The makeshift map was a little difficult to read, mostly because the buildings on the map were no longer there or had their names changed. The streets were mostly the same, thankfully. Between Annabeth and Hazel, they had managed to navigate to their destination.
Annabeth looked up in the building in front of her. It was made of blood red marble, but Annabeth didn't know if the marble had been originally white when it was made. Had the color been added after, or was it added when it was being made? The building was twenty feet tall but had no windows. The entrance may have had a door a long time ago, but cobwebs covered it now.
"You don't want to go in there," a voice warned. Annabeth jumped and turned around. A boy was standing across the street. He held onto a puppy with both hands. A girl stood next to him and was holding the leash. Both kids looked like they were only ten, but with all of the thing that Annabeth had experienced, she wouldn't be surprised if they were monsters.
"Why don't we want to go in there?" Hazel asked. The boy seemed to think about it. Then, he looked at the girl. The two of them spoke in Spanish. The boy finally waved his hand.
"It happened long ago," the boy said. A blush came back to his face as he spoke in English. His sister nudged him. "There was two lovers. One was a solider, and the other was a mysterious woman. Stories say that ruin followed the woman wherever she went, which is why a war came here. The solider fought in the war and tried to defend his home."
"He nearly died, and the woman brought him here," the boy continued. He looked up. "Then, there was screams coming from this place. Every single night was a new victim. Most of them seemed to be prisoners from the attacking army. The stories say that the solider died in the arms of the woman, and she took her anger out on those prisoners."
"One day, the screams were more like cries. That of a child. Then, there was none at all. We think that a woman took a baby here and killed it as her final act of vengeance. No one has entered the place since," the girl finished. She grabbed the boy's arm and rubbed the dog's head.
"There has been new screams recently," the boy whispered. "It is haunted. Do not go in there."
"We're going to handle the ghosts," Hazel promised. She looked at the kids and smiled. "They won't be able to hurt you."
The boy shook his head and backed away. The girl followed. Annabeth blinked, and the two children were running away. Hazel spoke, "Well, that's a good sign."
"Yeah," Annabeth muttered. She took a deep breath and turned towards the building. Her eyes focused on the cobwebs, and she shuddered. Hazel used her sword to clear them away. Together, they stepped into the building.
Annabeth blinked a few times to get her eyes adjusted to the darkness. Then, she stared at the walls. They were, unsurprisingly, covered in what looked to be blood, but it wasn't just red. It was also gold, like ichor. Annabeth stepped forward, and her foot hit something. She looked down at the dagger that her foot had hit. It was rusted and covered in blood.
There seemed to be discarded weapons everywhere. A few skeletons laid on the ground, but Annabeth had no way of knowing who they belonged to. Hazel looked around and shivered. She spoke, "Many people died here."
"Bellona killed them all?" Annabeth asked. Hazel didn't answer, but she seemed to think so. Annabeth grabbed Hazel's arm to steady her. She found rope on the ground as well. A small frown left her. "I think Bellona tortured people here."
"But there is no sign of Reyna or Hylla," Hazel said. Annabeth nodded her agreement. She looked around the room again. It wasn't that large, only fifty feet long and wide. Annabeth slowly examined the entire room. There was blood everywhere, and that was pretty much it. Bellona really liked blood. Annabeth was starting to realize that. "Here!"
Annabeth turned towards Hazel and walked towards the back of the building. Hazel was kneeling in font of the wall. She motioned to it. Annabeth studied the wall and saw in the blood, there was a thin line of concrete. It went up, to the right, and then back down to the ground.
"A secret door," Annabeth said. She felt along the wall, and her fingers brushed against a small symbol. It was a sword crossed with a torch She pressed in on it, and the wall started to lift. The two stepped backwards. As the wall finished lifting, Annabeth looked down the stairs.
Unlike the rest of the room, this place was absolutely spotless. There was no blood and not even any dust. Annabeth placed one hand to her sword and cautiously walked down the stairs. Hazel followed right behind her.
"How do you want to do this?" Hazel asked softly. "Can we fight Bellona?"
"We can't fight her, but we can distract her," Annabeth answered. "If it comes down to it, I want you to shadow travel Reyna and Hylla out of here. I don't think they'll be any shape to help us."
"It's not going to come to that," Hazel stated. Annabeth remained silent, and they made it down the stairs. There was a door in front of them. Annabeth placed a hand to the handle and tried to open it. To her surprise, it opened without issue.
