Activities are announced, and Silena starts scheming while Annabeth can only watch as disaster unfolds.

CHAPTER 3 – all is fair in love and war

Later on, as Silena was passing by the Big House, she overheard Chiron talking to Dionysus, the two co-directors of Camp Half-Blood.

"… and it would strengthen cohesion within the camp. What do you think?" Chiron asked.

"Do as you want, as long as I can nap without any of them disturbing me," Dionysus answered with his perpetual disinterested attitude.

"Fine, I will announce it before dinner," Chiron said, going over to the campfire.

Silena made herself scarce, running towards the Aphrodite teens and plopping down on a log.

She looked around and saw that almost every Cabin was there; only the Hermes, Poseidon and Athena cabins weren't here. She looked up and saw Percy and Annabeth coming over and sitting together. 'They're getting really touchy-feely', she thought, irritated by their proximity.

"Warriors! Heroes!" Silena heard Chiron yell to everyone at camp. "Take a seat."

Drew, one of her half-sisters, poked her stomach, "Seems important».

Silena just smiled at her, having overheard the previous conversation, and leaned against the log while staring at Annabeth. She managed to catch the other girl's eye and sent her a sultry wink, which made the girl blush and look away. 'Baby steps' she thought with a smirk.

It must have been a few minutes later when Drew nudged her again. Chiron was about to announce some big news.

"This summer, we have decided to strengthen cohesion within the cabins but also within camp. Especially after yesterday's fight between the Ares and the Apollo cabins, that started with a basketball. I know that the lack of action is making some of you stir-crazy. So, starting from tomorrow, we will play Capture the Flag!"

The demigods were literally shaking with excitement. If there was one thing they loved, it was that game.

"But," he said, gaining their attention again. "There will be different rules. I will be making teams of five demigods, all from different cabins. For three days, each team will both have to protect their flag and steal one from another team. If a team has no flag at all, then it will be eliminated by the end of the day. At the end of those three days, only two teams will remain. The winner of the two will be the team that manages to catch the flag on the fourth day."

"Now, we will be supervising the event and if we see any attempt at cheating or helping other teams, consequences such as disqualification and extra chores will be applied. Otherwise, the other rules still apply."

"As for the teams, each of your names will be placed in a jar. Tomorrow morning, I will draw lots, which will determine the composition of the teams."

Anything else that Chiron was about to say was cut off by cheering. People were already starting to come up with the perfect strategy to adopt, while others were trying to guess who they were going to team up with.

'This is just the perfect opportunity I've been looking for,' Silena mused, not quite believing her luck. 'What to do, what to do? Do I cheat and take Chase in my team, or do I make another bet?'

"Silena?" Drew asked, snapping her fingers in front of her face.

"Huh?"

"You okay? You zoned out on us".

"Of course. I was just daydreaming about my future victory I guess," she forced a smile, a bit irritated at being interrupted in her scheming. She shook off her clothes and followed the others in direction of the dining pavilion, leaving Drew's giggles behind her.

As she sat at her table, she couldn't help but take a swift glance at the Athena table. Annabeth sat at the end of the table and near the pathway taken to go make their offerings to the gods.

Silena thought for a minute before a small plan came to her mind. It would be her starting point in this little game of seduction. It was now Aphrodite cabin's turn to go.

'Wish me luck mom,' she prayed, getting up and heading over to the fire. Just as she neared Annabeth's table, she made a show of slowing down and slightly swaying on her feet. She put her head in her hands, stumbled forward and fell.

"Is that Beauregard?"

She had landed on something soft. 'Peach and rainy days' she thought with a smile as she caught a whiff of Chase's perfume.

"Did you see what happened to her?"

She felt safe and warm.

"…and then she fainted. Just like that."

Whispers could be heard from every table, but Silena focused on the sweet voice coming from above her head.

Whisps of hair fell like a curtain onto her face. "Silena?" Annabeth whispered, unsure of what to do with Silena's head on her lap. The latter cracked open one eye, then two, catching Annabeth's eye.

"It hurt," she whispered with a frail voice.

"What hurt?"

"It hurt when I fell for you," she finished with a subtle wink.

If looks could kill, she would certainly be off to Tartarus by now. But it was a risk worth taking.

She stood up very slowly and in doing so she accidentally pressed Chase's right thigh. 'Sorry not sorry,' she bit her lip ever so slightly. 'Who knew that she could have such well-defined thighs?'

Silena then bent down to pick up her fallen plate. She straightened back up, and made her way to the large brazier, as if nothing ever happened to her.

Annabeth was quite irritated by the display. "Stupid French people and their fucking acting skills"

Said French girl shrugged it off with a smug smile. 'Oh Chase, just wait until tomorrow'.