"Fine," he said flatly. "Let’s go. And let’s hope we don’t die today."

The tension among the group was at an all-time high. The sun was setting over New Rome, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, but none of them were in the mood to appreciate the view.
Percy, Jason, Piper, Leo, and Nico stood in front of the Temple of Jupiter, the last place they had checked, all wearing the same desperate expression.
"It's over," Leo declared, making a dramatic gesture with his hands. "Let's prepare our graves and write our epitaphs. ‘Here lie brave demigods, dead while babysitting.’"
Jason ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "We can't delay any longer. We have to tell Reyna. Something might have happened to her."
Nico nodded, "Yeah, there are people around who want to hurt her."
Piper shot him a look that could freeze Tartarus itself. "Oh, really? And who's going to tell her? Not me, for sure."
Percy sighed heavily. "Let's do it together. If we’re in a group, maybe her fury will be divided equally among us. Plus, I’ve had experience with angry sea gods; maybe I can survive."
"That's not how it works, Jackson," Nico retorted, crossing his arms.
Piper nervously chewed on her lip. "Okay, okay, no panic. Let's go before Reyna gets suspicious on her own."
The five demigods set off in search of the praetor, and it was too easy to find her. Reyna was still discussing some diplomatic issues with a few centurions. Annabeth, standing to the side, was the first to notice the group and Jade’s absence.
The praetor turned just in time to see the group standing before her with guilty faces.
Reyna immediately noticed the absence of one demigod. "Leo, where’s Jade?"
"Well… I…" Leo stammered.
"Here!" At that moment, with total nonchalance, Jade appeared from an alley, walking as if nothing were wrong.
Leo stared at her, jaw dropped. "Oh, you're messing with me!" he muttered.
Percy, Jason, and Piper spun around, incredulous.
Reyna seemed confused by the situation and the others' behavior. A heavy silence fell.
"Where were you?" she asked.
The blonde shrugged. "I was taking the measurements Leo asked for."
"The measurements?" Reyna asked. "Measurements for what?"
Leo quickly intervened, understanding the plan. "Y-yeah... the measurements for… uh… recreating Iron Man’s armor."
Both Reyna and Jade had the same shocked expression. "Iron Man?" asked the daughter of Bellona.
The blonde recovered quickly. "Yeah, you know? Tony Stark." Then, with irony, she added, "The best superhero."
Jade shrugged. "Scarlet Witch is better."
"Ah." Piper exclaimed toward Percy and Jason.
Reyna furrowed her brow, then shook her head. "I have reports to finish." She started to walk away, but hesitated and turned back toward Jade. "See you tonight."
The blonde nodded.
And just as Reyna walked away, Jade braced herself to face the fury of five demigods.
"Are you serious?!" Piper exclaimed, planting herself in front of her with her hands on her hips.
Jade raised an eyebrow. "Why are you all looking at me like I’m a ghost?"
Percy gestured wildly. "Because YOU ARE a ghost! You vanished for hours! We searched everywhere for you!"
Jason crossed his arms, glaring at her. "Where were you?"
Jade shrugged innocently. "Oh, nothing much. I just stopped to chat with a faun. You know, we talked about philosophy, the importance of freedom, and... the quality of food at Camp Jupiter."
Piper narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "You’re lying."
Jade blinked, feigning offense. "Me? Of course not!"
"You’re clearly lying," Jason intervened.
"Absolutely," Percy confirmed.
"Guys, I swear—"
"Jade," Nico appeared behind them, his expression shifting between disbelief and anger. "We searched everywhere for you. If Reyna finds out you disappeared—"
"Shhh!" Leo covered Nico’s mouth with his hand. "Don’t say her name, she might appear out of nowhere!"
"Guys, relax," Jade huffed. "Nothing happened. I’m here, safe and sound, and Reyna doesn’t need to know anything."

Dinner was consumed in silence.
Reyna and Jade sat across from each other at the table in the Praetor’s house, a small, orderly, minimalist dwelling, just as one would expect from Reyna. The food on their plates slowly cooled while both of them carefully avoided looking at each other.
Jade focused on cutting her food into tiny pieces, as if it were the most important thing in the world. Reyna, on the other hand, ate with her usual military self-control, her face impassive, but the tension was palpable in the air.
After several minutes of only the clinking of cutlery breaking the quiet, Reyna finally broke the silence with a calmness that was almost disarming.
“Did you have fun making everyone panic today?”
Jade looked up suddenly, surprised. “What?”
Reyna stared at her with her intense eyes, carefully assessing her reaction. “I know you disappeared.”
Jade placed her fork down on the plate with a small clang. “And how…?”
Reyna sighed, crossing her arms. “I have eyes everywhere. And then, when Leo Valdez stops making jokes and looks like he’s on the verge of a panic attack, it’s pretty clear something’s wrong.”
Jade lowered her gaze for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek. Then she looked back at Reyna with her usual defiant look. “If you knew, why didn’t you say anything earlier?”
Reyna tilted her head slightly. “Because I wanted to give you the chance to be honest with me.”
Jade studied her for a few seconds, then sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I wasn’t doing anything dangerous, Reyna. But I couldn’t take looking at drawings and designs anymore.”
“That’s not the point.” Reyna looked at her firmly, but her tone wasn’t harsh. Just… tired.
“Then what is?”
Reyna fell silent for a moment, searching for the right words. Finally, she spoke with an honesty that even surprised herself. “I don’t want to cage you in, Jade. I just want you to be safe.”
Jade stiffened slightly, not expecting such a direct answer. For a moment, the shadow of frustration faded from her eyes. “I know.”
Reyna nodded, then lowered her gaze to her plate. “Eat.”
Jade kept staring at her for a few more seconds, as if wanting to say something. Then, with a sigh, she whispered, “I won’t disappear again. If that makes you feel more at ease.”
Reyna looked up, surprised. For a moment, her face softened. “It does.”
Jade nodded and went back to focusing on her food. The silence fell once more between them, but this time, it seemed less heavy.
After a few minutes, Reyna stood up to clear the table. She didn’t ask for help, but Jade followed her, taking her plate and Reyna’s. When they placed the plates in the sink, the daughter of Athena paused beside her, uncertain.
Reyna turned, surprised by the way Jade was looking at her. Before she could say anything, Jade quickly moved and hugged her.
Reyna stood still for a moment, caught off guard. She wasn’t used to that kind of spontaneous contact. But then, slowly, she lifted an arm and returned the hug with a quiet sigh.
“Thank you,” Jade murmured against her shoulder.
Reyna closed her eyes for a moment. Maybe one day, that would be the normality, without monsters or assassins threatening them.

Chapter Text

Jade sat in a chair with her arms crossed, an expression of boredom and clear irritation on her face as she watched Annabeth flipping through some scrolls in front of her. She wondered if this was a punishment for the previous day—of course, it was. She would have preferred going back to cleaning up the sick bay for Will rather than sitting here with the sister who had never really acknowledged her.
She didn’t hate Annabeth, but there was still resentment. Her older half-sister had never paid her much attention over the years. At first, Jade had almost idolized her, admiring her from a distance. Over time, she had learned to tolerate her in small doses—not that it made things any easier. Annabeth seemed to have even less patience for her. And now, she was stuck spending the entire day with her.
"Just a warning," Jade huffed, pointing a finger at her half-sister. "If you think I'm spending the day studying, I’m throwing myself off that wall." She gestured toward the city's towering fortifications, her exasperation clear.
Annabeth didn’t even bother looking up from the documents. Her voice was calm, almost indifferent. "Sure, sure. Very dramatic. And who do you think is going to bother picking you up afterward?"
Jade let out a dramatic sigh and flopped backward onto the bench, staring at the sky through the window. "Why you? Did it really have to be you watching me? I already promised Reyna I wouldn’t run off again."
"So, you admit that you ran off."
"For the gods’ sake," Jade groaned.
"Because Reyna trusts me," Annabeth replied, raising an eyebrow slightly. "And because no one else wanted to risk you slipping away again. After yesterday, you're officially the scariest thing for the prophecy kids."
"And not for you?"
"Not particularly."
Jade covered her face with an arm. "Ugh. Like it's my fault."
Annabeth folded her arms. "Isn't it?"
Jade peeked at her from under her arm, then made a face. "Okay, maybe it is. But it's not fair! I don’t need another babysitter."
"Oh, of course. You’re perfectly capable of handling yourself," Annabeth said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You proved that brilliantly yesterday… by disappearing without telling anyone."
Jade sat up abruptly, glaring. "If I had told anyone, they wouldn’t have let me go."
"Did you ever stop to think why?"
Jade rolled her eyes. "Because it’s the grand leader’s orders."
"No. Because they don’t want you getting hurt."
Jade scoffed.
Annabeth continued, unfazed. "The people around you care, Jade. Yesterday, everyone was worried. And someone—I won’t name names, but he has a ghost dog and a terrible relationship with sunlight—was practically in a panic."
Jade let out a snort, crossing her arms. "Nico is too dramatic," she muttered, ignoring the part of the statement that was too absurd for her to believe. The others caring about her? They barely remembered her name a few months ago.
Annabeth smirked, a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Right, because you’re not dramatic at all."
Jade scowled. "That’s not the point."
Annabeth leaned back against the bench, studying her for a moment. "You know, you could look at this differently."
Jade shot her a skeptical glance. "Like what?"
"As an opportunity to spend time with people. With me. To actually get to know each other."
Jade let out a sarcastic laugh. "Oh yeah, the dream of my life."
Annabeth shrugged, maybe a little disappointed, but she hadn’t expected a friendly approach right away. Not after the past few days… or years.
Jade stared at her for a few moments, then looked away. "Are you serious? You really think I can see this as some kind of chance to… what, make friends?"
Annabeth nodded calmly. "Exactly. Or you can keep fighting me all day. I have patience."
Jade huffed, biting the inside of her cheek. "We could also just ignore each other and pretend this isn’t happening."
"We could," Annabeth admitted. "But I won’t."
Jade clenched her jaw. "You know what? I don’t get why you’re even trying so hard."
Annabeth tilted her head slightly. "Because Reyna asked me to keep an eye on you. And because I haven’t treated you well over the years. I want to fix that."
Jade let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. "Well, if you want to do me a favor, stop trying. We’re not sisters, Annabeth. Not in my eyes. And we’re definitely not friends."
Annabeth’s gaze grew more serious, but she didn’t flinch.
Jade stood up from the bench, putting some distance between them. "Believe what you want, but don’t waste too much time on this."
Then she walked away, leaving Annabeth watching her go.
"Don’t wander off," Annabeth called after her without looking up.
"For Zeus’ sake, Annabeth, I’m in a library! At least let me grab a book to read."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Percy asked, hands in his pockets as they crossed the courtyard of New Rome.
Reyna nodded confidently. "Yes. Jade still respects Annabeth. No matter how upset she is, she’ll stay with her. And in the meantime, we can get closer to these senators."
She gestured toward a small group of figures dressed in official togas, gathered under a shaded colonnade. "The three on the left are the more… reasonable ones out of the five, but we still have to choose our words carefully."
Percy gave her a skeptical look. "And you’re calling me for this?"
Reyna smirked slightly. "Just for him," she murmured, motioning toward the last senator who had lingered behind as the others walked away. "Hector will never admit it, but he’s a fan of yours. That could be useful. He only agreed to meet us because of you." Then she signaled to Argentum, who moved to her side. "At least we’ll know if he’s lying."
Percy sighed in resignation. "I don’t think I’ll ever get used to having fans in politics."
They stopped in front of Senator Hector, a man in his fifties with a pristine toga and a vaguely bored expression. He didn’t look particularly important, but his role was crucial.
"Senator Hector," Reyna began formally. "Thank you for your time."
The man looked up, and as soon as he saw Percy, his face lit up. "Ah! The hero of the sea!" he exclaimed, completely ignoring Reyna. "Percy Jackson, in the flesh! I must say, your exploits have made their way around New Rome. Truly fascinating!"
Percy gave an awkward smile. "Uh… thanks?"
Hector leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if he were about to reveal a great secret. "Tell me, is it true what they say? Did you really fight a Titan barehanded? I heard you stopped a massive wave with a single thought! And the story about the sea dragon in the Pacific Ocean—did that actually happen?"
Percy ran a hand through his hair, glancing at Reyna, who already looked like she was losing patience.
"Let’s just say… some stories tend to get exaggerated," Percy replied.
Hector chuckled, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, modesty! Always the mark of a true hero!"
Reyna decided to intervene before the conversation spiraled completely out of control. "Senator, we’re here for an urgent matter. We know that some senators are hiding information about a symbol that has been appearing in the past few weeks. Do you know anything about it?"
Hector furrowed his brows for a moment, as if only now realizing Reyna was there. Then he scoffed and waved a hand dismissively. "A symbol? Oh, yes, yes… I’ve heard something about that. Graffiti, right? Nothing to worry about, surely just some rebellious youth seeking attention. But back to the real questions, Percy—what was it like being trapped in Tartarus? The stories don’t do it justice, I imagine. And if you ever want to join some of the gatherings I organize with a few enthusiasts of… well, your travels—"
Reyna clenched her teeth. "Senator, please. There are more important matters than Percy’s adventures."
Hector looked vaguely surprised. "Oh. But I thought that was why you wanted to speak with me. Percy Jackson! A living legend!"
Percy was beginning to lose his patience. "Hector, I get that talking about battles is fun, but we’re trying to figure out why some senators are hiding information from us. If you know something, we’d appreciate you telling us."
"Like the meaning behind the symbols that keep appearing around the city—and now, on the bodies of two corpses."
The senator tilted his head. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
Argentum didn’t move—a sign that, unfortunately, he was telling the truth.
Reyna sighed. This meeting was useless. "If you don’t know anything, then why are they being erased before anyone gets a chance to see them?"
"Lydia handles those things. I just sign off on it." Hector sighed, shrugging. "Ah, kids… you see, politics is complicated. Even I don’t always understand what’s going on around here."
"Then who the hell put you in charge—"
Percy was cut off by a pained groan as he clutched his foot—Reyna had "accidentally" stepped on it.
Reyna crossed her arms. "So, you don’t know anything?"
Hector gave her a lazy smile. "Nothing of relevance, I’m afraid. However…" He turned back to Percy, adopting a wise expression—though it only made him look more ridiculous.
"You know what they say, right? Every Roman reflects their own blood."
Reyna had never heard that saying before.
Percy blinked. "I have a few ideas about what your blood reflec—"
Another well-placed kick from the praetor shut him up.
Hector just chuckled, giving Percy a hearty pat on the shoulder before strolling off with the same distracted air as before.
Percy turned to Reyna. "He’s really a senator? He doesn’t even seem to know where he is."
She sighed, shaking her head. "That was a complete waste of time."
"Yeah…" Percy watched Hector disappear into the crowd, then turned back to Reyna with a half-smile. "But at least we learned something important."
"And what’s that?"
Percy shrugged. "I have a fan club in the Senate."
Reyna took a second before shoving his arm.
"So… for the other four senators, do you need my help?"
"Absolutely not."

Jade was seated at a table in the New Rome library, completely absorbed in one of the tomes she had pulled from the shelf. Her fingers skimmed swiftly over the pages, her eyes scanning with focus. She had already read through half of the books on Roman symbology, but so far, she hadn’t found anything that could explain what she had seen the day before.
She needed to find a way to go back to Xylon. Not today, not under the watchful eyes of the other daughter of Athena.
Annabeth, sitting a bit farther away, was engrossed in another scroll, but her thoughts weren’t on the documents—they were on Jade. The girl’s words still echoed in her mind, the way she kept defending herself, pushing her away, as if she was trying to distance herself from everyone.
Annabeth had tried making conversation earlier, maybe offering food or suggesting breaks, but Jade always refused.
"Want a coffee?"
"I don’t drink it."
"If you want to take a walk and stretch your legs, we could—"
"And follow you around like a dog on a leash? No thanks."
"Let’s go eat at the mess hall?"
"Too many people, and I’m not hungry."
"You need to eat something."
"Go to the mess hall if you’re hungry. I’m staying here."
"I’m not leaving you alone here, and you know that."
"Then force me to go with you."
She hadn’t even looked up during the conversation, knowing full well she’d win that battle.
Annabeth was getting frustrated. She knew she deserved this treatment, but gods, Jade was difficult.
In the end, she had asked a guy if he could bring them some food. The boy had rushed back a little later with two trays, filled haphazardly. Some of the food had mixed together, but it was still edible. They ate in silence in the library—or rather, only Annabeth ate. Jade had merely looked at the tray with something close to disgust.
"The guy must have run to get them here, that’s why the food got a little mixed up."
Jade didn’t answer. She only took the bread, the one thing untouched by the mess, and ate it from a separate chair while she continued reading.
Eventually, Annabeth gave up and focused back on her own tasks, leaving Jade to whatever research she was doing.
Jade, on the other hand, was beyond confused. She had noticed Annabeth’s approach, and maybe at another time, she would’ve paid more attention to it—but right now, her head was pounding.
She kept doodling that same triangle and snake on her notepad while flipping through book after book, unable to find anything that referenced the symbol.
What the hell did it mean?
If you leave a mark, it’s because you want someone to understand it.
Or was it a signature? But even then, why not leave at least a pseudonym? And what kind of signature was a triangle with a snake, anyway? Someone who had read too much Harry Potter?
She rubbed her forehead, feeling an impending headache, and only then noticed the light fading.
She wouldn’t find answers today, but she knew the library held something that could help her.
But how would she manage tomorrow? If she had to waste another day twiddling her thumbs while following another demigod around, she was going to lose her mind.
Then, she glanced at Annabeth, who also looked exhausted.
Maybe… she could take advantage of her sister’s unexpected desire to make peace?
"I’d say we can call it a day," Annabeth announced at that moment, as if reading her mind.
"Want to go get dinner?"
Jade simply gathered her things, still lost in thought. She didn’t want to extend an olive branch to the other daughter of Athena, but she did want to find something useful in the library.
As they walked toward the mess hall, she finally made up her mind.
"Where are you going?" Annabeth asked, noticing Jade heading toward Reyna’s house.
"I’m going to sleep," Jade replied simply. "The house is right there. You can even watch me from here without needing to walk me all the way. And Aurum and Argentum will be with me—Reyna gave them some weird order to keep an eye on me if I’m alone."
Annabeth watched her go. "But dinner—"
Jade sighed and turned back to her, trying to sound casual.
"Can I be with you in the library again tomorrow?" she asked instead of answering.
Annabeth’s eyes widened in surprise. It was the first real step Jade had taken toward her. The food issue was instantly forgotten as she nodded.
"Of course," she replied. "Same time tomorrow?"
Jade didn’t respond. She simply resumed walking, feeling Annabeth’s gaze on her until she disappeared into the praetor’s house.

The New Rome mess hall was illuminated by torches along the walls, casting a warm and welcoming glow. The hum of conversations filled the air, accompanied by the clinking of cutlery against plates. Annabeth, however, barely paid attention to the chaos around her.
Seated next to Reyna, she idly stirred the food on her plate without really eating. Her mind was still stuck on what had happened earlier—Jade’s unexpected request and the way she had walked off without dinner.
Eventually, she broke the silence. “That went better than I expected.”
Reyna looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Jade?”
Annabeth nodded, setting her fork down with a small clink against the plate. “She asked to stay with me in the library again tomorrow.”
Reyna seemed surprised. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Annabeth gave a small smile. “I wasn’t expecting it. It was… a small step. Even though it was weird—she spent half the afternoon in silence, except when she was snapping at me for something.”
The praetor chuckled, not surprised in the least. “She was thinking. She usually isolates herself when she’s deep in thought, and she gets irritated if you interrupt her reasoning.”
"Ah, okay." The daughter of Athena was surprised by how well Reyna knew her sister.
Reyna nodded thoughtfully, but Annabeth bit her lip before adding, “Still… I’m a little worried. She barely ate anything today, just a piece of bread at lunch.”
"Don’t worry. I restocked the kitchen—she’s probably eating something at home," Reyna sighed, as if it wasn’t surprising at all.
Annabeth looked at her, both surprised and confused.
Noticing her expression, the praetor added, “Jade has issues with certain types of food,” she explained, resting her elbows on the table. “She doesn’t like weird textures, and if there are too many mixed ingredients, she often prefers not to eat at all. Speaking from experience, I’d advise against forcing her to eat. Last time didn’t go well.” She frowned, recalling those damn bananas.
Annabeth furrowed her brows. “I didn’t know that.”
“It’s not something she talks about,” Reyna continued, lowering her voice slightly, as if revealing something personal. “And she doesn’t like eating in crowded places. Too many people, too much noise… she prefers simple dishes. Rice, things she can control.”
Annabeth remained silent for a moment, letting the information sink in. Now that Reyna mentioned it, the puzzle pieces started to fit together.
Over the years, she had never seen Jade in the Camp Half-Blood dining pavilion and had just assumed she didn’t want to be around people. She had thought it was a choice—a rebellious act or a way to keep her distance—but now she realized it was something deeper.
"Thanks for telling me."
Reyna shrugged. “I don’t think Jade would be happy if she knew I told you. But I trust you’ll make good use of it.” She gave her a serious look.
Annabeth understood. She had ignored it for too long. “I never really thought about it,” she murmured, staring down at her barely touched plate. “All those years at camp, when she never showed up for dinner… and I never asked why.”
Reyna tilted her head slightly, her expression softer than usual. “It’s not your fault, Annabeth. Jade doesn’t make it easy to get to know her. And she doesn’t want people worrying about her.”
"Maybe that’s exactly the problem," Annabeth said, crossing her arms and glancing around the mess hall. “She’s always acted like she doesn’t need anyone, and we all just let her.”
Reyna lowered her gaze for a moment, as if considering her words. Then she looked back up with a small, knowing smile. “Maybe. But Jade is also stubborn. You won’t win her over easily.”
Annabeth sighed, but a faint smile crossed her lips. “I know. But that doesn’t mean I won’t try.”
The praetor nodded in approval.
"How did it go with Percy?" Reyna asked.
"Ugh, he’s been bragging all day about having a senator as his fan." Annabeth barely held back a laugh.
"Typical. Was the interrogation useful?"
Reyna shook her head. “Dead end. We’ll try another one tomorrow.”
"Well, the bright side is that we’ve gone two days in a row without anyone dying."
"Please, don’t say that too loud."

Chapter Text

The next day, they arrived at the library a few minutes early, carefully choosing a secluded table, far from the hustle and bustle of the other students. Annabeth didn’t want Jade to feel like she was being watched.
The murder investigation had made the atmosphere in New Rome tense and full of suspicion. Everywhere she went, Annabeth could hear whispers and see wary glances, but in the library, there was an almost surreal calm, as if the place was immune to the paranoia creeping through the demigods.
Jade sat down without a word, placed her book on the table, and started flipping through the pages, wearing the same closed-off expression as always. But Annabeth noticed a slight difference—Jade seemed a little less tense, maybe because she already knew what to expect this time.
She decided not to speak right away. Instead, she pulled out a small, neatly wrapped package from her bag and opened it slowly, letting the scent of chocolate fill the air. Reyna had told her that if she wanted to get Jade to eat something, chocolate cookies were a safe bet.
Annabeth took one and broke it between her fingers, letting a few crumbs fall onto the parchment in front of her. She didn’t say anything, simply setting the package between them in a casual manner.
For a few minutes, nothing happened. Jade seemed completely absorbed in her book, and Annabeth focused on her own reading, though she occasionally glanced at her sister from the corner of her eye.
Then, Jade reached out and took a cookie. She did it so naturally that Annabeth wondered if she was even aware of it or if it was just an instinctive gesture. Jade broke it in half and ate a piece without ever looking up from her page.
Annabeth suppressed a smile and pretended not to notice.
The silence between them wasn’t unpleasant, but Annabeth still wanted to attempt a bit of conversation—not to force anything, but because she genuinely wanted to get to know Jade.
"I found a book on Roman military strategies," she said, flipping through the pages. "Did you know that some fortresses were designed to look smaller than they actually were? It was meant to confuse besiegers."
Jade didn’t respond immediately. She finished her piece of cookie, wiped her fingers on her jeans to avoid smudging the pages, then raised an eyebrow. "Visual deception."
Annabeth nodded, surprised that Jade had responded at all. "Exactly. It’s an interesting idea. Even illusions can be a weapon if used the right way."
Jade looked up at her, as if something Annabeth had said had just clicked. She gave a barely perceptible nod, then stood up and returned a moment later with another book—one on magic.
Annabeth realized she wouldn’t get much more out of Jade for now, but she wasn’t frustrated. There was something intriguing about the way Jade moved within her silences, as if behind every measured response lay an entire world she wasn’t ready to show.
Still, today she had taken a cookie. Today she had said one more sentence than the day before.
Small steps. But Annabeth knew they mattered.

