Reyna struggled to control her breathing. A panic attack threatened to break out at any moment. She no longer knew what to believe. Reyna swore that she had not killed the Senators. She saw Boudica do it.
Boudica had stabbed Hank and then turned her attention to Larry. The two were dead before Reyna even blinked. Boudica shoved the sword into Reyna's hands and was across the room in a second. Annabeth had then walked in.
When Boudica told Annabeth what had happened, Reyna remembered doing exactly as Boudica had said. It didn't make sense though. She knew that she had not kill them, or was she just going insane? Was she making herself believe things that didn't happen and was just ignoring the truth?
Now, her hands were tied in front of her. She was on her knees, and every Roman had their eyes on her. Reyna slowly looked up before looking back down.
Boudica had dragged her into the room and told Frank what had happened. For some reason, Frank gave Boudica the title of dictator. It was the same title that Reyna had received during the war with Ouranos. A dictator had absolute control of the Romans at Camp Jupiter.
"Don't," Reyna whispered as she looked up. Boudica turned on her. She was already wearing the black cloak. Boudica knelt by Reyna and grabbed her face.
"You killed the two Senators," Boudica hissed. Her nails dug into Reyna's face. "You caused fifty Romans to die, and who knows how many more died because of your incompetence. You attacked our allies. It is time to pay."
"You killed them," Reyna whispered. She couldn't raise her voice above a whisper. All of the Romans stood there in silence. They were waiting to see what would happen.
"No, you killed them," Boudica responded. "You remember the anger that you felt in your chest. They were insulting you, and you just snapped."
Reyna stared at the ground. She could see the memory in her head, but she did not kill them. Why was she remembering it as if she had done it? Did she kill the Senators? Her breathing became more panicked.
"It's the guilt," Boudica whispered. She stood and turned around. "I know that you Romans have never seen me before. I am a Speculatores for Lupa. She sent me to bring order to you all."
"I will start with our exile," Boudica continued. She started to pace. "She has destroyed the image that we all associate with a Roman. Her failures have cost us more than fifty Romans. That is just one of her many crimes. Now, it is time for punishment."
"She's already exiled," Gwen interrupted. Reyna slowly looked up at her. Gwen was already nudging her way through the crowd to get to the front. "The temple of the Fates was not Reyna's fault. She shouldn't be punished for what happened there."
"What is your name?" Boudica questioned. She motioned for Gwen to come forward. There was something cruel in her voice.
"Gwen, don't," Reyna said. Her voice raised above a whisper. She couldn't allow for Gwen to be punished for her mistakes. "Please just go back in line."
"Now, the exile is making sense," Boudica commented. "I would get back in line, centurion. You don't want to do anything that you would regret, do you?"
Gwen met Reyna's eyes. After a moment, something in her eyes hardened. Gwen spoke, "I don't want to regret anything. That's why I say that you shouldn't punish Reyna unfairly."
"She helped rescue everyone at the prison camp," Gwen continued. "Reyna saved all of us from Caelus. Why is she facing punishment without a trial?"
"There is no trial to give," Boudica replied. "I saw her commit the crime with my own two eyes. We are all accountable for our actions. If you don't sit back down, I will have you exiled as well."
"Stop," Reyna said as she went to stand. Before she could blink, she was on the ground with searing pain in her arm. Boudica's knee dug into the back of her neck. It sent panic through her.
Gwen tackled Boudica to the ground. She got one punch in before three Romans pulled her off. They wrestled Gwen to the ground and kept her pinned.
Reyna slowly rolled onto her back and sat up. The pain in her shoulder and arm was agonizing. Boudica stood and spat a tooth out.
"That was a big mistake centurion," Boudica hissed. "Would anyone else like to ruin their life by defending this exile?"
Reyna saw Hazel near the back of the room, but she was starting to make her way to the front. Reyna met her eyes and shook her head. Another person shouldn't be punished for what she had done.
"Let Gwen go," Reyna whispered. She cradled her arm the best that she could considering her wrists were tied together. Boudica turned towards her.
"No," Boudica responded. "She has chosen the wrong side, and she will pay. You are going to pay as well. As dictator of this camp, I sentence you to fifty lashes for the fifty Romans that died. An extra twenty will be added for the two Senators you killed."
Boudica knelt by Reyna and grabbed her face. She spoke in a whisper, "I might add another thirty in there because I hate your guts."
Reyna didn't respond. Panic was taking over. There was no way she could keep it together. She needed to leave. Two Romans walked towards her.
Before Reyna could even stand, she was kicked in the skull by Boudica. The two Romans pinned her to the ground. Reyna struggled with them as she started to have a panic attack.
This was just like the pirates. Two had pinned her down, and Blackbeard had given her twenty lashes. She couldn't do it again. Reyna did her best to struggle, but the Romans were too strong.
"Stop," Reyna cried. She felt a knife cut open the back of her shirt, and the flashbacks kicked in. This was exactly what Blackbeard had done. Reyna closed her eyes tightly.
"For crimes against Camp Jupiter and its people, I sentence this exile to one hundred lashes," Boudica said loud enough for the entire room to hear. Stunned silence filled the room.
"Stop," Frank said. Reyna slowly opened her. She could see Frank had made his way to the front of the crowd with Hazel. Four Romans instantly blocked their path. One of them had a black pin on their belt.
The two Romans that were pinning her both had a black pin on their chest. They were too old to be a part of the legion. In fact, she didn't recognize them as a part of any of the families that had lived at New Rome. Who were they?
"This is going too far," Frank continued. Before he could continue, one of the Romans holding him back punched him in the face. Frank was pinned a moment later. Hazel stepped forward but was tackled to the ground. Some of the Romans rushed forward.
"Enough!" Boudica yelled. Everyone stopped what they were doing. "That is enough! Do you see what is happening? They are letting their relationship with the exile get in the way! But, I do not have that relationship; therefore, it is my duty to punish the exile."
Reyna closed her eyes tightly. There was no way she could handle even hearing the sound of a whip. She spoke, "Boudica, I am begging you to not do this. Please."
"Now, you are going to beg?" Boudica asked. "A Roman would never beg. It is time to face your punishment, and no one is going to interrupt it. Understood?"
No one said anything. Reyna struggled with the two Romans that had her pinned. They didn't budge which meant she couldn't move. Reyna closed her eyes and tried to calm herself.
"Please," Reyna whispered. She heard the sound of a whip hitting the ground. Reyna struggled even more, but it did nothing to help. "Boudica, please. You don't have to do this."
"I do have to do this," Boudica said. She knelt by Reyna. "No one is going to save you. Your big sister isn't anywhere near here. Your little group of phony Romans and those damned Huns can't help. You are all alone."
Reyna closed her eyes tightly, but it didn't help any. There was nothing that could save her from her punishment. Her eyes opened without her permission. She stared at the whip in Boudica's hand.
"Please," Reyna whispered. Boudica chuckled and moved closer to Reyna's ear.
"I am very excited to do this," Boudica whispered. "I guess you could say that I am a little barbaric."
Reyna's eyes widened. Before she could say anything, Boudica stood. She raised the whip off of the ground. Reyna closed her eyes tightly as Boudica brought the whip down.