Reyna hated her life sometimes. Having to see her former comrades standing in the Labyrinth looking terrified and defeated was more than she could handle. It had been two hours and thirty minutes since she had sent the Iris message to Chase.
The sight of the Romans snapped Reyna out of her angered state. She walked towards them. Gwen looked up and walked towards her. Reyna spoke, "Injuries?"
"Nathan," Gwen answered. "It's a pretty bad cut, and we don't have any medicine to put on it."
"Can you walk?" Reyna questioned as she looked at Nathan. He nodded slightly. "Let's get going then."
"Where to?" Michael questioned. He helped Nathan stand.
"The Amazons until we can think of a plan," Reyna answered. She grabbed the rope that was over her shoulder. Part of it was tied to her belt. "Grab the rope and pass it on. Don't let go of it because I am not coming back for you."
Reyna watched the six Romans grab onto the rope. She grabbed the flashlight from her belt and turned back around. Gwen was closest to her.
"Do you have a plan?" Gwen whispered. Reyna didn't answer as pain flashed in her head. She gritted her teeth and gripped the string and flashlight in her hand. The stress of everything had become too much, but Reyna didn't trust anyone enough to tell them about it.
"We'll figure something out," Reyna muttered. "Tell me what happened."
As they walked, Gwen told her story. Michael was next, and he described Macsen perfectly. Reyna's wounds ached from the thought of him. The other four just gave stories of how they fought.
"How did Sula get to the Senate building without anyone in there knowing?" Reyna questioned. "Where was Terminus?"
"We don't know," Gwen answered. Reyna looked down as a million thoughts ran through her head. She had to kill the names on Atropos' list. The Fate also wanted her to visit a therapist.
Then, there was the war with the Arimaspi. Clarisse needed to find pieces of her sword. The Romans had to be rescued. Reyna also had to work with Chase.
"How are you doing?" Gwen whispered. She sounded concerned.
"Fine," Reyna muttered. Gwen didn't need to know the truth. Reyna led the Romans through the Labyrinth in silence. There was multiple traps, but they were pretty easy to avoid.
After what felt like a hour, Reyna stopped. She placed her hand to the wall and watched it open. Reyna led the Romans out into the sunlight. When everyone was out, she cut the rope from her belt.
Reyna turned to look at Gwen. She spoke, "We have to go talk to my sister and explain what happened. The Greeks may be here already."
Gwen nodded. Her eyes were focused on Reyna's. The daughter of Bellona did her best not to glare. She led the Romans to the building in front of them.
No one spoke until they were inside. The Amazon at the front desk stared, but Reyna ignored her. She led the Romans to Hylla's office.
Reyna opened the door without knocking. She stopped as she saw Hylla talking to Annabeth. Reyna's urge to kill increased by one thousand percent. She glared.
"Where have you been?" Hylla demanded as she stood. Annabeth turned to look at her. Reyna motioned to Gwen, but she didn't take her eyes off of Annabeth. Her hand moved to grip her sword handle.
Gwen told her story quickly. By the end of it, Annabeth was staring. Hylla started cursing in anger.
"They are going for quick attacks," Annabeth said.
"Really captain obvious," Reyna snapped. Annabeth looked at her. Reyna glared even more. "You should go back and protect your little camp."
"Reyna, enough," Hylla hissed. Reyna glared at her sister. Why was she taking Annabeth's side? "We're in the middle of a meeting. Leave."
Reyna turned and stalked out. She looked at Gwen and spoke, "I know empty rooms the six of you can take. Come on."
Gwen nodded and led the other Romans. Reyna took them to the room in silence. She was doing her best to keep control of her boiling temper. It was going to explode sooner or later.
"Get some rest," Reyna ordered. She walked away before the Romans could respond. Her plan was to go to her room and punch a wall until her healing hand was broken again
Reyna walked into her room. She flung her flashlight at the ground. Reyna paced back and forth gripping her right hand. Her hand no longer had the glove on it, but it still hurt to make a fist.
As Reyna raised her fist, a hand grabbed her arm. Reyna turned and stared. Bellona spoke, "Don't."
"Mother," Reyna said. Bellona watched her. "What is it now?"
"We have much to discuss. That includes how we are going to save your home," Bellona answered. Reyna shook her head.
"Camp Jupiter is not my home anymore," Reyna muttered. "They stabbed me in the back. It isn't fair."
"It is not fair," Bellona confirmed. "But, my children have never had it easy. That is because you are the strongest. You must rescue the Romans and bring the lost legion to light."
"Lost legion?" Reyna questioned. She stared at her mother unsure of what to say.
"I am getting ahead of myself," Bellona commented. She led Reyna towards the bed. There was a suit of armor laying on it. Reyna stared.
The armor was black with a tint of red. It was just like her helmet. Bellona spoke, "It took them ten years to craft just one greave. Take care of it."
"I will," Reyna whispered. She gently picked up the breastplate. It was called a Roman Lorica Segmentata. The armor was great, but it was a pain to keep clean.
Her attention turned towards the manicas for her arms and greaves for her legs. Bellona grabbed her shoulder and spoke, "Dress."
Reyna didn't argue. She silently put the armor on. Bellona helped her take the splint off of her right arm and put the manica on. Reyna finally spoke, "What's next?"
