I came back to in a clinic, Lisa's clinic, oh gods. I tried very carefully to get up without making a noise, a curtain surrounded my bed so I knew I couldn't be seen. As my foot hit solid ground i could feel my body adjust faster, I was finally used to being above water. I double checked to make sure I was properly dressed as I opened the curtain, Lisa was there holding a clipboard.
"You can't stay above ground without getting hurt and you can't go in the water without causing troubles for your dad, and you have an appointment at The Senate Hall with a torn shirt. If you weren't a Daughter of Neptune, I'd think you were related to Ulysses. Or Hercules the way you've taken beatings," Lisa, stood firm infront of me. Her body language making it clear I was not leaving until she wanted me to.
"Lisa look, I was doing my job, I was protecting the bay from Sirens," I said, leaning against the hospital bed.
"Oh I know, Andromeda told me all about it. Quite impressive that one, can hear conversations underwater and everything," Lisa's fake and weary smile faded. "Sara I'm not going to beat around the bush, I'm tired of putting you back together. This is the second time this week, and you're body can only take so much. If you end up in my clinic again, you will retire from adventuring or join the legion full-time."
"Lisa, I'm sorry but my job requires me getting hurt sometimes," I said, standing firm.
"From monsters, yes. You know what happened in San Francisco? You were slammed against the rocks with such force that one had gone through you! And you continued on with protection efforts, practically alone! You are reckless and naive, you put yourself and others in danger to prove a point! If I was still in The Senate I would demand your resignation or full conscription immediately!" Lisa shouted, my ears rang with those words.
Was she right? Was I being to reckless? I had a job to do, but Lisa was right. If I had died in the bay, Andromeda would have too, the sirens would've ripped her apart. And Ares? Gods I should've seen through his trap, I dealt with his children enough to know he was bluffing. What was I doing? I'm a leader, what good would I do if I ran headfirst into death with an army behind me?
I took a deep breath, "Lisa, I'll try and be more careful. May I leave now? I have an appointment with the senate."
Lisa's clipboard fell to her side, "of course, Christina is waiting outside for you." Lisa stepped away, and slipped past another set of curtains.
I took a deep breath and walked into the waiting room, there was some legionnaires with training wounds. The was a man in a Pluto's Guard uniform with an arrow sticking out from his upper arm, if he wasn't bleeding I would've mistaken him from Keaton. I walked out of the clinic, Christina was standing there with her arms crossed. She was wearing a navy blue dress, with some golden necklaces and bracelets, and black heels. Her hair was put up in a bun with a trident pin.
"Messing with Sirens is one thing, Messing with Sirens in the water is another, but messing with Mermaids? Gods above Sara, it is ridiculous the amount of people I had to strong arm to gets this meeting! If they hear about this, you will be stripped of your Tribunus status!" Christina shouted at me, keeping her voice in a harsh whisper.
"I understand Christina, i didn't know the mermaid was there. There must be a nest in the bay, maybe you could petition dads legion to take care of it. You know how dangerous they are," I smiled looking over at her.
She took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching her fists, her heels clicked as she began walking down the street. I followed her, looking around at all the buildings. The Mars' Legion and Apollo's Arrow's building stuck out, they were the nicest buildings here, right in front of them was a statue of Emperor Augustus, The first Emperor of Rome, also know as Octavian Ceaser. When The First Roman founded this town, he decided to name it after The First Emperor and a personal hero of his.
Christina continued to walk with me at her heels, we left from the back of the town onto the stone road taking a left at the exit sign. We followed the road to another sign that read 'New Rome' in Latin, one of the two entrances to the senate building. The Senate Chambers was modeled after The Curia di Pompeo, it even had a seal of Caesar Julius where he had been systematically assassinated on the steps.
