Reyna and Jason: The Praetor's of New Rome - Sacrifice

The Big Three Take A Vacation

"Justice!" Luke yelled as he entered a large empty throne room. Every step Luke took echoing across the throne room. The floor was as black as night, but capture light quite brilliantly. Justice stood over a coffin, staring intently at it. Behind the coffin and near the steps of the throne, stood the Titan Epimetheus. He stared around the throne room in wonder, as if he still could not believe he was there. The titan now wore a elegant grey suit and a black bow tie, as if he was preparing to dance with whoever was coming out of that coffin.

Justice glanced at Luke, her expression solemn. Luke stood behind her. "Who the hell is Max?"

Justice stared back down onto the floor and then turned back to the coffin. "A nobody. Why?"

Luke grabbed her arm and spun her around. "He murdered Selina and Beckondorf. You said he would keep them hostage! You never mentioned anything about him being a psychopath!"

Epimetheus laughed, shaking the throne room. "Oh please, Luke, that's what is concerning you right now?"

Luke ignored him. "Justice, you said Romans had a process. There are rules-"

"Normally." Justice cut him off, her eyes never breaking away from the coffin. "But in times of war, the rules are flexible. Max is a temporary Praetor specifically designated to lead the war effort. His powers are limited in certain aspects other then efforts involving the war. Selina has been at Camp Jupiter for what, a few weeks? A proper trial was likely skipped in favor of getting intel for the war effort. Selina likely told Max all she knew, which according to you, was not much. From there, they likely determined execution was the punishment that best fit her crime."

"And if that was a possibility, why didn't you say something?" Luke argued. "We ..... We could have come up with a different plan or-"

Justice turned around, revealing her tears . "Are you having second thoughts, Luke?"

Epimetheus giggled like a child. "Oh the drama, how exciting."

The both of them ignored him, staring intently into each others eyes. "You were the one who came up with the idea to blow up the Senate building." Justice continued, her voice increasing in volume with each sentence.

"I remember, telling you that innocent people would die. But you said that it was necessary. To building a better Rome. To build a better world. That it was the only way. But now that YOUR friends are dead, you develop a conscious?"

Luke attempted to say something, but Justice got in his face. "There is NO going back, Luke. Do you understand? I am not going back! I killed them, so its my duty to make sure their lives had meaning! To build a new world where the gods are dead and gone! There sacrifice will not be in vain!"

She pushed him and stormed off.

The titan of afterthought loomed large behind Luke. "Luke, is your commitment to our lord Kronos faltering?"

Luke's eyes were hard to read, his blue eyes flashing yellow momentarily while he breathed heavily.

"No, she's right." Luke finally said, reigning in his anger. "There's no going back."

**********************************

My eyes fluttered open, greeted by the sight of glistening crystals embedded in solid black rock. I sat up, groaning at the soreness felt throughout my entire body. I no longer wore my Praetor gear, instead I wore a simple purple Greek chiton. Bandages were wrapped on almost every inch of my body. I slowly adjusted myself to sit on the side of the soft white bed I was laying on.

I was in a cave, but my surroundings reminded me more of my room back in Camp Jupiter. A book shelf stood tall at the other end of the room filled too the brim with all manners of literature. To my right, a table full of bandages, mortars for crushing herbs and potion vials rested against the wall. Above me, dry herbs hung from the ceiling: thyme, rosemary, mint and so on, giving the room a sweet scent. Near the exit of the cave, which was blocked by white silk curtains, stood a large loom and harp.