The Glory That Is Rome (a Percy Jackson AU)

A New Regime

    "I can't believe he's doing this!" Calypso said. "The Vestal Virgins are the most important women in Rome. They are vital to Rome's stability."

    "And placing a Greek god above Jupiter is sacrilege," Leo said. "He's building a temple to Kronos that will be even larger than the temple to Jupiter Maximus."

     "Have you made the weapons?" Calypso asked.

    "I finished the first order," Leo said.

    "There's another order!" Calypso cried.

    "Yes," Leo sighed as he dipped a horseshoe into water.

   He set the newly forged horseshoe on a cooling rack and said, "There's another war."

   "Another war?" Calypso asked. "Against whom?

  "Against Romans," Leo said darkly. "There's a rebellion in Egypt. They want to put Zeus's daughter, Hebe, on the throne."

     "They'll never beat Luke," Calypso said, "but I still hate to know that Romans are fighting Romans. We haven't had a civil war since Marc Antony and Augustus fought over the empire."

    "And Egypt will fall once again," Leo said, "and this time it won't be spared."

    "If he's willing to kill the Praetorian Guard, then the Egyptians will be shown no mercy," Calypso agreed. 

     "He's paranoid," Leo said. "Festus would make a better emperor."

     "Yeah, I think even⁠⁠—" Calypso said.

   Her words were interrupted by a bloodcurdling scream that came from her own throat. All she was aware of was a sharp pain in her stomach. She felt more pain and raised her head to find herself on a couch. 

    "You fell," Leo said, breathing rapidly. 

    "Leo, I think the baby is coming," Calypso said. "Please, get a midwife!"

     Leo nodded and ran off. Festus approached Calypso and licked her cheek. She screamed as a spasm of pain gripped her. Nothing she had ever heard prepared her for the pain of childbirth. As she screamed, Festus began to howl like a wolf.

     Calypso wasn't sure how long it took for Leo to return with a midwife. It seemed like days, but it was probably less than an hour. Calypso wasn't aware of much aside from the pain in her abdomen and the fact Festus was whining and laying his head on his paws.

    "Festus, be quiet!" Leo snapped.

    Festus whined and slunk away, his tail between his legs. The midwife placed a wet strip of cloth on Calypso's sweaty forehead. She whispered prayers to the gods underneath her breathe as she examined Calypso's belly.

    "The child is ready to come," the midwife said. "When the next spasm comes, push."

    Calypso was about to nod, but pain seized her. She screamed and was aware of the midwife's instructions. She pushed and pushed, but the pain was overwhelming. Calypso was aware of nothing but pain and her own screams.

   When the pain subsided, she was aware of how weak and shaky she felt. She opened her eyes and saw blood between her thighs. Something was off. It was too quiet. All that Calypso could hear was the baying of Festus. 

   "How is my baby?" Calypso asked.

    The midwife looked at her. She didn't even have to show the body for Calypso to know that she had lost her firstborn.

   "You were badly injured in labor and your daughter was stillborn," the midwife said as Calypso struggled to breathe. "You will likely never be able to have another child."

      Calypso heard a scream. Was that her own voice? She was aware of Leo holding her.

   "I'm sorry," Calypso said. "I'll never be able to give you an heir."

    "I just want you," Leo said, though it was clear he had been crying. "Stay with me, Calypso."

     "Leo, do you think the gods are punishing me for what I did?" Calypso asked.

     Leo shook his head. He held her as she cried and didn't let go until she had fallen asleep. They only had each other and they would have to make that enough.