"Do you ever think about the things she did?" Reyna asked. She picked at the bread that she had been given. Hylla was sitting next to her and staring down at the bowl of soup that she had brought. Reyna hadn't been able to keep anything down the past few days. She doubted this bread and soup would be any different.

"You shouldn't be talking. You need to rest," Hylla said quietly. Reyna sighed and dropped the piece of bread. She turned on her side and curled up. "Hey, Reyna. Come on. You need to eat."

"Not hungry," Reyna muttered. Hylla sighed and placed a hand to her back. Reyna closed her eyes and wished that she could drift off to sleep. Instead, minutes of silence passed.

"I do," Hylla finally whispered. Reyna opened her eyes and slowly looked at her older sister. "More than I should."

"I had a dream," Reyna said softly. She played with her shirt. Hylla frowned. "About what she did to that goddess."

"Oh gods Reyna. No," Hylla said. She pulled Reyna close and cradled her. "Is that why you haven't been able to eat the past few days?"

Reyna nodded. Anytime she closed her eyes, she could still vividly remember the screams of agony and her mother's sadistic laugh. The images felt like they were forever seared into her brain. Hylla kissed her head gently and spoke," It's going to be okay, Reyna."

"She shows it to everyone," Hylla whispered. Reyna buried her face in Hylla's chest and let out a small cry. "I'm so sorry, Reyna. Why didn't you tell me?"

Reyna didn't answer. She had heard the story before, when she was five. It had been a peaceful night, but Reyna hadn't been able to sleep. An armored figure appeared at the window sill, and Bellona introduced herself. She told Reyna all about the world of gods and monsters. Then, she asked Reyna if she wanted to hear a bedtime story.

Of course Reyna wanted to hear a bedtime story. What five year old didn't want to hear a bedtime story? When Reyna had excitedly said yes, Bellona told her the story of a great war. She told Reyna a story of the sacking of a town. Then, she told Reyna how she found Minerva and-

Reyna pulled away from her sister and threw up the small bit of bread that she ate. Hylla rubbed her back and spoke, "I'm sorry, Reyna. We can ask Circe for something to help you sleep."

"If I fall asleep, will I have that nightmare again?" Reyna whispered. Hylla rubbed her back and pulled her close. Reyna buried her face in Hylla's chest.

"I don't know, but I'll be right here," Hylla promised. Reyna nodded slightly. She tried to relax. After Bellona had told Reyna all about the horrific things that she did to Minerva, she had tried to ask Reyna about herself. The door opened, and Reyna's father stepped into the room. He pulled Bellona away and yelled at her for what felt like hours. It was the only memory that Reyna had of her father being sane.

Reyna still remembered that story, but Hylla always told her that Bellona embellished it. The goddess just said those things to freak Reyna out. Well, watching the damn thing dispelled that theory. Bellona did not embellish anything that she did. If anything, the goddess held back some of the details. Reyna would never be able to get those images out of her mind.

"It's going to be okay," Hylla whispered. "I promise. It's going to be okay. Just calm down."

Reyna remained silent and stared ahead. Bellona had stolen Reyna's innocence that day. The goddess had given Reyna nightmares that seemed like they would never be forgotten. Reyna finally buried her face in Hylla's chest and cried miserably.

Reyna's eyes snapped open, and she stared at the pillow beneath her face. Her entire body ached, and it took all of her willpower to bite back a groan. Each breath that she took caused sharp pain to shoot through her body, and her limbs felt stiff.

Reyna slowly tried to move the fingers on her hands, but she couldn't move the fingers on her right hand. Pain shot through her left forearm. A soft curse left Reyna, and she tried to roll onto her back. Instead, a moan of pain escaped her.

Where was she? Reyna slowly lifted her head and took in the features of the room. There was two beds, and she was currently laid out on one of them. The other had three backpacks on it, along with her two dogs. They both watched her with curious looks. Reyna dropped her head back to the pillow, and her eyes started to drift close.

The door to her right opened, and she heard the sounds of talking. Reyna focused on it. She heard Hazels' small laugh. Annabeth spoke, "It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. And then all these mechanical spiders came."

