Author's Note: Sorry this chapter took so long. I've had homework and orchestra and tests and some other issues.
So I'll try to update sooner, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to. I'll update within the week. I promise.
Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Heroes of Olympus, or any places and characters in either series. All rights go to Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion.

Chapter Seven

Leo had dreams that night. They were vivid. They were lifelike. They were terrifying. They were demigod dreams.

He saw his friends being hunted by Octavian and his followers. He saw Hazel fall. He saw her dragged away. His heart constricted.

Piper was next. She was strong, but she was obviously still wounded. And, a Greek, she was taken more forcefully than her Roman predecessor. Leo thrashed as he watched.

Then Coach Hedge was targeted. The old satyr seemed to realise it at the last second, raising his bat and opening his mouth to yell. But he wasn't quick enough. They dragged him away.

Frank fell. Then Annabeth. Then Percy and Jason were the only ones left. But even they couldn't fight off the Romans. There were too many and they were too weak. The odds were against them. They too were dragged. They were treated like animals.

Leo woke up screaming and thrashing, an odd warmth caressing his face, slowly getting hotter. The son of Hephaestus opened his eyes to find his body engulfed in flames, along with his arranged quarters.

Reyna woke up to sirens. She didn't know what had happened, but she didn't hesitate to throw on clothes and armour, grabbing the dagger she kept underneath her pillow.

She ran out into the midnight, Aurum and Argentum at her heels. She immediately saw a flood of panicked legionnaires, their frantic rushing going in the direction of Leo Valdez's quarters. Not again, she thought reluctantly as she made her way through the parting crowd.

As she reached the crest of the small hill Leo's quarters were settled on, she demanded to know what had happened.

"We're not completely sure, Praetor. One of the legionnaires on guard nearby smelled smoke and saw the house go up in flames. It was engulfed in about a minute. He immediately ran for help."

"It was my fault, Reyna," said a familiar voice. "I had horrible nightmares. Demigod dreams. I woke up screaming and thrashing and in flames. Strong emotions often trigger them. I'm sorry."

Reyna spun around quickly. "Valdez?"

"Yes?"

She glanced back at the burning quarters, the orange and red illuminating the night sky. "While this fire is put out, come with me. We will discuss this. I'd like to hear about this nightmare." She glared at the boy in front of her.

Leo gulped and nodded. Reyna tossed her head, a gesture telling him to follow. He did as he was told and went quietly.

Reyna was too angry to notice the boy's strange behaviour. The whole journey he didn't say a word.

When Reyna reached her little office area, she motioned for him to sit down. He did as she said and she looked at him sharply, saying one word, "Explain."

"When my emotions are triggered like that, it also triggers the flames. I've been able to control it more since I discovered I was a demigod, but I was terrified. I really didn't know it was happening until after the fact. I'm sorry, Reina."

Her glare softened a bit. "Tell me about this… nightmare that triggered this disaster."

He finally looked up at her, fear evident in his eyes. "It was my friends. Hazel, Frank, Jason, Piper, Annabeth, Percy, Coach. They were in trouble."

Reyna nodded as if to say "Go on."

"They were too weak to fight. There were too few of them. They were wounded. They were tired. They were injured. They were losing."

"What were they losing to?"

"Who. Who were they losing to."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay. Who were they losing to?"

The fear in Leo's eyes dissolved to anger and vengeance as he growled one simple word. "Octavian."