Feelings are hurt, swords are unsheathed, and Silena perfects her masterplan... Will it be enough to get her girl?

CHAPTER 7 – one last kiss

Third day of the game. Only three teams left. And with Jules's help her team should easily be able to enter the final round of the competition. 'I can't wait to see Chase's face when she realizes I've won our bet' Silena thought giddily.

She tried to stop thinking so much about the blonde, as it brought a lot of unwanted feelings: relief when she showed up today looking healthy 'and so pretty', jealousy when she kissed Percy's cheek, bliss when she remembered yesterday's kiss…

The daughter of love itself was getting more and more confused about her feelings. 'It's only because of the bet, otherwise I'd never have paid any attention to her! Obviously!' was her mantra. Yet, it didn't make sense.

She had been worried out of her mind when she saw her Wise Girl coming out of the woods with a huge gash on her right leg, being carried by Keith and Travis. Everyone was speculating about it. One question remained: 'Who did this to her?'

And to think she had almost forgotten her meeting with Jules in her haste to visit the injured girl… And that kiss, so unexpected but 'oh so sweet!'. She couldn't help but compare it with Michael's kisses, and the conclusions so far weren't doing her mantra justice.

'Anyway. Focus, Silena'. Today, she was the decoy. The brunette had put Chris, Travis and Lucy on guard.

As for herself, she was supposed to distract Lou and Pollux, while Jules would discreetly take the flag – "You'll tell your team it was an attempt at securing the flag" – distance himself – "You thought your best shot was to join Percy and Clarisse" – and coincidentally fall for Lee's trap – "You didn't see him coming and you couldn't do anything".

'I'm a genius' she mused, a smile tugging at her lips.

Ever so slowly, Silena crept through the forest. She couldn't hear Lee's rustling as she had sent him ahead to bypass the blue flag and set up the trap. She had let him believe it would be her who would draw the flag bearer to him. 'No one will suspect Jules's involvement in this. It's perfect'.

She peeked between the trees, and her gaze landed on the blue flag. 'Ready to be taken'.

The brunette was about to move out of her hiding spot when a sword was held to her neck. She gulped. Silena struggled against chiselled arms, slightly panting. She inhaled sharply, feeling a warm breath on her neck.

"Well well well… What do we have here?" teased a honeyed voice.

Silena leaned her back against soft breasts and tilted her head back. Green and grey eyes clashed.

"Chase. Never pegged you for a stalker," she caught a whiff of Annabeth's enticing perfume. "Here for a repeat of last night?"

Annabeth's dark grey eyes peered down at her. "So it wasn't a dream then," she wondered, tightening her grip.

"No way chérie," she batted her eyelashes. "You often have such realistic dreams?"

"More like nightmares" Annabeth shot back, knuckles whitening. "You really want to know what your boy-toy was doing yesterday in the woods? How he almost killed me then and there? Why he did it?" she went on, seemingly not realizing that she was pressing too hard on the sword which was beginning to nick Silena's neck.

'What the fuck? How dare he-'. Her eyes widened in shock, pain forgotten. "Michael did this to you?" she demanded, lightly putting her hand on her captor's injury.

"Yes" was Annabeth's short answer. "You know, the more I think about it and the more I'm starting to think it was part of your plan"

'What? She still thinks it's all game to me?' Silena stiffened, hurt dancing across her face. 'Isn't it?' She turned in her arms – not caring for the cut on her neck – and pushed the other girl backwards.

Her hands were shaking as she pounced, tackling Annabeth to the ground. It wasn't calculated, her plan long forgotten. Annabeth's survival instincts, honed by her many years at camp, kicked in and she landed on her good side. The blonde ran for the blue flag, as Keith and Connor sprang up from the trees. Lou, Jules and Pollux were surrounded. Swords were unsheathed, clashing sounds were heard.