Reyna and Frank walked side by side through the marble corridors of the New Rome Senate. The air inside the building was cool and still, yet Reyna still felt a weight on her shoulders. She knew the meeting with Senator Lydia wouldn’t be easy.
"I don’t like this," she murmured, keeping pace with Frank. "Lydia has never hidden the fact that she hates me."
Frank nodded, his expression tense. "I know. That’s why she’ll only be speaking with me."
Reyna clenched her jaw. The idea of staying on the sidelines irritated her, but she knew that diplomacy wouldn’t work with Lydia—not if she was the one questioning her.
When they reached the senator’s office door, Reyna gave Frank a brief nod before stepping away, searching for a spot where she could still overhear the conversation.
Frank knocked twice, firmly. After a few seconds, Lydia opened the door.
"Pretor Zhang," she greeted, her voice sweet as poison. "What an honor."
"I’d like to talk, Senator. In private, if you don’t mind."
"Come in, Pretor." Inside, Lydia closed the door far too slowly before returning to her desk. "Take a seat, Pretor."
Frank glanced at the closed window. "Would it be possible to open that? After all the patrols I’ve done today, I’m starting to feel warm."
Lydia pushed the window open just slightly. "I have no doubt you’ve done them all yourself. Your colleague certainly wouldn’t have helped."
Frank didn’t reply.
Reyna rolled her eyes at the comment. She wondered why that woman despised her so much. Could she have been the one behind the threat? She shook her head—Lydia didn’t even know what her’s exact responsibilities were. Lydia just don't care about Reyna.
"I wasn’t expecting this visit," the senator continued after a moment.
Frank sat down without waiting for an invitation. "Let’s get straight to the point, Senator. Let’s talk about the symbols found around the city."
A heavy silence followed his words.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about," Lydia said, her voice neutral. But Reyna knew how to detect tension beneath a carefully controlled tone.
"Yes, you do," Frank remained impassive. "You had confidentiality agreements signed regarding those symbols. Why?"
"Oh," Lydia let out a short, humorless laugh. "I thought you were referring to something else."
Reyna clenched her fists.
Frank didn’t budge. "You still haven’t answered."
Lydia took a moment before responding. "Some things shouldn’t become public knowledge."
"Why not?"
The senator hesitated for just a second. When she spoke again, her voice was lower. "Because some questions lead to answers no one wants to hear."
"But how are we supposed to figure out who killed those demigods if we don’t have all the information?"
The woman shrugged. "It seems obvious to me that these were acts of hatred between the two groups. I’d say it’s about time we drove the Greeks out and returned to our normal way of life."
Frank didn’t know what to say to that.
A shiver ran down Reyna’s spine.
"We’re doing this for peace, for mutual support. We’re all demigods, after all."
"Oh, right," the woman replied, sounding utterly uninterested. "Noble ideals. Good thing you’re the Praetor instead of just that—"
Reyna rolled her eyes.
Frank, however, wasn’t distracted. "Who ordered the secrecy around the symbols from the past few weeks? Was it you?"
"I only did what needed to be done."
"On whose orders?" Frank pressed.
Lydia sighed, as if she were bored with the conversation. "We don’t always know what we do, Pretor Zhang. Sometimes, we simply follow our own blood."
Reyna stiffened.
Frank remained silent for a few seconds, weighing her words. Then, with a sharp nod, he stood.
"Thank you for your time."
Lydia didn’t reply.
Frank exited the office, closing the door behind him. When Reyna approached, he shook his head. "She didn’t tell us anything useful."
"Maybe." Reyna glanced back at the door, replaying Lydia’s words in her mind.
Sometimes, we simply follow our own blood.
She didn’t know exactly what it meant yet, but something told her that conversation hadn’t been a waste of time.

After a few more hours of silence, Annabeth decided to try again.
"Hey, I have a problem I can't seem to solve," she began, attempting to break the ice.
"Which one of the many current ones?" Jade barely lifted her gaze.
"It's not a recent one, actually. It's an old problem from camp, but after seeing how you handled things between the Greeks and Romans the other day, I wanted to ask for your advice."
Jade raised an eyebrow. "So, is this just a request for help, or is it your indirect way of keeping the conversation going?"
Annabeth sighed. It was hard to play mind games when the person on the other side thought exactly like her. "Are you going to help me or not?"
Jade made a lazy gesture with her hand, as if to say, go on.
"At Camp Half-Blood, some kids have started fighting, and it's turning into a real mess. The children of Aphrodite and Apollo can't work together ever since their parents had some kind of disagreement. No matter how hard I try to get them to cooperate, every time I do, it just leads to more arguments. Their rivalry is causing a lot of problems."
Jade finally looked up, her interest measured. "And what have you tried so far?" she asked, showing neither sympathy nor complete disinterest.
"I tried making them work together through practical exercises," Annabeth explained. "I set up activities where they had to function as a team, but every time I put them together, they end up arguing about which of their parents is right."
Jade leaned back slightly in her chair, her expression unreadable—somewhere between apathy and mild curiosity. "Well, if they can't find common ground, maybe you need to introduce something that unites them differently. Something that has nothing to do with their lineage or divine favoritism."
Annabeth looked at her, intrigued. "Like what?" she asked, hoping Jade had a real solution.
"You should involve another cabin, one that’s neutral. I don’t know, maybe the children of Hypnos or Demeter," Jade said with unsettling ease. "A completely unrelated house could act as a mediator. Also, you should have them collaborate on something where both sides are equally necessary. Try something that plays into Aphrodite’s style but requires Apollo’s practicality in an emergency." She shrugged. "Something as simple as an end-of-season ball. Apollo takes care of the music, Aphrodite handles the decorations. And if a fight breaks out, at least they won’t have weapons—just streamers and flutes."
Annabeth thought about it for a moment, her gaze sharpening as she considered the idea. "A challenge that doesn't revolve around their parents but instead focuses on their own abilities..." She started scribbling in her notebook. "You're right. It could even be a good excuse to celebrate and distract everyone from what’s been happening here at Camp Jupiter."
Jade waved dismissively. "It's nothing complicated. The important thing is that they don’t feel forced together, but also not completely divided."
Jade lifted her eyes suddenly, realization dawning on her. Forcing them together… How had she not thought of it before? She grabbed the flyer with the symbols. She’d spent an entire day trying to figure out their meaning together, but maybe… they weren’t meant to be together at all.
Annabeth smiled, unaware of the thoughts running through Jade’s mind. "You could really be part of this project, Jade. With your pragmatic outlook and ability to see things from a different perspective, I’d love to have you helping at Camp Half-Blood. You could really make a difference."
Jade picked up some notes from the day before, not even looking at Annabeth as she responded in a flat tone. "Not interested."
Annabeth stared at her, surprised by the blunt rejection. But she didn’t push. She had to accept that, despite how much Jade had to offer, she didn’t seem ready to take a step toward Camp Half-Blood.
The silence that followed felt heavy. Annabeth reflected on how complicated Jade was, on how much she hid behind her indifferent demeanor.
Then, as she watched Jade return to her book, Annabeth started to wonder if there was more to that refusal than it seemed. Maybe, behind that wall of sarcasm, Jade wasn’t actually distant—maybe she was just protecting herself.
"You know," Annabeth began, steering the conversation in a different direction, "it’s not always easy to feel like you belong at Camp Half-Blood. I know what it’s like to feel like you don’t quite fit in. There were times when I thought I’d never find my place, that I’d never be able to truly integrate."
Jade let out an irritated huff, finally looking at her, but she didn’t respond right away. Her expression was more serious now, as if Annabeth’s words had struck a nerve. "I don’t think you can understand," she finally said, almost to herself. "I’ve… never felt at home anywhere."
Annabeth studied her carefully, trying to see past the wall Jade had built around herself.
Sensing that she had hit something sensitive, Annabeth didn’t push.further. "Look," she said with a gentle smile, "if you ever change your mind and want to help, Camp Half-Blood will always have a place for you. Maybe I wasn’t helpful before, but now I can be. I want to be."
Jade didn’t respond. But Annabeth noticed something—her expression had softened, just a little, as if something had shifted inside her, even for just a moment.
Then the younger girl stood up. "Thanks, but no. I’m fine as I am." She started walking toward the same section of the library, searching for more books.
"Oh, and Annabeth?" she called over her shoulder. "Stop trying to form bonds just because Reyna apparently gave you some advice. That doesn’t mean we’re okay now. I’m here because I have to be, remember that. The only reason I stuck around you was to stay in the library."
And with that, she disappeared behind a bookshelf.
Annabeth didn’t want to admit it, but that hurt her.

Reyna sat on a low wall in one of the quieter squares of New Rome, her arm resting on her knee as she gazed at the horizon. The sunset bathed the city in golden hues, but her mind was clouded with confusion.
"Two different senators," she said, more to herself than to Nico, "and they both said almost the same thing."
Nico, sitting beside her with his arms crossed, tapped his fingers against his elbow. "That’s strange."
"'Every Roman reflects their own blood,' and 'Sometimes, we simply follow our own blood,'" Reyna repeated the phrases slowly, as if trying to uncover a hidden meaning.
Nico sighed. "It’s vague. I mean, it could mean a lot of things."
"I know." Reyna ran a hand through her hair. "Could it be a way of saying that we Romans all act the same way? That it pushes us to reject the Greeks?"
Nico shook his head. "That wouldn’t make sense. Not for Hector—he admires the Greeks, especially… Percy."
Reyna glanced at him. "It feels like trying to solve a puzzle without a solution."
She clenched her jaw. Everything seemed connected, and yet, it made no sense.
Nico tried to think. "What if they weren’t talking about Romans in general… but about something else?" he said quietly.
Reyna raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
"I don’t know," he admitted, frustrated. "But it can’t be just a coincidence that they both used the same word."
Reyna leaned back, looking up at the darkening sky. "Maybe we’re overanalyzing it."
Nico shook his head. "Or not analyzing it enough."
They sat in silence for a while, lost in thought. The evening breeze carried the scent of food from the taverns of New Rome, but neither of them seemed to notice.
Finally, Nico spoke. "If this really is something tied to 'blood'… we need to figure out what it means to them. And why it’s important enough to be kept a secret."
Reyna nodded. "And to do that, we need to find out who gave Lydia the order."
Nico crossed his arms. "Or find out who left those symbols—before someone else dies. Reyna, I can feel it. Something bad is about to happen."
Reyna didn’t answer, but the weight of his words settled heavily between them.

Jade moved through the library shelves with precise movements, her fingers running along the spines of books, her eyes carefully searching for something useful about the symbols. Every now and then, though, her mind wandered elsewhere.
She felt guilty.
She didn’t know why it bothered her so much, but the way she had brushed off Annabeth still echoed in her head. She had been cold. Too cold. Annabeth had only tried to be kind, and for once, someone seemed to genuinely care about her without ulterior motives.
She sighed, shaking her head. "There’s no point dwelling on it," she told herself. "It doesn’t change anything. she doesn't really care"
She turned a corner without looking and bumped into someone.
"Hey!" a boy exclaimed, stepping back with an exaggerated expression of surprise. His purple shirt was slightly wrinkled, his hair just as messy. He was odd.
Jade immediately tensed. The boy in front of her had a wide, almost exasperating grin and an attitude that unsettled her. His eyes studied her too intently, as if he found her amusing.
"I know you!" he said, tilting his head. "You defeated the mechanical monster."
"You must be mistaken," Jade retorted curtly, trying to step around him and leave.
But he didn’t move. He just stood there with that irritating smile, as if waiting for something.
"No, I’m sure. Are you looking for something specific?" he asked, pretending to be interested. "Or are you just wandering aimlessly?"
Jade clenched her jaw. "I’m looking for books.you know? we are in a library. If you want to pass, do it."
The boy raised his hands in mock surrender, chuckling. "Relax, relax. You’re all tense. Something wrong?"
A shiver ran down Jade’s spine. There was something off about him. The way he spoke, as if he knew more than he let on. As if he was provoking her on purpose.
And then she saw it.
On the side of his neck, partially hidden by his hair, there was a symbol. A dark triangle, etched into his skin like a mark. A piece of the design was missing.
Her breath caught for a moment.
The boy noticed her staring, and his smile widened.
"Something wrong?" he asked, his tone almost amused.
Jade took a step back, her eyes fixed on the dark triangle on his skin.
"What is that?" she asked, keeping her voice as steady as possible.
For a split second, his smile froze. Then, in an instant, his expression changed. From amused to something colder. Something dangerous.
"Oh," he said in a bored tone. "You saw it. Guess I have to kill you now."
Jade didn’t have time to react.
He moved suddenly—faster than he should have been able to. He grabbed her arm with unnatural strength, slamming her against a bookshelf.
Jade choked back a cry of pain and tried to break free, but he shoved her against the wood again. A couple of books fell to the floor with a dull thud.
"Sorry, but you can’t live anymore," he hissed, tightening his grip around her throat.
Jade gritted her teeth as the air left her lungs. Using all her strength, she wrenched herself free, elbowing him in the stomach. The boy stumbled back—but not enough to give her a chance to escape.
"Funny" he chuckled, before lunging at her again.
Jade raised her arms to defend herself, dodging his blows as best she could, but he was strong. Too strong. Every time she tried to push him away, he barely seemed to feel it.
Another shove sent her crashing against the shelf again, knocking the wind out of her. The boy stepped closer, that eerie grin still in place.
Then came the sound of quick footsteps.
"HEY!"
Annabeth.
Jade saw her running from behind the shelves, her face tense. The boy turned sharply, caught off guard for just a second.
And that second was all Jade needed.
She took the chance and shoved him with all her strength, making him stumble to the side. Annabeth wasted no time—she rammed into him with her shoulder, knocking him to the ground.
Jade gasped for breath as Annabeth stepped between her and the boy, ready to defend her.
"Who are you?" Annabeth demanded, her eyes sharp.
The boy sat up, glancing between Annabeth and Jade. For the first time, he looked... surprised.
Then he smiled. A thin, unsettling smile.
"I have no name anymore," he laughed. "And soon, neither will you."
Jade got back on her feet quickly, her heart pounding as the boy turned toward her again. But something was wrong.
His eyes, once normal, had transformed into two black pools—liquid, devoid of any human emotion.
A shiver ran down her spine.
"Oh, crap," Annabeth muttered beside her, her voice tense.
They didn’t have time to say anything else. The boy lunged forward with unnatural speed. Jade tried to dodge to the side, but he was on her in an instant, shoving her forcefully and slamming her against a bookshelf. The wood groaned from the impact, books tumbling around her as pain shot through her back.
But she didn’t stop.
Gritting her teeth, she struggled to get back up while Annabeth lunged at the boy, trying to grab his arm to restrain him. But he broke free with an inhuman strength and shoved her away with a violent yank.
Annabeth stumbled for a second but recovered quickly, stepping between him and Jade once again.
"Don’t even try it!" she growled, eyes locked onto him. "Jade, run!"
Jade pushed herself up, her breathing heavy. She should have reacted immediately, but for a brief moment, the past crashed into her like a punch to the gut.
Annabeth was standing in front of her, ready to fight to protect her.
Just like her brother had.
No.
Rage and fear fused into a single, uncontrollable impulse.
She lunged at the boy before he could strike Annabeth, throwing all her weight against him. She pushed him hard, making him stagger.
Annabeth seized the opportunity and twisted his arm behind his back, trying to pin him down.
"Help me hold him!" she ordered.
Jade obeyed without hesitation. She pressed down on his legs, trying to keep him from moving, but the boy fought like a trapped animal.
With a sudden movement, he freed one arm and slammed his elbow into Jade’s sternum. The pain knocked the wind out of her, and she collapsed to the floor, her knees giving way
Annabeth clenched her teeth and tightened her grip, but the boy twisted unnaturally, breaking free.
He turned toward Jade, his eyes black as pure darkness.
Jade didn’t have time to react.
He crouched down and grabbed her wrist with a crushing grip.
A searing pain shot through her arm, forcing a cry from her lips.
It felt like his fingers were grinding her bones to dust.
"Let her go!" Annabeth didn’t hesitate. She rushed to the nearby shelf, grabbed a heavy book, and hurled it with all her strength at the boy’s head.
The impact made him stumble. For a moment, his body trembled before dropping to his knees.
Jade wrenched herself free, gasping in pain. Annabeth struck again—harder this time.
The boy collapsed to the floor, motionless, unconscious.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke, catching their breath.
Annabeth spun toward Jade, her eyes still blazing with adrenaline. "Are you okay?"
Jade pressed her aching wrist against her chest, trying to ignore the burning pain pulsing through her arm. The contact with her skin made her grit her teeth, but she forced herself to nod. "Yeah… more or less."
Annabeth studied her for a moment, as if trying to gauge how much of that answer was true. Then her gaze shifted to the boy’s unconscious body. His chest was still rising and falling, ragged and uneven, as though something inside him was desperately fighting to hold on.
"We need to warn Reyna. Now," she said, stepping forward. "Help me tie him up."
But just as they were about to approach him, a sudden movement made them freeze.
The boy’s eyes snapped open.
Under the shocked stares of the two daughters of Athena, his trembling hand moved to his belt. He pulled out a small paper packet and, without hesitation, shoved it into his mouth, swallowing whatever was inside.
A shiver ran down Jade’s spine. "What the hell—"
She didn’t even get to finish her sentence.
The boy’s body seized up instantly. Spasms wracked through him like electric shocks, his muscles locking into a grimace of sheer agony.
A scream tore from his throat—unnatural, inhuman—a sound so raw and agonizing that the hairs on Annabeth’s arms stood on end. White foam began to bubble from his lips, his fingers curling into claw-like shapes as his breath became more and more ragged.
Jade and Annabeth instinctively took a step back, their hearts hammering against their ribs.
Then—silence.
The boy stopped convulsing. His body went slack all at once, his head lolling to the side.
No breath. No movement.
Jade swallowed hard, panic gripping her throat, her head buzzing. "Is… is he dead?" she asked, her voice unsteady.
Annabeth stared at him for a long moment. His chest no longer moved. No signs of life.
She swallowed, her jaw tightening. "He killed himself."
Jade stood frozen, still in shock, unable to untangle the mess of emotions flooding through her—fear, pain, confusion.

Annabeth knew she had to act quickly. “Let’s go get the others. We’re closing the library.” She stated. “You stay close to me, do you understand?”
“Annabeth,” she observed her sister who had just called her, still focused on the body.
“Jade, we have to-“
“Look at the neck.” She turned, noticing what the younger one was pointing at. The triangle seemed to be burning on the boy’s neck. A thin line of smoke appeared and in a few seconds a snake formed around the drawing.
“What does it mean?”

Chapter Text

Hazel joined Frank and Nico outside the praetors' office, casting them a puzzled glance as muffled shouting echoed from behind the closed door.
"Shouldn't you be in there with them?" she asked the other praetor.
Frank stiffened. "Mm... no, I think I'm fine right here."
A loud insult erupted from the room, making all three of them jump.
"How long has this been going on?" Hazel asked in a low voice.
"Forty minutes," Nico replied, his expression dark.
Hazel let out a quiet sigh. "Well, they must be almost done by now, right?"
"Why don't you listen, REYNA?!"
The shout rang through the hallways, making them all flinch.
Nico just sighed. "I don’t think so."

Inside the office, the air had grown suffocating. Reyna stood behind her desk, hands firmly planted on the wood, shoulders taut like bowstrings. Across from her, Jade glared, eyes blazing with anger, her breath uneven. The marks on her neck were still visible—dark bruises where someone had nearly strangled her. Her wrist, swollen and aching, was wrapped in a crude bandage.
Reyna had told her more than once to see a healer, but Jade had ignored her.
Annabeth stood to the side, positioned halfway between the two girls, while Percy stood next to her, having rushed in as soon as he heard about the attack. They were mostly there to keep the two from tearing each other apart rather than to contribute to the conversation.
"You can’t force me!" Jade snapped, gritting her teeth against the pain. Yelling wasn’t helping her throat.
"I’m not trying to force you," Reyna replied, her voice low but tense. "I’m trying to make you see reason."
Jade let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, sure. Because forcing me to leave New Rome and dumping me at Camp Half-Blood is totally rational."
"It is!" Reyna crossed her arms, taking a deep breath to keep her temper in check. "If you stay here, you risk being attacked again! Someone already got their hands on you once, Jade! And they didn’t even have weapons!"
"So what? I should just hide at Camp Half-Blood?"
"They could attack you there too," Annabeth interjected, her tone calm but just as firm. "Whatever was wrong with that guy… it wasn’t normal. We don’t know where you’d be safer."
"Annabeth, you're not helping," Jade cut her off quickly.
Reyna turned sharply toward her. "Then she’ll have extra guards."
Jade’s eyes widened, her anger flaring again. "You’re insane!" she exclaimed in disbelief. "You really want me walking around with a bunch of legionnaires glued to my back twenty-four seven?!"
"I want you to stay alive!" Reyna shot back, exasperated.
Jade stepped forward, ignoring the pain pulsing in her neck. "Do you realize how ridiculous that is? Have you ever seen me accept help from anyone? Do you really think I could tolerate being escorted around like a damn prisoner?"
"You’re not a prisoner. And it's better than being attacked again!"
Jade let out a sarcastic scoff. "Oh, sure, because living in a cage is so much better."
Reyna ran a hand over her face, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from yelling. "Damn it, Jade… can you at least try to cooperate?!"
"Oh, cooperate? You mean just blindly accept whatever you decide for me?"
Reyna clenched her jaw. "I’m trying to help you, Jade."
"Help me?" Jade laughed, but there was no humor in her expression. "No, Reyna. You’re trying to control me."
Reyna fell silent, hit harder by those words than she wanted to admit.
Jade continued, her voice wavering with emotion. "I don’t need someone deciding what’s best for me. I’ve spent my whole life learning how to fend for myself! I don’t need you, your guards, or anyone!"
Reyna slammed a fist on the desk, her face tense. "And what if you die, Jade? Huh? What if the next attack is worse? Should we just collect your body and pretend we couldn’t have stopped it?"
Jade tensed. A flicker of something crossed her eyes, but it was gone so fast Reyna couldn’t decipher it.
"Isn’t that what demigods do? Die before they hit thirty?"
Reyna stepped out from behind the desk, her anger flashing in her eyes. Percy quickly moved between them before things escalated further.
"Look, I think we’re all exhausted," he said. "Maybe we should take a break, get some rest, and talk about this tomorrow."
Annabeth watched them silently, not stepping in. She knew this argument was about more than just Jade’s safety.
It was something deeper. Between them.
Reyna ignored Percy and locked eyes with Jade. "Maybe you don’t care about your own life, but the three demigods who died this week sure as hell didn’t feel that way about theirs!"
Jade swallowed and lowered her gaze. When she spoke, her voice was quieter but just as hard. "Then maybe I should die first so no one else has to."
Reyna felt as if she’d been punched in the stomach.
She didn’t answer right away. But that didn’t change anything.
"What would Luka think of you throwing your life away like this?"
Jade froze for a moment, then shook her head, breathing heavily. She took a step back, her eyes burning with anger and something else—something Reyna couldn’t identify.
Then, suddenly, she turned and headed for the door.
"You know what, Reyna?" she said, her voice colder than any of her previous shouts.
She threw the door open so forcefully that she nearly knocked over Nico and Hazel, who had been eavesdropping on the other side.
"Fuck you"
The door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing through the hallways.
Hazel hesitated, then called after her, but Jade ignored everyone and disappeared down the corridor.
Frank stared at the door, then at Nico. "I think that went well."
Nico sighed, rubbing his temples. "If by ‘well’ you mean they didn’t kill each other, then sure."

Annabeth strode out of the office, her steps firm, but her face was a mask of frustration and tension. She stopped just outside the door, crossing her arms. Hazel watched her cautiously.
"How did it go?" she asked, though the answer was obvious from Annabeth’s expression.
Annabeth sighed, running a hand through her messy hair. "Terribly."
A heavy silence settled over the group. Frank exchanged a glance with Percy, while Nico lowered his gaze, clenching his jaw.
Inside the room, Reyna hadn’t moved. She had collapsed into her chair, her hands tangled in her hair, staring at the desk as if it could give her an answer, a solution—something. For the first time in a long while, she looked truly exhausted.
At last, she lifted her head slightly and murmured, "Aurum, follow her."
The golden dog shot off without hesitation, rushing out to track Jade.
Percy watched as it disappeared down the hallway, then turned back to the others. No one spoke, but they all kept glancing at Reyna, as if waiting for her to take charge.
In the end, it was Frank who broke the silence. "So… now what?"
Annabeth crossed her arms, her knuckles whitening from the tension.
"Now we find another way." Her voice was steady, leaving no room for doubt. "Because whether she likes it or not, Jade can’t do this alone."
Reyna stood abruptly, her cloak swaying behind her. "You figure it out."
Nico, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up. "Reyna, you’re the only one close to her. You’re the only one who can stand by her right now."
Reyna let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Didn’t you hear her? She made it pretty damn clear she wants nothing to do with me."
She turned and grabbed her armor, fastening the buckles with quick, precise movements. It was a distraction, a way to keep herself from thinking about the way Jade had looked at her before storming out.
It was a way to remind herself that she had other responsibilities.
Another body had been added to the count. They had a killer to find.
She turned to Frank, her face once again impassive, professional. "We need to get things in order and recall the Senate."
Frank nodded, not pressing her further. "I’ll go call them. Jason is already handling the legions."
"We’ll take care of our own," Percy said with a nod before walking off with Annabeth. But she hesitated at the doorway, pausing for a moment.
She turned back to Reyna, her stormy gray eyes shining with dangerous intensity.
"We need to talk about what happened today."
Reyna crossed her arms. She wasn’t in the mood for this conversation. Not now. "After the Senate meeting, alright?"
Annabeth nodded slowly, then left without another word.
Now, only Reyna, Hazel, and Nico remained in the room.
Hazel was watching her with an expression caught between disappointment and concern. Reyna turned to her, raising an eyebrow.
"You and Jade need to stop fighting like this," said the daughter of Pluto bluntly.
Nico nodded, crossing his arms. "You need to understand each other. But you're both too stubborn to make it happen."
Reyna met his gaze, cold and unwavering. "No. We’re just not compatible."
She fastened the last buckle of her armor with a decisive motion and walked out of the room without another word.

