Exhausted was an understatement. After falling into Austria by accident then falling into Vesuvius then falling into Portugal, Reyna was sick and tired of falling. Austria was one thing. What happens in Austria stays in Austria, but falling into an active volcano? No. Absolutely not. Pompeii didn't treat them much better what with the tourists and knockoff terracotta ghosts. Now they were stuck in Portugal, the Athena Parthenos thirty feet above them and stranded until the son of Hades comes to.
Still, Reyna glanced at the young boy sleeping next to her. Although she idolized her mother, her gift of sharing strength was not one she liked to use often, especially on other people. It made her feel like she was manipulating people, making them do what she wanted even though that wasn't the case. Then there was the feedback. She had used her gift on the legion to help them defend Camp Jupiter from Polybotes, but Nico di Angelo's pain was so much deeper and so much darker than the burdens of hundreds of legionnaires.
While she wasn't sure what exactly had caused him to feel such emotions, she could empathize with holding in a dark past. Her mind briefly wandered to San Juan, but immediately banished the thought. Nico certainly had the strength of a Roman warrior, yet his methods and desire of being alone were so Greek. If only he had been born a Roman, Reyna would have made sure he had a home with the legion.
Eventually, her eyes began to close, and Coach Hedge assured her he would keep watch. She dreamed of her mother's temple at camp, standing inside with Percy. No war, no worries, just them, finally alone and happy. There was so much she wanted to say to him as he smiled at her with those emerald eyes. He looked whole and happy again like he had right before the attack on Camp Jupiter. Reyna's heart panged as she remembered the real Percy, broken and afraid after his journey. He put up a good show, but Reyna had been playing that game longer.
Two broken demigods. She thought bitterly, allowing herself the brief luxury of letting the mind wander wandering. Suddenly, her dream shifted, Percy was gone and the earth beneath her feet began to shift as scorpions crawled up and out from fissures in the ground.
Daughter of Rome. Gaea's sleepy voice whispered. Why struggle? You could have your happy ending if you gave up now. Make your choice and be with him and I can promise you safety. I prefer his blood, but the son of Jupiter will do as well.
She tried to argue, but no sound came from her mouth. Instead, she glared angrily as the ground began to take form. Sad girl. Not even his first choice. Both of you broken and afraid. Percy Jackson will crumble in Athens should he reach it and my son will be more than enough to show you your place.
The mound of dirt began to take form as a man with fiery eyes and bow appeared, shaking off the extra mud that caked him. He smiled wickedly at her before knocking his arrow and letting it loose towards her chest. With a start, she awoke, Hedge quickly running back to calm her down. Sweat beaded her forehead as her surroundings quickly came into focus. It was real, she was back and now aware of the imminent danger that encroached.
"Great," Reyna muttered as she took a bite of her fartura.
Nico had just finished telling them about his meeting with Hades and corroborated the dream that Reyna had about the hunter. She told them about her meeting with Gaea and how she was promised a better life if she would give up her quest. The goddess had promised that Percy would die, and his blood spilt should they continue. The son of Hades eyed her when speaking about Percy, her boyfriend? Significant other? Demigod who was also mutually infatuated with her? Even though they had the chance to talk before leaving the Argo II, it was a small detail that remained forgotten. Party because she didn't want to push him so soon after escaping the Underworld, but mostly because they had been too wrapped up in each other's lips to discuss it.
Her face turned a few shades redder at the memory. She had gotten a little carried away and left a few marks on Percy before leaving. What she had not expected was for him to reciprocate and for her to have to explain them to Coach Hedge after landing in Austria. Gods Austria was the worst.
"Could these wolves be help from Lupa?" Reyna wondered, hopeful that Hades may be trying to say, 'Help is on the way!'.
"Possibly," Nico agreed, shifting uncomfortably. "But wouldn't she be sending them to help the legion?"
"Wolves are not frontline fighters," Reyna explained, trying to brush aside her momentary discomfort. "She would not assist Octavian, though her pack may be defending Camp Jupiter while the legion is deployed."
Coach nodded in agreement, clearly excited to be discussing war tactics and happy his family was safe.
"I have been unable to contact my sister," Reyna continued. "That means the statue is our only hope and that the greatest burden rests on you, son of Hades. Nico, how can we help you?"
The weary demigod looked at her in confusion. Being offered assistance was not something he heard often. Or ever. But Reyna was being genuine with him and that he appreciated.
"I'm not sure," He said, shaking his head. "I've had rest which is important. If you could lend me your strength again, it would help. The next jump has to clear the Atlantic. The distance alone will make it difficult to pull off."
"You'll succeed," Reyna assured him. "Once we're back in the States, there will be less monsters and any Romans along the eastern seaboard will be obligated to aid us."
"Sure, if Octavian hasn't already sent out a memo to them," Coach Hedge added. Reyna sent him a withering look and the satyr put up his hands. "Just saying. Besides, we have time to plan. No sign of these wolves anyway, they might not even be real."
He regretted saying that as soon as the words left his mouth. Reyna's dogs materialized next to her, ready for battle and black wolves appeared from the nearby rooftops, completely encircling them. The largest morphed into a haggard human with a bone circlet nested atop his wild, unkempt, black hair. He approached them, red eyes flaring with malice, white fangs gleaming against his grey skin.
