PSI | THE COUNCIL CONVENES WITH A LEOPARD HEAD TO DISCUSS THE ENEMY

Disclaimer: I do not own the Heroes of Olympus series or any of the characters. I only own the character Nerissa Jackson and her original plot lines and dialogue.

THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER OF ATLANTIC, WEEP WITH ME. THE CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO Nyte, Rose1414, Agazeamongstthestars, Guest, Arianna Le Fay, Imprisoned Wings, Spunky89, Ria, NicoleR85, Phoenixfire Produtions, DreamHunterVo AND yasminasfeir1 FOR YOUR REVIEWS!

Phoenixfire Produtions IS ALSO THE DESIGNATED CO-CAPTAIN OF THE JERISSA SHIP!

PLEASE READ THE A/N, IT'S SUPER-DUPER IMPORTANT!

Riss had retreated to the lake prior to the meeting of the council.

She was seated, cross-legged, under the water, breathing easily in her element. The naiads swum past her lazily, at ease when it was just the daughter of Poseidon in the lake with her. The light current tugged Riss' hair out behind her as she let out a sigh, a loud noise that echoed in the water.

The green-eyed girl looked up as an oar broke the surface of the calm lake and she kicked off the bottom of the lake, swimming up with the ease of a mermaid.

"Hi."

Jason looked over the side of the canoe, feeling a little out of place in the water. He had been looking for Nerissa, wondering where she was and hoping to find her somewhere along the shoreline. She wasn't there, so he had taken a small canoe (a sea-green one with 'PJ' and 'NJ' engraved on the side) and hoped that he wasn't going to go for an unplanned swim.

He breathed a sigh of relief, "Riss. I thought I was going to have to swim to find you."

"Probably not a good idea," the Jackson girl pulled herself gracefully into the canoe. She was completely dry, which Jason thought was really cool and she trailed her fingers lightly through the water, like she was saying goodbye to her father. Jason watched her, entranced, until Riss sat up again, meeting his eyes, "Given that you're old man is Zeus."

The sky gave an ever-so-slight rumble and Riss shook her head, ignoring how she seemed to have angered the gods. It was only really her that the sky rumbled at anymore and Nerissa really didn't understand, given that Olympus was closed and the gods and goddesses were no shows.

"I'm scared," Riss admittedly suddenly and Jason looked at her in worry. "Something is really wrong. In particular with me. I should be dead but I'm not."

Jason reached out a hand, gripping Riss', "Don't be scared. We'll get answers, real ones. Together."

"Together," the sea-green-eyed girl smirked and leant forward. She nudged her nose against Jason's and then ghosted her lips over his, "I like the sound of that."

"Me too." Jason closed the gap between them quickly. They kissed for a few long, blissful moments before they pulled away from each other.

A trio of naiads swam past the canoe, giggling and pointed at the two demigods. One of them made a heart shape with her fingers and Riss rolled her eyes, flicking her hand and making water wash the young nymph away. She giggled even more, winking at Jason as she moved passed.

"Ignore them," Riss advised Jason, still lightly blushing from their kiss. "Nymphs are terrible flirts."

Jason grinned, "You too, Nymph Girl?"

Nerissa blushed more strongly at that and wrinkled her nose up at Jason and pointed at the oars, "Start rowing, Sparky."

The son of Jupiter grinned before leaning in to kiss the girl across from him firmly on the lips. Riss returned the kiss and Jason realised he didn't mind what they were defined as, just as long as they were together.

"Anything for you."

Nerissa tossed her head back and laughed, leaning forward to peck Jason's cheek, fondly teasing, "Romantic. You've been spending too much time around Piper."

XXXXX

The council was nothing like Jason imagined. For one thing, it was in the Big House rec room, around a Ping-Pong table, and one of the satyrs was serving nachos and sodas. Somebody had brought Seymour the leopard head in from the living room and hung him on the wall. Every once in a while, a counselor would toss him a Snausage.

Jason looked around the room and tried to remember everyone's name. Thankfully, Leo and Piper were sitting next to him—it was their first meeting as senior counselors. Clarisse, leader of the Ares cabin, had her boots on the table but nobody seemed to care. Clovis from Hypnos cabin was snoring in the corner while Butch from Iris cabin was seeing how many pencils he could fit in Clovis' nostrils. Travis Stoll from Hermes was holding a lighter under a Ping-Pong ball to see if it would burn, and Will Solace from Apollo was absently wrapping and unwrapping an Ace bandage around his wrist.