The air in the Senate hall was as taut as a bowstring. The torches along the walls cast unsettling shadows over the faces of those present, emphasizing the gravity of the moment. Reyna sat with her back rigid, chin raised, and gaze sharp as she studied each senator, searching for the slightest sign of hesitation.
Beside her, Frank gripped the armrests of his chair too tightly, while on the other side of the table, Octavian sat with his usual arrogant smirk, lazily tapping his fingers against the wood.
Across from them sat the five senators: Hector, Lydia, Marcus, Iris, and Theo. Lydia, as always, wore an inscrutable expression, her chin lifted in an air of superiority. Hector, the most talkative of the group, watched them with only feigned interest, while Marcus, known for his rigidity, sat with his arms crossed, clearly ready to reject any proposal.
Reyna spoke first. “We have three dead, all marked with the same symbol, scattered across the city. We can’t ignore this any longer.”
Marcus scoffed, waving a hand impatiently. “The last one wasn’t a murder, Praetor. That boy took his own life. Case closed.”
Frank tensed. “He killed himself because he knew he’d been discovered!” he shot back, his voice taut with anger. “Doesn’t it seem strange to you that he had superhuman strength? That his eyes turned black before the attack? He knew something we don’t.”
Lydia spoke for the first time, her voice as sharp and cold as ever. “He was clearly an anti-Greek extremist. We know there are small groups opposed to the alliance, and he was part of one. With his death, the problem solved itself.”
Octavian nodded with a sneer. “Exactly. The Greeks bring nothing but chaos. How much longer must we pay the price for this forced alliance? How much longer must we collect bodies because of their presence?”
Reyna clenched her fists, forcing herself to stay calm. “Are you suggesting this was Annabeth’s fault? Or Percy’s? Or any other Greek here in New Rome? One of their own was killed too.”
Octavian arched an eyebrow, his smile venomous. “I’m saying that ever since they arrived, these incidents have multiplied.”
“And since when did murders become mere ‘incidents’?” Frank countered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Hector cleared his throat, trying to defuse the tension. “Praetors, I understand your concern, but we can’t allow ourselves to panic. As… unfortunate as these events are, there’s no solid proof of a larger conspiracy.”
Reyna turned to him sharply. “Three dead with the same symbol on them isn’t proof enough for you?”
Marcus shook his head nonchalantly. “Coincidence. Or maybe some sick game by someone trying to mislead us.”
Reyna felt frustration build inside her. She took a deep breath before speaking. “Today, Jade—” She hesitated, quickly correcting herself. “A Greek was attacked.” She swallowed at the small slip, but no one seemed to notice. “And instead of focusing on whoever is behind all of this, you’d rather keep pretending nothing is happening.”
Marcus met her gaze evenly. “No one is pretending, Praetor.” His voice was devoid of emotion, just cold logic. “Perhaps you’re the one who’s too involved. The threat has reached you. The girl was attacked because of her connection to you.” He paused, letting the words linger in the air. “Maybe, instead of looking at the Greeks, we should ask why you are always at the center of all this.”
Frank shot to his feet, furious. “You were the ones who insisted on this week of celebrations despite the warnings, despite the symbols appearing everywhere!” His voice trembled with frustration. “And now you want to blame Reyna?”
Reyna didn’t respond immediately. But something inside her became clearer. The senators were afraid. They would rather shift the blame onto her than face the real problem. Or… did they know more than they were letting on?
“Praetor Zhang, calm yourself.” Lydia’s gaze was icy as she stared at him. “We’re not accusing anyone. We simply believe that, since people close to you are involved, Praetor Arellano, you may have exaggerated the situation.”
Frank slammed a fist on the table. “So you think we should just ignore all of this? Let it go?” His breathing was heavy. “We’re not blind, and Reyna isn’t overreacting. Something is happening.”
Lydia met his fury with an unyielding stare. “Yes. You should ignore it.”
Theo nodded, speaking for the first time. “Send the Greeks home. The festival was our mistake.” He stroked his beard, thinking. “The peace was already fragile. If we want to preserve it, it’s better to break it off before it shatters completely.”
“The Greeks want justice for their fallen comrade.” Reyna shook her head. “If we send them away without answers, that will be the real end of peace.”
Octavian scoffed. “Peace was always an illusion.”
A heavy silence settled over the room.
Then, for the first time, Senator Iris spoke. “The praetors are right. We cannot send the Greeks away now.”
Reyna looked up, surprised by the unexpected support. Iris gave her a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.
Lydia scoffed. “You can't be serious.”
“One of ours was killed.” Iris’s voice was firm. “Someone has to pay.”
Theo and Hector exchanged glances, then nodded. Only Marcus still seemed reluctant, but in the end, he relented with a sigh.
“Fine. You have one week, Praetor.” His voice was as hard as stone. “If in seven days you haven't found concrete evidence or the culprit, the Greeks must leave.” He paused, his gaze locking onto Reyna’s. “And you will have to resign from your position, taking responsibility for the failure.”
Frank’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You can’t be serious!”
Reyna leaned back in her chair, taking a deep breath to maintain control. The senators would not back down.
“Alright.”
“Reyna—” Frank started, but she silenced him with a look.
“This meeting is over.”
Frank still tried to protest. “You can’t seriously go through with this!”
Marcus met his gaze with a cold smile. “We are Romans, Praetor Zhang. We do not follow our hearts or emotions. We follow a system built on centuries of spilled blood.”
And Reyna shivered.

Reyna and Frank exited the Senate hall, their quick, determined footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. Frank was visibly angry, his fists clenched, his mouth set in a tense grimace of frustration. Reyna, on the other hand, seemed distant, almost detached from everything that had just happened. Her posture was rigid, her face impassive, but in her eyes, the internal struggle was clear.
“I can’t believe they decided this,” Frank burst out, stopping halfway down the corridor and looking at her with eyes burning with anger. “It’s not fair, Reyna. You can’t accept this decision. You can’t carry all of this on your shoulders.”
Reyna kept walking, ignoring Frank’s words, then stopped, taking a deep breath.
“Reyna, I can talk to the others and—”
“Frank, can you leave us alone?”
The boy looked at her, confused, then flinched at a movement to their left.
Reyna didn’t seem concerned. “Frank, can you let Annabeth know I’ll meet her tomorrow?”
“…Yeah, sure.”
Jade stepped out from behind the corner, her expression serious.
Frank glanced between the two girls as they studied each other, then nodded and walked away. “For the gods’ sake, let them at least make peace,” he muttered to himself.

Chapter Text

Jade sat motionless on the cot in the medical tent, her face tense with frustration she couldn’t hide. Will Solace leaned over her, his expression calm and reassuring as he examined her throat. Every time his hand touched her neck, a sharp burning sensation reminded her of how close she had come to losing her breath during the attack. Her wrist, delicately bandaged, was more of an annoyance than anything else, but the anger she felt from yet another argument with Reyna hurt far more.
"I'm just giving you a check-up, Jade," Will said, trying to keep his tone professional. "Your throat is healing, but if the pain persists, let me know." Then he looked at her seriously. "Maybe try not to scream."
Jade nodded curtly, but she couldn’t hide her impatience. She had never been one to dwell on physical wounds. After all, those heal. But the wound she had received today—the one inflicted by Reyna’s words—that was much harder to mend.
"It's just a matter of time," Will added with a friendly smile, but Jade didn’t reply. Her mind was elsewhere, and she felt like she was about to explode. Reyna had treated her like a burden to be cast aside, a responsibility she didn’t want to bear. She had pushed her away, tried to keep her out of everything, but Jade didn’t know how to stop feeling like a burden. She had tried to help, tried to find a solution, and now? Now everyone saw her as a burden, not just Reyna.
Jade leaned against the tent wall, trying not to think about the anger still boiling inside her. The pain in her wrist and the rawness in her throat reminded her why she was here, but in truth, it was the argument with Reyna that occupied her mind. She didn’t understand why Reyna insisted on treating her this way. It seemed that every time she tried to get closer, something stood between them. The guards watching her, the silence between them, the constant feeling of being unwanted. Jade couldn’t see the reason behind it all, yet it felt like no one was listening.
As Will stepped away to grab some vials, Jade got lost in her thoughts, muttering to herself. "Why does she keep treating me like I’m a burden? I don’t understand..." Aurum tilted his head in confusion.
"Don’t look at me like that. I don’t understand your owner either."
The sound of approaching footsteps made her look up. It was Nico. Despite his usual impassive expression, Jade immediately noticed something different in his eyes. Maybe it was the weight of the situation, maybe it was the same irritation she felt herself.
"Did they put you on first shift for babysitting duty?" Jade asked sarcastically.
Nico ignored the question. "I see you're back in self-destructive mode," he said, his voice low but sharp. "Why do you always do this?"
"ME?!" Jade stared at him, incredulous, before coughing.
"Do. Not. Yell," Will warned.
"Reyna treats me like I’m a bomb ready to go off. I don’t understand why she keeps putting me under surveillance, as if every step I take is a threat. She doesn’t get it."
Nico studied her for a moment, his dark eyes as unreadable as ever, but with a slight intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "How can you expect her to understand you? Especially when you don’t do anything to understand her."
Jade frowned, opening her mouth to argue, but Nico continued. "Maybe she could understand you during your mission together, but after that? You’re not easy to read, Jade. Just because she understands more than most people doesn’t mean she always will."
Jade lowered her gaze.
"Why have you never told her anything, Jade?" Nico asked suddenly, and his question hit her like a whip. "You disappeared for months without saying a word to anyone, without giving her a reason or a sign. And now you're angry because Reyna doesn’t know what to think anymore?"
Jade remained silent, unable to respond right away. The truth in Nico’s words cut through her like a knife. She had been afraid—too afraid to talk, too afraid to open up. And now she was trying to face that fear, but no one was willing to forgive her for it.
"It’s not fair," she finally whispered. "She’s not even giving me a chance to prove I can be different. Or to get closer to her."
Nico stepped forward, his tone more serious. "It’s not that Reyna isn’t giving you a chance, Jade. It’s that she doesn’t know if she can trust you anymore. She doesn’t know if you’re going to disappear again like you did before. She tried to give you space, to let you be free, but you never showed her that you were willing to stay. And now, when she’s trying to protect you, you don’t even seem interested in surviving. She doesn’t know if you're doing this because you care or just because you have no other choice."
"I told her I would stay."
"Yeah, but it seemed more like you did it as a favor to her than because you truly wanted to."
"Of course, I don’t want to be here, Nico!" Jade snapped, and both the son of Hades and his boyfriend looked at her in surprise. "I don’t belong here, I don’t belong anywhere.I stayed only for her, because when I’m with her, I feel like I belong to something. She makes me feel like I matter."
Jade felt a lump in her throat, her breathing growing shallow. "... I don’t want to be a burden to her. I don’t want her to think I’m hiding or running away again. But ever since I got here, she treats me like everyone else—like I... could vanished at any moment—and she keeps me at a distance. She gives me babysitters and won’t let me be part of her work."
Nico stared at her intently. Finally, the pieces were clicking into place. She was admitting the core issue. The only problem was—she shouldn’t be saying it to him. She should be saying it to Reyna.
"And yet, that’s how she sees you. She has no other choice, Jade. You never let her understand what you want. You left her alone for too long, and now your disappearance has made her unsure of everything."
Jade lowered her gaze, feeling the weight of his words. "But I… I want to be here. I want to be part of this. Not just another problem."
Nico sighed, his gaze softening. "I know. But Reyna doesn’t understand that—not the way you do. And she never has, because she’s never been able to open up to you either. And now, with you being targeted just to hurt her, she’s being forced to face emotions that you both should have dealt with more calmly."
Jade felt like the world was collapsing around her. "So what am I supposed to do? What can I say to make her understand?"
"Talk to her," Nico said, his voice steady. "It’s not enough to just do something. You have to tell her the truth. Tell her you’re not running away, that you don’t want to be apart from her or New Rome. Give her a reason to trust you. And stop yelling."
Jade hesitated. "And if she doesn’t believe me?"
"Then prove her wrong."
Nico gave her the slightest hint of a smile, a small gesture of encouragement. "But do it your way. Be honest, Jade. You can’t keep hiding anymore."
She nodded, though the weight of the responsibility was immense. But finally, maybe, there was a light at the end of the tunnel.
"I’ll talk to her," she said, her voice steadier.
"Do that," Nico confirmed. "Don’t let fear take over. Maybe she’ll even reduce your babysitters," he added with a smirk.
"Thanks, Nico," Jade whispered before running off in search of the praetor. She still wasn’t sure what she was going to say to Reyna, but now she knew one thing: she had to do it—for both of them.
"Wow, nice work," Will commented.
"See? I am good at handling emotional stuff."

Jade reached the Senate, Aurum always trailing behind her. The doors were closed, but she could clearly hear voices coming from inside.
"Can you be useful and find a spot to listen?" she asked the dog, who seemed to understand and ran off to the right side of the building.
"Lots of bolts for you tomorrow."

Reyna stepped out shortly after, her shoulders tense under the weight of the day. Frank kept talking, but she no longer had the strength to listen, to think. She just wanted to go home and sleep.
But then she felt Aurum’s presence nearby and immediately knew what it meant.
"Can you leave us alone?" she asked Frank.
She didn’t bother explaining why she had spoken in plural because Jade stepped out from behind the corner, looking almost guilty for getting caught.
Frank glanced at her but said nothing before walking away. Reyna sighed and turned to her.
"How much did you hear?"
"Enough to say they can’t treat you like this! They can’t blame you!" Jade burst out, her hands clenched at her sides.
Reyna started walking home without stopping. "They’re the Senate. They can."
"But it’s not fair!"
"Someone has to take responsibility."
Jade swallowed, still following her to the house. "But—"
"Jade, why do you care?" Reyna asked, defeated, leaving the door open.
Jade hesitated for just a moment before accepting the silent invitation and stepping inside.
She leaned against the door, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to steady her breathing.
Reyna had sat at the table, her head in her hands, as if the weight of the day had crashed down on her all at once. For a moment, Jade remained still, but then she took a step forward, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"Reyna…" she began hesitantly. "I’m sorry about today."
The praetor didn’t move, but Jade continued. "And I’m sorry. For disappearing for months without saying anything. For not facing everything that was happening and for how I’ve been acting now… but right now…" She stopped, her throat tightening with emotion. "I feel like I’m just a burden to everyone. I don’t know how to act anymore, how to help you… we used to be a team. But now, whenever I try to step forward, it feels like you keep pushing me further away."
Reyna finally lifted her gaze. Her expression was unreadable, but Jade caught something in the depths of her eyes—exhaustion, maybe even a flicker of hesitation.
"I don’t want to push you away," Reyna said, her voice low but firm. "I thought I was doing what was best for you. I forced you to stay, but forcing myself to stay by your side felt wrong."
"I stayed to be by your side."
Reyna froze at that statement. "I—" She hesitated for a moment, as if finding the right words was harder than she expected. "I still don’t fully understand what I feel, but I need to protect you. And it feels like the closer I get, the more I end up hurting you."
Jade lowered her gaze, feeling her heart tighten.
"I know I’m not the easiest person in the world."
Reyna let out a short scoff, as if agreeing, and despite everything, Jade gave her an almost amused look.
"Please, Reyna, stop deciding for me. I want to be by your side and help you. But if you keep forcing me to stay with the others or push me away, I won’t be able to do that."
Reyna swallowed, her fingers tapping lightly against the table before she lifted her gaze again. "I don’t want you to feel alone. And I don’t want to push you away." Her voice softened, but she couldn’t hide the frustration. "I’m scared, Jade. I’m scared of hurting you. But I never wanted to…"
She stopped, sighing. "I don’t want to lose you."
Jade looked up, finally letting go of everything she had been holding inside. She couldn’t keep it in any longer.
"I felt like a burden. And it hurts, it hurts to see you pulling away because I can’t…" Her voice dropped. "I can’t figure out if there’s anything I can do for you. If I can still be the person I was before, for you."
Reyna looked at her for a long time, as if deciding what to say. Then, with unexpected gentleness, she placed a hand on her arm.
"You’re not a burden," she said simply. "You never were. But I’m scared too, and I don’t always know how to handle that fear."
Jade ran a hand over her neck, trying to ease the tension building in her shoulders. She had been standing the whole time, but now the ache in her neck was becoming more insistent, pulsing. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to ignore it.
Reyna, however, didn’t miss it.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice low but attentive.
Jade hesitated, then nodded slowly.
Reyna sighed and stepped closer, instinctively raising a hand. "Let me see."
Jade swallowed, allowing the praetor’s light fingers to move her hair aside. The touch was cautious, almost reverent, as if she were afraid of hurting her even more.
Silence stretched between them as Reyna examined the wounds, now in the process of healing. The marks from the fight were still visible, the skin reddened and tight.
"Where does it hurt the most?" she asked, her thumb grazing the edge of the wound with delicate precision.
Jade tensed slightly, but not from the pain. She inhaled slowly, as if afraid to break the moment.
Then, before she could stop herself, she said it.
"I was scared."
Her voice was barely a whisper, as if saying it out loud would make it even more real.
Reyna looked up at her but didn’t speak. Maybe she was waiting for Jade to continue.
Jade wet her lips, her breath growing unsteady. "He—he was strong. Too fast. For a moment, I thought I wouldn’t make it. And I hated feeling that way. It reminded me—"
Reyna remained silent for a long moment. Then, with a slow, almost imperceptible movement, she lowered her hand from Jade’s neck and brushed her wrist, as if grounding her.
"He’s gone, Jade. You defeated him. You defeated them both," she finally said, her voice softer than Jade had ever heard it. "I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you."
Jade shook her head, tears beginning to streak down her cheeks. "I… I don’t want to feel like that anymore. I don’t want you to look at me like I’m fragile. I don’t want you to pull away because you think it’s too much for me to handle," she burst out, frustration thick in her tone. "I—I’m strong, I can handle it, I—"
"You are strong," Reyna agreed. She lowered her gaze for a moment, then looked back at Jade with the same intensity she had always had in battle, as if searching for what Jade wasn’t saying.
"I’m not pulling away because you’re fragile," she replied. "I’m pulling away because I’m afraid I won’t protect you enough. And now I understand that’s not the right thing to do."
Jade felt her breath hitch, and in that moment, she truly understood. She let out a small sob, shaking her head. Then, without thinking, she moved.
Reyna didn’t step back when Jade wrapped her in a hug. For a moment, she stiffened, surprised. But then, slowly, her arms came around her too, as if she needed it just as much as Jade did, even if she didn’t want to admit it.
Jade buried her face against Reyna’s shoulder, feeling the weight she had been carrying for months begin, slowly, to slip away.
She tried to speak, but a sharp pain caught the words in her throat, and Reyna seemed to notice, gently pulling back.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Jade hesitated for a moment before nodding slightly.
Reyna didn’t say anything as she carefully moved Jade’s hair aside again, her fingers light against her skin as she examined the wound. The touch was steady, focused, never intrusive. Jade found herself holding her breath, feeling the warmth of Reyna’s fingers brushing her neck.
"It’s healing, but it will hurt for a while," she murmured, almost to herself. Her thumb lightly traced the reddened edge, more of a comforting gesture than an examination.
Jade bit her lip, lowering her gaze.
"You should put on some ointment and rest," Reyna continued in that leader’s tone that left no room for argument. "I know you won’t, but I had to say it anyway."
Jade let out a small, tearful laugh, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"You know I never listen to you."
Reyna raised an eyebrow, the hint of a smile on her lips. "I know."
A moment of silence settled between them, lighter this time. Then Jade lifted her eyes and met Reyna’s gaze.
"I won’t run away anymore," she said, this time with more conviction. "I want to stay."
Reyna studied her for a long moment, as if making sure she believed her, as if trying to etch those words into her mind, to hold onto them and finally let go of the fear that had consumed her for so long.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
And something in her shoulders eased, as if the weight she had been carrying for months had finally slipped away.
"I believe you," Reyna whispered, her voice softer than Jade had ever heard it. "And I’m sorry for earlier, for bringing up Luka and for assigning you babysitters."
The blonde huffed. "So you admit they were babysitters."
The praetor shrugged. "You were acting like a child."
Jade smirked mischievously. "I thought you liked that."
"Not when it’s directed at me."
"So you admit you like it."
"Jade…" Reyna warned, her dark eyes fixing on her in silent admonition.
Jade wanted to say something, to prolong that fleeting moment of lightness, but suddenly, exhaustion crashed over her. The pulsing pain in her neck, the tension of the afternoon, the emotions that had nearly drowned her—everything felt heavier now that the adrenaline was fading.
Reyna noticed immediately.
"You’re about to collapse," she stated with her usual practicality.
Jade let out a quiet huff. "I’m fine."
Reyna crossed her arms. "Don’t lie."
Jade sighed, knowing there was no use trying to convince her otherwise.
"Come sleep with me," Reyna said suddenly, her tone calm but carrying a slight hesitation that made her seem more human, more vulnerable.
Jade looked up at her, surprised.
"I—"
"You need rest," Reyna interrupted, then glanced away, uncertain. "And I… I need to feel you close. At least tonight."
Those words made Jade’s heart clench.
Reyna never said things like that. She never allowed herself to admit she needed someone.
And yet, here she was, saying it for her.
Jade swallowed, trying to push down the lump forming in her throat.
"Okay," she said softly, exhaling a shaky breath.
Reyna gave a single nod before turning and heading to the room. Jade followed without argument.
When they lay down on the bed, there was no awkwardness, no hesitation. Just exhaustion wrapping around them both, the weight of the day slowly dissolving into the quiet darkness of the room.
Jade settled under the covers, feeling the warmth of Reyna’s body beside hers. It was strange. They had been this close just one time and she was sick. But this day was different, this vulnerable, without the armor of their usual defenses. And yet… it was comforting.
"Why didn’t you ever answer? I tried using the drachmas you left me," Reyna asked after a while.
Jade’s stormy gray eyes were barely visible in the dark, but Reyna saw confusion flicker across them.
"I never got an Iris message."
The daughter of Bellona fell silent, puzzled by the response.
"Reyna," Jade called her name, voice steady. "I’m not running anymore, okay? I won’t."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them. Neither felt the need to fill it.
Then Reyna shifted slightly, the mattress dipping under her weight, and without thinking too much, she placed a light hand on Jade’s wrist.
A barely perceptible touch, hesitant but full of meaning. A gesture of comfort that, on its own, wasn’t enough.
Minutes passed, and Reyna was the first to break. "Can I?" Her voice was low, just a whisper in the dark.
Jade didn’t answer with words. Instead, she moved closer, following her instincts and reaching for her in a silent, decisive gesture.
Reyna closed her eyes, and for the first time in too long, she felt like she could truly breathe.
Jade did the same, surrendering completely to the moment.
And after months of battles, fear, and uncertainty, she finally felt safe.

