"They suspect something," Octavian whispered. His gaze was focused on the two praetors that stood by the door. Frank was standing up straight and looking directly at Percy. Reyna was staring at the ground and did nothing to hide the regret in her face. "We told you her resolve would weaken. She was not strong enough to finish this!"

"They know nothing," Daniel stated. His gaze had not moved from Annabeth. The daughter of Athena was sleeping. It had taken some convincing, but she finally allowed herself to rest. It would make her a much easier target. "She will destroy your home, and you must stop her. Now!"

Darriah opened her eyes and slowly stood from her chair in the corner of the room. Her gaze slowly moved around the room. Frank and Percy would not be an easy fight, but if Darriah could get them to leave the room, she would be able to slit Annabeth's throat. The wildcard was Reyna. Why couldn't she complete her task?

"I don't know what to say Percy. I'm so sorry," Reyna whispered. She looked up, and there was tears in her eyes. Reyna closed her eyes and looked down once again. Her shoulders were slumped in defeat. Darriah looked away from the display of weakness. A hand gently brushed Darriah's, and she looked to her left.

Livia squeezed her hand but didn't look over. She had been glued to Darriah's side, ever since entering the infirmary. Darriah knew that her daughter was scared. She also knew that she should have been grateful that Livia was safe, but the task ahead was more important. She needed to save New Rome.

Percy didn't say a word. He just stared down at Annabeth. There was a sad look in his eyes, and he shook his head. Frank glanced in between them. Reyna spoke, "I'm sorry."

"When are we getting the Golden Fleece back?" Percy asked. His question was directed at Frank. Reyna turned and left the infirmary. Darriah almost smiled. That was one less problem to deal with. "Frank, I need to know what is going on!"

"Diana is getting ready to go with Reyna to find Chelsea and the Golden Fleece," Frank replied. He stood and held his hands up in front of him. "I know you are mad, Percy. I know words aren't going to fix anything, but we are going to get the Golden Fleece soon. Diana just wants to make sure the person responsible for this doesn't get away."

"It sounds like the person responsible for this is outside," Percy snapped. He looked down at Annabeth and let out a deep, irritated breath. Percy sat down and buried his face in his hands. Frank sat down as well.

"I know it doesn't mean much, but Diana said a spirit was influencing Reyna," Frank began. Darriah's eyes flickered up. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Livia was watching intently as well. Percy slowly looked up. "It doesn't excuse what Reyna did, but she would have never done this if the spirit didn't convince her."

"I'm mad, Frank," Percy admitted. He stood. "No. I am furious and pissed off beyond belief. Annabeth almost died, and I can't just let Reyna walk away from that. There has to be consequences."

"There will be," Frank promised. He nodded his agreement. "After we get the Golden Fleece back and find the Hunter responsible for this, we will bring this to Senate. They will punish Reyna appropriately."

"Or cruelly," Percy muttered, and he looked back at the door. "Reyna's probably beating herself up more than I could. Do you think she truly regrets it, Frank? Or is it just a show?"

"Percy, she's broken down about five times since learning she was deceived," Frank said. He looked back at the door as well. "Reyna thought she was doing the right thing, and she was utterly convinced that Annabeth was going to attack Camp Jupiter. I know Reyna feels terrible about what she did."

"Mom, let's just get out of here," Livia whispered. Darriah closed her eyes. She could feel the irritation boiling. Her focus needed to be on the task laid out before her, and her daughter would be nothing more than a distraction. Somehow, Annabeth Chase would die by her hands. "Mom."

"No!" Darriah snapped. It took her a moment to realize that everyone in the room was looking at her. Darriah slowly looked at Livia. "Go to the bakery. I will be there soon."

"Mother," Livia began. Darriah stood and grabbed Livia's arm tightly. Pain appeared on her daughter's face for a small moment. Darriah tightened her grip and dragged Livia out of the infirmary. When they made it outside, her daughter pulled away. "Why do you care about what happens with that?"

"Why are you questioning me?" Darriah asked. She raised her hand, and Livia stared at her. Darriah grabbed Livia's face tightly. "Do not question me."

"Since when?" Livia asked. Darriah let go of Livia's face. Then, she backhanded her daughter as hard as she could. Livia's head snapped to the side, and the blow caused her to stumble backwards. She placed a hand to her cheek, where Darriah's ring had cut the skin open.

"Do not make me tell you again," Darriah snapped. Livia stared at her. Darriah turned and walked back into the infirmary. Annabeth was awake, and it seemed like Percy was explaining what had happened.

Darriah walked back to the corner of the room and sat down. She looked down at the dagger tucked inside her belt. It was the one she had taken from the praetor. Darriah hoped that it was the one that ended Annabeth's life.

"She has them wrapped around her finger," Octavian whispered. Darriah slowly looked at him. "Annabeth Chase knows how to work the people around her. The praetors have seen her plans and the steps she has taken to destroy our home. Yet, they blind themselves to her evil. How could they?"

