Chapter 18

Reyna had settled down after the initial take off and now she tried to relax in her seat, they had a long flight ahead of them, Reyna's eyes watched the others on the plane, she was always taught to be vigilant, even though there weren't many monsters that would take a flight, she needed to be sure they were safe. She craned her neck back and caught Hazel eye, the younger demigod was wearing large headphones and a kind smile on her face, Reyna nodded to her and returned her eyes to the screen in the back of the seat in front of her, some sort of mortal movie playing.

As with many of the mortals films there was a handsome male hero who was saving the damsel in distress, Reyna rolled her eyes, she hated the way women were represented in this culture, always waiting around for a man to save them. In Camp Jupiter no matter whether you were male or female you were raised to be strong, to be a warrior

She glanced over to Damien, his eyes were closed and his breathing slow, his poorly cut scruffy hair in his eyes, slowly she reached over and brushed his hair back but as she did she saw the crease between his brows, the slight sweat on his forehead

"Damien" she whispered softly, knowing that look was another nightmare, she placed a hand on his arm and shook him gently, but he did not wake

His breathing became faster and his muscles tensed, hands tightening around the armrests, Reyna glanced around nervously but luckily nobody had noticed yet, but if she didn't wake him soon then they would definitely draw attention to themselves.

"Damien" she whispered again "Damien it's me Reyna, wake up"

But still he was engulfed in the nightmare and it looked like it was getting worse, his breathing becoming ragged

"I'm right here" she said grasping his hand in hers "Please wake up… It's not real"

Damien made small noises and jerked suddenly as though he was trying to get away from something within his own mind, she raised her hand and rested it on the side of his face trying to keep him still

"Damien listen to my voice, believe in my words" she stroked the hair from his face "Elliot is torturing your mind, don't let him, be here with me now Damien"

But it was no use he was still in a deep sleeping nightmare, she risked a glance back to Hazel but the shorter woman was now also asleep as were most of the other passengers, she racked her brain as she tried to come up with a plan before his shuddering drew the attention of anyone else

"Damien open your eyes and look at me… please" she hesitated before digging her nails into the soft skin of his neck, she watched as his face contorted in pain but he still didn't wake, taking a deep breath she tightened her grip and felt something warm on the tips of her fingers

Suddenly Damien gasped awake and tried to stand, Reyna grabbed him back down, seeing the wild look in his eyes, his hand lashed out and grabbed the collar of her jacket

"Damien stop" she hushed as she once again grabbed the sides of his face, forcing him to look at her. He tried to pull away but she held him in place

"It's me… it's Reyna"

Damien settled slightly, but he kept a firm grip on her lapel, his breathing hard, she could see it in his eyes that he was trying to figure out if this was real or not, she held onto him tightly afraid he would do something.

"Is this real?" he asked slowly

"Whatever answer I give you wouldn't believe" she let out a sigh

Damien held her gaze but nodded slowly, he released her jacket but stayed where he was inhaling deeply, he could feel her hands on his face, he could feel a pain in his neck. He reached up his fingertips trailing the sore spot on his skin where Reyna's own hands were, when he pulled is hand back to look at, red liquid stained his skin

"I'm sorry Damien" there was a crack in Reyna's voice as she spoke "I… I didn't know what else to do" she dropped her hands and gaze

Damien took a breath, he stood, excusing himself as he made his way to one of the bathrooms. A stewardess, young and blonde, asked if he was okay, she gave him a sweet smile, her eyes landing on the blood on his neck

"Sir…" she stuttered "Are you okay?"

Damien flashed her a cheeky smile, attempting to change the subject

"Yer" he replied hoping to charm her into not telling anyone "My girlfriend likes to get a little rough… If you know what I mean" He winked at her, receiving a seductive smile from the blonde

He excused himself into the bathroom and instantly dropped his façade, he took a deep breath in, he needed to make sure he was in the real world, he needed to feel something real, his eyes scoured the small bathroom until his eyes landed on a screw that was partially poking out of the side, it looked rough and dirty but he didn't care, this was the only way he could be certain

"Damien I know what you are going to do" came a quiet voice from the opposite side of the door "Please don't do this" she begged softly

"I have to know this is real" he replied leaning against the door

"Damien" her voice carried such sadness "Please open the door, this is real… I'm real and I'm here"

There was another long pause

"Believe in me Damien"

Reyna waited for what seemed like an eternity before she heard the door click and it slid open to reveal Damien standing there leaning against the frame, he looked deeply into her eyes, trying to find the truth, but all he saw was her and her beauty and strength.

He couldn't deny what he had been feeling for a long time now

"Reyna I-

"Excuse me"

Reyna jumped away from him and both turned to see the stewardess standing there with her hands across her chest with a disapproving look on her face

"You and your girlfriend will have to use separate bathrooms or return to your seats" she gave Damien a pointed look