Chapter 3

"Damien?" She said, pulling him into a seated position with his back to the wall, his head rolled slightly like he was going to pass out "What did you do to him?" she asked, trying to keep him relatively upright

"He did this to himself, this is why I need you help Reyna" Moneta backed away slightly, a light growing around her "Fix him and get my daughter back safely or the world will be at war, mortals and gods alike" and like that she was gone

Reyna looked back down to Damien who slumped awkwardly against her wall, his breath smelt of alcohol and his stubble was now a dark beard, his hair had not been cut since she had last seen him

"What happened to you Damien?" she whispered, she pushed his overgrown hair from his face, her breath caught, he was covered in cuts and bruises

Reyna stood and moved towards the door, peering outside to see Rebecca still waiting, hand on her dagger

"Praetor?"

"I need your help" she said pulling her into the office a little startled

Her eyes found the body slumped against the wall "Who's that?"

"That doesn't matter I need you to help me get him upstairs without any witnesses" Reyna moved back to Damien's side

"Reyna… what's?"

"That's a command" interrupted the Praetor, silencing the younger demigod "Please Rebecca" she added after realising her harsh tone

Together the two girls managed to lift Damien to his feet, slinging his arms over their shoulders and drag him to the door where Reyna checked if the coast was clear before hauling him out into the corridor, they made their way to the stairs when they heard voices coming from above, Reyna signalled to stay still.

She held her breath as the Demigods passed them and headed towards the door, she breathed again when she heard the door close behind them, they stayed put for a moment to be sure they were gone

"Let's move" she ordered

A few minutes later and they were outside Reyna's door, luckily it was the middle of the day and everyone was out doing their daily duties and they were able to sneak past the few that were still in the building. Reyna unlocked the door and was about to haul Damien inside when a voice sounded from behind them down the corridor, Reyna hastily shoved poor Rebecca and Damien in before turning and closing the door behind her.

"Praetor?" Toni came to a stop in front of her, looking from Reyna to the door "Is everything okay"

Reyna swallowed but kept her face levelled "Is there something you need?" she asked, why did it have to be Toni, Reyna prayed to the Gods that she had not seen anything, the last thing she needed was the flirty doctor finding out that Damien was here, much less in Reyna's room.

Reyna had learnt a while ago that Toni was a bit of a gossip, she had let it slip that the child of Letus had no heartbeat, luckily not many believed her and he had left before she could prove it

"Samson was asking if you had made a decision yet" she kept eyeing the door "Maybe we should talk in your room… more private y'know"

Reyna's jaw clenched, Toni knew she was trying to keep her out, but she prayed that the medic did not know the reason why

"That is not necessary Toni, tell Samson that I am still thinking it all over, there are a lot of variables to consider" she drew herself up to her full height "You can get back to your duties now centurion" she commanded

Toni's eyes darted to her door one last time "Of course Praetor, have a good day"

Reyna didn't like the way Toni's eyes lingered on the door, but she didn't give away any sign that she had or hadn't seen anything incriminating, Reyna's dark eyes watched as Toni walked away, glancing back at the Praetor before rounding the corner and descending the stairs, Reyna waited a moment longer making sure that the daughter of Apollo had gone.

She entered the room to see Damien face down on the floor, his entire body weight on top of the smaller Demigod, Rebecca struggled to get out from underneath him

"Rebecca!" exclaimed Reyna rushing forwards and rolling Damien off of her, he was still out "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

She gasped as the weight was removed from her "He smells horrible" she said standing, she looked up at Reyna "Please Reyna what is going on? Why was the Titaness here? And this guy?" she asked looking worried

"Rebecca" Reyna began "Even I do not know the whole story yet, please trust me like you always have, this is bigger than us"

Rebecca looked down at the passed out form on the floor, she nodded slowly

Reyna smiled at her "I have one more thing I want you to do Rebecca"

Green eyes met hers "Yes Praetor?"

"I need you to go find Centurion Hazel and bring her here, tell her nothing of what has happened and be sure you are not followed" she took Rebecca's hand for a moment "Be vigilant"

The younger Demigod looked worriedly at her commander but nodded and left the room.

Reyna turned to Damien who was still splayed across the floor, she knelt beside him and took in his features, underneath all the hair and abuse he still looked like the same man she had met almost a year ago, her nose wrinkled slightly, Rebecca was right he did smell bad

"After we get you patched up you need a long shower" she stroked his dirty hair, not quiet believing that he was really here, maybe Somnus the God of Dreams was playing with her emotions and she would wake up any second without Damien.

Damien mumbled something

"What?" Reyna leant closer so she could hear

"Cannot find her" he whispered croakily, his eyes still closed

"Who Damien? Elena?" Reyna asked, but Damien was unconscious again, his breathing slow and even

Reyna continued to watch his face as she waited for Hazel to come, he seemed so much older than when she last saw him, his face was tanned and weathered, cuts and bruises marred his skin, she reached over and pulled up his sleeve to reveal the S.P.Q.R tattoo, she ran a thumb over it gently, remembering that it was her design he chose to have on his body, but her eyes caught sight of new scars on his forearm, one looked like a serious burn, it was old now and pale, but it looked like it hurt at the time.

"What happened to you?" she whispered

There was a sudden knock at the door and Reyna jumped to her feet, she cracked the door open so she could see who stood there

"Hazel come in" she all but dragged the Daughter of Pluto inside, and locked the door behind them, her glittering golden eyes instantly finding the body on the floor, her jaw dropping