Chapter 125: What are friends for? ( part 1)

(Hazel POV)

Hazel sighed as the sun rose. The rays of light shone over the clearing and finally revealed the thing they came for.

In front of them stood the ruin of something that once resembled pride and glory but was now nothing more than a sad reminder of the past.

Large parts of the mansion were still standing but at least 15% of it was a ruin.

The ruin parts existed out of red and grey stones. Some of them still resembled things like walls and floors while other pieces of stones were just scattered. Making it looked like they randomly fell out of the sky.

Some of rough-hewn timber beams that once supported parts of the mansion were still standing.

The Wolf house, that's what Percy had called it.

Hazel was still in awe, even though it was a ruin, a former shade of what it once was, she could imagine how it must have looked; a combination of a dream castle and a millionaire's mansion.

The air was filled with magic. The ground was filled with so many minerals and riches Hazel could feel it without trying.

The minerals were calling out to here. Wanting to be summoned.

A small diamond popped up next to her feet.

Hazel checked if Percy saw it but he was looking at the ruins, she quickly pushed the diamond back into the ground.

Hazel bit her lip. She had hoped her curse would be gone after she had died. But it didn't.

She did not want Percy to know about it.

Percy had problems enough, and she did not want to bother him with problems from the past. Her past.

Percy had done a lot for her, in fact. He had done more for her than anyone ever.

The only person who ever helped her besides Percy was Sammy.

Her heart hurt a bit when she thought about Sammy, but she pushed it back.

Percy told her they had to keep an eye out for a sudden attack.

Her sword, a spartha, felt heavy in her hand.

The sword was made of a substance called: Imperial gold.

Vesta had given it to her after Percy had summoned her, although he kept calling her Hestia. Apparently Percy was the champion and they were close friends. After having a little chat Hestia had agreed to help Herophile find a new home. Vesta agreed but also gave Hazel a gift, without even knowing her.

But that was not the only thing, she gave Hazel a new sword.

The perfect sword, a cavalry sword.

A sword meant for the calvary. Most Romans had a gladius, which was remarkably shorter than a spartha.

"One day," Vesta had said, "You'll ride too."

And without saying anything else she had disappeared.

Hazel had the irrational hope that maybe they had a horse at New Rome, she always wanted to ride a horse.

Assuming the Romans accepted her.

That's why they were here after all.

Suddenly something jumped over their heads and almost hit Percy who had been standing with his back to her...because she was supposed to watch his back.

Hazel silently cursed herself for slipping back to the past, especially now.

When Percy told her they would probably be challenged, she had immediately he would bring along his monster friends, true they were scary but they could stand their ground.

But none of them could come, Herophile was kind of useless because her only power was talking in riddles. Kampê and Arachne were monsters, so they could not enter the sacred ground (also, they had left to raid a Monster Donut) and Katie was a Greek Demigod.

Percy was a Greek Demigod to, and he theorized that he would probably killed on sight unless he managed to prove himself worthy, which he was disturbingly calm about.

Percy just duck in time, the red blur landed in front of Percy and Hazel immediately felt an adrenaline rush.

However, when she saw the creature she gasped in awe.

The creature in a question was a tall wolf.

The wolf was at least 6 feet, towering above the fourteen year old Demigod. The wolf had a beautiful chocolate red fur and silvery eyes that were like mist. They reminded her of the fog that always hung in the cold air in Alaska when the sun rose. Endless and deep.

Percy smiled at the wolf, "Come on. I know you want to play, let's play!"

Unlike with Orion Percy sounded actually sincere, like he actually just wanted to play with the wolf, but Hazel knew that Percy also distracted its attention from Hazel.

The wolf hesitated for a second, it was clear it did not expect Percy to be that happy when facing a wolf.

"Come on Lupa," Percy said. "I don't bite."

Lupa's lip curled up in a smile and she lunged forward, slamming her body into Percy's. Or at least it would've if it wasn't for the fact that Percy had jumped up and landed behind the confused wolf.

"Behind you." Percy quipped.

Lupa turned around and lashed out at Percy but he blocked the paw with his shield. He was thrown across the clearing, but he landed on his feet and was still grinning.

"Is that all you got?" Percy asked and a fire ball appeared in his hand.

Lupa barked playfully and charged at Percy at an incredible speed.

Hazel wanted to help but Percy had told her that he wanted to do this alone.

Percy charged at Lupa to but just as they were about to crash into each other Percy slid underneath the wolf.

He shot a web line out of his right hand, and it immediately stuck to Lupa's body. Percy appeared behind Lupa and janked the web line towards him.

He seemed to struggle but suddenly a holographic woman appeared around him. The holographic woman that surrounded Percy was the most beautiful woman Hazel had ever seen.

She was grinning just like Percy, Percy pulled at the webline and the giant wolf suddenly spun in the air and was flipped on her back.

The holographic woman disappeared, and Percy jumped onto the wolf's body. Vines appeared out of the ground and wrapped themselves around the wolf's paws and kept her restrained.

Lupa barked while Percy smiled. "I win!"

The wolf snarled disappointed then she began to glow brightly.

A second later the wolf was gone and replaced by a girl.

She had long ash grey hair that was a bit messy and wild looking with two silver wolf ears on top of her head. She had yellow wolf eyes and naturally wolf teeth instead of human teeth.

She had long silver claws that reminded Hazel of kitchen knives but the thing that amazed Hazel the most was the snow white tail that weaved around on the ground.

She wore black a leather suit that had different shades of grey and white, probably the best colors if you would hunt in the winter.

She wore a black belt that had a long hunting knife attached to it on both her sides.

Lupa, now in human form. Was panting on the ground. Still trying to catch her breath.

Hazel stepped forward in awe, "Are you Lupa?" she asked unnecessarily.

Lupa turned to her, her eyes met Hazel's and she flinched.

Her eyes were fierce, and they had a little danger in them.

She then suddenly turned to Percy. "You cheated!" she said.

Percy grinned, "Nope. I won, you're just a bad loser."

Lupa pouted, "You're mean!"

Percy grinned, "No, I am Percy Jackson."

Lupa smiled, "I assume you already know who I am."

"Yup," Percy said, "Lupa."

"Wait," Hazel said, "You two did not know each other? How are you two so...relax about this?"

"Lupa is the wolf goddess." Percy said, "Wolves respect strength and courage. What better way to bond than to fight?"

Lupa nodded, "Percy Jackson is right. I would've killed him on sight but after he managed to beat me I decided I actually like him."

Percy grinned while Hazel sighed. "Life is so weird."

Then Lupa's playful expression changed to concern, "But you are a Greek? How do you even kno-"

"Actually," Percy said, "That's a long story. I just wanted to talk to you, that's why I came to you."

"Well talk." Lupa ordered.

Percy pointed at Hazel, "This is a Roman Demigod."

Lupa narrowed her eyes. "I see," she sniffed the air, "That smell. She smells like-"

"Death," Hazel said, "I am Hazel Levesque daughter of Pluto."

This startled the wolf goddess, before Hazel could react the wolf goddess had drawn a knife, lunged forward and held it against her throat.

"Easy," Percy cried out, "Please?"

Lupa's eyes narrowed and hissed: "You brought a daughter of Pluto to the Wolf house?"

"She's one of the Seven." Percy suddenly said.

Lupa froze for a second, then she bared her fangs at Percy, "We need to talk. Inside now!"

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