Chapter 46
The doors closed loudly behind her and the grand room was cast into silence, Reyna stood there, hands clasped behind her back, her head up as she looked at all of the elders. All of their eyes upon her, all silent, all waiting for her to give something away, waiting for her to crack.
She wouldn't be the first to talk and give them the upper hand, the silence went on for a long while until Antonio rolled her eyes and broke the silence
"Were you involved?" she asked
Reyna paused for a moment, she didn't want to lie, not if it could get her friends into trouble, but she had to stick to the plan
"Involved with what Senator?" she asked, keeping her voice levelled , maintaining eye contact
"Do not play games Ramirez" Caius sneered "You know exactly what we are talking about"
Reyna shook her head "I'm afraid that I do not know what you are referring too"
"LIES!" Caius raised his voice it echoing around the space violently
"Senator please" Augustus said calmly, gesturing for the younger man to sit
He did with a huff and shot a glare at her, his hand clenching into a fist on the desk, Reyna had to use all her resolve to keep her expression neutral
"Praetor Ramirez a little over 20 minutes ago our guards discovered that Damien Blake has gone" he explained
"Gone?" she asked,
"You do not sound surprised" Caius cut in, his pale eyes still glaring
Reyna ignored him and directed her question to Antonia "Senator, there were two guards posted outside that room, how is this possible?"
"That is what we would like to know" she replied, her steady gaze watching the young Praetor for a reaction
"And why you have been summoned" Caius added "Do not try and convince us that you had nothing to do with his escape"
"Escape?" Reyna countered "He is incapacitated, how do you supposed he escaped?"
"We have no doubt that he had help Reyna" Caius growled
"Caius please" Augustus said, rubbing his forehead soothingly "We are not here to accuse anyone, we are here to get facts and statements for the trail"
Caius leaned back in his seat, his hand twitching like he was tempted to grab a weapon, Reyna was a little glad at that point that Terminus didn't allow weapons in New Rome, although she could probably take him in a fair fight, something she doubted he had ever been in.
"Reyna" Antonio said, drawing the Praetor's attention back to the situation at hand
"Walk us through where you have been during the past couple of hours" she said, her expression neutral
"Of course Senator" Reyna straightened "This morning I did visit Damien, the guards logged me in with Centurion Hazel Levesque"
"So you admit you were there" Caius interjected
Antonia shot him a look and the younger Senator fell silent
Reyna continued "I left a little while afterwards, then I went to Temple Hill to pray to my mother, then I made my way to the Gardens and that is where your guards found me"
"Were you alone?"
"In the Temple yes I was alone but in the gardens Leila sat with me for a while and we spoke" Reyna answered
"Did you go back to the medical centre a second time?"
Reyna shook her head "No Senator, I have not been to there since this morning"
"I do not believe your lies" Caius spat
His anger radiated around the room
"Senator Caius" Antonio stood, looming over him "You will hold your tongue for the rest of this meeting or remove yourself from it"
Reyna supressed a smile as she saw Caius's face drop, he sat back in his chair, almost like a sulking toddler would. He moved his eyes back to Reyna, shooting daggers at her, she could just imagine him thinking of different ways he could end her Praetorship, each one more deadly than the last.
"As I was saying" Antonio continued, her voice returning to a more neutral pitch "This is just a preliminary questioning, so we can establish everyone's statements, there will be a formal court hearing held if a majority of our council deem it necessary to do so"
"I understand" Reyna nodded,
"And do you want to keep to the information you have told us?" Antonio's older eyes watched her closely "Or wish to add anything? You statement here may be called upon later and we will keep you to your word, so do you swear upon the legion and your Praetorship that all you told us is true"
"I swear" Reyna said, trying to make her voice sound confident as she bowed her head to the senators, struggling to ignore the icy shiver that ran down her spine
She had been truthful when she swore that all her words had been the fact, but she had left out a lot, but she felt as though she still could not lie, her duty prevented her from doing so, she just had to pick her words carefully, stick to only answering what they asked her and nothing more.
Antonio nodded slowly, there was something in her eyes, hesitation, did she suspect Reyna of keeping information
"Very well Praetor Arellano, you may return to your duties for now, we will inform you if your presence is needed again for further investigation"
Reyna bowed once more before turning on her heels and walking calmly out of the council room, once the doors were closed behind her, she picked up her pace a little, needing to get away from there, she breathed deeply remaining calm
"Reyna!"
The Praetor spun as she heard a familiar voice, the small daughter of Pluto hurried over to her, casting a glance around them, she fell into step with the taller woman
"Let's go somewhere a little quieter to talk"