Post Completion A/N: This story is set after 'The Lost Hero' and was originally a concept piece for what I thought might happen in 'The Son of Neptune'. Now it's grown into a monster all its own with a sequel to boot.

I have rated this T for good reason. There is adult language and some more mature themes as the story progresses. There's nothing that would warrant a higher rating, but I just wanted to let you know before you start reading and get offended.

Anywho, now that that's out of the way, please note that I do not own PJO or THO, they belong to Rick Riordan. Nor do I own the phrase 'Roman Roulette' which is a trademarked board game by Zibb; I'm just using the name as a good title for a work of fanfiction that I in no way will ever be paid for. The narrative and any characters I create are mine though, so be kind and don't copy. Please read and review. I really want to know what you think.

Prologue

Just a few more minutes, she thought with a bitter sense of triumph. Some damn triumph. Takes me weeks just to work myself up to this pittance.

She sat cross-legged on the floor of her earthen prison, eyes closed and still as stone. In fact, she hadn't stirred in nearly a month, but what was one month among eons? She was vaguely aware of her lupine jailor pacing agitatedly along the rim of the large reflecting pool. She could sense his annoyance and fear that she had not so much as twitched an eye or shifted a finger during the entire course of his watch. She allowed herself a brief mental smirk that just by sitting there, she was able to cause such nervousness and anxiety. As she let her concentration falter, she felt her strength quickly begin to ebb. With a silent curse, she forced herself back into strict focus. That microsecond lapse had probably cost her an hour's strength. She couldn't believe how strong that she-devil was. It certainly didn't help that she had to sit on and was surrounded by earth.

Fortunately, she hadn't wasted as much energy as she feared. She was ready to release her power after only a few short minutes. For the first time in a month, she allowed her consciousness to flow out. As much as she, like all of her family, detested the need for them, she reached out to the two demigods who would save her, save all of them if she was right. And she had to be right. She knew why she was here, could sense the horrifying presence growing less than 200 feet away. She knew she couldn't prevent his awakening, she could still see that much. But no one, not even one such as she could see to end of a Great Prophecy. Nor could her family fulfill that prophecy without their children, even her shortsighted ass of a husband's children. And so she broke her oath, and brought two dreamers who should never have met together to propose a quest.

Chapter 1

Percy

"Shit, we're about to break curfew! The harpies will be out for blood in a few minutes," Percy exclaimed. He and Annabeth were sitting under the moonlight on the beach overlooking Long Island Sound. Percy had been showboating for his beautiful girlfriend by forming aqueous replicas of her and himself and having them dance over the starlit waves. That was before Annabeth had made him lose his concentration by moving into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with no apparent intention of ever stopping. Percy had opened his eyes briefly during this exchange and said a silent prayer of thanks to Lady Artemis for the way the moon shone off the water and made Annabeth's magnificent blonde hair shine like silver. The irony of that prayer made Percy smile because he wasn't feeling very chaste at that moment.

His smile had made Annabeth pull away, "What's so funny, Seaweed Brain?" she'd admonished him with a glint of steel and a half-faked slap. Percy had raised his arms to fend off his vicious girlfriend, which is when he noticed the time on his new watch. Annabeth had gotten it for him as a belated birthday present a few months ago. Sadly, it did not house a magical shield, but it was pretty good at telling time. And right now it was telling him, they had about 5 minutes to get back to their cabins before they became mythological chicken feed…or at least until Annabeth did. The harpies didn't have much of a chance to hurt him in any way, at least not physically since he'd done an Achilles triple-gainer with a double twist. Though he was pretty sure if anything happened to Annabeth, it would be worse than any personal bodily damage he could envision. Hence the sudden profanity followed by a quick dash back to the cabins.

"I missed you, Wise Girl," Percy breathed when they had reached the doors to the Athena cabin.

"I've only been 30 minutes away all semester, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth smiled.

"Yeah, but you've been so busy with Olympus, and I've been concentrating on not embarrassing my step-dad by blowing up his school, it seems like we haven't had time to really connect until tonight."

"Well," she exhaled as she leaned in close, "we've got three weeks to catch up with no distractions. Goodnight, Percy." She kissed him again, and he was left standing in the fresh night air for another few moments while he tried to remember who he was. He loved the feeling and wanted it to last forever. Just goes to show the old saying is right, be careful what you wish for.

