Hello, everyone.
Sorry for the delay, as I didn't update the story yesterday.
Lorenmar: Thank you for the comments! I really appreciate them. I'll try my best to update as soon as possible.
After the Second War
Chapter Four: A Whisper in Her Mind
Once the battle with the arai was over, the demigods began to tend to their wounds. After chugging down the nectar and ambrosia, they flocked to the bathhouses to refresh themselves. The Greeks went as well, so it was twice as crowded.
Reyna and the Seven began to count the casualties and pondered why the arai had left Tartarus just to fight them. The war was over!
"Maybe they just wanted revenge," Annabeth suggested. "Percy killed a whole lot of them in Tartarus," Annabeth kissed Percy.
Reyna felt like gagging, but she didn't, obviously.
"Maybe they wanted to dwindle down our numbers so the monsters can strike back and finish us for all," Hazel said thoughtfully.
"I highly doubt it," Piper pointed out, "Without a leader, the monsters are too stupid to group together and fight back. I mean, Percy killed the minotaur twice without a scratch."
Percy began to frown. He was probably remembering the time when his mother was kidnapped by Hades.
"All right," Reyna changed the topic. "Maybe we should go refresh ourselves. The demigods can leave for Camp Half-Blood tomorrow. I think we had enough messes to deal with today."
"Right," Frank agreed. "I heard that Bombilo (Bombilo is the two-headed coffee merchant from The Son of Neptune. I didn't make him up!) has made a fresh batch of coffee and muffins. Is anyone hungry?"
There were mumbles of agreement as the meeting dispersed.
Reyna bought a muffin and a caramel latte and entered her house. She tossed her dogs a few scraps of meat before settling down. The muffins were awesome.
Reyna cancelled the construction plans for the day. There was enough excitement to last a long, long time.
Reyna slipped into her swimsuit and dunked herself underwater. The water was crystal clear, apart from the thick, fluffy layer of flowery bubble bath floating near the surface.
It was six thirty in the evening, and in thirty minutes, everyone would be getting themselves into the Great Hall for dinner. Still, Reyna couldn't turn down the idea of a massive circular pool, a table full of refreshments and magazines all for herself.
Chunks of demon dust and blood fell from her body, flushed away by a swift current. The room smelled like jasmine and lilies of the valley.
Suddenly, there were two splashes near the other end of the pool and the sound of laughing. Reyna poked her head out of the water, annoyed. Wasn't everyone supposed to be cleaning up and ready for dinner?
Reyna treaded water, trying not to splash. She reached the other end of the pool, and saw Jason and Piper.
Reyna brushed the bubbles out of her hair. She took a deep breath.
"Hi," Reyna said.
"Oh, hey, Reyna!" Piper smiled. She shielded her face as Jason splashed some water towards her.
"Hey!" Piper protested. She splashed some water back. Soon, the two of them were giggling and kissing.
Reyna fought down the bile rising from her throat.
"Careful," Reyna warned. "The bubble bath I put in here... it might sting your eyes,"
Once Reyna was finished speaking, both Piper and Jason were scrubbing furiously at their eyes. Since their hands were soapy, they cringed as the pain increased.
Reyna handed them the last towel on the rack. Jason, of course, being the gentleman gave the towel to Piper first. Piper used one end to scrub her eyes, as the other end landed in the water.
Reyna shook her head quietly.
Reyna got up and fetched a new batch of towels. She quickly dried herself.
"Where are you going?" Jason asked.
Reyna felt a shiver up her spine. She remembered when Jason first came to Camp Jupiter. Whenever Reyna left, wether the matter was emotional, urgent, or even when she is using the bathroom, Jason would ask her where she is going. His tone sounded as if he actually cared for her, not just as a friend or sister, but as a lover.
"I need to get some paperwork done," Reyna replied, thanking the gods her voice didn't betray any hint of emotion.
"All right," Jason said distractedly as he leaned down to kiss Piper.
Reyna slipped into the Girl's Locker Room to change. She put on a Camp Jupiter T-shirt, jeans, buckled on her breastplate and pinned on her Praetor's cloak.
Suddenly, she slipped. The world tilted as she landed on her back, breath driven from her lungs. She stood up quickly, using a bench as support. She glanced at the ground.
It was a slip of paper.
Do you like Reyna?
She's kind of strict.
She's REALLY strict.
I wish Piper is the praetor.
Me2
I wish Reyna slips on a banana peel and dies.
OMG! Don't be mean!
The rest of the paper was torn away.
Reyna crushed the sheet of paper in her fist and hurled it into the trash can. How dare they!
Reyna brushed off her armor and strode out the bathhouse. Her ears were steaming and her face was crimson.
Piper as the praetor, eh?
Reyna froze in mid-step.
"What?"
Piper doesn't deserve to be praetor. She stole Jason from you. You know Jason better than anyone else does, and you deserve to be with him. She used her charmspeak to charm Jason. Pulverize her! She deserves it!
"No," Reyna was astonished at how sturdy her voice is. "No, Piper has won Jason over rightfully, and I will not challenge her,"
The voice faded away.
"Reyna?"
Reyna glanced behind her back. It was Hazel.
"Oh, Hazel. What do you want?" Reyna asked.
"It's almost dinner, and the aures made your favorite food. They asked me to tell you."
"Oh!" Reyna loosened. "All right. I'll be there soon. I need to wash my old clothes."
"OK," Hazel padded down the lane.
Reyna tossed her clothes in the laundry basket. The voice in her head... was it part of her curse? No, the curse must have been over. The moment of jealously in the bathhouse... Yes, that's the arai's curse. It's definitely over.
Is it?
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, though it might be a little boring.
Please R&R, and give some ideas! I'll hit a Writer's Block sooner or later, and I'll be needing a lot of help. Thanks!