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Stella listened to what Andy said and nodded. "Small gathering, but with you not as the center of attention. I think we can do that... and I can make a cake for you then. No song, and not a lot of people." Stella offered a small smile to her friend and gently pet Arbor more at that point. She was glad to hear there was a kitchen in the Big House, that she could probably use. She would make a point of asking Chiron later, since Mr. D sometimes still seemed to grumble around campers it seemed.

She wanted to ask Andy if there was anyone she wanted there... but she felt it was probably wrong to ask such a thing in the moment. She curled up a bit more and wiggled her toes into the sand. She wasn't sure what else to say. She knew Andy had it rough, and there was probably someone she wanted there more than anyone. They didn't talk about him a lot, but Stella knew that Andy and Arthur had been the best of friends.

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Leda ran as fast as she could, but even without the exertion, the air in Tartarus burned her lungs. It was like breathing in acidic fumes, a heavy and stinging smoke that left her insides feeling scoured. Her limbs were practically lead, as she stumbled to a halt, almost tripping and dropping Mads in the process, narrowly coming to a safe stop. When Mads got off, Leda collapsed on the ground, breathing heavily, her head woozy and her ears ringing. She desperately needed water. "Perf, gimme a mo'," she mumbled.

Her face was red - redder than it had been in death, the unnatural paleness that had seemed to cling to her momentarily dispelled. Her feet felt like they were on fire, and her shins ached. She needed to stretch more. There were a lot of things she needed to be doing more. "Any chance you could pass me some water?" she then asked, once she'd managed to catch her breath a bit more.

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Nancy frowned. She wasn't exactly surprised that Leandra was lying, but it would have been a nice change of pace to be able to skip over the trial and go right to the sentencing. She took the paper from the legionnaire, and crumpled it in her fist. Had she been able to, she would have burst it into flames. "Of course," she muttered. She didn't meet Zeke's eyes.

"State your case. You have five minutes. And I'll remind you, we have the Styx's daughter here. She already knows if the oath you swore to New Rome has been broken." Her eyes narrowed. Whatever Leandra wrote down, it didn't matter. Niah had to be able to feel that Leandra had broken her oath. And that was enough. That was enough for Nancy to see her punished, to see the worst person she'd ever met in her life undone. There was no way that Leandra could get out of this.

She was white knuckling the paper now, her arm trembling slightly.

In that moment, she imagined Leandra cursed, transformed into a hideous monster and cast into the sea, just like the tales of old. If she asked Apollo, would he do that? If she prayed to Jupiter, would he come down and dispense his justice?

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"I 'aven't gahne back to Galway sence we mahved to de US. It's naht a super large ahr noisy place like de cities and all around 'ere. It's a nice place to be," she added, as he made the comment about the food and all. She laughed a little bit about the comment with regards to the whole potatoes being in a lot of foods. "Dere was de great famine dat typically is called de potato famine if dat says anythin about 'ow much potatoes matter in de food."

Janelle hadn't really been paying much attention to the conversations around her aside from the one between her and Isaac. She just sort of shrugged a bit. She didn't really know a lot about Andy, aside from the fact that she was Demetri's half sister. Other than that, she knew next to nothing about her. So it wouldn't surprise her too much to know that Andy's birthday was soon or anything like that.

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Full glad that the new mini poseidon was also on board with the idea of a Leda welcome back party, Demi grinned before taking a sip of his drink. Kiera, ofcourse, was more concerned with actually getting Leda back than any party they could be throwing, but that didn't mean she wasn't interested either. As usual Alexios made it all about himself, Demi wondered if the god was capable of doing anything but that,but given who his mother was he somehow doubted it. Even the romantic gestures he did for Demi felt like it was more to do with Alexios than anything else. While he didn't mind it, they felt like they were a way for the god to make himself appear better than Zeke, more worthy than Zeke. But that's where Alexios missed the mark every time. He wasn't with Zeke for money, or anything the demigod could do or provide. He was with him because even behind every snide comment, biting remark, and personal jab that they shot at each other, it was all a veil for how they truly felt.

