"You're actually getting fairly decent, Vi." I smirked at Clarisse's comment as I knocked her sword from her hand.

There are few people who can actually beat Clarisse in a challenge. Better yet, there are few people who won't be slaughtered when Clarisse loses and is angry about it. Ever since my first few weeks at Camp Half-Blood last summer, I've been in both categories. For some reason, Clarisse seems to like me. Usually, Clarisse is only friends with her siblings, but her and I created a special friendship. I think it had to do with the fact that we've been misunderstood our entire lives.

I was seen as street trash; she's been seen as a dumb fighting robot. Not that I'd tell her that people call her that behind her back.

I grinned and lowered my sword, giving her permission to gather up her own. Clarisse made it a big show, moving slowly as she bent down to pick up her weapon and stand up straight again. I rolled my eyes and she lunged forward. As the blade of her sword was an inch from my face, I jabbed mine up and knocked the blade away from me.

Clarisse spun and ran forward once more, yelling with fury. Again, I blocked her and sent her sword soaring threw the air and to the ground. I laughed as the weapon bounced on the ground twice then shuddered to a stop. I looked into Clarisse's face, expecting her to laugh like all the other times, but her expression was sullen as she peered into my own face.

"What's wrong, Clarisse?"

Clarisse didn't answer. Instead, she turned to look at the distant lake that was visible through the trees. She put her hands awkwardly into her jean pockets and stood silently. I sat and watched her curiously for a minute, expecting her to say something. She, however, simply sat and stared. Slowly, I crossed the field and stood next to her, watching some naiads splashing around in the lake.

"Are you afraid to face your father, Violet?"

I was taken aback when Clarisse suddenly spoke. My teeth clenched and my jaw tightened. This question was one that I knew was on everyone's minds. Most demigods didn't have to deal with the fact that they'd fight against their parent and risk losing their life against them. I tried not to think about it often, but I couldn't help it when someone brought it up.

I was anxious to face my father, of course. Only a fool would not have the slightest of nerves when you would face a god, whether you're stronger than him or not. But fear, I haven't felt since Chiron started helping me control my powers and expand them better.

"Not really."

Clarisse slowly turned her head to look at me. Her expression was so withdrawn and emotionless, I thought I offended her for a moment. After a moment, she shook her head and bit her lip.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that," I demanded.

"There's still a lot of people who don't trust you."

I processed this for a moment, but stomach turning. "Do you?"

"Not really," she replied coldly.

My throat jumped into my mouth and my stomach dropped suddenly, creating a pain in my stomach. My eyes burned and inched without warning. Clarisse was regarding me with cold eyes. My mind and heart were feuding all of a sudden: my heart felt offended. Here I was, considering Clarisse to be one of my only friends in the world, and she doesn't trust me. Then again, my head had a good defense; I was a lot stronger than the rest of the demigods here, even stronger then my godly parent. I was the perfect pawn for Kronos. Clarisse would be stupid to trust me so easily.

I nodded slowly and Clarisse looked back out at the lake. "I want to trust you, Violet, I really do."

I turned my attention to the lake as well, smiling softly as a group of younger demigods tipped over their canoe that they were in on the water. The girls screamed about getting their hair wet. When the boys proceeded to dunk the girls underwater, I couldn't suppress a smile.

Clarisse nodded slowly and glanced back at me, although I purposely kept my gaze away from her. Quickly, I assessed different ways I could show Clarisse and my friends that I'm not going to betray them. Could they not see that I was betrayed my by father? Could they not see that I fully realized that I was only born because my father was trying to create a perfect fighting machine to bring Kronos to power? I risked being killed by Morpheus after I refused to join Kronos; I risked my life to help protect the town of mortals when Luke and his demigod followers attacked. At any point, Morpheus could have killed me, as I was weaker and didn't understand my superior powers.

Why couldn't they see that?

"There's no way for me to prove to you that you can trust me, Clarisse. It's just something you're going to have to risk."

