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Reyna slowly opened her eyes. She was surprised to find food in front of her. There was a jug of water to her right. She slowly moved her mouth and winced. Her left hand shot to her mouth. The events of the day slowly came back to her mind.
"Demigod," Metis greeted. Reyna slowly looked at the Titaness. The two seemed to study each other. "Eat."
"What did you poison it with?" Reyna questioned. She glanced down at the food.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Metis said. Reyna's eyes widened. "I told you not to go to the temple."
"I had to," Reyna protested. She felt her lip bust open again. It would probably be a good idea not to talk. Reyna slowly looked at the food. She wasn't sure if she should eat it.
"You didn't have to do anything," Metis snapped. "You just wanted to prove you are not useless. Your hand has undermined your confidence."
"I don't have to prove anything," Reyna muttered.
"You thought you did, and it destroyed your camp. Ouranos has found a body that will house him until he breaks you. I warned you," Metis hissed.
"I wouldn't be in this situation if you weren't working with him," Reyna snapped. Metis moved faster than expected. She grabbed Reyna by shirt and pulled her to her feet.
"I did everything I could to help you. I made sure that Athena, Bellona, and Ares were not properly guarded. I lied to Ouranos and said that he needed the piece of Kronos' blade to raise Gaea. He could have used any weapon, and it would have the same effect," Metis whispered in an angry tone.
"Your friend is not dead because of me. You are the reason everything has gone to Hades. If you hadn't of gone to the temple, your camp would not have been attacked!" Metis continued.
"How do you know that?" Reyna interrupted. She didn't need the destruction of Camp Jupiter thrown in her face.
"Ouranos would not have attacked the camp. When you set fire to him, he sent the order out. Odovacer had his army waiting," Metis explained.
"How did they get into the camp?" Reyna questioned.
"There is an escape tunnel at Mercury's temple. Odovacer was suppose to destroy it. He had brought his army to help him do it," Metis said. She shoved Reyna to the ground. Reyna gasped in pain and placed a hand to her ribs. "You failed praetor."
"I know," Reyna whispered. She closed her eyes. "What should I do?"
"I'm not your friend," Metis muttered. "I am going to help you get out of here because you must beat Ouranos."
"We need to help Frank," Reyna protested. Metis grabbed her by her jaw. She dug her thumb into the gash on Reyna's lip.
"You don't understand," Metis whispered. Reyna grabbed Metis' hand. "You are the only important person. No one else matters."
Metis shoved Reyna away. The daughter of Bellona tried to catch her balance. She placed a hand to her lower lip and spoke, "I am not leaving Frank behind."
"You have one opportunity to leave. I suggest you take it," Metis said. Reyna shook her head. "You imbecile."
"I am not leaving Frank behind," Reyna hissed. She was slapped hard. Reyna stumbled into the table. She was tired of being slapped around and told what to do. Reyna grabbed a fork and went to stab Metis.
It wasn't the smartest thing she could have done. Metis caught her hand and slammed her into the wall. She spoke, "I will not help you if you try to save your fellow praetor. Decide now."
"I'm helping Frank," Reyna repeated. Metis let go of her.
"You are not going to tell anyone that I showed you any mercy," Metis hissed.
"I have to tell the Olympians," Reyna protested. "They need to know you are helping us."
"I am not helping you. I am doing everything in my power to stop Ouranos from taking over. We are not friends," Metis corrected. "A man chooses praetor. A slave obeys."
"You are a slave for the Olympians. They give you the order, and you dance for them. Everything you have done has been to please your mother," Metis continued.
"That's not true," Reyna protested.
"You went on the quest to clear not your name but your mother's. You fought Enyo to get the shield that would stop a war. It would have been easier just to walk away," Metis said.
"I couldn't allow Ares to start a war," Reyna snapped.
"Ares?" Metis questioned. "You are allowing the Greeks to influence you. Soon, you will be forgetting your Roman ways."
"Shut up!" Reyna snapped. "You are just grasping for ways to insult me. I have done everything I could to save my camp and stop Ouranos."
"You have not done anything to save your camp, or it will still be standing!" Metis yelled.
"I made a mistake," Reyna yelled back. "I won't do it again."
"There is no again," Metis snapped. "Your camp already fell. Camp Half-Blood is next. You failed."
"Stop throwing that in my face," Reyna snapped.
"If you want to survive this war, you must be perfect," Metis whispered. "Failure is not an option. You must leave now."
"No," Reyna muttered. "I don't care if you think I am slave for doing my duty. Frank is not getting left behind."
"Then go," Metis snapped. "The barbarians are sleeping off their victory. I imagine your fellow praetor is being tortured as we speak."
Reyna placed a hand to her ribs. She took a pained breath. Metis handed Reyna her sword and spoke, "If you want to go through with this ridiculous plan, you must hurry."