He liked Zeke for the time he was willing to offer him, the company of silence when the world wanted them to scream, the way that even in the most basic of sense all they had to do was look at one another and understand what it was the other was feeling. To an extent, he knew how Kiera must've been feeling. If he knew Zeke was in Tartarus, hell even if he was in the Underworld, there would be no lengths Demi wouldn't go through to get him back. He'd fight every god if he had to. By the time Demi came back from his own thoughts, Alexios was droning on about the parties he could do still. He laughed, amused at how long the god could speak until an idea clicked inside his head. A mischievous smile appearing before he spoke. ”Well then, after all you are THE Party God. Why don't you throw Leda and Madalyne one? It should be easy for someone of your skill, two separate themes to match the Roman and Greek aesthetics and traditions while taking into account the different interests of both the returning demigods. Right?”

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Location: Camp Half-Blood

Skills: N/A

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"Oh, I do hope they're safe at college." That was probably nerve-wracking. Being a college kid and a demigod! Tests, studying, and having to watch out for monsters. Seraphina wondered if she could ever be able to do that now. Back when she didn't notice monsters it was easy. Yet how much trouble would it become trying to be a student out there...hiding from monsters....ick no thanks she'll probably just be a year around camper.

Sera giggled a bit with a nod of agreement. "Oh yes. The all powerful party god should be able to manage such a thing. Unless that is far to difficult to handle." Two parties for a normal person would be difficult. Alexios was a god, plus this was what he was good at. Probably could snap his fingers and have everything set up perfectly. Not the most exciting power to have as a god.

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@Kirah@Morose@KazAlkemi The legionnaire eventually went back to Leandra's side as she wrote down her second response on the sheet of paper that was given to her. It didn't take her to long to write what she wanted to and handed it back to the soldier, who walked back over towards Nanc the note said. 'Tartarus promised me power. You have already made up your mind and get on with your sentencing.' Was what the letter said simply the rest of the Senate waited silently to get the vote started.

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"We can certainly do something small for you then, nothing to big or anything and no singing." Kristin said to Andy reassuring her that only a small group of people would like to go. "Is there anyone in particular you'd like to invite, and what kind of cake did you want?" She asked knowing that there were quiet a few cakes out there that people usually liked having, Kristin knew she was close to Arthur but he hadn't come back to camp for awhile now for some reason to be with his father.

"If you were given the chance would you ever want to go back home?" Isaac asked Janelle looking at her curious if she ever did miss her home, he knew that he certainly did miss going back home to see his non demigod siblings and his mother. But he chose to stay here in camp all year long to keep them all safe from monsters. "Also did you want to do anything else today?" Isaac asked Janelle.

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Alexios started to think for a moment as he looked at Demi and started to catch on he just wanted him to leave most likely. "You want me to leave and plan everything huh?" Alexios said to Demi looking at his future husband. "But if you really want me to plan it sure if it'll make you happy." Alexios said as he stretched slightly. "Buuuut party planning is boring doing it alone!" Alexios said groaning slightly while looking at Demi with puppy dog eyes.

Kiera laughed slightly at Alexios' antics as she leaned back slightly while looking at him and Demi for a moment, she really did hope that they'll make a really good party for Leda and Madalyne for surviving down in Tartarus for so long. "It'll make me really happy if you worked on it though." Kiera said while looking at the god, as he complained about having to work on the whole party alone.

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Madalyne quickly got off of Leda's back as she looked around the swamp it looked rather creepy looking Leda looked pretty tired, as she quickly dug into her makeshift pack out of monster pelts. She pulled out one of the canteens of water that they had and handed it to Leda. "Here you go." Madalyne said to Leda, she took a moment to look around the swampy water near by looked pretty deep, she then paused for a moment and squinted her eyes seeing something in the distance.

"I see something over there." Madalyne said pointing it out, from the looks of it appeared to be a hut of some kind, she didn't see any lights or anything really. "Maybe theres some supplies and stuff there and maybe a moment for you to rest up a bit to." Madalyne suggested to Leda while looking over at her, knowing that her friend was a bit winded after carrying here for so long.