Lou was holding her own against Connor, but Pollux was struggling against Keith's brute strength. She spotted Jules stealthily backing off with the flag - heading for Lee's trap - completely unnoticed by the others. 'Mission accomplished'

Silena sprinted after Annabeth and tackled her, for the second time of the day. They went tumbling across the clearing, rolling along together and towards the river. She landed on her prey, head resting on her metal breastplate.

"Here to finish me off?" Annabeth hissed out, clutching her leg.

"Now listen here, Chase," Silena chucked her sword to the side and slammed her hand against the blonde's heaving chest, "I. Don't. Want. To. Hurt. You. I don't know why Michael hurt you, but I'll set things straight with him. What he did was appealing and I would never-"

"Don't lie to me. This was all part of your master plan, eh? Hurting me so that you could win this game and therefore the bet" she spat out in between her own pants.

"Uh, no." Silena laughed incredulously. "I wouldn't go that far-"

"Listen," Annabeth sat up, throwing the other girl off of her. "I'll never fall for someone who would hurt me on purpose. When you're not throwing yourself at Yew you're ordering him to do your biding and you know what? I'm done with it. Message received loud and clear. I'll stay away from you"

Silena felt the calloused pads of Annabeth's fingers dance along her chin and was rendered speechless as the blonde kissed her fiercely. Her face was burning a bright red as her lip was bitten hard enough to draw blood.

"Why?-" She was dizzy, everything was blurring and she couldn't understand what was happening. A slap burst her happy bubble.

"This is the last one," the injured girl stood up, shaking her head. "Don't ever come near me again, Silena"

The horn signalling the end blew across the forest, echoing around them followed by chants and whoops. Distantly, she could hear Lee's loud victory cries.

A bracelet was thrown at her feet. It was the one she had gifted her yesterday night. Before it all went to shit. She angrily punched the ground, a few tears falling from her eyes. 'Why am I even crying?'

She had left the forest in a trance – knees wobbling – and had collapsed shakily on her bed.

At one point, she felt a weight on her bed. "Darling…" the soothing voice of her sister came to her ears. She turned her tear-stained face towards the girl.

Drew caressed her neck, "Why don't we get you to the infirmary, honey? Get that cut cleaned up"

"Leave it" Silena told her with a hoarse voice.

"Will you tell me what happened then?"

"It's nothing… I just really hate losing face"

"Hmm that's true," she gave her a little knowing smile, "You always need to have the upper-hand"

'So Chase thinks she can make me stay away… No way' Silena calmed down a bit. She dried her 'angry' tears and applied a bit of makeup. "I just need to figure out a better plan" she smirked, a plan already shaping in her mind.

Drew chuckled, "Good luck to whoever pissed you off"

'All is not lost. I'll win that bet. And the girl...'

Michael was found quite easily, practicing with his bow in the training arena. The confused girl had had time to cool off.

More than anything, she was glad that Annabeth had not seen her tears, lest she thought her weak or in love.

Silena propped herself up on a bench, "Michael"

Said demigod wiped some sweat off his brow and offered her what he thought was his best charming grin, "Hey babe, what's up? Another clean victory for you, congratulations"

"Uh uh" she shrugged with a little dangerous smirk, "Now why don't you explain to me what happened with Chase yesterday?" she inquired not so innocently as she advanced on him.

"What a little cry-baby, I can't believe she told you that" he shook his head disbelievingly. "You enjoyed my surprise? I thought I'd teach her a lesson, you know. Show her who's your boyfriend. I think she'll back off now" he winked, throwing an arm over her shoulders.

Silena fumed. "Listen very carefully Mickie. Here's what's gonna happen," she threw off his offending arm, "You sabotage your team tomorrow, or I'll go and tell Chiron what you did"

Michael was gobsmacked. "What? Don't tell me you care about her!"

"All I care about is winning, you should know that by now" she retorted, lifting a mocking eyebrow. "And I don't play fair"

He was cornered. "Fine," he relented, knowing what would happen if the centaur were to hear about his little adventure.

"And for the record? You were never anything more than a boy-toy" she threw over her shoulder as she was leaving. 'All is fair in love and war, as they say.'