The counselor from Hecate cabin, Lou Ellen something-or-other, was playing 'got-your-nose' with Miranda Gardiner from Demeter, except that Lou Ellen really had magically disconnected Miranda's nose, and Miranda was trying to get it back. Riss, the only person other than Annabeth that Jason, Piper and Leo was really comfortable with, was a few seats away, playing with water from a glass and using it to clean her sword. She was quietly singing under her breath, bored out of her mind.

"Let's get down to business. To defeat the Huns. Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?" Riss frowned, pausing, "Hades yeah, they sent you daughters. We kick ass."

Jason chuckled at her words but still wasn't too happy. He had hoped Thalia would show. She'd promised, after all—but she was nowhere to be seen. Chiron had told him not to worry about it. Thalia often got sidetracked fighting monsters or running quests for Artemis, and she would probably arrive soon. But still, Jason worried.

Rachel Dare, the oracle, sat next to Chiron at the head of the table. She was wearing her Clarion Academy school uniform dress, which seemed a bit odd, but she smiled at Jason.

Annabeth didn't look so relaxed. She wore armor over her camp clothes, with her knife at her side and her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. As soon as Jason walked in, she fixed him with an expectant look, as if she were trying to extract information out of him by sheer willpower. Riss had flicked her on the arm at that, having noticed too.

"Let's come to order," Chiron said. "Lou Ellen, please give Miranda her nose back. Travis, if you'd kindly extinguish the flaming Ping-Pong ball, Butch, I think twenty pencils is really too many for any human nostril and Nerissa—" Riss looked up with a smirk, tossing her sword to her other hand and Chiron gave her a deadpanned look before leaving her alone. There was really no point telling the Jackson girl off. "Thank you. Now, as you can see, Jason, Nerissa, Piper, and Leo have returned successfully…more or less. Some of you have heard parts of their story, but I will let them fill you in."

Everyone looked at Jason. He cleared his throat and began the story. Piper and Leo chimed in from time to time, filling in the details he forgot. Riss stayed silent for the most part, mainly listening to the things she missed out on.

It only took a few minutes but it seemed like longer with everyone watching him. The silence was heavy, and for so many ADHD demigods to sit still listening for that long, Jason knew the story must have sounded pretty wild. He ended with Hera's visit right before the meeting.

"So Hera was here," Annabeth said. "Talking to you."

Jason nodded. "Look, I'm not saying I trust her—"

"That's smart," Annabeth said.

"Annabeth," Riss scolded lightly.

"—but she isn't making this up about another group of demigods. That's where I came from."

"Romans." Clarisse tossed Seymour a Snausage. "You expect us to believe there's another camp with demigods, but they follow the Roman forms of the gods. And we've never even heard of them."

"Better believe it, babe," Riss commented. Her friendship – despite Clarisse's apparent hatred of Percy – was unique and they trusted each other. Percy had never understood their friendship. "I don't want to trust Hera, she almost killed me, but she is telling the truth."

Jason shot the black-haired girl a look, "She did kill you."

Riss waved it off with a look on her face that clearly said 'technicalities, technicalities.' The blonde boy rolled his eyes but was smiling at the daughter of Poseidon like she was the most important person in the room.

Piper sat forward. "The gods have kept the two groups apart, because every time they see each other, they try to kill each other."

"I can respect that," Clarisse said. "Still, why haven't we ever run across each other on quests?"

"Oh, yes," Chiron said sadly. "You have, many times. It's always a tragedy, and always the gods do their best to wipe clean the memories of those involved. The rivalry goes all the way back to the Trojan War, Clarisse. The Greeks invaded Troy and burned it to the ground. The Trojan hero Aeneas escaped, and eventually made his way to Italy, where he founded the race that would someday become Rome. The Romans grew more and more powerful, worshipping the same gods but under different names, and with slightly different personalities."

"More warlike," Jason said. "More united. More about expansion, conquest, and discipline."

"Yuck," Travis put in. Several of the others looked equally uncomfortable, though Clarisse shrugged like it sounded okay to her. Riss didn't seem to mind either, she wasn't too fazed by the Roman's attitude, finding it almost…admirable.

