𝑹𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 [𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]

24- Secrets

15 September, 2396

Maybe going to the library in the middle of the night was a risk. I was barefoot, and dressed in a gown from head to toe, my face beneath a hood. I sighed, and swung open the doors of the largest library in Illéa.

"Hey! Who's there?" A guard yelled. I nearly yelped and hid behind one of the shelves. A flashlight passed over where I was mere seconds ago. I breathed a sigh of relief and continued, treading cautiously because of the guard present.

There were several instances where he nearly caught me, but in the end, when he was convinced that there was no one in the library, he left. I dug around for a while, trying my best not get too distracted by the architecture books.

While I looked about the library for the history section, I thought of Percy. I knew that asking him about my suspicions was too risky, since it could endanger our relationship, and that's the last thing I wanted. But then again, this would jeopardise our relationship aswell.

"Only if you get caught." I muttered to myself, and continued searching.

Hours later into the night, when I could hear birds chirping outside, I flopped onto a chair, sweat streaking my forehead. I grunted, maybe everything I was doing was stupid, my attempts at discovering a secret that I suspected were futile anyway.

I was about to give up and leave when the door suddenly opened. I istanantly shrunk beneath a table, and listened.

"Mom, if I expected anyone to understand, it would be you."

"Percy, you know very well that I am one hundred percent in favour of Annabeth, if it makes you happy." Sally said. "But the council isn't."

"Oh please, mom, since when have you ever cared about what Hera has to say." Percy replied, and I could envison him rolling his eyes.

"Oh but your step father does care, and he's very adamant to not have Annabeth on the throne for some reason." Sally said, and her and Percy sat down on the table I was under.

"Mom, you know how much she means to me. I'm not going to leave her." He said stubbornly, and I smiled.

"Oh, of course you're not. What a coward you would be if you did, quite frankly." She added, and I heard Percy laugh.

"What do you think?" Percy asked her after a few minutes.

"I think," she paused for a second. "That you and Annabeth ought to keep fighting, and Gabe will be powerless. Now if you would excuse yourself, it's four in the morning." I found myself taking her advice.

"You're still awake." Sally's son pointed out.

"I don't fall asleep in meetings." The Queen argued, and Percy left with a defeated sigh.

"You can come out, Annabeth. He's gone now." Queen Sally said quietly, and my blood froze cold. So much for my time in the Selection. Reluctantly, I crept out from under the table.

"Your highness, I was looking for my maids, but I got lost-"

"Lying isn't productive, Annabeth." She said,  a smile on her face. "I know exactly why you're here, and as it so happens, I may be able to help you."

"You may?" I asked, extremely shocked. Why would the Queen be willing to help me dig up dirt on the royal family's past?

"But of course. I'm going to help you do what I couldn't. You see Annabeth, when I was in the Selection, I nearly discovered the truth."

"What truth?" I said eagerly.

"Oh that's for you to find out."

I gulped. "Where do I find this truth?" I said, the words leaving my lips before they I ever comprehended there departure.

Sally smiled, a smile of relief. She grabbed the table, and flipped it straight over, under it was a hidden compartment, out of which Sally bought out a book. I grabbed it from her hand, and examined it. On it, in cursive was the title Illéa: The Journal.

"You said you tried to do something, but failed, what did you try to do?" I asked.

"Nothing special. Just exposing the true nature of my father in law." Queen Sally shrugged. I clutched the journal firmer in my hand.

"You failed because..."

"My husband didn't have half the personality of my son, and told me to choose between love or justice. And in a choice I surprisingly don't regret, I chose love. But Annabeth, you have the rare gift to win both, win this kingdom justice, and win yourself love." Sally said, her voice raw and emotional. Her blue eyes were shining and she was pleading with her expression. 

"How?" I asked, even though I knew the answer.

"Wipe out the castes. Eliminate this prejudice, read the journals, do what I could never. Save Illéa." Sally begged. I looked at the book in my hand, and back at the Queen.

"I'm not really one for poetics, but I know saving this kingdom is your destiny." Sally said, and for some unknown reason, I accepted it without hesitation. Yeah, of course it was my destiny to save a kingdom that I didn't even know needed saving. I closed my eyes, and took a seat, thinking of what to say next.

"You're risking alot, giving me this book, thank you." I managed, inhaling the shock of my new 'destiny'.

"Oh," Sally said, as if she wasn't expecting that reply. "Well, good." I reopened my eyes, only to find the Queen vanished and a note floating in midair, I caught it.

There's a backdoor that leads to your room. No one can find you that way.

-SJ

I tip toed my way back to my room, trying to avoid any contact. Once I successfully returned to my room, I hid the journals, under a floorboard in my room. I dropped onto the bed and took in a huge sigh of relief.

My major motive to stay in the Selection still may be my love for Percy, but I wasn't going to let innocent people suffer.

"Oh well," I said with a sigh. "Might as well figure out the secrets this kingdom is hiding." I opened the journal.