Annabeth mentally reviewed the plan again. After that, she glanced around the room. Everyone was getting ready for their part. It was a bold plan that Annabeth had put together in five minutes, and that worried her. She was extremely confident in her planning skills, but this could backfire at any moment.

Annabeth took one final look around the room. Frank and Hazel had already left to gather up those who had a black ribbon. They were pretending to be holding a meeting to give information about how the cohorts could fight effectively against the barbarians. Their only job was to keep those with black ribbons distracted.

Jason had been sent to find Thalia and convince her that they needed to work with Reyna. There was no telling how that conversation would go. Thalia hated Reyna's guts. When the Hunters had been killed by Reyna, it created a sea of hatred between the two demigods that would probably never be crossed.

Percy glanced at Annabeth. He was wearing a full set of armor. If anything went wrong, Percy's only job was to get Sally to the Sixth Legion. Sally needed to be with the other champions, so she could help take out Thoon. Annabeth just wished they had more time to train her.

Piper was writing on her arm in sharpie. Her job was to gather up the leaders of the cabins and centurions. She would tell them to get everyone ready to go. Then, Piper would have to convince Adonia to come with them. It was going to be complicated.

It took Annabeth a moment to look at Sparta. The Roman was squeezing her injured hand and allowing the blood to trickle onto her face. They needed to make it look like Sparta had been beaten for information.

"Are we ready?" Sparta questioned. After a moment of debating, she grabbed the dagger that had been set on the table. She stabbed herself in the thigh and hissed in pain. Annabeth stared at her. Sparta looked up. "What? Boudica will find it more convincing."

"Yeah," Annabeth decided after a moment. She grabbed the rope that they had found in a supply closet. Sparta held her arms out in front of her. Annabeth tightly tied her wrists together. "Can you grab the dagger from your thigh?"

"If you want me to stab Boudica with it, I can do that," Sparta said. She looked around and gave Annabeth a slight nod. Annabeth grabbed the rope and dragged her out of the room. The rest of their walk was in silence.

Annabeth had to ask a few Romans where Boudica was, but they finally found her in a room. The room only had a bed, drawer, and a glass table. It was a modest room. Boudica was using a marker to draw battle plans on the glass table.

"I learned some interesting information," Annabeth said. She closed the door and took deep breaths. Her sword was resting across her back. A dagger was attached to her belt. The knife in Sparta's thigh could also be used.

"What is it?" Boudica questioned. She looked at them. Her eyes slowly moved to Sparta. A smirk came across Boudica's face. "I see we roughed up the Roman. What goodies did she tell you?"

"We know Reyna's location," Annabeth answered. She shoved Sparta to her knees in front of Boudica. "I thought it would be a good idea to take her out. Then, we can fully focus on taking out Metis."

"I like your thinking," Boudica commented. "You're cutthroat and willing to do what you must. You are different than other daughters of Athena. They all have brains, but they are not as cutthroat as you."

"What do you mean cutthroat?" Annabeth questioned. Boudica just smiled and watched her. A cold feeling settled in Annabeth's gut.

"Why don't you ask yourself that," Boudica said. Sparta pulled the dagger out of her thigh and lunged upwards. Boudica caught Sparta's arm, and she threw the Roman over her shoulder.

Sparta slammed into the glass table and crashed through it. There was a sickening thud as she hit the ground. Sparta tried to cry out in pain, but Boudica shoved a sword into her mouth. Boudica spoke, "Annabeth, I have a simple job for you. If you disobey me, I cut out the Roman's tongue, and I don't know how much more damage it will do."

"How did you know?" Annabeth asked. She hated that their plan had been completely destroyed. The consequences could be deadly. "We planned everything quickly."

"You took your Iris message in a hallway," Boudica replied. "I am not an idiot, daughter of Athena. I heard everything. Then, I approached you, and you had the gall to think that your conversation was private."

"So, you are a barbarian?" Annabeth questioned. "You killed the senators and blamed it on Reyna. You divided our army and made it easier to conquer."

"Is there a point to your rambling?" Boudica questioned. "I played you Greeks and Roman, and you all fell for it. It's okay though. I'll put you out of your misery, after my next plan comes into place. You aren't divided enough."

"Are you going to make it seem like one of the Amazons from Greece killed me?" Annabeth asked. "It's smart, and it will divide us even more. How are you going to do it?"

"That doesn't concern you," Boudica replied. She dug her heel into Sparta's side. Sparta's mouth had blood trickling from it. Annabeth glared and unsheathed her sword. "Drop it."

Annabeth reluctantly threw her sword on the ground. It landed near Boudica's feet. Boudica smirked. Annabeth stayed silent. She watched Sparta's right hand slowly try to grab the sword.

Boudica twisted the sword a moment later. Sparta grabbed at the sword and cried out in pain. Boudica spoke, "I am not an idiot, Roman. If you try that again, you lose your entire tongue. In fact, I may just cut out your tongue and keep you as my slave."

Annabeth's mind was racing. She couldn't think of anything though. Boudica had them completely trapped. Sparta suddenly rolled to the side, and the sword tore through her mouth. Sparta slammed into Boudica and knocked her to the ground.

Annabeth pinned Boudica a moment later. She grabbed her sword and placed it to Boudica's neck. After that, Annabeth turned to look at Sparta. She quickly looked away a moment later. Blood was trickling from in between Sparta's fingers.

