Warning: The Burning Maze Spoilers. Read at your own discretion.
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As rejoiced as Apollo was for going to a camp filled with heavily armored demigods that could provide assistance on his quest, he was feeling utterly dejected. And the reason was because of the coffin that was unmoving below him on the plane.
Apollo swore that Styx put the coffin directly below him just to spite him, reminding him of all of his broken promises. The former god has had his fair share of guilt trips in his multiple millennia-lifespan, but this easily took the cake.
Maybe it was his sensitive human brain messing with him. Maybe he was actually starting to value human lives as much as his own. With anxiety twisting his stomach, he concluded that it was the latter.
Usually, becoming more empathetic is not a bad thing. But as an immortal god who would outlive every mortal he came across? Apollo would have gone mad if he felt this level of grief with every mortal he was connected to. As a god, everyone dies. It is simply fact that they have to accept, but in the process, gods often come off as cold and uncaring.
It's not they don't want to grieve for all of their loved humans. It's that they can't, for the sake of the world and their sanity. Everyone has seen what happened with Romeo and Juliet once the boy thought she was dead. Can you image a god reacting that way for every single person they fell in love with? Apollo himself would have caused hundreds of Trojan Wars.
However, Apollo had personally seen more death, felt more pain and fear, and feared for his life more times in the past couple of weeks than he has ever before in his seemingly endless life. Understandably, his perspective was changing.
Apollo glanced down at the diorama next to him and his chest tightened. How could he possibly tell the Legion that their former praetor was dead and that it was his fault?
It also dawned on Apollo that he was going to be stepping into a Roman camp as a former Greek god. Just more of a reason for the Romans to like him!
Above him, the seatbelt warning flashed on and the pilot came on over the speaker. "Good afternoon passengers, this is your captain speaking. We are preparing for dissent so please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Please remain sitting with your seatbelts on until the plane has stopped moving. Thank you for flying with us, please enjoy your stay," the pilot said cheerfully before clicking off.
Apollo knew that his stay was going to be everything but enjoyable. He swore he could hear Styx laughing at him.
In front of him, coming back from the bathroom, Meg flopped down in her seat, humming some song under her breath, and Apollo could hear the click of her seatbelt strapping together.
As Apollo went to do this himself, he hesitated, thinking about what lay ahead of them.
Please, father, strike this plane down now.
Then he remembered Jason's face, guilt crawled up his throat, and he clicked his seatbelt over his lap. He laid a protective hand on Jason's diorama to assure that no pieces were rattled with the landing.
He glanced out the window as the plane began to drop slowly towards a runway, the Bay Area coming into view. He could see Camp Jupiter in the distance, no further than a couple miles away from the airfield, with little plumes of smoke still rising from it. However, as Leo promised, it appeared to be one piece.
As a former god, of course Apollo knew about the Roman camp. Since the sun and music are universal, regardless of location, Apollo was one of the few gods who did not have trouble balancing his Greek and Roman forms. He was basically the same on both sides, just with slightly different music tastes.
While he knew of the camp, he chose not to acknowledge it. It just made things easier. Doing this, he didn't have to worry about giving his awesome haikus to two groups of people at the same time so he simply stuck with the camp that was closest to the Empire State Building.
As always, though, Fate decided to laugh in his face as his mortal self was being directly shipped to the place he wanted to ignore.
Fantastic.
Finally, plane's wheels touched solid ground which took them out of Apollo's father's territory. Looks like Zeus decided to not shoot down his son today.
With the plane still slowing down on the runway, Meg unbuckled her seatbelt against the captain's words and flipped around in her seat to look at Apollo. He couldn't meet her intense stare so he kept looking out the window at the small airfield they had pulled into.
Meg raised an eyebrow. "So what now?"
The plane slowed to a halt and Apollo glanced down once more at the diorama next to him, playing nervously with his human hands.
"We go to Camp Jupiter, find the daughter of Bellona, and give Jason Grace the burial of a hero."
/
Luckily, Piper McLean had come in clutch one more time by having a hearse at the ready for them at the airfield. Before seeing it, Apollo had no plan for transporting the coffin the couple miles to the camp. Now, he didn't have to worry about it.