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The trail progressed much like Zeke had expected it to. Leandra didn’t want to die and was doing whatever she could to prevent that end. Niah called her out for it, and Nancy was being diplomatic about it all. Some might call it cold-hearted, but Zeke thought Nancy’s lack of emotion was aiding her rather than hindering her. It was the sign of a good leader. To be able to think rationally about something rather than emotionally. Of course, Zeke also knew how much Nancy wanted Leandra dead. So there was that.

Zeke watched Leandra write down her rebuttal and listened when it was spoken out loud by another. Power. Of course, it always comes down to power. Zeke couldn’t help but roll his eyes. People were never satisfied. Maybe that was everyone’s fatal flaw.

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The sand between her toes felt warm... but it was summer so it made sense that it would feel that way. She could hear the waves crash on the shore as her thoughts drifted for a moment. She knew today was a big day over in the Roman camp, as well as she was happy to hang out with Andy, but she wanted to get her hands in the dirty and into the strawberries again soon. She could feel her hands itching to get dirty again, to feel earth between them, to manipulate the plants, to make them grow bigger.

Stella had chosen not asked the question, but it seemed that Kristin was willing to ask it. She turned her head to look at Andy as she was asked about whom she wanted there to be at the small party, and frowned a little. It wasn't that she was worried about whom might be invited, she was more worried about how her friend might react, or what she might say or think. There was enough going on... and this as suppose to be something to help lift her spirits, not drag them down.

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"Mm, thanks," Leda said, a bit out of breath, as she took the water from Mads. She guzzled down a small portion of the canteen, not wanting to drink too much of it - water was hard to come by in Tartarus, and the water that they did have access to was painful to drink. Still, she needed it, or she wouldn't be able to keep on running. She'd drunk about eight ounces before she closed the canteen, offering it back to Mads. Her heart was still pounding, but her energy would come back soon enough. She might've been dead, but she was young, and a demigod. She recovered quickly.

She then turned her head, looking in the direction that Mads had pointed out. It took her a moment, before she saw what looked like a little hut. Her stomach briefly churned with anxiety and dread. No one nice lived in Tartarus. So the hut definitely belonged to some sort of monster that would love to kill some demigods in its spare time. "You think anyone's home?"

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Nancy's eye twitched. Somehow, seeing Leandra immediately pivot from claiming she wasn't guilty to now just confessing that she had been working for Tartarus was completely infuriating. Was this all a game to her? Was this a joke? Did she not realize what was at stake - did she not realize the consequences of her actions?? Had Nancy been able to burst into flames, the trial room would have been burnt to a crisp by now, the anger radiating off of her almost palpably hot.

In that moment, Nancy made a silent wish for Jupiter to curse Leandra.

She knew the king of the gods would be able to hear her, if he chose to listen. She knew that he had cursed many a mortal before and those stories ended only in tragedy and pain. But Nancy didn't care. She wished a fate worse than death upon Leandra, her throat so tight she could scarcely find her voice, only just wishing for a lightning bolt to appear from the heavens and split Leandra in two.

"She confesses to having been offered power by Tartarus. She asks for us to proceed with the sentence," Nancy said to the Senate, lifting her eyes from the note. "Are there any objections?"

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Andy sat on the beach and pulled her legs in close wrapping her arms around her knees. She put her chin on top of her knees. "I want you there, and Stella, and my brother." Who else was she friends with? "Marygold, and Zeke." She added. There were others she wanted there, but they were dead, like Leda and Ash.

"After we get Mads, she is invited too. And I know she'll want her friends so Nancy and Niah." That felt good. "If we can...if he can...I want Arthur there too." She finally said. She had no idea if he could. She hadn't heard from him.

"As for cake," She said pivoting. "I don't really know. I haven't had cake much. What's your favorite?" She asked Stella. Andy had eaten a few cakes at other parties over the years, but it had been a long time.



Some tension left Niah's shoulders, but it seemed to build in her stomach, which twisted around. Why had Leandra pivoted? She didn't know. Niah was fine with sentencing Leandra, ending this whole thing, though she wondered how the prophecies with her would handle the change. What would happen?

