Act II Chapter IV: "To the death."
"Thanks for the ride," Clarisse said as she handed money off to the cab driver. Annabeth got out of the taxi and studied the building in front of them. It definitely looked like a building that belonged to the Amazon company. Though, the one in front of them looked more like a corporate building instead of a warehouse. "We sure this is it?"
Annabeth's eyes shot across the street, and she did see a warehouse surrounded by a fence. Amazon trucks, buses, and semis were parked inside the fence near a dock entrance. Well, this was definitely it. Reyna seemed to follow her gaze, and she nodded.
"It is," Reyna confirmed. She shifted as her nerves seemed to freeze on her.
"Hey, it's going to be fine," Clarisse commented offhandedly. Reyna looked at her and managed a nod. Clarisse moved her gaze to Annabeth. "You good?"
"I am," Annabeth confirmed. "Now, how should we approach them?"
"As ambassadors of the camp," Reyna suggested after a few moments. She adjusted her armor before checking the sword at her side. Annabeth saw another knife strapped to the bracer that Reyna had. There was no telling how many others she had on her.
"Of the camp that doesn't have a name?" Clarisse grunted. "I can work with that."
"Don't show weakness or fear to the Amazons," Reyna added. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Annabeth adjusted her armor and moved her hand to the sword she also had on her belt.
"Will the Amazons be okay with us walking in there heavily armed?" Annabeth asked.
"They better be," Clarisse intoned.
"I'm sure we'll have to give up our weapons when we go in, but there's no need for that before we even step inside," Reyna replied. She opened her eyes and marched to the door. Clarisse and Annabeth followed behind.
As they stepped into the lobby, Annabeth instantly felt out of place. For one, they would look like trick or treaters with what they currently wore. There was no telling what the Mist was showing the mortals. If everyone in the room was a mortal.
There were a few people in the room. One was a man in a business suit who was talking on his phone as he sat in a chair. He seemed irritated and was whispering into the device. Another was a woman who was looking over a brochure while another woman in a business suit talked to her.
At the front desk was a third woman. She wore a gray blazer over an undershirt along with a gray skirt. Her brown hair was pulled back into a bun, and her brown eyes looked up from her computer to them. The woman's eyes narrowed slightly as she examined the trio before her.
"How can I help you?" the receptionist asked with a practiced smile.
"I need to speak to the queen of the Amazons," Reyna answered. Annabeth expected the woman to laugh at them, or even ask to see their parents. Instead, the woman's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I'm sorry. I'm not sure I know what you're talking about," she replied dumbly.
"Tell Queen Hylla that her sister needs to see her," Reyna added. "It's urgent."
"Apologies, folks. I think-"
"Look," Clarisse interrupted as she stepped forward. She motioned to herself then Annabeth and Reyna. "I know you're a demigod. You know that we're demigods. You can see the weapons and armor. We're here as representatives of our camp."
"Camp Olympus," Annabeth chimed in as she stepped forward. "We have an urgent matter for your queen."
The brunette studied them for a moment. Her face remained impassive as she grabbed her desk phone and lifted it. She typed in a few numbers, and Annabeth waited for security to come escort them out. Instead, the receptionist spoke into the device, "I have three guests here who would like to see the queen. One claims to be her sister.
"I know that the queen is busy with her meeting, but..." the receptionist trailed off and focused on them. Then, she looked away. It was quiet for a minute, and Annabeth felt her pulse starting to race with each second that passed. "Are you sure? Okay, I'll bring them back."
The woman hung up the phone. Then, her fake smile returned, "Follow me."
Annabeth glanced back around the waiting room before they were led through a door and into an open hallway. The woman turned to look at them and held up a hand, "Wait a moment."
They didn't have to wait too long as two more women walked down the hall. Both of them wore black jumpsuits; one had a sword hanging from her hip, and the other had a mace. Annabeth swallowed painfully and tried to stop her mouth from becoming dry.
"Blindfolds," the receptionist ordered. The two newcomers held up three blindfolds. Annabeth slowly grabbed one and put it around her eyes. No one reached for their weapons, which was either a good thing or a bad thing. The Amazons could've not been following protocol, or they weren't worried about what any intruders could do.
As her blindfold was secured, she felt someone push her forward none too gently. Clarisse swore under her breath as she was presumably pushed as well. They were led down what felt like a maze of corridors and hallways. At some point, they went through a large door, and Annabeth felt the breeze change.
They were no longer in tight quarters but somewhere that was wide open. It sounded like there was chattering everywhere. The blindfold was taken off of her eyes, and Annabeth blinked a few times to adjust to the lighting change. Her gaze swept around her new area.
They were now inside of what looked to be some kind of warehouse. In front of them were walls that were lined with shelves full of boxes and pallets. Forklifts were parked near the shelves. The one thing that drew Annabeth's attention was the large crowd of women that all wore black jumpsuits.
Among the women were men that wore orange jumpsuits like they were in prison and... collars? Annabeth moved closer to the edge of the catwalk and looked down at the men to get a closer look. They were wearing collars like they were pets. What was wrong with the Amazons?
The receptionist hadn't seemed to follow them into the warehouse, so they just had their two escorts. Both stood a few feet back and had their hands on their weapons. Clarisse was already leaning over the catwalk and looking down. After a moment, Reyna joined her side.
