Chapter III: Reyna
Nico is completely dead weight after he shadow travelled them to the famous city - Magna Graceia - Italy. Sure, he is tired, but collapsing in the middle off the street leaving Reyna to protect a forty feet statue with the psycho Coach Hedge who is muttering something about his child under his breath - Wait, what?
Anyways, he is being completely oblivious to what is happening around him as well so it is up to Reyna to lead them to shelter for the night. Since she is a Roman, she knows Rome well enough to know where to get shelter.
When they reach the inn, they all collapse on their respective beds and suspiciously well for the night but not so much as to avoid the dreams. That night she dreams of Jason wearing Greek clothes proudly standing beside Percy as a leader of the Greek Camp. She desperately hopes it isn't true but she knows better. Jason seemed to treat Camp Half Blood like home. But Jason was a born Roman. How could he just leave?
She doesn't know why but the image troubles her a lot. However, she can't let it bother her so, off they are again all rested and anxious for what is going to happen that day.
The Athena Parthenos is like a monster magnet. That as well as the her training for years tell her instincts that the two ladies walking towards them on Fashion Avenue are not humans. Her wise and observant eyes notice the ladies' unhuman stares and the unusual wobble in their way of walking with heels also tell her that they are not hiding normal feet in those stiletto heels.
It seems as if Coach and Nico are aware of them as well. Nico and Reyna are holding the Parthenos but their other hands reach for their weapons.
"It issss not you three we wantt...It is the ssstatue that will give Mother Gaia the powerrrr…" one of the ladies turned empousa hisses.
Reyna musters up all the hatred she can and spits, "You will have nothing till you manage to defeat us, unworthy creatures of the Underworld!"
After that it is chaos, Nico and Coach Hedge slashing and hacking but they wouldnt die and the growing suspicion in her stomach tells her then that she would have to defeat them as she was the one to carry the statue to safety in Camp Half-Blood and bestow peace between the camps. She makes a split-second decision and shouts at Nico to protect the statue and slices both their heads in one movement of her sword. She watches as their heads topple to the ground and turns back to see unbelieving looks on her companions' faces.
She ignores the looks and says, " I will explain later. They will not be our first, we had better get moving. The statue is much needed by Gaea, I suspect."
"Duh," Nico replies. "She wants to start war between the camps. Bloodshed."
"How many more days will it take?"
"Two, three at the most. The biggest problem will be preventing the war."
"You mean Octavian?" she asks disgustedly, "I should never have left him in charge. He has probably already attacked."
"Camp Half-Blood is strong. They'll defend and hold off the forces until we come, "Nico defends his camp.
"You have never seen the legion at war," Reyna shoots back.
That creates a minute of silence and all they hears is Coach Hedge singing 'Three Green Bottles'. Nico rolls his eyes. "Reyna, I was wondering about the statue. It has a couple of gears and buttons. I'm no Leo but I think if I can figure it out, it will help us on our way."
"Help us?"
"Yeah, like shoot lasers or give us a protective cover. Special items always have special powers in Mythomagic.
She shoots him a confused look. "So it'll help me when I'm the only one trying to defend the statue and you're asleep."
"Oh gods, I cannot believe you are arguing about this with me. Sorry, but shadow travelling exhausts me."
"Fine. Never mind. Will you be able to uncover this little secret of the statue?"
"I'll try Reyna," They approaches their next spot, The Leaning Tower of Pisa. Reyna wonders how the Mist covered the statue. Maybe as a really large dog or attach themselves to the ropes and she holds Nico's hand.
"Here goes nothing." And Reyna is consumed by a swirling pit of darkness