Chapter Text

As the group walked down the road leading to Reyna’s house, the atmosphere was tense but also vaguely curious.
“I never thought I’d end up on a mission to save the Ice Queen’s love life,” Leo declared. “I mean… it’s Reyna. Does she even have feelings?”
“Okay, rule number one,” Jason said in an authoritative tone. “No stupid jokes.”
“You’re asking for the impossible,” Leo countered, raising an eyebrow.
“At least try,” Annabeth sighed.
“Rule number two,” Piper continued. “Don’t make her angry.”
“Too late,” Frank said. “I think she’s still permanently angry by default.”
Hazel huffed. “Guys, we’re talking about Reyna, not Mars. She’s still our friend.”
“Yes, our friend who could kill us with a single glare if we say the wrong thing,” Percy pointed out.
Leo nodded solemnly. “Frank, if that happens, just remember—I’ve always loved you.”
The praetor scoffed, crossing his arms.
Jason shook his head. “Okay, we need to stay focused. The goal is just to talk to Reyna and make sure she and Jade have sorted things out.” He paused. “After that, we have to deal with everything else. We can’t let them force Reyna to step down as praetor.”
Frank tensed up. “Yeah, but let me start the conversation. I don’t know how happy she’ll be about what I told you.”
“Let’s focus on the Jade issue first,” Percy muttered.
“Exactly,” Annabeth confirmed. “So then we can concentrate on the real problems, like murders, threatened praetors, and assassination attempts.”
Hazel looked at her boyfriend. “Maybe they talked things out after you left last night.”
“Or maybe one of them killed the other and hid the body somewhere.”
“Leo!” Piper scolded.
“It was just a thought.”
Nico, who had been trailing behind the group, remained silent, simply following along.
“What if she kicks us out?” Leo asked.
Annabeth shrugged. “We still outnumber her.”
Percy raised an eyebrow. “Leo, are you afraid of Reyna?”
“I’m afraid of dying young, yes.”
They reached the door, and Jason took a deep breath before knocking.
Silence.
Then the door opened.
Reyna stood in the doorway, visibly groggy. Her hair was slightly messy, her eyes still half-closed from sleep. She wore a simple shirt and comfortable pants—no armor, no praetor posture. She looked… normal.
The group fell silent for a moment.
“Good morning,” Piper tried with a cautious smile.
Reyna stared at them. Then she blinked. “What are you doing here? At six in the morning?”
“We came to talk,” Jason said in his diplomatic tone.
Reyna tilted her head, clearly unconvinced. “To talk?” she repeated flatly.
“Yes,” Annabeth confirmed.
“About what?”
There was a moment of collective hesitation.
Frank sighed. “About last night.”
“Well…” Percy began. “First of all, about you and Jade.”
Reyna raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t know I had a board of directors.”
“We’re not a board, we’re friends,” Hazel replied gently.
Reyna studied them, then sighed and stepped aside. “Come in.”
The group exchanged surprised glances before stepping inside.
The house was perfectly tidy, as always, but the atmosphere felt different. More relaxed, less rigid.
Percy looked around as if expecting to see a minefield.
“If you think there are traps, you can leave,” Reyna commented, crossing her arms.
“That’s not what we were thinking,” Jason lied.
Reyna sighed. “Look, if you’re here to ask me to fix things with Jade, you can save the speech. We’ve already talked.”
The group exchanged puzzled looks.
“Really?” Piper asked.
“Yes,” Reyna replied in a tone that left no room for argument.
“And… have you worked things out?”
“Yes.”
“But Percy told me you two were about to kill each other yesterday.”
The son of Poseidon kicked Leo to shut him up.
Reyna narrowed her eyes, irritated.
Percy tried to defend himself. “It’s just… I mean… You don’t exactly seem like the type to have easy heart-to-hearts.”
Reyna raised an eyebrow. “Do you want a detailed report?”
“No, no.” Percy held up his hands. “Just… wow. I’m almost impressed.”
Annabeth didn’t seem convinced. “And Jade? Is she okay?”
“Yes.”
Leo leaned toward Jason and whispered, “Too easy. Something’s up.”
Jason shot him a warning look.
Meanwhile, Reyna leaned against the table, rubbing her temples. “If you’re asking whether we’re fine—yes. Now, can we be done here? I need at least another hour of sleep,” she admitted, shocking everyone in the room.
For the first time, the always-dedicated, always-working praetor just wanted to rest. She wanted to rest despite the Senate breathing down her neck, three murders, and a killer on the loose.
“This is weird,” Piper murmured.
“Reyna,” Annabeth said, studying her carefully. “Are you feeling…?”
And then it happened.
“Why are you up so early?”
From the hallway, Jade appeared. “Princess?”
She stretched, eyes still half-closed from sleep. Her hair was a mess, and—most importantly—she was wearing a purple Camp Jupiter shirt.
Reyna’s shirt.
A moment of complete silence fell over the room.
Percy’s eyes widened. Piper covered her mouth, clearly amused. Annabeth tilted her head, as if analyzing an interesting puzzle. Jason raised an eyebrow. Hazel looked torn between shock and happiness. Frank remained impassive, and Nico smirked slightly, but Leo…
Leo exploded.
“OH. MY. GOD.”
Jade froze. She looked at them. Then at herself.
Silence.
Realization.
Pure panic.
“This isn’t what it looks like,” she blurted out immediately.
“Oh, really?” Piper asked.
Nico raised an eyebrow. “Jade… did you sleep here?”
Jade opened her mouth, then closed it again. “You all know I’ve been sleeping here for the past few nights.”
“But in Reyna’s bed?” Piper asked, amused.
“I…”
“And you’re wearing her shirt,” Annabeth added in a cold, analytical tone.
Jade ran a hand through her hair, visibly panicked. “It’s not a big deal! I ran out of clothes. No one warned me about the extended trip.”
“Sure, sure.” Leo put his hands on his hips. “How often do you walk out of Reyna’s room wearing her clothes?”
Jade shot him a murderous glare.
Meanwhile, Reyna didn’t look particularly fazed. Sitting at the table, elbow resting on the surface, head propped up by one hand, she watched the scene unfold with the classic expression of “I’m debating whether to intervene or let you all drown in your own embarrassment.”
Finally, she sighed and said, “If you’re done with your drama, can I go back to sleep?”
Percy cleared his throat, trying to suppress a smile. “No, no. Just… wow.”
“Now I get why she wants to sleep,” Jason deadpanned, smacking Leo on the back of the head. Leo yelped in protest.
Hazel bit her lip, uncertain. “Should we be worried?”
“Only if you don’t stop staring at us,” Reyna yawned, completely unfazed.
Jade crossed her arms, trying to regain at least a shred of dignity. “This conversation is over.”
Leo grinned. “Oh, is it really?”
Jade grabbed a pillow from the couch and hurled it at him with all her strength.
“YES.”
Leo groaned as the pillow hit him square in the face, while the others barely contained their laughter.
Reyna massaged her temples. “If anyone makes another joke, I’m kicking you out.”
“Promise,” Piper said, raising her hands in surrender—though her grin made it clear that promise wouldn’t last long.
But as Reyna turned to head back to the kitchen, Percy and Jason exchanged a meaningful glance. They were going to talk about this. Oh, they were going to talk about this.
And Reyna? Well, for the first time in days of chaos, she looked at peace.
Despite the mess.
Leo raised his hand with a solemn expression. “I have a question.”
Everyone sighed.
“‘Princess’… is that what you call her also when you—”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
A coffee cup flew at him, hitting him in the forehead with military precision.
“OUCH!”
All heads turned to Reyna, who was now casually twirling another cup in her hands, watching them with an expression that left zero room for argument.
“If anyone plans on saying anything else stupid…”
Everyone raised their hands in surrender.
“Nothing to add,” they declared in unison.
Reyna huffed and turned back toward the kitchen.
Jade dropped into a chair, massaging her forehead as Reyna handed her a cup of coffee.
“Why are you all here?” she asked, taking a sip and trying to ignore the lingering embarrassment still hanging in the room.
Piper sighed. “Because, I don’t know, we have a murderer to catch?”
“I think he’s sleeping at this hour too.”
“And we need to make sure Reyna doesn’t get removed from her position as praetor,” Jason added.
Reyna shrugged indifferently. “I don’t care. We’ll find the murderer. The rest… whatever happens, happens.”
Silence fell over the group.
Jade stood up abruptly, ready to protest, but Reyna stopped her with a simple gesture.
“Don’t yell, or your throat will never heal.”
“I’m n—” Jade tried to respond, but a coughing fit interrupted her.
“Damn it.”
“Told you.”
Jade cleared her throat, trying to regain her voice after the attack of coughing. “You can’t just let this go.” Her voice was hoarse, but her gaze was determined.
Reyna handed her a glass of water without a word, waiting for her to drink. Only when Jade placed the empty glass back on the table did she respond, calmly: “I’m not letting it go. I’m choosing my battles. My position is worth less than people’s lives.”
“You can’t just let them do whatever they want.” Jade ran a hand through her hair, visibly frustrated. “They need you. The camp needs you. That’s your role.”
Reyna studied her for a long moment, and for a brief second, her gaze softened. “And you need to rest.”
Jade froze.
It wasn’t just the way she said it—with absolute calm, completely devoid of her usual commander-like rigidity—but the way she looked at her. With genuine concern, as if, in that moment, her priority wasn’t her position, wasn’t Rome, but… her.
Jade looked away for a moment, feeling a slight warmth creep up her cheeks. “Don’t change the subject.”
“I’m not.” Reyna stepped a little closer, lowering her voice. “You’ve been hurt enough these past few days. If you keep going like this, you’ll never heal.”
Jade stiffened but then slumped slightly in her chair, defeated. “I’m not made of glass, Reyna.”
“I know.” Reyna crossed her arms, her gaze steady but not accusatory. “But you’re not invincible either.”
Silence.
And that was when they realized the others were staring at them.
Percy had completely given up on pretending he wasn’t listening, watching the scene with his mouth slightly open. Piper looked thoroughly entertained. Jason seemed confused, while Hazel and Frank looked unsure of how to react. And Leo… well, Leo looked like he was about to burst into laughter.
Reyna was the first to notice them and raised an eyebrow.
The others immediately straightened, trying to look busy.
“Oh, don’t mind us. Continue,” Percy said with a smirk.
Jade shot him a glare before turning back to Reyna.
“So… are you going to do something about it?” she asked, bringing the conversation back on track.
Reyna inhaled slowly, as if weighing her response. Then, she stepped forward slightly, lowering her voice once more. “We find the murderer first. Then, we’ll deal with everything else.”
Jade studied her, trying to figure out if it was a promise or just a way to delay the inevitable. In the end, she nodded, though reluctantly.
“Fine. But we’re doing this together. No more splitting up.”
Reyna gave a small nod, seemingly satisfied. Then, with complete ease, she reached out and tucked a stray strand of Jade’s hair behind her ear.
Jade froze.
The others froze.
The silence in the room was deafening.
Percy blinked. Annabeth bit her lower lip, holding back a surprised comment. Jason tilted his head slightly, as if trying to solve a riddle. Hazel looked vaguely amused.
And Leo…
“I don’t believe this!” he suddenly exclaimed, throwing his arms up. “The ice queen has a heart!”
A second coffee cup hit him square in the forehead before he could say another word.
“THOSE HURT!”
Reyna crossed her arms, face impassive. “Does anyone else want to comment on my personal life?”
The others immediately raised their hands in surrender.
Jade hid a smile behind her coffee cup.

Seated around the table, everyone wore serious expressions as Annabeth spoke in a low voice, trying to explain the events that had unfolded. The tension in the room was palpable.
“What we saw in the library… it’s more complicated than it seems.” Annabeth scanned the group with sharp eyes. “That guy… there was something strange about his eyes. They were completely black, with no pupils.”
Jade nodded. “When he spoke to me, he seemed normal… aside from being annoying. But when I noticed the triangle tattooed on his neck, he went berserk.”
Frank stiffened, clenching his hands. “I knew him. He was a quiet kid, never showed any signs of being involved in anything strange. It couldn’t have been him…” He hesitated for a moment. “His behavior was unusual. I saw him the night before, and I never would have imagined he was hiding something so… dangerous.”
Jason nodded, concerned. “So… what happened to him?”
Annabeth avoided the question and continued. “The point is, this wasn’t a random attack. The symbol on his neck wasn’t just any tattoo. Its shape, the snake that appeared right after his death… it could be a signature.”
“Or maybe a message,” Jade added.
Until now, Reyna had remained silent, but she finally spoke, her tone grave. “The problem is that we don’t know how that boy was chosen. Did he volunteer? Or was he branded against his will? Because if it’s the latter… anyone could become an enemy.”
Annabeth sighed. “I think it was voluntary. When he… took his own life, the act was deliberate. While he was attacking, he wasn’t himself—but that decision was his. It was rational.”
Jade shook her head. “I don’t think they’re all volunteers.”
The others turned to her.
Reyna furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”
“The other victims might have been branded before being forced to take their own lives.”
Percy shot to his feet. “Are you telling me someone out there can control people and force them to stab themselves?”
“It would explain why the first attacker used Greek-style strikes while the second didn’t.”
Piper interjected. “But the weapon from the first murder was Roman.”
“A diversion?”
Reyna rubbed her forehead. “We can’t rely on speculation alone. We need something concrete.”
Leo raised his hand, as if he were in school. “So, what are we supposed to do? Strip every demigod in New Rome to check for triangles?”
Jade shook her head. “It looked recent. They could brand themselves ten minutes before attacking.”
“Do you ever give good news?”
“They want to attack me for now, so you’re safe.”
“Well, that’s some good news.”
Percy eyed him suspiciously. “Or maybe you’re the one who’s branded and trying to kill her.”
Leo swallowed hard. “Okay, not good news anymore.”
Annabeth shot to her feet, exasperated. “Enough! We need to act. Speculating and causing panic is useless.”
“Frank, Jason, take care of the legion,” Reyna said firmly. The two started to protest, but she silenced them with a single look. “The demigods are getting restless, the murders are increasing, and we don’t have answers. Someone has to keep things under control.”
Annabeth nodded. “Percy, Piper, Leo, can you handle the Greeks?”
Jason looked around. “And how exactly are we supposed to distract them?”
Jade spoke up, surprising everyone. “Just stop to act like there’s nothing wrong. Get them involved.”
Percy crossed his arms. “Telling them there’s a murderer among us and that no one knows who it is sounds like a terrible idea.”
Reyna shook her head. “Don’t lie. But don’t tell them we have no clue what’s going on either.”
Jade stepped forward. “Like a team challenge. Create mixed groups of Greeks and Romans, always in pairs, with different godly parents. Give them some of the information—maybe hint at the symbols, but don’t mention the brands on the bodies. Organize patrols throughout the city, and most importantly, no one should be alone.”
The room fell silent.
“Wasn’t Annabeth supposed to be the one in charge?” Leo quipped with his usual smirk—right before getting smacked on the head.
Annabeth ignored him, but deep down, she was surprised. She had underestimated Jade, and now she realized it. Her sister had thought through the situation logically and effectively, without letting emotions get in the way.
“Jade is right,” she said, startling Jade herself. “Let’s do what she suggested. If everyone is in pairs, it’ll be harder for them to get branded. And with mixed teams, we’ll prevent tensions between Greeks and Romans.”
Piper nodded and turned to the others. “And you guys?”
Hazel and Nico exchanged a glance. Nico was the one to answer. “We need to meet with our father. There’s something off about all of this.”
Leo looked at the three remaining girls. “And you?”
Reyna crossed her arms. “We might have a lead to follow.”
Jade hesitated. “The day I… temporarily disappeared, I might have found something.”
Jason narrowed his eyes at her. “So you admit you disappeared.”
Leo snickered. “We have official confirmation!”
Piper sighed, massaging her temples. “Leo.”
“Yes, Leo, I ran off because someone didn’t know how to do their job.”
“HEY!”
Reyna brought everyone back to reality. “Everyone has a task. Let’s try not to get killed before the end of the day.”
Jason sighed. “Always so optimistic.”
Annabeth turned to Reyna with determination. “I’m coming with you.”
Reyna nodded without hesitation, but Jade didn’t seem convinced. “Are you sure?”
“Jade.” Reyna’s voice was a warning.
Jade huffed. “Ugh, fine.”
Leo smirked. “And we just found out who’s in charge in the couple.”
Jade shot him a deadly glare. “Leo, your odds of surviving the day just dropped to ten percent.”
“…Okay, I’ll shut up now.”
Frank stepped forward. “And what about the Senators? After yesterday, I doubt they’ll be willing to talk to us.”
Reyna nodded. “Maybe some of them will still be open to discussion.”

Chapter Text

The streets of New Rome were unusually quiet. The tension in the air was almost tangible; citizens whispered to each other in hushed tones, exchanging worried glances as the three girls made their way through the city with determined steps.
Jade walked slightly behind Reyna and Annabeth, hands buried in her pockets and an expression of utter boredom on her face. She seemed completely uninterested in the conversation, though she occasionally let out a sigh of impatience.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea to stop by Senator Iris first?” Annabeth asked, glancing at Reyna.
“Yes,” the praetor replied without slowing down. “She’s the only one in the Senate who seems to be on our side. If there’s anyone who can tell us what’s really going on, it’s her.”
Jade rolled her eyes. “And what if she’s just wasting our time?”
“If that’s the case, at least we’ll know,” Reyna shot back, pausing for a moment in front of the Senate’s large doors. Then she turned toward Jade, studying her carefully. “I know you wanted us to go somewhere else first, but if we don’t understand how the Senate plans to move, we could end up making things worse.”
Jade shrugged, pretending not to care. “Do what you want. You’re the strategists.”
Annabeth looked at her with suspicion. “You haven’t even asked why we want to talk to her. You’re that sure it’s useless?”
Reyna didn’t bother mentioning that Jade had eavesdropped on her entire conversation with the Senate the night before.
Jade simply offered a faint smile, looking away. “I don’t need to ask.”
The truth was, she didn’t trust anyone who held any sort of power in the Senate. After the way they had treated Reyna, they didn’t deserve even a second of her attention. Iris? Sure, she had shown some support, but in the end, she was still part of the group that wanted Reyna removed from her position, blaming her for something that wasn’t her fault.
Jade hated the Senate. That much was clear.
Annabeth looked like she was about to argue, but Reyna gave her a small gesture, silently asking her to drop it. Without another word, she pushed the doors open, and the three of them entered.
As Reyna and Annabeth walked down the corridor toward Senator Iris’s private office, Jade slowed her pace, glancing around cautiously. She looked uncertain, then stopped altogether.
Something felt off. A strange sensation crawled up her spine.
Reyna turned immediately, alarm flashing in her eyes. “Jade?”
“I’ll wait here,” she said casually. “You two represent both camps. My presence would just get in the way.”
Annabeth crossed her arms. “Since when do you care about getting in the way of a figure of authority?”
Jade shook her head. “She wouldn’t be nearly as fun to annoy as you.”
Annabeth huffed, choosing not to respond.
Reyna stared at her for a long moment, then sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t like leaving you alone.”
Right now, anyone could be a target.
Jade gave her a rare, genuine smile. “I’ve got Argentum,” she said, nodding toward the mechanical dog standing silently at her side. “And I know how to take care of myself, princess.”
Reyna clenched her jaw. She knew Jade was right, but she couldn’t shake the unease in her chest. Still, she had promised to let her help. “Be careful,” she said softly.
Jade nodded, then gave Argentum a gentle tap on the flank. The metallic wolf tilted its head toward her, as if it understood perfectly.
“If anything happens, I’ll let you know before you even have time to worry.”
Reyna took a deep breath, clenching her hands into fists for a moment before forcing herself to relax. She hated this feeling of uncertainty, of leaving someone behind—even if only for a moment. “Alright.”
She hesitated, then reached out and brushed Jade’s arm in a brief but meaningful gesture. “Seriously. Don’t do anything reckless. And don’t leave this area—I want everyone to stay together.”
Jade gave her a small smile—one of those infuriatingly comforting yet mischievous ones. “Me? Reckless? Never.”
Reyna rolled her eyes just slightly, but the worry never left her face.
“Jade.”
The other girl sighed and let her shoulders drop, surrendering. “Fine, fine. I won’t go far. Promise.”
Reyna watched her until she disappeared into the shadows of the corridor. There was a strange weight in her chest—an uneasiness she didn’t want to name. Maybe it was because she was used to commanding, to protecting. Maybe it was just the simple fact that letting someone go without absolute certainty they’d be safe felt nearly impossible.
Annabeth stepped up beside her and observed her quietly for a few seconds.
“If Leo were here, he’d say you finally took off her leash.”
Reyna turned to her with a sharp look. “She’s not a dog.”
The daughter of Athena raised her hands in a playful gesture, smiling. “I know. She’s just… stubborn.”
Reyna sighed, folding her arms as she started walking again. “That’s not the word I’d use.”
Annabeth followed, her gaze distant in thought.
“But it’s not just that.” she added after a moment. “It feels like she’s trying to prove something. I don’t know if it’s to herself or to us… but definitely not to me.”
Reyna was quiet for a long moment, then said, her voice unusually gentle, “She’s starting to change her opinion of you.”
Annabeth scoffed, an ironic smile tugging at her lips. “Oh, sure. Right.”
But Reyna wasn’t joking. “It’s true. She’s started teasing you.”
Annabeth raised an eyebrow. “And since when is that a good sign?”
Reyna paused, thoughtful. Then she glanced over at her, her gaze more intense than usual. “She doesn’t talk to people she doesn’t trust. Let alone joke with them.”
The daughter of Athena fell silent. As much as Jade tried to come off as detached, sharp, even hostile at times—Reyna was right. When Jade didn’t like someone, she simply ignored them. The fact that she had started answering back, provoking, joking… meant something was shifting.
Annabeth crossed her arms, looking down for a moment, processing those words.
Maybe Reyna was right.
Maybe, in her own way, Jade was letting her guard down.

The Senate hall was cloaked in an strange silent. The long marble corridors and the walls adorned with ancient reliefs reflected the dim torchlight, casting slow-moving shadows across the surfaces. Reyna and Annabeth’s footsteps echoed, as if the gravity of the situation burdened their every step.
The two girls approached the large central table, where Senator Iris was already waiting. Poised and elegant, she exuded a calm presence—but beneath that serenity, there was an undeniable alertness. Her hands were clasped in front of her, a deliberate gesture of controlled composure.
At their entrance, Iris lifted her gaze. A faint smile curved her lips, but her eyes betrayed a deeper awareness.
“Praetor. Daughter of Athena.” Her tone was respectful, yet Annabeth picked up on the subtle tension beneath it—like Iris already understood the seriousness of their visit. It felt too orchestrated, too perfect to be mere coincidence. A trap, perhaps? But Annabeth didn’t let herself get distracted.
Reyna stepped forward without hesitation and took the seat across from Iris with her usual composed authority—undeniable and commanding. Annabeth followed, sitting beside her, the pressure of the moment growing heavier with every passing second.
The silence that settled over them was thick with unspoken truths—the kind of pause that signals a difficult conversation ahead. Reyna was the first to speak, cutting through the stillness with a steady voice.
“First of all, thank you—for yesterday.” Her eyes met the senator’s with sincere gratitude. “Without your support, I doubt I could’ve kept things under control. The situation was starting to unravel.”
Reyna’s words were genuine, yet something lingered beneath them, as if she were laying the groundwork for a deeper revelation.
Iris shook her head gently, a shadow of fatigue crossing her features. She lowered her gaze for a moment, seemingly choosing her words with care.
“I simply said what I believed was right.” Her voice, calm as it was, held weight. “The truth is... many prefer to turn a blind eye. To pretend everything’s fine. But—” she paused, letting the silence carry the weight of her next words “—but we can’t ignore that something is very wrong.”
Annabeth nodded slowly, catching the message with no need for further explanation.
“That’s exactly why we’re here,” she said, folding her arms and watching Iris intently. “We need to know what’s really going on. And more importantly—who’s behind these attacks.”
Iris didn’t respond right away. Her gaze drifted, her fingers tapping softly against the table in a slow, rhythmic pattern. It felt like she was buying time, trying to collect her thoughts. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked up at them.
“I’ll admit... something doesn’t add up,” she said carefully. “It’s not just the violence, or the speed with which these events are unfolding. It’s the precision.”
Reyna tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “Precision?” The word felt heavy in the air, its meaning shifting depending on who said it.
Iris glanced away briefly, as though weighing her next sentence.
“These aren’t random acts. They’re... targeted. And they’re not just striking people. They’re hitting at balance—at the very structure of our community.” She clasped her hands again, as if trying to contain thoughts too large to voice aloud.
Annabeth and Reyna exchanged a glance, a shared unease rising between them. Iris’s words carried a weight they couldn’t quite decode.
“The symbol,” Annabeth murmured, like a puzzle piece clicking into place. “That triangle... with the serpent.”
Iris nodded slowly, her expression darkening.
“Exactly. That symbol isn’t just some graffiti. It’s not a gang tag or a protest mark. It’s... something older. Something darker. Something we weren’t supposed to remember.”
Reyna stiffened, her gaze sharp. “What does it mean?”
The senator hesitated. Her eyes faltered, as if retreating from the question. Then she sighed.
“I don’t know,” she admitted, and Annabeth’s frustration flared. “I’ve never seen anything like it in the city’s records—not even in the oldest scrolls. There’s nothing official that explains what’s happening. But…”
Annabeth leaned forward, fists pressing against the table. “But what?” Her tone was sharper than intended, her patience thinning with every vague answer.
Iris lowered her gaze to her hands, unease clearly etched across her face. For a long moment, the room was silent again. Then, she spoke softly, almost to herself.
“And yet... it doesn’t feel new. It feels like something... familiar. Something I’ve heard of before, but can’t quite place.”
Reyna’s body tensed. A chill crept through her chest. “What do you mean?” Her voice was calm, but there was a new urgency to it. She locked eyes with the senator, silently demanding the truth.
Iris finally looked up, and her gaze was heavier now, more troubled.
“This isn’t the first time that symbol has appeared.”
Reyna and Annabeth both froze, startled.The truth is,” Iris continued gravely, “long before you or Jason arrived in New Rome... the praetors before you encountered something similar. I was still new to the camp. I never got the full story, but there were whispers. Rumors the old senators never confirmed.”
Reyna’s eyes narrowed. “Explain.”
Iris inhaled deeply, the words slow to come.
“That triangle... it showed up back then too. But there were no deaths. Not like now.”
The weight of her words hung in the room like a sentence. Reyna clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to slam her fists on the table. So not only was the Senate ignoring the danger, blaming her for everything—but now she was discovering this had happened before, and had been buried.
She forced herself to stay composed.
“How did the praetors respond?”
Iris averted her gaze, fingers once again drumming lightly. Then she shook her head.
“They covered it up.” Her voice was quiet, tense. “They cleaned the streets. Erased all traces. Buried it deep—and made sure no one remembered.”
Annabeth’s breath caught as her mind raced, piecing together implications.
“If it happened before... can we speak with the former praetors?” Her voice was sharp, urgent.
A shadow crossed Iris’s expression. She hesitated.
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
Annabeth’s eyes narrowed. “Why not?”
Iris ran a tired hand across her brow.
“Because... one of them took his own life, not long after it all ended.”
A cold shiver ran down Reyna’s spine. Her pulse quickened, but her face remained composed.
“And the other?” she asked quietly.
Iris met her gaze, her expression grave.
“The other resigned after just one year in office.”
Annabeth crossed her arms. “So we can talk to him.”
But Iris slowly shook her head.
“Reyna…” she paused, visibly hesitant. “The other praetor... was Marcus.”
The name dropped like a boulder in the room. Reyna and Annabeth both froze, stunned as the revelation sank in.
Slowly, Iris rose to her feet. Her posture stiffened, the shift in her stance drawing a boundary—an invisible wall marking the end of the conversation.
“I don’t know anything for certain,” she said, voice low and solemn. “But I suggest you be careful. Some truths stay buried for a reason.”
Her gaze lingered on Reyna for just a second too long—as if she wanted to say more, but couldn’t. Or wouldn’t.
Annabeth let out a breath, trying to stay composed. “People have died—and others have come dangerously close. We can’t just pretend this isn’t happening. We have to find out what’s behind it.”
The woman almost seemed regretful as she spoke the next few sentences. “I’m sorry for your loss, but now that we’re… even. The solution would be to close the matter, placing the blame on the boy you managed to stop.”
Reyna shuddered at the idea. “You seriously want to let whoever is behind this go free and pin it on a boy who was probably just manipulated? This isn’t about theft, Senator. These are murders.”
“You think I want this?” the woman replied, her tone sharpening. “Of course I want the one behind it all to be brought to justice. I understand your sense of righteousness, but this isn’t about saving just one person. Many lives are at stake—and a peace that’s already hanging by a thread.” She paused. “And as unjust as it is, Praetor, you know we must always act in the best interest of New Rome. Maybe the wisest move is to give them what they want, close the case now that you have the perfect scapegoat, and send the Greeks back home. I might even be able to sway the other senators to let you keep your position as praetor.”
The daughter of Bellona swallowed hard. She had expected something else—support, perhaps—and instead was being offered silence, cover-ups, and complacency.
“Use this week to consider your next steps, Reyna,” the woman advised. “You’ve been praetor for years because you’ve always known the right moves to make.”
Her words lingered in the air like an omen. The unease they had tried to suppress grew stronger, heavier. Reyna and Annabeth exchanged a silent look, and in that glance was the quiet certainty that the truth was far darker—and far more dangerous—than they had ever imagined.

Jade leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, body relaxed—or at least trying to seem so—as she strained to catch every word drifting out from the room beyond. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her long ago, and now she stood silently, half-hidden in the shadows, listening intently. Whatever Reyna and Annabeth had thought they might gain from speaking with Iris, Jade trusted their instincts. They usually knew what they were doing. Still, she couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling that she didn’t belong here. She felt out of place.
She didn’t know Iris like they did. She didn’t understand the Senate, or how its politics twisted around alliances, egos, and ancient grudges. She hadn't grown up in New Rome, hadn't spent years weaving herself into its labyrinth of diplomacy and power. Gods, she really should’ve done her homework. Now all she could feel was the cold pressure in her gut—that nauseating weight of being behind, missing pieces of a puzzle she was expected to help solve.
It wasn’t the first time Jade had eavesdropped on an important conversation, but this time was different. There was a tension in the air—thin, sharp, and electric—that didn’t quite have a name. The voices inside were calm, composed, almost too even. But beneath their words, Jade sensed something fragile, like a glass thread stretched taut and ready to snap.
And Iris... Iris didn’t sound like she was lying. Her tone was polished, practiced, even kind. Professional to the point of being impersonal. But Jade knew that game—speak in truths, cloak the intent. Something about Iris’s words felt slippery, like trying to grasp smoke. There were no clear contradictions, no obvious holes, but still, something wasn't right.
She glanced down at Argentum, the silver dog resting quietly at her side. He wasn’t reacting—no growls, no warning—but that only deepened her unease. If Iris was truly hiding something, why did the dog seem calm? Was she imagining it all? Overthinking it?
She thought back to the trick she used when Reyna questioned her—how to speak the truth just enough to dodge the actual point. Maybe Iris was doing the same. Or maybe Jade was exhausted, her brain fogged by too many late nights, too many leads that went nowhere, and a hundred half-formed theories crowding her mind. Either way, the feeling kept growing. Something was off. Badly off.
Then, movement.
A flicker—just for a second—at the edge of her vision.
A shadow, maybe ten feet away, darting behind a nearby building. Fast, quiet, and nearly imperceptible. One moment it was there, the next it was gone.
Anyone else might’ve missed it.
But Jade saw it.
Her pulse slammed against her ribs. It could’ve been nothing. Just a trick of the light, a shifting cloud, a figment born of nerves.
But deep down, she knew it wasn’t. That shadow wasn’t an illusion. Someone—something—had been watching.
The voices inside the room kept going, muffled now by the pounding in her ears. But Jade was no longer listening. Reyna could fill her in later.
Without hesitation, Jade pushed off the wall and followed the direction of the shadow.