Annabeth twirled her knife on the table. "And the Romans hated the Greeks. They took revenge when they conquered the Greek isles, and made them part of the Roman Empire."

"Not exactly hated them," Jason said. "The Romans admired Greek culture, and were a little jealous. In return, the Greeks thought the Romans were barbarians, but they respected their military power. So during Roman times, demigods started to divide—either Greek or Roman."

"And it's been that way ever since," Annabeth guessed. "But this is crazy. Chiron, where were the Romans during the Titan War? Didn't they want to help?"

Chiron tugged at his beard. "They did help, Annabeth. While you and Percy were leading the battle to save Manhattan, who do think conquered Mount Othrys, the Titans' base in California?"

"Hold on," Travis said. "You said Mount Othrys just crumbled when we beat Kronos."

"No," Jason said. He remembered flashes of the battle—a giant in starry armor and a helm mounted with ram's horns. He remembered his army of demigods scaling Mount Tam, fighting through hordes of snake monsters. "It didn't just fall. We destroyed their palace. I defeated the Titan Krios myself."

Riss' eyes were wide, a somewhat dreamy look on her face as she appraised Jason. Annabeth's eyes were as stormy as a ventus. Jason could almost see her thoughts moving, putting the pieces together.

"The Bay Area." Annabeth thought aloud. "We demigods were always told to stay away from it because Mount Othrys was there. But that wasn't the only reason, was it? The Roman camp—it's got to be somewhere near San Francisco. I bet it was put there to keep watch on the Titans' territory. Where is it?"

Chiron shifted in his wheelchair. "I cannot say. Honestly, even I have never been trusted with that information. My counterpart, Lupa, is not exactly the sharing type. Jason's memory, too, has been burned away."

"The camp's heavily veiled with magic," Jason said. "And heavily guarded. We could search for years and never find it."

Rachel Dare laced her fingers. Of all the people in the room, only she didn't seem nervous about the conversation. "But you'll try, won't you? You'll build Leo's boat, the Argo II. And before you make for Greece, you'll sail for the Roman camp. You'll need their help to confront the giants."

"Bad plan," Clarisse warned. "If those Romans see a warship coming, they'll assume we're attacking."

Riss nodded, "So, we'll either need to be stealthy and risk death or we need to start off by being open about why we're there and risk death." The others around the table gulped and the Jackson girl scoffed, "Wow, so much option."

"You're probably right," Jason agreed. "But we have to try. I was sent here to learn about Camp Half-Blood, to try to convince you the two camps don't have to be enemies. A peace offering."

"Hmm," Rachel said. "Because Hera is convinced we need both camps to win the war with the giants. Seven heroes of Olympus—some Greek, some Roman."

Annabeth nodded. "Your Great Prophecy—what's the last line?"

"'And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.'"

"Gaea has opened the Doors of Death," Annabeth said. "She's letting out the worst villains of the Underworld to fight us. Medea, Midas—there'll be more, I'm sure. Maybe the line means that the Roman and Greek demigods will unite, and find the doors, and close them."

"Or it could mean they fight each other at the doors of death," Clarisse pointed out. "It doesn't say we'll cooperate." There was silence as the campers let that happy thought sink in.

"Well," Riss broke the silence. "I'm in. Annie?"

"I'm going," Annabeth nodded. "Jason, when you get this ship built, let me go with you."

"I was hoping you'd offer," Jason said. "You of all people—we'll need you."

"Wait." Leo frowned. "I mean that's cool with me and all. But why Annabeth of all people?"

Annabeth and Jason studied one another, and Jason knew she had put it together. She saw the dangerous truth and to confirm, the Annabeth flashed her grey eyes to her dark-haired best friend.

Riss nodded and met Annabeth's eyes, "I almost left her there, Annie. I was so tempted to leave Hera to die there in the Wolf House because she stole him."

The Chase girl watched the anger and exhaustion swirl in Riss' eyes, "Have we got everyone?"

"Almost," Riss admitted. "Jason, Leo, Piper, you and I – Percy and I count as one – so we're the first five of the seven. There's just two more; I assume Percy will be sent on a quest like we were, so the other two will be the ones with him."

"Two?" Annabeth inquired and Riss rolled her eyes.