Apollo helped the driver load the demigod's body into the car, the driver offering his condolences. Apollo could only nod in thanks, trying to swallow the lump that suddenly formed in his throat. He held diorama protectively in his arms as he watched the world go by on the drive to the camp.
The driver must have been close to Piper because he seemed to know exactly where to park the car outside the Camp Jupiter's east entrance. Mount Diablo stood tall behind them as they pulled over to the side of the road.
Apollo stepped out of the car and onto the sidewalk, feeling the power coming from the camp. Even his mortal self could tell he was quite literally on the line between the world and New Rome.
Meg poked Apollo's side, making him jump. She pointed to two armed teenagers who were heading their way. "We got company," she said helpfully.
That was another thing Apollo probably should have taken into consideration. He had no clue if the Legion was expecting them so there was a good possibility that he was about to be killed.
Despite this, Apollo waved kindly at the approaching Romans. The two of them, a boy and a girl, were decked out in armor with swords in hand, helmets on their head. Their purple shirts and tattooed forearms showed their allegiance to New Rome.
They looked at Meg and Apollo hesitantly, not sure whether to raise alarm or not.
"Who are you?" the girl called out, stopping about ten yards from Apollo and Meg. The driver was still busy on pulling out the coffin, and the Romans did not seem to notice him.
Apollo raised his arms in surrender, and in his most confident voice, which wasn't very confident, mustered, "I am the god Apollo. This is Meg, daughter of Demeter. We've come to speak to the Daughter of Bellona in order to save the world."
The two Romans looked at each incredulously, then back at Apollo. How could this flabby, pimpled teenager be the god of the sun? "Um...Apollo, you have any proof of identification?" the boy called out in a deep voice.
Apollo pinched his nose between his eyes, before dropping his arms tiredly to his sides, hearing Meg laugh next to him. "Yeah, Apollo," she teased, "Show them your ID."
In the form of a command, Apollo found himself unable to move due to the fact that he had no ID to show. "Just, please." he said, desperateness leaking into his voice, "I can explain everything if you let us in. I am unarmed. Besides-" Apollo glanced behind him. The driver had finally unloaded Jason's coffin onto a rolling cart that they could use to transfer it the rest of the way. The driver pushed it up onto the side where Apollo and Meg were standing, nodded his head at Apollo in acknowledgement, got in the car, and drove away.
The two Romans looked at the coffin uneasily and slightly raised their swords. "What is that?" the girl asked.
Apollo sighed, tears welling up in his eyes.
"It is Jason Grace, your former praetor. He is here to be buried."
/
At the name of their former leader, the two Romans immediately sheathed their swords and came over to the group. They stared in shock at the bronze coffin before each taking a side and pushing it towards the camp. "Follow us," the girl called softly over her shoulder.
The Romans moved their previous leader with the utmost respect and care, even going as far as to maneuver the wheels of the cart around cracks in the path. Distress was clearly written on their faces. The two identified themselves as Carly and Sean, both somewhat new members of the camp. Apollo could see tears in Sean's eyes.
Alone, Apollo and Meg would have been enough to attract eyes from bystanders. Apollo, as unimpressive as he was, and Meg, with her preschool-colored-outfit. They were an interesting duo.
Add in a bronze coffin being pushed in front of them, and Apollo could hear the whispers rising around them as they walked. He wanted nothing more than to jump in the Little Tiber and be washed away forever.
When they reached the border of the city, Carly turned and asked, "Do you have any weapons on you?"
Apollo shook his head, but looked at Meg who was twirling her rings. "What's it to ya?" Meg said, staring at them over her glasses.
"We have to disarm you. No weapons are allowed within city borders or else Tiberinus will come after you," Carly explained, noticing Meg's fidgeting.
The name Tiberinus rang a bell in Apollo's head, making him think of a lot of shouting, but he couldn't put a name to a face. Apollo turned to Meg. "Hand them over. The last thing we need is to start trouble."
Meg didn't have to listen to him, but she knew he was right. She huffed and pulled the rings off before putting them in Carly's outstretched hand. She placed them in a small container that laid alone on a pedestal in the middle of the path. Once she dropped them in, they disappeared from view.
