Special thanks to my beta, Sonofposeidon1357.

Chapter 4

Octavian's POV

Shit.

I was stuck in Rachel's cave, with no way out.

If Clarisse comes barging in...

Shit.

I suddenly felt a pang of guiltiness. Why did I do that? She... she...

No. I couldn't let myself soften. Especially when it comes to my enemies. But yet, I couldn't just let her die, for if she died, I would have no way out. At least that was what I told myself to believe. There was still a part of me that told me that I should save her.

Fumbling around with the stereo and the DVD player, I finally managed to switch it off. I walked back to Rachel's body and carried her onto the table. The blade of the dagger was still embedded in her stomach. I hadn't really done any first-aid before, except for the times where I had accidentally stabbed myself instead of the teddy bear. I took off my armor, and then ripped off a part of my toga. Wrapping my fingers around the hilt of the knife, I pulled it out.

What was the next thing?

I needed to clean the wound. But... but her shirt was still on. I must have mistaken her for Riley the previous time when, when I... Oh forget it.Gingerly, I took her shirt off - which was tough because she was unconscious. Then, I placed the toga over the wound and applied pressure to it. Taking a bowl, I filled it with water from one of the sinks, and with another piece of canvas I cleaned it. I had a good look how deep the wound was. It was pretty bad, judging from the depth.

How could I have forgotten to take her pulse?Bracing myself, I put two fingers on her neck. I slumped into a chair nearby and heaved a sigh of relief. She was still alive. Weak, yes, but nonetheless still alive. Thank the gods, But the next thing was that I needed a real first-aid kit. Rummaging around her cave, I finally found a box with a red cross. I placed it on the table and opened it up.

"No, no, yes! The antiseptic!"

Taking it out together with a few cotton balls, I cleaned the wound gently, and finally, I wrapped it with bandages. I then carried her, bridal style, onto her bed (and don't get the wrong idea), and placed her on the bed lightly. I tucked her into her bed and sat beside her as I watched her. And then it hit me.

How could I have been so dumb? The toga had a load of germs on it! Ah shit.

I went through the trouble of unwrapping the bandages again. Thank goodness there wasn't any signs of pus. Or some sort of infection. May the gods bless her. I wrapped the bandages back and plopped into a couch nearby.

Why was I so nice to her? Why do I even bother? I could've just barged out and secured victory by holding Rachel hostage, then sending my troops to attack them and it's all over! She just looks like Riley.

I huffed. The day was far too eventful for me. I was soon lulled by the breathing of Rachel and I drifted off to sleep. The last thing I remembered was a flash of light above me, but I was too tired to care.

Rachel's POV

I woke up. Sitting up on my bed, I stretched, feeling great.

Is it morning?I thought, stepping out of the bed. I looked around the cave when I spotted Octavian lying on the couch, fast asleep. From afar, he seemed like a giant rag doll, one of those that he might use for his sacrificial purposes. I snickered at the thought of that. But then, a thought was bugging me.

The knife!

I looked down at my torso, only to find myself shirtless, with a bandage that was stained red wrapped over it. I let out gasp as I ran to my cabinets and dug out a shirt to put on.

How could I have not realized?

I scolded myself before another fact dawned on me.

Octavian he...

I yelped, something I would hardly do and ran over to Octavian, smacking him on the arms and the back.

"What... what the... what in the name of Jupiter do you think you're doing?" Octavian woke up, screaming.

"What did you see?" I shrieked.

"I... I didn't see anything! I just..." Octavian began to stammer, his face turning beetred. Then suddenly he sat up straight and shot back at me, "so what if I saw you nude? Didn't you say it was a form of... of art?"

I, for once, didn't know how to reply. I never expected my own card to be played against myself and it sure came as a shock. On impulse, I kicked his crotch and dashed out of the cave, locking him inside. I could hear him curse and howl. I clasped a hand over my mouth, trying to suppress my giggles. All my anger had amazingly dissipated with that one kick in his crotch. I had to admit, it was fun seeing Octavian like that.

I took a stroll to the big house, feeling surprisingly happy. I walked up the hill and past the training grounds and the cabins. Some campers were giving me weird looks, while some whispered. Others just continued with their own business.

I soon reached the Big House. I pushed open the door as Clarisse and Chiron turned to look at me quizzically.

Raising an eyebrow, I asked, "why are you looking at me like that?"

"You seem... very happy," Chiron said, speaking slowly, seeming to contemplate his words. "Has our... captive... revealed anything?"

"Hmm... no. Nothing yet, actually," I replied, sensing that Chiron was suspecting me.

Why would Chiron suspect me? No, what would he suspect me of?

"Oh um... just now before I um, came in, you and Clarisse seemed to be conversing. Care to share what you were talking about?" I asked, trying to avert the topic. I didn't feel like talking about whatever that had happened just now.

"I was about to talk to you about that. We have received rumours that Octavian is using you to achieve the next step in his plans. And we suspect that it may involve you. Clarisse and I were wondering if you had managed to get anything out. We... expected your reaction to be much... much worse. Back to the topic, have you gotten any information?"

I let out a little gasp. How could he be so despicable?He wanted to use me, me! But that was only a rumour. What I had to worry about now was what I was supposed to tell Chiron. Everything that I had done was... was completely not what they were expecting. Me looking this happy after getting enemy information? It's either you're deranged, a traitor, or you've gone crazy upon hearing the plan. None of which applied to me.

"Rachel? Rachel?" Clarisse waved a hand in front of me. I blinked.

"Yea what? Oh, um... Octavian, he told me that..."

Chiron and Clarisse both leaned in closer to hear more.

"He... told... me... he didn't see anything."

"What?" Clarisse and Chiron said in unison.

"What was that supposed to be?" Clarisse asked, clearly pissed.

I didn't know what made me say that, but I felt compelled to say it.

"He, he didn't say anything."

"Rachel! This isn't a game!" Clarisse screeched at me.

"Really, he didn't say anything," I said, trying to calm Clarisse down.

She sat back down onto her seat. I stood up awkwardly, and told Clarisse and Chiron," I think I'll get going first. With the information you gave me I should be able to get more information out of him." Then, I got up and walked out of the Big House, cursing Octavian and his goddamned plans.

Oh, btw the story will need a lot of development so no, the lines of the prophecy will not come true so soon and um see ya guys soon! :)