THE SELECTION

I do not own Percy Jackson & the Olympians or The Selection. All rights belong to their respective owners.

[SexyPurpleBeast] [BETA: Annabeth Brady] [OC/AU] {Percy/?}

A quick note before we begin my dear readers. This story will have an audience-picked ending! With my other stories, I usually have the entire plot drafted and I just need to put it to words. However, on my profile is a poll, where you can go vote for the pairing you want to see! The poll is anonymous and the more votes, the more fun!

Prologue/Chapter One: PERCY

"Two minutes," somebody called. Two minutes until my entire future unfolded in front of me. It shouldn't be so nerve wracking that I was ready to vomit at a moment's notice.

The census had been compiled, the figures checked multiple times. Preparations were underway for when the girls arrived next Friday. For them, the process started once they filled out the forms – thousands must have. For me, it started tonight.

"Percy, darling, are you really okay?" My mother asked, for what must have been the fiftieth time. She wasn't looking at me, but my reflection in the mirror right behind the camera. She looked like the queen she was.

"It's just…it's…"

"Get it together. You look like Hades." My father snapped. It was probably meant to be an insult, to both myself and my uncle. My father wasn't normally like this – He was just really stressed about tonight. We all were.

"Don't forget to smile. It'll work out," Mom reassured me before taking her seat. She wore a long red gown and some pearls. Her hair was piled on top of her head, framing the crown she wore every day of her life. Luckily for me, I wouldn't have to wear a crown for a while, because I was only a prince.

The anthem began to play as In Narratio began. Our weekly news broadcast was always shown throughout the kingdom, and tonight it would announce the thirty-five selected girls I would have to choose from. One of them would be my bride. I was aware of people talking and I figured I should pay attention. I focused on Apollo, my cousin who was interviewing my mother, and tried to not tap my foot.

"Your Majesty, any advice for the Selected young ladies?" He smiled.

"Enjoy your last night as an average girl. Tomorrow, your life will be different, no matter what. And it's old advice, but it's good: be yourself." How long did it take her to become so composed, so flawless? Had she always been that way?

"Wise words, my queen, wise words. Now just one more question I'm sure every citizen in Olympia is dying to know," Apollo turned to me. "Your Majesty, did your father happen to share any of this information about the Selected with you?"

Information? What had they talked about, surely I hadn't been out of it that long. "Not at all. I'll see them when everybody else does." I smiled confidently, even though I had none.

Apollo nodded knowingly; no doubt he'd been in the room with my father when they'd been drawn. This was just the script he'd been given to say. "And with that, let us reveal the thirty-five young women for the Selection. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in congratulating the following Daughters of Olympia!"

I turned my attention to the screen, which currently held the national emblem and a small box in the corner with my face on it. What? They were going to watch my reactions the whole time?

Mom put her hand on mine, reassuringly, but it was all I could do to breathe in and out. Then it began.

"Miss Clarisse La Rue of Sparta, Three," Apollo read out as the picture appeared on the screen. It showed a girl with brown hair. Her arms were toned and she appeared to be extremely strong for a girl. She wasn't smiling in her picture, just staring, and she appeared to have no make-up. It was an interesting choice.

The next picture was in black and white. It was a close up of a pretty girl with dark hair and prominent cheek bones. She was smiling at something above her and she looked like she was in love.

"Miss Silena Beauregard of Crete, Two," If she was a Two, then she must model. I tried to smile a little brighter – the last thing I wanted to do was insult a family of Twos.

"Miss Selene Castley of Paloma, Three," Apollo continued, but I didn't look at her picture. Instead I leaned toward my father and whispered, "I feel sick."

"Just breathe. They're only girls," He tried to reassure me. It didn't work.

"Miss Zoe Nightshade of Lakedon, Four" I looked over to Mom. She smiled, "Very pretty."

"Miss Gwendolyn Brass of New Rome, Four" A redhead. She was pretty, but didn't stand out really. She would be somewhere in the middle, no doubt.

"Miss Annabeth Chase of Francisco, Five," I heard the word five and tried to catch the monitor before it changed. This was the first Five so far, and I was curious to see if I'd keep her around based on her looks. It changed as I looked up, and I only caught a glimpse of blonde curls.

"Miss Calypso Atlas of Ogygia, Two," I decided to just look above the monitor and smile for the rest. I'd get copies of their profiles after the show so I could memorize names. I'd do it then, when my reactions were private.

Apollo continued to list off names until he'd finished all thirty-five. "Those are our beautiful Selection candidates. Over the next week, they'll be prepared for their trip and we will eagerly await their arrival! Tune in next Friday for a special edition of in Narratio devoted to exclusively to getting to know these spectacular women. Prince Perseus, I congratulate you, sir. But don't worry." he added looking at my face, "I'm sure they'll do most of the talking once they arrive next Friday. Until next time: good-night Olympia!"

