Reyna could not remember the last time that she woke up in the hospital. Most of her injuries were handled with a bottle of alcohol, bandages, and the smallest corner she could find to curl up in. Hospitals were always out of question. And, she didn't remember the last time she had fallen asleep in one. Even when Lycaon tore open her side, she stayed awake for it and left as soon as she could.

Her tired mind slowly remembered passing out somewhere between her apartment and the ambulance, but it never really occurred to her that she would wake up in a hospital. A groan left her as she laid her head back. It felt like there was a heavy bandage pressing in on her side, and a dull ache every time she breathed.

Moving her jaw caused her to feel new stitches on her face. She was lucky enough that Lycaon didn't scar her months ago, but now, she had to deal with her already disgusting scar looking worse. Reyna groaned again, "Fuck."

"Hey."

Reyna jumped from the sudden noise and then hitched her voice as the movement jolted her aching body. She closed her eyes for a few moments as the pain died down. Then, she opened her eyes and looked at her sister. Hylla was sitting next to her and had her leg propped up on a chair.

"Hylla?" Reyna slowly asked. Her older sister nodded. Hylla looked terrible. There were bags underneath her eyes like she hadn't gotten enough sleep. She was wearing the same clothes as before. Worry was etched on her face.

"Reyna," Hylla replied softly. Reyna swallowed painfully as everything that had happened before she passed out hit her like a brick. How Exterminata was going to dissect her. And even how Hylla saved her. Reyna felt her breathing quicken, and tears started to burn in her eyes.

Reyna quickly blinked the tears away. Hylla gently touched her arm and spoke, "It's okay, Reyna. I'm here now. I know I haven't been the best sister, but I want to make up for it. I'm going to make up for it. I'm sorry, Reyna. I really am."

"I forgive you, Hylla. You saved me," Reyna whispered. Hylla gently placed a hand to her cheek. "Thank you."

"Reyna, I owe you so much," Hylla whispered. "You didn't kill me when I attacked you. And when I told you to leave me alone, you still saved me from Exterminata."

"I wasn't going to let those bastards hurt you any more than they have," Reyna said with conviction.

"And they are not going to lay another fucking hand on you," Hylla swore. She slowly sat back and stretched. "The hunters are going to make sure of that."

"What do you mean?" Reyna questioned. She shifted slightly, and Hylla helped her drink water.

"Well, I'm still waiting for the official decision, but I'm offering everything I know about Exterminata to them in exchange for immunity. And the chance to make things up to you," Hylla explained.

"You don't have anything to make up for," Reyna began. Hylla laughed bitterly.

"You're lying," Hylla stated. "I really fucked life up for you by telling father that you transformed. Don't lie to spare my feelings. Besides, you already told me you were still upset about it."

"I just want to leave that shit in the past," Reyna sighed after a few moments. She laid her head back against the pillow and groaned again. "Along with this hospital."

"They want you to stay for a few nights. Otrera pumped you full of drugs to prep you for the dissection," Hylla explained. "The doctors think they got most of it out, but they just want to keep an eye on you just in case."

"Great," Reyna muttered. Her sister studied her and gave her a small smile. "Where are you going to go?"

"Nowhere," Hylla promised. She grabbed Reyna's hand and gently squeezed it. Reyna squeezed her sister's hand back.

"Did the doctors say anything about me eating food?" Reyna questioned. Hylla chuckled. "Hey, don't be mean to me."

"I just think it's funny that food is always on your mind," Hylla explained. "We can call a nurse and try to get you some grub."

Reyna nodded and heard a knock on the door. She turned her head to see Chiron walking in. A small smile almost split her stitches, and Chiron returned the gesture.

"May I come in?" Chiron questioned.

"Of course," Reyna welcomed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Hylla was tense in her seat. Her hands were gripping the armrest, and her jaw was visibly clenching. Reyna glanced at her sister; then, her gaze moved back to Chiron.

Chiron walked into the room and towards the bed. He made sure to stay on the opposite side of Hylla. Chiron spoke, "How are you feeling?"

"Hungry and tired. I don't feel any pain at the moment, though," Reyna answered. She looked at Hylla. "How long was I out?"

"Half the day," Hylla answered. Her gaze focused on Chiron, but she slowly looked back at Reyna. "It's about dinner time."

Hylla's gaze flickered back to Chiron as she tensed in her seat. Reyna observed her sister again. All of Reyna's childhood had been spent being brainwashed by her father about how anyone that wasn't a human was some kind of monster, and when she learned that she was a monster, her father tried to kill her. Reyna ran and escaped the brainwashing.

