Reyna glared up at the ceiling. She was laying on a bed in the demititan base. It had been the closest safe place to them, and Hylla was already there. Annabeth was as well.
At the moment, Reyna was with Rhea. The Titaness was watching her closely. Before the war, Reyna had become a champion for Rhea. She received a ring that was able to resist charmspeak. If she had just worn it while trying to kill Jason, she probably wouldn't be in her current situation.
"How are you feeling?" Rhea questioned. She had been assigned as the director of the demititans' camp. Reyna slowly looked up at her and shook her head.
"I'm screwed," Reyna muttered. She put her hands to her face. "I can't even move my knee without terrible pain. Metis almost killed Sally, and it would have been my fault."
"Sally told everyone that you managed to stab Metis with Kronos' blade," Rhea said. She looked down at Reyna critically. "How did you get his sword if it was locked up?"
Reyna didn't answer. She closed her eyes and spoke, "I guess it wasn't locked up well enough."
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Rhea questioned. Reyna shrugged. She gritted her teeth as her head ached. "Reyna, this is serious."
"If I wanted to you something, I would," Reyna muttered. Her hand moved to feel the bandage on side. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling.
Rhea walked towards a table that held Reyna's armor and weapons. She picked up Kronos' blade. Reyna spoke without realizing it, "Don't."
"Don't do what?" Rhea questioned as she turned towards her. Reyna looked away before the Titaness could meet her eyes. Reyna caught her reflection and saw the gold in her eyes spreading.
"Don't take it," Reyna said quickly. She put a hand to her face to hide her eyes, and she tried to pass it off as hiding pain. "It could be the only way to take out Metis, and if she attacks me again, I need it."
"Good," Kronos whispered in her head. Reyna closed her eyes tightly. "Oh, you shouldn't be angry. I'm holding back the other voices. I can help you."
"Shut up," Reyna snapped. Rhea grabbed her hand. Reyna's eyes snapped open before she realized the gold was probably still spreading. Rhea watched her for a moment, but her expression didn't change. The Titaness was staring deeply into her eyes as if she knew.
"The voices are taking their toll," Rhea assumed after a moment. Reyna nodded and took deep breaths. She was scared to tell anyone about Kronos. They already didn't trust her. There was no telling what they would do if they found out.
"What about my knee?" Reyna questioned. Rhea placed Kronos' blade down. She sat by Reyna.
"Metis targeted your knee for a specific reason," Rhea began. "To fight, you must have both legs. You know this, and Metis does as well."
"What are you getting to?" Reyna demanded. She sat up and looked at Rhea.
"You cannot walk on your leg," Rhea answered. "The damage is too severe. Your ACL, MCL, and meniscus are torn. Metis wanted you disabled."
"She got her way," Reyna muttered. She laid back down and stared at the ceiling "I have to go to Rome."
"Reyna, you are not going anywhere. Your knee cannot support your weight," Rhea argued.
"I have to," Reyna snapped. Rhea shook her head. She sighed, stood, and walked out. Reyna cursed in anger. She turned her head and glared at a wall with tears in her eyes.
Reyna stared at the same spot for a long time. It wasn't fair. She was trying to do everything that she could, but they wouldn't let her. Reyna hit the bed in anger.
"I can help," Kronos whispered. Reyna cursed at him in the language of the Titans. She didn't need anyone's help. She didn't care if half of her soul was in Tartarus. It was probably where she belonged anyway.
Maybe, it would be better if Reyna just asked Atropos to relieve her of her duties. Leo and Hazel wouldn't have to worry about dying. Annabeth could have her stupid, happy family. As long as they were happy, who gave a shit about what happened to the world?
"Don't be like that," Kronos said. Reyna tried to ignore him, but pain throbbed in her skull. "Are you really going to let Metis win?"
"Why do you care?" Reyna snarled. "You just want to get out of Tartarus. Instead, you can get the fuck out of my head."
"Such language," Kronos commented. "My reason is simple. Metis gave you the plan to destroy Ouranos. She didn't do it to raise me. All she wanted was to get Ouranos out of the way, so she could enact her plan."
Reyna finally looked back at the ceiling. She sighed tiredly. Reyna spoke, "What do you get out of all of this?"
"Metis used me. I don't like that," Kronos answered. His voice held a large amount of hate.
"You're not the only one," Reyna muttered. She took a deep breath as some of the anger left. "How do we stop her?"
"We?" Kronos asked. Reyna gritted her teeth angrily. She sat up and put her head in her hands. "My blade is the only way. Your leg hinders that."
"I can't stay in a bed and rest," Reyna muttered.
"I agree," Kronos said. He fell silent for a few moments. "For now, you can help plan the assault. I will be providing advice."
"Why would I trust you?" Reyna questioned.
"You don't have to take my advice," Kronos answered. "You can just allow the Romans and Greeks to die. If you ask me, that would be an improvement."
Reyna felt Kronos retreat further in her mind which signaled the end of the conversation. She laid on the bed for a few minutes until she heard the door open. Reyna looked up and met Hylla's eyes.
"How are you feeling?" Hylla questioned. She was carrying two trays of food. Reyna shook her head angrily. Hylla walked towards her and handed her a tray. Reyna took it without comment.
