A loud knock woke Reyna from her sleep. Her head whipped up, and she blinked rapidly. Reyna looked down at the desk and studied the paperwork. She didn't really remember falling asleep, but there was drool over some of the papers. She wiped her face and glanced at the door.
"We're almost at the island," Kendall said. She turned and stalked away. Reyna sighed and laid her head against her chair. Kendall was still upset about Reyna snapping on her, and they had hardly spoken. The only thing Kendall talked about was business, and she hadn't touched Reyna at all. It was kind of nice.
Reyna shook her head and looked down at the paperwork. Everything was going well so far. No one had attacked them, and no one tried to mutiny. Reyna actually felt pretty happy about her performance. She just hadn't slept much. Or at all really.
That didn't matter though. Reyna had one chance to show Hylla that she would make a good captain, and everything had to go perfectly. And, all Reyna wanted was to be a captain. Sure, she also wanted to join the camps. But if she had a choice, being a captain was it.
Reyna would have her own ship. She would have the chance to just be her own damn person. Reyna let out a shaky breath and stood. She strapped on her armor and slipped on her leather coat. Reyna walked out of the office.
As Reyna made her way above deck, she looked around. None of the pirates seemed upset that she was acting captain. They were treating her like normal. Reyna walked towards the railing and leaned on it. The plan was for her and Piper to go to the island by themselves. They couldn't bring any males with them. Circe would try to turn them into animals, or she might even use charmspeak to capture them and make them slaves, if not something worse.
The only thing that Reyna needed was for this to go well. She exhaled deeply and stared down at the ocean. It took a few moments for Piper to make it to her side. Piper spoke, "How are you feeling?"
"Fine," Reyna muttered. She shifted and winced in pain. Her stomach still ached, but the infection was clearing up. Reyna was getting better, but she still needed time to heal. No one needed to know that though. "Are you ready?
"I am," Piper said. She was wearing armor as well. Her sword rested at her side. "If I'm being honest, I'm nervous about this. The things I've heard about Circe aren't good."
"She's evil," Reyna admitted. As they came closer to the island, she stared at it. There were a few people milling around the beach. Others were playing volleyball. Some were getting tans and having lotion put on them by men. A few, large white buildings dotted the area near the docks. It was probably where Circe had her actual spa.
"Why have her be a client then?" Piper asked. Reyna glanced at the demigod.
"She pays well," Reyna answered. She shrugged and looked back at the water. "It's Hylla's decision really. I don't know why she likes working with Circe. Probably because the witch gives her all the women she could ever want."
Reyna scowled and glared downwards. Why did Hylla have to fuck every woman that she came by? It was Hylla's fault that a sea monster was eternally after them, and that made it really hard to be a pirate. Hylla slept with Elizabeth and Nora, because she couldn't sleep with just one. Reyna's knee paid the price, and it still ached, even if she could walk. Reyna always paid that damn price.
Reyna didn't have to order the pirates to dock the ship. They already were. A smile came to Reyna's face. No one could ever say that the pirates were not trained well. They could probably function without a captain, but they did need a captain. Who else would keep the pirates in line?
When Reyna had sent the message to Circe, well her assistant, the red carpet was promised to be rolled out. Upon looking at the docks, Reyna saw that the red carpet had two almost naked women holding onto bottles of alcohol.
"Is this normally how Circe greets you?" Piper questioned. Reyna almost jumped as someone slammed themselves into the railing. She turned her head to look at Arke. A small smile came to Arke's face. One of her hands was holding tightly onto her wings. She had not let go of them, and anyone who came too close got growled at.
"Hey, do you remember what we talked about?" Reyna asked. She looked up at Arke. It took a few moments for the immortal to nod. "Good. Then, please go back below deck. I promise you that we will get you as soon as Circe is ready for you."
"This looks different," Arke began. She studied the island.
"Circe had to move. Can you please go back below deck? If you ask Maurice nicely, he'll make you more of that drink you like."
Arke pushed herself off of the railing and hurried back below deck. Reyna sighed and rubbed her eyes. She looked at Piper and spoke, "What did you ask?"
"How does Circe normally greet you?" Piper repeated. Reyna glanced back at the island.
"I normally stay on the ship," Reyna answered. She pushed herself off of the railing. "I hate Circe. I really do. I'd stay on the ship, and Hylla would meet with her. She probably does other things with the attendants, too."
Reyna made it towards the gangplank, and she walked down it. Her stomach twisted in pain, and she gritted her teeth. The two women that greeted them were both wearing bikinis that really didn't cover anything. It was the kind of thing that would have pulled Hylla in, and the bottles of alcohol that they held would have loosened Hylla's lips.
Reyna didn't feel like drinking alcohol, and she didn't feel like sleeping with any of the women. Gods, she really didn't feel like living in one of Hylla's fantasies. All she wanted to do was figure out how to attach the wings to Arke. Then, they could find the island and be done with this quest.
"Captain Ramirez-Arellano," one of the women said. She practically pressed herself against Reyna. "Circe told us all about you."
"If Circe told you anything about Hylla, you would know that I'm not her," Reyna said. She shook her head. "Don't try to seduce me. Don't try to get me drunk. Just bring me to Circe, so we can get this business done. Thanks."
"Of course," the woman said. She smiled tightly. Then, she turned on her heel and started to walk. Reyna glanced back at Piper.
"Come on, quartermaster," Reyna said with a small wink. Piper stared at her but then quickly followed. The two of them followed the women, along a rocky path that led towards one of the buildings. Reyna glanced around and saw that most of the customers were women. Men were serving them. There was a hollow look in their eyes.
