Act I Chapter XXXIV: Reyna is NOT Enjoying the Field Trip

Reyna stared out at the water in front of her. Calm waves lapped up and down, hardly disturbed by the gentle breeze that blew through the pier. It was calm after the storm, but there was another one on the horizon. Reyna turned to look at her older sister.

"Are you really going through with this stupid idea?" Hylla questioned. Their supplies were in a backpack that she held tight in her hand. Reyna studied her sister and remained silent. Hylla just glared at the silent response. "You're going to follow a dream that you received from a so-called goddess to the ruins of an empire?

"Rome is gone," Hylla stated factually. "Any remains of it are gone. You understand that, don't you?"

"Hylla, you had this dream too," Reyna began.

"That old wolf is insane," Hylla snapped. Reyna flinched and looked away. "She is just looking for the old days of glory, but those days are long gone. I am not going to live in the past. I am going to follow in Papi's footsteps."

"Papi was insane," Reyna began.

"He wanted to take the power that he knew he deserved," Hylla hissed as she took a threatening step closer to Reyna. "He saw the world of gods and monsters, and that broke him. But, I am a demigod. I live in both worlds, so I will find power in both.

"I am not going to rely on a long dead empire to help me find my way," Hylla declared harshly as she turned away. She took a deep breath. "And if you will, you are dead to me."

"Hylla," Reyna began. Her older sister turned towards her and grabbed her by the collar. Hylla's other hand grabbed the imperial gold rapier that had been tucked in her belt. It was a family heirloom and the one thing they had taken from their home before they fled. "What are you doing?"

"Are you coming with me, or are you going to find this wolf from your dreams and kneel in the bones of a dead empire?" Hylla demanded. Reyna felt tears flooding her eyes. "Tell me!"

"I'm going to find that goddess…!" Reyna cried after a moment. Her sister let go of her shirt and turned away. "Hylla! Wait!"

"I have protected you for your entire life, and this is you repaying me?" Hylla demanded. She didn't turn back around. "You're dead to me, Reyna! I never want to see you again!"

"Hylla…" Reyna choked on her sobs as tears stung her eyes. Her sister walked away, taking all of their supplies and Reyna's weapon with her. And, Hylla didn't even look back.

Reyna stood on the docks and watched as her sister left her behind. She felt so sick to her stomach that she couldn't move. A hand grabbed her shoulder, and Reyna slowly turned to meet black eyes boring down at her.

"You have to wake up."

"But," Reyna began as she looked back at her sister. "I-"

"You have to leave the past behind and wake up. The lives of your friends depend on it. Now, wake."

Reyna looked back at her sister. In her past. Then, she looked away and closed her eyes. Pain flared in her chest before creeping up towards her shoulder and face. Her eyes opened, and reality blended with her dream as she saw the pier in one eye and the prison in the other.

Reyna closed her eyes again, and when she opened them, the pain got a lot worse as she was fully back in reality. Reyna blinked a few times and tried to take in her surroundings. Her face rested against the ground in a small puddle of blood. Even more trickled from her nose and mouth.

The clanking of swords caught her attention, and she moved her eyes to see Luke was fighting for his life against the monster. There was a hole in the wall, and… where were Percy and Annabeth? Reyna closed her eyes, and she slowly pressed her knees to the ground. Her left arm held up her weight as she managed to get to a kneeling position.

Her right arm hung uselessly, and most of the pain centered from her shoulder and lower arm. Reyna pressed her left arm to her chest, and she could feel that her armor was dented. Who knew how badly her chest was damaged. Reyna struggled as she pushed herself to her feet.

The pain drove her back down to her knees. She rested her head on the ground and took agonized breaths. Curses left her as she tried to get back to a standing position. Her gaze moved back to Luke, and it looked like he was losing even more ground.

Reyna slowly grabbed her fallen sword and flipped it. As the sword turned into a spear, she pressed the blunt end into the ground and used it to hold her weight up as she stood. Then, she hoisted the spear over her shoulder and threw it into the monster's back.

