Chapter 10: The Truth

Jason, Thalia, Annabeth, and Percy found themselves inside Aphrodite's Cabin, not knowing what to search for. Jason began by searching the south end of the cabin, while Percy took the east, and Annabeth took the west. Thalia remained near the door, watching the others search.

"Do you even know what we're looking for?" Thalia asked.

"Grover said he smelled perfume," Annabeth began, "so I'm looking for perfume."

"You're going to search this entire cabin for perfume?"

"If that's what it takes," said Annabeth.

"I'm going to see if I can find any sort of weapon," Percy pitched in.

Thalia looked at them in disbelief. "You're seriously going to waste your time looking for every single perfume bottle and weapons? You won't find a single weapon in this cabin."

"Thalia, I believe you're wrong," Jason said suddenly.

The three of them looked at Jason. Slowly, Jason raised a blood-stained blade. "Annabeth, isn't that your blade?" Percy asked.

"Yeah, I've been looking for that thing for weeks," she said puzzled.

"How did it end up in here?" Jason challenged.

"Look, Jason. If I killed someone, my mother would've done something by now. Someone obviously broke into the Athena cabin and stole my knife, and used it to kill Reyna."

Percy defended Annabeth. "She's always with me whenever we're here at camp. She's telling the truth."
Jason looked at Thalia. "What do you think Thalia?"

Thalia was speechless. "I don't know what to think. Annabeth, are you sure you didn't come in here and frame someone else?"
"You honestly think I would kill someone?" Annabeth was outraged. "You know very well, Thalia, that I'm a better person than that."

"I know you're a better person than that, but I don't know what to believe."
"Jason, where did you find that anyway?" Percy asked.

"It was just lying on the ground here near the back of the cabin."

"Percy, what are you going to do?" Annabeth looked at him.

"I guess I'll just have to round of the Aphrodite cabin and find out which one of them took your knife."

"No one's going to confess," Thalia said.

"Yes, someone will," a voice said at the door.

The four turned around to see Piper standing in the doorway.

"Piper, what are you doing here?" Percy asked, shocked.

"I can't take this anymore." She looked at Thalia. "Thalia, I can't do this. I can't keep anymore secrets."

"Thalia," Jason, still shocked, "what is she talking about?"

"She doesn't know what she's talking about," Thalia glared at Piper.

"Yes, I do, Thalia. It's about time they found out."
"Piper, what are you talking about?" Percy pressed.

"I killed Reyna!" she yelled.

It looked as if Piper were glad to get the words off her chest. Percy and Annabeth looked at each other in horror, while Jason switched looks from Thalia to Reyna. Jason was the first to speak. "Piper, how could you!"

Next were Percy and Annabeth. "Piper, why would you make such a horrible choice?"
"I didn't know what I was getting myself into!" Piper was in tears at this point.

It was Percy's turn to question her. "Did you have something against her?"

"No, if anything, Reyna was my role model."

"Then why would you kill her?"

"It was my decision!"

"Did you envy her?"

"The only reason I would have to hate her is because Jason chose her over me!"

"I thought you were over that. Jason went back to Camp Jupiter two years ago!"

It turned into a screaming fest. Percy continued.

"I expected more from you. You were a role model to the younger campers, and now this? What am I going to do with you?"

"I hate this camp!"

"Then why didn't you speak up!"

Annabeth interrupted the fest. "Piper, if you hate this place so much, then why are you still here?"

"It's complicated."
"We have time."
"Okay, fine. Thalia told me to kill her. She said if I did, she would let me join the Hunters of Artemis."

It was Jason's turn. He looked at Thalia and stormed right to her. He did nothing but express pure hatred. "Thalia, you're my sister. Why!" he yelled.

Thalia stood there, not knowing what to say. "I-I…."
"You what!"

She couldn't hold back any longer. "I had to! It was for your own good!"
"You think killing my girlfriend was for my own good? What did she ever do to you? What did she ever do to me?"
"She was a distraction!"

"How? She comes with me on every single quest. She supported me and got me through everything! If anything, she was my best friend!"

"I just couldn't let her get to you," Thalia looked down, defeated.

"Thalia, she never did anything to you!"

"She was keeping you away from our family! She never liked me!"
"You killed her out of jealousy!"

"No, I was concerned for you."
Percy had heard enough. "Thalia, why don't you explain what happened?"

"I don't want to say anymore. I'm already ashamed of my decisions and mistakes."
"We could sit here the rest of the day and let the other warriors tire in the amphitheater, or you can make this easier on all of us and confess."

She hesitated, but gave in. "Fine."