Daughter of Neptune: The Forgotten Hero
In Interitum Eius, Cum Volo
In the afterlife, I think
I felt floaty. Is this how death’s supposed to feel? Floaty?
Images flickered through: a singing contest, some guy shouting “no deal”, an animated blonde character (was that supposed to Rapunzel?) whacking a guy with a frying pan, Octavian gutting another teddy bear.
I shuddered at the last one.
Different scenes played. They were mostly just bits and snippets. I wasn’t sure if they were events that are currently happening or if they’ve already happened or worse, about to happen.
A few began to stabilize.
And I did not like what I saw.
I saw Camp Jupiter under attack. The Twelfth Legion was spread out all over the Field of Mars. Hordes of Earthborn were trying to enter the city. The giant scorpions that our Camp kept for challenges were let out, dissolving a few monsters.
I heard an elephant’s trumpet somewhere to my right. I could tell that Hannibal was having a field day, knocking monsters down and all but I knew that the legionnaires couldn’t hold out much longer.
I tried to reach out to Reyna as she dodged a swipe from a giant. Judging by his appearance and stench, he was probably the anti-Neptune. I couldn’t do anything but watch helplessly.
My heart sank.
Something exploded in the background–The Senate House. I half-hoped that Octavian was inside. Wild centaurs streamed in wreaking havoc as they went.
Then I heard a peculiar noise. It sounded like metal knocking against one another as if they were in a crate or something.
A familiar voices shouted “Fifth Cohort!” The scene shifted to focus on the person who did. It was Percy Jackson. The half-brother I never knew.
He was riding a hellhound with a chariot in tow. The said chariot was full of Imperial gold weapons, a lot more than the ones I found in the North of Thrace a few years back.
Another golden item caught my attention, though, and my heart stopped upon seeing it.
Was that… it couldn’t be but it was.
Somehow, my Greek brother managed to recover the Legion’s golden eagle standard.
The view shifted to Reyna again. The light of the sun reflected on her Imperial gold armor. The giant tried to stab Reyna with his trident but her pegasus, Scipio, dodged just in time. I saw her turn to look at the Legion’s standard and a smile, an actual genuine smile, broke on her face.
“Romans!” she shouted. “Rally to the eagle!”
“What is this?” Polybotes didn’t sound happy. “What is this?”
My half-brother grinned and raised the eagle. “Twelfth Legion Fulminata!”
And just like that, the eagle let loose streams of electricity. Monsters who were hit by the energy were turned to ash.
I felt a surge of pride. That was my brother right there. I may not know him personally but he was still my brother. I knew that Camp Jupiter would be safe.
The scene dissolved and changed to another.
Reyna was standing behind Annabeth who was shoving something inside her backpack. The former was wearing her battle regalia complete with her purple cape, and javelin. As usual, Aurum and Argentum were on either side.
“Rushing off?” Reyna said. Her voice sounded different. It had a tinge of weariness, anger, and desperation.
Annabeth looked panicked. She looked around, surveying her surroundings.
“Reyna, what happened at Camp Jupiter was Gaea’s fault.”
My mind flashed back to the Greek warship firing at New Rome. That was Gaea’s doing?
“Eidolons, possessing spirits–”
“Save your explanations,” Reyna interrupted. “You’ll need them for the trial.”
My already cold surroundings felt even colder. I know Reyna was the type who put duty over personal feelings but this? I may not know her personally, but I could tell that Annabeth was telling the truth. Right now, she and the other six demigods Gaea showed me were embarking on a quest that could save Olympus and destroy Gaea. Reyna has to understand that, right?
Reyna continued speaking saying stuff about Octavian (that impurae matris prolapses ab alvo!) and how that stick man was out for blood.
This was the opportunity Octavian was waiting for. That silver-tongued jerk used his skill with words to manipulate the Legion into seeking revenge for the insult done to Rome. The Feast of Fortuna has passed so no election can be done for a new praetor. War was Octavian’s only option.
Then Annabeth said something that nearly startled me enough to open my real eyes.
“I’m following the Mark of Athena to Rome.”
Before I could hear anything else, everything turned black.
So this is it, huh? I’m dead. Apparently, the last things a person sees before they die is not their “life flashing before his eyes”.
Wait, wait. Hold up. If I’m dead, shouldn’t I be at the entrance to the Underworld?
And that’s when I heard the voices.
Apparently, the bloody show wasn’t over.
“No escape, I go to Tartarus, and you will come too.”
I shuddered violently (if I could). That voice was– I can’t even begin to describe it! It sounded female but not exactly human. I’ve heard the voices of snake women before but this… This was new. It was as if there were several recordings of one voice played at the same time with some of the recordings pitched up or pitched down.
