ENTRAPPED ₂

45

MADELEINE WOKE WHEN REYNA ENTERED THE ROOM. It wasn't that the other girl announced her presence―it was more that Madeleine was always aware of what was going on around her. Unconscious or not, it was the reason she had survived for this long. Without Percy watching her back, she was even more alert.

Madeleine rolled over, sitting up. Undoubtedly, she looked like hell. Judging from the view out the window, it was early morning, so Madeleine had only slept a few hours. She was exhausted and careworn and emotionally drained. The phone that she had fallen asleep holding was gone.

"I thought I would find you here," Reyna noted. She didn't start with good morning or anything, which Madeleine respected. There was nothing casual about their relationship.

"Oh, really?" Madeleine asked. She struggled to her feet. Her body ached, but it was a small pain.

"Yes." Reyna studied her, but Madeleine could see through the girl. Her other senses were reaching out, absorbing the room.

"You loved him," Madeleine said.

Reyna finally tore her eyes away from Madeleine. She looked at a wall. It was blank, and Madeleine guessed she had looked there on purpose. Inches for miles. Reyna wouldn't give anything away.

"There are many ways to love someone, Madeleine Aetos," Reyna replied.

"No," Madeleine said. She cracked her knuckles, trying to pop the soreness out of them. "Not like that. That's a world-consuming kind of love."

Reyna's tone was frosty. "How would you know about that kind of thing?" She paused. "Is that how you feel about your boyfriend?"

"No," Madeleine told her. "That's not how Ethan and I are."

"Then what?"

Madeleine looked at the polaroid on the wall, the one where Jason had his arm around Reyna. They were both smiling, expressions unguarded. Adoring. They had been very fond of each other.

"Ethan," Madeleine said, "is not the first person in the world I've fallen in love with. After the first person, you learn your lesson."

Madeleine glanced at Reyna. She was looking at the photograph, too. Her expression was wistful and sad.

"Well," she said softly, "I'm not sure I've learned my lesson."

"It takes a while," Madeleine offered. "A long time. Sometimes, I still don't know if I have."

Reyna glanced out of the window, shifting her long purple cape. "Your ship should be here today, I assume."

"I don't know," Madeleine said.

"Are you scared?" Reyna asked.

In a rare moment of humanity, Madeleine allowed herself a nervous smile. "I'm terrified."

Reyna's eyes became less cold. In that moment, she became a girl that could be known. It was the same girl that had let Madeleine escape from Circe's island all those years ago.

"If Jason is on that ship, and he does something you don't like," Madeleine offered, "wink at me. I'll start screaming."

Reyna smiled at her. She nodded toward the door. "Come on. I've got a few extra pieces of bacon, and you're going to need help getting dressed."

Madeleine followed her out of the door, feeling a little lighter now.

⎯⎯ ୨ entrapped ୧ ⎯⎯

"Why should we trust these Greeks?" Octavian was saying.

He'd been pacing the senate floor for five minutes, going on and on, trying to counter what Percy had told them about Juno's plan and the Prophecy of Nine. Madeleine sat with Frank and Hazel, only half listening. She was vaguely wondering why Percy didn't just stand up and smack the other boy.