"Unfortunately, little satyr," The man spoke, his voice low and animalistic. "My wolves and I are very real."
"Lycaon," Reyna spat, drawing her knife. "You mangy mutt, you're Orion's lapdog?"
"Every good hunter needs a reliable pack," Lycaon replied, motioning for one of his dogs to move in. Reyna cut it down in seconds, the beast dissolving into cold shadow. Lycaon whistled. "Silver knife? Not bad. I'd love to see you die with it, but my boss has other plans for you."
Reyna shivered. Gaea had said something similar about Orion. Not only was he a giant, but he was returning with a vengeance against Artemis. However, it was the fact that he had singled her out that made Reyna feel uneasy. She shuddered to think what tortures a manic giant could come up with, especially knowing how the twins had imprisoned Nico for a week in a jar with no food water or air.
"So, you've got us," Nico said, shrugging casually, but his hardened face told a different story. "What now?"
"I'll take the girl, but you and your friend," Lycaon started, his grin widening. "Well, Gaea has no need for a dead satyr or tainted demigod blood. But after finally being back, I'm feeling generous. Besides us wolves love a good hunt. Any last words?"
Tainted blood. Hearing that made Nico's blood boil. He forced himself to regain his composure and search the earth. His father had said this was the site of an Inquisition massacre. Surely there was something here he could use. He drove his frustrations into the ground, searching for old corpses who harbored the same resentment.
Silently, his anger flowed outwards. His feelings for Percy, the rejection of knowing he wanted Annabeth, the rejection that he was with Reyna, the missed opportunity, the fear. To top it all off, now he was stuck on a quest to cross half the globe with one of two people he least wanted to be with. But he needed her, and she needed him. Without the three of them the quest would fail, Gaea would rise and if anything happened to Reyna, he feared Percy would never forgive him.
Fear. That was it. The people burned here. Their strongest emotion: their final emotion was fear. It was everywhere. Hundreds of bodies entombed beneath the earth. Now he had a plan.
"Coach, can you climb?" Nico asked, turning to the satyr who simply responded with a sarcastic look.
"I'm half goat of course I can climb!" Hedge exploded.
"Get to the statue, secure it, the drop a rope down. Reyna, you and your dogs need to cover our escape."
"Understood," Reyna replied. Nico was glad she was a Roman, ready, and willing to do what was necessary to survive.
Lycaon laughed. "Escape? Where to dear child? You will find only death here."
"For once, you're right," Nico said, and the ground exploded with skeletons.
Human femurs, tibia, ribcages, and spines ensnared Lycaon and the wolves closest to him in a calcium jail. Seizing the opportunity, Coach and the two demigods raced towards the statue, Hedge scaling his way up to the Athena Parthenos just as Lycaon broke free. Reyna called up to the satyr and a small roll tumbled down. She quickly summoned her blade and began duct taping silver coins from her bag along the edge. Aurum and Argentum closed ranks around her, but both dogs were damaged, and gold was unfortunately ineffective against these creatures.
"Hurry!" Nico screamed to Hedge who was busy fastening ropes onto the statue.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Coach yelled back angrily, but quickly tossing down a rope for them to climb.
Reyna willed her sword into its spear form and used it to pole vault over to them, her dogs still covering their retreat for now.
"What's the plan?" She asked.
"Show off," Nico said breathlessly, motioning for her silver blade. "Knife."
"Climb ya silly non-goats!" Coach yelled down again as Reyna passed Nico the pocketknife.
"Go," He said to her, his gut sinking inwards at the idea brewing in his head and that he was going to be doing this for Reyna. "Once you're up there, hang on tight to the rope."
Reyna opened her mouth to protest, but once she saw the look in Nico's eyes, she caved and began to scale the column in full armor. Nico wrapped a portion of the rope around his leg and prepared to stand his ground. He shifted the knife nervously in his hand as Lycaon climbed up towards him.
Gods this is crazy. This is the worst idea ever. Nico thought as Lycaon approached him in wolf form, low to the ground, circling his prey. I'm gonna die for this Roman just to make Percy happy. What is wrong with me?
"What's wrong fido?" Nico taunted, mustering as much courage in his voice as he could manage. "Master tell you to sit and stay like a good boy?"
"You will suffer son of Hades!" Lycaon charged, knocking Nico off his feet as his fangs sank several inches deep into the boy's forearm.
This was it. Nico had him where he needed him and drove the knife between the wolf's ribs. Lycaon let out a pathetic whimper as the silver began to go to work, destroying his body from the inside out.
"Be useful to someone for once," Nico hissed through the pain. "Return to the shadows."
Lycaon's body dissolved into a puddle of darkness and Nico instantly channeled his energy into it. He was vaguely aware of Reyna above him screaming something as he heard the drawing of a large string in the distance. Darkness traveled up his body, through the rope and enveloped the statue, occupants and all. As his senses faded into the void, he was sure he heard the whistling of a large object sailing through the air as they tumbled downwards, falling into nothing once again. Nico shut his eyes and silently hoped that the crew of the Argo II was having a better time than they were.
Note: I'm back from my break enjoying New Years. Wanted to do a Reyna/Nico focused chapter for now while they're back apart from the crew. As always, hope you enjoy! -SH