"Do it," Boudica challenged. "I want you to draw that blade across my neck, but you can't, can you? You Greek demigods are weak."

"No," Annabeth said. She felt someone grab her arm. Annabeth turned her head. Sparta met her eyes. Then, her eyes moved to the rope on her wrist. Both of Sparta's hands were still pressed to her face.

Annabeth grabbed the dagger with her free hand and cut the rope. Sparta lowered one hand from her mouth and held it out. After a moment, Annabeth handed the dagger to Sparta. She quickly stood and turned away.

The only thing she heard was Boudica cry out in pain. It was followed by choking sounds. Silence slowly blanketed the room. Annabeth didn't turn back around, even after she heard the dagger fall to the ground.

"How do you feel?" Annabeth questioned. She turned and kept her eyes staring ahead. Sparta slowly stood and pressed both hands back to her face. It was clear how much pain she was in. "You need help. Follow me."

Annabeth gently grabbed Sparta's shoulder and led her out of the room. She increased her speed and stopped outside of a room that held the children of Apollo. Annabeth didn't knock. She just opened the door and walked right in.

The first person she saw was Will. Annabeth quickly led Sparta towards him and spoke, "Can you help her?"

"What happened?" Will asked. After a moment, Sparta lowered her hands. Annabeth quickly looked away. It sickened her to look. Will even looked pale. "I see. I'll take care of her. Are we really going to Camp Half-Blood?"

"Yes," Annabeth replied. She kept her eyes averted. "We'll be doing it soon. The children of Apollo will stay on the sidelines and deal with the injured, unless our situation turns desperate."

"Understood," Will said He sat Sparta down and grabbed a first aid kit. It took Annabeth a few moments to look at Sparta. The Roman had both hands back to her face. Will glanced at Annabeth. "I'll take good care of her."

"I know," Annabeth said. She took a shaky breath and looked at Sparta. "I'll let Reyna know what happened."

Sparta nodded silently. Her eyes were focused on the ground. She slowly lowered her hands. There was a horrible gash on the side of her face from where the sword had torn through it. Will knelt by her and wiped some of the blood off her face. Annabeth turned away and walked out of the room. She didn't want to be there to watch.

Injuries to the face freaked Annabeth out. She could only think about how easy it was to lose an eye or something else important. As Annabeth thought about it, she shivered. It just freaked her out.

Annabeth hurried down the hall. Her mind was completely racing on what to do. There was so many things that she needed to check on, but they didn't have much time. Someone suddenly grabbed her arm and spoke, "Annabeth Chase, we must speak."

It took Annabeth a moment to turn around. She stared at the goddess in front of her. Part of her thought that she was going to be struck down then and there. Bellona watched her silently. Annabeth swallowed painfully.

"We do not have much time. I am disobeying Jupiter's decree by being here, but I must, for my daughter," Bellona said. "Things have been shielded from us by a great use of magic. Minors gods and goddesses have been crowding Olympians with fears, complaints, and anger. Jupiter does not want the Olympains to help, and the other immortals have been too overwhelmed by everything else.

"Jupiter doesn't want other immortals to help Reyna. She's angered him too much," Annabeth assumed. "Will we get in trouble for helping?"

"Sometimes, Jupiter is too grateful to the wrong people," Bellona replied. Silence settled over the two. "My daughter has been pushing herself beyond her limits, ever since she was attacked by the rogue Amazons. During the war with Caelus, I gave her more strength than I have given all of my children combined. Do you know why?"

"Reyna is your daughter," Annabeth answered. "You would do anything for her."

"No," Bellona said. "Reyna is one of the three keys to a puzzle that is saving this world from destruction. Her very lifeline is connected to Camp Jupiter. Without Reyna, this world crumbles. No one gives her credit for the good that she has done. All they do is see the bad and turn on her."

"Your daughter has lost her mind," Annabeth countered. She crossed her arms and watched Bellona. "She has done terrible things."

"How would you have reacted?" Bellona asked. "I want you to put yourself in my daughter's shoes. There has been constant stress in her life to save the entire world and command an army. Every casualty only made it harder for her to look herself in the mirror."

"Constant injuries has hindered her performance. She cannot perform at one hundred percent, and it only stresses her out more. The one place she considered home was taken from her," Bellona continued. "You do not understand what Reyna has gone through."

Annabeth remained silent. She didn't need a lecture. Her only focus was on getting everyone ready to march out to Camp Half-Blood. Annabeth finally spoke, "I understand. Is there anything else that you need?"

"You should prepare your army to march," Bellona said. "Artemis and I will be joining you. Our only job is to take down Thoon. If Metis or any of her friends appear, we will deal with them as well."

"You said that you were breaking Zeus' decree by being here. He won't appreciate you and Artemis helping us," Annabeth assumed. Bellona nodded. "Why are you two helping us then?"

"We must save the world," Bellona answered. "Artemis does not want to leave her lieutant alone, and she likes most of the campers at Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter. Her father will not punish her."

"He might punish you," Annabeth realized. She looked down. "Thank you."

"It's my duty," Bellona said. She looked at Annabeth. "Romans always fulfill thier duty, no matter what. Let us go. We must reconnect with my daughter, and we have an assault to plan."