CHAPTER LXXIII:Dreams And Reality

It took awhile for me to calm down completely, my mind was fucking with me in the worst ways. I refused to look in any mirrors, fearing that I would see the worst version of myself. Instead I sat on an open balcony watching over New York. The last time I checked the time it was 19:37 or 7:37 PM, but then again I had used my schools standard watch from my backpack so it was probably 22:37 or 10:37 PM. I didn't know what time it was now but I knew it was cold and dark, neither of which were phasing me as the should be.

"Do you think Lady Artemis is ok?" Penny asked as she walked outside with two cups of tea.

"I hope so, Artemis thought the threat was so serious that she called two legions to help her." I answered.

I grabbed my cup of tea and took a sip to taste a nice jasmine tea as Penny sat down. "Maybe Khaos showed up, that or one of the minor gods." She said.

That would make sense, I thought to myself looking at the lit up city in front of me. The lights were dotted and bright. I heard sirens and howling winds throughout the city. I stood up and leaned over the balcony.

"Did you know when the Olympians first came here they chose different areas to live? They made state lines before the government did. Hermès took Maine, Poseidon took Massachusetts, Athena took New York, Demeter took Georgia, And my dad took Pennsylvania but later took Texas." I said.

"Yeah, it was to help form society in the states. Hades pissed of Ares with that Texas thing as well." Penny said.

"Yeah, but he was happy to have it in 1863." I responded.

"Oh yeah he was, I would be too if I were a war god in a state where one of the worse battles on United States soil took place." Penny laughed.

I smiled and kept looking at the city below. Tomorrow would be mine and Seth's seventeenth birthday. It all felt unreal, especially with the prophetic nightmares and visions. Then there was the time in The Labyrinth that screwed up my timetable majorly. I was looking at the street when a flash of light caught my eye.

"Y'know kid, people with a lot more balance than you have fallen with better safeguards." Apollo said from behind me.

"There's the Apollo I know, where have you been?" I asked.

Apollo seemed to laugh at the question. "My outspoken nature does make it easier to see the difference between me and my sister, huh?" He asked.

"You think? I noticed something was off when you nearly killed Mary." Penny said.

"Well, Asclepius surrendered recently after his daughter was killed. Thus, I am here since I finally have help in the hospital." Apollo explained leaning over the railing with me.

"So it was Ghost that Luna killed." I said looking at Apollo.

Apollo looked down as his smile faded. "Yes, Luna shot three arrows trying to escape and one pierced Ghost's heart. After Ghost was pronounced dead Asclepius had nothing left invested in the war, so in turn, my son surrendered." He said, almost sad that his son, Asclepius, gave up.

"Well three down, two more to go. Any information on the on Crow and Dreamwalker?" I asked.

"The Crow is the more dangerous of the two, he's called that for a tactic he employed to pass the legion exams. Crow has twenty bronze birds that follow him into combat, each of which turn into celestial bronze weapons. Dreamwalker is a way different beast, she employs Dream Sand to her aid to mimic weapons and help mimic combat styles. In direct combat Dreamwalker could keep a fight going on for ages, there was a kid who had Hephaestus make some weapon from a video game that might help. It works rather well, but you need to be careful with it, the blade might chop your finger off in one motion." Apollo answered.

"You mean the hidden blade from the Assassin's Creed franchise right? Hephaestus actually made one?" Penny asked.

"He made ten, all of which are in the legion. They're used as last resorts by Vulcan's collectors, but I did hear about one more that was gifted to a Greek adventurer. Last I heard the adventurer died in Alaska, you might wanna try heading out for it after your quest." Apollo answered climbing on the railing.

"Any specifics?" I asked.

"There was a lost temple out there, try there if you can find it." Apollo said, "Happy birthday Mary, I'll try to stop by tomorrow." Apollo dropped down from the railing and vanished in a flash of light.

I started to walk inside. "I'm guessing that's Apollo's way of telling us to sleep, I'll see you in the morning Penny." I said.

I walked inside and walked upstairs. I walked through the area and looked at the doors. On one door there was black bold lettering that said 'GUEST' with a brand new placard under it with my name on it. I walked in to see my weapons had made it to my room, as well as the history book I was reading this morning. The shelves were filled with romance novels and fantasy books, the walls had paintings of Athens and Rome, and my bed sheets were midnight black with white pillowcases. I laid down and began relaxing, it wasn't hard to sleep considering the panic attack I had took a toll on me. I felt like I could still feel my heartbeat in my throat as I slowly drifted off.

I came to in a library, strike that, not a library someone's study. Around me was pictures of the Greek god's Roman forms. I saw Minerva, Pluto who was kinder than my dads Hades form surprisingly, Cora who was a way more aggressive Persephone, and Mercury in the mix. I walked out into a hallway with solid oak floors and crimson and gold carpeting. I walked down the hallway and looked around at pictures on the wall, some were of Rome and other Italian cities others were of cities in the United States.

I walked down a grand staircase to see five guards in the front room. All five were wearing purple clothing with purple plumes on their helmets. Each helmet bore the mark of an owl welded on the side. Each guard carried a spear in one hand, and had a shield strapped onto their arm.

"You've taken note of the hidden legion here, Mary." A woman said walking next to me.

"What's your names?" I asked looking at the legion.

"I'm Eva Rossi, the legion title is Minerva's Wise." Eva kindly responded.

I looked up at the woman to see her in a flawless white dress with a golden quill necklace. Eva had light brown hair, and brown eyes of the same shade. She towered over me, and her white heels didn't help.

"Your the youngest goddess in existence." I said.

Eva nodded and led me down the stairs. "You may be confused about the daggers. A lot of people know they get passed on if the owner is defeated, but not many people know that they can be passed on. I passed the on as an heirloom, Deonna was the last person in my bloodline they were passed on to." She said as we walked to an open room.

"So Deonna was part of your bloodline?" I asked.

"Yes, she has two siblings but she was the first born. My tradition was alway that whoever got the daggers came here to learn, but Deonna had other callings. I only ask you return the daggers after your done using them." Eva responded, in that same calm yet monotone voice.

"So why did you bring me here? I assume you had Apollo set this up." I asked sitting down in a large dining room.

"We need to talk about Khaos, in depth." Eva started sitting down in front of me, "and why she wants you to join her cause Mary."