Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
My arms shake from the strain. I hear Thalia escorting the Royals out. Tears brim my eyes, but I focus on my breathing, not allowing them to fall. I hear Thalia shout, "Drop them, let's go!"
I look at them all in the air, struggling to get out of my forcing grip and this is when I notice something off. I feel bare almost. That is when I see my mask on the floor. It must have fallen off in the fight. Percy would not have seen due to me facing the other way thankfully. Also cause I refused to look at him when Thalia took them out. The reminder of him not disagreeing with the rebel man or Adam brings an ache in my chest. I glance at the rebel general and he watches me with a knowing grin. I drop them all and begin stumbling away. Bending down, I grab my mask and strap it on as I flee out the door. I just showed the rebels my face. They know who I am. Which means Lady Annabeth now isn't safe.
The edges of my vision begin blacking out, but I force myself to run. Thalia and I guard the carriage from the back, jogging after it as the horses' gallop. Whipping my head back, I see no one coming after us. But that does nothing to ease my racing heart and fear tightening my chest.
*~*
~*~
The next day comes too fast. I repeat my morning routine in robotic motions, my thoughts only tracing back to last night. The words that were said, the mask falling off and exposing my face and the tense expression I wore facing them when I ducked out for the night back at the palace. The knowledge that I have to face them both today knowing the rebel scum is aware of me now and my identity, and knowing Percy is just like his father when it comes to defending people that need it most and on controversial topics such as if a girl were to be a spy.
Katie doesn't say anything as she preps the dress I am to wear for an afternoon in the Women's Room with the Queen. Since the Elite as started, appearances are looked at and critique more, tension has risen, and we are to begin preparing to learn how to handle being the next Queen.
Leaning forward into the mirror to apply light mascara, I listen to Clove and Andy clean the room up after I tossed off all my gear and leaped into bed last night. I know Thalia caught them up on everything, yet they haven't spoken a word, knowing I'm not ready to speak yet. Which explains why Piper hasn't kicked down my door yet. I pull my hair into a loose and high bun, pulling strands of hair to frame my face and give a natural, relaxed look.
Glancing at the tiny clock perched on my dresser, I speed up my pace. I am ten minutes late to the first breakfast as an Elite lady. But it's not my biggest concern at the moment, I have plenty of reason to take my time. Tucking a knife into a strap around my thigh, I inhale deeply. Now that the rebels are aware of my identity means I have to be as cautious as if I was walking around in my suit. The mission must go on. Despite everything, I will finish this mission and finally get out of here. The thought alone drives me to hesitate before feeling a wave of motivation. The hesitation comes from the thought of Percy, but I shove it aside.
My feet slip into flats and I breeze down the empty and silent hallway. A soft melody of the wind weaves through my hair and the open windows. Easy smile blossoms on my face and I consider past events. This is when I should be hitting my low, but this is actually when I am realizing my worth and the impact, I have on not only my own life but others with this situation and mission. We are grown to believe that others deem our worth, but that is far from the truth. We are not to allow other's opinions, who don't know us inside and out, to degrade us or turn us against ourselves. At that moment when I had to defend myself, I came to the question of why is it important to me that I must prove to them my value, my worth, prove myself? It makes no sense.
And so, as I casually walk to the Royal dining room, about to make the king aggravated with my tardiness, and girls question why I want to be here, I let it all roll off my shoulders. I know my worth, and I know I am good enough. I am going to walk in there with my head held high, and then I am going to find that stupid rebel scum in this stinking palace.
Utensils clank on plates and hushed, polite voices could be heard before I even entered. The King sends me a death glare, as Percy brightens up. Queen Sally smiles, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgment for me. I take a seat, trying to be graceful and quiet. Instead, I know over a plate, sending food flying onto Piper's lap. Everyone's heads turn. Piper and I try cleaning up my mess, laughing silently. I get onto the ground to pick up the pieces of egg, and when I peek my head from under and see the bewildered eyes of everyone, I snort in laughter. This causes Piper to laugh more. Joyful giggles sprout around the room, and I find myself holding my middle from laughing so hard. The whole situation is ridiculous. The only person not laughing is the King.
*~*
~*~
I exit the dining room but am pulled into the next hallway roughly. "Hey! Ouch!"
He tosses me away from him as if I am poison. "Don't fake 'ouch', I've seen you take knives to your arms before," He shoots. Then silence fills the hallway. I wait for him to speak, to snap. And wait. And wait..."What were you thinking?! Showing up late!" The King bellows. There it is.
I hold my ground, "I saved your life last night, I exhausted myself. I have the right to sleep in a little."
He waves it aside as if I am not risking my neck for every person in this palace, heck, for the kingdom right now, "You do not listen. You are careless, you are selfish, and you are using my son!"
I splutter, "Using your son? I am completing the task which you called me here to do! I am doing what so many spies have failed to do, and yet you don't even acknowledge it."
He seethes, "I want you out of the Selection."
"Are you firing me?"
"No, you are to do this far from Percy and the other girls," He declares.
"I think that is Percy's decision," I lower my voice. Blood boils under my skin but I keep myself at bay, reminding myself this is the King I am talking to.
"You have been lying to him this entire time, and don't think I am blind! I have seen the way you two look at each other. Do you really want to pull him into this?!" Shaking my head, I turn to walk away. He calls out, "Go ahead, walk away and be disobedient like you have been the entire stay at the palace. At the end of the day, you're just a silly girl. Foolish like all the others."
I snap. Spinning around, I whip my knife out of my thigh and throw it. The blade wedges itself inches away from the King's head in the beam. "I have been trying to keep Percy out of this the entire time! I have pushed him away time and time again to protect him! AND DISOBEDIENT? I have followed every order; I have almost died for you and your family! I AM NOT A FOOLISH GIRL, matter of fact, you are the foolish one."
"I should have you killed for speaking to me like this, not to mention the knife you just threw at me," He sneers.
I take the knife out of the beam and twirl it around in the palms of my hands, slowly saying, "But you won't, because you and I know, I am your best shot at ending this rebel madness once and for all. You degrade my worth every moment you can, but guess what, Your Majesty, I am worthy."
Tucking the knife back into place, I catch my breath, turning to walk away. That is when I stop dead. Percy emerges from around the corner and by the look on his face, I know he heard the entire thing. My heart beats rapidly in my chest as he nears, his mouth working, to say anything. He stops a few feet away from me. "Annabeth? What did I just hear?"
I open my mouth to explain but the King beats me to it, "She is a spy from our Secretive Royal Agency. This girl is for nothing but the reward at the end of her mission, not you, son. Annabeth is Cassie."
Percy looks to me, "Can we go up to your room?"
Nodding, I whisper, "Yeah, of course."
I know the world is in this weird place but I hope you are all practicing social distancing, staying safe and happy. It is so important to stay positive and not isolate emotionally/mentally only physically.
Next chapter coming soon! Annabeth is beginning to see the importance of knowing your self worth and loving yourself, and I think that is important. You are all worthy, and I wanted to convey in the story the struggle of discovering that. Annabeth is still fighting the opinions of others to not impact the ones of herself. Be like Annabeth, and lead into this night or day with the knowledge that you are important and you can learn to love yourself.
Have an amazing day/night wherever you are! - The Fangirl
Disclaimer: I do not PJO or HoO. I do not own these characters. I do not own The Selection Series.