"I died," Reyna said. Her eyes flickered up and focused on Isabella. The pirate had her fork halfway to her mouth, but upon hearing those words, she froze. Isabella slowly looked at her and lowered the fork. Confusion and disbelief were on her face.

"I died," Reyna repeated. She looked down. "And, I made a vow. I swore on the River Styx that I would kill every member of the Misveil. Then, I was stabbed in the chest and thrown overboard. I died, and Nemesis confronted me. She said that I would become a ghost unless I fulfilled my vow."

"Well," Isabella began. Her eyes stayed focused on her food, and she seemed to be lost in thought. Isabella finally looked up and met Reyna's eyes. She studied her for a long moment. Reyna didn't say a word. Isabella sighed. "Fuck."

"Fuck," Reyna agreed. She looked down. "I am going to kill them, Isabella."

"I know," Isabella said. She sat back and rubbed her chin. "I know you will, but we have to be careful. What happens if you die again? Can you die again?"

"If I don't kill every member of the Mistveil before I die, I become a ghost," Reyna answered. Isabella looked down. "If I do kill them, I will be fine. Nemesis said I would be free to live out the rest of my life."

"We will kill them," Isabella promised. "We're going to avenge your sister."

Reyna felt her eyes tear up again. She took shaky breaths and tried to calm down. Isabella grabbed her shoulder and gently rubbed her arm. Reyna tried to calm down, but she couldn't. Tears poured out of her eyes, and Isabella pulled her into a hug.

Once again, Reyna was consumed by loss. Her grief felt impassable. It was a mountain that she would never be able to climb. The only thing she could do was fulfill her vow and bring her sister back. Reyna tried to calm down, but her tears became worse and worse.

"Just let it out," Isabella whispered. She rubbed Reyna's back. "It hurts me too, but I can't imagine what you're going through. What they did is disgusting, and we are going to pay them back for it. For now, you just need time to grieve."

"I can't stop," Reyna whimpered. She clenched her fists hard enough to draw blood. The pain had to stop. The grief had to stop.

"You don't have to. Not until you're ready," Isabella whispered. She gently kissed Reyna's head. "I'm here for you, Reyna."

"My sister would want you to be a captain over me," Reyna muttered. Isabella pulled away and gently cradled Reyna's jaw. She made her look up and wiped her eyes. Reyna looked away.

"Hey. Look at me," Isabella whispered. Reyna slowly did. "If something were to happen, Hylla always wanted you to take over for her. I am here to be your second in command just like I was for her. You tell me what we need to do, and I will follow your order to the letter."

"I don't know," Reyna admitted. She wiped her eyes and sniffled. Isabella rubbed her back again. "How am I supposed to kill all of them?"

"Nemesis never said it had to be by your own hand, did she?" Isabella asked. Reyna shook her head. "That means your crew can help you. We will always help you. Reyna, you are our captain now, and there is nothing that can change that."

Reyna nodded. She still didn't feel great, but she did feel a little better. Isabella spoke, "After we help these demigods, we can go to war with the Mistveil. Use the reward money to hire mercenaries. I know that Marcus almost splattered your brains across Circe's spa, but do you think money could persuade him to work with us?"

"All he cares about is money and power," Reyna answered. She wiped her eyes and slowly drank some water. "It should convince him."

"Then, we have a plan. Besides, this island might have something on it that can help us," Isabella whispered. Reyna nodded. "Are you okay to be alone?"

"I am. Just don't tell anyone," Reyna said. She looked at Isabella who rubbed her back one last time and stood. "And, thank you."

"Anytime captain," Isabella said. Reyna looked away. "Hey, you have to get used to it. I know it sucks, but that's your title now."

"I know," Reyna whispered. Isabella nodded to her and then left the room. Reyna sighed tiredly and rested her head on the table. The tears almost started again, but she took deep and shaky breaths. It took her directing her thoughts to calm down.

Reyna knew that Isabella had more questions. The biggest one was what they were going to do about the island. They were supposed to use the rod to destroy it, but the Mistveil now had the rod. Reyna looked down.

