The Warrior | Heroes of Olympus

5

It was an understatement to say that I was mad. 

The second after Mars left and Frank began getting attention I stormed away. I pushed past the campers and headed toward the barracks. My throat was burning and my vision had become almost blurry. I didn't like this feeling. It was like my chest was caving in and my mind was spiraling. 

I aggressively rubbed my hands over my eyes causing little white stars to appear.  I'd never felt like this before. So useless and inadequate. I couldn't get Mar's words out of my head. He didn't want me he wanted Frank. He had claimed Frank was better than me in front of everyone. I wasn't enough. 

I kicked my armor across the room.

I was alone in the barracks thankfully. Everyone else was busy praising Frank and raving about the new quest. I sucked in a shaky breath as I began to undo the straps of my armor. Only then did I realize I had left my helmet on the field. I groaned, I would have to go get that. 

I slumped down on my bed and spun the rings on my finger. 

Why not me? 

I couldn't stop asking myself that question. What had i done wrong? Why wasn't Mars proud of me. Why didn't he choose me? Why wasn't I good enough? Eventually I sat back up after pondering these questions. I moved from my rings to the chain around my neck. I had a nervous habit of playing with my jewelry. 

He hadn't even spoken to me. 

I shut my eyes tightly. Willing the thoughts to leave me and the words of my father to disappear. A giant clatter sounded in front of me. I felt a object hit my feet. My eyes shot open and they landed on the ground in front of me. My helmet. Where...?

I glanced up at the door and groaned. Octavian. Him of all people had to bring it back to me.  I picked it up and went to grab my armor. 

"I would've come back for it." I said. 

"Sure you would've."

 I glared at him. "You killed Gwen." I said. 

He scowled at me. "I did not." 

I knew he did. "She may be from the fifth but she's still a centurion of the legion. She deserved a warrior's death not one from a stuck up kid like yourself." 

"Stuck up—!" He looked infuriated. "Fine! Stay here wallow in self pity because your father chose a clumsy newbie over you!" 

My nostrils flared. "For once Octavian, shut up and leave me alone." I pushed past him and made sure to hit his shoulder. I forgot how much stronger I was than him so I nearly sent him flying into the wall. 

I walked about the camp until curfew when I slipped back into the barracks and into bed. Tomorrow would be a senate meeting and I needed my rest. 

I barely slept that night and the fact that I had to wear a toga did not help. I struggled to get the stupid thing on and I struggled to walk in it. How anyone managed to function in this back then was a mystery. 

Reyna and Octavian led the procession of senators out of camp, with Reyna's metal greyhounds dashing back and forth along the road. Hazel,Frank, and Percy trailed behind. I noticed Nico di Angelo in the group,wearing a black toga and talking with Gwen, who looked a little pale but surprisingly good considering she'd been dead the night before.

Dakota stumbled along in his red-speckled robe. A lot of othersenators seemed to be having trouble with their togas, too—hiking up their hems, trying to keep the cloth from slipping off their shoulders. Which made me feel better about my own toga issues.