"I will," Reyna muttered. She slowly opened the door of the room and peeked out. Her throat felt like it wanted to close up. All she could see was her camp in ashes. She looked at Metis.
"If you weren't so scared of Ouranos, you would help us," Reyna muttered.
"I fear Ouranos for good reason," Metis countered. "You will fear him soon."
Reyna didn't respond to that. She glanced around for where Frank might be. She had no clue where to start. Reyna saw a barbarian only a few feet away.
The daughter of Bellona stepped out of the building. She hurried behind the barbarian and hesitated. There was no way that she could stab him if she wanted to follow her plan.
Reyna slipped her sword into her belt. She grabbed the barbarian. Reyna closed her eyes and snapped the barbarian's neck. She caught him and slowly dragged him back to the building.
She closed the door and looked around. Metis was gone. Reyna turned away and placed a hand to her mouth. She was ready to throw up. Reyna took a deep breath and slowly started to take the barbarian's armor off.
Reyna put the armor on and sheathed her sword. She stepped out of the building and closed it. This had to be the worst plan she had ever thought of. Reyna glanced around and started to walk. She was lucky that the helmet covered her entire face.
After walking for five minutes, Reyna concluded that she had no clue where she was going. She stopped as she heard someone yell something in Latin. Reyna turned to see a barbarian walking towards her.
"I need you to go to the temple of Bellona," the barbarian ordered. "Ouranos wants someone to execute the praetor and bring his head to Metis. It's not going to be me."
Reyna just nodded. She turned and walked towards her mother temple. Reyna could barely keep herself from shaking. She was terrified.
Reyna stepped into the temple of Bellona and looked around. She saw the statue of her mother had been destroyed. The statue was missing its upper half. That was so not cool.
Two barbarians stood near Frank. They were keeping him on his knees. Frank looked like he had been beaten even worse. Anger burned in Reyna's chest.
Ouranos was lounging on a throne. He looked at Reyna and spoke, "Barbarian,execute this praetor. Everyone else seems all touchy about it. I always thought a little blood made a party."
"Blood makes me queasy," one of the barbarians muttered in Latin. Reyna placed a hand to her sword and walked towards Frank. She glanced around.
Reyna knew that her sword would instantly give away who she was. She wasn't prepared to take on Ouranos, but she had to. Reyna unsheathed her sword and stabbed one of the barbarians. She stabbed the other in the neck and turned towards Ouranos.
"Praetor, that was a nice disguise," Ouranos complimented. He stood and unsheathed a large sword. Reyna took her helmet off and dropped it by Frank.
Frank slowly looked up at Reyna. His face was bloodied and bruised. Reyna gave him a small nod that told him everything would be fine. Ouranos walked towards her.
"How did you manage to escape from Metis?" Ouranos questioned.
"I have my tricks," Reyna responded. She attacked Ouranos. He caught her sword on his. Reyna had not time to react as she was shoved backwards. Ouranos kicked her in the chest.
Reyna fell back and cried out in pain. She barely rolled to the side as Ouranos' sword slammed into the ground. Reyna tried to get up but was kicked in the stomach. She looked around and slowly scooted towards her mother's statue.
"It's just a matter of time praetor," Ouranos taunted. Reyna laid her head back against the statue.
"You can't beat him," a voice taunted. Reyna froze. It was the same voice that had berated her about her father. "The entire world is going to fall because of you."
"Shut up," Reyna snapped. She closed her eyes angrily. "Just shut up."
Reyna was sick and tired of everything. She was tired of having the crap beaten out of her. She was sick of being used. Her camp had fallen because of her. Ouranos had her trapped and wanted her as his vessel.
Reyna closed her eyes for a moment. She opened them and looked around. She was at her mother's temple, but it wasn't destroyed. Reyna looked at the door hearing footsteps.
"This camp is very impressive," a man commented. Despite the fact that he was young, his black hair was balding. The man was tall and had dark eyes that seemed to take in everything around him. He the armor of a legionnaire
"The camp has been here since the founding of Rome," Lupa explained. "We use it to feed the best generals into the Legion."
"How come I have never head of it?" the man wondered.
"Even though you are a son of Bellona, your family fled Rome before you could go through the proper testing," Lupa replied. The light shined of her fur making it look like blood was on it. Reyna realized that blood was on it.
"We chose the wrong side in the civil war," the man admitted. "My family was a great supporter of Marius."
"I care not for political squabbles," Lupa said with a sigh. "I wish this camp did not, but that is not important at the moment. I brought you here to show you this camp, and one of the greatest guarded secrets of this camp."
The man nodded. He was led towards the statue of Bellona. The man bowed his head and spoke, "Mother. I only hope you are satisfied with what I have done so far."
