𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 | ʟᴇᴏ ᴠᴀʟᴅᴇᴢ ¹

𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄

LAVINIA DREAMED OF THE WAR.

The familiar setting of Camp Half-Blood during the Titan War materialized around her. The air was thick with tension, and the distant sounds of battle echoed in the distance. Lavinia stood in the training arena, her heart pounding as she scanned her surroundings.

"Lavinia," a voice called out, soft yet insistent.

She turned to see Luke Castellan standing a few feet away, his face a mixture of regret and determination. His eyes, once filled with camaraderie, now seemed to pierce her soul with a blend of sorrow and conviction. Her breath hitched.

"Luke," Lavinia said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "What are you doing here?"

Luke stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "I wanted to talk to you. Away from the others."

Lavinia crossed her arms, her stance defensive. "What do you want, Luke? I'm not interested in joining your side."

"It's not about sides, Lavinia. It's about understanding." Luke's expression softened, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "You've always felt like an outsider, haven't you? Your mother barely acknowledges you. You've spent your life trying to prove yourself to her, and for what?"

Lavinia's heart clenched at his words, the familiar ache of longing and disappointment surfacing. "I don't need her approval," she said defiantly. "I have my own path."

"Do you?" Luke countered, his eyes flashing with intensity. "Or are you just following the path others have laid out for you? You deserve more than this, Lavinia. You deserve to be part of something greater, something where you can truly make a difference."

"I am making a difference," Lavinia shot back, her voice firm. "I'm fighting for the right side, for the people I care about."

Luke's expression turned pleading. "And what about your brother? Sebastian is out there, Lavinia. Do you think the gods care about him? Do you think they care about any of us?"

Lavinia's breath caught at the mention of her brother. "Don't you dare bring him into this," she whispered, her voice shaking. "He's safe with Percy."

Luke's gaze softened. "For now, maybe. But what happens when the gods decide he's expendable? What happens when you're not there to protect him?"

"I can't betray my friends," Lavinia said, her voice trembling with conviction. "I won't."

"Think about it, Lavinia," Luke urged, stepping closer. "We can change things. We can make a world where demigods like us don't have to live in fear, don't have to be pawns in their games."

Lavinia felt a surge of anger and sadness. "I can't, Luke. I can't betray everything I stand for."

Luke's gaze bore into hers, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and conviction. "Think about what you truly want, and what you're willing to sacrifice to get it."

Lavinia jolted awake, her heart racing and her mind spinning with the echoes of Luke's words. She sat up, clutching her blankets tightly, the weight of the memory pressing down on her.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The flashback had felt so real, so immediate. Lavinia knew she couldn't let the past define her future, but the lingering doubts gnawed at her. She glanced around the darkened cabin, finding solace in the steady breathing of her siblings.

Luke had once been like a brother to her, a mentor she looked up to. His betrayal cut deeper than any blade, and the scars it left were not easily healed. She remembered the times they trained together, his encouragement and guidance, and how he had slowly turned to a path she couldn't follow.

Determined to prove her worth and protect those she loved, Lavinia lay back down, staring at the ceiling. She closed her eyes, hoping for a few more hours of peaceful sleep before the challenges of the next day began. But the words of Luke and the memory of her brother's potential danger lingered, a reminder of the thin line she walked between loyalty and despair.