I'm baaaaack! A good chunk of this chapter is a flashback. I've never written one before, so let me know if it's any good. You have been warned. Now enjoy :)

CAMP JUPITER/REYNA

Reyna swallowed as she sat down for dinner, her mind whirling and her stomach writhing. She didn't think she could eat. Not after what she had just learned. Oh, gods, she prayed, please have mercy on me. She doubted she could get through the evening with her sanity intact if she didn't have supernatural aid.

A thought suddenly struck her. Percy wouldn't have wanted her to mourn like this. She barely knew him, but she did know that. With a sigh of determination, Reyna started to eat. The normally delicious food tasted like cardboard. She couldn't even remember what it was supposed to taste like. She closed her eyes, hoping that it would ease the pain of not seeing Percy there, and she was suddenly remembering what had happened earlier.

*Flashback*

Reyna had been sitting in her office, feeling more tired than usual. She was used to running the camp alone, but she could still remember how much BETTER it had been with a fellow praetor to help out. She hadn't had to do half the amount of work she had to do now.

Quite suddenly, an Iris message had shimmered into the air in front of her. She rarely used one, seeing as they were Greek, but they had their uses. Glancing up at it, she had seen to her shock that her own mother was staring back at her. "Bellona?" she'd asked in amazement.

The goddess smiled. "It is I, my daughter, and I am so proud of all you have done. But I have news to give, and it is not pleasant."

Reyna gripped the edge of the table. She knew "unpleasant", and didn't like it at all. But she had waited patiently for her mother to explain what bad news she brought.

"You remember your praetor, Percy? He…won't be returning. Because he can't. He and his girlfriend were killed in the fight with the Earth Mother, though they conquered her."

Reyna's knuckles had gone white from how hard she was squeezing the table's edge. "No, Mother, that can't be true! I-what-who will lead with me?" She could barely believe what she was hearing. Percy had been-no, was!-a good praetor. He had to return. Reyna doubted that she could lead the Romans without him.

Bellona had given her daughter a sad smile. "Reyna Ramírez-Arellano, you are a strong young woman. I know you do not wish to lead alone-for who does in this world?-but you must, for the good of Rome. There is a prophecy, my daughter, and if left unfulfilled it could destroy New Rome. And you will never be able to recover it. No one will. Ever."

Reyna had been left speechless. "What-how can I-do I tell the campers?" They were her priority now. The Romans; leading them was now her life.

The Roman goddess of war had smiled gently. "You may tell them. The gods have decided that they will leave you to lead New Rome however you choose. We have much faith in you, Reyna."

Reyna had been flattered by the amount of trust the gods had in her. "Very well, Mother. I promise to lead New Rome to the best of my abilities," she had promised, even as she could feel her heart breaking. Another two demigods lost. Another mixed victory for the demigod side. And another experience of doing everything alone. Forever alone; that was Reyna.

Bellona had stared at her daughter with a conflicted expression. "I love you, Reyna, and I am proud of you and only want the best for you. No matter what." With a wave of her hand, the Iris message was gone…and Reyna was left alone in her office. She had realized with a sinking feeling that this was the true start of her lonely reign.

*End of flashback*

"Reyna! Reyna, are you alright? You're not listening to anything I'm saying!"

Reyna looked up, startled out of her reverie, and realized with embarrassment that Dakota had somehow sat himself down across from her, and was staring at her with a puzzled look on his face.

"I'm fine, Dakota. Merely caught up in some thoughts," she said sharply. Too sharply-Dakota nodded, his eyes wide with fear, and abruptly left her table.

Which left her alone-again. She had better get used to it.

Fervently wishing that she was anywhere else at that moment, Reyna stood up and called for attention. "Camp Jupiter!"

Everyone's heads snapped around to face her as if it had been choreographed. For a moment Reyna felt a flash of pride-the Romans were organized to a fault. Shaking the pride off, she stood straighter. "I have news about the quest Perseus took."

There was silence. No one moved. No one seemed to be even breathing.

"Percy is…" Reyna's voice trembled slightly. "Dead."

Reyna had never before considered the possibility that silence could be loud, but it was now.

Then, "No way!" It was Dakota. He stood up and stared at Reyna. "No way," he said again. "Tell me it's not true."

All around him the other Romans stood up and started arguing, annoyed that they had lost such a good praetor so soon after they'd elected him. Reyna noticed with a pang that they were more upset about Percy's death in relation to themselves than about the actual death itself. They didn't really seem to care that the world had lost two powerful and brave demigods. Reyna wished that Percy was still alive, and not just because she didn't want to be alone. She wanted him to live the life he deserved. He was…interesting, and she wanted to talk to him again.

With a sigh of loss and loneliness, Reyna sat back down and ate.