Already gone

Hazel carried a golden Spatha when Hermione found her. She was decked out in full Roman armor, and her eyes flashed dangerously when she saw the three of them. "Stop the-," she stood up straighter. "Rachel? Is that you?"

Rachel wasted no time, going around the room closing the windows and doors. "Yes, it is I, Oracle of Delphi, hater of Octavian, amazing redheaded painter, whatever," she said all of this rushed, as if Hazel was prone to interrupting her. "Quick introductions, this is Hermione Granger," she looked to Hermione for confirmation, and the Brit nodded. "She's the next big prophecy winner. This is Silena, she-,"

"Heads the Aphrodite cabin when Piper isn't around," Hazel finished. Hermione swiveled her head around at the mention of a new name, but shook her head. She could barely remember who Nico was supposed to be. "We've met."

"Hazel Levesque," Silena nodded grimly. Her eyes softened. "Where's Piper?"

"Still at Camp Half-Blood with Jason," Hazel said, all business. Hermione blocked out her hearing—there was no need to get even more confused. Hazel didn't seem to notice. "Is Frank out there?"

"Yeah. Percy and Thalia, too. Percy told us to stay here with you," Rachel explained. "The lemures are attacking."

"I know," Hazel said, her expression stricken. "I can feel them."

Hermione squinted her eyes at this. "You can feel them?"

"Hermione, Hazel is the daughter of Hades."

"Pluto," Hazel corrected.

"Right," Rachel went on, nodding her apologies. She turned back to Hazel. "Do you know why?" Hermione took the time to pace the room, peeking out of windows. She could see teenagers in armor wielding swords, and a few girls on rooftops firing arrow after arrow, but her attention was then focused on Percy, who stood unarmed in the middle of it all.

"What's he doing?" Hermione whispered. She had never feared for Harry's life like she did Percy's at that moment. "Percy!" Hermione couldn't help call out when one of the lemures got close to him.

As if he had heard her, he turned, shaking his head as their eyes met through the glass. His hands rose beside him, and like they called to him, the fountain behind him exploded, water spraying everywhere. It was like watching a water show, Hermione thought, but Percy had full control of where the water went. It seemed to bend to his will.

The water jet towards surrounding lemures, dowsing them all. Several disappeared, several didn't. Still, a single slice from Imperial Gold dissipated them into thin air.

It seemed Hermione wasn't the only one transfixed by Percy. Frank, who had been watching, cried out in pain as a lemure stabbed him straight through his stomach. Like lightning, Hazel bolted out the door, finally shaken from her shock.

"Percy!" she shouted again, pointing at where Frank had fallen. Percy cursed, quite audibly, and moved to cover her, but once Hazel was near Frank, it didn't matter.

Hermione pulled Rachel towards her, pointing furiously at where Hazel held her sword. "Can she do that?"

With the most anguished scream, she stabbed her sword into the ground, and where it's tip met the dirt, cracks appeared, growing in size as it made its way towards the house where Hermione was hidden. The ground shifted, separating down the middle into a gaping, endless hole. Most of the lemures fell in, shrieking terribly as they went down. The ones that didn't disintegrated, leaving the rest of the demigods open-mouthed.

"Great," Rachel huffed from beside Hermione. "Now we've got a direct portal to Hell, right in the middle of New Rome."

Never had the desire to pass out been so strong in Hermione.

Frank was in the infirmary with Hazel, once everything was quieted. Reyna was speaking in low voices with Thalia, but from where Hermione sat it was obvious they were discussing strategy. Percy was beside her, pen in hand as he offered only small smiles to soothe her.

Finally, Reyna walked towards them. "They're gone. Nico will be by later to try to patch up that hole in the ground the best he can. Frank will make a full recovery, but it'll take a while, and Hazel is spent."

"Where were you?" Thalia snapped at Hermione. "Running away?"

"Yes, like I told her to," Percy growled. "No, don't look at me like that. If she's the one in the prophecy, she needs to stay alive."

"Right," Thalia said sarcastically. "It's only Reyna's mess to clean up afterwards." Reyna put a hand on her arm, but she shook it off, storming out as she called for Phoebe. Reyna didn't look fazed. In fact, Hermione noticed, she never did. It had always been the look of steadiness in Reyna, nothing less or more. If only she had such a resolve.

"She's right, I shouldn't have hidden," Hermione murmured. Percy was quick to object, but Reyna shushed him with a look.

"The lemures were after you, Hermione," Reyna said gently. "They asked for you by name. Which means this prophecy is much bigger than I thought. Do you know who controls lemures? At least, which god is tied heavily to them?"

"I would guess Hades, I mean Pluto."

"It's Hecate," Reyna said simply. "The same goddess who gave you your magic." Reyna sheathed her sword. "Why would she be after you?"

"I don't know. Are you sure Hazel is fine?" Hermione was only asking to divert their attention away from her, but she found herself being sincere.

"She will be," Percy nodded. "Once she wakes up she'll be fully rested and ready to go."

Reyna cracked a smile. "New Rome is on full alert. We've increased our defense tenfold while you're here. I don't mean to be rude, but is there a chance you have somewhere safe to be?"

"She can come to Camp Half-Blood," Percy said, shrugging when Hermione exhaled. "No, Camp Half-Blood is a lot more closely guarded by our gods than here. We've got Mr. D right in the Big House, after all."

"I just don't understand what the endgame here is," Hermione sighed. "The wedding is in five days now. I'm returning to England after-,"

"You're still going back?" Percy said sharply. "After all of this?"

"It's where my home is," Hermione said helplessly. "So what? I survive for five days, then it's over, right? Both worlds live on happily?"

"Prophecies are tricky," Reyna said, pursing her lips. "Only time will tell."

Hermione knew Reyna only said so for Percy's sake, but the boy in question wouldn't let up. "Hermione, I know you!" he said. "You belong here."

"What do you know about me? We had one night together... not a lifetime!" Hermione snapped. "It's not your choice where I go. I make my own destiny."

"I know you're smart, I know you've got magic because you're blessed by Hecate. I know you probably have ADHD and dyslexia, too-,"

"What do you mean? I do not." Hermione said confused. Hermione Granger was the brightest witch of her age.

"Hermione, maybe I don't know you as well as I think, but you belong here. You belong with us." He said pleadingly. She could hear the echo of his true words: with him. She couldn't do that. Not so soon after she's left Ron. Not like that.

"She'll stay at Camp Half-Blood until the wedding," Reyna said firmly. Percy could tell there was no arguing now, eyeing the way Reyna's jaw was clenched. "If she still wants to go by then, she'll return home to England with an escort that New Rome will personally provide, and we will make sure she is safe there. Demigod or not, this is her life, Perseus."

Percy bowed his head, much like a child would bow his head in shame. Hermione looked at Reyna gratefully. "So," Hermione laughed nervously. "Son of Poseidon, huh?"

"Reyna!" Frank yelled from outside distracting everyone from our conversation. "We have visitors!"

Percy didn't seem to hear Frank as he smiled back at Hermione, he was distracted or maybe distressed, as if she were already gone.