(Chapter 1: Traitorous Acts, Align with the Facts) I crumpled to a knee, beaten and battered from this encounter. As blood ran down my face, and my sword hit the ground with a clang, I looked up to beg for my life. "P-Please...B-Brandon.." My oppressor stared me down, his blue eyes glowing, his blonde hair blowing in the wind. Brandon raised his sword, ready to strike the final blow to the young demigod. I closed my blue-green eyes, growling as anger swelled in me, feeling the ocean behind me drawing closer. Brandon lowered his sword, ready to fly away at the first wave of water. I yelled loudly, a roar so loud, even Hercules would be proud. The yell brought a tsunami so high, Brandon couldn't escape; the ocean consuming not only him, but me a Son of Poseidon, along with it. I woke up days later, in the Apollo Cabin being tended to by Will Solace, the head counselor of Apollo's children. Christian, being as stubborn as I am, sat up and tried to walk; only to be stopped by Will, who stated, "You're not going anywhere, you still haven't recovered from your injuries sustained from your brutal battle with Brandon." I growled under my breath, my ribs felt like hot lava, every bone in my body seeming to yell out in agony. Will's voice was delicate, but heavily bossy at the same time. He leaned over to one of his siblings and said something I couldn't quite make out, the sibling nodded and ran out of the cabin. Will broke off a piece of an ambrosia square and urged me, "Please, eat this. It'll make you feel better." I slowly opened my mouth, the piece melting as I closed it, the flavor being like brownies and home. My head throbbed, I had never felt so weak in my entire life. Soon after the Apollo camper had left, Chiron arrived to the cabin, along with my best friend, Selena Lejcson. She seemed to be the only one who cared anymore, the betrayal of Sadie pushed me down so bad. She'd lied to me for months, leading to a confrontation with me and Brandon, who'd recently joined the enemy and was an outcast of the demigods. Of course, Sadie listened to Brandon's lies and she went with him. Brandon brought me, the highest ranked hero of the camp at this time, to my knees. Upon arrival, Chiron turned to Will and spoke with him about my condition, I assumed. Chiron soon nodded, and asked, "Christian, how do you feel?" I closed my eyes for a moment and answered, "I feel broken, Chiron. Not only were we betrayed, but I had my heart broken at the same time. I feel I've disgraced us..." Chiron simply sighed and placed his hand on my shoulder, saying, "I've got faith in you. Shortly after you fell, the enemy retreated. Your act of quick selflessness might've saved many demigod lives. Only you could've survived against him, and indeed you did." I smiled weakly, and nodded, "Thanks, Chiron. You guys are like my family, I can't let anyone get hurt." Chiron nodded in response, and trotted off. Selena spoke with Will, and after a minute or two he finally sighed and walked out of the cabin. Selena came to my side, grabbing my hand tightly and staring into my eyes. She was a daughter of Athena, though when we first met, I swore she was a daughter of Aphrodite...her beauty was enough to fool anyone. I stared back into her startlingly brown eyes, she rubbed my hand with her thumb and asked, "How're you feeling? Any better?" I shrugged, responding, "Emotionally, I'm broken. Physically, everything hurts.." She nodded, seeming to understand. She blushed lightly and glanced away a bit, I cocked my head in confusion but she simply smiled and stated, "I expect to see you fully healed by tomorrow." I nodded, and squeezed her hand before she slipped away from me, and waved before walking out.