Reyna stopped dead in her tracks, a sudden instinct crashing through her like a wave of cold water. Her spine stiffened. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
She turned her head, meeting Annabeth’s eyes just a few steps behind her. The daughter of Athena raised an eyebrow, but her expression sharpened as she noticed the change in Reyna’s posture.
“We need to go,” Reyna said, her voice low and urgent, already stepping backward.
Annabeth didn’t question her. She simply nodded and fell into step beside her, her gaze sweeping the hallway like a hawk. Reyna’s instincts were rarely wrong—and right now, those instincts were screaming.
The moment they stepped outside the Senate, the night air greeted them with a chill—but not the kind that refreshed. It was the kind that sank into your bones and made you feel watched.
Reyna paused again. Argentum, usually poised and calm, was pacing in tight circles near her feet, his head low, sniffing the ground with increasing agitation. His silvery eyes glinted, not with alertness—but with worry. Deep, bone-deep worry.
His tail didn’t wag. His muscles were rigid, ears flattened, movements uneasy.
Reyna’s heart stuttered. She quickened her pace, eyes scanning the shadows, the rooftops, the alleys. Argentum didn’t stop. He kept circling, searching the empty space around them like he knew something was missing. Something—or someone—was wrong.
She crouched next to him, placing a steadying hand on his neck. “Easy, Argentum. What is it?” Her voice was calm, measured—but inside, she was spiraling.
The dog didn’t respond. Not with a look, not with a bark. He simply froze—tense, alert, his gaze locked on something Reyna couldn’t see.
And that’s when it hit her.
A sinking chill clawed its way up her spine.
Where the hell was Jade?
Reyna stood abruptly, eyes wide, and scanned the area with new urgency. “Where’s Jade?”
she asked, her voice barely above a whisper—but the question echoed like a thunderclap between them.
Annabeth’s expression shifted immediately. Her mouth tightened. “I don’t know,” she replied, her voice quiet. “But if Argentum is this anxious…”
She didn’t finish the thought.
She didn’t have to.
Reyna turned in a slow circle, heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. She searched every corner of the courtyard, every possible hiding place. But Jade was gone.

Chapter Text

Jade moved forward, driven more by instinct than by any real certainty. Every step she took seemed to confirm the strange feeling that something had slipped past her, that something was just beyond her reach — invisible, but almost tangible. She walked carefully, eyes darting around, trying to catch any small change, any subtle tremor in the air. Yet the further she went, the more it seemed that whatever shadow she had sensed was fading, like mist dissolving under the sun.
There was nothing. No trace. No evidence that what she had seen was anything more than imagination.
She stopped for a moment, fists clenched at her sides, and looked around. The only sounds were her own ragged breathing and the distant murmur of voices from the Senate hall. The world seemed to shrink down to the small patch of ground around her, as if everything else had disappeared.
Was her mind just playing tricks on her?
A shiver ran down her spine. She felt more distant from Reyna than she would have liked, but she couldn’t shake the nagging sense that something was wrong. Steeling herself, she refused to be overwhelmed by doubt.
And then... something changed.
A distant sound — a sharp noise, almost like a hiss — came from behind her. Jade spun around, but there was no one there. The path was empty.
The only thing accompanying her was the wind whispering through the trees and stones, but that sound... it wasn’t the wind.
It sounded like breathing — human, maybe, or something less definable, but undeniably real, as if someone — or something — was hiding just around the corner.
A tremor passed through her, but Jade forced herself to keep moving. It had to be her imagination, she told herself. It had to be.
Quickening her pace, she headed toward the Senate, trying to put distance between herself and that eerie feeling. But the farther she walked, the stronger the sensation grew — the sensation of being watched, of something following her silently. She turned sharply, but the path behind her was still deserted.
And yet, that presence clung to her mind, heavy as a stone, tightening in her gut.
"Stop him."
The voice was too close, too real to ignore.
Jade froze, her heartbeat picking up speed.
"Stop who?" she whispered.
"The Nameless One."
The voice was low, seeming to come from everywhere at once.
Jade didn’t know if she should trust it or run.
"He knows you saw. He will kill you," the voice echoed again.
"How do I stop him?" she asked.
"You can't."
"There’s always a way. Tell me who the Nameless One is!"
Silence pressed in on her, heavy and suffocating, as if the voice was hesitating.
"Damnatio Memoriae."
Jade frowned. She didn’t recognize the words.
She really needed to start taking Latin lessons.
"What does that mean?" she asked, but there was no reply.
"Hey! At least tell me who you are!" she called out.
The voice broke through again, more urgent now.
"He knows you're here. Run."
Jade felt the air shift around her.
Her blood turned cold.
She had to get back to Reyna and Annabeth — now.
Then she realized just how far she had wandered.
The Senate building, which had seemed so close, now felt impossibly distant. And yet, she was sure she had only taken two turns.
What worried her most was the complete absence of people around her.
The silence was oppressive, and the realization that she had drifted too far from Reyna only increased her anxiety.
She had to go back — but something was holding her back. Some primal instinct told her not to move too fast.
She stood still, eyes scanning the surroundings carefully.
Nothing.
The empty street, the stretching shadows — everything seemed... too still. Too quiet.
And then, suddenly, a figure darted out in front of her.
A fleeting shadow, indistinct, but close enough to make her shudder.
She couldn’t make out any details, only the overwhelming presence of something — someone — far too near.
She braced herself, body tensed, ready for impact.
But as the figure drew even closer, Jade staggered back and squeezed her eyes shut.
For an instant, the world vanished.
Then, suddenly, the ground slipped out from under her.
Off balance, her body hit the ground without warning.
Jade lay there, dazed for a second, before reopening her eyes — and seeing nothing.
No shadow. No attacker.
She quickly ran her hands over herself, half-expecting to find injuries, but there was nothing.
Just the cold, hard ground beneath her.
"Are you alright?"
A man's voice startled her.
She looked up sharply and found herself staring into the concerned, confused face of a stranger.
Behind him, a few other people stood, watching curiously.
"Uh?" Jade stammered, struggling to process what was happening.
"I said, are you alright? I saw you on the ground — you looked like you had fainted."
Fainted? Had it all been a dream?
Jade got to her feet quickly, trying to hide her confusion.
"Uh, yeah... I just... tripped," she lied, forcing a smile.
Her gaze darted around, searching for Argentum — but she couldn’t see him.
A ripple of worry stirred inside her.
"Could you tell me how to get to the Senate?" she asked the man.
He looked at her in surprise.
"The Senate? It's on the other side of the city. Follow this road and, once you reach the intersection, you'll find it to your right."
Jade nodded absently, her mind racing elsewhere.
The man seemed normal — everything seemed normal — but something still felt off.
Moments ago, no one had been here. No one at all.
Trying to focus on the directions, she thanked him distractedly and turned quickly away, heart still pounding in her chest.
Even though the path ahead looked clear, that gnawing sense of unease didn’t leave her.
Something wasn’t right — and she had to find out what.

Reyna could feel the panic rising inside her, like a flame burning higher and higher. Argentum kept pacing in circles, the anxiety clear in his eyes. She had asked the dog to find Jade, but it seemed even he had no idea which direction the girl had taken.
The worry gnawed at Reyna’s mind, an incessant buzz she couldn’t shake off. She couldn’t focus, couldn’t think straight. She had to stay strong, had to stay in control, but the thought of Jade disappearing without a trace was eating her alive. Every corner they turned seemed emptier than the last, every step pulled her further away from the sense of safety she was desperately clinging to.
Annabeth, walking beside her, tried to keep a calm that Reyna couldn’t even begin to match.
"Reyna, breathe. We can't solve anything if we don’t think clearly," she said. "Jade must be close by. She's smart; she knows it's dangerous to wander alone."
"Annabeth, even Argentum can’t find her!" Reyna snapped.
But it was almost impossible to think logically when every part of her screamed that something was wrong. Jade’s sudden disappearance haunted her thoughts, and Annabeth’s words barely registered, like echoes from a distance.
Then, finally, a figure running toward them made her stop dead in her tracks. A breath of relief lifted some of the weight from her chest. It was Jade. But as the girl drew nearer, an unexpected wave of anger swept through Reyna, fueled by the realization that her worry had been completely ignored.
Jade reached them, panting, her hair messy and her breathing ragged.
"Sorry... I’m sorry, Reyna. I just wandered off a little," she said between gasps.
Reyna stared at her, her heart pounding—not from relief, but from the raw aftermath of fear. Her mind, still reeling, grew sharper but harsher.
"You promised you'd stay close!" her voice came out louder than she intended. "Jade, we’re moving as a group for a reason—to avoid problems!"
Jade flinched, her face briefly shadowed with guilt.
"I didn’t mean to worry you. I just—" she muttered, but Reyna couldn’t stop the flood of words that spilled out, driven by frustration and fear too strong to hold back.
"It’s not about what you meant!" Reyna snapped, her dark eyes tense. "I'm here to protect you, and you vanish without a word. Do you realize if something had happened, we wouldn't have found you in time?"
Annabeth stepped forward, trying to defuse the tension before it exploded.
"Reyna, calm down. We’re drawing attention," she said firmly but gently, placing a hand on Reyna’s arm. "We both know Jade didn’t mean any harm. We just need to... step back and breathe."
Reyna met Annabeth’s gaze, struggling to rein in her anger. Her heart was still racing, but the logic in Annabeth’s words began to seep through. She knew it wasn’t the right moment to lose control. Still, seeing Jade there, looking so oblivious and careless, had shattered the fragile calm she’d been clinging to.
Jade shrank slightly, lowering her gaze, the weight of her guilt almost more crushing than Reyna’s anger.
"I’m sorry," she said earnestly, her voice low. "I really am. I didn’t do it on purpose, but... I needed to figure something out and then I got lost and couldn't find Argentum. I thought I was only a few meters away."
Reyna drew a deep, steadying breath, forcing herself not to lash out again. She looked at Jade and saw the sincerity in her eyes, the regret etched clearly on her face. The storm inside Reyna’s chest slowly began to calm.
"Alright," she said at last, her voice softer, though still tinged with tension. "But don’t ever do that again, Jade. We can’t afford to waste time. Your safety is too important."
Jade nodded quickly, feeling the full weight of the words.
"I won’t. I promise," she replied, the taste of too many promises she wasn’t sure she could keep heavy on her tongue.
It was then that Reyna noticed something strange about Argentum’s behavior. The dog, usually protective and sharp, was moving oddly. He kept spinning around himself, stopping every few steps to stare intently at Jade. Reyna watched him for a moment, then shook her head, brushing it off. It must have been the exhaustion, or maybe the pressure of the situation wearing on them all.
Argentum paused in front of Jade, lowered his muzzle, and seemed to hesitate before approaching her. Reyna, despite the flicker of unease that touched her, forced herself to stay focused on Jade.

Jade stayed silent, taken aback by Reyna’s scolding. The praetor’s words were harsh, but there wasn’t any blind rage behind them—only a tangible frustration that squeezed Jade’s chest tight. She hadn’t expected a reaction like that. And yet, as she listened, she realized that Reyna’s worry wasn’t some overreaction. It was real. There had to be something going on, something Jade wasn’t seeing or understanding.
She felt guilty—truly guilty. She had only wanted to do something useful on her own, but instead, she had endangered everyone's safety. She had to admit it.
But there was something else gnawing at her, too—a strange sensation creeping up inside her, like a tiny seed of unease growing with every breath.
Jade blinked, feeling a sharp headache setting in. Just what she needed, on top of everything else—a migraine.
"Where the hell did you go?" she muttered at the dog as she followed behind Reyna and Annabeth, bending down to pet him.
But when she reached out to touch Argentum, the dog flinched away with a tense, unnatural movement. Jade froze, staring at him in confusion. Argentum had never avoided her before. He had always been affectionate, always attentive to her every move. Now he acted like he couldn’t even get near her.
The unease that had been simmering beneath her skin flared stronger, a subtle but constant pressure, like a thought she couldn’t quite grab onto. Argentum turned, pacing a few steps away, his eyes scanning the air with a wary, suspicious look.
Jade bit the inside of her cheek, trying to push down the creeping dread.
It’s nothing. He’s just tired.
You’re just imagining things.
The thought settled in her mind like a soft whisper.
Yeah, you’re just imagining things. It’s not important.
Then, as the group gathered, Reyna and Annabeth began explaining their encounter with Iris. But Jade struggled to focus. Their words tangled and slipped through her mind like water, never quite settling.
"So, where exactly are we supposed to go?" Reyna asked, turning toward her. "What did you want to show us?"
Jade tensed.
She had found something, right? She had seen something. They needed to go.
No.
It had just been a waste of time.
The thought hit her like a sudden punch.
Yeah. She had misunderstood everything. There was nothing important to see. She had just gotten carried away, letting paranoia get the better of her.
It would be a waste of time. And from the tone of Reyna and Annabeth, she could tell they were tired—tired of her.
Annabeth and Reyna wanted to move on; Jade was supposed to lead them to the spot where she had found those clues.
A cold knot twisted in Jade’s chest.
No.
She couldn’t take them there.
But why?
Just—no.
"Why don’t we take a break and grab some lunch first?" she blurted out. "It wouldn't hurt, right?"
Silence.
Annabeth and Reyna both turned to her, surprised.
"What?" Reyna stared at her suspiciously. "You want to get lunch?"
Jade nodded, not understanding why the praetor looked so shocked. It was a perfectly logical suggestion.
"I’m hungry," she added. "Let’s just swing by the mess hall."
Reyna’s expression hardened. Annabeth crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Jade felt a flicker of nervousness.
What's the problem? It’s a normal suggestion. Completely normal.
And yet, a tiny, almost imperceptible part of her whispered that it wasn’t.
That she would never normally say something like that.
She hated the mess hall.
Reyna was looking at her as if she didn’t recognize her.
"You want… to go to the mess hall?" Reyna repeated slowly, like the words tasted wrong in her mouth.
Jade forced herself to look casual, shrugging her shoulders like it was no big deal.
"Yeah. I mean, it makes sense, right? We need to eat anyway. Plus, we need to check in with everyone. We can’t just disappear, especially not you two." She nodded toward Reyna and Annabeth. "You’re the leaders. If people notice you’re gone without a word, they’ll start asking questions."
Annabeth watched her closely, her eyes narrowing further.
"This doesn’t sound like you."
Jade blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"
"You hate the mess hall," Reyna said, her voice flat but edged with suspicion. "You complain every time we make you eat there. And now you’re suddenly worried about appearing responsible?"
Jade crossed her arms, trying to look amused, even a little defiant.
"Wow, sorry for having a moment of maturity." She shook her head. "Look, I’m not saying we have to stay there for hours. Just make an appearance, act normal. That way, nobody gets suspicious. After that, we’ll have more freedom to move without anyone wondering what we’re up to."
Reyna clenched her jaw, her eyes still wary.
Annabeth, however, seemed to be weighing the idea carefully, analyzing every detail, as she always did.
"She’s not wrong," Annabeth said at last, her voice thoughtful. "We need to maintain control of the situation. Disappearing could raise questions. And right now, we can’t afford any unwanted attention."
Jade nodded eagerly.
Yes. Exactly.
It was a good excuse. It made sense.
Reyna sighed, pressing two fingers to her temple like the conversation was giving her a headache. Then she gave Jade a piercing look.
"Fine," she said reluctantly. "But don’t waste time."
Jade lifted her hands in a mock gesture of surrender.
"Promise."
Reyna nodded, though the suspicion in her gaze didn’t fully disappear. She motioned to Annabeth, and together they started heading toward the mess hall.
Jade followed, feeling her body relax—just a little.
It had worked.
They didn’t have to go there.
Not yet.

Chapter Text

The dining hall buzzed with constant noise — the clatter of dishes and the hum of voices blending into a background almost comforting in its familiarity. Jade sat beside a group of younger demigods, trading jokes and trying to appear casual, but from a few tables away, Reyna and Annabeth watched her with tense expressions.
“She seems… off, doesn’t she?” Reyna murmured, not taking her eyes off Jade.
Annabeth took a moment before answering. She was watching the girl laugh at something one of the younger campers had said, but Jade’s smile seemed stiff, almost mechanical.
“Yes,” she admitted quietly. “It’s not just that she insisted on coming here. It’s… everything. The way she’s acting. The way she avoids certain topics.”
Reyna nodded slowly. “And she didn’t sit with us.” Her gaze hardened further when she spotted Argentum, sitting not far from Jade, ears lowered, body rigid, as if he couldn’t relax near her. The dog’s behavior troubled her more than she cared to admit.
“Argentum doesn’t trust her,” she said through clenched teeth. “That’s not normal.”
Annabeth turned briefly to look at the dog, then back at Jade. The contrast was undeniable. Something was off — something just beneath the surface, out of reach.
“She might’ve seen something when she disappeared,” Annabeth suggested, ever the rational one. “Something that scared her or is still affecting her.”
“Or someone,” Reyna countered, her jaw tightening. “And if that’s the case, we need to figure it out — fast.”
Jade, oblivious to their scrutiny, laughed again at another joke from across the table. But just for a second, her gaze flicked to Reyna and Annabeth.
Something flashed in her eyes — not hostility, not fear. Something else. Something deeper.
The two leaders exchanged a quick, silent look.
They weren’t going to let that feeling slide.
They just had to wait for the right moment.
Lunch continued in a delicate balance, like one wrong move could shatter the calm. Jade kept chatting, the ever-present smile glued to her lips, but Reyna and Annabeth couldn’t shake the strange tension hanging over them.
They didn’t have to wait long.
A sudden crash echoed from the back of the dining hall, followed by shouts and overturned chairs. Reyna jumped to her feet, hand instinctively flying to the hilt of her gladius. Annabeth did the same, fingers wrapping around the dagger always at her belt.
Two groups of campers — one Roman, the other Greek — were facing off, tension flaring in every expression. A plate lay shattered on the ground, food strewn everywhere, and voices were rising dangerously.
“This is exactly what we expected!” a young Roman shouted, pointing at a boy in a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. “You don’t respect us!”
“And you think you’re better just because you live by rules?” the Greek camper shot back, fanning the flames even more.
Others began to take sides, hands inching toward weapons, eyes full of blame and old wounds never quite healed.
Reyna and Annabeth shared a glance — brief but full of understanding. They had no choice.
“I need to step in,” Reyna muttered coldly.
Annabeth nodded. “I’ll separate them. You handle your side.”
They moved in sync.
Jade watched the chaos from a distance, a knot of confusion twisting in her chest. Part of her wanted to jump in, to help… but another part — quieter, more unsettling — urged her to stay out of it. To watch.
While Reyna stepped between the Romans and Annabeth faced the Greeks, both commanding the room with voices sharp and words heavy as stone, Jade remained seated, torn.
After a few tense minutes, tempers began to cool. Slowly, the demigods dispersed, some still throwing bitter glares over their shoulders.
Reyna returned to Jade, her face tight with frustration.
“Today’s search is postponed,” she said grimly. “We need to stay visible — prove this alliance still stands. We can’t disappear and risk another civil war.”
Annabeth joined them moments later, confirming with a nod. “We’ll resume tomorrow. First, we need to stabilize things here.”
Jade nodded, an uncertain smile tugging at her lips. Deep down, a part of her felt… relieved.
But she didn’t know why.
She wasn’t sure what she truly wanted anymore.
And the headache just kept getting worse.

Reyna turned to Jade, crossing her arms with a firm expression. The dining hall’s background hum still buzzed in the air, but a tense silence had settled between them.
“Jade,” she began, carefully choosing her words, “you’ll stay with Leo and Piper today.”
The girl looked up, surprised for just a second. Then she nodded without a word, not even trying to argue.
“Alright,” she said simply.
Reyna hesitated. She’d expected a complaint, a sarcastic remark, or at least a grimace. But Jade did none of those things. She accepted the command with a calmness that felt almost… off.
Annabeth, standing beside her, met Reyna’s gaze — equally thrown off by the girl’s unusual compliance.
“Leo and Piper are helping organize joint activities,” Reyna added, as if to reinforce the task. “You’ll find them in the courtyard. Stay with them until further notice.”
“Sure,” Jade replied, her tone calm — too calm.
As the girl walked away, Argentum followed at a slow pace, but with a strange hesitation in his step. Every few moments, he turned his head back toward Reyna, as if trying to catch her attention.
Reyna narrowed her eyes, torn between the urge to act and the duty to stay composed. It wasn’t the right time to be distracted.
Before parting, Annabeth leaned closer to Reyna, lowering her voice so only she could hear.
“We need to keep an eye on her,” she murmured. “Something’s wrong. You saw it too.”
Reyna gave the slightest of nods.
“I don’t know what happened out there,” she whispered, “but Jade isn’t… quite herself.”
They exchanged a look — sharp, determined — then turned to resume their duties.
For now, keeping the camp from falling apart was the priority.
But Reyna knew they’d have to face the truth eventually.
And Jade wouldn’t be able to hide much longer.