"And, you escaped through the tunnel of love?" Hazel asked. She laughed again. "Why didn't Percy tell us this? It's hilarious."

Reyna closed her eyes and almost let out a small sigh. Then, she smelled food. A bag was placed down, and Reyna could hear food being passed around. Part of her wanted to just pass back out. The other part of her really wanted food.

"Is Reyna awake?" Hazel asked quietly. She sat on the bed across from Reyna. It took a moment for Reyna to look up and meet her centurion's eyes. She tried to wave, but her arms didn't exactly move. "Hey. How are you feeling? You've been asleep for twenty hours."

"Twenty?" Reyna slowly asked. She groaned and buried her face back into her pillow. "What happened?"

"Your mother covered the hotel in Nerio's blood," Annabeth answered quietly. Reyna didn't look up. A hand grabbed her shoulder gently. "We got some food for you. How do you feel?"

"Like shit," Reyna muttered. She painfully rolled onto her back. Reyna tried to sit up, and Annabeth help her. "How bad am I?"

"Pretty bad," Annabeth answered. "Your right hand and wrist are broken. Your left arm is broken as well."

"I was able to heal you a little, but I was worried to do it without instruction," Hazel said. Reyna nodded and tried to stand. Hazel and Annabeth both stopped her. "You need to rest."

"I don't need rest. We need to get going," Reyna muttered. She felt her willpower crumble as Annabeth held a bag out to her. Reyna carefully cradled the bag and pulled out a few fries. Annabeth handed her a water bottle. Reyna took a few sips.

"Just eat," Annabeth said. Reyna met her eyes. There was a look in Annabeth's eyes, and she clearly had a ton of questions. Reyna looked down. "Then, we'll talk."

Reyna stared down at her food, and she found it hard to eat. A soft sigh left her. Reyna spoke, "Yeah. I guess."

"There is no guessing anymore," Annabeth said. She met Reyna's eyes. "Reyna, you have to tell us what is going on."

"I know," Reyna muttered. She sighed and closed her eyes. Why did she have to open her big mouth in the first place? She should have just slipped out of Camp Jupiter when she had the chance. Reyna rubbed her forehead. "Yeah. I know, Annabeth."

"Then just tell us," Annabeth said softly. Reyna ate quietly and reflected over what to say. For all of these years, she had carried around the weight of her mother's sins, and when she parted ways with Hylla, she carried that weight alone.

Annabeth and Hazel were going to judge her. Neither of them could understand why Reyna did what she did. It was the last thing she wanted to tell them about, but there was no getting out of it. There was no way for her to be able to stand and hurry out of the room.

"Tell me what Bellona did to my mother," Annabeth said. Reyna shook her head. "Reyna!"

"Not while we're eating. Please," Reyna said. Annabeth studied her for a moment and then nodded. The look in her eyes made it clear that she would not let the subject rest. Reyna closed her eyes tightly. She didn't know where to start, not that she really wanted to.

If Reyna didn't tell them, she knew they wouldn't let her leave the room. She was trapped, unless she wanted to try her luck with sneaking out. Considering she didn't feel like she could stand, there was nothing she could do. Reyna sighed and stared at her lap. She wasn't really hungry anymore.

"What happened to Carmina?" Reyna asked quietly.

"Nerio confronted us and let Carmina go," Hazel answered. Reyna slowly looked up. "Why would she attack Annabeth?"

"All of the surviving attendants at Circe's island made a vow. They wanted to avenge those that were tortured and killed by the pirates. They wanted to avenge their home and Circe. There wasn't much information to go on, other than the names Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase. Descriptions of you two were passed around," Reyna muttered.

"You didn't take the vow," Annabeth noted. Reyna looked at her and then nodded. "Why not?"

"I'm just tired," Reyna said quietly. "Tired of fighting in the wars that others caused. I'm tired of revenge and vengeance. I spent all those years of Circe's island just waiting for it all to crumble. When it did, I was upset, but I wouldn't kill you for it."

"Why did you go to the island?" Hazel asked. Reyna hesitated and then shook her head. That was one secret that she wouldn't share.

