Chapter 4: The Questions
*Present day*
(Reyna)
"P-Percy?" I asked flabbergasted.
"Hi Reyna, long time no see." He said, grinning.
To call this unexpected is an understatement. A year ago, we were told that he had run away and even Diana herself was not able to find him, which bearing in mind that she is the goddess of the hunt, was a very shocking revelation. And now here he is, on the border of Camp Jupiter looking taller, leaner, and more…mature? What the hades is going on.
"Everyone stand down!" I commanded, eager to begin questioning the son of Poseidon on where he has been. "I believe all of you still remember your former praetor, go to the barracks and alert the engineers that the vicinity is clear and to begin rebuilding the border wall. If anyone asks, do not mention that Percy is here am I clear?"
"May I ask why Praetor?" The Centurion of the first cohort asked curiously.
"Because I said so, do you need any other reason Centurion?" I challenged.
"No praetor, we will do as you say. Everyone form at the barracks!" The Centurion finished.
"Follow me Percy." I said in more of a commanding tone rather than a request. He shrugged, picked up his weapon, and began following me to a more secluded area around the outskirts of the camp.
"Reyna, I understand that you have questions but I'm afraid I cannot reveal much as of the moment." He said and I became increasingly curious as to what he was hiding.
"Why did you run away and where have you been?!" I yelled at him, he has no idea what he put his friends through.
"Even if I would tell you, you wouldn't believe me." He said sadly, his eyes dulling under the moonlight.
"Do you have any idea on what you have done?! What you did broke Annabeth a lot. For the first few months she was restless and was scouring every information she could find to search for where you were. I'm just glad that we were able to persuade her to stop and that she finally found new peace and comfort." I finished quietly, watching his every reaction, expecting him to be shocked or hurt but to my surprise he was stoic and emotionless.
"It is okay Reyna, I know of what has happened ever since I left Camp. I wished it never went this way but I have moved on after some time as well. I am glad she found comfort." He finished sadly.
"You knew and yet you never came back? You knew how hard she pushed herself to find you and yet you never showed yourself again? What is the meaning of this Percy because I have seen your love for Annabeth and yet it does not make sense as to why you would do this?"
"Because I was forced to leave and perform a mission." He said quietly, lowering his head with eyes full of tears.
"Forced by whom and to do what exactly?" I asked pressing him for answers.
"It would be best if I just show you, meet me here tomorrow morning, then I will explain everything." He said, eager to leave.
"You think I will just let you leave? And how would I know that you aren't going to run away again?" I said angrily. I was not letting him out of my sights.
"You just have to trus-."
"No Percy, I do not trust you. You ran away from your friends and your family the day after we won the war, you lead your girlfriend astray and nearly drove her insane, you ran away from everything we all worked so hard for SO NO I DO NOT TRUST YOU PERCY JACKSON!" I finished yelling my anger that I have kept for a very long time. I do not want him to disappear away from me again.
He was wide eyed for a few seconds before his eyes showed sadness and regret again. "It seems I have no choice." He conceded sadly, "Where will you make me stay?"
"I could throw you in a cell but I would not be so rash, there is a house near my place that has been empty for a bit, you will stay there for tonight then I will come pick you up tomorrow and we can go to wherever you have been 'forced' to stay." I said harshly, I was getting more and more irritated.
He nodded and I discreetly lead him to the empty house where he will be staying, after a few minutes of getting comfortable I left him and went home.
"Well I was not expecting anything to happen today." I said to myself out loud as I entered my room and slept.
(Percy)
After waking up and showering, I put on the same clothes and waited outside by the door, a few minutes later Reyna showed up in her armor and purple cape, sword strapped on her waist.
"Morning." I said politely
She nodded and I began walking while she walked beside me. Soon we were outside the camp and headed towards the road.
"Where are we going?" she asked me.
"Well we need a ride going there so I need to call a friend." I answered
She looked at me curiously but did not comment, I whistled loudly and waited. A few minutes later a black figure was seen landing near us.
"Hey boss, you called?"
"Hey blackjack, yeah let's head back."
"Sure thing boss, who's the pretty lady?" He asked.
"She's a friend."
"Wait you can talk to a Pegasus?" Reyna asked me.
"Yeah, as a son of Poseidon I can talk to equestrians such as Blackjack here."
She moved forward and placed her hand on Blackjack's mane.
"He reminds me of Scipio" she said sadly.
I didn't know what to say so instead I mounted Blackjack and held my hand out for Reyna to take. She hesitated for awhile before she grabbed my hand and mounted behind me.
"You might want to hold on tight, it's a bit of a long ride." I said
"Errrrrrrrr…" she stuttered, luckily for her I couldn't see her face as it was turning really red. Eventually she wrapped her hands around my waist, soon after we were flying and headed to Mount Tamalpais, otherwise known as Othrys.