Annabeth took another step forward to be side by side with them. She studied the Amazons below her. Most were milling around, but they were standing in a circle. That wide space between them looked like they were about to have a school yard fight. Annabeth's eyes shot around before focusing on a throne.
And the woman that stood next to the throne.
"Hylla," Reyna whispered softly. Annabeth examined the elder sister; Hylla was tall and lean, almost towering above the Amazons that were directly around her. Two golden knives rested on her belt, and her hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. Even from how far away they were, Annabeth could see her black eyes.
If they were side by side, there was no mistaking the two sisters. Hylla was just a taller version of Reyna. She had to be in her late teenage years, maybe even college age. Annabeth glanced at Reyna and gently placed a hand to her arm. Her companion looked at her and gave her a grateful nod.
"What are they doing?" Clarisse asked quietly.
"Our queen is defending her throne," one of the escorts answered. Annabeth glanced back at her. "It is the right of any Amazon to challenge our queen, and they fight for the throne."
"To the death?" Clarisse questioned as her eyes seemed to light up.
"To the death," the other Amazon confirmed. "Violet is the challenger."
"She's dead meat," the first Amazon commented. The second shook her head.
"Nah. She has Queen Hylla's number," the second argued.
"You okay?" Annabeth whispered as she looked at Reyna. The Roman glanced at her and nodded. "They said your sister is fighting to the death."
"I know," Reyna replied. She sounded unconcerned. Unbothered. Annabeth looked back at the crowd and saw that at the opposite end of the circle was a blonde woman who was being talked to by a few more Amazons. This blonde woman, presumably Violet, bounced up and down on her heels. She wore a set of Greek armor.
"My fellow Amazons," Hylla began as she raised a hand. All the talking in the room instantly ceased. "We have gathered here as one our fellow sisters, Violet, has challenged me for my title. The fight, as always, will be to the death."
Hylla stepped forward and walked to the middle of the circle. A confident smirk rested on her face. Her posture was relaxed, and she rested her hands in the back pocket of her black jeans. She had a white tank top on.
"Queen Hylla, are you ready?" one of the Amazons asked as she stepped forward out of the crowd.
"Always," Hylla said with that confident smirk still on her face. The Amazon turned toward Violet.
"Violet, are you ready?" she asked.
"I am," Violet confirmed determinedly as she stepped forward. She gripped her sword from its scabbard. A mismatch of colors grabbed Annabeth's attention, and she saw the receptionist trying to push her way through the crowd to get to Hylla. "Your reign of terror ends today, Hylla."
"I have led the Amazons to heights that they have never known, Violet. What have you done besides being on your knees for the boys here?" Hylla asked. The crowd reacted with cheers and laughs. Violet rolled her eyes.
"Like you kneel before a god who doesn't answer?" Violet countered. "It's time that we stop relying on the gods that have long abandoned us! The Amazons need to change their ways. We do not need their whore to lead us into destruction!"
Hylla's smirk wavered for a moment, but it returned in full force. The receptionist made it to the edge of the circle but was stopped by some of the Amazons that had been talking to Hylla. Violet continued, "Smile all you want, Hylla. You die today."
"We'll see about..." Hylla trailed off as the receptionist waved her arms to get her attention. "What?"
"My Queen," the receptionist began as she was let through.
"You won't be calling her that for long," Violet proclaimed. The receptionist said something quietly to Hylla, and she pointed right at the catwalk. Right at Reyna.
Hylla made eye contact with Reyna, and she lost her smirk. She stared at her younger sister. The receptionist carefully stepped away, back into the circle. Next to her, Annabeth could feel that Reyna was frozen and staring back at Hylla.
"And who is that, Hylla?" Violet asked as she turned her head. "Visitors? I hope I don't keep you long! We'll meet in my office after this."
Violet stepped forward and raised her sword and shield into a ready stance. Hylla didn't move an inch, still staring hard at Reyna with a stone face. The Amazon that seemed to be the referee stepped forward, "Queen Hylla? The fight is going to start."
"Queen Hylla?" the Amazon repeated. Hylla didn't move an inch. She gave no indication that she had heard her.
"Start the fight," Violet insisted. "If she is too shocked to pay attention, that is her fault!"
The Amazon hesitated before saying, "The duel is now on. The winner will become our new queen!"
Hylla still didn't react. That piercing gaze stayed right on Reyna like she was frozen in shock. Violet glanced back at them, and a vicious grin widened her face. She looked forward again and shifted the shield in her hand as she started to raise her sword.
Annabeth blinked, and it was over. She never saw Hylla move. One moment, Hylla was standing there staring at her sister. The next, she had one of her knives stabbed through Violet's throat. The golden tip slowly protruded out of the back of Violet's neck as the Amazon choked on her own blood.
Hylla never took her eyes off of Reyna.
Not as she twisted the knife. Not as the hot blood ran down her arm. Not as she decapitated the Amazon who dared challenge her for her throne. As the body of Violet hit the ground, Hylla finally spoke, "Mount her head. And bring our guests to my office."
Annabeth stared at the scene in front of her. What kind of monster were they dealing with?