Chapter 45

Reyna left the medical building and walked slowly across the fields towards Temple Hill, there were always people around, praying to their parents or making small food sacrifices to them. The Praetor made her presence known and greeted the other Romans, many seemed a little surprised to see her there but greeted her in return.

She entered her mother's temple but as soon as she knelt by the statue all the torches extinguished, the room turning cold and dark, an obvious sign from her mother, she was not happy with her daughter's decisions

"Mother" Reyna whispered "I know this is not the path that you would have chosen but it is the one I have and I will accept any consequences that come from it"

She closed her eyes willing her mother to hear her but there was still no answer, just the room feeling colder

"This is my path mother and I do not regret it, I care not what you think anymore" she said in a harsh whisper, she stood and left the temple swiftly, back out into the sunlight, taking a deep breath before walking away from her mother's temple and back down the hill towards New Rome, all she wanted to do was go to her room and curl up on her bed, but instead she decided to walk through the streets towards the gardens of Bacchus, her favourite place in all of New Rome, she had wished to show Damien the gardens one day, she could imagine them walking hand in hand through the grape vines.

She sat on a bench looking out across all of Camp Jupiter and New Rome, before glancing down at her forearm and the 8 lines tattooed across it, this had been her home since she was 12 years old, she had built up a promising career, always done what was best for her people and now… well now she felt like she would give it all up in a heartbeat to be with Damien, somewhere safe.

"Are you okay Praetor?"

Reyna jumped and looked up to see Leila, daughter of Ceres

"Leila" she said in surprise "Yes… no, I just needed time to think" her dark eyes wandered out to the horizon

Leila took a seat next to Reyna "It's a good place to clear your mind and maybe talk to someone about what's on your mind"

She gave the young Praetor a warm smile, Reyna regarded her for a moment, Leila was no longer a member of the legion, now she just lived in New Rome and tended to the gardens, but Reyna remembered that she was a trusted and well liked member of the legion.

"I just have choices to make" she replied simply

Leila nodded "Praetor's have to make choices everyday, why is this one so different?" she asked

Reyna shook her head, not wanting to tell anyone the details, "It doesn't matter, the decision has been made and now I have to accept the consequences" she exhaled and looked back out over camp Jupiter and New Rome

"We all have choices to make, especially when it involves matters of the heart"

Reyna's eyes shot up to Leila,

The older girl smiled "I've been working up here as long as you have been Praetor and I have never seen you this distressed, not even when the Greeks fired upon us and you were deciding what to do" she looked back out across the rolling hills "But a lot of girls come up here to think when it involves someone special"

"I… I, no.. um"

Leila smiled "Don't worry Reyna, you are not immune to being a young woman, just answer me one thing"

Reyna waited watching Leila, worrying that she would somehow find out what Reyna had done

"Did you follow your heart?" she asked with a faint smile

Reyna glanced down at her hands "Yes" she whispered, her mind thinking to where Damien was now, was he already out of Camp Jupiter?

"Well then if it is meant to be then it will all work out, there is nothing more to do" she placed a hand on Reyna's shoulder "You deserve someone Reyna"

Reyna smiled softly

"Praetor Ramirez!"

Reyna felt her heart drop as Leila whirled around, Reyna followed her gaze to see four centurions standing there

"You need to come with us now"

Reyna inhaled deeply and stood "Caius sent you?" she asked, already knowing the answer

"Yes Praetor" the centurion shuffled his feet slightly

Reyna recognised him from 3rd cohort, Freddie she thinks his name is

"Please come with us" he added

Reyna could see in his eyes that he didn't want to order his leader around but he also didn't want to go against the council

"Very well" she replied, she nodded down at Leila "Thank you for the company"

Leila looked a little confused at what was unfolding before her but she nodded back to the younger woman

Reyna was then escorted out of the gardens and through New Rome, many turned to see what was going on, but Reyna kept her eyes forward and her head high

But behind the unemotional mask she wore, her mind flurried with a thousand possibilities, did they get caught? Not much time had passed since she left the medical facility, did Annabeth really sort something out so quickly or had they been foiled before they had even begun? Where was Damien?

They entered the senate house and Reyna's eyes instantly found more centurions guarding a smaller girl with unruly curls, their eyes locked and Hazel gave her the slightest nod and if not for the situation she was in, Reyna was sure her knees would buckle, Damien was gone, he was out of Camp Jupiter.

Reyna looked ahead as the large double doors were opened,

This was it, this moment was about to decide her future, she walked down towards the centre of the room and stood before the elder council members, all of their expressions neutral apart from one, Caius, he was out for Reyna's job.