Lupa made a noise in the back of her throat. She motioned for the man to look down. He did and knelt. Reyna watched them. She saw a small symbol at the base of the statue.
"This is Greek," the man commented. "Delta is the name I believe."
"Correct Julius," Lupa said. "Press it."
Julius nodded and placed his fingers towards the symbol. The bottom of the statue opened up to reveal a tunnel. Julius slowly spoke, "This is the Labyrinth? I thought it didn't extend to Rome."
"It's everywhere," Lupa corrected. "I am the only one who knows about it. That secrets had been passed to you. If you tell anyone, I will tear you apart piece by piece."
"You have my word on my family's honor," Julius said. Lupa stared laughing. Julius managed to keep himself composed.
"The Caesar family name has no value," Lupa cackled.
"I am going to restore my family's honor," Julius promised. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I guarantee it."
Reyna just stared as she realized the man in front of her was Julius Caesar. Lupa had said he was a son of Bellona. Reyna glanced at the entrance to the Labyrinth.
Reyna's eyes snapped open. She was back at the temple. Ouranos was standing over her. Reyna could have swore she saw a flicker of movement in the shadows. It was as if someone was watching them.
"Frank, you need to get out of here," Reyna ordered. Frank slowly looked at her. "You have to get back to Camp Half-Blood."
Ouranos grabbed Reyna by the throat before she could continue. Reyna slammed her elbow into the symbol behind her. She felt the statue open up under her. Reyna dragged Ouranos into the Labyrinth.
The door closed before Ouranos realized what had happened. They were plunged into total darkness. Reyna's plan was to run as fast as she could. Being lost in the Labyrinth was better than facing Ouranos. Before Reyna could run, she felt a shattering pain in her knee.
Reyna bit her hand to keep from screaming. She felt Ouranos pull her to her feet. He spoke, "You are becoming more of a nuisance than you are worth."
Reyna didn't even register the pain from the next kick to her knee. She just felt her knee give out. Ouranos' grip on her armor was the only reason she was still standing. He dragged her towards the wall and placed his hand on the wall.
"You are going to suffer for this," Ouranos promised. Reyna muttered something, but it was incoherent to her. Reyna heard the Labyrinth open. Ouranos threw her back into the temple.
Reyna slowly looked up to see Metis standing over her. The Titaness looked at her and crossed her arms. She saw Ouranos and spoke, "Master, the boy managed to escape."
"How did this one get away?" Ouranos demanded.
"Luck," Metis answered. Reyna slowly looked up at her. Metis walked towards her and grabbed her by her face. She covered Reyna's mouth. The next thing Reyna felt was horrible pain in her knee.
Reyna realized she had blacked out when she opened her eyes and found herself laying on the temple floor. She had been stripped of her armors and weapon. Her hands were tied in front of her. Reyna turned on her back and tried to move her leg. She almost blacked out again.
"You're lucky," Metis commented. Reyna slowly looked at her. The Titaness watched her intently. "How did you know about the Labyrinth?"
"I saw it," Reyna answered in a weak voice. "There was Julius Caesar and Lupa."
Metis' eyes flickered around. She walked towards Reyna and sighed. Metis spoke, "Ouranos wants you taken to a cell. I am not going to disobey him."
"It's funny that you call me the slave when you are the one ruled by fear," Reyna muttered. She laid her head on the ground and closed her eyes.
"Are you hearing voices?" Metis asked. Reyna's eyes snapped open. How did Metis know that?
"No," Reyna lied after a moment. Metis seemed to visibly relax. Reyna looked down. She wasn't going to admit that she had heard the voice earlier. "Why is that so important?"
"No reason," Metis lied. Reyna frowned. There was more to it. Before Reyna could question it, she was pulled to her feet and almost passed out. "I offered you a chance to escape before, and you blew it."
"Let me guess," Reyna interrupted. "You won't help me now. I don't care anymore. I'll find my own way out."
Reyna didn't have the strength to cry out as Metis threw her to the ground. She slowly rolled onto her back and placed a hand to her stomach. Reyna stared at the ceiling. Blood trickled out of her mouth.
"You won't be able to escape," Metis muttered after minutes of silence. She gently helped Reyna to her feet. "Unless you have help."
"What happened to not helping me?" Reyna muttered. She felt Metis grab the vial on her necklace. It had been given to her by Rhea. Reyna had completely forgotten about it since she had never taken it off.
"This is why," Metis responded. "I still hate your guts demigod."
"Good to know," Reyna muttered. She winced painfully. "How are we getting out of here?"
"I have that planned out," Metis promised. Reyna nodded slightly and glanced around. She saw something flicker in the shadows. Before Reyna could see what it was, Metis knocked her out.