Chapter 2 - Life and Death

One more A/N: Elizabeth Jaquelyn is my character. Along with Simon, Zelena, Rollan, and Ronald. Everyone else belongs to Rick Riordan or Roman Mythology

HAZEL     

     Following Jupiter's declaration, all the gods who weren't major, minus Chione's father, left the throne room in a puff of their element. Aquilon stood on the opposite side of Jupiter's throne from Pluto, whose night-black sword hung by his waist, looking directly at Hazel. Hazel felt a chill creep through her spine as her father, god of the Underworld stared into her gold eyes. The god soon flicked his eyes from Hazel to Annabeth, and he narrowed his eyes, making Hazel feel nervous for Annabeth's life. 

"Sorry I'm late.", Elizabeth Jaquelyn said, walking into the throne room, her helmet under her arm. Elizabeth, Liz to her friends, was Frank's half-sister as she was a daughter of Mars that Hazel, Percy, and Frank had found in Portland, along with her best friend, Ella the Harpy. Liz took her place beside Hazel in the crowd of demigods behind the praetor dais. 

"What'd I miss?", Liz murmured into Hazel's ear.

"Neptune experiments with unborn demigods to give them powers, now we need two of them to save the Roman gods from being obliterated.", Hazel said, giving her the five-second version. 

"So... we're relying on babies to save us?", Liz grumbled.

"Well, Jupiter has Saturn's scythe, so he's gonna age them up.", Hazel whispered.

"If the daughters of Pluto and Mars are done...", Minerva said, barely concealed outrage in her sharp voice. 

"Hell, she's like a proper McGonagall, isn't she?", Liz whispered. 

"Who?", Hazel asked, confused.

"Right. 1940s. Got it.", Liz said, rolling her eyes. Both of them stayed quiet as Jupiter began to speak. 

"Minerva has fetched Simon Daniels and Zelena Henricks, our hopeful champions.", Minerva held up two large tubs, with glass creating windows to see the embryos in there, "Now then, we have reached out to two mothers to take forth the call, and have our heroes for a few minutes.".

"Minutes?", Liz grumbled. Hazel looked oddly at Liz, but then refocused on Jupiter. Jupiter snapped his fingers, and two women appeared on the dais in front of two shocked praetors. Both appeared woozy, and shields were around Percy and Annabeth as Minerva pulled out the embryos, handed them to Diana, who shoved them into the women's stomachs. Hazel doubled over in disgust as the women screamed, thrashing about. But Jupiter raised the scythe, and in seconds, Diana was holding two newborn babies. Liz placed a comforting hand on Hazel's shoulder, though she looked a little green herself. Apollo checked over the women, declared them fit, and the shields evaporated around Percy and Annabeth, with Aquilon falling, exhausted. 

"What the crap?", Percy exclaimed, furious. He ran to the woman from which Simon Daniels had come from, while Annabeth looked torn, but ran to the other woman's side. The two women looked relatively okay, but the one by Annabeth was drooling, a dazed, unearthly look in her eyes. Minerva held one, and Diana held the other. Raising the scythe, the two babies grew quickly into fifteen-year-olds. Minerva and Diana dropped their parcels, throwing robes and a toga over them. 

"Where... am...I?", the male, Simon, groaned. The female, Zelena, was unconscious, and Simon was dizzy-looking as well. 

SIMON

     The world was bright and confusing. From utter darkness into eternal light seemed like a crazy difference, and a huge crowd of people was staring at him. In the crowds,  one of the people, a girl with golden eyes the color of the shiny light coming from the ceiling was throwing up. A girl about fifteen stood by her side, holding her shoulder. The girl standing had blond hair tied back with a red tie, and wore Roman armor. How he knew it was Roman befuddled Simon. Simon reached out to stand and a woman with stormy grey eyes and long dark hair helped him up. Another woman with icy blue eyes and brown hair crouched by another girl, unconscious on the floor. In a throne, sat a man with blue-grey eyes like a thunderstorm and a thick brown beard and mustache and a head of curly brown hair. This man clutched a long object that switched between a silver and gold sword, and a scythe. 