The lights went down and I let my posture relax. My father stood and gave me a firm pat on the back. I jumped, "Well done. You did a great deal better than I thought you'd be."

"I have no clue what just happened."

He and my mother laughed, "I assure you, Perce, there's no need to be stressed. Don't you agree, Sally?"

"Of course, the ladies have much more to worry about than you do." She confirmed. My father turned to one of his advisors and I escorted my mother to dinner.

"Don't worry, dear. We'll get the photos and applications to you so you can study them. Treat it like spending time with any of your other friends."

"I don't have many friends, Mom. Most of them are family."

She wrapped her arm around me, "Trust me. It'll work out and I'm sure you'll love one of the girls picked. Besides, Jason will get here tomorrow – he'll help you."

I sighed and tried to think of anything but the Selection.

The week passed rather uneventfully. Jason arrived on schedule, the list of girls was brought to my room – though I didn't look at it, and I had a week to do whatever I wanted. I'd sparred with my cousin and teacher for hours a day, ignoring all of their efforts to talk about the upcoming event.

I kept my distance from the Selection until the event crossed my threshold. In fact, I almost forgot about it. I slept in Friday, before casually getting dressed in khaki jeans and a deep blue V-neck. I wasn't going anywhere, meeting anybody – I could do whatever I wanted.

Until I walked out my door and saw the staff wearing different uniforms. Oh right I thought Thirty five girls who I don't know are moving in today.

I saw maids bringing dresses and jewelry up to rooms, guards being given assignments, and my aunt Aphrodite over seeing everything. I walked quickly outside to the pool area, because none of the girls would be here yet, if any of them even swam. Jason sat at the table eating a sticky bun with a folder out in front of him. He looked over his shoulder as he heard me approach and quickly closed the folder.

I sat down across from him and ran my hands through my hair. I couldn't eat and all I could feel was the nervousness I'd been pushing away all week coming out. I grabbed the folder from him.

"These the photos?" I asked, opening it without his answer. I could easily see they were.

"Yeah – I thought you didn't want to see them?" I sighed, grabbing the pen I always kept in my pocket. It helped my ADHD if I had something in my hands, and a pen wasn't too noticeable.

"I didn't. But I was stupid to not at least look at their profiles. It'll look bad if I don't know their names! Ugh, whose brilliant idea was it to put their names on the back!?" I snapped.

"Calm down, Perce! I'll help you; that's why I'm here!" He reached across and took the stack of applications.

We went through the photos, and Jason wrote down the names of the girls on the front. He didn't write their number on the front though, and I was glad. I didn't want to judge them by their status. Selene, Silena…how was I supposed to keep that straight? Kayla, Katie, Hecate…seriously? This was going to be a disaster. I had to at least learn a few, and until then I'd just rely on the pins they'd be given until I got them all down.

I tried to focus on standouts. Calypso…I remembered the name. A friend of mine, Grover, had mentioned she was a model and showed me a picture of her in a swim suit on the glossy pages of a magazine. She was probably the sexiest candidate, and I certainly wouldn't hold that against her.

Nyssa jumped out at me, but not in a good way. Unless she had a winning personality, she wasn't even in the running. She just wasn't my type. Maybe it was a bit shallow, but was it so bad I wanted someone I found attractive? Ah, Rachel Dare. I easily recognized the name – she had family in New York. She'd be in the running on that alone.

"This one's quite pretty – Piper McLean," Jason commented. She was, but something in Jason's voice kept me from agreeing. He'd sounded the same way about another girl…Reyna Argentum. "And then here's a blonde if you want one of those,"

Annabeth Chase. I studied her picture. Her smile was absolutely radiant. Her clothes showed that she was definitely of lower class. "I'm pretty sure she's a Five," I spoke. Her gray eyes stood out; I had seen eyes like that before, but I didn't remember where. I'd have to ask her when I met her tomorrow.

I smiled, measuring her against the other girls I'd seen so far. She was pretty, if a bit rough around the edges. It was an uncommon type of beauty, and I could tell she wasn't aware of it. There was a certain…royal air she didn't seem to possess, though there was something regal in her obvious pride. You only had to look in her eyes, full of intelligence, to tell she knew she was smart. She could probably figure out how to get anything she wanted in the world, if given the chance.

I didn't know who I would choose, because each girl had an outstanding quality that couldn't be ignored. Annabeth would be an interesting candidate, even though she seemed extremely rebellious. Still, I couldn't shake the urge to pursue her. And that was how the Selection did its first act in my favor: if I had her here, at least I had the chance to try.