Earth's Eyes

Reyna turned back to the girl who'd first spoken to me. "Cleo, help Emma here, get cleaned up and understand what going on here, then have her meet me at the principia, I have some questions for her before we sent her to the augur."
The girl, Cleo, nodded and started dragging me away without question, while Reyna dispersed the crowds and walked off. "Come on," she said. "You are filthy."
"Thanks," I muttered slightly sarcastically. "What exactly is this place?"
"You are at Camp Jupiter," she said. "It's a safe place for people like us."
"You mean demi-gods, yes?"
She looked at me. "Not many people figure it out that quickly," she said. "And it seems like you are on different terms with your godly parent than most."
I laughed. "That's one way to explain it."
She walked over to a steaming building. The bathhouse, she called it. "And how would you explain it?" she asked.
I shrugged and told her how I was brought up, as she helped me with the strangeness of the bathhouse and gave me a set of clothes with a purple t-shirt like hers.
"So you're not only a daughter of Mercury with the blessing of Apollo, but Mercury also help raise you?" she asked incredulous. "Usually your mortal parent has to raise you."
I shrugged. "What's this blessing of Apollo you're talking about?" I asked.
She pursued her lips."I'm not sure, I've really only known one person who had his blessing that isn't one of his children, but you're nothing like him."
I raised an eyebrow. "Has this guy got a name?"
She nodded. "And a horrible reputation," she muttered. "Octavian, he's the augur, almost made us go to war, against Reyna's direct orders."
That's when my gut feeling came back. Octavian. I felt like I had to meet his person. That he was important for something. But it also said I should stay away from him. That was unusual. My gut usually isn't so indecisive.
"So why would the Praetor want to talk with me?" I asked, and Cleo showed me to the principia.
"It's just standard protocol," she shrugged. "I wouldn't lie though, If I were you," she recommended. "Her dogs with tear you apart." And on that cheerful note, she left.
I looked up at the tall white building standing in front of me. The doors were wide open and the guards didn't really seem like they would stop me but I wasn't really sure what to do, so I kinda just stood there awkwardly for a moment.
Then a rather large hand rested on my shoulder. I looked up to see an Asian looking guy wearing similar clothing to Reyna's garments. I figured this was Reyna's partner, the second praetor.
"You must be Emma Roland," he said. "I'm Frank Zhang, the other praetor."
I nodded and grabbed his out-held hand."What exactly is going on?"
He smiled. "We'll explain that," he said. "But first, why don't we go inside and sit down."
He sort of escorted me into the building, and we sat at a desk where Reyna was already sitting, going through several papers. For a moment, she didn't look up, just kept rifling through the papers.
I noticed a pair of dogs at her feet, gleaming metallically gold and silver. They stared at me suspiciously when I entered the room, and sat in a chair Frank directed me to.
Reyna sighed suddenly, and looked to Frank. "It's a mess at the tunnel entrance," she said, exasperated. "The gorgon's head is still there, and the only guards are made of stone. Can you take care of this, while I deal with Emma."
He nodded then left the room. Reyna looked at me and smiled. "Glad to see you got all that dirt off your body--you looked almost stone yourself except for your legs washed clean by the river Tiber."
I smiled. "I guess I was pretty dirty," I muttered. "I didn't cause too much trouble did I?"
"No more than any other recruits," she said. "Though, admittedly they don't usually turn my soldiers to stone."
I blushed and looked at the floor, suddenly feeling sorry for the two boys. Don't feel sorry said a voice in my head. The same one as before, but suddenly I recognized it.
"Grandma?" I asked aloud. Reyna looked at me strangely.
Not aloud, dear My grandmother chuckled. Don't want to seem insane now do we?
Should I tell her? I asked, as Reyna watched me, her hand moving to her dagger, in suspicion.
You have no choice, her dogs can sense lies, and she'll find out soon anyway.
Okay so what do I tell her?
"Well, how about speak to her?" Her voice came from both my mind and real life. I turned to see my grandmother walk through the doors of the building.
