The Next Generation Of Heroes | 1 ✓

Bianca ~ 14

I stare, unhappily, at Zoë and Andrew's retreating figures. Now it's just me, Reyna, and Mari, although Mari is talking mostly with the Lyla girl. I sense something familiar between them. I'm not sure what.

"I'm going to go-OOF!" I yelp as a boy collides into me. I fall down onto the dirt path. "Watch where you're going!" I growl, standing up. A boy with slick, pale blonde hair, a small, pointed face, and startling green eyes stares back at me.

"Sorry," he says, sounding genuinely sorry.

I frown, reaching for my ring, when suddenly, the woman from Zoë's vision places a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Rachel Dare," I say out loud. The woman-Rachel- looks down at me.

"Actually it's Rachel Macedonicus now, but you didn't know," she says, a twinkle in her eyes.

"Rachel?" asks Piper.

Rachel smiles. "Hey Piper!" she says.

"You never told me you got married? Whose your husband?" Jason asks.

Rachel bites her lip. "It's a long story, but-"

Suddenly, we're joined by a tall man, with blonde hair like the boy, and a thin, smile.

Every adult gasps.

"Octavian?" exclaims Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, outraged.

Octavian grins. "Praetor Reyna," he says.

Rachel grabs his hand. "See, this is why I didn't tell you," she says with a sigh.

"WHAT IN HADES IS HE DOING HERE? HE SHOULD BE DEAD!" yells Nico, marching over with Will; both wearing similar looks of loathing, disgust, and horror.

"Surprise, di Angelo," says Octavian, bored.

Will grips Nico's hand tighter. "Solace-di Angelo now," he says furiously.

"I don't understand. I saw you die! You died! He died, right?" rambles Nico.

Will nods. "You definitely died, you little piece of-"

"WILL! He's my husband," Rachel says, hissing the last part.

The look on my dads's faces are priceless.

"You married HIM?! Rachel!" exclaims Will, outraged.

Rachel rolls her eyes. "He's different now. Plus, he never died. He somehow managed to escape. Meet our son: Cyprian Macedonicus," declares Rachel.

Nico looks like he's going to be sick. "Have Percy and Annabeth seen him?" he asks.

"WHAT IN TARTARUS IS THAT LITTLE WORM DOING NOT DEAD?!" screams Percy, running over with Annabeth on his heels.

"It seems they have," says Octavian dryly.

As Percy and Annabeth yelled, Octavian's son walks over to me, and sticks out his hand.

"Hi, I'm Cyprian Macedonicus," says the boy.

I shake his hand. "Bianca Solace-di Angelo," I reply. Then he smiles. It's weird having boys smile at you. I kinda like it.

"No no no no no," yelps Nico, running over with Will.

"You can date ANYONE in the world BUT HIM," snarls Will, glaring at Octavian.

"No! No dating! Ever! Especially him!" corrects Nico.

I roll my eyes, face pink. "Dads," I say. Cyprian hasn't let go of my hand. Scratch that- Will walked through our joined hands.

"Have you seen the statues?" asks Cyprian, his magnificent green eyes lighting up. "I made them myself!"

"I haven't," I say.

"I can show you!" says Cyprian eagerly.

"Sure," I reply, face turning pink. No. I'm not blushing at all. I'm getting sunburned. That's why.

"No," says Will stubbornly.

Octavian rolls his eyes. "Let the kids go," he says.

"Nuh, uh. This Cyprian kid is half yours; I don't want him near our Bianca," insists Will.

"Bye dad," I say, walking off with Cyprian as my dads sputter angrily behind us. Maybe there is some hope for me.