Meg started to protest before Carly said, "Relax, they're are just going to a central holding station. You'll get them back once you leave the city borders." She turned back to the coffin and said sadly, "Let's get this to Reyna. She's going to want to see him."
/
News of a coffin being transported through town spread quickly. It wasn't necessarily uncommon as demigods die too often, but with two new stragglers in tow and the grandness of the coffin, it gained attention like wildfire.
People came from their homes or watched from the windows as the group trudged by. Conversations stopped as all eyes fell on the bronze box. Whispers grew. The only people who knew of its contents was Sean and Carly so lots of questions were being asked.
As they neared a building labeled "Senate," two people came from the front doors. The young man saw the coffin first and pulled the girl behind him, both hurrying over in disbelief.
Sean and Carly stopped their movement and bowed at the presence of the two. The young man of Chinese descent had the body of a grown man but the face a baby. He wore a purple tunic. The girl had a dark complexion and golden eyes, her curly hair falling around her face.
To Apollo, he knew he should recognize them but nothing came to thought. He really needed some food and sleep.
Sean and Carly saw their approach and stopped their movement. They both bowed, and Sean said, "Praetor Zhang, we found-"
The purple tunic guy, Praetor Zhang, stopped him with a raised hand. His face was red and he looked angry. "Who is in that coffin?" he demanded loudly.
Everyone was silent. A crowd was forming around them. Sean and Carly looked desperately at Apollo and Meg.
The girl was staring unbelievably at the coffin. Praetor Zhang looked around and focused his glare at Apollo. He strode over to him and Apollo suddenly worried that he was about to be punched. "Who is in that coffin?" he yelled again, getting in Apollo's face.
Apollo's mouth fell open, stunned and unable to move as the praetor gripped the front of Apollo's shirt. Apollo was surprised to see the praetor's eyes shining with tears.
"Who's in the coffin, damn it!"
Apollo let out a shaky breath and it fell from his lips. "Jason Grace, son of Jupiter and former praetor of the Twelfth Legion."
A collective gasp went out from the crowd. The girl who was with Praetor Zhang let out a sob and fell against the coffin.
The praetor fell back from Apollo in shock, releasing him. He turned to the coffin as tears began to fall from his eyes. The fallen demigod's name fell brokenly from his lips as he pulled the girl from the coffin and into a tight embrace.
She was weakly hitting the praetor's wide chest. "I knew something was wrong, Frank, I could feel him slipping," she said between sobs, "I should have done something!"
Frank Zhang. It hit Apollo like a ton of bricks. Son of Mars, part of the Seven from the Giant War. That meant the girl must be-
"Hazel Levesque, daughter of Pluto, and Frank Zhang, son of Mars," Apollo said out loud without realizing it. He immediately shut his mouth.
Hazel turned her steely gaze to Apollo and pulled herself from Frank. "Who do you think you are?" She stepped closer to Apollo. Rare gems started to rise up from the ground around her. "Did you do it? Did you kill him?" Eyes red, she turned to Sean and Carly. They flinched under her glare. "You let them into camp? Do you even know who they are?"
Sean looked wildly between Hazel and Apollo. "Um, I don't-we didn't-he said he's Apollo," he sputtered out, red faced. "And the girl is a daughter of Demeter."
At the Greek name, another round of whispers started. Hazel turned to Meg, who was surprisingly quiet. Her glare softened as she took in the little girl. "Demeter? Are you from Camp Half-Blood?"
Meg stood up a little taller, the attention now on her, and said, "I went there once before I was sent out on a quest, but I am Greek."
Hazel nodded towards the former god. "And who's he? Is that really the god Apollo?"
Meg nodded. "Unfortunately, yes. I'm his master!" she declared happily.
Hazel's eyebrows shot up and despite the situation, the corner of her mouth tugged up. "You're his master? What does that-"
Meg turned to Apollo with a devilish smile and commanded, "Apollo, jump."
Apollo tried to resist, but his legs acted without his brain. He jumped as high as he could. He could hear snickers.
