•as the world caves in•

•the truth•

"At the war council."

When we got downstairs I flocked to Silena, ignoring Clarisse and Micheal Yew, the new Apollo leader, arguing over loot.

"Hey sis, how you holding up?" It was a dumb question.

Silena only blinked in response, her hot chocolate left untouched.

"Do you want me to get you anything else? I can do anything, please?"

She shook her head.

I sighed in defeat and laid my head on her shoulder, squeezing her hand. Clarisse ran off.

Katie Gardner groaned. "This is a disaster!"

I scowled at Micheal. "Honestly, just give her what she wants so she'll stop refusing to fight in this war."

Micheal scoffed. "The loot is rightfully ours!"

Percy looked at me in confusion and I gave him a look of I'll tell you later.

"Now is not the time." Chiron said, ending all arguments. "Percy, read it."

I knew it by heart, I'd been waiting for this to come true since I'd read it.

"A half-blood of the eldest gods,
Shall reach sixteen against all odds,
And see the world in endless sleep
The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap
A single choice shall end his days.
Olympus to preserve or raze."

When Percy finished Connor Stoll said, "Raise is good isn't it?"

"Not raise." Silena said, voice hollow. "R-a-z-e means destroy."

Everyone began discussing what it could mean other than Percy dying. I'd been so focused on our friendship, on there always being other children who could lay claim, I had never thought of it meaning Percy would die.

As a kid I never thought I would be close with the child, but here I was in some situationship with him.

"Let's move on," Percy said when he noticed my shaking hand, the one not holding onto Silena. "We've got a spy."

"A spy?" Jake Mason, the new Hephaestus leader, asked.

Percy told us about what happened when Charlie died, how Kronos knew they were coming, how he had been communicating with someone in camp.

Silena cried harder and I assumed it was because that was when Charlie died. I hugged her and Annabeth put a hand on her shoulder.

Connor glanced at us. "We've suspected a spy for years. It must be somebody who knew him well."

"Yes," Katie frowned. "Like one of his siblings."

They started arguing again.

"We need to find that necklace." Chiron said. "His next assault is on the way."

"You mean the bigger threat my father mentioned?" Percy asked.

Chiron sighed after glancing at me. "We didn't want to tell you til you returned to camp. You needed a break with your... mortal friend."

I bit the inside of my cheek as Percy glanced to me, seeing my reaction. I knew he was with her, but I prayed that didn't have anything to do with him needing to talk to me.

Chiron showed Percy the fact Typhon was being released from his prison. You could see the gods fighting him, just barely. To add, Oceanus was fighting against Poseidon. The war was waging and we were losing.

"That's enough for one night." Chiron said and the war council was adjourned.

•.•.•.•

Before going to sleep I met Percy outside his cabin.

"What do you need to tell me?"

"So, when Rachel and I were... hanging out."

"You know how I feel about that."

"Yes, I know, I'm sorry, she dragged me out because Paul let me use his car. She wanted me to join her for vacation. At her private island."

I dug my nails into my palms. "Mhm."

"I said I couldn't but she kept insisting. And then when Charlie came to get me she uh... kissed me."

"What?" I whisper shouted, not trying to wake up those who were already sleeping. "You told me she had no feelings for you, Percy, you promised me!"

"I didn't want her to kiss me and I didn't think she would!" Percy defended. "She just grabbed me and kissed me, it was in the moment like our kiss was!"

"Did her kiss come with a love confession too then?" I sneered. "Did you tell her you loved her and then come back to me, are you going to do what you did to me with her?"

"Gods, Coriane, no! I didn't even like her kiss, I only like yours."

That was so corny I cringed. "Disregarding that... Percy, you say you won't hang out with her, yet you do with her more than me all summer. You say she doesn't like you, but she kissed you. You say all these things, your promise all these things, and then you break them. You can't keep breaking my trust."

Percy looked upset, the most upset I'd ever seen him. "Coriane, I'm so sorry. I'll do anything, I will get on my hands and knees, just forgive me."

I glared up at him. "Percy, I don't want to do this, but eventually it will come down to her or me, and if you have to even think about it."

"I would pick you," Percy said instantly. "It would always be you. Coriane, I know I haven't been the greatest friend, and I probably wouldn't make the greatest boyfriend right now, but I swear, I want you and only you."

"You haven't shown me that thought, Percy. You say it but you don't act on it. Do that, and then I'll believe you."

He nodded. "How do you want me to show you? Want me to kiss you right now? Confess my love again? I meant it when I said I'd get on my hands and knees."

I laughed. "No. I don't know yet, but kissing me right now is not the thing to do."

Percy nodded. "When you know, tell me and I'll do it right away."

I smiled at his eagerness and it made me feel a little more confident in him, but the pain of all his betrayals stung. "I need to be with Silena, but tomorrow when you, Annabeth and I do cabin inspections maybe we can talk a little more. Annabeth might be mad though, I'm definitely telling her."

"I figured."