The Guardian of the Underworld

Chapter 7: Reyna

When they got to camp, they found Chiron by standing outside the Big House. Reyna needed to make sure Thalia was okay, but it didn't look like Chiron was ready to let them go in just yet. 

"Hello." Chiron said with a smile on his face. "Are you all here to see Thalia, or is there another reason you've all come?"

Reyna looked at the others hoping she wouldn't be the one that had to answer. Thankfully, Jason and Piper stepped up. 

"Chiron," Piper said, "we need to talk to you about something."

"Oh? That's it, is it?" Chiron stepped aside and motioned for them to go in. "Well come along then." Reyna was the last person to reach the door, and as she was about to step inside, Chrion stopped her.

"Reyna, Thalia is still in the infirmary. The ambrosia helped the healing process a lot, but she still needs to rest. She has been saying your name in her sleep, thought we aren't sure why. She had woken up once in a cold sweat, but we told her she needed to calm down and get some more sleep."

Chiron looked to the Big House then back to Reyna "I think you ought to go see her. She might feel better knowing you're safe."

Reyna nodded her head, but she knew better. If Thalia was having nightmares about her and waking up in a cold sweat, she definitely was not safe. 

Chiron walked inside and Reyna followed. As they made their way to the Rec Room, Chiron looked to the others. "I'm going to bring Reyna to the infirmary to see Thalia. You can all wait here. I should be back shortly."

He didn't even wait to hear their response, when he started walking farther into the Big House leading Reyna to Thalia's location. As they were walking, Reyna saw some kids wearing gloves and masks walking to the sinks, and others carrying rolls of bandages towards the cots that held all the patients. 

Wow. Reyna thought. These are all children of Apollo. There's so many of them. 

That's when Reyna promised herself that when everything was all done and sorted out, she would have to talk to Apollo about all the kids he's been having. 

She followed Chiron to the back of the infirmary, and he led her to one of the cots. Reyna looked down and saw Thalia thrashing and screaming, "No! Don't go there! Please, no! It's not safe!" 

Reyna looked up at Chiron who nodded and gestured towards Thalia. "Wake her. Let her know you are safe." Reyna looked back down and had to force herself not to cry. 

She heard a small voice in the back of her head telling her, She's in pain because of you. Just wake her up and it will all be over. 

Another part of her thought, Will it all be over? Or will it all just be beginning?

She forced the voices out of her mind and knelt down at Thalia's side. "Thalia," She was speaking in such a soft tone, she wasn't sure Thalia would hear her over her screaming. "Thalia, you need to wake up. It's alright, I'm here." 

Thalia started opening her eyes and her screaming subsided to a small whimper. "It's me. Reyna. I'm safe." Thalia looked up at Reyna and pulled her into a giant hug. Her grip was so tight, Reyna wasn't sure she'd be able to take a proper breath, but she didn't argue against it. It felt nice to have Thalia there. To know that she was breathing, and that she was going to survive. If anything had happened to Thalia because of her, Reyna wasn't sure she'd be able to live with herself. 

Thalia burst into tears and whispered into Reyna's ear, "Don't ever leave me. You need to be safe. I need you to be safe."

That's when Reyna started crying too. "It's alright. I'm here now and I'm not leaving your side. I won't let you get hurt again." 

It felt like decades before Thalia let go. Reyna almost pulled her in again, but then she thought about the others waiting in the Rec Room. She looked around but couldn't see Chiron anywhere. 

One of the doctors that were standing at the end of the bed smiled. "Chiron went back to speak with the others. He told me to tell you to go back to the Rec Room when you're ready. They will be waiting for you." When he was finished talking, he turned around and walked to one of the other campers that were hurt. 

Reyna couldn't help but notice how much he looked like Will. He had blond hair and blue eyes, and he had the same kind of smile Will always had - well, when he wasn't going through torture with Nico. "Wow." She muttered under her breath. 

She turned her attention back to Thalia. "Are you okay? How bad did the monster hurt you."

Thalia was still wiping tears out of her eyes. "I'm fine now. The ambrosia helped, but I didn't get much sleep. I kept having this nightmare..." She trailed off.

"Reyna, I need to talk to Chiron about my dream." Thalia looked scared. She never looked scared. 

"Okay. If you come with me, the others are going to explain what's been happening. You can talk to him about it then." 

Reyna looked up to see Thalia's response, but she just nodded and grabbed Reyna's hand. She could feel herself blushing, and she immediately looked back down. 

Thalia smiled. "We better not keep them waiting any longer then."

The two of them raced toward the Rec Room hand-in-hand, and for a second, Reyna felt happiness for the first time since Thalia had taken her out for a walk in the forest. But just like before, her happiness was put to an end when she heard what Thalia had been so worried about.