Jade made her way to the courtyard, where Leo and Piper were already deep in the chaos of coordinating tasks between Greeks and Romans. She tried to walk casually, but each step felt heavier than the last.
Her head throbbed — a dull, persistent pain pulsing behind her eyes. It wasn’t just a headache. It was something more. A strange pressure, as if invisible fingers were squeezing her thoughts.
“Hey, Jade!” Piper called out cheerfully, dragging some crates toward a group of campers. “If you feel like helping, we could use someone to double-check the inventory.”
“Sure,” Jade replied, forcing a smile. It was better to stay busy, not think too much. Not pay attention to the unease crawling beneath her skin.
She started working beside Leo, who was already buried in long lists of materials and requests. She tried to focus, but the longer she worked, the worse the pain got. The words on the paper began to blur, and the sounds around her faded, as if muffled underwater.
To make things worse, there was Argentum.
The silver dog followed her at a distance, but his behavior wasn’t normal. He didn’t stick to her side like usual. He didn’t glance at her protectively. Instead, he just stared — silent, still — occasionally letting out a low, almost inaudible growl, like he couldn’t decide whether to approach or not.
Jade stopped, breath catching. She crouched down, trying to coax him closer.
“Come on, Argentum,” she whispered, extending a hand.
But the dog only tilted his head, eyes cold, then turned and began pacing in a circle — restless, never quite coming near.
A chill ran down her spine.
Argentum knew her. He’d always recognized her without hesitation. Why now did he look at her like she was a stranger?
Jade slowly rose to her feet, trying to shake the fear twisting in her stomach.
“It’s just stress,” she told herself. “Just exhaustion. Everything that’s happened today… it’s normal to feel like this.”
But as she walked back toward Piper and Leo, that voice in the back of her mind — the one that didn’t entirely feel like her own — whispered that it wasn’t just stress.
That something inside her was shifting.
And even Argentum couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Evening fell over New Rome with its usual calm, but inside Reyna’s house, the atmosphere was tense. The soft light from the lamps lit up the kitchen, but neither of the two girls seemed willing to break the silence that had settled between them.
Jade was slumped at the table, hands wrapped tightly around a cup of tea she was trying to sip, but her head kept throbbing. Every now and then, she would press a hand to her forehead, as if trying to stop the pain that refused to go away, but nothing helped. The words spinning in her mind only tangled and blurred. She couldn’t focus on anything.
Reyna, seated across the table, watched her from the corner of her eye. She couldn’t understand what was happening to Jade. This wasn’t like her. She had never been so distant, so... unfamiliar. Even though her behavior had been odd since the beginning of the day, the fact that she hadn’t spoken much at all now was what really worried her. Jade wasn’t someone who stayed quiet without reason, and yet she was avoiding every subject. Every time Reyna tried to ask her something, Jade responded with monosyllables, as if lost in a maze of thoughts she couldn’t express.
The silence stretched, growing heavier, until finally Reyna spoke.
“Jade... are you okay?” Her voice was uncertain, concerned, but Jade didn’t lift her gaze.
“Yes...” Jade replied, but her voice betrayed a weariness that went beyond a simple headache.
Reyna studied her face for a moment, trying to see if there was something else, but she couldn’t decipher the girl in front of her. Something was wrong.
The daughter of Athena sighed again, then got up and walked over to the counter. “I think I’m going to bed. I don’t think I can do anything else tonight.”
Reyna nodded, but her expression wasn’t convinced. “Are you sure? You can stay here, talk to me if you feel…”
Jade made a vague gesture, as if to reassure Reyna, but the discomfort inside her wasn’t fading. “It’s just the headache, nothing serious.”
Reyna watched her for another moment, then turned to face her more directly. “I'm worried, you know that, Jade. But if you need to be alone, I can give you space.”
Jade slowly stood up, intending to retreat to her room. But just as she was about to turn away, a question she hadn’t meant to ask slipped from her lips:
“Reyna... can I... can I be alone tonight?”
The question was as strange as it was unexpected. Jade never asked to be alone. On the contrary, she usually preferred Reyna’s company. She’d always been used to sleeping near her, even if she never said it out loud. But tonight was different. She couldn’t explain what was wrong, but something made her anxious. And that anxiety wouldn’t let her accept anyone’s presence.
Reyna froze, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “But...” She gave Jade a look of mixed confusion and concern. “Jade... I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, but this isn’t like you. You never ask to sleep alone.”
Jade’s heart started pounding faster, as if that request had pushed her closer to an abyss she didn’t want to face. But she couldn’t take it back now, couldn’t stop the words she’d just said.
“I’m not feeling well...” Jade murmured, her hands trembling. “And I need to be alone tonight. Just tonight.”
“I can leave Argentum with you—”
“Aurum?”
The praetor blinked, confused. “He’s out checking the perimeter around the house.”
Jade lowered her gaze for a moment. “Send Argentum too. It’s better if there are two.”
Reyna looked at her for a long moment, her expression growing more serious. There was worry in her eyes. But she didn’t say anything, as if trying to understand what was really going on. Jade realized that, for Reyna, this wasn’t just a simple request. It was a clear change. And that change, for some reason, made her even more afraid.
In the end, Reyna lowered her gaze and nodded slowly. “Alright,” she said, her voice reluctant. “But if anything happens, if you need me, don’t hesitate. Talk to me, okay?”
Jade didn’t respond immediately. Just a quick nod, while her heart hammered in her chest. Then, without saying another word, she walked away, feeling Reyna’s eyes on her — full of questions she didn’t want to answer.
When the door to her room closed behind her, Jade stopped for a moment. Her mind still felt wrapped in thick fog, the images of the day overlapping, breaking apart in confusion. But that strange sensation — that presence she felt inside — was still there, stronger than ever.
And as she lay down on the bed, trying to close her eyes and find some peace, the headache grew worse. Each heartbeat thudded like a drum in her skull.
But what terrified her the most was the thought that something inside her was changing — and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Reyna lay in her bed, her thoughts buzzing like a storm in her head. Jade. She couldn’t stop thinking about the daughter of Athena—her request to be alone, and more than anything, her strange behavior throughout the day. Something was wrong, Reyna could feel it clearly. She didn’t know if it was just unfounded worry, a side effect of exhaustion, or if there was truly something darker behind it all. Annabeth’s words echoed in her mind: “We need to keep an eye on her.”
But Reyna couldn’t see Jade as a threat—not the girl she had known for years.
Reyna sighed and turned in bed again, but sleep was now a distant illusion. Her thoughts kept circling back to Jade, like a relentless current she couldn’t escape. Why didn’t she tell us what she saw? Why does she keep shutting down?
The feeling that something was wrapping itself around her—something like a thin, suffocating shadow—refused to leave. Reyna felt powerless, like watching someone slowly drown in black water, too far away to reach.
She was about to sink back into another whirlpool of thoughts when a sudden noise froze her in place. A soft creak, barely audible, coming from the hallway. Reyna stopped breathing. Her pulse quickened. It wasn’t a normal sound—it was stealthy, deliberate, like footsteps meant to go unheard
With controlled precision, she got out of bed. She grabbed the sword she always kept beside the headboard and crept toward the slightly open door. A faint light flickered in the hallway, uncertain and trembling like a dying flame. Every fiber of her being was tense, ready to strike. Who could be out there at this hour? An enemy? Someone sent to finish us off?
Another noise—closer this time. The metallic sound of something dragging lightly across the floor. Reyna didn’t think—she moved. She slipped out of her room like a shadow and pressed herself against the wall. She saw a figure moving cautiously through the hallway, every motion quiet, almost sneaky. A blade glinted faintly in the dim light.
There was no room for doubt.
With lightning speed—the kind that had earned her reputation—Reyna lunged at the figure, disarming them and slamming them against the wall with a sharp blow. The person fell to the ground with a muffled thud. Reyna raised her sword, ready to strike—
“Reyna! It’s me!”
Jade’s voice tore through the silence like a gust of wind. Reyna froze, her arm still raised. She looked down at the figure on the floor—messy blonde hair, wide eyes filled with shock and panic.
Jade.
Reyna stepped back, stunned. “Jade?” Her voice was sharp, disbelieving. “What the hell are you doing?”
Jade, her hands trembling, rose to her knees but didn’t try to get closer. “I didn’t mean to attack you! I swear I didn’t!”
Reyna tightened her grip on the sword, her heart pounding. “Then explain why you were armed, why you were sneaking around outside my room like a thief!”
Her mind raced, connecting the dots: Jade’s strange behavior all day, the coldness, the distance—and now this.
“You’re possessed,” she whispered, fear icing her throat. “You’re being controlled.”
Jade’s eyes widened in horror, shaking her head furiously. “No! Reyna, please, listen to me—I’m not possessed! If I were… my eyes would be black. Wouldn’t you have noticed?”
She pointed to her eyes—clear, normal, and filled with fear.
Reyna hesitated. It was true—possessions always left visible signs. But then… what was going on?
“Frank told us the guy who attacked you showed abnormal behavior before he was overtaken,” Reyna said, her voice cutting like a blade. “You’ve been acting completely unlike yourself today. All day, Jade. Don’t deny it.”
Jade hugged her arms tightly around herself, like she was trying to hold back something clawing to get out. “I know,” she whispered, desperate. “I know I haven’t been myself. But it’s not possession! Or... at least, I don’t think so.”
“You don’t think?!” Reyna stood frozen, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
Jade brought a hand to her head in frustration. “Because something’s wrong!” she exploded. “Today... something spoke to me. I don’t know how to explain it. And ever since, I’ve felt like something’s following me—watching me!”
Reyna felt ice rush through her veins. “And why didn’t you tell us right away?” she asked, every word laced with barely contained fury. “You should have told us, Jade. You should have trusted us!”
The blonde lowered her gaze, her face pale and drawn. “How could I warn you when I feel like this thing is always near? And... I didn’t even understand what was happening. I didn’t know if it was real or just in my head.”
She looked back up, locking eyes with Reyna. “But I swear, Reyna, I don’t want to hurt anyone. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Silence fell again, heavy and suffocating. Reyna stared at her, torn between her instinct to protect and the terror of having to make a hard decision.
“Then tell me everything,” she finally said, her voice low, commanding. “Everything that happened today. Don’t leave anything out.”
Jade nodded, swallowing hard, and with a shaky voice, began recounting.
Reyna watched her carefully, as if every part of her being was on high alert, ready to react at the slightest danger. Jade stood in front of her, vulnerable... but was that all? Or was it just an illusion?
Reyna’s heart thundered. She was walking a tightrope, suspended between trust and fear.
Could she believe her? Should she believe her?
“If you feel like something’s following you...” Reyna began, her voice like steel, “who do you think it is?”
Jade opened her mouth to answer, but Reyna stepped forward, still gripping her sword tightly. She would never hurt her—she knew that. But what else could she do?
“And how do I know it’s not you? That something hasn’t already happened?”
Jade flinched, those words hitting her like a slap. Her eyes filled with a wounded expression, but she said nothing.
She didn’t have answers. Not yet. Maybe not even for herself.
“Reyna, today I was warned about the Nameless,” she finally said, her voice low. “Whoever it was... they protected me, somehow. I’m not possessed.”
She swallowed hard. “But I felt it nearby. That means someone is.”
Reyna took a deep breath, battling the chill creeping down her spine.
“If you’re not the one possessed...” she whispered, voice tight with icy tension,
“...then who is?”
Jade opened her mouth to respond, to protest, to defend herself—
—when a sharp, metallic click split the air.
Both girls froze.
The sound was close. Just a few steps away, down the dark hallway.
Another click. Quick. Mechanical.
Something was moving.
Something was watching them.
Reyna tightened her grip on her sword. Jade turned swiftly, her face gone pale.
The world seemed to hold its breath around them.
Then... a step. Slow. Deliberate.
And the sound again: click, click, click.
The night seemed to swallow them as the tension coiled around them like a taut wire, ready to snap.

Chapter Text

The metallic sound grew sharper, faster. Reyna clenched her jaw, every muscle taut like a string about to snap, while Jade instinctively positioned herself beside her, precise and silent as in battle.
From the darkness of the corridor emerged a familiar silhouette. Silver reflecting the clear moonlight streaming from behind it.
Argentum...
Reyna felt her heart clench in a painful grip.
"Argentum?" she called softly, her voice almost broken, unable to believe her eyes.
The dog advanced, but its movements were no longer the fluid and harmonious ones she knew.
They were jerky. Irregular. As if something inside him had broken or was fighting against his own body.
The steel claws scraped the floor with a grating click-clack, a sound that seemed to scratch the soul more than the air.
Then Reyna saw his eyes.
No longer lucid, no longer filled with that artificial intelligence that was almost affection.
Now they were black.
Black as pitch. Without light, without thought.
A shiver ran down her spine like an icy lash.
"Jade..." she whispered without turning, every fiber of her body on alert, "...stay back."
"So he hurts you? No." The blonde retorted.
"Jade..."
Argentum emitted a growl that didn't even sound real, distorted, like the sound of a broken gear mixed with something... living.
Without a moment's hesitation, he lunged at them.
Reyna raised her sword in an instinctive parry.
The force of the impact made her arm vibrate.
The steel paws scratched against the blade with a screech of metal on metal, sending sparks flying that briefly illuminated Reyna's contorted face.
"Reyna!" Jade pushed her aside, getting attacked by the dog who managed to grab her arm. The daughter of Athena managed to free herself quickly.
Jade moved sideways with agility, but Reyna, even in the midst of the fight, noticed a disturbing detail: Argentum hesitated.
Every time he got too close to Jade, the wolf snapped back, as if repelled by an invisible field. It wasn't fear — it was something more visceral, more profound.
Something in Jade repelled him. Maybe that's why the girl's arm was only injured and not…
She had no time to reflect. Argentum leaped again. This time faster, more aggressive.
He feinted to the right and then tried to hit her from the left. Reyna barely dodged, feeling a blade of pain cut her side where a claw had managed to graze her.
Gasping, she returned to a defensive stance, gritting her teeth to ignore the pain.
That's when she saw it.
Under the animal's belly, glimpsed between the metallic joints, was a small mark.
An etched triangle, imperfect, like a burn forcefully imprinted on his armor.
The metal seemed almost to pulse around the symbol, as if the mark itself was spreading that corruption throughout the animal's body.
A mark.
A control.
Reyna felt the blood freeze in her veins.
Argentum... her most faithful companion... was no longer hers.
He had been bent.
He had become a weapon against them.
"Jade!" she shouted while deflecting another furious assault, "Argentum is controlled, he has the triangle! Something is using him against us!"
The wolf barked again, a sound that seemed to resonate in the bones rather than in the air.
The joints of his legs creaked under the unnatural force that pushed him forward.
Reyna gripped her sword, her arm already starting to ache from the continuous impacts.
She instinctively placed herself in front of Jade, protecting her, even though in the depths of her heart a part was screaming.
A part that had seen Jade behaving strangely all day.
A part that feared she was protecting the wrong person.
Argentum made another leap, this time lower, trying to knock them both down.
Reyna dodged to the side, Jade ducked at the last instant, and for a moment, in the collision, Reyna lost her grip on the sword, which slid away on the floor with a deafening clang.
"No!" Reyna yelled, as Argentum turned to strike again.
Argentum returned to the attack, more ferocious than before.
His steel body was a whirling dervish of claws and fangs.
With a distorted whimper, he pounced on Reyna, who managed to raise her sword only halfway.
The wolf slammed into her with all his weight, knocking her to the ground and biting her shoulder.
The hot metal of his jaws sank into her skin with a wet sound and a searing pain.
Reyna screamed, trying to shake him off, but Argentum snarled, holding her down like a predator with its prey.
Jade screamed her name and lunged forward, hitting the wolf with all the strength left in her already wounded arm.
Argentum felt it.
He turned sharply and pounced on her.
Jade managed to raise her arm only halfway — the fangs reached her side, and she gasped in pain. The jaws closed for an instant, then again… as if something was holding him back from finishing her off.
Blood trickled from both their torn clothes. The situation was deteriorating.
It was then that the floor trembled under rapid paws.
A deep, dry, golden growl tore through the darkness.
Aurum.
Argentum's twin brother launched into the fray like a molten gold projectile.
He struck the other dog with all his mass, forcefully pushing him away from Jade. The two machines rolled together, fighting like two ancient monsters, sparks flying everywhere.
Reyna, gasping, dragged herself up on one elbow, clutching her wounded shoulder.
Jade coughed, clutching her side, and then reached her trembling hand towards her belt.
"I have to... try it now..." she whispered, rummaging through the hidden pockets in her jacket.
She pulled out a small steel cylinder as long as a palm, with exposed wires that pulsed slightly with blue light.
"What is…?" Reyna managed to murmur, struggling to remain conscious.
"Electric bomb."
Jade staggered to her feet.
Argentum had managed to break free for an instant, jumping to the side and leaving Aurum momentarily on the ground.
He turned to Reyna.
The ink-black gaze fixed straight on her.
Jade stood in front of him.
She didn't scream, she didn't show fear.
She approached slowly, turning on the device. A spark snapped between the two ends.
"I'm sorry, Argentum," she murmured.
"But this isn't your fault."
The dog lunged, aimed for her neck.
Jade bent to the side and, in one fluid motion, planted the device under his jaw.
A jolt of electricity exploded in the machine's body with a deafening crackle.
Argentum emitted a broken, distorted howl as the lights in his eyes flickered like candles in the wind.
Then… they went out.
The body fell to the ground with a thud, stiff, immobile.
Only the sound of their labored breaths filled the silence.
Jade collapsed to her knees, the device still smoking in her fingers.
Aurum approached slowly and positioned himself next to Reyna, watching over her, as she tried to rise with her face strained with pain and her gaze fixed on the body of her fallen companion.
"The mark is still there…" she whispered, referring to the etched triangle under his belly.
Jade nodded, gasping. "But… the snake is missing. It’s incomplete.”
Reyna, pale and wounded, slumped slowly beside her.
"Then… it's not over."
The corridor had returned to calm, but a greater threat remained suspended in the air.
Silent. Invisible. And still lurking.

The pungent smell of alcohol and burnt sage permeated the air. The sheets were fresh but stained with dried blood.
Jade was sitting on one of the beds, her arm bandaged and her side still aching, while Reyna lay on the one next to it, with her shoulder immobilized and her face marked by fatigue and frustration.
"I'm really tired of being here," the blonde complained.
"Then stop getting hurt!" the son of Apollo scolded her "because I'm tired of taking care of you."
"Oh, sorry if everyone here is trying to kill me!"
Percy raised his hand "Actually the first time you ended up here it was because of Reyna."
"Thanks.." the praetor replied.
Annabeth huffed "Percy..."
"I just meant..."
Will moved between the two with methodical efficiency, tightening the bandages with expert hands but a worried look. "You were lucky. A couple of centimeters more and… well, let's not talk about it."
Frank was sitting a little further away, his arms crossed and his gaze turned to Percy, who seemed to be reflecting.
Reyna hissed slightly as she felt the gauze on her wounded skin “Nico?” she asked.
“He left yesterday with Hazel, I don't know where, I think they went to their father's” the daughter of Bellona nodded.
"Let's hope he finds some information."
"So…" said Annabeth, breaking the silence, "Argentum attacked. Black eyes. Mark under the belly. But…" She paused, then turned to Reyna. "You said the symbol wasn't complete?"
Reyna nodded, weary. "A triangle. Just that. There was no snake like on the other victims…"
Jason, who was standing leaning against the wall, frowned. "But why control a machine?"
"To muddy the waters?" Frank suggested. "Or maybe… to do a test. To check if the mark also works on something mechanical."
"Which doesn't make sense!" Will interjected, while replacing the gauze on Jade's arm. "Machines have no will. You can't 'possess' a piece of metal. You need a soul for that."
"Not entirely true," Jade murmured, her gaze lost in her thoughts. "Daedalus did it. Automata with consciousness. Argentum and Aurum are not just pieces of iron. They have a core… something that makes them more like living beings than just machines."
Reyna sighed at the thought of her dogs and Jade looked at her sadly "Leo will fix him up."
"I hope so."
Percy ran a hand through his hair. "But then, if the triangle is a control mark… why is it incomplete? Did whoever put that sign make a mistake?"
"No." Reyna said in a low but firm voice. "He didn't make a mistake, Argentum was the closest to Jade. Whatever you saw he wanted to stop you from revealing it."
Frank rubbed his head "but what did you see that was so important?" he asked the blonde.
Jade shook her head "I… I don't know."
The others looked at her confused "What does that mean?" Percy asked.
"I just saw ruins! There was nothing beyond…”
"Beyond?" Reyna prompted her.
"Beyond that damn triangle! And writings in Latin that I don't know!"
The room fell silent.
"That's all?" Percy then asked, "Ruins and triangles? I thought you had found a written statement with the full name of who's behind all this." Jade glared at him.
"Why would anyone want to kill you for this?"
"Because maybe she can't read the writing but a Roman can." Reyna replied.
Jason rubbed his forehead "But why control Argentum? Or other demigods? Why not control Jade directly?"
The silence in the infirmary was dense, as if the air itself was holding its breath.
Then Annabeth stiffened, her eyes narrowing as when something – an intuition, a connection – clicked in her mind. She turned slowly towards Jade.
"You said you felt something coming towards you today?"
The other girl nodded hesitantly.
"Where?"
"Because maybe we were wrong."
Jade frowned, not understanding.
"Let me see your chest." Annabeth continued.
Jade blinked. "Huh?"
"What?" Reyna retorted.
The others looked at her with the same amazement. Percy raised an eyebrow. Jason coughed. Will raised both hands and turned around with a "I have nothing to do with this" expression.
Annabeth, as if nothing was wrong, nodded impatiently. "Yes, the chest. The skin. In particular… the sternal area. The center. Maybe it's there,” she explained, pointing to herself.
Jade stared at her, incredulous. "Excuse me, you want me to… undress?! In front of everyone?"
Reyna, who had been silent until that moment, gave her a look that was halfway between "is this really happening?" and "I'll kill Annabeth later."
"Annabeth."
"Oh, please," the daughter of Athena huffed. "It's medicine and magical investigation. No one here is interested in your bra, Jade."
Frank cleared his throat and looked away. Percy covered one eye with his hand for pretense. Jason raised a hand to protect Will's sight, who protested, "I know what a human body looks like, thank you."
"You're all children," Jade muttered, her face red, but with a resigned expression. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly lifted her shirt, revealing her bandaged side and… something.
Annabeth approached quickly, her eyes fixed on a point in the center of Jade's chest, just below the sternum. There, on the slightly lighter skin, a drawing could be seen.
Not etched, not burned.
Drawn onto the flesh like a shadow that should never have been there.
A snake.
Wrapped around itself in an imperfect spiral.
Reyna propped herself up on her elbow, her breath caught in her throat. "What does it mean?"
Jade stared at the spot on her own chest as if she were seeing it for the first time. "How could I not have seen it..." she murmured, her voice full of guilt and confusion. "I never felt it... never noticed anything."
"It's not a burn," Will said, approaching cautiously. "It's not even a classic scar or magical incision. It's a tattoo."
“I would have aimed for something less mundane as a first tattoo” sighed the blonde
"Then why is there only a triangle on Argentum?" Jason asked, clenching his jaw. "And why did the others who were possessed have both?"
A heavy silence fell in the tent. Glances crossed, perplexed.
It was Annabeth who spoke first, in a slow, reasoned tone. "Wait. The snake... we've seen it on the others too, right? But always after they were possessed. After the triangle."
Frank nodded. "Yes. When we found them, they had both marks. Triangle and snake."
Jade shivered. "But I only have the snake. Argentum only the triangle."
Annabeth ran her fingers through her blonde hair, her eyes shining with interlocking reasoning. "Maybe... they don't belong to the same 'master'."
The sentence made everyone turn to her.
"What do you mean?" Reyna asked, stiffening.
Annabeth raised a finger, thoughtfully. "What if it's not a single mark? What if they are two different entities? Two forces. The triangle belongs to what we are calling 'the Nameless One'. But the snake... maybe it's something else. Something that opposes him."
Jade slowly raised her head, her eyes wide. "...That's the thing that spoke to me," she murmured. "That day... when I lost consciousness. It told me to be careful. Not to trust. It... helped me. It protected me. And then afterwards, I always had that feeling... like I was being followed. But never threatened. Just… watched.”
"Why didn't you say it before!" her sister yelled at her.
Reyna snorted in agreement with Annabeth and Jade flinched slightly under both of their angry gazes.
Percy frowned. "So, let me get this straight. The triangle is the mark of the bad guy. But the snake... is it like a protection seal?"
Annabeth nodded slowly. "Exactly. It 'marked' Jade to keep her safe from the control of the Nameless One. But it's a powerful mark. And dark, too. That's why we confused it with the other one."
"What about the others?" Reyna asked. "The ones who had been possessed?"
"Maybe to free them, that entity had to mark them afterwards. When they had already been corrupted. The only way to expel the influence of the Nameless One was... a kind of 'death'. Or something like that."
Will paled. "So if you get possessed you can only be freed if you die?"
"Probably." Annabeth turned to Jade, serious. "You are different. You have never been taken. Maybe precisely because you already had the snake. It chose you first."
"And Argentum?" Jason asked. "He doesn't have the snake."
Reyna stiffened again. "Because he wasn’t stopped by the other entity, but by the electrical discharge."
"So the snake wasn't helpful," Annabeth concluded.
Another silence. Thicker. More restless.
"So can't we find the thing that marked Jade and ask it to mark everyone? So everyone is protected."
Reyna looked at him in shock "Of course Percy, finding an entity and asking it to mark the entire population of New Rome must be a piece of cake."
"Two different forces," Frank said, thoughtfully. "Two marks. Two camps. And we're in the middle."
Jade hugged herself, still pale. "The most absurd thing is that… that voice, that entity… didn't seem bad. But not even... human. It was like... like it was speaking from a point beyond all this.”
Reyna looked at her for a long time, dark and deep eyes “He told you to drop the whole investigation but he protected you. This means that he wants us to put an end to all this.”
A heavy silence still hung over the infirmary tent. Gazes kept returning to the symbol: the snake etched on Jade's skin, motionless in the center of her chest. No one spoke, but everyone was thinking the same thing: something bigger was moving, and Jade was right in the center.
Will cleared his throat, trying to break the tension. "I could... I could cover the sign for now. A light bandage, just to—"
"No! We don't know what it could do” interrupted Annabeth, who still seemed deep in thought. "Let's leave it visible for the moment. I want to study it better. Jade, don't move."
"Easy for you to say 'don't move'..." Jade muttered, still sitting on the cot, her arms crossed instinctively, in obvious discomfort. "You took my shirt off and no one thought of giving me something to wear?! It's cold, too."
Just then, the tent opened abruptly.“Okay, we have news about Argentum!" announced Piper, entering with a determined step alongside Leo, who was gesturing with a wrench still in his hand. "The dog can be reactivated without pro-" They both stopped, suddenly.
Eyes widening.
Silence.
Jade, half-naked on the cot.
The others, all in a circle around her, focused on her chest.
And one of the most absurd moments of their time together.
Leo raised his hands as if to surrender. "Okay, wow. I think we came at the wrong time. This… this is one of those.. okay I really have no idea what you're doing. Should we also—"
"No!" Annabeth, Reyna and Jade blurted out in unison.
Piper barely stifled a laugh. "Excuse me, huh. But does anyone want to explain why Jade is in her bra while you guys are looking at her like she's the only TV left on earth?"
Jade blushed furiously. "It's for... the symbol. It's a long story. A very long story."
Leo turned his back with exaggerated theatricality. "I'm not looking, I'm not looking. But I swear if this thing goes on, I want to be at least the official priest."
Jason ran a hand over his face, sighing. "God, why are we friends."
Annabeth huffed, glancing at Piper. "Did you two find anything about Argentum?"
"Oh yes," Piper said, finally getting serious. "And you should sit down. The matter has just become even more complicated."
But Leo raised a finger. "Only after someone gives this poor girl a shirt. I feel too guilty to laugh... almost."
Reyna snorted, stood up and went to get one of her sweatshirts.

Chapter Text

“What do you mean it’s gone?”
Leo threw up his hands as if that would somehow clarify things. “I mean, it was there... and now—poof, it’s not. The triangle just disappeared.”
The other demigods stared at him, skeptical.
“It’s true, guys,” Piper added seriously. “Leo was fixing it. Just moments before it started to react, the mark just… vanished.”
Reyna pushed herself up slightly on one elbow. “Is Argentum awake?”
Leo grimaced. “He was for a bit, but the shock really messed him up. Don’t worry though, I’ve got him recharging. He’ll be good as new by tomorrow.”
Reyna dropped back against the mattress, frustrated.
“You okay?” Jade asked quietly, still near the bed.
Reyna stared at her. “My dog tried to maul me, and now he’s plugged into the wall like an iPod. I’m great.”
Percy ran a hand through his hair. “None of this makes sense. That Nameless thing is trying to confuse us—and it’s doing a fantastic job.”
“Let’s look on the bright side,” Leo said with a half-smile, “no one’s been killed in the last two days!”
Reyna and Jade both turned to glare at him. If looks could incinerate, Leo would have been a pile of soot.
“…It was a joke,” he muttered.
At that moment, the door to the forge burst open. Frank and Will rushed in, breathless.
Reyna bolted upright. “Was someone attacked?”
“No,” Will said quickly, “but we have to leave. Now.”
Annabeth stood. “What happened?”
“The Romans found out the praetor’s house was compromised,” Frank explained grimly. Then his eyes shifted to Jade. “And… they think it was you.”
“ME?!” Jade shouted, jumping to her feet.
Reyna stepped in front of her like a shield. “She didn’t attack me—she defended me.”
“I know!” Frank raised his hands. “But the rumor’s spreading. Some are already talking about a preemptive arrest.”
“Who would spread something like that?” Percy asked.
Silence fell. They all had the same thought.
“I swear I’ll kill that augur,” Reyna snapped. “He’ll end up like his stupid puppets.”
Everyone stared, startled. Jade put a hand on Reyna’s shoulder.
“Let’s not get you arrested too.”
“We need to move now,” Will said, glancing at Leo. “If the legion’s already marching, they’ll be here any minute.”
“They can really arrest her?” Piper asked, stunned.
“If they find Jade here,” Frank said darkly, “it won’t be a friendly conversation. They’ll isolate her. Maybe even question her with the augurs.”
“Great,” Annabeth muttered. “Why not just brand her while we’re at it?”
Leo moved to a panel on the workshop wall and pressed a hidden button. A section of the wall slid open with a metallic groan.
“I’ve got a secret passage. Found it by accident months ago. Kept it hidden… just in case I ever, y’know, blew something up and needed to disappear. Leads down to the old service tunnels. Comes out almost a mile from here.”
“Do you know the way?” Jade asked.
“Not exactly. I sent Mini Festus to map it once, but he got turned out past New Rome two hours later.”
Reyna stepped forward. “You can’t go in there. If you got lost—”
“I can guide her,” Will said with a nod. **“Those tunnels twist and collapse on themselves. You need someone who knows where to step.”
“I’m going too,” Reyna declared firmly.
“No.” Annabeth’s voice was sharp, decisive. “If you disappear now, you’ll lose your position. You can’t. You’re the praetor. You have to stay.” She stepped closer. “And you have to defend her.”
“I’m not going to let her be hunted down like a criminal!”
“You’re not. You’re protecting her,” Annabeth said gently. “If she stays, they’ll take her. No questions asked. Let her go. We’ll fix it later.”
Reyna looked ready to argue again, but Piper spoke up, softly.
“It’s the only way. If you stay, your word still matters. If you vanish... it’s over.”
Leo opened the panel wider. A dark tunnel yawned open before them, metal stairs spiraling downward into the heart of the camp.
“Here,” Leo said, handing Jade a small glowing orb. **“Gyroscopic compass. Won’t let you lose your direction… probably. Even if the tunnel shifts.”
“It shifts?” Jade asked, raising an eyebrow.
Will took the orb. “We’ll make it.”
Jade looked at Reyna. “Don’t kill anyone while I’m gone.”
“Go. Don’t get caught,” Reyna replied through clenched teeth. **“And Jade... come back. When this is over.”
“Promise.”
Will and Jade disappeared down the tunnel. Leo closed the panel behind them.
In the sudden silence of the forge, a distant sound began to echo—
drums.
Their rhythm pounded like a war chant through the stone walls.
The legion was coming.
Reyna stood, shoulders squared, and stared at the door.
“Let them come,” she said. “Let’s see if that bastard really wants to face me.”

