Honestly, we all love Reyanca. And thank you, everyone who's sending me best wishes. It's not great at the moment still. He's acting pretty normal and according to my dad who took him to the vets he should still have a few months so it's gonna be a while I think but it's gonna be hanging over my families heads I think.
Replies:
Undeath9087: He's not a bad guy you're right. And I'm gonna be taking it as easy as I can for a while, I'm not putting pressure on myself to update daily at the moment which helps. It's not gonna be easy but it's going to take time, we should have some time left with him though.
Weirdhead: Thank you. I'll still update when I can to distract myself but it doesn't always work.
Guest: Thank you. And yeah Reyna and Bianca are stupidly protective over one another- and Reyna loves the fact that Bianca is both incredibly badass and adorable.
EmieRosie02: Yeah it's not easy. From what I've been told there is literally nothing the vets can do but he does have a few months left in him and he's not even really in pain which is good. The only sign that somethings wrong really is the fact that he can't seem to control his bladder and is dribbling a lot- as gross as that is.
PJ Fan 285: Thank you. Seriously I appreciate all the understanding.
"Bianca-" Reyna's voice was soft but firm at the same time, and she let go of Bianca's hand, if only so that she could grip the other girls shoulder. "It is fine. Tell me Michael, on whose authority do you wish to arrest me?"
"You know whose –"
"On what charges?"
"Listen, Reyna–" Michael rubbed his palm across his forehead, like it might wipe away his headache– "I don't like this any more than you do. But I have my orders."
"Illegal orders."
"It's too late for argument. Octavian has assumed emergency powers. The legion is behind him."
"Is that true?" She looked pointedly at Dakota and Leila.
Leila wouldn't meet her eyes. Dakota winked like he was trying to convey a message, but it was hard to tell with him. He might've been twitching simply from too much sugary Kool-Aid.
"We're at war." Michael said. "We have to pull together. Dakota and Leila have not been the most enthusiastic supporters. Octavian gave them this one last chance to prove themselves. If they help me bring you in – preferably alive, but dead if necessary – then they keep their rank and prove their loyalty."
"To Octavian," Reyna noted. "Not the legion."
Michael spread his hands, which were only slightly smaller than baseball mitts. "You can't blame the officers for falling into line. Octavian has a plan to win, and it's a good plan. At dawn those onagers will destroy the Greek camp without a single loss of Roman life. The gods should be healed."
"Very smart." Bianca rolled her eyes, "Say you succeeded in wiping out Camp Half-Blood, half of the demigods in the word might I point out. Half of the gods legacy. It still wouldn't be over- the Amazons have Greeks- and I know for a fact that Artemis' hunter certainly have Greeks and Romans. To join either group you have to set aside such petty rivalries. And even if you could wipe out all Greeks, you'd be causing the biggest war in history because believe me I have seen Poseidon in action and that guy would not take kindly to having his baby girl die again." If there's anything that would snap him out of his godly confusion that would be it. And then Poseidon and all the gods who like her- which is surprisingly a pretty good amount, would wipe you out and the war that would come from that? Beyond anything you could imagine. And you'd be handing victory to Gaea."
Michael scowled at Bianca at that- and suddenly Reyna had the urge to punch him despite the fact that she knew for a fact that with his strength and size he could easily overpower her if she wasn't careful. "Ambassador of Pluto. Daughter of Hades. Whatever you call yourself, you've been named an enemy spy. I've got orders to take you in for execution."
"My father made me swear on the Styx not to tell a living soul everything I knew but sure, sure I was a spy." Bianca scoffed, "I didn't even tell my own brother or Jason I knew everything. The only person I told was Percy and that was because she wasn't a living soul. And she forgot about it all pretty quickly thanks to Hera. But you know what if you think I'm a spy then fine. Bring me in if you can." and Reyna swallowed hard, blinking rapidly.
