Hello guys! New chapter! I got a request to put in Percy's reaction to Piper's disappearance from the castle and will upload that chapter after this one. Soo...that's all I guess. Enjoy! Review, i love reviews! And favourite and follow and all that good stuff!

DISCLAIMER : I DO NOT OWN THESE CHARACTERS!

Chapter 7 Jason.

The inhales and exhales of the princess in front of me, sound like the beat of a song. Sweet and graceful. Well, if you can't see the princess's face, then you'd probably think she's having a good night's sleep. But no. On her face is in a shadow of sorrow, making her look tragically beautiful. The fire cackling in the room soften her features, giving her a look of pure innocence. The way her hair curls around her face. The way she sleeps with her lips slightly parted. I find myself gawking at her angelic beauty. She looks so beautiful yet sad and sorrowful that all I want to do right now is fold her in my arms and keep her safe. I shake the feeling off. No. It's the blessing of Aphrodite that is making me feel this way. That's giving her that perfect beauty. No matter how much the pain on her face draws me, surprisingly, to her, I can't.

I hear the shuffle of footsteps and turn to see Reyna standing at the door way, bandages and healing supplies in her arms. I pat on the seat next to me, inviting her to sit down. She comes in and plumps down on the battered old chair.

"Okay," she says, "I've already patched everyone else up. It's your turn."

"It's alright, I'm fine." I say, though the blood trickling down my chin says otherwise.

She shakes her head and, without permission, starts to clean the blood on my face. Her hand moves in soft circles grazing my skin.

"Ouch," she says, examining my cut after cleaning the blood, "that's really deep."

"I'll live." I say softly.

She ignores me and starts applying a healing ointment Hazel made. Her caloused hands rubbing my skin. My skin feels warm where she touches it, making me lean slowly towards the warmth. She stops as my face fits in her palm as if she's cupping it. I look up and her eyes, full of some unknown emotion, meet mine. She wipes off some extra blood dripping down my chin, her eyes never leaving mine. Slowly, like a magnet, she leans forward, our faces inching closer and closer. Well, her face is moving towards mine, I am not moving at all. I'm staying still in shock. I never really noticed the intense emotion behind her eyes. Never saw the double meaning in her sentences. I never thought she cared about me in a different way. I...don't know how to feel. I know I should feel the same way but...

Reyna's face is so close, I can see the imperfections in the skin of her face. Her lips move closer to mine, almost brushing when...

"Get a room, both of you. Do this where I can't see you." Slurs the princess. We both jerk away, faces red with embarrassment. Phew, I have to be grateful. If it wasn't for the princess, I might have given Reyna hope. Even though I dont know if I feel the same way. Reyna gives the princess a cold glare a whole army would surrender to.

"You're awake." She says, her tone icy.

The princess snorts. "About time you've acknowledged that."

"How long were you awake?" I ask.

"Long enough to puke inwardly at your little show." She says.

Reyna's lips are pressed in a thin line. "Well, then. Now that you're awake, we have a few questions."

"What? If your plans are going to work or not?" She says. "Hmmm..I highly doubt it will."

"We never told you our plans and we don't want your opinion." Reyna says.

"Oh, the plan is the same old, same old. Capture me, ask questions, bargain my life with whatever my father took away from you."

"How did you-" I start.

"Oh, come on, you don't think this has happened before?" She asks.

"Well, then. Why won't it work?" Reyna asks.

"Because you haven't taken anything the man cares about." She mutters. "You should've taken his favourite shoes instead."

"What do you mean? You're his daughter!" I say.

"Nope. For him, I'm just a soldier in his army." She says, slightly wistful.

Is that where the pain I saw earlier come from? Is that the reason why she is so stiff and stoic?

The princess puts her feet on one of the chairs, sitting comfortably. " So, what is for food?"

"Oh, would you like lobster given to you right now on a silver platter?" Reyna says sarcastically.

"Yes, that will do." The princess says, playing along. Reyna glares at her, clear hatred in her eyes.


Hazel, being all nice and genrous, was the one who gave the princess her food in the end. She was slightly nervous at first, but when she went inside the room, all we could hear was voices and fits of laughter. Right now, Reyna, Frank and I are sitting eating food quietly. Dakota had gone in the room to check on what's going on but he didn't come back. The laughter had gotten louder and Dakota's voice also chimed in. Wow, the princess is charming everyone. Reyna did say that the princess might be using her Aphordite powers to charm them into trusting her and doing as she says but i honestly, she seems to be enjoying staying with us, even if she's our prisoner.

After dinner, the others go to bed while I guard. I'm wandering around the house, thinking about the princess. Gods, what a mystery she is. I don't know what to make if her. She has so many different split emotions that I keep wondering which one is her actual feel. I wonder what she hides under her mask of indifference. Why such a princess would have such a painful life? From there, my thoughts wander to Reyna. After the almost kiss, she's avoided eye contact with me. She's acted like nothing had happened. What if she attempts to kiss me again? Who will be rude enough to ruin our moment? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love Reyna. She is my best friend. My partner in combat. She's like my sister, that's why it's kind of awkward for me.

My thoughts are cut off as I hear sobbing coming fro the prisoner's room. Why is the princess crying? What happened? I slowly open the door which creaks in protest. I peek in and see the princess's sprawled figure lying in the corner. She's sleeping, her body spasming, her cheeks shining with tears. Is that even possible? Why do I always see hints of sorrow coming from her? What happened to that emotionless, automaton of a princess I see all the time? This adds to my list. She has abrupt mood swings. She shows a shadow of pain all the time. And she...cries in her sleep. What has her father done to her to have broken her that badly?