As the door opened, Annabeth heard someone breathe in sharply. Annabeth blinked a few times and looked around the room. The walls were made of concrete, but there was blood covering almost every inch of the wall. Most of it was old, but some of it looked fresh.
Annabeth's attention moved to the two chairs in the middle of the room. Hylla was sitting in one on of them. Her wrists were tied to the arms of the chair, and there was cuts and bruises all over her arms. Blood covered Hylla's face, and the cut on her forehead didn't look that old. A bandage was wrapped around her hand.
Hylla's face was pale, and she looked exhausted. Upon meeting Annabeth's eyes, Hylla let out a shaky breath. She slowly spoke, "Help Reyna."
"Get Hylla. I'll help Reyna. We have to be quick," Annabeth said. She hurried past Hylla and swallowed painfully. Reyna was slumped forward in her chair. Her head was drooped, and she didn't stir upon Annabeth kneeling in front of her. Annabeth grabbed her knife and cut the ropes that kept Reyna tied to the chair.
"Annabeth, how bad is she?" Hylla asked. There was fear in her voice. Annabeth placed a hand to Reyna's pulse. It was weak but steady. Reyna's chest slowly rose and fell, and each breath was labored and wheezy. "She took more shocks that she should have. I think my mother gave her ambrosia to keep her alive."
"She looks bad, but it's going to be okay," Annabeth promised. She gently grabbed Reyna's arm and picked the praetor up over her shoulder. Reyna didn't even make a noise of pain. Annabeth watched Hazel help Hylla stand.
Hylla pulled away and walked on shaky feet. She stumbled towards her golden belt and grabbed it. Hazel spoke, "Why would your mother torture the two of you?"
"So we could prove our strength," Hylla muttered. She slowly put her belt on. Hazel offered a hand, but she was waved away. "I'm fine."
"How is that proving your strength?" Hazel questioned. She looked disgusted. Hylla studied her for a moment and then looked at Reyna. There was worry in her eyes. "How are you suppose to prove anything to your mother that way?"
Hylla leaned on the wall and took a shaky breath. Hazel went to offer help, but the queen of the Amazons just waved her away. Hylla spoke, "If you stop yourself from showing your pain, you prove your strength. You can't react. You just have to take it."
"Reyna tried so hard, but there is only so much one person can take when they're being shocked to death," Hylla continued. She shook her head and pushed herself off the wall.
"I wasn't actually going to kill her," Bellona commented. Annabeth jumped and turned towards the goddess. Bellona was leaning against the railing of the stairs. "Demigods just aren't as strong as they use to be. But, I do have to thank you two for making this so easy. I didn't think you two would just walk into my temple. I thought I would have to hurt my daughters more."
"Let them go," Annabeth said. She tried to meet Bellona's eyes but couldn't The goddess smiled coldly. A small groan escaped Reyna, and Annabeth felt the praetor starting to wake. Bellona's smile widened.
"Do you two really think I am just going to let you walk out of here?" Bellona asked. Annabeth took a few steps backwards and laid Reyna on the ground. Another groan escaped Reyna, and she turned on her side. Bellona hummed softly and held her hand out. A weapon appeared in it.
Annabeth stared at the weapon, which she assumed was the labrys. It was a double headed axe that seemed to be about six feet long. One of the heads was imperial gold, and the other was celestial bronze. It was odd for Bellona to hold it, considering she talked about how Greeks should have just rolled over and died.
The shaft was made of black material, maybe stygian iron. Annabeth could have sworn that lightning was running through the shaft. Bellona ran her hand up and down the shaft. The goddess spoke, "This is the same weapon I used to make your mother my, what do mortals call it, bitch. I can't wait to do worse to you."
"You're not going to touch her," Hylla said. She tried to step in front of Hazel, but her knees were clearly shaky. Bellona smiled. Annabeth heard another groan and glanced behind her. Reyna was starting to stir, but she probably wouldn't be any help.
"Hylla, I understand. You think that Reyna will be glad if you save her friends," Bellona said. She laughed. "Do you realize that I am not going to let those two leave this room alive, but I won't be the one hurting them. You and Reyna will."
"No," Hylla stated. Bellona tilted her head and gave her a look. Then, she snapped her fingers. Hylla hissed and collapsed against the wall. She slid into a sitting position and gripped her head. Reyna made a pained noise, and Annabeth looked back at her.
