Chapter 19: The Spy

Phoebe's POV

When I woke up the next morning, I had my head on Connor's chest and his arms were wrapped around me. At first I was savoring the moment, but then I noticed that there were people in a circle around us. I looked up and saw all of the Huntresses except Thalia standing over us and staring in shock.

"Hi..." I said casually.

"So what, did you think we were all going to die today? And so you gave up your vows at the last second?" Polyxena was angry.

"No!" I exclaimed.

"So then this was planned? You did this on purpose?" Polyxena looked angrier.

"This isn't what you think! Shouldn't you of all people know by now that nothing is ever as it seems? Don't you know me well enough to know I wouldn't give up my vows just like that?" I was on the brink of tears.

Polyxena was the first friend besides Zoë that I made when I became a Huntress. I thought she of all people would understand.

"Then what is it?" Polyxena's anger slightly lessened.

"I developed a crush on Connor when I met him. Then he befriended me and I realized I was in love. After that, he admitted he liked me as well. When I killed Lycaon, my wish that Artemis granted was that I could date him while still being a Huntress. That's one of her only three loopulls to her rules. Then Fiona found out and tattled on me, so Zeus called me to Olympus to see if it was true and the Olympians as well as Annabeth and Percy defended me. So Zeus gave me permission to date as well. That's what happened. Now can you please forgive me for lying to all of you?" I finished my speech.

All of the Huntresses looked shocked and confused. I couldn't blame them.

"I forgive you." Polyxena decided.

"The rest of you should forgive her too. We don't need any grudges to get in the way while we're in battle." Thalia came to my rescue.

"I didn't know you liked me when you met me." Connor was awake.

I blushed and he hugged me. We all went into battle less than an hour later. Then we watched as Prometheus came across the battlefield with a white flag, Ethan Nakamura, an empousa, and a giant. Prometheus tried to make a deal with Percy, but Percy wouldn't agree. Prometheus still left Percy a gift though. Percy walked back with Pandora's pithos in his hands. I don't know where people got the box idea. Percy asked Thalia to lock the pithos in the vault. She grinned in agreement.

"What was that?" Connor asked.

"Pandora's pithos. It was never a box." I answered.

We continued our battles until the enemy withdrew for the night. As I was walking through Head Quarters, I saw Percy sitting in a chair next to where Annabeth was laying. Then I watched as he kissed her forehead. He got up and left the room, heading down the hall to where Grover and Thalia were. Annabeth looked asleep, but her eyes opened a little and she smiled. She looked in my direction and saw my wide eyes.

"Don't tell Percy I was awake. I was awake when he admitted I was a genius for the first time too." She giggled.

"Okay then." I giggled back.

Then I went back to where I was sleeping at night and talked to Connor before we fell asleep. The next day, we fought just as hard as the day before, but then something changed. Something appeared in the sky.

"The Lydian Drakon!" Someone shouted. "Only a child of Ares can defeat it!"

"But they refused to come with us!" Someone else shouted.

Then a girl appeared in a chariot with the Ares cabin following her. She vaguely reminded me of Clarisse, but there was something different about her. Then I noticed she had pink nails. Clarisse hates nail polish.

"Attack!" The girl commanded.

The Ares kids did as she said. But that voice didn't sound like Clarisse. It sounded like...

"Silena!" Clarisse shouted from behind the ranks of Ares kids.

They all stared at her with stunned expressions. Then Silena screamed and fell out of the chariot. She was on the ground bleeding out. Clarisse ran to her. Silena admitted to being Kronos' spy, but she explained how she never wanted to do it. Thalia cringed when Silena said that Luke recruited her.

Her last words were, "Charlie... See Charlie."

Clarisse was actually crying when she said, "She was a hero, understand? A hero."

Clarisse killed the Lydian Drakon and the Party Ponies were helping defend Olympus. The Apollo cabin ended up showing up to help too. Clarisse used to fight for tge fun of it, now she was fighting for revenge. Clarisse received the blessing of Ares and slashed through every enemy who got in her way.

"I have a lot of respect for her." I commented.

"Me too." Connor admitted. "But never tell her that. Besides, she really shouldn't be trying to call out Kronos."

"Just promise me you'll never do that." I pleaded.

"I promise." Connor promised.

Then he gave me a quick kiss before we continued in battle.