Ever since Blackbeard decided to pillage the island after being freed, Circe really didn't trust men. She hated them before, but she would at least let them be by themselves. Now, men were not allowed to be alone under any circumstances.
"Why am I posing as your quartermaster?" Piper asked quietly. She moved closer to Reyna.
"Lots of reasons," Reyna answered. She slipped her hands into her pockets and rubbed her coins. Reyna really didn't like this island. It was the lair of a witch. "Circe will think that I am a captain, and she won't try to pull her stupid tricks."
"Like charmspeak?" Piper asked. Reyna nodded. "If you are worried about Circe using charmspeak, why even go to her?"
"We have a business deal going," Reyna answered. She shrugged. "I don't like it, but I can't exactly overrule Hylla. She thinks that Circe won't turn on us. I just can't trust Circe. And, she's really our only choice."
They stopped in front of another white building. It seemed to be smaller than the rest, and upon stepping inside, Reyna realized the entire thing was Circe's office. There were filing cabinets covering one wall and a woman was sorting through them. A large, mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room, and Circe was sitting behind it.
Two women were standing next to Circe as she pointed to a paper. Reyna stopped walking. The witch was exactly how Reyna remembered. The only difference was that Circe's normally braided hair was hanging loose. Her green eyes flickered up and met Reyna's.
"Reyna, what a surprise! You have grown so much," Circe said. She studied the two of them. "I was expecting Hylla."
"Hylla sent me," Reyna said. She stuffed her hands back into her pockets to try and hide how much they were shaking. The Iris message they sent to warn Circe of their arrival was received by Circe's assistant, There was no telling what the witch thought of it. "We need magical assistance."
"Yet, you wouldn't tell my assistant about it. You said that we had to speak in person," Circe said. She studied Piper for a moment. "So speak."
"Arke, former messenger of the Titans, had her wings torn off of her back. You know her, right?" Reyna asked. Circe looked at her. The witch's face was an emotionless mask. Circe gave no indication that she had heard. "Arke says that she knows you."
"You know Arke?" Circe asked. She leaned back. "How?"
"We have a business deal going," Reyna answered after a moment. "Arke needs her wings reattached, and she says that you can help. What is it going to take?"
"Straight to the point," Circe said. She leaned forward and laced her fingers together. She rested her jaw on her fingers and studied Reyna. "You didn't even enjoy the woman or alcohol. You are nothing like your sister."
"I have a time table to keep. What is it going to take?" Reyna questioned. She didn't have time to play the witch's games. They needed answers, and Reyna wasn't going to wait around for them.
"I can tell you how to reattach the wings. It's simple: magic. You have a pirate who can do magic, right? One that will be able to do the delicate work required?" Circe wondered. Reyna glared, and a smile came to Circe's face. "No. I don't think you do. So, you need help, and I am the only one who can provide it. That means you'll do whatever I tell you to."
Reyna gritted her teeth and didn't say a word. Circe continued, "There is a group that has been harassing my new business. I need someone to talk to them and make them disappear. I don't care how, but I want them out of my life. And, I want the leader's head."
"Who is the group? Where are they?" Reyna questioned. Circe waved her hand, and the woman sorting files rushed to their side. Circe snapped her fingers.
"We hired them for security when we were first starting out. I didn't want a man, but he knew his way around the islands," the woman said. She shifted. "They soon turned on us and have been sabotaging operations. Between stealing our supplies and slaves, they have hit our business hard."
"They are not pirates, but they operate on the other end of the island," the woman continued. "No matter how much charmspeak we use or money we show, our suppliers always dock over there. There is nothing we can do to stop them. We don't know much else about them."
"So, I bring you the leader's head and get the rest to leave you alone. Then, you'll reattach Arke's wings?" Reyna asked. Circe nodded. "Swear on the River Styx."
Circe sighed dramatically. She spoke, "You do understand how powerful that kind of vow is, don't you? It is not something for your little mortal mouth to trifle with. Hylla and I can trust that we will keep our word. Can you join me in the adult world and do that?"
Reyna glared. It took her a few moments to swallow back her anger, "Find the leader and bring you his head. You'll reattach Arke's wings, and you know what happens if you double cross us?"
"Do you know what happens if you double cross me?" Circe questioned. "Do you know what happens to those who threaten me? Watch yourself, little girl. You are not prepared for any of this. Just turn around and leave, do what I asked, and come back with a better attitude. Understood?"
Reyna wanted nothing more than to snap on Circe and insult her. Instead, she nodded stiffly and turned around. Reyna left the room without another word. Piper followed on her heels. The two of them made it outside, and Reyna looked around the island.
It seemed like only half of the island belonged to Circe. The other half was free real estate, or it was where all of the people who had been living on the island were now crammed. Reyna glanced at Piper and spoke, "The two of us will go and find this group."
"Shouldn't we get back up?" Piper asked. Reyna shook her head. "Are you sure?"
"We'll just do recon. Find out who this group is and where they are based. Then, we can go back and get Nico. And your boyfriend, I guess," Reyna said. She waved her hand. "I'm also sure that Circe will have eyes on us the entire time, so we have to be careful."
"Understood," Piper said. Reyna focused ahead and closed her eyes tiredly. This needed to go smoothly. She needed this to turn out perfectly, and Hylla wouldn't regret her decision. Reyna tapped her fingers against her coins and tried to calm down. Everything would turn out fine. It had to.