"We have much to discuss," Bellona answered. She sat Reyna down on the bed and pulled up a chair for herself. Bellona sat in front of her.
"The champion of Nona cannot fully take her position," Bellona began. Reyna raised an eyebrow in confusion. "The former champion is still alive. He is currently in Rome, and you must take Sally there. Protect her."
"I'm going to Rome?" Reyna slowly questioned. "What about Clarisse? The Romans? I can't leave them."
"You have to," Bellona insisted. "There is invaluable backup there. Do you remember the Legio VI Ferrata?"
"The sixth ironclad legion," Reyna recalled. She looked at her mother, and her eye's widened. "They're in Rome?"
"When Jupiter told the twelfth legion to go into hiding, he gave the same orders to the sixth legion," Bellona explained. "The twelfth legion moved with the power of Olympus."
"The sixth legion stayed," Reyna guessed. Her mother nodded. "So, it's just like the Amazons that stayed in Greece?"
Bellona nodded. Reyna suddenly winced as pain tore through her head. Her mother grabbed her which kept her steady.
"You're hearing the voices again," Bellona whispered. Reyna waited for a few moments before she nodded. It wasn't fair. She had taken her pills like she was suppose to.
"It is the stress that you are under," Bellona explained. "It erases anything the pills have done. You must find someone to talk to."
"I don't have time for a therapist," Reyna grumbled. She didn't need to talk to a stranger.
"You have friends," Bellona began. Reyna laughed bitterly. Everyone had stabbed her in the back. She didn't have friends.
"You have friends," Bellona repeated as if she could read Reyna's mind. Reyna shook her head. "What about your sister? Nico?"
"Hylla is more concerned about everyone else than me," Reyna grumbled. "Nico probably hates me because I have to kill Hazel. They all hate me."
"Enough self pity," Bellona ordered. Reyna looked up. "You will find someone to talk to. That is an order."
Reyna just shrugged. She wasn't going to argue with her mother. It was no use anyway. No one cared about what she wanted, so why should she even listen?
Bellona watched her. She sighed and held a hand out. There was something in it. Reyna didn't even care to glance at her mother's hand. Her eyes stayed focused on the ground.
"Reyna," Bellona said. Reyna slowly looked up and frowned. She saw dog tags in her mother's hand. "They belonged to your father."
Reyna looked up in surprise. Bellona gently grabbed her hand and pressed the dog tags into it. She spoke, "These are yours. I want you to keep them as a memory of what happened to your father."
"You cannot allow yourself to become him," Bellona continued. "You have much more you must do. Stay strong."
"I will," Reyna whispered after a moment. She gripped the dog tags not sure how to feel about them. Reyna finally put them on. "How am I going to tell Hylla that I'm going to Rome with Sally?"
"I am going to do that," Bellona answered. "You will go find Sally. She will need a set of armor, and some training lessons. You two will leave tomorrow."
"Will Sula keep the Romans alive?" Reyna questioned. Her mother nodded. Reyna sighed and laid back on her bed. "Do you want me to train Sally tonight?"
"She should know how to hold a sword," Bellona replied. Reyna closed her eyes. "I think you'll be a good teacher. Go get something to eat."
Reyna slowly sat up and nodded. She looked at her mother before standing. Pain shot through her head and back at the same time. Reyna groaned in pain and annoyance.
Bellona stood as well and spoke, "Lupa will meet you in Rome. Her army of wolves has gone to the demititans. They are going to be our base of operations."
"Who is the other champion of Clotho?" Reyna wondered. She looked down at her armor and grabbed her helmet. Bellona smiled.
"Do you remember the dreams you had about Julius Caesar?" Bellona questioned. Reyna nodded confused. "Do you wonder why you never saw his death?"
Reyna looked at her mother and stared. She slowly spoke, "Julius Caesar?"
Bellona nodded. She led Reyna out of the room. Bellona spoke, "Nona wanted repayment for Hannibal being stolen from her. You are aware that the soothsayer Julius spoke to was Morta. She convinced him to become Nona's champion."
"I thought she wanted a mortal," Reyna said.
"She was forced to change her mind," Bellona answered. "Clotho's champion usually just lived out their life and did not become immortal. Julius became her champion as he was dying. After a year, he begged to be able to protect Rome."
"Nona, after much discuss with her sisters, decided that Julius would be allowed to live as long as Rome did. His tattoo became golden to symbolize him as a protector of Rome," Bellona continued. "He joined the praetor guard towards the end of the empire."
"The praetorian guard from Sula's story," Reyna realized. Her eyes were wide. "He approached me during the war."
Bellona nodded and spoke, "I begged Nona to allow him to become immortal after Rome fell. She finally relented. Since Julius was tied to the life force of Rome, it gave him unique circumstances. When he steps foot out of Italy, he becomes a ghost."
Reyna nodded. They stopped outside of Hylla's office. Her mind was racing. The door opened, and Annabeth stared at them.
Reyna glared instantly. Annabeth watched her with a calm look. She spoke, "We need to talk."
A million insults ran through Reyna's head. She finally just settled with a glare. Bellona spoke, "Reyna would be happy to speak with you over a meal."
"Come on," Reyna grumbled. She turned and walked away before Annabeth could respond. Reyna had a new motto just because of Annabeth: trust no one.