Isabella's crew wasn't large enough to take on the entirety of the Mistveil. They would take heavy losses if they even won at all. Reyna needed the other captains and their ships. There was a plan. Reyna would take the demigods to the island, and they would rescue the two that were stranded there. After that, they would get the entire fleet and bring hell upon the Mistveil.

Reyna lifted her head and slowly stood. As she turned around, she came face to face with the woman standing at the door. Black eyes focused on her. Reyna stared at her mother and wasn't sure how she felt. Bellona did nothing to help them, and she didn't warn them.

"Reyna," Bellona said softly. Her voice was soft and caring. Reyna didn't think that immortals could love. "Sit."

"No," Reyna said. She shook her head. "I'm not going to sit. What do you want?"

"I want to warn you," Bellona said. A bitter chuckle left Reyna.

"You want to warn me? Now? Why didn't you warn us earlier!" Reyna snapped. "You could have told us the Mistveil was going to kill us! That Kendall was a traitor!"

"I cannot interfere in the life of my children like that," Bellona said. Reyna felt that mixture of emotions in her chest turn right into anger. "Reyna. Stop."

"Don't tell me what to do!" Reyna snapped. She slammed her fist into the table. "You can't just waltz back into my life and pretend like everything is fine!"

"If you continue this quest for revenge, it will get you killed again. Just let go. Enjoy your second chance at life," Bellona said. Reyna stared up at her mother in shock. It didn't take long for the shock to melt away.

"Hylla is dead, and you just want me to let go?" Reyna asked. The calmness in her voice scared her.

"I don't want to see you be lost as well. To turn into what your father did," Bellona said. Reyna slammed her fist directly into the table again.

"I already died!" Reyna yelled at the top of her lungs. "I already died, and I bet you didn't give a shit! It wasn't until I came back that you realized you didn't have anyone to do your dirty work. I know how you gods and goddesses work. Nemesis wants me to do her dirty work, and you're the same!"

"I do not need you to do anything for me," Bellona said. She grabbed Reyna's shoulders. "I just do not want to see you go down this path."

"Sure," Reyna muttered. She shoved her mother away from her. "Isn't our fate predetermined? Don't the Fates just take their strings and decide what we're going to do? Or, do we have a choice? Because if I have one, I am going to burn the Mistveil to the fucking ground."

"This anger that you feel is going to kill you if you can't control it," Bellona warned. "It already got your sister killed."

Reyna stiffened and looked up at her mother. Bellona just stared down at her. Reyna spoke, "I didn't kill Hylla. That was not my fault!"

"The arguing. The anger. Not telling her anything. If you would act like a Roman, none of this would have happened," Bellona said.

"I am not a Roman," Reyna hissed. "I didn't go to your stupid camp. Instead, Hylla and I carved a legacy out on the seas."

"A legacy of blood and gold," Bellona said. She scoffed. "Is that what you want?"

"Isn't the legacy of Rome one of blood and iron?" Reyna questioned. "What is the difference between what I do and what they did? At the end of all this, I'll be just like the Romans you hold to such a high degree: covered in blood."

"Now, get the fuck off of my ship," Reyna ordered. She shoved past her mother and walked out of the room. Bellona did not attempt to stop her. Good. Reyna knew that the result would be violent. She had been so worried about trying to get past her grief, but this anger that burned in her chest would help her.

After all, her mother was right. Reyna should be like a Roman. She should be like the Roman, the founder of the Mistveil, in her dreams. Soaking the sands red with blood and killing the pirates who ruined her life would be a pleasure. A cruel, twisted grin came to Reyna's face. Maybe, she would take the founder of the Mistveil up on his offer.

It would allow Reyna to destroy the Mistveil and make sure none of them survived. Her life would be extended, and she could bring back her sister. No one would be able to stop her. Reyna saw Isabella hurrying towards her side. She stopped in front of her captain and spoke, "Arke says she is about to open the doorway. We're about to be at the island."