PJO: Son of a Primordial

{Camp Jupiter, 19th of June 2006}

Annabeth POV

The sun was setting over New Rome, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple that would have made even the most jaded Aphrodite kid swoon. But I didn't have time to admire the view.

My mind was racing, going over our plan for the hundredth time, looking for any weak spots or potential pitfalls, although I knew that no matter what words I said the main thing that could make or break this plan was the roman demigod's reactions.

We were waiting in the same small Colosseum where Jason had left us earlier, the tension thick enough to cut with my celestial bronze dagger. Percy was pacing back and forth, his ADHD on full display. Thalia was sitting on a nearby bench, her fingers drumming an erratic rhythm on her thigh. Grover was nervously chewing on the Yankees cap, much to my dismay.

"Grover, stop that," I hissed, snatching the cap from his hands. "We need that to sneak you in, remember?"

He bleated an apology, his eyes darting around nervously. "Sorry, Annabeth. I'm just... do you really think this is going to work?"

I wanted to say yes, to reassure him that everything would be fine. But the truth was, I had no idea.

We were about to walk into a room full of Romans – people who, up until a week I had no clue it existed– and tell them that everything they knew about their world was wrong. Oh, and by the way, the king of the Titans was trying to destroy Olympus with the help of one of our very own demigods. No pressure, right?

Before I could answer, a gust of wind announced Jason's arrival. He touched down gracefully, his golden hair slightly ruffled from the flight. I still couldn't get over the fact that he could fly. It was like having Superman on our side, if Superman was a prepubescent Roman demigod.

"Are you guys ready?" Jason asked, his blue eyes scanning our group. "The Senate's assembled. We should head over now."

Thalia stood up, brushing off her jeans. "As ready as we'll ever be, little brother."

Jason nodded, a small smile playing on his lips at Thalia's words. It was clear he was still getting used to having a sister. "Alright, let's go. And remember, let me do the talking at first. These guys can be... intense."

We followed Jason through the winding streets of New Rome, trying to look like we belonged. It wasn't easy.

As we approached the Senate House, my heart began to race. This was it. No turning back now. I glanced at Percy, who gave me a reassuring nod. Whatever happened in there, we were in this together.

The Senate House was a marvel of Roman architecture, with towering columns and intricate mosaics depicting scenes from mythology. As we entered, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Camp Half-Blood was great and all, but we definitely didn't have anything this grand.

The room was packed. Rows of seats surrounded a central speaking area, filled with people in purple shirts and togas. At the front, on a raised dais, sat a girl who could only be the other praetor – Alexandra, daughter of Demeter and legacy of Apollo, if Jason's intel was correct. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and her green eyes were sharp as she surveyed the room.

Ghosts floated among the living, their translucent forms a stark reminder of the long history of this place. I nudged Percy, nodding towards a particularly grumpy-looking spirit. "Check it out," I whispered. "Even their ghosts look militant."

Percy suppressed a grin. "Maybe they died from an overdose of rules and regulations."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't help smiling. Percy's joke really helped take the edge off.

Jason led us to the center of the room, where all eyes immediately focused on us. I could feel the weight of their stares, the suspicion and curiosity radiating from them in waves. Grover, invisible beside us thanks to my cap, let out a quiet, nervous bleat.

"Praetor Grace," Alexandra's voice rang out, silencing the murmurs that had begun at our entrance. "I trust you have a good reason for bringing outsiders into our sacred Senate?"

Jason stepped forward, his posture straight and confident. It was hard to believe this was the same kid who'd been hugging Thalia like a lifeline just hours ago. "I do, Praetor Alexandra. Senators, centurions, legionnaires – what I'm about to tell you will change everything we thought we knew about our world."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. I had to hand it to him; the kid had a flair for the dramatic. "These people," he continued, gesturing to us, "are not just random mortals or lost demigods. They are representatives from another camp. A Greek camp."

The reaction was immediate. Shouts of disbelief and outrage filled the air. Some senators leapt to their feet, their faces red with anger. Others looked confused, turning to their neighbors as if to confirm they'd heard correctly. The ghosts flickered agitatedly, their forms becoming more translucent in their agitation.

Alexandra raised her hand, and the room fell silent once more. Her green eyes were hard as she stared at Jason. "Explain yourself, Grace. This better not be some kind of joke."

Jason shook his head. "It's no joke. I know it sounds impossible, but it's true. There's a camp for Greek demigods, just like ours is for Roman demigods. They've come here because we face a common threat – one that could destroy both our camps, and Olympos itself."

He turned to me, giving a slight nod. That was my cue. I stepped forward, my heart pounding but my voice steady as I addressed the Senate.

"It's true," I said, my grey eyes scanning the room. "We are Greek demigods from Camp Half-Blood. I am Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena." I gestured to Percy and Thalia. "This is Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, and Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus – and, Jason's older sister."

More murmurs erupted at this, but I pressed on. "We also have one more companion with us." I nodded to Grover or at least where I thought he was, who hesitantly removed the cap, shimmering into visibility. Several senators gasped, and I heard the distinct sound of a sword being drawn. "This is Grover Underwood, a satyr from our camp."

Grover waved nervously. "Um, hi everyone. Please don't kill me."

I quickly continued before anyone could act on that request. "We came here on a quest, given to us by the Oracle of Delphi. We were told to find Jason, to bridge the gap between our camps. Because right now, we face a threat that we could surpass easier if we worked together."

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the bomb I was about to drop. "Kronos – or as you might know him, Saturn – has risen. He's stolen the Master Bolt from Zeus... from Jupiter. The Lord of the Cosmos has said that he will begin a war between the other two of the Big 3, if we aren't able to retrieve the Master Bolt by this summer's solstice, in three days. And while we have a demigod in Tartarus trying to stop him, we've been warned that his quest will fail."

The Senate erupted into chaos. Senators were shouting over each other, some calling for our immediate execution, others demanding more information. Alexandra was on her feet, her face a mask of shock and disbelief.

Suddenly, Jason's voice cut through the din. "The demigod they speak of – the one in Tartarus – I know him." The room fell silent once more, all eyes turning to the young praetor. "His name is Odysseus. He's the one who returned the golden eagle of the Fifth Cohort a year ago."

This revelation seemed to stun the Romans into silence. I could see the wheels turning in their heads, trying to reconcile this new information with what they thought they knew.

Alexandra was the first to recover. "If what you say is true," she said slowly, her eyes narrowing, "then we face a grave threat indeed. But how can we trust you? How do we know that this threat will affect us as well and not only you greeks?"

I stepped forward again, my chin held high. "I'm not sure," I said. "But our Oracle told us to, if we don't stand together, Greek and Roman alike, we'll fall divided."

The room was silent for a long moment. I could feel the weight of history pressing down on us, centuries of mistrust and conflict hanging in the balance. Then, slowly, Alexandra nodded.

"Fine," she said, her voice carrying across the silent chamber. "We will check the prophecies engraved on the Temple of Jupiter, if you're lying to us in any way, the consequences will be severe."

I nodded, feeling a mixture of relief and apprehension. They had prophecies of their own? Did they also have an Oracle?

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