"No objections." Niah said officially. God, she wanted this to end. She wanted them to move on, and save Mads, and go home. She wanted things back the way they were before New Rome fell. It would never be that way again and she knew it. For now she had to get through this until they found a new way to be normal.

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Demetri was full glad to see Seraphina joining in on egging the Party God on. He was a firm believer that everyone needed to be humbled every now and again, especially the gods. Besides, he humbled Zeke well enough even before they began dating and vice versa, so if Alexios truly wished to be with Demi, then he'd have to learn that being razzed would be a massive part of the package, especially since he had no true care for the gods themselves. When Alexios began to speak, Demi cocked his head to the right confusion clear across his face.

He looked over towards Sera before looking back towards Alexios. Demi mock scoffed as if he was insulted by the insinuation that he was trying to rid himself of the god. ”You truly think me so duplicitous that I'd devise all this just to be rid of you? You give me too much credit, if I truly wanted to be rid of anyone's presence I'd just leave or tell them to.” He took a moment to look around, eyeing the area with curiosity. ”Besides, I didn't even know you had to plan a party. I assumed you snapped your fingers and it just worked itself out. You mean to tell me you have to do actual work for these?”

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Location: Camp Half-Blood

Skills: N/A

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"I'm sure if you just asked politely for someone to help you plan, they'd say yes." Of course Sera knew that Alexios just wanted Demi to stick around but you can't just expect such a thing to happen without asking! "Hmn, guess even some gods do have to do a bit of work instead of throwing things around and saying they did their job." Grabbing her drink to sip on. How many of the gods actually did work anymore? Seems like none really, they just played with their all powerful magic and the deed was done right then and there. Nothing to worry about at all if they didn't need to go through a bunch of hoops to complete a task. Sera wished she could do that sometimes. Just snap her fingers and be done with it. Like doing chores! That'd make things so much easier.

She put her cup back down on the table. "Guess since it'll take time to plan... that just means it'll be spectacular instead of subpar if it was only a quick flick of the wrist." Which a perfect party was deserved after coming out of a pit.

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Isaac posed an interesting question to her. Whether she would actually want to go back to her hometown or not. A year ago, she probably wouldn't have hesitated to say yes and in a heartbeat. Now though, not so much. Thinking about it now, there wasn't even really a reason for her to go back anymore. She did have any friends over there, the few family members that she did have that were still there had chosen to not help her or Jason out back then at all either.

"Hahnestly? pPahbably naht. At least naht to live dere, maybe to visit fahr a lettle while. But I dahn't really 'ave mmuch in de way o' family over dere anymahre," was the response she ended up settling with. There wasn't a whole lot more that she could really say about it. With regards to his other question, she just shrugged. "Naht really, I'm ahpen to suggestions."

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@Kirah@Morose@KazAlkemi The rest of the Senators within the room all shook their heads they were ready to get everything done and over with and conclude their session and go about their duties. "We are ready to proceed." One of the senators had said looking at Nancy, then another spoke up with a suggestion for Leandra's sentencing. "Since in the reports you tried to kill her and she cannot die as far as we know. So I suggest we exile her from New Rome permanently any and all retired legionnaires outside of New Rome to have no contact with her and decline any help if she approaches them." The Senator spoke, looking at the other Senators and Nancy,

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Kristin nodded slightly as she listened to Andy as she listed for those that she wanted to be there for her birthday. She wasn't sure how to get into contact with Arthur but once they save Leda and Madalyne from Tartarus then they can throw her that party. "Sounds good to me we'll be sure that they come over." Kristin said as she gently patted Arbor a little bit behind the ears as she looked at Stella wondering what she liked cake wise as well to personally she always did prefer chocolate cake was always her go to. Kristin buried her feet into the sand and watched the ocean in front of them as the others spoke.

