The Dark Side of Beauty

Chapter 4//Debate

{{Annabeth POV}}

I watch as Will, Conor, Travis, Selena, Charles, and Clarisse go back and forth, arguing. I see Luke next to me, shaking his head, then prop his feet on the table.

"Alright! Shut it!" I say, standing up and slamming my hands on the table. Everybody closes their mouths, leaving arguments half finished, and see Vespera visibly relax.

"You're all saying 'What if she's lying?' But what if she was telling the truth? Yes, maybe we shouldn't completely trust her, but she might be our only chance of survival. And, might I add, Chiron seems to trust her, so isn't that enough reason for us to try and be nice to Vespera?" I say, and see a few faces contort in confusion.

"But Annabeth, we don't know anything about her." Charles says, and I glare at him. "I mean, just think about it. This could all be some elaborate way to spy on us. We don't know."

"I think you're forgetting something. Only demigods can get in here." I say, and Charles shakes his head.

"But there are more demigods than there are here, aren't there? There could be a whole other group, plotting our downfall, and she could be a spy for them." Charles says, and I see Vespera's face pale for a fraction of a second.

"Charles, that is enough." Chiron says, and Charles closes his mouth. "How about we hear it from Vespera, and you decide if you trust her or not?"

I see everybody nod, and I put my head on the table. Gods, we were going to be here for a while...

After an almost hour long story, Vespera finally shuts her mouth, and I pick my head up.

"That sounds like a load of shit." Clarisse says, and I sit up, glaring at her.

"Did you not just hear a word that she just said?" I ask, and Clarisse glares at me. I stare right back, until Chiron's hooves stamp on the floor.

"That is enough. From both of you." Chiron says, and I look over at Vespera, seeing one of her arms rigid. I furrow my eyebrows, confused, then see Vespera's arm relax, almost as if she knew I was staring.

"I don't really want to die." Vespera says, and I know that all heads turned towards her. "All the universes are carefully intertwined, and if one dies, they all die. Including mine."

*Sorry for the short chapter! I'm trying to keep the one's that aren't Vespera's short cause, ya know, she's the main character*