Chapter 47

The pair made their way calmly from New Rome, walking pass other demigods, news travelled fast as some of the Roman's eyes followed Reyna, some turning and muttering to one another, but Reyna kept her head high and met the stares of every one of them, she was still their Praetor, that hadn't changed yet, she would not show any weakness.

She followed Hazel into the stables and to the end where it was quiet and away from the others, the smaller demigod turned, facing Reyna, her face showed concern

Reyna glanced around, checking the area was clear, before looking back down at Hazel

"Just nod" she whispered, her chest tightening, holding her breath, waiting for the answer she feared

But Hazel slowly nodded

Reyna exhaled, a hand going to her heart as she felt an immense weight lift off of her, Damien was safe, he was out of New Rome's reach, Annabeth would protect him and do everything in her power to free him from his icy prison.

Reyna paused in her silent celebration, if by some miracle Annabeth frees him, he would not be able to return to Camp Jupiter, Reyna nodded to Hazel

"Thank you Centurion Levesque, you may return to your duties" she turned and left the stables, leaving behind a worried Hazel

Reyna walked alone to her office, she entered and locked the door behind her, she sat at her desk, taking a long deep breath, trying to clear her mind. She had known that he could never return, she knew what she had asked of everyone, she had chosen his safety above all else, even her own feelings, which for the longest time she had tried to hide

"It was the right thing" she whispered to herself

There was a loud knocking at the door, Reyna closed her eyes hoping they would leave, but there was a second knocking moments later, she pushed herself up from her desk, remembering that forcing anyone away at this point would look suspicious to say the least.

She composed herself and opened the door to see the massive form of Frank standing there looking worried

"Praetor, may I come in?" he asked formally, but his nerves still flared up every now and again

"Of course Frank" she stepped aside, Frank having to duck slightly to step in the door

"What's going on?" he asked as Reyna closed the door, leaning against it

"What do you mean Frank?" Reyna asked, she had promised Hazel that Frank's position would be safe and that meant keeping him out of the loop, no matter how much she trusted and respected him

Frank shifted uncomfortably "Well I-I have heard rumours from around the camp"

Reyna's demeanour changed, she forced herself to appear more confident as though her heart was not breaking

"Are you listening to rumours Praetor Zhang? Is that something that someone in your position should be paying attention to?" she stood tall, showing her dominance

Frank slumped a little, Reyna felt a little bad, she knew that Frank had doubts about his position, that he wasn't good enough to be there, but she couldn't think of any other way to protect him.

"Of course but… but I just wanted to be sure that there… that you were okay" he stumbled over his words

"I am very well thank you Frank" she lied easily "Rumours have no place in our legion"

Frank straightened, nodding "Of course" he paused for a moment, taking on a slightly shy look again, like he wanted to say something but he was deciding whether to mention it or not

Reyna sighed "Frank if you wish to say something then please do"

Frank shifted under her gaze "Do you think that maybe… maybe uh, you might talk to the legion about these rumours?"

Reyna stared at him for a moment, she was about to dismiss him, but then she thought about it, would it make her appear guilty, like she was trying to cover it up, or by not confronting it would she seem like she was hiding away from it, both could be mistaken as weakness. But then she realised that she was guilty, would it matter either way?

"I will take that into consideration, thank you Frank" she walked over to the door, opening it for him, signalling that their conversation was over

Frank ducked out of the door, turning before Reyna could close it "Let me know if there is anything I can do Reyna, I want to help"

Reyna nodded and closed the door on him, she took her seat behind her desk as she thought of what she was going to do, she couldn't come clean without implicating Hazel and Annabeth, but could she really keep up the charade of denying everything. Being Praetor she had grown used to looking over her shoulder, expecting the friends of Octavian's to do their best to overthrow her, but now they had a legitimate reason to have her demoted or even worst, the Roman's didn't take deception lightly, especially from their leaders.

She couldn't imagine ever leaving the legion in shame, she had planned her entire life here, to eventually pass on the Praetorship to someone she had trained, possible even Hazel herself, then after that she would attend university in New Rome, but now she didn't know what the future would hold for her.

Damien had come into her life and flipped it on it's head, he had caused her to change her ways and feel things she never had before, he had sacrificed everything for her and now she was doing the same.

Her door suddenly slammed open and four centurions flooded in, armed with their weapons

"What is the meaning of this!?" she demanded rising to her feet, hand on her own weapon

The centurions stayed quiet, a figure entered in behind them, Caius with his smug smile, took in her office before turning his cold gaze upon her, his slimy smile growing, Reyna's heart sank, she understood why he was here

"Praetor Reyna Avila Ramirez Arellano" his voice spat out her name "I hereby place you under arrest by the power placed upon me by New Rome and it's citizens"

Reyna straightened, she removed her own weapons and placed them on the table, staring daggers at Caius who was still smiling broadly, she then accepted the shackles around her wrists, she was led past Caius by the centurions

"Not so high and mighty now, are you?" Caius muttered under his disgusting breath as Reyna was lead from her office

Reyna had many retorts on her tongue but decided not to make herself look any more guilty, so she walked in silence as she was led out.