Isaac nodded slightly at Janelle not really wanting to go back home now without any family really back home to tie someone down to really go back. He started to think for a moment what they could do together since things were pretty quiet around camp as far as he knew anyway. "Well what is your favorite thing to do at camp and we can do that?" Isaac asked Janelle

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"Wellll yeah you do have to make plans like what do they like, colors, decorations, catering all that needs to be planned just need to know what your friends are into and i'll make it all happen." Alexios said looking at Demi gently ruffling his hair slightly and smiled. "You probably know them best any info would be helpful, you can't have a bland and boring party after all." Alexios told Demi.

Kiera shook her head slightly as she listened to Alexios speaking she didn't want to insult the god or anything and end up being turned into a chicken or something for pissing the god off. She turned to Sera and Demi wondering what the two of them were going to be doing for the rest of the day. "So what are you two going to be doing today?" Kiera asked her sister and Demi deciding to ignore the god before her for now.

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Madalyne looked over at Leda asking if anyone was home and gave a slight shrug. "We could check it out we could use the supplies as well to if there are any in there." Madalyne said to Leda, they were running low on water and aside from the food she caught earlier in the day it wouldn't last either. "C'mon." Madalyne said as she started to make her way over towards the hut, as they got closer she noticed that it was actually pretty large.

There was a small crack within the door for them to squeeze through as Madalyne slowly and quietly went through and started to look around, it looked like no one was home which was a good thing then. "Good thing it looks like no one is home whoever lives in here is pretty large maybe twenty feet tall give or take." Madalyne said to Leda as she went towards the fireplace which was out, but she went to check to see if it was warm or not as she held her hand out. "It still feels warm." She told Leda as she looked at her.

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As soon as the suggestion came out to exile Leandra was presented, Zeke looked at his sister. He had a feeling she wasn't going to go for it, but what was the alternative? They couldn't kill her, at least they didn't have a known way to kill her. They couldn't cage her and lug her around for the rest of time. After all, Nancy had plans to leave New Rome. She wanted to move on with her life and had every right to.

Zeke's leg twitched under him and he rubbed the back of his neck. That anxious, restless feeling of sitting around doing nothing started to take over and he glanced around to see if he was the only one. His mind wandered to Demi, thinking about Alexios and all the time those two were spending together. Zeke frowned and brought his gaze back to the girl tied up. He glared at Leandra, but he wasn't really seeing her.

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Demis' nose scrunched as Alexios ruffled his hair. He quickly put it back into place as he thought to himself that the only person who was allowed to do that was Zeke. Sure they were betrothed to Alexios, but that wasn't his decision. ”Lookin’ at the wrong demigod there buddy. I've only ever been invited to a party as a prank. So I couldn't help you if I wanted to. Kiera on the other hand is one of the returneds girlfriends soooo she’d be much more help than I ever would.” Who knows, maybe even Searphina would volunteer to help plan the party. It could be a whole Poseidon cabin deal.

At Kieras question however, Demi turned to look towards the direction that the trial was happening. ”Well, I had planned to have a nice morning with Zeke, but between Hedge and this trial it might take longer than I thought.” He said before blowing a puff of air up at his fringe. He'd just have to climb that mountain another time when he had the chance. ”What about you two fishes?”

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"Funny enough, strawberry. My dads make this really good strawberry one for my birthday every year, even if Strawberries aren't in season for my birthday. They will make sure to freeze some of the best ones from our greenhouse to save for the cake every year for me... or... at least they did..." Stella trailed off at that, and felt guilty. This was suppose to be helping Andy feel better, and yet she was just making herself feel bad as well. This past birthday she hadn't been home, so she had missed out on the cake that she was speaking of, and it made her long for home.

"We'll get her back... and Niah's nice. I think the three of them would be lovely additions. I can ask Marygold for you later, if you want, since I see her daily." Stella offered Andy a small smile and dug her toes into the sand again. She wiggled them around for a moment as she let her thoughts drift off a bit, about the task ahead, since Andy had brought up Mads. She was still a bit nervous about the idea of going to the Underworld... but she did now have a new item to aid her in their quest.

