Chapter 12: Roman's final breath

"No," I said, "But Nico and Jason will."

She nodded, "My sister lives there. She is queen of the Amazons. You must tell the guards, you come bearing a message from me to Queen Hylla. When you get in there men are not allowed to speak. You must tell my sister and only my sister of my passing."

"But…" I stuttered, "You can't just die. You have a legion to lead."

"Yes," she nodded, "Get a message to my partner Frank. He must come back from his trip to Camp Half-Blood. The legion needs him."

"The legion needs you." I said.

If it was back when I was at Camp Half-Blood the first time and someone had told me I would be begging a Roman not to die I would have laughed. Now I was close to tears.

"Please," I begged.

"Promise me you will tell my sister goodbye for me. Tell her I love her and to not mourn." She insisted.

"Please," I said.

"PROMISE," She yelled. "Swear on the Styx."

"I swear on the river Styx that if you die I will deliver the message to your sister." I said

She smiled, "Thank you." Then frowned, "I just realized I haven't asked your name."

"Ariadne." I said crying.

"Ariadne," She repeated, "Thank you Ariadne."

She grabbed my hand. I tried to pull away.

"Ariadne it is easier this way. Tell my sister goodbye. Thank you Ariadne." She said.

She didn't say anything else. Reyna was dead. I was crying. Why did all the best people die before their time?

"They don't," a voice that was getting all too familiar said, "All people die in their time."

"Hello father," I said angrily without looking at him. "Not good to see you."

"Ariadne," he said calmly, "How are you?"

"IT ISN'T FAIR!" I screamed ignoring his question, "It isn't fair."

"You would be surprised how often I hear the word fair. There is no fairness in death. You of all people should know that." He lectured.

"Yes," I agreed, "But it still hurts."

"Of course it does. Pain is felt after all deaths. I do my job. It doesn't mean I enjoy it. Goodbye Ariadne." He said and disappeared.

"It isn't fair," I muttered to myself, "It is not fair."

I cursed my father in Greek. I muttered words that shouldn't be said around small children.

"IT IS NOT FAIR!" I screamed, "Why can't it be fair."

I heard footsteps and looked up to see Jason, Nico, and a lot of Romans standing over me. I tried to say Reyna is dead, but it wouldn't come out.

So instead I said through tears, "The Great Praetor of New Rome is dead."

Jason looked shocked. He bent down and stroked her hair.

"Goodbye Reyna," I heard him whisper.

Most of the Romans taught to be emotionless were crying. Sobbing even. And I was crying just as hard. Nico wasn't crying, but his head was bent in sorrow.

No one spoke until one little girl said, "Who killed her?"

I didn't trust myself to speak, so I pointed to the body of the boy I had killed.

"Octavian," A boy yelled out, "He was always a… a…" He burst into tears. He pulled a flask off his belt and threw it at the ground.

I thought I heard the boy mutter, "Stupid Kool-Aid." But I must have heard wrong.

No one else spoke so we stood there in silence, and watched Jason stroke her hair. I wanted to walk away, but I couldn't. I couldn't leave this girl who had known who I was and held my hand.

Then I said loudly and clearly brushing away tears, "Goodbye Reyna."

A few people muttered goodbye and Jason picked up her body.

Goodbye.

(A/N Why did I have to write this? I hate myself. Can anyone guess who the boy that threw down the flask was? Can I stop crying? Review please.)