Children of Olympus: Selection.

Chapter 21*

I woke up in a cold sweat. I sighed knowing I wouldn't get any sleep tonight. I sat up and checked the clock next to me. It read 1:00. I nearly collapsed back onto the bed after that.

I shivered slightly realizing how cold I felt. I knew I had two options. I could step out on the balcony, get some fresh air, but probably alert someone to my presence. Or, I could always just grab a hoodie out of my closet and cuddle up in bed letting no one know I was awake.

I went with option two. I slipped my legs off the edge of the bed and touched my bare feet on the frigid floor. I wondered why it was so cold. It was getting closer to the summer, which meant it was supposed to get warmer.

I walked into my closet and grabbed a large gray hoodie and slipped it on. I could tell it was Zagan's because it engulfed me so much. The only other person's hoodie that did that was my dad's, but I had only brought the blue one I had stolen from him a long time ago so it definitely wasn't his. I also pulled out a pair of fluffy socks that immediately started to warm my feet up.

I made my way back to my bed. Once there, I curled up into a tiny ball and tried to warm up.

By the time I did, it was three in the morning. I was shocked when my door creeped open. I quickly pulled the knife off my bedside table and held it up, ready to throw it at whoever was at the door.

I dropped the knife as Celeste's small figure stepped into the room followed by my other maids. "Oh, you're already awake. Sorry," Celeste started, rushing over.

"Nope. Don't apologize. I woke up before you came in. It's not your fault."

The girls all nodded and watched as I slowly stood up. Paige seemed to have already taken in the whole situation. From the big hoodie to the fluffy socks, I knew if anyone knew that I had a nightmare, it was her.

The girls helped me get into a warm bath and washed me off. Then as Sarah dried my hair, Paige pulled a swimsuit out of my closet. I raised an eyebrow at that but decided to just go with it.

After that, they skipped makeup, which was odd. They never skipped makeup. All they did to my hair was brush it out. They slipped me into a simple yellow sundress that had tiny blue flowers all over it. It was spaghetti strapped which meant that it showed off both my cuts. I wasn't really stoked about that, but when they came out with a pair of light brown sandals I began to question what was happening.

I guessed that maybe because Zagan wasn't in the castle today we were allowed to wear whatever we wanted, but that still didn't sit right with me. I wouldn't be in a swimsuit unless I was swimming.

"Hey, earth to Victoria. You need to head downstairs and wait out by the front doors," Paige said, waving her hand in front of my face.

I nodded and thanked them before walking out of my room cautiously. The sun wasn't even out and the hallways were still very dark.

I made it to the front doors quickly and quietly. I assumed that Mrs. Holloway was here to yell at me, or maybe it was Tanner asking if I wanted to train. I tried to steal my nerves as I opened the door and walked out into the warm morning.

I was surprised to find Zagan sitting off to the side in khaki shorts and a bright colored hawian shirt. I froze for a second watching as his hair swayed slightly in the wind showing me that it was just the way it was when he woke up.

I sighed softly before trying to duck out. My maids had obviously gotten the wrong meeting place. "And where do you think you're going?" Zagan asked, placing a hand on my shoulder just as my hand hit the door handle.

"Back inside. Enjoy your date," I said, trying to pull away. This was already awkward as it was. There was no need to cause a scene.

Zagan turned me around to face him, gently taking my hand off the door, "I can't enjoy my date without someone to go on it with me."