"Perce isn't always as stupid as me in this aspect – four was dangerous and I died. He'll only take two others on the quest." Riss slid her sword into the sheath at her back, something she did when she was in camp for easy access. "Percy isn't an idiot, he's our camp's leader." She glanced at the son of Hermes present, "Five drachma says Percy's there, leading the Roman camp."

Travis snapped his fingers, "You're on."

"Hera said my coming here was an exchange of leaders," Jason continued along with what Riss was saying, pre-bet. "A way for the two camps to learn of each other's existence."

"Yeah?" Leo said. "So?"

"An exchange goes two ways," Jason said. "When I got here, my memory was wiped. I didn't know who I was or where I belonged. Fortunately, you guys took me in and I found a new home. I know you're not my enemy. The Roman camp—they're not so friendly. You prove your worth quickly, or you don't survive. They may not be so nice to him, and if they learn where he comes from, he's going to be in serious trouble."

"He's survived. I'd know if he didn't," Riss nodded once, the ripples in her green eyes moving like a tsunami.

"Him?" Leo said. "Who are you talking about?"

"My boyfriend," Annabeth said grimly. "He disappeared around the same time Jason appeared. If Jason came to Camp Half-Blood—"

"Exactly," Jason agreed. "Percy Jackson is at the other camp, and he probably doesn't even remember who he is."

Riss' eyes were equally as stormy as Annabeth's and she slammed her fist onto the table, the first time Jason, Piper and Leo had actually seen the daughter of Poseidon lose her temper. "Hera took my twin brother from us and I promise on the River Styx, I am getting him back, so this all depends on us getting to the Romans." She looked around the table. "And we're almost ready."

XXXXX

Hera stood beside her husband, watching Nerissa Jackson.

The connection.

Zeus was literally sparking, small bolts of electricity flicking off his grey suit as he watched his son kiss a girl who was supposed to be his enemy. Zeus' rivalry with Poseidon was all-consuming and the sky god expected it to extend to his children. But both of his children adored Nerissa.

"She will know the truth soon, wife."

Hera rolled her eyes, shoving her hands onto her hips. "I expect her to. I know you dislike her, husband, but Nerissa Jackson can save us all."

"I doubt it. I also blame you for this all, Hera. Nerissa is not the 'connection' as you so claim. She's just a sea-brat with—"

Hera cut Zeus off, "—the gifts of a goddess. Nerissa has not been a 'demigod' since the second Titan War and she never will be again."

The god of the sky gave a rather immature scoff.

"She is the chosen one – the connection – between everything!" Hera pressed. "The connection between the Greek and Roman camps, the connection between the demigods and the gods. Your son ensured that, I only helped him along."

"Do not take all the credit," Zeus grumbled. "Remember she orchestrated this all. She will be the one watching Nerissa and she will be the one tasking her daughter's with the girl's fate."

Apollo had worked his magic and had given Nerissa what she asked for, a variation of the gift of prophecy, just like the gods had given Perseus what he had asked for, but the Jackson girl was gifted with something else. Something that she could use to fight against the giants and possibly…win.

Ananke had seen Nerissa' fate the moment she was conceived, her rise and fall and the undying love she had for Jason Grace, the son of Jupiter and the undying love he had for her. But now, the future was foggy because Nerissa had lived and she would only grow in power until she either stopped Gaea or helped her defeat the gods.

But Hera had faith in the young daughter of Poseidon.

For Nerissa was now a demigoddess – the patron goddess of all demigods – and she would die before her bonded, Jason Grace, was harmed.

XXXXX

This is really short, it's like an epilogue.

THIS IS THE LAST CHAPTER OF ATLANTIC! I AM CRYING! BUT NOT REALLY, BECAUSE THIS IS BOOK ONE OF (I'M HOPING) FOUR!

I just finished my English exam so I'm breathing again and updating too.

RISS IS A DEMIGODDESS, SAY WHAT!? So, demigoddess, as in MINOR goddess, just in case you didn't get it. I also want to say, right now, Riss will NOT be super powerful, she's only a DEMIgoddess after all. But it means she can do some pretty kickass shit.

I also know that instead of Poseidon's reaction to his daughter dying, we have Zeus being a dick but I assure you, you will all know about Poseidon's love for his daughter in the next story. Look out for that.

Much love to everyone who supported this story and reviewed! And the first chapter of the NEXT STORY WILL BE POSTED REALLY SOON. I'M NOT KIDDING, LIKE TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES FROM NOW.

~ Raven