I still couldn’t see anything. Because of that, the fear, and terror in the voices of the people who spoke next seemed to stand out even more.
“Percy, let me go.” Annabeth. “You can’t pull me up.”
Oh gods, no. Please no, I thought.
“Never.” Percy you dolt. “The other side, Nico! We’ll see you there. Understand?”
Nico? What’s he doing– Nevermind. It’s best not to ask.
After Percy made Nico promise to lead “them” to the “other side” (wherever that was), that was the only time I saw what happened.
Percy let go of the ledge he was holding.
If I could, I would have screamed. I would have dived in the huge, seemingly bottomless pit right after them.
But I couldn’t. I didn’t know if I was dead or what.
“You’re not dead Selene.”
Okay so I'm not dead. But this is so much worse.
"Gaea," I said.
My voice sounded weird. I didn't move my mouth. Correction: I couldn't move my mouth. I was vaguely aware of my surroundings. Everything was cold. Then I remembered.
Gration. Diana’s arrow. A surge of power. Ice.
“That’s right, child. You’re encased in your own ice.”
I didn’t reply. How do I reply? What does a person say when she finds out that her own powers immobilized her for possibly all eternity?
“You should have joined me when you had the chance.”
“Why are you even talking to me?” I snapped. “If it is, then wow, you must be running out of things to do. You should go back to sleep.”
Gaea laughed. “Nice, try. I do have to say that you proved Juno wrong. You are going to live to see the end of this war. Just not the way you wanted to see it.”
“They’re going to beat you, you know,” I said before I could stop myself. “The demigods of the Prophecy of Seven will find a way to unite all demigods. They’ll succeed. I can feel it.”
“You lack conviction.”
“Nope. You’re just trying to tell yourself that.”
“Ah, Selene, Selene, Selene. I’m sorry it had to end this way.” I felt Gaea’s presence move somewhere behind me. “Have a pleasant sleep. Oh wait. The things you’ll see are probably going to keep that from happening.”
She vanished. The scenes continued to play. I saw all the suffering. I felt all the pain. There was so much. Too much.
No matter. I have faith that Jason and his newfound friends can find a way to end this war. They’ll stop the rise of the giants. The Second Gigantomachy will end and us demigods… we will emerge the victors.
Ave atque vale. Morituri te salutamus.
I felt floaty. Is this how death’s supposed to feel? Floaty?
Images flickered through: a singing contest, some guy shouting “no deal”, an animated blonde character (was that supposed to Rapunzel?) whacking a guy with a frying pan, Octavian gutting another teddy bear.
I shuddered at the last one.
Different scenes played. They were mostly just bits and snippets. I wasn’t sure if they were events that are currently happening or if they’ve already happened or worse, about to happen.
A few began to stabilize.
And I did not like what I saw.
I saw Camp Jupiter under attack. The Twelfth Legion was spread out all over the Field of Mars. Hordes of Earthborn were trying to enter the city. The giant scorpions that our Camp kept for challenges were let out, dissolving a few monsters.
I heard an elephant’s trumpet somewhere to my right. I could tell that Hannibal was having a field day, knocking monsters down and all but I knew that the legionnaires couldn’t hold out much longer.
I tried to reach out to Reyna as she dodged a swipe from a giant. Judging by his appearance and stench, he was probably the anti-Neptune. I couldn’t do anything but watch helplessly.
My heart sank.
Something exploded in the background–The Senate House. I half-hoped that Octavian was inside. Wild centaurs streamed in wreaking havoc as they went.
Then I heard a peculiar noise. It sounded like metal knocking against one another as if they were in a crate or something.
A familiar voices shouted “Fifth Cohort!” The scene shifted to focus on the person who did. It was Percy Jackson. The half-brother I never knew.
He was riding a hellhound with a chariot in tow. The said chariot was full of Imperial gold weapons, a lot more than the ones I found in the North of Thrace a few years back.
Another golden item caught my attention, though, and my heart stopped upon seeing it.
Was that… it couldn’t be but it was.
Somehow, my Greek brother managed to recover the Legion’s golden eagle standard.
The view shifted to Reyna again. The light of the sun reflected on her Imperial gold armor. The giant tried to stab Reyna with his trident but her pegasus, Scipio, dodged just in time. I saw her turn to look at the Legion’s standard and a smile, an actual genuine smile, broke on her face.
“Romans!” she shouted. “Rally to the eagle!”
“What is this?” Polybotes didn’t sound happy. “What is this?”
My half-brother grinned and raised the eagle. “Twelfth Legion Fulminata!”
And just like that, the eagle let loose streams of electricity. Monsters who were hit by the energy were turned to ash.
I felt a surge of pride. That was my brother right there. I may not know him personally but he was still my brother. I knew that Camp Jupiter would be safe.