Hazel turned her anger back on and faced Apollo again. "So if you're a god, the god of healing, why is Jason-" her voice cut off, "Why didn't you help him? Do you even care?" She stepped into Apollo's personal space and poked a finger into his chest. Tears were running down her face again.
Frank stepped forward and gently grabbed her arm. His eyes were red but he wasn't crying anymore. "Hazel," his voice was thick, "Sometimes there's nothing you can do-"
Hazel wasn't going to take that for an answer. She pulled away from Frank's grasp. "No! There is nothing we can do. You're a god! There is always something you can do!"
With each of her words, Apollo felt like a bullet was tearing through his skin. It was all the same questions he had been asking himself after the tragedy. He couldn't defend himself.
To his, and everyone's surprise, Meg spoke up. She narrowed her eyes at the older girl. "Hey, there was nothing he could do because he's not a god anymore. Just look at him." She waved her hand in front of him like a host in front of prize on a game-show.
Both Hazel and Frank seemed to come out of a haze, as if they were seeing Apollo's, or Lester's, pathetic form for the first time. Pimples, flab, depressed expression, and all.
Hazel sighed, her shoulders drooping, and her face falling again. She turned back to the coffin for a second before going back into the safety of Frank's arms. "Can we just-" she said from Frank's chest, "Can we just talk alone somewhere?"
/
Hazel and Frank could not believe the story they just heard.
Jason had always been a god figure at Camp Jupiter. He was invincible, smart, and quick. The boy killed Krios around the age of sixteen, for gods' sake. He was trained by Lupa herself. His father was Jupiter, leader of the gods. He was a part of the Seven strongest demigods alive, possibly ever. He saved the world countless times, saved his friends countless times.
Despite all of this, he was just dead?
While Hazel and Frank have unfortunately seen their fair share of fallen demigods, they had never seen a demigod as powerful as Jason die. Jason Grace isn't just killed. In their minds, it didn't make sense. Jason was too wise, too agile for it to happen.
And yet, the hero's life ended in a second just like everyone else's.
Hazel let out a loud sob when Apollo painfully retold of Caligula's second fatal strike on the demigod; Frank felt sick to his stomach.
Hazel told the former god of her dream. She could only see black, but the sounds of battle played around her. Then a terrible pain shot through her back, and she saw electric blue eyes wide in fear in front of her, and she knew a child of Jupiter/Zeus was in trouble. She just couldn't figure out which one fast enough. Diamonds began to rise at her feet as she cried into Frank, whose own eyes were misty and red.
Afterwards, Hazel and Frank sat alone while Apollo went to rest. Frank knew he should address the Legion since Reyna was away on business but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He sent an eagle to the other praetor, telling her to come home right away on urgent matters.
Frank couldn't tell her what happened over a letter. It wouldn't be fair.
Hazel and Frank felt as fragile as ever. If Jason could be killed, no one was safe.
They held onto each other a little tighter from then on.
/
Timeline of my last 24 hours:
6:00 PM yesterday: Read spoiler on Instagram of Jason's death. 6:30 PM yesterday: Arrive at Barnes and Noble to buy The Burning Maze. 6:45 yesterday: Start reading. 11:00 AM today: Finish the book. 11:30 today: Start writing. 11:59 PM of same day: Finish writing.
This book gave me a lot of emotions and yet, I don't know how I feel about it. I enjoyed seeing Piper and Jason again, but they seemed out of character a little bit. It could just be me. Also, I have a feeling Jason won't stay dead. Call me hopeful but Rick is giving me a lot of clues. I have proof.
This story is going to consist of all of the major demigods reacting to Jason's death. They won't necessarily be in any particular order. Just on what I am feeling in that moment. My current list is: Frank/Hazel, Percy/Annabeth, Nico/Will, Reyna, and Thalia. If there is anyone else you want to see, let me know in a PM or review and I'll see what I can come up with!
Sorry if I didn't get all of the plot points right. I never actually completely read the first two books of The Trials of Apollo so I might have messed some things up. Sorry. I also didn't really edit/proof read this. Sorry. I might have also not captured Frank and Hazel's characters correctly. I tried my best, but I could be wrong. Sorry.
Have a good one, y'all. Hopefully I'll update soon. Who knows.