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I 013. I
𝑾𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔
❝ hearth ❞
ARIADNE CHOKED BACK HER HEART. It was about ready to climb up her throat and shove its way out of her body, but she couldn't let that happen, not for Silena's sake.
"What were you thinking?" Clarisse's cradled Silena's head in her lap.
Silena tried to swallow, but her lips were dry and cracked. "Wouldn't... listen. Cabin would... only follow you."
"So you stole my armor," Clarisse said in disbelief. "You waited until Chris and I went out on patrol; you stole my armor and pretended to be me." She glared at her siblings. "And NONE of you noticed?"
The Ares campers developed a sudden interest in their combat boots.
"Don't blame them," Silena said. "They wanted to... to believe I was you."
"All my fault," Silena said, a tear streaking the side of her face. "The drakon, Charlie's death... camp endangered—"
"Stop it!" Clarisse said. "That's not true."
Silena opened her hand. In her pal was a silver bracelet with a scythe charm, the mark of Kronos.
Ariadne realized that was why Silena had asked how she felt about the spy. To see if she would be made at her, despite not knowing anything.
Percy seemed pale. "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 promised... he promised I was saving lives. Fewer people would get hurt. He told me he wouldn't hurt... Charlie. He lied to me."
Percy met Annabeth's eyes. Her face was chalky. She looked like somebody had just yanked the world out from under her feet. He looked to Ariadne, who was doing her best to keep the fallen girl company. But she didn't look any better than the blonde.
Silena tilted her head. "Ari..." she breathed. "Are you... mad?"
Ariadne shook her head. "No," she said. "I could never be mad at you Silena. You're a hero."
Behind them, 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."