The scene dissolved and changed to another.
Reyna was standing behind Annabeth who was shoving something inside her backpack. The former was wearing her battle regalia complete with her purple cape, and javelin. As usual, Aurum and Argentum were on either side.
“Rushing off?” Reyna said. Her voice sounded different. It had a tinge of weariness, anger, and desperation.
Annabeth looked panicked. She looked around, surveying her surroundings.
“Reyna, what happened at Camp Jupiter was Gaea’s fault.”
My mind flashed back to the Greek warship firing at New Rome. That was Gaea’s doing?
“Eidolons, possessing spirits–”
“Save your explanations,” Reyna interrupted. “You’ll need them for the trial.”
My already cold surroundings felt even colder. I know Reyna was the type who put duty over personal feelings but this? I may not know her personally, but I could tell that Annabeth was telling the truth. Right now, she and the other six demigods Gaea showed me were embarking on a quest that could save Olympus and destroy Gaea. Reyna has to understand that, right?
Reyna continued speaking saying stuff about Octavian (that impurae matris prolapses ab alvo!) and how that stick man was out for blood.
This was the opportunity Octavian was waiting for. That silver-tongued jerk used his skill with words to manipulate the Legion into seeking revenge for the insult done to Rome. The Feast of Fortuna has passed so no election can be done for a new praetor. War was Octavian’s only option.
Then Annabeth said something that nearly startled me enough to open my real eyes.
“I’m following the Mark of Athena to Rome.”
Before I could hear anything else, everything turned black.
So this is it, huh? I’m dead. Apparently, the last things a person sees before they die is not their “life flashing before his eyes”.
Wait, wait. Hold up. If I’m dead, shouldn’t I be at the entrance to the Underworld?
And that’s when I heard the voices.
Apparently, the bloody show wasn’t over.
“No escape, I go to Tartarus, and you will come too.”
I shuddered violently (if I could). That voice was– I can’t even begin to describe it! It sounded female but not exactly human. I’ve heard the voices of snake women before but this… This was new. It was as if there were several recordings of one voice played at the same time with some of the recordings pitched up or pitched down.
I still couldn’t see anything. Because of that, the fear, and terror in the voices of the people who spoke next seemed to stand out even more.
“Percy, let me go.” Annabeth. “You can’t pull me up.”
Oh gods, no. Please no, I thought.
“Never.” Percy you dolt. “The other side, Nico! We’ll see you there. Understand?”
Nico? What’s he doing– Nevermind. It’s best not to ask.
After Percy made Nico promise to lead “them” to the “other side” (wherever that was), that was the only time I saw what happened.
Percy let go of the ledge he was holding.
If I could, I would have screamed. I would have dived in the huge, seemingly bottomless pit right after them.
But I couldn’t. I didn’t know if I was dead or what.
“You’re not dead Selene.”
Okay so I'm not dead. But this is so much worse.
"Gaea," I said.
My voice sounded weird. I didn't move my mouth. Correction: I couldn't move my mouth. I was vaguely aware of my surroundings. Everything was cold. Then I remembered.
Gration. Diana’s arrow. A surge of power. Ice.
“That’s right, child. You’re encased in your own ice.”
I didn’t reply. How do I reply? What does a person say when she finds out that her own powers immobilized her for possibly all eternity?
“You should have joined me when you had the chance.”
“Why are you even talking to me?” I snapped. “If it is, then wow, you must be running out of things to do. You should go back to sleep.”
Gaea laughed. “Nice, try. I do have to say that you proved Juno wrong. You are going to live to see the end of this war. Just not the way you wanted to see it.”
“They’re going to beat you, you know,” I said before I could stop myself. “The demigods of the Prophecy of Seven will find a way to unite all demigods. They’ll succeed. I can feel it.”
“You lack conviction.”
“Nope. You’re just trying to tell yourself that.”
“Ah, Selene, Selene, Selene. I’m sorry it had to end this way.” I felt Gaea’s presence move somewhere behind me. “Have a pleasant sleep. Oh wait. The things you’ll see are probably going to keep that from happening.”
She vanished. The scenes continued to play. I saw all the suffering. I felt all the pain. There was so much. Too much.
No matter. I have faith that Jason and his newfound friends can find a way to end this war. They’ll stop the rise of the giants. The Second Gigantomachy will end and us demigods… we will emerge the victors.
Ave atque vale. Morituri te salutamus.
Notes
And that's a wrap. Sorry this took so long. I've been busy. Ahehe. Okay! So, please check don-author-notes.tumblr.com I, uh, put stuff there so... yeah... Thanks! Thank you for sticking with this story. :)
THE ENDING GODS HALP
12/14/14