"I control you," Bellona hissed. "You are my daughters, and you will listen."
"Go," Hylla hissed. She hit the ground, causing a crack in the concrete. "Get out of here!"
"We're not going anywhere," Hazel said. Bellona rolled her eyes. Hazel unsheathed her sword, and Annabeth did the same.
"Let's do the math," Bellona said. She looked between the two demigods. "There is my two daughters against you two. Hylla alone could take on the two of you, and well, Reyna is pathetic. She will still be a distraction. When you two are subdued, do you know what I am going to have them do to you?"
The tip of a spear appeared out of Bellona's chest. The goddess blinked once and then slowly looked down at her chest. Bellona started to laugh, and the spear was removed fro her chest. She turned and spoke, "Oh, Minerva. I never thought I would see you here."
"It is not Minerva today," Athena growled. The goddess of wisdom wore a full set of armor. She gripped her shield with one hand and her spear with the other. "Get away from my daughter."
"I cannot wait to hurt her in front of you," Bellona said. She flipped the labrys in her hand. Then, she attacked.
"Go," Athena ordered. She caught Bellona's attack with her shield and stabbed forward with her spear. Bellona knocked the blow aside, and the two went to war. Annabeth turned towards Reyna and knelt by her.
Reyna's face was pressed against the ground, and she was blinking rapidly. Annabeth tried to help Reyna stand, and Hazel moved to their side. A glance up showed that Hylla was sitting at the bottom of the stairs and gripping her head.
"We're here, Reyna. You just have to wake up," Annabeth said. She picked Reyna up and carried her towards the stairs. A small noise of pain, almost a whimper, escaped Reyna. Annabeth looked up at the stairs and then looked back at the fight. Bellona and Athena seemed like they were evenly matched, but Bellona also had the labrys.
"The bloodlust. We have to go," Hylla hissed. She tried to stand, only to grip her head again. "I can't fight it any longer. Take Reyna and leave."
Annabeth looked back at the fight. If Annabeth and Hazel left with Reyna, the bloodlust would control Hylla. She would help Bellona against Athena, and it would be the same result as all the years ago. Annabeth would not allow that to happen.
"Go," Annabeth ordered. She handed Reyna off to Hazel, but Hazel could barely keep the praetor on her feet. Hylla growled and slowly made it to her feet. She grabbed Reyna, but the praetor's knees went weak, and she collapsed against Hylla.
"You have to wake up," Hylla whispered. She sat Reyna down against the steps. Reyna's head lolled forward again. "Damn it, Reyna! Wake up!"
"Hylla, this isn't helping," Annabeth said. She looked at the queen of the Amazons. "Can you walk on your own?"
"I think," Hylla muttered. She slowly made it to her feet. Hylla gripped the railing and started to make it up the stairs. Reyna groaned and tried to lift her head. Her eyes drifted open and close.
"Reyna, can you hear me. It's Annabeth. We're here to help, but we need you to wake up," Annabeth said softly. "I have to defend my mother. You need to get to safety."
Reyna still didn't answer. Hazel gently grabbed Reyna's arm and wrapped it around her shoulder. She spoke, "I can get her out of here."
"I'll help you up the stairs," Annabeth said. Working together they managed to carry Reyna up the stairs. When they made it to the last step, the two laid Reyna on the ground. Another groan left the praetor. Her eyes slowly drifted open.
"Annabeth?" Reyna choked out. She gasped and placed a hand to her side. Her next words were incomprehensible, and pain appeared on her face. Her hand moved to her side. A shudder left Reyna, and she seemed to spasm.
"Get her to safety," Annabeth ordered. Hazel nodded and pulled Reyna back to her feet. Hylla slowly moved to their side and helped them. The three slowly made their way towards the exit. Annabeth turned and ran down the stairs.
Upon making it back to the room, Annabeth saw that Bellona had Athena pinned to the ground. Bellona was saying something in Latin, and it sent chills down Annabeth's spine. Annabeth spoke, "Leave her alone!"
"Just in time," Bellona said. She stomped down on Athena's knee, and there was a sickening crack. "Now, which one of your limbs should I break first?"
Annabeth wasn't going to allow herself to be intimidated. She just needed to calm down and stay focused. Annabeth and Athena would handle Bellona, get the labrys from her, and take Bellona back to Mount Olympus. She just had to make sure that Bellona didn't destroy them first.