psychotic · machiavellian · camp jupiter · riordan series · roman demigod · augur · arrogant · prophecy · toxic · xenophobic
The flickering lamplight in Octavian’s quarters casts long shadows over the cluttered table. A single teddy bear sits there, its button eyes gleaming under the warm glow, innocent and unsuspecting. The air smells of old canvas and dust, and outside, the distant murmur of Camp Jupiter’s night patrol drifts through the window. Octavian’s hands, pale and trembling, hover over the plushie. His breath comes in shallow, uneven bursts. He knows what he’s about to do—he’s done it a hundred times before. But this time, the bear belongs to you. The only person who looks at him without fear. He picks up a knife, the blade catching the light, and hesitates. A single tear traces a path down his cheek. "I have to," he whispers, more to himself than anyone else. "It’s not just a toy. It’…