Reyna jumped to her feet. "Praetor Evans!" she exclaimed bowing slightly.
My grandma chuckled. "No need to be uptight my child," she laughed. "I've been retired for several years."
Reyna continued to bow. "Praetor Evans your feats as praetor are famous," she exclaimed. "Everyone wishes to be like you. But you disappeared nearly 30 years ago."
My grandmother smiled wistfully. "I had my reasons, Reyna," she said sternly. "I went into hiding for a reason, and I would not have come out if my foolish daughter hadn't messed around with Lord Mercury, and created my lovely granddaughter here."
I raised my hand. "Um, you guys are doing nothing but confusing me even more."
"Hunh," grunted my grandmother. "Get used to being confused, dear, you'll be that way for the rest of your life, that's part of being a seer."
I blinked. "I am not a seer," I protested. "I don't see the future, it's just gut feelings."
My grandmother smiled. "That's how it always starts my dear," she said. "But sit, both of you I have a long story to tell."
My grandmother started her story with a whole bunch of stuff about her life as a member of the legion. The reason I cut this out, is because the only thing you need to know is that she was a child of Apollo, was a seer, and used her power to help the Augur with his job. Which was basically very boring and something I had no interest in but was apparently my destiny. She went on to explain how working constantly with the Augur, lead her to fall in love with him (and tada my grandpa!) But then she had a premonition about something she wouldn't reveal, that led her to go into hiding. Until my mother got mixed up with Mercury and tada! ME!
She looked at me. "I am sorry if this upsets you," she said quietly. "But it is your destiny."
I stared at her. "I'm not allowed to leave, am I?" I asked. "I'll never see Lia and Kat will I?"
She shook her head. "I'm sorry."
I nodded, a sarcastic smile coming to my face. "Yeah, because 'sorry' totally covers you completely DISTROYING MY LIFE!" Remember how I said I had a temper...yeah, it's here!
But my grandma is used to this sort of thing. And She's also just as much my best friend as Lia and Kat are. So naturally, instead of reeling backwards and drawing her dagger, like Reyna did. She merely responded with: "Calm down Moriarty," making a reference to BBC's Sherlock. "As I recall, you didn't have much of one to begin with."
I stared at my grandmother. You know how you can have those sort of 'arguments' with your family where they aren't really arguments, but just sort of jokes. This wasn't that. She had tried to make it so, but you really shouldn't underestimate me when it comes to the emotional tags I put on my friends. I loved Kat and Lia, I wouldn't even hesitate to kill for them. And she knew this.
I decided to drop it. Stubbornness ran in the family, neither of us would get anywhere with anything at this rate.
"Fine, what's next?" I grumbled, as Reyna settled unsurely in her seat.
"Temper?" she asked eyeing me carefully.
My grandmother nodded. "It's under control for the most part, you needn't worry too much about it." She looked to me, pointedly.
"I know, I know," I said. "Keep it in check, I'm doing my best!"
"We should go visit the Augur," she said looking to Reyna. "After all, we still need to determine whether or not the gods will let her join the legion."
Reyna nodded. "Would you mind staying behind?" she asked. "I still have a few questions for you. I can get an escort for Emma."
My grandmother nodded and suddenly I was standing outside, excluded and waiting impatiently for my 'escort' who turned out to be Cleo again.
"So, how'd that go?" she asked with a grin as we walked through the city-like camp. People were whispering and pointing at every possible chance. Word got around quick that I was the granddaughter of the famous Praetor Evans and that I was a seer.
"Relatively fine," I said. "If you count having your life ruined as fine."
She smiled sympathetically. "I'm sure everything will be fine after a while."
"Perhaps," I shrugged. "Who's this Augur person I'm supposed to be working with a lot?"
Cleo laughed nervously. "Hey remember that guy I was talking about, the-uh-one who almost made us go to war?"
"Lovely."

Notes

The sarcasm is strong in this one---Please Rate, comment, and subscribe if you likes and wants to see more!!!

-Kim