The Selection: VALDEZ EDITION

Chapter 6

A N N A B E T H

The short kid ruined everything.

Annabeth had it all planned out: she would wave to the crowds, pose for pictures with some little kids, get emotional over a poster or two. The tabloid reporters would gobble it up, the newspapers would make it into a double spread, and the nightly news would show live footage.

She had left her hair natural and wore little makeup. The dress she'd selected was pale pink with a hint of lace at the neckline. Sweet, and utterly unlike her usual style. Annabeth wanted to give herself plenty of room for the dramatic glow up she was planning, to contrast this simple image with something regal and queenly. 

She didn't need the prince to like her-- all that mattered was the country's opinion of her. Annabeth knew that if she played her cards right, she wouldn't even have to speak with Perseus. The next monarch needed to be a leader, not a lover. The country wanted to see strategy, confidence, and a cool head.

In short, the prince was irrelevant, and Annabeth was ready to sacrifice anything to get the throne.

She didn't exactly have a home to go back to.

* * *

"Annabeth Chase?"

"Present!" Annabeth's smile was bright and cheerful, but the administrator's face remained icy cold.

Should she add a dimple next time? Annabeth was unsure how long she should maintain her innocent act-- perhaps it would be better to establish dominance quickly. She glanced once more over the other girls on the plane. Her rivals.

Annabeth had already pinpointed a few to watch, having carefully noted their names, caste, and hometown as soon as results were broadcast. Now, she began searching for weaknesses among her most dangerous competitors.

Calypso Atlasson. From Five, the caste of artists. She was pretty enough, with that cinnamon hair shining rose gold in the sunlight. From the stitches on her simple white dress, the callouses on her fingers, and the smudge of dirt behind her left ear, Annabeth deduced that she was skilled in crafts, music, and herbology. The dress was handmade, the callouses were from a stringed instrument, and the dirt indicated that she'd been doing some last minute gardening before she'd left home. Green leaves peeked out of her pocket. She didn't look like she would poison her way to the throne, but better to be safe than sorry.

Reyna Ramírez-Arellano. Two. Very, very dangerous. Her father was a leading general in the military before he passed away from unknown causes a few years back, her mother had been dead for sixteen years. She had bronzed skin and silky black hair that flowed over her deep purple dress. Not subtle. Crushed velvet, very good workmanship, definitely a professional seamstress. Suddenly, Reyna looked up. Her dark eyes clashed with Annabeth's, causing her to glance away. A blush tingled on her cheeks. Be careful with that one.

Finally, the girl that irked Annabeth the most.

Rachel Elizabeth Dare.

Miss R.E.D. came from the fourth caste, as her father was a businessman. He was filthy rich. The family was practically rolling in money, in spite of their low caste, demonstrated clearly in Rachel's opulent teal dress. She was dripping gold. Literally. Annabeth quickly reached down and pocketed a few golden beads-- she could bribe servants for extra privileges at the palace. Rachel's hair was a brilliant shade of red, coiled in elaborate braids. There was paint crusted beneath her neatly manicured nails. An artist, then. Her voice carried across the plane's cabin. Annabeth struggled not to grit her teeth.

She hated Rachel so, so, so much. For no reason. This wasn't like Annabeth at all.

Something about this girl was different.

* * *

The final two contestants arrived, causing malicious whispers to circulate around the plane. They'd been waiting for hours. It didn't help that the first girl was a knockout, and the second... wasn't a girl at all.

Annabeth had been expecting a boy. But what she wasn't expecting was Leo Valdez.

"Hellooooooooo, ladies! Leo Mcshizzle Bad Boy Supreme is in the house!!!"

What the--?