A/N: Hey guys. It's the middle of the night... I don't really have much to say. Um, if you have any questions, review or PM! Now READ!
Reyna lay in her bunk in the Third Cohort barrack. She couldn't sleep – Vivian was talking it up to her boyfriend, Colton, in the middle of the room. The girls weren't allowed on the guys' side of the room, and the guys weren't allowed on the girls', but Viv and Colton were making it clear that the center was fair game. Reyna wondered if she could switch Cohorts. Maybe the Fifth would suit her better. At first, she'd tried to convince herself that she'd learn to love Hank and sister arguing at 3 a.m., but now she was pretty sure she didn't belong here. Gwen and Octavian were the only people to have really taken the time to talk to her in the past three weeks. Octavian seemed nice enough, if she looked past the fact that he knew everything about her, probably things she didn't even know herself, like who her father was.
And all her ever wanted to talk about the dirt on the Fifth. Not that Reyna could really complain. She knew everything now – Michael Varus had lost the Legion's Golden Eagle in a 1980 something quest to fulfill a prophecy. He was in the Fifth, so the Fifth was disgraced. That was the gist of it, although Octavian's versions got more and more extreme each time she talked to him.
Reyna rolled over to her side, shifting her pillow. Under it, she heard the letter from Hylla crumpling. Her sister was getting along great with the Amazons, which she resented. She had promised to find out more about their heritage, like, what happened before they came to Circe's Island.
Hylla had said she remembered Reyna as a baby, a house, a home, maybe. They had been sure Circe could tell them more, but she never said anything but, "You're fortunate that your father entrusted me with the two of you. You might not have survived if he didn't." Then she would smile and walk off. Great parenting skills.
Reyna felt her probatio tablet, yawning. She had to get rid of this thing. She wondered who her mom was. She'd narrowed it down to about a million female goddesses. Gwen had told her that Nina had said that she thought she had an idea, but she wouldn't say anything more. It was so frustrating for Reyna to watch the other kids get claimed. It seemed like less and less of them were wearing probatio tablets. If Reyna had come knowing who her mom was, if Circe had told her, she would've had to wear on of these in the first place. And she didn't see herself committing any "heroic deeds," or even staying at camp for a whole year.
Pulling her blankets over her, trying to ward off the chill, and the sounds of Vivian and Colton going at it in the middle of the floor, Reyna drifted off to sleep.
When she woke up the next morning, she headed straight for the baths. It was so early, that no one was in any of the showers or tubs, or spa. She steered clear of the spa – the whole place screamed Circeat her – but the sauna looked inviting enough.
She knew exactly how it worked, and soon her "Aches,painsandcaresmeltedaway," exactly as advertised on the door.
By the time Reyna got back to the cabin, only Hank, and a few others whose names she was struggling to remember, were left.
Lacey, who looked even younger than her, stared in awe as Reyna combed out her long black hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. She left that bangs loose like she always did. Hylla was always telling her it looked better that way.
Hank smile at her, and Ash grinned like an idiot. Reyna tried to smile at the ragtag bunch – they were outcasts as much as she was in the Third – Hank because he probably hadn't had a choice because of his sister, and his daddy, and the rest probably just hadn't known not to go Third, like she hadn't.
"It's time for breakfast," Hank said.
Reyna nodded.
They walked past the other four cohorts' barracks, and then the Fifth's, which was cozily situated by the dumpsters and the place where the keepers usually dragged Hannibal the elephant's dung.
"Are the Fifth cohort's barracks over there because of –"
"The Eagle?" Hank finished. "Yeah. Just don't let Vivian hear you talking about it. The only person who ever does it Octavian and some others from the First. They have a reputable mean streak."
"I'll keep that in mind," Reyna said.
In the Mess Hall, Reyna spotted Gwen talking to Keith. There went her usual meal-mate. Octavian and Jason were sitting in a corner, nibbling on sausages.
"Hey," Reyna said when she sat down. She'd procured a banana nut muffin from one of passing aurae,and she broke a piece off, putting in her mouth. Walnuts – yuck. Circe had always made them with pecans.
Octavian smiled. "Good morning, Reyna," he said.
"Yeah," Jason agreed, then mumbled something like traitor under his breath.
They didn't say anything else to her, just continued with their argument – what was going to be on the next Roman arts test. They fought like brothers. Hank had told Reyna that Octavian hated the Fifth, and Jason was definitely from the Fifth – proud of it, too. That didn't make sense. But, then when Gwen, from the Fifth, had started talking to Reyna, Octavian had cozied right up to her. Was it because he was trying to steal her?
Reyna's suspicions were confirmed when Gwen came over and sat down. Octavian glared, whispered, "MichaelVarus," very audibly, then he struck it up with Reyna.
"So," he said, "what are you planning on doing during your free time today?"
"I… um," Reyna started, completely sure of her options. Certain days Terminus was ticked at campers and wouldn't let them through to the city… She was still sore from Deathball yesterday, so extra training was out of the question.
She was saved from answering when Gwen said, "No free time today, kids. Keith just called a meeting – during free time."
"I don't recall anyone asking you, Gwendolyn," Octavian said.
"Gwen's just giving us a head's up," Jason defended. "It's called beingfriendly, you goat head."
Octavian ran a hand through his hair. "Last I checked, I don't have any horns." He smiled a little at his own – not funny – joke. "Maybe tomorrow, Reyna."