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Location: Camp Half-Blood

Skills: N/A

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It sounded like Demi just wanted to get out of planning the party, but it probably would help more to have a more experienced person around to help plan that actually knew everything. Unless said person couldn't do so. "Oh well I was probably just going to do some training but I can help plan a party. I've helped my uncle do parties for his friends. Mostly just carrying things around but Im sure I can do a lot more than that." Sera had been young, so she just put paper plates on tables and set up decor where she could reach.

Sera went to get up, only to bump someones elbow. Food flew and covered the poor demigod in oatmeal, syrup, and bacon. "I'll....need to go shower now..." Being clumsy was one thing but being accident prone was another, probably all tied in with her clumsiness. Oh well. "Excuse me." She did not like feeling sticky at all. Hurriedly going to clean herself.

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"Strawberry sounds good." Andy smiled. "Let's go do something else now. This has been a nice breather, but I'm ready for real exercise." Andy said, unfolding herself. Enough wallowing. She didn't like to spend too much time thinking about stuff like this. That was part of why she didn't like birthdays.

As she stood and let the blood flow through her limbs again Andy wished for things to go back to when she had first come to camp. She liked Stella, so she quickly squashed that wish. But to gain Stella's friendship she had lost so many others. Was that a fair trade? Andy hadn't been happier before camp. Camp was honestly the happiest she had ever been, but that had been before the quests.



Niah didn't know if she liked that sentencing. It was frustrating that death was not an option. Having Leandra loose in the world seemed like a dangerous choice. However, other than keeping her a prisoner they had little recourse.

She looked at Nancy and gave a small nod of agreement. Her face was set into stone, her lips slightly downturned in displeasure. There had to be a better option but one didn't come to mind. If they could block her from consorting with monsters and gods, it might be a more apt punishment. Force the Mist to cloud her. An Oath, though she was already a proven Oathbreaker, one that bound her tight enough might keep her from further damaging things.

"I suggest we have her swear a new oath that will cause great harm if she breaks it. It would be an Oath of non-aggression. If we let her loose she may still find allies that are not from New Rome."

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Leda raised an eyebrow as they got closer, seeing the massive size of the hut. The ceilings were easily twice as tall as what Leda was used to - she tilted her head, trying to judge what sort of monster might call this place home. A cyclops seemed too small. Whatever lived here must've been giant. But maybe that would work to their advantage - Leda was fast, and something this big was probably slow.

And hopefully had a giant stash of food that they could steal from.

So when Mads went in through the crack in the door, Leda followed suit. "Any idea what lives here?" Leda whispered, keeping her voice low - especially when Mads revealed the fireplace was still warm. This home, this lair, clearly wasn't abandoned. And knowing their luck, they were going to have to fight their way out of it. There was almost no chance this thing would be friendly.

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Nancy frowned slightly at the reminder that killing Leandra was not an option. She was not particularly a fan of exile - it left too much of an opening for Leandra to hurt them again. She believed more in handling Rome's enemies permanently. If they were a shade in the Underworld, only then could their threat be neutralized. Her eyes met Zeke's for a brief moment, and she imagined that he shared her objections - that her brother could understand her rage in a way few others could.

Niah's solution was better - an oath with grave consequences. The greatest oaths that could ever be sworn were governed by Niah's mother, the River Styx. Even gods had to abide that vow. Breaking it was dire for a deity - Nancy had to imagine that whatever wrath the Styx had to bring down upon a mortal, it would be a greater pain than she could ever devise herself. And in the absence of Mads, her co-praetor, the final say of the sentencing came down to her.

"As the leader of New Rome's legion, I find you, Leandra, daughter of Cupid, guilty on all counts," Nancy began. "I sentence you to die."

"As death will not yet take you, I sentence you to exile. You are not to come within a hundred miles of New Rome, Camp Jupiter, or her legion. You are not to have any contact with or aid from members of the Twelfth Legion, past, present, and future. As terms of your exile, you will swear an oath on the River Styx of non-aggression, and your tongue will be forever forfeit."

She curled her hands tightly into fists. "If you will not swear this oath, or if you violate the terms of your Exile, then I will see you dismembered limb by limb, and scattered across the Sea of Monsters to live out the rest of your cursed existence as little more than viscera. "