Restored (A Caleo Selection)

10 ~ A Memory So Painful

   "I'm sure you have." Julius smiled and moved on, but I didn't catch his next spiel to the camera. I fiddled with my gray leather belt, I draped the green folds of my dress around me, I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. Anything to keep from having to look at the off-set crowd of palace residents nearby, where I could see Percy Jackson out of the corner of my eye. His face was utterly stoic. Annabeth Chase, the blonde girl, whom I knew much about, stood at his side, oblivious.

   Had he forgotten me? I doubted it. I was sure I had meant something to him when we'd met two years ago. I had so hoped he would not be here, but of course everyone knew the Nightshades had no luck.

   "And you, my dear, how do you like the prince?" Julius looked in my direction, and my head shot up. I panicked momentarily, trying to think of something to say, when the girl next to me, Alice, sat forward and smiled.

   "He's very sweet, and he's been so thoughtful to us," she said, beaming. I couldn't help but admire the way her black hair fell over her shoulder without looking messy, just natural, and the way her red gown draped around her gracefully. Her brown eyes caught the light, looking two shades lighter, and I wondered how any of us less charismatic stood a chance against the girls like her.

   Julius turned away to finish the Report, and eventually the cameras shut off. I stood, along with the rest of the girls, and hurried out the door away from the off-set crowd. I ran down the empty hall, dragging up my dark green dress.

   "Wait!" A voice called out behind me, and I heard the sound of someone running after me. I slowed my pace and turned.

   Percy stopped ten feet away from me. "Calypso?" He sounded stunned. "What the heck are you doing here?"

   "What do you mean? I was Selected. I have a right to be here just like anybody else," I snapped, though my voice trembled with pent-up emotion, ruining the effect.

   Percy stepped closer. "It is you. You look so different."

   I flushed and looked away. He touched my arm.

   "Calypso." His voice was gentle. "Calypso, I'm sorry."

   "For what? Abandoning me with hope of rescue, only with no intention of following through?" I pulled my arm away.

   "I tried! I...." He stopped. "I spoke of it at the Olympian Council."

   I laughed dryly. "Let's see. You probably brought it up casually, one time, and then expected them to remember and actually do something about it. Then you forgot me."

   Percy looked away, and I knew I was correct. He stared at the ground. "But maybe they didn't forget. Maybe this is your chance at a good life again."

   "How? Where do I go after here? Back to my servitude."

   "You're a Selected now, remember? They can't treat you like a servant any more."

   I laughed bitterly. "You really believe they won't?"

   Percy opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, subdued for a moment. Then, "You could stay. After the Selection is over, you could.....you could open a shop in town or something. You could even marry one of the courtiers."