The stand off should have been ridiculous and absurd. Bianca was so much younger than Michael, she was at least half a foot shorter than him and she looked like a twig compared to him. And Reyna definitely wanted to do something about that- Bianca was definitely underweight. She'd have to make sure to get the other girl treats if she could. And gods but that was absurd- they were facing down possible arrest and very probable execution- and the literal end of the world was coming, and yet Reyna was actually stood imagining the future- a future with Bianca.
In any case- it should have been absurd. There was no way Bianca should be able to stare down Michael. But she was. Michael didn't so much as make a move, he was glaring back at Bianca, and Reyna could see the veins in his neck pulsing. Reyna felt the urge to laugh hysterically- which was very out of character for her- it was just-her girlfriend, her tiny short adorable girlfriend- and that thought was a very nice one, was so very fierce. But- knowing how weak Bianca was... it wasn't a comforting thought.
Still, she was fierce and beautiful and Reyna felt like a lovesick idiot. Thankfully the others didn't seem to notice that fact that she was definitely staring at Bianca.
Dakota just coughed, clearly an attempt to break the attention. "Um, Reyna … just come with us peacefully. Please. We can work this out." He was definitely winking at her. The problem was... did he have a plan? Was he going to help her? Was he making it up as he went along.
"We're not standing down." Bianca spoke up. "We can't. Too much is at stake-"
"You do not want to fight-"
"Oh believe me I think I do-"
"Bia-" Reyna's lips twitched very slightly. "You cannot fight Michael-"
"I am willing to test that theory-"
"Bia-"
"Reyna." and Reyna felt the urge to smile.
Gods she hadn't felt like this since... well since ever.
Her whole life had been struggle after struggle- and it was still a struggle- they were still in danger but- but gods Bianca lit up her world. Which was ironic given the fact that she was the child of Hades- they weren't usually associated with light.
"It would not be the first time I've faced down someone bigger than me." Bianca spoke up, "I was a Hunter Rey."
"I'm not-" Reyna took a deep breath, "I would rather not fight if we can avoid it-"
"He wants to arrest you-"
"Protective." Michael raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze flicking between the two of them. "Oh Reyna- You haven't."
"Haven't what?" Leila's frowned, "What am I missing-"
"Reyna... Octavian will just use this as well-"
"He will not!" Reyna snapped the words, "No one is using B-"
"Kahale! What's taking so long?" the call came from somewhere off the port side, down at the waterline. And the voice was familiar- Reyna felt her stomach sinking as Michael flinched.
"Octavian?"
Except- that didn't make sense. But it was his voice she was sure of it.
"Of course it's me!" yelled the voice from the dark. "I got tired of waiting for you to carry out my orders! I'm coming aboard. Everyone on both sides, drop your weapons!"
Michael frowned. "Uh … sir? Everyone? Even us?"
"You don't solve every problem with a sword or a fist, you big dolt! I can handle these Graecus scum!"
Michael looked unsure about that, but he motioned to Leila and Dakota, who set their swords on the deck.
And Reyna focused her gaze on Bianca- who looked very, very unhappy. But after a moment of silent conversation Bianca sighed and set her sword down as Reyna tossed her own blade down at the same time.
"Everyone is disarmed, sir," Michael called.
"Good!" yelled Octavian.
A dark silhouette appeared at the top of the ladder, but he was much too big to be Octavian. A smaller shape with wings fluttered up behind him – a harpy? By the time Reyna realized what was happening, the Cyclops had crossed the deck in two large strides. He bopped Michael Kahale on the head. The centurion fell like a sack of rocks. Dakota and Leila backed away in alarm.
The harpy fluttered to the deckhouse roof. In the moonlight, her feathers were the colour of dried blood.
"Strong." said Ella, preening her wings. "Ella's boyfriend is stronger than Romans."
"Friends!" boomed Tyson the Cyclops. He scooped up Reyna in one arm and Bianca in the other. "We have come to save you. Hooray for us!"
And Reyna heard Bianca laugh, a bright bubbly noise. It was very pretty.
"Tyson! It's been too long since I last saw you."
"Bianca! You saved Percy?"