The metal panel hissed shut above them with a muffled thunk.
As the sound faded, darkness swallowed them completely.
Jade held her breath. "I can’t see anything."
"Just a second," Will said calmly.
His skin began to glow—slowly at first, then brighter, a warm golden light spreading from his body like sunlight slipping under a door.
The tunnel around them came into view: curved stone walls, rusted pipes, old symbols carved into the rock.
Jade blinked, startled. "Wait... you’re glowing."
Will gave a faint smile. "Yeah. It happens. Son of Apollo."
"Do you always glow like that?" she asked, still a little mesmerized. "Like… a sacred lightbulb?"
"Only when I need to. Like now," Will said with a grin. "Or when Nico forgets where he left his keys."
Jade let out a nervous little laugh. "Alright. I trust you, Sun Torch. Lead the way."
Will stepped forward with confidence. "This place is a maze."
"Is Leo’s weird thing working?"
Will glanced at the compass. "Looks like it."
"Let’s hope it’s pointing the right way."
Jade nodded and followed, their footsteps echoing through the damp tunnel.
For a while, the only sounds were their breathing and the faint drip of water from somewhere far away.
But Will’s light made the shadows less terrifying—a shield of sunlight in the belly of the earth.
"So… you and Reyna," Will said after a moment.
Jade groaned. "Seriously? You’re starting the interrogation now?"
"It’s not an interrogation," the blonde protested. "I just meant… you’re cute together."
Jade blushed but didn’t answer.
"It’s funny, isn’t it?" Will asked.
"What is?"
"How everyone’s so freaked out when she’s nice to you."
Jade laughed. "Reyna and Nico are really alike in that way."
She sighed. "Sometimes she’s scarier with me than with anyone else."
"Maybe you should stop giving her reasons to worry."
"Hard to do when the whole world’s out to get you."
Will shook his head. "It’s not—"
Then.
A sound.
A soft, dragging scratch. Somewhere behind them.
Jade whipped around. "Did you hear that?"
Will stopped, nodding slowly. "Yeah. But don’t stop. Keep walking."
Another noise. Louder this time. A growl—
No, not a growl. Something deeper.
A wet, guttural moan, like a breath coming from a throat that was way too long.
"Will..." Jade whispered.
"Some monsters use the tunnels," he said, voice steady. "There are a few that live down here. They stay away from the sun. But if they smell demigods..."
A sharp crack rang out behind them.
Like claws scraping on stone.
"I’d say they caught the scent."
"Run," Will said.
Jade didn’t wait for a second invitation. She took off at full speed, Will right beside her, the flickering light of his skin throwing shadows across the walls like a lighthouse in a storm.
Behind them, another growl.
Then something big started moving.
They could hear it. The heavy limbs. The wet, animal breathing. The stench—rotting and metallic, like old blood and rust.
"Turn!" Will shouted."Right here!"
"But that’s not the right direction!"
"It’s also not certain death!"
They slipped down a slope and darted into a narrower tunnel, where the monster’s breathing sounded even closer. The walls pressed in on them, and Jade felt her panic spike.
"What is that thing?" she yelled.
"I don’t know!"
A jagged scream echoed down the tunnel behind them. Jade screamed back, and Will grabbed her arm, pulling her faster.
"I see a door!" he shouted. "Go! GO!"
"Why does our life always feel like a scene from Indiana Jones?!"

The sound of marching grew steadily louder: dozens of armored feet, shields clashing together, cuirasses jingling like blades poised to strike.
Reyna stepped out of the forge’s doorway, her cloak rumpled but still tied with pride. She stood tall and unyielding, like a bronze statue, as the praetorian cohort advanced, flanked by at least two fully armed maniples.
At their forefront, grinning like a viper, was Octavian—the augur—dressed in white as if he were attending a funeral of his own choosing.
“Praetor,” he called out, his voice ringing out, each syllable deliberate. “I am here by order of the Senate. It is my responsibility to investigate the internal threat hovering over Camp Jupiter.”
“You know perfectly well Jade poses no threat,” Reyna replied, meeting his gaze.
“A daughter of Athena found at the scene of an attack?” Octavian held up an ornate scroll. “We have witnesses. Traces. Even your mechanical dog malfunctioned in her presence.”
Reyna took a step forward. “She saved my life.”
Octavian ignored her, turning to the legionaries. “Yes, the praetor witnessed it. But her judgment is… compromised.”
A murmur ran through the ranks. Some legionaries exchanged uneasy glances, others stiffened.
“Compromised?” Reyna growled.
“Watch your words, Octavian,” Frank interjected.
“Oh, I choose them carefully,” Octavian smirked. “Like in the ludus: each word is a blade. And you, dear Reyna... appear disarmed.”
The praetor stepped closer to him. “You came armed in the dead of night like a coward in the arena. This isn’t honor—it’s a sideshow.”
Octavian faced his troops. “Did you hear that? She calls the legion cowards for seeking the truth. I call it treason.”
“Treason is using fear to seize power,” Reyna retorted. “Like a gladiator who poisons his rival before the duel.”
“And you are defending his error!” he snapped back.
“Enough!” Annabeth cut in as she rushed out of the forge. “This is absurd. Jade’s been with us for weeks. If she were a spy, we’d have seen it. She’s done nothing wrong.”
Percy stepped forward, flanked by Frank, visibly tense. “You’re ready to hunt down a girl just because you need someone to blame?” he challenged.
“And who are you to judge the laws of the Senate?” Octavian shot back. “You Greeks sneak in a guest without permission, and now you lecture us?”
“Jade is a daughter of Athena,” Annabeth said, clenching her fists. “She’s not a threat.”
“A daughter of Athena,” Octavian repeated venomously. “Like the one who deceived us during the War of the Giants? Like the one who nearly started a war over her own interests and a statue?”
The blow rocked Annabeth, but she said nothing.
“You’d do well to remain silent,” Octavian hissed. “You Greeks should be the first to help us find the traitor. Instead, you hide her.”
Before anyone could respond, a deep horn sounded in the night.
Five figures in red togas descended the Curia’s steps.
The senators.
At their head was the eldest: Marcus.
Reyna turned, bowed once with dignity, but kept her gaze proud.
“Praetor Reyna. Augur Octavian,” Marcus began, voice unwavering. “We’ve heard enough.”
Silence fell like a blade.
“The accusations against a daughter of Athena are serious. But what’s equally serious… is the balance of our command.”
Reyna straightened.
“Praetor,” Marcus continued, “you acted with your heart. But right now, the Senate fears you cannot remain impartial.”
Octavian allowed a thin smile, savoring his victory.
“We will not remove you from your office,” the senator added, “but from this moment on, the hunt for Jade will be entrusted to Octavian, augur of Rome.”
Reyna’s eyes widened in shock. “Marcus, no. He doesn’t seek justice. He wants a trophy.”
“And you want protection for someone who may have sold us out,” the senator responded coldly. “I respect you, Reyna. But Rome comes first.”
“I act for Rome—and to blame an innocent person without finding the real killer is wrong!” Reyna countered.
Marcus turned to Octavian. “Act according to the Lex, augur. Find her…and bring her back alive.”
Octavian bowed deeply. “As the Senate desires. For the glory of Rome.”
Reyna clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white—but she remained silent.
As the senators began to walk away, Octavian leaned close and whispered,
“Your Athena’s daughter beloved light will not burn forever, Reyna. I will find her—and when I do…”
Reyna didn’t move. She didn’t look at him.
But one word slipped from her lips, barely audible:
“Try and you are dead”

Will collapsed against the wall, breath ragged. The glow around him fluttered weakly, like a candle burning at its last wick.
Jade leaned back against a metal door, blackened by time. Her hair was tangled, her forehead smeared with soot and mud.
“Please tell me this is the exit…” she gasped.
Will punched the door. “It should be. Leo said it leads out here… but something’s blocked it.”
“blocked?” Jade spun and shoved hard. The door didn’t budge. “Brilliant. We escape a monster with acid saliva, only to die in front of a locked door. Classic mythology.”
A new sound made them freeze.
A heavy thump—too heavy to be human.
A slow, wet thump-thump, like something dragging itself with weight.
“It’s coming,” Will said, standing. His light flared, charged by tension.
Jade squinted at the darkness behind them. “If that thing followed us here, we’re done for.”
“Not yet.” Will raised a golden dagger. “Stay close.”
The sound drew closer—growls, the scrape of claws on stone.
“Will…” Jade whispered, stepping back.
Then—a click.
The door behind them unlocked with a sudden clank.
It swung open, and two figures appeared in the dark. A torch descended, illuminating a face pale as moonlight and eyes black as night.
“What the hell…?” said Nico di Angelo, pushing the door wider.
Hazel stepped forward, her hand on the hilt of her sword. “Jade?! Will?! How—how did you get here?!”
Jade nearly stumbled backward into the hallway. “If I told you we were just chased by some giant demon-voiced centipede… would you believe me?”
“Quite frankly,” Nico replied flatly, “yes. Get inside—now.”
Will didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Jade’s arm and pulled her in—just as a monster’s roar echoed from around the tunnel’s bend.
Nico slammed the door shut behind them. The metallic thud sealed it from the inside.
For a moment, no one spoke—only their breath, loud in the closed space.
Then Hazel looked from her brother to the two newcomers.
“Tell me exactly what’s going on.”
Jade slid to the floor, exhausted. “It’s a long story.”
Will wiped his hand over his face. “And it’s getting worse by the second.”
Nico crossed his arms, stern. “Then start talking. Now.”

The neon sign above the counter flickered, the only living light on that nearly deserted street. It was an old-school diner-bar, with cracked red leather stools, a dead jukebox in the corner, and a permanent weariness hanging in the air.
The four demigods sat in a row, still streaked with dirt, scratched up and half-singed. No one had spoken in a few minutes.
Jade had just finished telling her story.
She ended it with a sigh, her chin resting on her palm as she stared at her disheveled reflection in the metal of the counter.
The only sound was the soft gurgle of the coffee machine behind them.
The two baristas—a blonde woman and a bald man with a trucker mustache—watched them from behind the register, confused, like they were still deciding whether to call emergency services or the army.
Hazel sat frozen, her hands trembling around her coffee mug.
“I can’t believe Octavian went that far,” she whispered.
“So… the symbols come from two different entities?” Nico asked.
“Yeah,” Will rasped. “The Nameless One who wants us dead, and the other one… who seems to be trying to protect us.”
“Kind of a deadly way to protect us,” Jade muttered.
Nico hadn’t said much, but when he finally spoke, his voice was tight, like a drawn wire.
“Something set it free.”
Jade looked at him. “What do you mean?”
Nico shook his head slowly, then locked eyes with Hazel.
She nodded—reluctantly.
“We found something too,” Nico said. “A few days ago. We didn’t understand all of it at the time, but now…”
“It lines up,” Hazel murmured.
Will stared at them both. “What did you find?”
There was a pause.
Nico leaned in, lowering his voice. He spoke.
Both blondes’ eyes widened.
“That’s not good,” Will muttered.
When Nico finished, Jade stayed still. Then slowly, she sat up straighter, her hands tightening around her empty mug.
One… two breaths.
Then she looked at all three of them, her eyes clear, focused—like something had just snapped into place in her mind.
“I have an idea.”
Nico studied her.
“A safe idea or an idea that’s going to give Reyna a heart attack?”
“Uhh…”

Chapter Text

"This is the stupidest idea I've ever heard!"
The flickering image of Jade in the Iris message almost glitched under the force of Reyna's shout, as if even magical technology was ashamed of what it had just heard.
It had only been one night since Jade had run off. Reyna, who had convinced herself that a night away from the chaos would give the girl time to reflect, come to her senses, and maybe even think rationally, was slowly realizing that Jade worked exactly the opposite way.
"I agree," said Annabeth, next to Reyna, with the same tone she would use to judge a battle plan involving spaghetti as swords. "You can't honestly think this could work. And even if by some miracle it did, there's no way we're letting you go through with it. It's like… I don't even know what to call it."
Jade huffed in the Iris message—so exaggeratedly that it sounded like she was trying to put out a fire with the sheer force of her disdain.
"Oh, come on! At least I'm doing something!"
"Jade…" Annabeth warned her.
The other daughter of Athena pouted so theatrically that if there had been a curtain behind her, it would have fallen on its own. Then she looked at Reyna with the expression of a martyr from modern times.
"It's either this, or I stay banned from New Rome, the alliance falls apart, the killer wins, and boom! A war between Greeks and Romans that not even Netflix could turn into a decent movie."
Chase rolled her eyes.
"You're so dramatic. We can find another plan. One with fewer explosions, less mortal danger, and most importantly, less..." she made a vague gesture, "...Jade."
"So we're doing it?" asked Jade, deliberately ignoring everything that had just been said, as if she were ordering a milkshake rather than proposing a suicide mission.
"NO!" Annabeth snapped "Octavian will arrest you!", with the vehemence of someone who's seen far too many things explode in her demigod career.
"Yes," Reyna replied with disarming calm.
"What?!" echoed Annabeth, turning toward Reyna so fast she almost dislocated her neck.
"Really?!" exclaimed Jade, incredulous—and for a moment—even sincere.
Annabeth looked more surprised than Jade.
"Why? I thought we were in agreement."
Reyna shook her head, more in despair than disapproval.
"I still think it's a stupid idea. So stupid that it would probably make the Pythia's prophecies look rational. But I know you, Jade. This call wasn't to ask for permission. It was to inform us that you're going to do it anyway."
Jade gave a guilty little grin—the kind you wear when you know you're right… or already on the run.
"So," Reyna continued in a dry tone, "as much as I hate it with all my heart, I'd rather know your plan than find out you went through with it while we were still debating whether to call for backup..."
"So we're doing it!" Jade exclaimed, beaming.
Annabeth gave in, unable to argue with Reyna's logic.
"The end. I'll go warn the others."
Reyna nodded.
"I trust you, Jade. Just… be careful."
Jade nodded.
"Yes, Princess!" she gave a mock military salute, still buzzing from having received approval.
"See you soon! Love you." And she swiped her hand through the Iris message.
Silence fell in the praetor's house.
Percy, who had been quietly listening from the side, leaned in with surprise.
"Did she just say…?"
Annabeth smirked.
"Oh, she said it." She observed the frozen look on the praetor's face, still staring at the spot where the Iris message had been.
"Reyna?"
The girl snapped out of it.
"She probably didn't even realize it, probably said it by accident." She grabbed her sword and started toward the door.
"But she did say it," Percy pointed out.
"Let's go."

The Iris message dissolved into a flicker of shimmering light, leaving behind a silence as heavy as the sky before a thunderstorm. Jade sighed, stretching like she had just finished a marathon.
"Well… that went fine, right?"
She turned with a satisfied smile toward the other three in the room. She found them all frozen. Motionless. Wearing the same expression as someone who had just discovered the emergency plan involved jumping off a cliff.
"...What?" she asked, already sensing she’d stepped on someone’s toes.
Will was the first to explode, cheeks flushed and voice as loud as a war siren.
"You lied to them!"
Jade raised her hands in diplomatic surrender.
"I did not!" she protested, with all the credibility of a thief caught mid-heist.
"Oh really?" said Hazel, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised.
"Okay, I might... might have left out a few details," Jade admitted, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
"But technically, that’s not lying."
"You told her fifty percent of the plan and chucked the rest off a bridge!" Will snapped.
"But I didn’t lie," Jade insisted, trying to sound innocent.
"It’s more like... preemptive censorship!"
Will ran a hand through his hair in frustration, making it even messier than usual.
"JADE!"
"What?" she shot back, innocent in appearance only.
"You—!"
"She did the right thing." Nico’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
The three of them turned toward him. He had stayed silent until now, leaning against the wall.
"She couldn’t tell them everything," he went on.
"Not when the plan involves two possible entities that could be... anywhere. Watching. Listening. Maybe even right now." He looked around the room suspiciously, like some dark spirit might be eavesdropping through a wall socket.
Will exhaled, defeated.
"I know," he muttered.
"You’re right. But I don’t like lying to my friends."
"Neither do I," added Hazel, her tone softer.
"And Frank..."
Jade lowered her gaze. She wasn’t a big fan of secrets. She knew how close this group was—a family, more than a team. And every lie, even a small one, was a crack that could split wide open.
"It’s just a few details," she tried to say.
"Nothing major. They’ll find out everything... when the time comes."
She gave a half-smile.
"And now... we’ve got a plan to pull off. Are you in?"
Hazel nodded slowly. Will sighed.
"I’ll go grab some bandages," he said.
"I want to check your wounds one last time before we leave."
Jade rolled her eyes with a tired smirk.
"That’s just an excuse to count them and throw the next ones in my face, admit it."
Will gave her a deadpan look.
"I already counted. Fifteen. And that’s how many it’s going to stay. One more, and I’ll stuff you with ambrosia until you’re radioactive."
Hazel laughed and gave Will a playful nudge as they walked out of the room together, leaving Jade alone with Nico.
"Thanks," she said quietly.
"For backing me up."
Nico stared at her, eyes black as pitch.
"I’m not stupid, you know."
Jade looked at him, confused.
"What do you mean?"
"It’s not true that you told Reyna fifty percent of the truth."
He took a step closer.
"To Reyna, you said... maybe twenty-five. To us, fifty. But the rest? Where is it?"
Jade didn’t answer. She didn’t deny it, didn’t confirm it. She just looked at him, as if hoping the intensity of her silence counted as an explanation.
"Reyna cares about you," Nico said, calmer now, almost whispering.
"Don’t let that turn into regret. Don’t throw your life away so carelessly."
"I won’t," she promised softly.
He nodded.
"Good. Then let’s go."
The two stepped out of the room, but they had barely crossed the threshold when Nico turned to her again, a mischievous spark in his eyes for the first time in days.
"You do realize you told her you love her before ending the call, right?"
Jade’s eyes widened like she’d just been struck by a curse.
"I DID WHAT?!"

The dining hall looked like it had gone back to the good old days when Reyna walked in.
The Romans were toasting each other — even though it was breakfast — laughing, joking, and tossing pieces of bread like there hadn’t been murders, fugitives, or shattered political treaties.
But the illusion broke in the blink of an eye.
This wasn’t joy… it was relief. Fake. Fragile.
And all of it just because the Greeks weren’t there.
Octavian had officially separated them.
Until Jade — the daughter of Athena who had “allegedly” tried to kill the praetor — was found and interrogated (or executed, if Octavian had his way), the Greeks would be treated like… parasites. Unwelcome guests.
Which meant being pushed to the fringes of New Rome like they carried the plague.
“Ohhh, here come our praetors…” croaked a shrill voice. Octavian.
With his usual creepy stitched dolls hanging from his belt — now even more tattered — he stood up with a smile sharp enough to make a horse’s mane curl.
Half the room fell silent immediately. The other half looked down, like saying we don’t agree, but we’re afraid to say it.
Reyna stopped.
One look was enough to know things hadn’t improved — just frozen over.
The cracks weren’t only between Greeks and Romans anymore. Now they cut through the Romans themselves.
Divisions were multiplying.
“Welcome, Reyna,” said Octavian in a syrupy tone. “I was starting to wonder if you were still with us, or if you’d joined the… others.”
Frank tensed beside her.
Reyna ignored the provocation.
“I was doing my job. Communicating with one of our most informed resources.”
“Ah,” he said, lifting a cup to his lips. “Resource. Of course. So now someone who tries to kill the praetor is considered a resource. Interesting.”
“Jade didn’t try to kill me,” Reyna replied, staying calm only because she’d promised herself she wouldn’t strangle him in public today.
“We both know that.”
“What I know,” Octavian shot back, rising to his feet like a stage actor,
“is that girl is a loose cannon. Greek at heart, Roman only when it suits her. And you—” he pointed dramatically “—are choosing blind trust in a traitor over protecting your people.”
Reyna took a deep breath, deep enough to hold back a hurricane.
“I don’t need your insinuations, Octavian.”
“Oh no, no,” he said with a bitter smile.
“No insinuations. I’m being very clear: the Greeks have brought chaos with them since the day they arrived. War. Confusion. And now we’re hosting them as if they’re one of us. But they’re not. And they never will be.”
“Never say never,” said a voice from behind the tables, through a mouthful of food.
There was a beat of silence. Everyone turned.
Percy Jackson was sitting comfortably at a Roman table, an enormous plate in front of him, chewing as calmly as if he hadn’t just interrupted a political minefield.
Octavian’s eyes widened.
“YOU?! You’re a Greek! What are you doing among the Romans?!”
Percy shrugged, taking a bite of a muffin.
“Free food. Great seating. And I think this is peach tea. You gonna kick me out?”
A second later, a louder voice rang out from the back of the room.
“Hey, you left dessert! I’m taking it.”
Leo Valdez poked his head out from behind a column, spoon in hand, fingers sticky with caramel, looking only half-guilty.
“Oh, hey! I’m... technically a guest. Interdimensional maintenance technician. Fine print in the peace treaties — read it.”
“You too?!” shouted Octavian, completely losing it.
“Sorry, wrong room,” said a third voice.
Piper appeared from a side curtain, an apple bite in hand.
“Oh no, this is the right room. I just like the lighting here.”
Reyna was about to say something, but then another figure stepped forward.
Annabeth. Dead serious, like nothing was out of place.
“I sat there by accident. Strategy, Octavian. Always test an opponent’s weak points. You know how it is.”
Octavian had turned crimson. He looked like he was about to explode or summon Mars himself.
“THIS IS AN INVASION!”
“Dramatic much?” muttered Percy.
“It’s just breakfast with friends.”
A surreal moment of silence followed.
Then, just as Octavian was about to have an aneurysm, a short, sharp whistle cut through the air from the entrance.
Everyone turned.
Jade was standing there.
Leaning against the doorway, half-eaten brioche in hand.
“Seriously, guys?” she said.
“I leave you alone for five minutes and you turn the dining hall into an episode of Mythical Unsolved Mysteries?”

A moment of silence… then the shout exploded like thunder.
“YOU!” Octavian bellowed, pointing at the figure that had appeared between the tables.
Jade raised her hands theatrically, looking down at herself as if unsure.
“Yeah, I think I’m me. Unless there are clones running around. Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen this year.”
“How dare you?!” snarled Octavian. “Arrest her!”
Reyna stepped forward, ready to speak, but one of the legionnaires reacted instinctively, lunging at Jade… who vanished in a blink, like smoke in the wind.
The boy hit the floor with a crash. He pushed himself up, wide-eyed.
“She… disappeared?”
“See?!” Octavian shrieked, pointing at nothing. “Magic! Dark magic! She’s with the assassin!”
A light, almost mocking laugh echoed from the other side of the dining hall.
Jade was sitting on a table, legs crossed, an innocent expression painted on her face.
“Magic?” she repeated. “Nah. Just tech. Portable holograms. Thanks to a few little projectors…” she gestured vaguely at the walls, “and a certain mechanical genius.”
“You're welcome,” Leo said without looking up from his plate.
“And if you want sound effects next time, give me a heads-up.”
Octavian stormed toward her, furious.
“Coward! Not even brave enough to show up in person!”
Jade tilted her head, thinking.
“Mmm, technically I’m pretty close. Like... sandwich-throwing distance. But if I came in through the door, you’d have me arrested before I even opened my mouth, so… this is the compromise.”
“Speak,” Octavian growled, biting the word like it was poison.
Jade smiled. Got him.
“I challenge you, Octavian.”
The hall froze. Even Percy stopped chewing.
“You challenge me?” he scoffed. “To what, a sarcasm contest?”
“Capture the Flag.”
A murmur rippled through the mess hall. Someone coughed. Leo dropped his fork.
“Capture the Flag?” Octavian laughed — sharp and venomous.
“You forget which camp you’re in, little girl?”
“With a twist,” Jade added, standing atop the hologram.
“Greek rules. No towers, no turns. Full melee, strategic traps, wide field, tactical freedom. Everything goes—except killing anyone… though let’s be honest, we’ll get close.”
“This is ridiculous,” Ottavian scoffed.
“As if you get to set the rules.”
“Oh really?” Jade clutched her heart in mock indignation.
“But I thought a true Roman loved to prove their superiority at every opportunity. Am I wrong?”
Octavian clenched his jaw.
“Come on, Octavian,” Jade teased, voice dripping with mockery.
“This is your perfect chance: humiliate me, discredit the Greeks, win glory in front of all of New Rome… and you’re scared of a game?”
It was a low blow. And it worked.
“I accept.”
The word came out of Octavian’s mouth like liquid venom.
“But it will be a real challenge. No tricks, no illusions. Capture the Flag. Ten versus ten. My conditions.”
His gaze sharpened.
“I will lead my team. The ten best legionnaires with me. Who volunteers?”
There was a pause, and then—
“I don’t.”
Reyna’s firm voice cut through the air like a sword.
Everyone turned to look at her, stunned.
“What?” Octavian spun toward her.
“You’re not saying—”
“I will fight with Jade.”
The blow landed like emotional lightning — straight to the heart of the room.
“You’ve lost your mind!” Octavian hissed.
“You swore loyalty to the Legion!”
“And I still uphold it,” Reyna replied with icy calm.
“But loyalty isn’t blind obedience. If we truly want to solve this crisis, we have to do it on the field. Not with sham trials. And I’ve seen enough to know Jade isn’t the assassin you claim she is.”
Jade, from her hologram, watched her in surprise but said nothing. Reyna didn’t need thanks. Only allies.
Octavian, livid, pressed his lips into a hard line.
“Fine. Let the teams form. But I want to know what’s at stake.”
That’s when Jade stood inside the projector. Every eye turned toward her.
Her voice was clear. Steady. But beneath the calm was the weight of what she was about to say.
“If my team wins... then the rivalry between Greeks and Romans will officially be declared over. No more division, suspicion, or discrimination. The alliance will be reinstated. New Rome and Camp Half-Blood will stand united again.”
Whispers burst through the hall like lit fuses.
Some legionnaires exchanged confused looks. Others were skeptical. And others… relieved.
Octavian stared at her like a hawk.
“And if you lose?”
Jade inhaled. And when she replied, she didn’t waver.
“If we lose… the Greeks will leave New Rome. All of them. The alliance will be dissolved for good. And I…”
She paused a moment, then continued.
“I’ll take full responsibility. Officially. I’ll declare myself guilty.”
Octavian lifted his chin, pleased.
“So, death. You know the penalty.”
“I do,” Jade said. “And I accept it.”
The room fell into silence.
Percy choked on his peach tea. Piper turned to Annabeth, scandalized. Frank turned pale.
Leo mumbled,
“We’re still talking about Capture the Flag, right?”
Jade didn’t flinch.
“This will be a BAtle. But also a choice. We fight… or we fall apart forever.”
Reyna turned to the crowd.
“Choose your side wisely.”
And as officers began to run out to prepare the field…
The real war had just begun.