He heard a screech in the distance that brought him out of his reverie, and he sprinted down the row of cabins toward his own. As he entered, safely unnoticed by the feathery security patrol, he wished Tyson could have spent the winter break at Camp Half-Blood. He'd only been back since 9 o'clock that morning, but he'd already seen most of his friends. He'd played a volleyball match with his best friend Grover and his girlfriend Juniper against some of the Apollo kids. Will Solace was so short it almost seemed criminal to play against him at the net, especially against Grover with his goat-enhanced vertical. His sword training with Clarisse, daughter of Ares, was mostly friendly. She got really frustrated after her fourth training spear broke against his skin and stormed off muttering something about nuclear weapons.

He'd had an exhilarating ride on Blackjack, who was a little bit too enthusiastic to see him again. Percy was surprised when he looked in the mirror and his hair wasn't standing on end. Even Nico, son of Hades, had dropped by camp to say hello. He wasn't really one for normal camp activities so they'd gone on a short monster hunt in the woods. It was a pretty lackluster hunt, since all the monsters were afraid of Nico and his Stygian iron soul-reaping sword.

Tyson, Percy's Cyclops half-brother, was the only person he hadn't seen. He wished he hadn't destroyed the salt-water fountain that used to be in the corner. He would've liked to send Tyson an Iris message. But since he had no means of producing a rainbow and it was pretty late, Percy decided bed was his best option until the morning. Unfortunately, the morning would offer no possibilities or desire for filial communication.

As soon as Percy's head hit the pillow, he knew his dreams had been hi-jacked. He'd been hoping for some nice dreams of various non-camp sanctioned activities with Annabeth. Instead, the woman he saw when he dropped off was probably the last person he ever wanted to see.

"What the Hades do you want?" Percy spat as he turned his back on his vision.

"Show some respect, maggot." This statement gave Percy pause, not because he didn't expect the words, but the voice that said them was definitely male. Percy spun around to see that his dream contained a third person. The kid was tall with short blonde hair, startlingly blue eyes and small scar on his upper lip. He looked maybe a year younger than Percy and had those chiseled features that tended to turn the Aphrodite girls to mush. Percy didn't like him.

"Who're you callin' a maggot, pretty boy?" Percy turned, "Who the hell is this guy?"

The other kid stalked toward Percy menacingly. "I am a Child of Rome, Praetor of the First Legion, Slayer of the Titan Krios. I am Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, and you, insignificant mortal, will show respect and kneel before Lady Juno." He was right up in Percy's face at that point, and Percy was glad to see the kid, Jason, was slightly shorter than him.

"Well, mister 'Child of Rome'," Percy retorted, "I don't know who you're calling insignificant, and don't get me wrong, I'm happier than a pig in shit Krios is dead, but I'm Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, savior of Olympus, bearer of the sky, bane of Hyperion, disperser of Kronos." Okay, so Percy was still working on that moniker, killer or slayer didn't really work because a) he hadn't exactly done the deed, Luke had and b) Kronos wasn't really dead…anyway. "And if you think for one second that I'm going to kneel to this woman, Jason Gra-…Grace?" Percy faltered. "Did you say your name was Grace?"

"Yes, what of it?" Jason seemed just as taken aback as Percy.

"Well, I guess it's probably nothing. I guess Grace is a common enough last name. Probably just coincidence." Percy was lost in thought for a minute, then something else this Jason character had said registered. "Did you call her Juno?" as he pointed toward the Queen of the Gods. "And who did you say your father was? Jupiter?"

"Yes, this is Juno, Goddess of Marriage and Battle, and my father is her husband, Jupiter, King of the Gods," Jason boasted without thinking. He looked stricken for a moment, then turned and kneeled to Hera, "I'm sorry my lady, Queen. I meant no offense. I know you are understandably not fond of the mortal offspring of your lord husband. Please forgive me."

"Are you boys, quite finished?" Hera sounded exasperated.

Well, who cares, Percy thought. She's a bitch anyway.

"I heard that, Mr. Jackson." Hera admonished. "Now please, both of you must calm down and listen to what I have to offer you."