"I'm... Simon.", Simon said, before falling to his knees, exhausted. He fell sideways as the light faded to black.

LIZ

The guy, Simon, was caught by Minerva as he threatened to topple onto the floor. Minerva laid him down peacefully, beside the girl. Jupiter watched the proceedings without saying a word, before rising, and walking out of the throne room. Liz watched him go in confusion. This was his idea, right?

"Um... demigods of Rome and Greece. Dismissed.", Pluto said, before walking briskly after Jupiter. 

"We'll accompany you to Camp Jupiter to help the Genesi settle in.", Diana said, gesturing to herself and Minerva. The demigods disappeared in a burst of light, along with Diana, Simon, Minerva, and Zelena. 

The huge group appeared instantaneously back at Camp Jupiter, right in the forum. Liz winced. 

"WEAPONS BEYOND THE POMERIAN LINE!", Terminus screeched, appearing in the courtyard. 

"Sorry, Terminus.", Reyna said, making herself seen. Terminus rolled his eyes.

"Well, so the Praetor said sorry. WHO CARES?!?! You're breaking rules!", Terminus insisted. 

"We were just leaving.", said Minerva sharply. She hoisted Simon onto a magical floating cot, and walked beyond the Pomerian Line, out of sight. Diana followed with Zelena. The rest of the demigods fled to the other side of the Pomerian Line like a broken dam. Liz and Hazel followed in the back, quickly joined by Percy, Frank, and Annabeth. The five sat on the other side of the Pomerian Line.

"Am I the only one who has no idea what the heck just happened?", Percy interjected.

"Haha, no. I'm the daughter of the wisdom goddess, and I'm lost as hell.", Annabeth muttered. 

"What was that? Annabeth doesn't know the answer???", Percy laughed. Annabeth's eyes grew stormy, as she fiddled with her drakon bone sword's handle. Percy watched her play with her sword handle, and wisely shut his mouth. Liz smirked. Percy looked at her strangely.

"Have your eyes always looked like mine?", Percy asked, startled.

"Um... no, stupid. My eyes are brown.", Liz said, rolling her eyes.

"No, Percy's right.", Hazel said, her golden eyes looking confused and worried. Frank startled, before choking on blood. 

"Frank!", Hazel screamed, rushing to his side. Liz's eyes wandered to her stomach, where Frank's firewood (What? She's his sister) was kept. Blood dripped from the pocket. Hurriedly, she fished the firewood out, to find the twig on fire, and the stick bleeding. Liz yelped and dropped it into the grass. Annabeth lunged forwards, grabbing the stick, and shoving it into her jacket, hurriedly trying to put out the small flame killing Frank. Frank, who was choking on the ground, crumpled, unconscious. 

"No. No. NO!", Hazel screamed, shaking his lifeless body. From a shadow under a tree, Pluto emerged, with his dark hair and facial hair, his black robes and his black staff with a silver skull atop it.

"His death was... unexpected.", Pluto said. Hazel drew her spatha and lunged. Percy was there suddenly, wrapping his arms around her stomach and heaving her to the ground. Pluto stood there, looking unimpressed. He spun his staff expertly, before slamming it into the ground, killing the tree in seconds, changing it from a gorgeous, golden-leaved tree to a withered, blackened husk. 

"Someone with power over death tampered with Frank. Whoever this was knew of Frank's unusual talents, and wanted them unreachable for what's coming next. Since you've been gone, Jupiter has caught the plague. Annabeth looked revolted.

"Then bring back Frank.", Hazel said, each word dripping with anger. Liz was surprised. She had never guessed Hazel would have that much anger. 

"Of course.", Pluto said, spinning his staff, rejuvenating Frank and the tree. In a burst of black fire, Pluto was gone.

A/N Hey guys! That's chapter two finished! The mystery foe will be revealed in the next chapter!!! I also have no applicants for the cover contest, and as well as commenting here, I am also taking applications in the post on my blog, which you can find the link to on my profile! Good luck!