Children of Olympus: Selection.

Chapter 45*

I didn't want to ever wake up. This nightmare had lasted long enough in my books. If only they could just leave me here to rot, the world would be great.

That was the only thought on my mind as Ollie led me (he continued to shove and tease, but I was over it all by now) back to Clayton Allon's room. My body ached. My entire left side was slowly starting to go numb.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the little princess. You best be glad you woke up today. Two days without any torture, look how generous we are." Clayton purred.

I gagged in my mouth but stayed silent, staring at the ground. "Look up at me girl," He snapped.

I shot my head up, sending a shot of pain through my neck. "Better," He purred once more, "Now, will you take my offer? My patience is wearing thin."

"No," I said clearly, hating that my voice sounded as weak as it did. This wasn't like me, yet I saw no other way out of this.

"You're as stubborn as your family. Ollie, Gabe's waiting again."

My heart dropped as I was pushed through the halls and back into the room with the asshole. I didn't think my body could take another day of torture. I was already slightly faint, and it had only been four to five days from what everyone was saying.

Gabe tied me down to yet another chair and forced me to stare at a screen. I couldn't think of what this could be until I heard my brother's voice. "Good morning citizen's of Illea." The image on the screen wasn't footage that a report camera would get however. It was instead footage from a camera off to the side. I could see my parents looking pale behind him. "I understand that this is what seems to be a random report. I promise, I wouldn't be doing it unless I had to. On Wednesday this week, Princess Victoria," His voice cracked, "my sister was kidnapped. Any able bodied man or woman who would like to participate in the search for her can sign up at their city offices. Any information you have can also be sent there. Thank you."

The lights cut off, and my brother turned, "You happy," He spat in the direction of someone off the screen, "I did your little puppet show, now let me go find my sister."

"It can't be done. You are safer here."

I gasped as Owen turned away, stalking out of the room. I was causing this. I was the problem. Gabe smacked the back of my head causing my vision to go blurry as the next video appeared.

This time it was footage from a meeting in Swendway, "I want to go home!" Everly yelled at the group of elderly men staring back at her.

"That is not necessary. You must stay here, in this castle, end of discussion." One of the fatter men looked at her.

Everly fell down in her seat, throwing her head down in her hands. Tristan rested a hand on her back, but from the helpless look on his face, this wasn't the first time that he couldn't help her feel any better.

The screen changed again. My heart sank with each video. Footage of Bianca yelling at people for not doing their part to help. Footage of my brother in his own room staring blankly at a picture of us. There was even one last one of Zagan sitting at a table with maps of the countries surrounding. It was obvious that a meeting had just ended.

"Z," I muttered only to get punched.

I looked up just in time for him to look back at the camera as if he could hear me, "Gods, I'm sorry."

My heart broke as the screen went blank. Gabe smirked, but I missed if his features changed as the world went blurry. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't help but let them fall as I was dragged off to my cell.