Sorry for not posting a new chapter last week. I've been pretty sick all week, but I've been feeling better. So, there will be an update for this story today and tomorrow. Enjoy.
Lupa stared at the television in front of her. Octavian stood at her side and was nervously chewing on one of his nails. The producer of the interview was pulling up the edited footage that would be airing on television in just a few hours. It was a courtesy for them to be able to watch it early.
"I'm worried we're going to have to do damage control," Octavian muttered.
"Why?" Lupa questioned as she watched the video skip past the introduction and move right towards the interview. The video paused on Reyna's face, and Lupa felt an ache in her heart. She swallowed painfully and stopped the negative thoughts before they could surface.
The video started, and Lupa crossed her arms. Reyna turned her head to the side as she heard the producer ask the first question, "It's no secret that you and Clarisse are growing to be great rivals. What are your thoughts on her?"
Reyna focused back on the camera. She had never been good at speaking during live interviews, but with the ability to film multiple takes or cut out the time it took to formulate an answer, Reyna looked relaxed and confident. Reyna spoke, "This fight shouldn't even be happening. There is no rivalry here.
"Clarisse is a sore loser. The judges already confirmed that the fight was mine. Everyone in the arena knew it. That's why Clarisse broke my arm after the fight. She can't technically lose if the fight gets thrown out," Reyna reasoned. She shook her head. "Now, everyone is questioning whether I can beat Clarisse or not. But, I already did. I was just cheated out of it."
"If you already beat her, why did you have the injury clause added?" the producer questioned. Lupa frowned at that. No one was supposed to know about that, but she was sure Hedge or Clarisse had said something. "Are you scared?"
"I'm not scared," Reyna defended. She leaned forward. "Lupa added it to protect a member of her gym. I lost three months of my career and a shot at the title all because of Clarisse. And Clarisse broke my arm because she knew there wouldn't be any serious consequences. Now it's biting her in the ass."
"Speaking of Clarisse, she is known for getting into her opponents' heads. She has definitely gotten into yours before, but tell me about what she said to you that caused you to punch her," the producer requested.
"Not my secret to share," Reyna declined with a shake of her head. "She said something about a person that I care greatly for, and I wasn't going to stand for it."
"And if she brings up this topic again?"
Reyna didn't answer for a few moments. She finally sighed, "Clarisse has what they call a high fighting IQ. She knows all these techniques and moves she can use against her opponent. But, she wastes all of that on taunts and mind games, taking it too far every time. Clarisse needs to learn honor and integrity."
The camera changed to show a laughing Clarisse. The woman had a smirk on her face that could almost be mistaken for a sneer. She wore the shirt that belonged to her father's gym, which she was the newest member of, "Honor and integrity are not going to help Reyna when she's squirming in a pool of her own blood. If the mind games distract her, maybe she needs to work on her mental toughness."
"Why break Reyna's arm?" the producer questioned. Clarisse just shrugged. She had the same lack of concern on her face that she had when she first committed the act. Lupa still remembered Reyna's howl of pain along with how much pain her protege had been in.
"I didn't hear no bell," Clarisse replied casually. "During fights, I am in the zone and focused on making my opponent tap. It's not easy for someone my size to trap an opponent in a submission like that. It takes a lot of concentration, and everyone says that I broke Reyna's arm after the fight. If the fight was over, the official should have broken us up immediately. I don't see how that is my fault."
"Reyna is blaming me for her own failure," Clarisse declared as she sat forward and focused on the camera. "And, she thinks she can take me on? Oh no. I have two goals for this grand anniversary event. The first is to win my shot at the title. The second and most important is to completely and utterly destroy Reyna. I don't want to end her career. I just want to humiliate her. Reyna has no clue that war is coming her way."
"I don't care what Clarisse throws at me," Reyna retorted as the frame jumped back to her. Lupa knew that the two had been read off the quotes that the other said. It was the league's favorite way to garner a reaction. Reyna looked at the camera, and there was a fire in her eyes. "I'll throw it right back.
"Lupa gave me her nickname, and I am going to prove why I am the alpha of this league," Reyna said confidently.
"So, you fully believe you'll be on your way to a title match after this?" the producer questioned.
"No," Reyna corrected. "I'm on my way to Annabeth Chase."
The camera jumped back to Clarisse again, who had a raised eyebrow. Clarisse snorted, "I don't give a shit who wins the title match. The only difference is if I'm going to have to beat up an old lady or a wannabe to finally get my title."
The camera cut again, this time to Annabeth. The woman was sitting up straight and was wearing her jacket for the gym. Her title sat on her shoulder like the achievement that it was. Annabeth's stormy eyes were fully focused.