"Reyna," Annabeth began. Reyna held up her hand.

"My father died," Reyna said tensely. "I don't, won't, talk about it. It doesn't involve this quest, so please do not ask me again."

Annabeth nodded and sat on the bed near Reyna. Hazel did as well. Reyna sighed and looked down. The praetor slowly spoke, "What do you want to know?"

"Nerio said that you stole the labrys, and you told me that you did," Annabeth said softly. "And, she said that Jupiter tasked her with getting the labrys back. Who did you steal it for?"

Reyna took a deep breath and buried her face in her free hand. This was it. After all these years, she was finally going to tell another soul about her vow, but she didn't want to. A sad sigh left her, and she looked up. Aurum and Argentum studied her with those ruby eyes.

"Sorry. I guess my soul is just going to be damned," Reyna said, and she stared right into the eyes of her dogs. Reyna looked back at her friends. "Long ago, my mother got her hands on the labrys. That weapon was powerful by itself, and she decided to use that weapon to increase her power and become the ultimate goddess of war."

"She started with the other minor gods and goddesses of war, wiping them out and taking their power. That's why Nerio was thought to be destroyed. It's why Minerva isn't as revered," Reyna said. Her voice died on her, and she stared at the ground. Reyna cleared her throat awkwardly and looked up. "Somewhere along the way, Bellona decided that a great goddess of war should have a great army."

"Mars had a claim to the souls who lost in battle, but Bellona didn't just want those who lost in battle. She wanted all of the souls of the dead. They would be conscripted into her army: demigods and mortals alike," Reyna continued. "She would use them to chip away at the gods by stealing their items of power, killing their children, and just making life general hell. To do this, she planned on destroying Pluto."

"Since Bellona couldn't do it by herself, she wanted her children to trap Pluto, but her children, Hylla and I, refused to help," Reyna said softly. She couldn't met her friends' eyes, and she stared at the ground. "When Bellona tried by herself, she failed. And, she was cast into Tartarus. There was harsh consequences though."

"Hylla and I had to get away. We found our way onto Circe's island, but Pluto didn't want to let it rest. He ordered for Trivia to speak to Circe and get us off the island and into his hands, so we could be punished for the sins of our mother. Circe refused, and Trivia vowed that when the attendants needed magic the most, it would fail them. That's why we couldn't fight off the pirates."

"When everything fell apart and we were taken off of the island, we just focused on survival. After getting away from Blackbeard, we were worried about what Pluto would do. I made a deal with him and Jupiter. I would bare the chains of Pluto, and for the rest of my life, I would do as he said. I would be his errand girl."

"Jupiter wanted to have some influence too, as it was his weapon that was taken. He was worried that Bellona would convince Pluto to turn on him or that Bellona would break out and attack him. That was why he wanted one of us to go to Camp Jupiter. It was suppose to be Hylla and I, together. Instead, she went to the Amazons," Reyna said. She looked down at the ground.

"What happened to the labrys?" Annabeth asked.

"It was taken from Bellona, and it was placed in a neutral ground. I think the museum belongs to Rhea: their mother. She wouldn't pick sides," Reyna said. "And, a god couldn't just walk into the museum and take the labrys. A demigod had to."

"Why wouldn't Jupiter keep the labrys?" Hazel asked softly. Reyna slowly glanced at Hazel. She sighed and looked down. "It was his after all."

"Something about items of power. I don't really know," Reyna muttered. She motioned to her dogs. "Those two are from Pluto. They keep an eye on me and make sure I don't help my mother. That's why I tried to keep them at Camp Jupiter."

Aurum cocked his head to the side, and Argentum growled softly. Reyna sighed and looked down. Annabeth grabbed her shoulder, and Reyna winced. Annabeth quickly lowered her hand. She spoke, "So, those chains that I saw. Those are the chains of Pluto."

"They block out magic," Reyna explained. "Ever since Nerio used them, I haven't been able to use proper magic at all. I don't know why, but I have to figure it out."

"So, did Pluto ask you to steal the labrys? Annabeth asked. Reyna nodded. "And, you did, but your mother caused your bloodlust to hit."

