Rage of Olympus

Blood

      "What do you mean no?!" I was fuming. Reyna stood before me, her dogs on either side of her.
      "Exactly that. If you think I'm going to risk Roman lives to save one–"
      "He. Is. Roman." I glared at Reyna.
      "–demigod, then you are even less a soldier than I thought." Reyna finished.
      "That one demigod has the power to stop this war!" I roared at her. I knew it was a lie. Jules didn't have that power anymore. I did.
      Reyna raised an eyebrow as the dogs behind her growled. Shit. I kept my eyes on Reyna. I had slipped up. I could see the only chance I had at helping Jules slowly slip away.
      "He doesn't, does he?" Reyna questioned.
A silent storm raged inside of me. I couldn't lie. Reyna's dogs would know. But if I didn't, I was condemning Jules to death. Or worse. An eternal torture under the sky. The thought made my anger pitch yet again.
"No." My eyes stayed on Reyna's and I let the fury inside of me burn in them.
      "Who does, Jayde?" Reyna's voice was like steel.
"It's Jay." The dogs behind Reyna growled but I didn't change my answer.
      Reyna's eyes hardened. "Who has the power of Olympus?"
"You help me get him back. Or you will never win this war." I narrowed my eyes.
"Is that a threat?" Reyna took a step forward.
"No." I stepped forward too. "It's a promise."
      Reyna regarded me with cold eyes. She was silent for a while as she and I stood glaring at each other, neither willing to give up. The knock at the door was the only reason Reyna looked away.
"Enter." Reyna's voice was even colder than her eyes. A boy stepped into the room. His black hair almost matched mine. His seaweed green eyes glanced at me once before addressing Reyna.
      "Reyna." The boy ignored the tension in the air. "You're needed in the Twelfth."
      Reyna gave a stiff nod then glanced at me. "This conversation is not over."
      "I agree." The venom in my voice was clear and Reyna didn't miss it. She narrowed her eyes at me before stalking out of the door.
After Reyna had left, I saw a small smile creeping up on the boy's face as he turned to leave.
"You think this is funny?" He stopped at my words.
He turned back to face me, the smile still in place. "No. I'm just remembering how much trouble I got into when I first got here. But man, you sure beat me with this one."
      I scowl. "Yeah. But it sure isn't helping." I whispered. The boy raised an eyebrow in question. "I just need a few demigods to come with. Not even that many."
      "Come with to where?"
      "To get my brother back."
      "Julian?"
      "His name is Jules."
      The boy studied me. His seaweed green eyes meet my pure green ones. There was something about them that was familiar. For a second, I could have sworn that I knew who he was.
"Sorry." The boy turned to leave. "I can't help you."
"Yeah. It seems like no one can." I growl as he opened the door.
"Look. It's not that we don't want to. We're just under a lot of pressure." The boy paused in the doorway again.
"Pressure of being annihilated. I've heard it." I scoff. "You know Jules could help?"
"I'm not saying he couldn't."
"Then help me save him."
"Do you understand what we're up against here? Huh, Jayde? Khione already torched Camp Half-Blood. Even us Seven weren't strong enough to stop her."
      "You'll have a lot more to worry about besides Khione if I don't get Jules back."
      "And why's that?"
      I hesitated. Should I really tell him this? Yes. He deserved to know.
      "Khione needs blood to raise Erebos. And the only person who can stop him is the one whose blood was used to raise him." My eyes locked with the boy's again.
      He stood still for a second, his eyes a mix of anger and fear. "So if Khione kills Jules—"
      "We have no way to win."