"Before you joined the Olympic League, you were the champion of the Delian League. You've had one title fight so far and are getting ready to face your biggest fight yet. How does the competition compare between the two leagues?"
"The Olympic League has many amazing fighters, but the Delian League also did. They just didn't have the connections or the proper training to take it to the next level," Annabeth detailed. "But everyone there had passion and determination. They fought their hearts out to have a small chance of getting noticed by the Olympic League. And sometimes, heart beats out skill."
"Some say that you were handed your title," the producer challenged. Annabeth sat up straighter as her eyes narrowed. "You were given the title by Gwendolyn when she retired and did not have to earn it."
"I already earned my title in the Delian League, and I would have more than happily fought another person to gain this title rather than have it be handed to me," Annabeth defended.
"And what are your thoughts on your opponent for your title: Arachne?"
"I'll admit that I have never gone against someone as skilled as Arachne," Annabeth answered. "Her career is legendary, and she is no stranger to the title. I am not going to be arrogant and say that Arachne stands no chance against me."
"While I may have never faced someone with as much experience and skill as Arachne, I have a trainer that is better in every single aspect," Annabeth said. Lupa felt a flutter of pride in her heart, and she tried not to smile. "One of the most important things that Lupa teaches us is to give it all in our fights. My heart will beat out Arachne's experience."
The soft, almost inspirational music in the background hit a crescendo. It suddenly stopped as the scene cut to the cold face of Arachne. The woman was unflinching. Her decades of fighting gave her an almost insurmountable advantage.
"Annabeth Chase says that her heart will beat out my experience?" Arachne questioned. She closed her eyes, and a smile came to her face. It was devoid of emotion. "The champion will have plenty of time to show her heart as she is trapped in my web.
"She will fight and struggle in a vain attempt to escape," Arachne continued as she opened her eyes. "Annabeth is going to watch every single one of my fights and think she is ready for any scenario. She will never see the trap coming until she walks right into it."
"Assuming you win your fight," the producer began. Arachne shook her head like the question was futile like she knew her victory was assured. "Would you rather face Clarisse or Reyna?"
"It doesn't matter. I have beaten both of them before, and I will do it again," Arachne promised. "Both are more experienced now, but that means nothing. Clarisse still plows ahead like a wrecking ball, and Reyna is still struggling with her injuries. I have not applied a wristlock in a very long time."
"Not to mention the two are going to tear each other apart. I will be there to pick up the pieces," Arachne promised. She sat back in her seat and stared into the camera.
"Now, who do you think will win their fight and face you: Reyna or Clarisse?" the producer asked as the camera cut to show Annabeth. The champion seemed to debate the question, and if it wasn't for her eyes moving around or her shifting, Lupa would have thought the video was paused.
"Reyna will win," Annabeth finally said after too long of thinking.
"You don't sound sure about your answer," the producer noted. A sigh left Annabeth.
"Reyna has been through a lot these last six months, but if she can just focus, she can win," Annabeth stated.
"You think that Clarisse will win if she gets under Reyna's skin like she has so often?" the producer prompted. Annabeth nodded slightly, maybe without realizing it. "You don't seem to have much faith in your teammate."
Lupa frowned. She knew that the producers were looking for any kind of storyline they could pull out of the interviews to hype future fights, and whether she meant to or not, Annabeth gave them a perfect hook.
"I do have faith in my teammate," Annabeth said quickly. "I'm just being realistic. If Reyna can't get out of her own head, Clarisse will be the victor."
Annabeth's jaw shut hard as she seemed to realize what she had said. Her answers were normally crafted carefully, but it seemed like she had been tripped up. Her panic was only making it worse. As the interview cut to cameras again, Lupa exhaled as she saw Reyna. She hoped they weren't about to see Reyna's reaction to what Annabeth had said.
"Regardless of who you want to fight, who do you think will walk out of the fight with the title: Arachne or Annabeth?" the producer questioned.
"Annabeth," Reyna answered without hesitation. "Arachne is an amazing fighter, but Annabeth is better. I have no doubts Annabeth will beat her."
"You have faith in your teammate," the producer commented. Reyna nodded. "When we asked Annabeth this question, she didn't have that same faith in you. She said that you needed to get out of your own head. And that you have been through a lot in the past six months. Do you have a comment on that?"
Reyna remained silent. Her jaw clenched slightly, and Lupa could see the telltale signs of Reyna's anger threatening to boil to the surface. When Reyna said nothing, the producer spoke, "Thank you for your time, Reyna. Best of luck in your fight."
"Well," Octavian commented as he paused the video and looked at Lupa. She returned his gaze. "I think we need to do some damage control."