Hylla never got out. In fact, Exterminata probably doubled down. Who else could kill their own father other than a monster? Not to mention how many creatures Hylla had probably tortured and killed. Reyna knew her past left her fucked up, but something told her that Hylla was worse. While her sister seemed to have full trust in her, it was a huge ask for Hylla to be comfortable with these creatures she didn't know and only heard horror stories about.

"This is Chiron," Reyna introduced after a moment. "He's the one who gave me a chance to build a life. Without him helping me, I'd probably still be on the streets or dead. I owe a lot to him."

"You don't owe anything," Chiron assured gently. He looked over to Hylla. "And, you must be Hylla."

Hylla nodded but didn't say a word. Chiron just smiled at her and looked back at Reyna, "You will be off for as long as you need."

"Chiron, I've really taken too much time off already," Reyna began.

"You're staying in this hospital for the next few days, so you're going to have to take time off," Hylla said resolutely as she kept her piercing gaze on Chiron. Reyna groaned.

"I really don't want to," Reyna muttered as she shifted and moved her hand to her side. She could feel the thick bandage from beneath her gown. A shiver ran through her as she remembered what Otrera had done to her. Hylla gripped her arm tightly.

"You will take off as much time as you need," Chiron said gently.

"Clarisse can't work all by herself," Reyna argued. "So, I-"

"-am going to lay there and not say shit," Clarisse interrupted as she walked into the room. She was holding onto a bag of fast food that made Reyna's nose twitch. Clarisse moved her gaze to Hylla and watched her.

If it was even possible, Hylla tensed even more. She seemed to almost curl into the seat and looked nervous. Her fingers rapidly tapped against her thigh. Clarisse walked towards Reyna and put the bag of food down near her.

"There's enough for all of you," Clarisse said. "As long as you don't eat like a fuckin' pig."

"Should have bought more food then," Reyna commented. Clarisse just scoffed at the remark. Reyna glanced at her sister and offered her a carton of fries. After a moment, Hylla took it and nibbled on a few. She did not take her eyes off Clarisse.

"How are you feeling?" Clarisse asked as she looked at Hylla before focusing on Reyna. "Because it sounded like your ass was trying to get out of bed when you are fucked up on the drugs they gave you. You will rest for as long as needed."

"They had to work on your side too," Hylla added after a few moments. Her eyes narrowed as everyone looked at her. Hylla looked down. Reyna winced as she remembered the horrid pain. The hand of her sister gently moved to her arm. "So, you really can't get out of bed until they say so."

"Great," Reyna muttered as she grabbed a carton of fries and practically devoured it.

"You fuckin' glutton," Clarisse shook her head with a smile.

"And you're an ass."

"She's right," Hylla said softly.

"Which one?" Reyna questioned as she looked at her sister. Hylla raised an eyebrow. "All of you can just leave."

"I'm not going anywhere," Clarisse rejected. Her gaze moved to Hylla. "If that's cool with you."

Hylla watched Clarisse and then finally nodded once. She averted her eyes to move back to the fries. Chiron smiled at Reyna and spoke, "Do make sure to get some rest. Come back to the bar only when you are ready."

"I'll rest," Reyna promised. "But, I still want to help out with that charity event when it rolls around."

Chiron smiled at her and left the room. Reyna glanced between her sister and Clarisse. Neither was looking at the other, but Reyna could live with that. Her sister hadn't tried to flee yet, and she wasn't saying anything offensive.

"How's the leg?" Clarisse questioned after a few minutes of silence. Hylla looked up from the sandwich she had been snacking on. "It looked bad when we found you."

"You helped Reyna save me?" Hylla asked. Clarisse nodded. "Why?"

"Reyna's not too bad," Clarisse answered with a shrug. "And, she wanted to save you. I was going to help my friend, and if she got hurt, who would cover the bar when I'm off?"

"Frank?" Reyna suggested. Clarisse scoffed, and a smirk found Reyna's face. She rested back against the bed and already felt exhausted. It would be good for her to relax, not that she was going to admit it to anyone. "He could totally handle it."

"I'll shove you off the bed," Clarisse threatened. Reyna chuckled slightly and then groaned in pain. "That's called karma."

"Fuck off," Rena wheezed. Clarisse sat down on Reyna's opposite side and only kept a side eye on Hylla. In contrast, Hylla looked anywhere but Clarisse.

"The others are going to visit you too. I'm sure Thalia already told Jason, and it's just going to spread to everyone from there."

"Great," Reyna said softly. She rubbed her forehead. "No more visitors today, though. You two are enough of a headache."

Clarisse snatched the bag out of her hands, and Reyna protested, "Hey! What the hell!?"

"Talk shit and lose your food," Clarisse grinned as she sat back in the chair and closed the bag up. She placed it out of Reyna's reach. Reyna closed her eyes and laid her head back. She relaxed against the bed, and before she realized it, she was asleep.