I know I said I wanted to update this story more this year … we're off to a great start.

Welcome to another idea stemming from my series reread, SoN edition.

This isn't related nor has much to do with the mood of the chapter, but listening to Sad Song by Christina Perri helped me write it. Instead of my usual chapters, this one is more of a stream of consciousness ... possible pun intended.

Story #34: Iris Interrupts Reyna's Bath to Bring Her This Message

Reyna thought a hot bath would ease her, but the water was getting cold, bubbles popped, and the short hairs at the back of her head that didn't make her braid are damp from touching the water's surface.

It was better when Reyna was lost in her thoughts so she wouldn't think of her now subpar bath. Fancy bath salts and soaps wouldn't remedy the situation.

There wasn't much Reyna could do from New Rome with Jason still missing and Percy, Hazel, and Frank were still on their quest to rescue Thantanos. Quests became harder ever since Jason and Camp Jupiter's eagle vanished. Team morale diminished and monsters attacked their borders more. Hazel and Frank weren't the best warriors but it's their quest.

But given Percy's sudden presence with Juno with his valiant and commendable actions, it might have something to Jason's disappearance. A part of her is still skeptical about those three being on this quest. She should've gone but someone has to stand their ground, especially with that Octavian breathing on the back of her neck.

Reyna's eyes flicker as the hairs on the back of her neck stand. She glances over her shoulder in case Octavian was there. Thankfully, she's alone in her bath. Reyna isn't sure what she would've done if he was lurking over her shoulder during a vulnerable moment. He would either get stabbed by her sword at the foot of the tub, strangled with her towel, or thrown through her window.

Any of those endings would suffice for her, but it wouldn't help Camp Jupiter. Jason wouldn't approve since he'd try to exercise diplomacy, but it's not like he's here.

Since she realized he was missing and she along with her dogs and everyone in New Rome tore their home apart to find him, Reyna tried to think back to their last conversation. She'd watch the scene as a whole before breaking it into segments: what they said, how he reacted, microexpressions, her thoughts, what he might've seen on her, what he could've been thinking based on what she did and said.

A lot of that would've been her guesses. A lot of those changed whenever she tried to remember. She isn't sure if his brows furrowed this one time or if he broke eye contact that other time if she's filling the blanks with what she wished they said. If he said anything incriminating, maybe it was wiped from her memory.

Reyna just needed something to work with. Anything that would give her a hint, a lead, an answer. Everyone's counting on her and she just doesn't know what to do.

The thing about being everyone's source of strength is that she'd sometimes forget that she needs to draw strength from others which is hard for her since she's so used to being independent and now alone. At least when she was with Hylla on Circe's island and later with the pirates, they had each other. Now she doesn't even have Jason to barter with and she'd rather keep a distance from Octavian.

Again, she looks over her shoulder. Although she's still by herself, her stomach lurched this time as she leaned forwards with her arm outstretched. Her gut nearly reached for her sword but she forces herself to relax, leaning back against the cold, porcelain tub.

Reyna forced herself to take a few breaths to relax. She isn't sure if it would be better if Jason knew where he was and why, or if he was like Percy and showed up somewhere unknown barely knowing who he was.

Those three will be fine on their quest. Just because she's known someone for a long time, or any amount of time in their closed circumstances, doesn't mean that you know everything about them. They're there for a reason. They're supposed to be there as she's supposed to be here.

There's no reason fighting something she can't fix, at least not fix right now.

And now all she can do is wait.

Suddenly, Reyna jolts forwards when the faucet above her head bursts. Water flies everywhere as Reyna slides to the other side of the tub to watch. She reaches for her towel but stops when a glint of light catches her eye and her attention.

Colours flicker before slowly forming an arc, each beam stitching together before a mirror-like shape forms. Reyna squints her eyes before they widen at the sight of Hazel and Frank who, ironically, are staring at her in the same way. Reyna knows when they see her the moment they both look away, Frank covering his eyes with his hand and Hazel's curls flying in front of her face. Both cheeks reddening. But when those two realize they're facing each other, they quickly look the other way. Now their entire faces are red.

It could've been worse. At least Reyna's body below her shoulders is submerged.

Maybe, just maybe Reyna would've laughed a little if she wasn't sitting naked in her cold bath and had her faucet raining above her while those two called using an archaic Greek method. An eagle bursting in with a message would've been more efficient and tidy.

Frank clears his throat.

Frank: We can call back later…

Hazel: We're really sorry for interrupting-

Frank: It wasn't that important, really. Why don't Iris messages have voicemail?

"Get your message across before my bathroom floods," Reyna orders, saving them and their time from all the nervous babbling.

At least they're both looking at her now.