Chereads / The Son of Time / Chapter 29 - Loretta: Child of the Vine Found, Lost, Found

Chapter 29 - Loretta: Child of the Vine Found, Lost, Found

A few weeks passed, and Dakota arrives at Camp Jupiter with Loretta. Her face lights up seeing the Roman buildings from across the Little Tiber. "Are we home?" the young girl asks.

Dakota turns to Loretta, he hadn't seen her show any abilities yet. He knew he saw Bacchus claim her on that first day, but he couldn't think of anything that would help her case in the legion. "Yes, we are home. Let's go see the family," he says as the bridge drops.

Dakota's mask of joy was gone the minute he saw who was coming across bridge. It was Reyna, and she wasn't happy. "Hey Reyna, sorry I took so long..." he started.

"Silence Dakota. I already know. Is this the young girl?" Reyna interrupted. Loretta turned to Reyna. Her mouth already had the same tint as Dakota's. Her eyes begin to get slightly green.

"Who are you?" the young girl asked, clenching her fists. The grass below her was starting to grow. And there was a faint smell of grapes.

"A child of Bacchus? Dakota, I will need a word with you later," Reyna says to the stunned young man. Turning to the girl before her. "I'm Reyna. And I'm a friend. I'm also a praetor, that means I'm Dakota's boss." Reyna smiles at Loretta. Hoping that her smile would calm the young girl, but she saw that Loretta had begun to shake from anger.

Loretta screams. And the ground around her sprouts vines. Reyna quickly whistles, and two dogs appear out of nowhere. One silver and the other gold. "Aurum! Argentum! Knock her out!" Reyna screams. The dogs rush in slashing the vines, and Aurum reaches Loretta only to be thrown back by her fist. "Aurum!" Reyna yells. Argentum finally gets past the vines and finally knocks out the demigod. Reyna looks at Dakota. "You brought someone who can't be trained?" she asks. "We need to leave her outside view of the camp. If she stays, she'll be in trouble and destroy something."

Dakota looks at Loretta. "She's my little sister. I'll take her to a safe place. I just hope she can control herself soon enough." Dakota goes to pick up Loretta. He places her on his back and treks back the way they had entered. As he contacted, he begins to sing a lullaby.

"I still believe in you

You are stronger than you know

I promised that we won't need to let you go

And I know I said I would never let go

You are a Child of the Vine

Despite all adversity you will shine

Even if your big brother couldn't do what he promised you

No matter what you do

Don't give up

Because you will find a home

In a place unknown

Child of the Vine

You are a Child of the Vine

Loretta Fin"

He reaches a small house. The door itself is covered with marks from thorns and the rest is in shambles. As he opens the door, he finds that it wasn't as empty as he left it. "Who are you people?" he screams. There are three young men and one young women inside the house. "This house is owned by me!" he continues.

"Best way to see the enemy," one of the young men says.

"You don't know about the war?" asked another.

"We are here for the girl," the final one said standing.

The young woman raised her hand and Dakota fell asleep immediately. "I really hate when they start getting like that," she says. Turning to her comrades, "Larry, take the girl. We're heading back immediately. I'll work on her memory while we're on our way back to base."

Larry takes Loretta as the young woman begins to call someone. "Yes, we got the package. Now we need a ride back to Tamalpais. ASAP." As she finishes the call, an helicopter is landing outside. "They're here," she says. The group gets on the helicopter, and the young woman begins to chant while waving her hands over Loretta's face. She pauses, "This little girl is strong, and she doesn't have much to remove. Almost no good memories in her head." She turns to the three young men. "I'm not removing anything else. If I do, she's going to be no good to us."

They land at Mt Tamalpais. As they do, Loretta begins to wake. "Larry? Are we at home?" the young demigod asks.

Larry, looking uncomfortable, replies, "Yes. We're home. Welcome to the Titan Camp."