With a final glance at the naiads, I tread away from Clarisse and out of the arena. As I headed back to the Hermes Cabin, I was more aware of the anxious glances from my fellow Campers. I was too foolish to believe people actually trusted me to not see it before, but it was perfectly clear now. People kept their distance. Eyes kept shifting and following me as I passed. Younger demigods paused what they were doing to watch me go. I was suddenly very conscious to the smell of distrust in the air.

"Violet," someone shouted.

I turned quickly on the spot, hair whipping through the air. Beckendorf was running to me, a smile plastered on his face. He stopped just short a few inches from me, his massive frame overpowering me and making me look average against him. Beckendorf rubbed a greasy hand on his jeans and grinned widely.

"I'm off to go get Percy."

I was taken aback. Long ago when I was given permission to prematurely see the battle plans against the Titans, I learned that the Cabin leaders were tracking the Princess Andromeda. Once I became in the know-how, I was given the task to help track it. At night when everyone was sleeping, I was to concentrate on the traitor demigods I befriended during my short stay aboard the ship. Narrowing down on their dreams gave me a general description on where the ship was. A group of demigods would then take a cluster of Pegasi to the area depicted and record their exact coordinates to keep a journal of.

Keeping track of the Princess Andromeda was crucial. The first task in fighting off Kronos was to attack the Princess Andromeda and destroy it; the plan was to kill off as much of Kronos' army before the actual fighting began. Beckendorf and Percy volunteered for this task. Beckendorf was the best with creating explosives and setting up traps; Percy would be able to find the ship without a hitch.

It would be dangerous. There was a chance that neither of them would return to Camp. So many things could go wrong. Kronos could catch them; the explosives could go off while they were still on the ship; even if they got away, Kronos' army could get to Percy and Beckendorf while they were still out of the protection of Camp. When the plans were finalized, Annabeth and Silena walked around Camp in a daze, mentally preparing themselves for anything that could happen.

I frowned and Beckendorf's face dropped a little. He placed his calloused hands on my shoulders, "Hey, Vi, don't be like that. Everything's going to be just fine."

Beckendorf was like a brother to everyone at Camp. He was well-natured, kind, and friendly. We became friends quickly and easily, bonding over our shared adoration of just how beautiful the blades of swords were. I admired his ability to forge anything and he admired my ability to fight well…for a girl, of course.

"Just be careful, Beckendorf," I said timidly.

He grinned slightly, straightening up, "I'm always careful, Vi. You know that."

We stared at one another for another moment, until Silena called his name, motioning for him to go over to him. Beckendorf gave me a quick, sibling-like kiss on my forehead before he ran off to see his girlfriend before he left to go on the mission. As I watched Beckendorf and Silena walk off hand in hand, said boy glanced back at me once and smiled.

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I went to bed just shortly after Beckendorf took off, despite it being the middle of the day. I wanted to track him to make sure he was okay. It was a lot harder when people weren't sleeping and in a deep dream. Yet, Beckendorf proved to be a day-dreamer. As he was flying out to swing by to pick up Percy, Beckendorf kept having day dreams about Silena and his friends. It was clear that he was reflecting on his life, in case he wasn't going to make it back home.

As Beckendorf and Percy made it to the ship, the visions kept getting clearer and more vivid. I could see almost every move they made; Percy's small fight with Luke/Kronos and Beckendorf's quick thinking to convince Kronos' henchmen that he hadn't planted the explosives. But it wasn't enough.

The rest of the 'dream' faded out and I was suddenly awake. I was drenched with sweat and Connor was standing over me, looking concerned.

"Are you alright?"

I ignored him and bolted for the bathroom, feeling sick. As I upchucked into a toilet, I knew that Beckendorf was dead. Percy would at least have some chance at surviving, being able to fly through the water fast enough to get away. But Beckendorf stood no chance.

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*Author's Note*

Sorry for the delay. I visited a family friend for a few days. And sorry that it's short, I have other stories I'm thinking about. I'm getting kinda bored with Violet ….

Anyways, reviews are appreciated!

XxSamacoyxX