"Yeah," she agreed lamely.
Jason and Reyna had the same sword-skills class, so they left the dining room at the same time, like they had been for the last week.
"Hank says Octavian doesn't like the Fifth," Reyna said as they exited the building. They weren't attracting as many stares as they had been – the new girl and the son of Jupiter. "How come he's friends with you?"
"I wouldn't say that he's friends with me." Unlike other people Reyna had asked, Jason didn't have a problem with her prying. "It's more like an I'm-nice-to-him-and-he-doesn't-dump-on-me kind of relationship."
"Kindness doesn't seem to make a difference when it comes to Gwen," Reyna remarked.
"Octavian likes to have powerful friends. Gwen's not powerful. He needs her about as much as I need – mascara, or some other girly thing, like a bra."
Reyna laughed. "So, you're not in it for the life-long companionship?"
"Not really. I mean, it's kind of sad when you see Octavian strutting around the place like he owns it, but the only friends he has are at least ten years older than him. He's not thatbad, once you get to know him. About as annoying your average Chihuahua. So, what were you planning on doing during free time?"
"I don't know," Reyna admitted, "but it doesn't really matter now."
"Put your back into it!" Carson ordered the campers, "especially you, Reyna. You need some muscle on you."
Reyna loped her dummy's head off with one stroke and stared at Carson in defiance. How'sthat?She wasn't sure if it was his British accent or just his attitude that made her imagine his face on the cloth head.
"Nice one, rookie. Beginner's luck. Watch the son of Jupiter over there."
Everyone turned to look at Jason, who calmly skillfully disconnecting everything from his third dummy, leaving only the torso on the metal rod, which made it look like it had a stick up its butt. Then he stuck his tongue out at Reyna. Maybe he had a stick up his butt as well.
Reyna rolled her eyes, and turned back to her dummy as everyone laughed. Although she wouldn't be the first to admit it, Reyna knew she wasn't the best at sword fighting. In an actual battle, though, she knew exactly what to do, like it was instilled in her blood. Too bad there weren't too many actual battles…
Jason found Reyna after class was over, even though she was trying to slouch her embarrassment off by being the last to leave the locker room. "That was some pretty awesome sword swinging you were doing in there." He laughed, the scar next to his mouth puckering.
"Shut up," Reyna mumbled, looking at the ground. "I'm not a natural-born sword fighter, like you. And besides, I've only been here a few weeks. Give me a chance."
"Hey, I've got an idea," Jason said suddenly, his blue eyes lighting up – not that Reyna was watching them or anything. "How about tomorrow, during free time, I coach you?"
"I don't know," Reyna said, stretching a sore muscle in her shoulder. "I'm too sore. Besides, Octavian acted like he wanted to spend free time with me."
"Octavian acted like he wanted to spend free time with you. Are you too weak to do a little extra training?"
Reyna was about to say "yes," when the horns sounded outside the principia.
"Crap," they both said at the same time, and took off running.
Jason and Reyna were both panting by the time they took their places at roll call.
"Hank Hollis," Keith called out. When Hank raised his hand, he moved on. "Vivian Hollis. Reyna Bernard." Reyna raised her hand.
After roll call was finished, Nina called the meeting to order. "This morning, we received a distress call from the Amazons."
The cohorts murmured excitedly. Everyone seemed to know what this meant except for Reyna. All she could think about was her sister. Hank turned to her. "This could mean a quest," he explained.
Someone had told Reyna about quests. If there was going to be one, there was no way she was going to be left behind. Not when Hylla was in danger.
"They requested our help – one camper's help, specifically. The senate came to a draw as to whether to issue a quest or not. All in favor, say aye!"
"AYE!" Almost every camper tried to out-scream or deafen their neighbor.
"Those not in favor, say nay."
It was silent aside from a few centurions stating "nay" unenthusiastically.
"Alright, Octavian." Keith pulled a large lumpy sack from behind a building. It looked like a small house.
"You have that many stuffed animals in your praetor's house?" Nina asked.
"No," Keith retorted, "I got these from Gwen."
Everyone laughed and Gwen turned beet red.
Octavian stepped up to a small altar off to the side. He held a knife, and, if you squinted, he actually looked a little dangerous.
He murmured several things. Then snatched a teddy bear from Keith, which he had taken from the bag and plunged the knife into the bear's plush stomach.
Reyna wanted to cry out – what kind of a person killed stuffed animals? And when her sister was in trouble? – then Octavian's face started glowing with a strange light, and he recited:
"You shall choose to aid the Warriors of Eve,
And among them, the one who deceives.
The greatest god's wrath is what you believe.
Of a royal's power one is relieved.
Of envy and betrayal this one bleeds,
Son of Jupiter take heed."
YAY! A quest AND a prophecy. Sorry, it stinks, I know. It's just not very prophecy-esque. I took like an hour to make it up and I was like, "hey this is pretty okay." Then I woke up the next morning and I was like, "what the hell was i thinking." But I was trying to finish, so whatever. I have the whole thing planned out, bwahaha. :). Anyway, this came out longer than I thought it was because I typed a thousand words, and I was like, "wait, where is the point of this chapter?" So I continued on what was going to be the next chapter, and here you have it. You probably did care about that at all and I just made you read all this so I could say: REVIEW
-Seastar97