The door slammed shut behind them.
The sound echoed like a heavy drum between the stone walls.
They didn’t even have time to take off their cloaks before the tension exploded.
“What the hell was that?!”
Annabeth threw her backpack onto a chair, her face twisted with anger.
“You just condemned yourself in front of half of New Rome, Jade!”
Piper jumped in right after.
“That wasn’t the plan! This was supposed to be a controlled move — diplomatic! Not a damn live execution!”
“You have no idea what you’ve done.”
Frank's voice was the quietest of them all, but also the sharpest.
“You handed your life over to Octavian. And apparently, ours too.”
Leo raised his hands, sarcastic.
“I thought we were here to prevent war, not gamble the whole alliance on a glorified game of paintball.”
Jade said nothing.
She stood still in the middle of the room, arms at her sides, eyes downcast. She took every word like a blow. But she didn’t defend herself.
She knew they were right. She had already foreseen every single outburst.
Then Reyna’s voice broke through them all.
Calm. Too calm.
“Do you really want to die?”
She turned slowly to face Jade. Her voice was flat, emotionless.
But her eyes… her eyes were something else entirely.
Jade slowly lifted her gaze. But she didn’t speak.
Reyna took a step forward.
“Because that’s what you just did. That wasn’t a tactical move. That wasn’t a provocation.”
Her tone was changing. Sharper. Bitter.
“You offered your death in exchange for peace. Like you were disposable. Like none of us had anything to lose.”
Two more steps.
“You didn’t consult us. You didn’t give us time. You didn’t give us a choice. You decided on your own. Like always.”
Jade opened her mouth, hesitated.
“Reyna, I—”
“I what?!”
For the first time, Reyna’s voice cracked. She didn’t yell — but it was worse.
It was like a wire pulled too tight, starting to fray.
“Do you really want to die, Jade?”
This time, the question was different.
More fragile.
More sincere.
“Because if that’s the truth... then I need to know. Before I fight beside you. Before I risk everything.”
The silence stretched. Almost unbearable.
Then Jade inhaled, and spoke quietly. But every word landed like a stone.
“Yes. I did.”
Annabeth froze.
Percy turned his head.
Leo stopped joking.
“Yes, I wanted to die. For a long time. Even before I came here. Before I ever knew what it meant to have something to lose. I’ve wished for it for years,” she went on, laughing without humor.
“It felt like the simplest solution. Less complicated than failing. Than disappointing. Than not being enough. I wasn’t Jade, daughter of Athena. I was just... a walking mistake.”
“Jade.” Her sister tried to speak, but Jade silenced her with a glance.
“But then...”
She turned to Reyna. Her eyes were shining, but she didn’t cry.
“Then I met you.”
A pause.
The silence became flesh — something alive and trembling between them.
“And from that moment on... I started to feel afraid. But not of dying. Of losing you. Or worse... of losing every second I could still have with you.”
The room felt frozen in time.
Reyna didn’t speak right away.
She didn’t move.
Her hands were clenched so tightly they might bruise.
Then, slowly, she stepped back. Looked at the others.
“Leave us alone.”
The door closed behind them.
A sharp, heavy sound.
Neither of them spoke for a long while.
Jade stayed by the doorway, eyes still lowered. The silence inside Reyna’s house was tense, surreal — so different from the chaos of the mess hall.
The others’ footsteps faded away, leaving them alone. No audience. No filters.
“I don’t want to die, Reyna. I swear to you.”
Jade’s voice trembled slightly. She ran her fingers through her hair, agitated.
“Call Aurum if you don’t believe me. He’ll confirm it. This isn’t part of some plan. It never was.”
Reyna stood still in the center of the room, arms by her sides, gaze fixed on her.
“Then why did you do it?” she asked in a low, steady voice.
But each word hit like a blow.
“Why risk everything like that? Why put yourself in that position?”
Jade looked up.
This time, she held Reyna’s gaze.
She was done running. Done pretending.
“Because it’s the only way to stop Octavian. To give Greeks and Romans a real chance. A fight with rules — no revenge, no executions disguised as justice. Just... a game. And I know we can win.”
Reyna stepped forward. Her expression shifted.
“No. You can’t place your life like that. You can’t throw it into my hands and hope I figure it out.”
Jade moved closer.
When she was close enough, she reached out and took Reyna’s hand.
It was cold.
“I’m not throwing it away. I’m giving it to you. Because I trust you, Reyna.”
She squeezed it gently, then added in a quieter voice:
“But now it’s your turn to trust me.”
Reyna held her breath. Her eyes scanned Jade’s face, searching.
And she found something.
But it wasn’t what she wanted.
“You’re lying.”
Her voice cracked.
“You... you’re not doing this because you believe in the plan. You’re doing this because you think you have nothing left to lose.”
“Maybe that was true, once. For that stupid Ares sword mission, I went out there expecting to die — and looking for an excuse to make it make sense.”
Jade admitted softly.
“But then you showed up. And now... now I do have something to lose.”
“Jade.”
“I won’t let Octavian take me away from you again. I’ll fight, Reyna.”

Chapter Text

The challenge had been issued at dawn, with a wave of excitement that quickly spread through the entire camp. Within just a few hours—by early afternoon—everything had been organized down to the last detail: the rules had been set, the participants chosen, and word of the event had spread like wildfire among the demigods.
They were going to play Capture the Flag—but not just any version. This would be an epic match, one destined to be remembered by everyone who witnessed it.
The battlefield? The forest on the edge of the border—a vast and unpredictable territory, perfect for a contest where strategy was everything and the terrain could become either an ally or a trap.
The children of Vulcan had installed a series of magical cameras hidden among the branches and rocks. They would only activate at the exact start of the match—a brilliant way to let spectators follow the action without interfering, like watching a silent war unfold from above.
Overseeing everything were the judges, and for a challenge of this magnitude, there could be no others than the Senators themselves.
Reyna had nearly stumbled to the ground when she learned of their sudden decision to get involved.
“What in the world is the meaning of this?!” she burst out as she stormed into the Senate chamber, her steps loud and furious. “Since when do you meddle in demigod challenges?”
The five adult Senators regarded her in silence, their faces carved from the stone of indifference.
“Since the Praetors themselves decided to join the games,” replied Senator Iris sharply, arms crossed.
“And since they chose to side with the enemy,” added Marcus, his smirk barely visible.
Reyna scoffed, her fists clenched. “You all know this entire act against Jade is a farce. And yet you keep ignoring the evidence and protecting the real culprit.”
Senator Theo rose slowly, his deep voice commanding the room. "Watch your words, Praetor. You chose to take part in these games. It's too late to turn back now."
“Right… maybe you should go find the daughter of Athena,” hissed Lydia, her tone laced with mockery. “Unless I'm mistaken, the match is about to start?”
Reyna glared at them with fire in her eyes but said nothing. She turned sharply and left the chamber like a storm ready to break. Behind her, silence settled once again—deeper, heavier than before.

The battle hadn't yet begun, but alliances, betrayals, and suspicions were already burning like flames beneath the surface.
“All right... so what do we do?” Leo asked, tapping his fingers against the edge of the wooden table. His eyes flickered from face to face, searching for clarity. “What's the plan, exactly?”
All eyes instinctively turned toward Annabeth, as they always did. She was the strategist, the brain, the steady hand in every crisis. But this time—for the first time—she didn't speak.
Instead, she lifted her gaze and locked eyes with the other daughter of Athena sitting beside her.
“What's the plan?” she asked calmly.
A surprised silence fell over the room. Even Percy turned to Annabeth, confused.
“Wait… you're handing over command?”
Annabeth nodded. "This isn't my game. It's hers."
All eyes turned to Jade. The young demigod looked just as surprised as the others to suddenly be at the center of attention. She took a second to gather her thoughts, then slowly rose and began to speak.
“These are the positions,” she said, sliding a map of the forest across the table. “We'll move in three groups—but not the way you'd expect.”
Piper was the first to break the silence, her voice cautious but direct.
“No offense, Jade… but don't you think the roles you've assigned are a little… off?”
Eyebrows roses around the table. Everyone had expected Percy and Jason to lead the assault, with Annabeth and Reyna flanking to grab the flag, and the others in defense. But Jade had flipped the entire formation. Percy and Jason were in the second line. Piper and Leo were leading.
Jade didn't flinch. "No. It's right this way."
Annabeth nodded without hesitation. "Yeah. It's better like this."
Reyna watched the two daughters of Athena with a hard-to-read expression. Even she, trained in military logic, had to admit—it was an unorthodox move. The two seemed to be playing on a level of strategy no one else could fully grasp.
A hand rose tentatively. “Um… excuse me,” said Travis Stoll with a crooked grin, “but can someone translate all this for us non-Athenian mortals?”
“Yeah, seconded,” added Connor, raising his hand too. “I'm kinda lost here.”
Jade rolled her eyes and ran a hand through her hair. Trusting the Stolls may not have been her brightest idea. "You don't need to understand. Just get in the way. It's your natural talent, right?"
Travis beamed. "Oh, we're absolute pros at causing chaos. You can count on us."
Percy raised a hand too. “I vote for a tralation as well. Maybe with little diagrams? Are we talking brilliant strategy… or tactical suicide?”
Annabeth took over, pointing to ten small figures representing their opponents. “Listen. We’re stronger than they are—and they know it. But that’s the problem. They know us. Our strengths, our standard formations, everything.”
She gestured to Percy, Jason, Frank, and Reyna. “They’ll go straight for our biggest threats. They’ll try to knock you out in the first few minutes. But…”
She moved two figures forward.
“…they won’t expect to face Piper and Leo first.”
Piper’s eyes widened. “Not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
Jade gave her a small, amused smile. “It’s a compliment. You’re strong, Piper. If I send Percy, the match ends in five minutes. You? You’ll take ten.”
Leo raised a brow. “And… why exactly do we want to take longer?”
Jade’s face turned serious. “Because we want to lure out the Nameless One.”
A murmur swept the room. Heads turned toward her in disbelief.
“You think he’ll reveal himself?” asked Frank.
Reyna stepped forward, arms crossed, eyes sharp. “And when, exactly, do you think that’ll happen?”
Jade met her gaze without flinching. “When we’re about to win.”
The silence that followed was total. In that moment, everyone understood: this wasn’t just a game.
It was a trap.
And someone out there, in the shadows of the forest, was about to walk right into it.
--

The air was thick with anticipation, taut like a drawn bowstring. Even the birds seemed to have stopped singing. Everything was still, waiting for the first strike.
Then, the silence shattered.
A horn echoed in the distance, followed by three deep drumbeats. The sound rippled through the forest like a wave, and a moment later, the invisible cameras placed by the children of Vulcan activated with a soft click, beginning to stream live footage back to the main camp. There, hundreds of demigods had already gathered in front of the screens, ready to cheer, critique, or simply enjoy the spectacle.
In the woods, the figures of the Greek-Roman team moved silently between the leaves, each taking position according to Jade’s plan. At the front, hidden among the tall ferns, were Leo and Piper. The terrain was uneven, the moss slippery beneath their feet. Both held their breath, muscles tense. They knew they were the spark. The distraction. The bait.
“Ready?” Leo whispered, offering a crooked smile. His voice was low but crackling with nervous energy.
“Nervous,” Piper admitted, taking a deep breath. “But I’m in.”
From the opposite side of the clearing came the sound of snapping branches and the steady rhythm of heavy footsteps. Three Roman legionnaires stepped out from the shadows, weapons already drawn, eyes cold and focused. They wore light but sturdy armor, marked with the symbol of the Twelfth Legion. They stopped a few meters from the two Greeks, clearly sizing them up.
“Well, look at that,” said the first, smirking. “The weakest ones in front. Where are the others? Left you here to die first?”
“They had better things to do,” Leo replied with a shrug. “Like... winning.”
One of the three drew his sword with a sharp flick. “Hope you're ready to lose an arm. Accidents happen, you know… slippery ground, rough forest...”
Piper moved calmly, drawing a dagger etched with Greek runes. Her gaze was steady, her voice sharp. “Threatening someone during an official match is against the rules. You know that, right?”
The Roman sneered. “Rules are for people afraid to lose.”
Leo looked entirely unfazed. “True. Like… accidentally setting off fireworks.”
The Roman frowned. “What?”
Leo pulled a small metallic remote from his pocket. “Stoll!” he shouted.
An explosion ripped through the clearing. A burst of colorful smoke and glittering confetti erupted from the bushes, followed by a series of whistles and bright pops that threw the Roman line into confusion. Instinctively, the three soldiers flinched, shielding their faces.
Piper and Leo sprang forward in perfect sync.
Leo hurled one of his miniature explosive spheres at a legionnaire’s feet, forcing him to stumble back and trip over a root. Piper faced the second, dodging a swing and landing a sharp blow to his side—not serious, but enough to knock him down. The third, however, proved quicker and more disciplined. He blocked Leo’s strike with a reinforced shield and countered with a punch that sent Leo rolling to the ground.
“Dang it!” Leo shouted, scrambling away to avoid a second strike. “These guys aren’t amateurs!”
“They’re legionnaires,” Piper called back, blocking a sword with the hilt of her dagger. “And they’ve studied us. Don’t underestimate them.”
The first Roman had already gotten back on his feet and rejoined the fray, while the third barked orders to the others. They moved with discipline and cold efficiency, forming a triangle around Piper and Leo. Every opening was closed, every strike met with technique. They were good. Very good.
Piper stepped back, narrowly avoiding a slash to her shoulder. Her forehead glistened with sweat, and her breathing was already labored. She glanced over at Leo, who was fiddling with another device.
“I really hope this plan works!” she shouted, parrying a lunge and shoving her opponent back with her shoulder.
Leo gave a nervous laugh. “Me too!”

A sudden boom tore through the air ahead of them, followed by a burst of lights that exploded across the sky above the trees. Trails of colored fire streaked through the canopy, and one spark shot so close to a watchtower that one of the observing senators visibly flinched.
“Wow,” Percy commented with a half-smile as he watched the sky light up. “You know, I’m actually kind of jealous. Leo and Piper are having a blast... fireworks, chaos... total party.”
Jason nodded distractedly, then froze. A sharp crack in the branches made him turn, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. “I think the party’s starting here too.”
Two figures emerged from the underbrush, stepping forward with purpose. They wore the gleaming armor of the legion and held their swords with the ease of experienced fighters. No banter. Just cold stares and clear intent.
Percy gave a lopsided grin, raising his sword. “Okay, pick one: which do you want?”
Jason shrugged coolly. “You take the big guy. I’ll handle the other.”
Percy gave him a look. “Wait a sec… why do I get the big one?”
Jason just smiled. “Because you’re more dramatic. He’ll suit you.”
“Ugh. You’re the worst.” Percy rolled his eyes, then turned toward the Roman brute, who was already preparing to strike. “All right, buddy. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
And with a flash of steel, the fight exploded there too—among the tall grass and thick trees, the battle was officially underway.

As battles raged across different corners of the forest, two figures moved swiftly and silently among the trees—so fast that even the hidden cameras placed by the children of Vulcan struggled to follow them. The footage blurred in places, chasing shadows that seemed to vanish and reappear between roots and trunks.
Annabeth paused briefly to glance at the small device on her wrist—a silver bracelet with a crystal that blinked rhythmically. Each pulse represented a fighter currently engaged.
“Percy’s already got two on him,” she said, without even breaking a sweat.
Reyna, right beside her, nodded as she checked her own. “Three on Piper and Leo. They must’ve drawn the first wave.”
“That leaves five enemies unaccounted for…” Annabeth mused, her eyes narrowing with focus. “I have to admit, the idea of using tracking bracelets was brilliant.”
“I told you,” Reyna replied with a hint of pride. “Never underestimate Jade."
Without slowing down, they kept running through shrubs and undergrowth, their cloaks flaring behind them and blades ready at their sides. Eventually, they broke into a small grassy clearing surrounded by tall oaks. In the center, raised on a golden pole, was the enemy’s red-and-black flag. It waved lazily, as if unaware of the importance of its presence.
They stopped, standing side by side. Two daughter of war. Two leaders. Two strategists—different, but perfectly in sync.
“So?” Reyna asked, her eyes scanning quickly between tree trunks and rocks. “Where do you think the defenders are hiding?”
Annabeth narrowed her gaze and crouched slightly, scanning the area with sharp precision. She pointed. “There. And there. And over there.” Each gesture was exact. “Reflected light. A piece of armor. Something shifting just slightly. They’re in the lower branches. Not exactly masters of camouflage.”
Reyna watched silently, then let out a sigh. “I’m going to have to run a few stealth classes when this is over.”
Annabeth allowed herself a faint smile. “Wouldn’t hurt.”
A moment of quiet fell over them, broken only by the rustling of the high leaves. They stared at the flag—so close, yet unreachable without triggering a trap.
“So?” Reyna asked, crossing her arms. “We go against every strategic principle… and walk in like moving targets?”
Annabeth exhaled slowly. Her gaze dropped to the ring on her finger—the one with the symbol of Athena—then rose again to the flag. “I could end this in a second. I still have my mother’s invisibility cap. I could walk right past them like a ghost. No risk. Victory guaranteed.”
Reyna looked up. Between the highest branches, the soft beat of pegasus wings could be seen. One of the senators was circling overhead, watching the scene from above. She couldn’t see their face, but she knew they were being observed.
“Yeah, but if we do it that way…” she said slowly, “the Nameless won’t show.”
Annabeth didn’t reply immediately. She turned to her, her expression tense. “But at least Jade would be safe. If we win now, the match ends. She walks away unharmed.”
Reyna clenched her jaw. “I know. But we have to trust her. Jade has a plan. And if she’s willing to take the risk… then so are we.”
A long silence followed.
Then Annabeth sighed and gave a tired, half-smile. “Alright. Let’s do it the Percy way.”
“Excuse me?”
Annabeth straightened, rolled her shoulders... and stepped out into the open with bold, confident strides.
“WOOO the flag?” she called out, loud and clear. “Hey! Nobody even trying to defend the flag? What a snoozefest!”
Reyna followed a heartbeat later, drawing her sword and taking position at her side, ready to strike.
The leaves rustled.
Two arrows whistled from a nearby branch and embedded themselves in the ground just inches from their feet.
“There they are,” Annabeth murmured, her expression calm—almost too calm—as a slow smile spread across her face. “Finally.”

Jade crouched behind a thick tree trunk, holding her breath as the Roman appeared at the edge of the clearing. Her fingers brushed the hilt of her sword, but she didn’t move. She watched. Waited.
He seemed alone. No companions, no signs of support nearby. But Jade wasn’t the kind to fall for obvious traps. She knew Octavian. He was an idiot—truly—arrogant, theatrical, insufferable with every word he spoke. But not stupid enough to leave the flag unguarded without a trick.
The daughter of Athena let her eyes scan every detail calmly. The ground was suspiciously flat, perfectly even. No holes, no odd shifts in the soil. No visible traps, no hidden spikes or alarm runes. It was… too clean.
She checked the trees. No glint of armor to betray hidden soldiers. No unnaturally bent branches. No silhouettes lurking in the shadows. The forest was still. Falsely still. Too quiet.
Could Octavian really have left just one rookie to guard the flag? she wondered, biting the inside of her cheek. Or… is that exactly what he wants me to think?
The young Roman standing in the middle of the clearing looked anything but threatening. He couldn’t have been more than two years younger than her. His muscles under the armor were barely developed, his face untouched by scars. He held his sword with the wrong grip—too tight, too high. A clear sign of someone who’d just begun training. Probably one of those overenthusiastic volunteers placed there just to fill the ranks.
Two minutes. Maybe a minute and a half, Jade calculated. One feint, one strike, a clean hit to the forearm—and he’d be down.
She turned toward the flag. There it was, still and perfect in its stillness, wedged between two rocks used as a makeshift pole. She had inspected it before the match, as protocol required. Right color, right dimensions, no glamour or replacement spells. It was authentic. Real. And yet… something didn’t add up.
Why wasn’t there anyone competent guarding it? Why just one inexperienced boy in front of such a critical objective?
No. It wasn’t random. It couldn’t be.
And yet, even as every alarm in her head screamed trap, time was slipping away. If she waited too long, the team would lose its advantage. And Jade wasn’t the type to fail out of fear.
She took a deep breath. Rose slowly, keeping low, moving between the shadows. The young Roman hadn’t noticed her. He seemed distracted—or maybe just nervous. When she was only a few meters from the clearing, Jade stepped out decisively.
The boy spotted her, took half a step back, then gripped his sword tighter, as if trying to remember every drill he’d been taught.
Jade didn’t attack. She just stared at him as she approached, sizing him up. But her real focus was already locked onto the true target: the flag.
Five steps. Four. Three.
She reached out.
And then she froze.
Too late.
A sharp noise—like synchronized clicks—filled the air. Behind her, in front of her, to both sides. From the ground, behind rocks, and above in the trees. Figures emerged as if drawn from the shadows themselves. Roman armor, gleaming helmets, unsheathed swords. Their eyes determined, faces hard.
Octavian was the last to step forward, as if theatrically waiting for the perfect moment to make his entrance. His white cloak with purple trim flared as he approached, smiling with that untouchable oracle smugness of his.
And while the boy grinned, Jade reached a hand behind her back, signaling to the others how many legionnaires were left.

Swords clashed with a sharp, metallic ring that echoed between the forest trunks. Reyna spun, deflecting a blow aimed at her side, then lunged forward with a feint that forced her opponent to retreat quickly.
On the other side of the clearing, Annabeth leapt over a protruding root, rolling under a spear aimed straight at her chest. She rose in one smooth motion and struck the nearest defender in the knee, sending them crashing to the ground.
“Three!” Annabeth shouted, without even turning around.
“Four!” Reyna replied, taking hers down with a clean, controlled strike. “I’m going for five!”
A sudden attack from above: a Roman girl dove from a branch, spear gripped in both hands. Reyna saw her a split second before impact. “Watch out!”
Annabeth darted aside. Reyna stepped forward and blocked the weapon with the flat of her blade. The two fighters locked eyes for a heartbeat, then Reyna shoved the Roman away with a solid shoulder-check. The girl rolled into the grass and didn’t get back up.
Short breaths. Blood pounding in her temples. Pure adrenaline.
Annabeth turned toward Reyna with a tired but satisfied smile. “We make a good team.”
Reyna nodded, brushing a sweat-dampened lock from her forehead. “I’ll admit it—I don’t mind fighting beside you. I expected more chaos.”
“That’s only because you’re paired with someone who plans battles even in her sleep.”
“...Are you also dream it?”
Annabeth chuckled softly. For a moment, the danger felt far away.
they had done it. Five enemies down. The path to the flag was clear.
But then a sharp beep broke the air.
They both looked down at their wrists. The bracelet was flashing. Not one, not two… five bright pulses blinking in steady rhythm. Straight from Jade’s signal.
Reyna tensed. “Five from Jade…”
Annabeth felt her stomach twist. “...and we just fought five more.”
They exchanged a quick, tense glance. The silence between them filled with instant understanding.
“That’s impossible. The max number was ten!” Reyna snapped, looking upward.
Above, between the branches and clear sky, a pegasus circled the area. A senator—recognizable by their flowing purple cloak—watched them from just ten meters up. Reyna raised her arm, lifted her sword, and made the emergency signal: three rapid crossing motions in the air.
No response.
“Look at me!” she shouted. “We’ve got an irregular count! This is against the rules!”
The senator only turned their head slightly, as if noticing something elsewhere. Then, with a slow beat of wings, the pegasus banked northward.
And flew away.
Reyna stared at the empty patch of sky for several seconds, hands clenched. “They ignored us.”
Annabeth was still. “Or worse. They saw us… and chose not to step in.”
“They’re covering something,” Reyna muttered, gripping the hilt of her sword. “If Jade’s surrounded, we need to—”
A sharp whistle sliced through the air.
Annabeth gasped and dropped to one knee. A thin, metallic dart had struck her in the shoulder. Her eyes widened. She tried to stand… but lost all balance and collapsed, unconscious, her face hitting the grass.
Reyna whirled around, her heart pounding in her chest.
She raised her sword.
And stepped into position.