Reyna sat up and quietly started to eat. She finally looked at Hylla and spoke, "How is Kinzie?"
"Better," Hylla answered. "What about you?"
"The usual," Reyna answered bitterly. She couldn't remember a time since the rogue Amazons attacked that she wasn't in pain. "Rhea told me about my leg."
"You'll need surgery," Hylla said in a quiet voice. "Nectar and ambrosia can't help because of the type of damage. Healing won't either. I'm sorry."
Reyna played with her food. She finally just focused on eating. The pain in her head had disappeared. That was one bright side to her terrible day.
"How long for recovery?" Reyna asked. Hylla looked down and didn't look back up. Reyna closed her eyes. "I want to be involved in planning. If I can't fight, I want to plan."
"Done," Hylla promised. "You have to rest the day after surgery. Then, you can move around on crutches. I was told that your recovery time could be cut down significantly if we use nectar and healing."
"You said nectar wouldn't work," Reyna muttered.
"I meant as an alternative to surgery," Hylla explained. Reyna sighed tiredly.
"How much time would it be?" Reyna questioned. She could sense her sister was hiding something. Hylla looked down.
"Two months," Hylla answered. Reyna laid back on the bed and just stared at the ceiling.
"We don't have the time," Reyna muttered. "I have to be able to kill Akil. Two months isn't going to work. You can't keep me confined to a bed."
"I know we don't have time," Hylla said. She rubbed her temples.
"Then let me out of bed," Reyna ordered. Hylla looked up at her angrily. "I have to fight!"
"No!" Hylla snapped. "You don't have to do anything. Do you understand how hard it is to be your sister? I'm suppose to protect you, but I can't because you won't let me!"
"Don't yell at me," Reyna spat.
"It's the only way to get through to you!" Hylla yelled. Her face was red from rage. "Nothing else gets through to you! Do you think I want to yell?"
Reyna tried to turn away as she started to shut down. She didn't wanted to get yelled at. It wasn't fair. What had she done to deserve her sister's anger?
"You can help plan, but nothing more," Hylla began. Her voice was softer. "I need you to work with Annabeth."
"Fuck you," Reyna said. She looked at Hylla angrily. "You don't understand anything! I need to go to Rome. No one understands that."
"Reyna, the Senate is not going to overturn your exile," Hylla stated. From the tone of her voice, she was barely keeping herself from snapping again. "Even if you manage to save everyone, they won't trust you again. We both know that."
"You're wrong," Reyna muttered. Hylla grabbed her face and forced Reyna to look at her.
"Admit it," Hylla ordered. "You and I both know it's the truth. It will be best when you realize that."
"I can't even have false hope, can I?" Reyna muttered. "You just have to go and ruin that too."
"Stop taking your anger out on me," Hylla said through gritted teeth. "I am trying to help you and make sure you stop making excuses for why you can't rest."
Reyna glared with tears in her eyes. She tried to pull away, but Hylla held her face tightly. Hylla spoke, "I'm sorry Reyna, but you have to work with me."
"Leave me alone," Reyna muttered. She looked away. Hylla lowered her hands, but she didn't move. Reyna looked back at her sister and glared angrily. "Leave. Me. Alone."
Hylla sighed angrily and stood. She walked towards the door and opened it. Hylla turned and spoke, "I just want to help you. Stop pushing me away."
"Go enjoy time with your girlfriend and the stupid Greeks," Reyna snapped. Despite the pain that it caused, she turned on her side. "You don't care about me anyway."
Reyna heard the door slam shut. A hand grabbed the back of her shirt and pulled her to her feet. Hylla slammed her into a wall.
"I am doing everything in my power to keep you safe," Hylla snapped. She tightened the grip on Reyna's shirt. Reyna could only focus on the terrible pain in her leg. "Why can't you see that?"
"Bullshit," Reyna hissed. Her mouth moved before her brain could process her words. "You haven't done anything to protect me. You know what you did while you were under Circe's charmspeak!"
"I wouldn't have done it if I was in control of myself. Do not use that against me," Hylla said in a low voice.
"You helped her whip me," Reyna said. Her voice was shaky and barely working. "You did it, and you laughed. Hylla, you fucking laughed."
"I was under her charmspeak," Hylla protested. Her eyes held all of the regret that her pride wouldn't let her voice. "I didn't mean anything that I did."
Reyna shook her head. She closed her eyes as the memory flashed through her head. It was something she had not told anyone. Reyna felt ready to vomit, and a panic attack was starting.
"Calm down," Hylla said quickly. Reyna shoved her sister away. She collapsed to her hands and knees a moment later. Reyna closed her eyes and took deep breaths.
"Deep breaths," Kronos said in her head. "Open your eyes and focus on the ground."
Reyna did as she was told. It took a few moments, but the panic slowly disappeared. Hylla pulled Reyna to her feet and hugged her.
"I'm sorry," Hylla whispered. She rubbed Reyna's back. "I didn't mean to do it. I'm so sorry Reyna. You have to forgive me."
The words didn't register with Reyna. She just nodded to get Hylla off of her back. Hylla helped her back to the bed. Reyna turned on her side and curled up. She stared at a wall and realized that Kronos was quickly becoming her only ally.
"Remember," Kronos began. He sounded smug. "The descent to hell is easy. Let me help you out with it."