𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

꧁𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐎 𝐜𝐡𝟓𝟕꧂

A/N: word count 3612

Nico

Reyna. I had to find Reyna. She was in danger, but I had no idea where to find her. She would be sleeping - it was still the middle of the night - but I didn't know where she'd be. Plus, I'm fully aware she often skips sleep to get her work done; New Rome's paperwork is more important than her rest.

I sprinted across the bridge. The monsters charged towards the main block. They weren't heading towards the pomeranian line or temple hill. They were going straight for the sleeping army. I was sure there would be a lot of people on patrol, but with the upcoming war not yet in play or prepared for, the better soldiers were getting rested and ready. I thought of Alex and Iris and swallowed the bile in my throat. He could be dead already.

As I was finally few hundred feet closer to the barracks, I gathered my withering energy to shadow travel the rest of the way.

Gracefully, I slammed into a wall.

I cursed after nearly accidentally kissing the concrete. I came away, wiping a bloody nose. Well done, Nico. I staggered around for a second, misty white hands shaking. Coming to my senses, I slammed an alarm on the wall right by the fifth cohort. Sirens wailed and I turned around, drawing my sword shakily. Where would Reyna be? I had to get to her.

"Who are you? Get back!" someone said. I turned to see a centurion, his glittering gold sword now against my throat.
"Nico di Angelo. I need you to protect Reyna. Kampê is nearly here and she's coming for assassination." I ordered quickly.

"I don't take orders from you. What the hell are you talking about?" the brown eyed boy said incredulously. "What's your parentage? Are you a legacy?"
"No, you don't understand!" I pleaded. I was painfully aware of time trickling by. The monsters would be here any second. "I'm friends with Reyna! I was there that day, remember? I brought Medea to release the Eidolons."
His eyes flickered with recognition.
"You're Greek."
"No, I'm Italian. And yes, I'm Greek, idiot! What does that matter?"
"Octavian-"
I nearly laughed at my luck. Out of the whole legion, I'd ended up with one of his few supporters.
"Screw Octavian. Who's your Praetor? Reyna. We need-"
"Nico!" a voice called out over the blaring sirens of chaos. People were beginning to file out of the barracks, grabbing swords and strapping on helmets. They probably did this all the time. Oh no.

They would've all thought this is a regular drill.

Rome was always organised. Contrary to the chaos of the greeks, camp Jupiter always had routine and practice. They had these drills all the time. While they were well rehearsed of the seriousness of the alarms blazing, they wouldn't be taking this 100% seriously. Hell, they probably thought I was the intruder.

"Nico!" the voice called again. I looked around and caught a smiling auburn haired girl. Gwen walked forwards. "Martin." she frowned. "Drop the sword. He saved us."
Grumbling, Martin dropped the sword.
"What brings-" Gwen began to say, gesturing for me to follow her to where everyone else was beginning to line up.
"There are monsters inside the borders. Including Kampê herself-"

Gwen's freckly face turned an alarming shade of white.

"-and she's prophecised to kill Reyna. We need to-"
"I have so many questions." Gwen whisper screamed. She pulled a knife out of boot and looked around sharply.

I turned to Martin. "Get to the Caldecott tunnel. Inside you will find a young girl and a man. The man is gravely injured. I need you to help them-"
His eyes flashed. "Alex?"
"Yes. You need to help them."
His eyes narrowed distrustingly. "How do you know this? You are sending me away from a fight, you do not command-"
"Please. Why would I lie- actually. Don't answer that. But please, you can sentence me to death or whatever if I am-"
With one last glare, he ran to the direction of the tunnel.