I followed Christina into The Senate Chamber looking out for any senators with knives waiting for me, it wasn't March but I was still wary every time I passed the seal of Julius. In the Chamber itself every Legatus with their according Tribunus was in their assigned seat. The chairs between William Boswell and Keaton Francis were open, above the empty chairs was a trident for Neptune's blessed. We quietly took our seats and waited for the Legatus overseeing the meeting to start it. Deonna Rosado stepped to the middle of the chamber floor, she was the Moon Legatus of Sol and Luna's Protectors, she was voted as leader for this meeting in the last one. She wore a black and silver dress like Selene's almost, her purple hair was worn down and she made that fact known by constantly flipping it around. To her side was Autumn Lauren, a quiet girl with black hair and brown eyes she was mainly there to support Deonna in her oversight.
"Ladies and gentlemen of The Senate! I am here to guide us in the matter of Sara Pearl staying in the legion!" Deonna shouted, her voice echoing off the chamber. Autumn handed her a piece of paper, "and to see if we can come to a mutual agreement to send Sara Pearl to The Sea of Monsters!"
Almost every Legatus turned to me, including Christina, the room had fallen silent besides the tapping on the oak tables in front of us. We sat there in silence for a moment.
"What do we get if we let you go?" A woman called from across the room.
I looked over and saw Dreamwalker, a woman wearing a dress and metal mask over her face. Next to her was Socerer, twirling an arrow between his fingers.
"I would like to nullify that request," Christina said, sitting up.
"It was brought before The Senate under orders of Sol, we cannot nullify it. We must vote, first we must let Sara plead her case," Deonna responded, holding up the letter revealing a mark of Sol.
I stood up, my heart pounded in my chest as I stepped onto the Senate Floor. Deonna and Autumn stood to the side as I stood front and center before the 12 Legatus' ready to plead my case. William, Christina, Keaton, Aaron, Luke, Deonna, Cristiano, Sheldon, Dreamwalker, Jennifer, Emily, and Sean all stared at me waiting to pass judgment.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of The Senate, I plead to stay apart of this system and apart of my father's legion. Ever since I was a girl I have fought and bled along side many of you as equals. As for my quest into the Sea of Monsters, I want to prove I belong here without any doubt! When is the last time a demigod set foot into the Sea with a map in hand, I want to follow the path of Odysseus and refind Ithaka!" I shouted, my voice bouncing back into my ears like a rubber ball.
"A group of demigods have recently gone into the Sea of Monsters on an expedition, they should be back today. If we grant your request you will take two demigods with you into this realm, no more. You will receive no gods help outside the realm and no legion help, you will be cut off. Are these terms understood?" Jennifer called from above me, her blazing green eyes cutting into my soul.
"Yes, I chose Andromeda Rose and Leonidas Shepherd," I replied.
"Then I believe we have matters to vote on," Deonna said, stepping to my side. "Who's all for keeping Sara instated as a member of The Senate as acting Tribunus for Neptune's blessed!"
Nine of the elven rose their hands after conferring with their respective, Tribuni. The only two that didn't were Sean Parker and Dreamwalker, no surprise there they both liked Olivia. Perhaps they were hoping Neptune would switch our places so I would be home bound.
"We have a verdict, Sara will keep her position as Tribunus of Neptune's Blessed. All in favor of sending Sara Pearl into The Sea of Monsters under the terms given by The Legatus Legionis from Mercury's Merchants?" Deonna shouted.
On this vote, Seven of the eleven voted yes giving me a majority vote. Of The Eleven Members the seven that voted yes were William Boswell, Keaton Francis, Jennifer Star, Sean Parker, Dreamwalker, Cristiano Santoro, and Luke Luci. Not seeing Christina's hand up hurt but I understood why.
"Then we have a verdict, Sara Pearl and the demigods chosen will go into The Sea of Monsters! And with that I bring this meeting to a close!" Deonna smiled wide, then she lead the room as they said in unison "Senatus Populus Que Romanus."
I stepped out of The Senate Chamber before anyone could stop me, I needed air in my lungs. The atmosphere in the room became suffocating after a moment, I crouched down with my hands on my knees leaning against the building. I had done it, I was one step closer to figuring out the secret of Zeno and Atticus Neptune.