Reaching For The Stars

Chapter 21

Annabeth Chase

The ride through the countryside toward the west coast went by in comfort. At least for Annabeth, who was held close by Artume. The Goddess let her sleep on her lap, within her arms, fingers soothingly going through the golden strands. Annabeth couldn't help but close her eyes when on the receiving end of such care, making her sleep soundly.

For demigods, it wasn't uncommon to experience dreams of the past or the present. But they were rare, even rarer for those born to 'weaker' gods. Annabeth never had such dreams, but now she was seeing things she had never seen before. That's not entirely true. A beautiful blue sky stretched above her, no clouds visible as Annabeth stood in a bustling street.

She was surrounded by people wearing togas as they perused wares of stores selling pottery, food, clothes and much more. A wine merchant screamed to the masses that passed him. Carts passed left and right with wares unlike anything she had seen being sold. A few of them even held cages stuffed with fearful and defeated people. Dark-skinned, fair-skinned, olive-skinned. All different ethnicities crammed inside the rather small enclosed spaces.

Slaves, Annabeth thought.

All around her, she saw the ancient world alive and thriving. The marble buildings sprawled up hills with streets wide enough for two full carts next to each other. People coming and going. Women shopping for groceries with here and there slaves carrying heavy things. It wouldn't take long before she saw where she was. In the distance, between white buildings, she could see it; the coliseum. The Pantheon which she could spot when craning her neck and leaning in a specific way.

Annabeth began to wonder why she suddenly is in Rome. The Rome of old. At that moment, a figure passed by her. A person missed by all yet Artume walked through the streets. She didn't seem to be paying attention to any of the people in this street, despite it being very busy. Annabeth followed to see where this dream or what she thinks is the past will show her.

It must be something important? Perhaps it is because they are closer to each other in this moment that she is starting to see things. Whatever it may be, Annabeth wants to find out more about the past. Especially since this is already past Artume's time.

This is Rome at its height. The full might of the Roman Empire must have been something to witness. Not for the average citizen, but to the world, it was significant. Even Annabeth could not help but feel giddy to see the buildings around her. The skill it must have taken to make some of these monuments of old. And without modern machinery... Annabeth could say she is having two dreams at the same time.

Artume walked through the streets of Rome. Never looking around her to see the humans, the trade, or the marvels of architecture. She kept walking, hands behind her back, leisurely walking until she stopped. Her gaze going up one of the greatest structures remaining of the period; the Pantheon.

It was one of the tallest buildings in the city. While Annabeth would say it looked similar to what you could see today, it is much more decorative from what she remembers. The granite and marble columns held up the portico. It held great sculptures of what Annabeth thinks to be Roman Gods. Artume's gaze was locked on them as she stood in the center of this courtyard, people walking through them as if they were not here.

"It was them that replaced the importance of my Pantheon," Artume said, her gaze still on those marble portrayals of the Gods.

"You can... see me?" Annabeth asked from shock. She thought this was a dream, a vision of some kind.

"Yes, as you sleep I can show you my past," Artume said, glancing at Annabeth with a small smile. A saddened smile, yet Artume looked up briefly, peering into the structure itself. One hand pointing deeper into it, pointing toward a single figure standing within. Or so it felt to Annabeth as if Artume held some sway over what she sees.