"They let themselves be manipulated," Daniel whispered. He laughed. Darriah turned her head to the left. "They let their feelings get in the way. You cannot fail like that."

"I can't believe this," Annabeth whispered. She stared at the ground and shook her head. "This can't be happening."

"We're going to figure this out," Frank promised. "You just need to rest. Diana should be taking Reyna right now to rectify this."

"Reyna's going with her? Annabeth asked. Frank nodded. "I want to talk to her when they get back."

"I don't know if that is a good idea," Percy began. He exchanged a look with Frank. Darriah watched the two boys. Why couldn't they just leave? Would she have to kill both of the Greeks? "But, that is a problem for are we have the fleece back."

"We have to be smart about this," Annabeth said. She looked at Frank. "We have to show unity in this. No matter what."

Darriah rolled her eyes and looked at the ground. She closed her eyes for a few minutes. As she sat there, anger boiled in her chest. Who was Annabeth to try and attack her home? Who was she to take on an empire. Darriah heard footsteps, and when she opened her eyes, the two boys were gone. Darriah blinked a few times and slowly stood. Annabeth was laying back in the bed and staring at the ceiling.

"Are you doing okay?" Annabeth asked. Darriah slowly looked at the Greek and nodded. "The stomach wound looked pretty bad."

"It's nothing," Darriah answered. She stood and walked towards Annabeth. "How do your arms feel?"

"I can't really feel them right now," Annabeth admitted. Darriah rested her hand near her belt, inches from the dagger. "Is Livia doing alright? I can't imagine she is too happy."

"She's fine," Darriah answered. She slowly pulled the dagger from her belt. Then, she raised it and stabbed it downwards. A weight slammed into Darriah, and the dagger sunk into the pillow near Annabeth's head. Darriah fell to the ground and stared up at her attacker. Livia stared down at her.

"Let go of my mother," Livia ordered. Darriah punched her daughter hard in the face. Then, she slammed her elbow into Livia's jaw. Her daughter collapsed to the ground, and Darriah slowly stood.

Annabeth had rolled to her feet, but she ended up stumbling, apparently still weak from her ordeal. Darriah avoided an attack from Annabeth, and she threw the Greek into Livia. Darriah laughed and spoke, "Revenge will be had."

Darriah slowly realized she wasn't in control of her actions. She grabbed the fallen dagger and examined Annabeth. The Greek was barely able to sit up. Livia stood in front of Annabeth. Darriah spoke, "Stand down."

"Who are you? How do you have control of my mother?" Livia demanded. Darriah took a deep breath. What was she doing? Darriah tried to lower the dagger. Instead, she threw it at Livia with lightning speed. It hit her daughter and caused her to stumble.

Darriah slammed her shoulder into Livia's gut and slammed her against the wall. Then, she grabbed the dagger from Livia's shoulder and pressed it against Livia's throat. Livia stared down at the dagger and took shaky breaths. She almost looked scared.

Darriah's felt her hand starting to move, but she suddenly stopped herself. She couldn't kill her daughter. Darriah stared at the dagger and tried to move her hand back. A head suddenly slammed into hers, and Darriah stumbled backwards.

"Go!" Livia ordered. Her gaze moved past Darriah, presumably at Annabeth. Darriah turned around to face Annabeth. She felt a hand grab her shoulder, and she threw Livia over her shoulder. Livia hit the ground hard and cried out in pain. Darriah slammed the dagger downwards.

Livia caught the dagger and spoke, "Mother. You have to fight this."

"I am going to save New Rome," Darriah whispered. Livia closed her eyes and slowly started to turn the dagger away from her chest. Darriah tried pushing the dagger down more, until it was hovering right over Livia's heart. Livia managed to turn the dagger completely away from her, so the blade was pointed at Darriah.

Darriah heard a noise behind her and tried to turn. She brought one hand up to defend herself, and something slammed into the back of her head. She collapsed against Livia and felt the dagger slide right into her neck. Darriah tried to breath, but it only came out as a strangled noise.

"No," Livia whispered. She rolled Darriah onto her back and examined the wound. "You are going to be fine. Please. You'll be okay."

Darriah slowly looked at Daniel. He stood on her right and was shaking his head in disappointment. He slowly disappeared. To her left, Octavian was looking at the ground and whispering a prayer. He disappeared as well.

"Mom. You can't leave me alone. Please," Livia begged. Tears filled her eyes. She was struggling to pour Unicorn powder on the wound, but it wasn't going to do anything. "You promised me!"

"I'm sorry," Annabeth whispered. She knelt next to Darriah. It took a few moments for Darriah to look up at the Greek. "I was just trying to help."

Annabeth gently placed a hand to Darriah's pulse, and she shivered. Darriah felt everything clear up. She slowly looked up at her daughter and placed a bloody hand to her face. Livia was trying not to cry but was losing that battle.

"I love you," Darriah choked out. Her hand fell from Livia's face. Darriah's head slowly turned to the side. She felt Livia bury her face in her chest. Darriah gently placed a hand to Livia's back, and everything slowly faded away.