Hidden In Plain Sight
Summary*
Almost all wars in history have been won with the help of a spy. through treason and betrayal. Camp Half-blood is one place that never anticipated such an event, yet they found a spy in their midst. A camper none had ever suspected, for she too had suffered. What convinced her to do the deed?
Beauty. Love. These two words mean the entire existence of my Cabin and I, and yet, the very same words brought about my downfall. They say that love transcends all boundaries. That love is both blind and deaf, and I cannot help but say that it is true. It is so hard to distinguish between the right and wrong, and even when you can, it is far more harder to act upon it. If I had picked up the courage any sooner, a lot of lives would have been spared. They are not wrong when they say love and war go hand in hand.
I should know, my mother, Aphrodite, has been quite responsible for many of them. I wonder if this is how Helen felt, away from home, surrounded by people willing to die for her whether she wanted it or not. I wonder if she felt as helpless as I, not being able to do anything as blood was spilt. I couldn't help but be reminded of Katoptris, which now lies hidden somewhere beneath heaps of weapons. I haven't had the courage to wield it. Not when I know what my actions will cause. Not when I know that my hands will be red with the blood of my family.
Love is a word too strong to describe what I felt then. I have known love and lost it now. I have had enough of it to know that what I had felt before was a farce, but that doesn't make my crime any less forgivable. It doesn't make things any less real. I had know Luke far longer than a lot many people at Camp. Perhaps not as much as Annabeth, but enough to know what he wanted. What he dreamed of for our people. Of all people, I should have known that he couldn't have truly loved me, yet that didn't stop me from heeding him anyway.
It all started with Luke. He started receding into himself. He wouldn't say much, he was easier to anger, though he seemed very much the go-to person for every new camper. He still played the nice guy, though he'd spend his time speaking to me of how we demigods deserved so much more. He wasn't wrong. It's true we've always been used and discarded like we mean nothing, and it didn't seem too wrong to change the world for the better. Or at least, that's what I thought.
He just wanted demigods to find their respect. A proper place in the world, and I agreed to help him. For a long while, it was nothing more than keeping a few secrets of his whereabouts. It hadn't gone any farther. It was only when I found love with Charlie that I realized how mistaken I was. I tried to end it all, and yet I had been buried too deep already. There was no way I could drag myself out, but plenty to go under. I went further on a single condition- Charles Beckendorf wouldn't be hurt in any way. If he was safe, then that was the best I could have. It didn't save the thousands of other lives at risk, but this was definitely the lesser evil.
I had hardly seen it coming, though, when Percy returned from his quest that summer. Luke had been brimming with jealousy, but even I hadn't expected him to go so far. He had tried to kill Percy. He had allied with Kronos to overpower the Olympians. That made not only him a traitor, but me too. I wonder what Charlie would make of that. We would find ourselves on the opposing sides of war, and I could only hope that we come out unscathed.
It had been me who had won a few half-bloods over to the other side. It had been me who had let those monsters into camp. It had been me who had covered for Quintus even as he traversed the Labyrinth. The deaths that occurred in those battles were as much upon my hand as Luke's or Kronos'. The only difference that they didn't care about it. It didn't bother them, but it bothered me. Sometimes, if Charlie wasn't there with me, I'd even pray that I wouldn't make it out of the war alive if it meant I wouldn't have to deal with the survivor's guilt. Would Charlie ever forgive me if he knew? Would he still have loved me as I love him?
I never got the chance to find out, and I don't know if I'm grateful or dejected. One thing was for sure that Luke had lost his hold on me the day it all went wrong. Beckendorf died on the Andromeda that day. Clarisse was there for me every time I burst into tears. Everyone tried to console me after his death, but how could I tell them that it was my own fault that he had died? How could I tell them that I cried more for my guilt than grief? The very girl who comforted me now wouldn't hesitate to impale me if she knew I was a traitor. Percy told me that my picture was the last thing he had seen before he blew the ship along woth himself. I knew I had lost him when Percy returned alone, but I had none other to blame but myself. My heart had shattered irrevocably, but I knew where I belonged now. By my hand or not, the war would end today, but not before I have a chance to fix what little I could.It was I who had told Luke of the argument between the Ares and Apollo Cabins. It was because of me that the demigods are facing a foe beyond their power. Be it by words or skill, I will not step back today. The Ares Cabin will fight today- whether or not Clarisse leads it.
I take Blackjack back to camp. It is surprising that Percy allows me to ride him, but he knows what is at stake. Clarisse is out. She has left her armour and boots. She isn't here to speak with me and time is of essence. The Ares Cabin will follow none but her, but what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them. I strap the armour on. It would hide my face well. When they figure out my identity, the deed would have been done. I know I am possibly charging to my death, but I will run from it no longer. I will find Charlie once more if he will have me. Death has always been awaiting those of my kind, but today, I will meet it in my own terms. I, Silena Beauregard, daughter of Aphrodite, will no longer spy for the enemy. No longer will I stay behind, an enemy in their midst, hidden in plain sight.