Heir of a Titan - Book 2 PJO

Chapter 44: All Hope is Lost

I tried my best. I tried making my way towards Raph. But there were too many monsters in my way. I swear half of Kronos's army was in my way. With burning anger I threw a fireball. And then another and another. I screamed silently, hot burning golden tears ran down my face. I needed Raph. I needed him now. Why wasn't he showing up? Why wasn't he pushing through the rubble? 

I felt a hand on my shoulder. Percy was there. 

"Selina asked to see you. Hurry!" 

I looked over my shoulder at the wall still out of reach. I hated turning my back on him. But Kronos's army had left the wall alone, and I ran back to Selina. I knelt down. She looked terrible. I winced, it must be so painful.

"Don't blame them," Silena was saying. "They wanted to... to believe I was you." SHe turned her blue eyes onto me. "Raph...where is he?" 

"I-I don't know!" I chocked back a sob. 

"He...he knew. He didn't want me to do it. But I had to. He knew what I did. He tried to talk me out of it."

"You stupid Aphrodite girl," Clarisse sobbed. "You charged a drakon? Why?"

"All my fault," Silena said, a tear streaking the side of her face, her hands shook as she signed. "The drakon, Charlie's death . . . camp endangered-"

"Stop it!" Clarisse said, she was also signing, like it was second nature. "That's not true."

"Nora, I'm sorry... I'm sorry Nora! Please...please forgive me. I helped keep him at camp, away from you. I was forced to use my charm speak...to keep him away. To break you." Silena pulled something from her shirt. In her palm was a silver bracelet with a scythe charm, the mark of Kronos.

A cold fist closed around my heart. "You were the spy."

Silena tried to nod. "Before... before I liked Charlie. Luke was nice to me. He was so... charming. Handsome. Later, I wanted to stop helping him, but he threatened to tell. He was also jealous of Raph, when I liked him too..." She paused, I felt my hatred for Luke increase. "He promised... he promised I was saving lives. Fewer people would get hurt. He told me he wouldn't hurt... Raph or Charlie. He lied to me."

Behind us, the battle raged. Clarisse scowled at her cabinmates. "Go, help the centaurs. Protect the doors. GO!"

They scrambled off to join the fight.

Silena took a heavy, painful breath. "Forgive me."

"You're not dying," Clarisse insisted. I could see her vital signs dropping, her hart was working over time, her breathing was ragged, she was in so much pain. Clarisse looked at me, "Do something!" 

I inched closer, my hands already warm. 

"Don't." Her blue eyes locked onto mine for a brief moment. A faint ghost of a smile formed on her lips. "Charlie..." Silena's eyes were a million miles away now. "See Charlie..."

She didn't speak again. Clarisse held her and wept. Chris put a hand on her shoulder.

Finally Annabeth closed Silena's eyes.

"We have to fight." Annabeth looked brittle, her hands shook and she was white as a ghost. "She gave her life to help us. We have to honor her."

Clarisse sniffled and wiped her nose. "She was a hero, understand? A hero."

I nodded. I had mixed feelings. I still had no idea where Raph was. 

"Come on, Clarisse." Percy said, he had stood up, and yanked me to my feet as well.

Clarisse picked up a sword from one of her fallen siblings. She looked me dead in the eye and signed. "Where's Raph?" 

"I don't know. He took a hit and I don't know!" I felt the burn of tears.