"Yeah. Hylla was there as well. We fought, and Hylla won. She took the labrys from me and returned it to my mother. Now, Bellona wants me back, and my guess is that she is going to break us down to rubble and try to rebuild us. Or, she'll just kill the weaker of us," Reyna said. She closed her eyes. Reyna knew she was the weaker one, but if she died for Hylla, that would be okay.

"Do you think that Bellona would go after Pluto again, or would she try to destroy Mars?" Hazel asked.

"Bellona doesn't see Mars as worthy of her time. That is why she never went after him," Reyna answered. She tried to stand. Annabeth grabbed her.

"You're hurt. You need to rest," Annabeth began.

"I just want to take a shower," Reyna said. She met Annabeth's eyes. "If you'll help me."

Annabeth nodded and wrapped Reyna's arm around her shoulders. She helped Reyna stand. Hazel grabbed Reyna's other arm, and two helped her walk towards the bathroom. It was a hit to Reyna's pride, but considering her legs felt like jelly, she knew that she couldn't even walk by herself.

When they made it to the bathroom, Annabeth helped her sit on the toilet seat. Reyna hissed in pain. Annabeth grabbed a rag and held it under water. She spoke, "Hazel, can we have a moment alone?"

"Of course," Hazel said. She stepped out of the bathroom. Annabeth used the rag to gently wipe Reyna's face. Reyna studied her for a long moment.

"What did Bellona do to my mother?" Annabeth asked. Reyna closed her eyes and felt weight come to her chest. She felt panic run through her. Reyna looked down. "Please just tell me."

"Bellona did what most conquers do to their spoils," Reyna said. She felt her food coming back up. "The Athena Parthenos was taken by Rome when it was sacking the Greek city states. As it was being taken, a few Romans, children of Bellona, hunted your mother down."

Reyna looked down and leaned forward. She slowly continued, "How else would Bellona take the power of your mother? How else would she prove there was only one goddess of war? Bellona wanted to take your mother's power and credibility. So, she had her children drag Athena to her temple atop of Athens, and she-"

Reyna took a shaky breath and swallowed back her vomit. She forced herself to continue, "Bellona used the labrys to violate your mother in her own temple."

"Shit," Reyna said. She rested her head on her knees and gripped her head. More curses left her. Panic was gripping her chest, and she felt the world around her spinning. She remembered all of the horrible screams and the ichor. And gods, she remembered how long it lasted. "She showed us. She shows all her children what she did."

"Carmina said that Bellona might do the same to me," Annabeth said quietly. Reyna couldn't look up at her. All she did was press her knees against her head and silently begged for the memories would stop. "Was she telling the truth?"

"I think Bellona will want me to," Reyna said said softly. Her food threatened to come up once again. The screams in her ear became louder.

"Will you?" Annabeth asked. Reyna didn't answer. She couldn't. "Reyna, will you?"

A minute of silence passed, and Reyna was aware of every single second. She finally spoke, "You should head back to Camp Half-Blood."

Annabeth didn't say a word, and Reyna didn't have the courage to look up. She spoke softly, "And, I know, Annabeth. I know it is a suicide mission, but I don't care. If I go, I can try to save my sister. If I don't, Hylla will die, and I can't lose her. I'm scared of being without my sister, but I won't let anyone die for this. That is why I will continue this quest alone. You two don't have to be harmed."

"Bellona is going to want me to do terrible thing to you and Hazel. Please just leave so I don't have to," Reyna whispered. She felt tears trickle out of her eyes.

"Reyna, we are your friends," Annabeth said. She grabbed Reyna's shoulder. After a few moments, Reyna slowly looked up. "We are going to help you, and I know you won't hurt us. It doesn't matter what your mother wants, because you're stronger than her. We are not turning our backs on you."

Reyna felt more tears trickle out of her eyes, and before she knew it, she was crying miserably. Annabeth pulled her into a hug, and Reyna buried her face in Annabeth's shoulder. The thought of confronting her mother terrified her, and she was sickened by how much faith Annabeth had in her. Didn't they understand that Reyna would do anything to save her sister? If they didn't, they would soon enough.