"I did." Bianca nodded quickly. "It's really good to see you again. Thank you for the save."
"We saw you arrive. Chiron told Tyson to come help you."
"Thank the gods for Chiron." as Bianca said that the Cyclops put her down, and he put Reyna down at the same time, and then he wheeled on Leila and Dakota. "Bad Romans!"
"Tyson wait!" Reyna almost yelled the words, "Don't hurt them."
Tyson frowned. He was small for a Cyclops, still a child, really – a little over six feet tall, his messy brown hair crusted with salt water, his big single eye the colour of maple syrup. He wore only a swimsuit and a flannel pyjama shirt, like he couldn't decide whether to go swimming or go to sleep. He exuded a strong smell of peanut butter.
It was strange to think that he was Percy's brother- but she'd been very clear about that, and his loyalty was obvious.
"They are not bad?"
"No." Reyna shook her head, "They were following bad orders. I think they're sorry for that. Aren't you, Dakota?"
Dakota put his arms up so fast he looked like Superman about to take off. "Reyna, I was trying to clue you in! Leila and I planned to switch sides and help you take down Michael."
"That's right!" Leila almost fell backwards over the railing. "But, before we could, the Cyclops did it for us!"
"I actually believe that." Bianca said after a moment, "You were winking so much you looked like your face was spasming."
"It wasn't exactly tactful" Reyna admitted. "Tyson, we can trust them."
"You are Percy's friend and Bianca is family." Tyson nodded, "So I trust you."
"Good." Bianca smiled, "Thank you Tyson."
"Dakota." Reyna took a deep breath, "Leila. You understand what our mission is?"
Leila nodded. "You want to return that statue to the Greeks as a peace offering. Let us help."
"Yeah." Dakota nodded vigorously. "The legion's not nearly as united as Michael claimed. We don't trust all the auxilia forces Octavian has gathered."
"And yet you let them gather." Bianca rolled her eyes, "You're a little late for doubts you know. Your allies will turn on you real quick."
"So what do we do?" asked Dakota. "We have an hour at most until sunrise."
"Five fifty-two a.m.," said Ella, still perched on the boathouse. "Sunrise, Eastern seaboard, August first. Timetables for Naval Meteorology. One hour and twelve minutes is more than one hour."
Dakota's eye ticked. "I stand corrected."
"We need to focus." Reyna took a deep breath, her mind racing. "Coach and Calypso should already be on their way to shore. They'll let everyone know what's going on. So we should be safe enough on that front at least."
"What about the Romans though." Bianca frowned, "They will attack us."
"She's right." Leila nodded, "Those onagers will blast you out of the sky."
"We'll need a distraction," Reyna said. "Something to delay the attack on Camp Half-Blood and preferably put those weapons out of commission. Dakota, Leila, will your cohorts follow you?"
"I – I think so, yes," Dakota said. "But if we ask them to commit treason –"
"It isn't treason," Leila said. "Not if we're acting on direct orders from our praetor. And Reyna is still praetor."
Reyna turned to Bianca-and the daughter of Hades eyes narrowed. "No." she didn't even give Reyna a chance to speak. "No Reyna. No way."
"Bianca-"
"Reyna-"
"I need you to-"
"No-"
"Bianca please-"
"I am not leaving you-" and Reyna loved her. She really, really did love Bianca, no matter how infuriatingly stubborn she was being. Which was why she surged forward, pressing her lips to Bianca's, pressing the palms of her hands to Bianca's cheeks- and she could hear Dakota almost choking on thin air, and Leila's little gasp but she didn't care. She didn't care who saw it.
When she pulled back Bianca looked slightly dazed.
"That's cheating. And the answer is still no-"
"You are ridiculous. I need someone to sabotage the onagers. I can't ask Tyson or Ella to do it, they stand out too much."
"Reyna please. Don't ask me to leave you." Bianca swallowed hard, "Not with everything that's coming. Please. I've lost too much."
"We don't have a choice Bia." Reyna whispered the words, "Now go. And be strong."