(Reyna)
An hour or so later we arrived in a place I was familiar with, I had not been expecting to return here.
"Percy… Why are we here?" I asked suspiciously
"You'll see." He said nonchalantly
Eventually we landed and dismounted Blackjack, I drew my sword and became alert scanning the dangerous area for anyone. What bothered me the most was the calm and relaxed figure of Percy who didn't seem bothered that we were in the home of the enemies of Olympus. He began walking towards the palace as I followed. Once we entered I immediately took on a combat stance, in front of us were 12 thrones, but only 7 were occupied by Titans. Even after seeing all of them Percy was still calm and relaxed. What is going on?!
"Percy what is happening? Why are they here and why are you so calm?!" I said starting to get panicked that there were 7 very powerful titans and only two of us.
"Relax, they mean you no harm." He said smiling, "I would like to introduce to you to the 7 children of Gaea and Ouranos, the allies of Olympus." He declared proudly. "And this is Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, praetor of Camp Jupiter." He finished, looking at the titans.
To my surprise all of them smiled and nodded their head towards our direction when the farthest figure from us spoke.
"We mean you no ill will daughter of Bellona, your friend Percy has managed to win our favor and our friendship as well." She spoke.
"That's Rhea, Queen of the Titans, Wife to Saturn." Percy whispered beside me, I then sheathed my sword and bowed. If they mean what they say then I must show respect I guess.
"Is she the one Perseus?" asked a figure to the right of the formation.
As I looked at Percy I could see his face turning red and starting to look embarrassed and shy. "Yes Iapetus." He answered plainly, trying but failing to keep a straight and serious face.
Am I the one for what? I asked myself curiously, whatever it was Percy was embarrassed about it which made me even more curious. None of this makes any sense.
"If you are wondering why we are here, a year ago the Olympians gave me a mission to go here and win the favor and alliance of the titans in order to help us combat the rising evil." Percy told me
"Is that why you disappeared?" I asked, starting to see the entire picture. He nodded. "Why didn't you tell any of us though?" I asked, if he just told us then none of us would have experienced any pain.
"The Olympians forbade me from telling anyone, that is why Athena and Artemis gave a cover story. For 1 year I was only talking to the titans that are here in Othrys and the 12 Olympians. I missed everyone but for the sake of confidentiality I was not allowed to communicate with any of you." He said sadly. I felt bad for what he had gone through, He has gone through 2 wars and instead of celebrating with friends, he is forced to another mission where he cannot contact anyone.
"What else could be out there that is such a threat? Surely there must be an explanation for all this." I asked remembering what he said earlier about some 'rising evil'
"Tartarus has awoken." He said simply, but it was enough to shake me to my core. To hear that the Primordial of the pit has awoken is something you do not want to experience in your lifetime.
"How long do we have before he attacks?"
"Not enough time to prepare I'm afraid." A Titan to my left said, "Within the next months at most."
"Koios is correct." Said Percy, "According to the Olympians, Thanatos has been seeing increasement in numbers and in movement. However, he has recently lost accessed to the pit as it has now closed, so whatever is happening in there we unfortunately do not know."
"That is all for now, Percy we trust that you will inform your friend here of what you require of her." Lady Rhea spoke officially ending the conversation.
"Very well milady." Percy answered respectfully, after that all 7 Titans stood up and went their own ways in the palace.
"What did she mean?"
"We can talk somewhere else, follow me." He said leading the way further inside the palace until we arrived at an average sized door. He quickly opened it and welcomed me inside. It was a simple lounge with a door to the bedroom on the right and a bathroom to the left. I guess this is where he stayed for a year.
"Welcome to my home, I guess. I have something to ask from you Reyna, A favor of sorts."
"What is it?" I asked curiously. What could he want from me?
"I need a partner of sorts to go on missions with me, some monsters have recently resurfaced and I've been given the task of hunting them and interrogating anyone willing to talk. These could get rather dangerous, and if we do survive then…"
"Then what?"
"Then the two of us head to Tartarus to gather more information. Bearing that in mind, I wanted to ask if you would be that partner." He finished.
"Wh-Why me?" I asked, shocked that he asked me out everyone he knows.
"Well…"
AN:
And that wraps up chapter 4!
So far this is going really well, better than I expected honestly. Now this keeps me motivated to keep on writing for you guys so I appreciate if you are interested in this story. If you have any questions do not hesitate to comment and I will do my best to reply to you as long as you have the private messaging system activated and not disabled.
That's all for now! Chapter 5 within the week as well. Don't be shy to give a like and follow!
Also maybe I should mention this, but ever since TSON came out Reyna has been my favorite female character since then. (Duh)