The beast howled in anguish and turned towards her, bloodlust fresh in its eyes. Luke used the distraction to create distance between himself and the monster. What had Annabeth called it? Kampê?

Kampê lunged towards Reyna, using her wings to get a boost of speed. Reyna threw herself to the ground, and Kampê slammed into the cell bars, busting through the entire rusted contraption. A whimper of pain escaped Reyna as she hit the hard flooring, but she forced herself to her knees once again.

As Reyna looked up, she saw Kampê was already turning towards her and walking menacingly. Both of the scimitars were raised. Luke attacked from the side, and Reyna scrambled forward underneath the monster. She caught herself with her left hand and grabbed onto the cell to pull herself to a standing position.

She needed nectar or ambrosia. Anything to quell the burning pain. Reyna saw Luke being forced backward again, and she stumbled forward. Her hand wrapped around her spear, and as she pulled it out, Kampê turned towards her, knocking her back. Reyna tripped on one of the broken bars and hit the ground hard. Her weapon clambered out of her hand.

Kampê stabbed downwards, but Reyna rolled to the side. She tried to stand and was forced to scramble forward to avoid another attack. Reyna stumbled into the opposite side of the cell and practically collapsed against the wall. Her hand grabbed at it to keep herself upright.

Reyna heard a click, and she frowned as she saw her fingers had brushed across something on the wall. Through blurry vision, she saw something that looked like a triangle. The symbol slid into the wall and almost seemed to glow. Her eyes widened as the wall in front of her started to disappear, revealing a doorway into darkness.

A glance behind her showed that Kampê was already charging. Reyna threw herself to the side once again and hit the scattered rubble hard. She tried to stand only to collapse back again. Kampê skidded to a stop before she could fall into the hole in the wall. Luke yelled a war cry and plunged his sword into Kampê's back, tackling her into the gaping hole.

"Luke!" Reyna gasped as she forced herself to stand. She rushed forward and saw that Luke had stabbed his sword into the flesh of where Kampê's wings met, and he was twisting the blade. Reyna heard a grinding sound, and she grabbed Luke with her good arm. She jerked him back, and they both fell away from the wall as it closed once again.

As Reyna landed on the ground once more, she didn't bother to get up this time. Her hand slowly moved to her shoulder as ragged gasps escaped her. Luke was sitting next to her and staring at the wall. His face was covered in sweat and grime, and the marks on his clothes were where the poison had melted the fabric.

Luke shook his head furiously and quickly stood. He turned towards Reyna and spoke, "We have to get outside! That monster threw Percy and Annabeth out the window, and I...I...I don't- what if-"

"Breathe, Luke. We can't help them if you have a panic attack," Reyna muttered as she laid her head back. "I just need a minute. Or five."

"We don't know if that monster is coming back!" Luke almost yelled as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of ambrosia. Luke grabbed one of the precious squares and handed it to her. Reyna slowly took it and closed her eyes as she tasted the last homemade meal she had. Some of the pain dulled, but she knew the biggest thing she needed was rest.

But there was no rest for the wicked.

Reyna opened her eyes and tried to get up. Luke instantly helped her to a standing position. She leaned on the wall as Luke grabbed their weapons and slipped them onto his belt. He looked at her, "Can you walk on your own?"

Reyna managed a nod and slowly followed Luke. It was hard enough to just put one foot in front of the other, and it didn't help that Luke sped up his pace. He looked back at her and started to slow down.

"I'll catch up to you. Go," Reyna muttered as she waved her hand. Luke nodded and tore down the hall, running at full speed. Reyna watched him go and looked around the hall of cells. She wondered if the mortals had heard what happened. Would they call the cops or think it was the ghosts of the prison making themselves known?

Reyna watched Luke round the corner. When she was sure he was gone, she found the nearest wall to collapse against. Reyna slowly slid down the wall and let out ragged breaths as the pain became too much. Tears filled her eyes.

Reyna took deep breaths, which only made the pain worse. She hit her good hand against her knee and wiped her eyes. Reyna forced herself to stand, and she vowed not to fall again. She started her trek once more. The most important thing was making sure that Annabeth and Percy were safe. After that, she could pass out from pain.