THE SEPTEMBER heat had simmered into a warm breeze as October loomed close. The air was fresh and crisp, no signs of humidity in the air due to the lack of rain New York City had endured these past two weeks. The leaves on the trees in Central Park were starting to show small signs that fall was nearing. The leaves were a healthy mix of green and yellow, and the flowers were still bright and lush.

  It was the perfect day for Magdalena's final round of her Olympic Trials. Today was the day where she would find out whether or not she made it to the Olympics two summers from now, which seemed like a lifetime away. The thought of it being so far from then worried Magdalena a little, only because she had no idea where she'd be in that time. With the Titan war, Camp Jupiter, and everything in between . . . There was a good chance Magdalena wouldn't even be alive to compete.

Shut up, Lena. She thought to herself as she walked into the tennis court. Positive vibes only. Positive. Vibes.

  She had her earbuds in as she walked alongside her coach, who looked even more on edge than she did. Usually, coaches dressed for the occasion when it came to competitions as important as this one. But, her coach wasn't exactly what people would consider classy. Instead of wearing a suit and tie, Coach Davies had on athletic shorts and quarter zip, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his tanned, toned arms. His sandy blonde hair was combed, and he had on a pair of expensive sunglasses as he strolled alongside Lena, keeping a strong poker face on as they passed through the lines of news reporters, broadcasters, and everyone one else who'd come to watch.

  As they walked through the halls of the arena, Lena's coach nudged her. "How's the shoulder?"

  Lena took one of her headphones out, trying to swallow her nerves as she passed by another crowd of spectators. "Better," she replied. "I hardly felt it at our last practice."

  Coach Davies nodded. "Good," he said softly. "Good."

  Lena nodded. For once, she was telling the truth. Throughout the rest of summer and following into the school year, she'd caught back up on consistently applying Will Solace's healing-solvent-from-hell daily, which allowed her to fully recover by last week.

  "Are your parents here?" Her coach asked hesitantly, sparing a glance at the girl through his sunglasses, despite them being inside.

  Magdalena shrugged. "They knew the date," she said half-heartedly, trying to not let it get to her. "If they remembered, they should be here."

  Her coach nodded again. "Don't let it bother you," he said after a few moments of silence. "You've gone through hundreds of competitions alone. This isn't any different. Don't let their absence affect your play today."

Magdalena pushed away the small pit in her stomach as they got closer to the main court, where hundreds of people had already started to fill up the stands. She wanted nothing more than her parents to be there cheering her on. But, she knew she needed to hold out low hopes in order to not get disappointed when it didn't happen. That's what she'd learned helped best in coping with her parents' absence.

Expect disappointment, and it'll hurt less when it happens.

  Magdalena took out her other headphone as they walked through the double doors into the tennis court, the blazing sun above them pouring down into Lena's skin as her and her coach walked toward their bench. The sun felt oddly brighter today, like even Apollo was anxious about Lena's competition today. But, despite the sun being high in the sky, a cool breeze swept across the court, keeping the temperature mild. There was a good chance Apollo also had something to do with that.

Magdalena glanced across the crowd, hoping to see the familiar faces of her mother and father sitting near her bench. Her coach noticed this, and said nothing when Lena's face fell in sadness, but worked hard to mask it with a locked jaw and hardened eyes. She would play it off as her being focused for the competition, but her coach knew her better than that. It was the oldest coping mechanism in the book— Mask your sadness with anger. The emotions were so similar, it was easy to accomplish. And it worked almost every time.

"Time to focus, Lena," her coach said as they reached the bench, faint music playing from the speakers in the commentators booth above them. "You have everything you need?"

Lena nodded absently as she took out her tennis racket from its pouch, and taking off the silver band that concealed her sword from her finger, placing it in the small pocket at the top of her backpack. She made sure the zipper was fully closed before grabbing her racket, flipping and twisting it through her hand to get used to the feeling.

In times like this, Magdalena never talked much. Mostly because she was too absorbed in the impending situation to have the conscious thoughts to produce a good response to anything being asked of her. But in this particular situation, Magdalena had too many things on her mind. Things that didn't relate to tennis, the Olympics, and anything about this day in the slightest. And that was what had been worrying her the most. She felt unfocused with everything going on in her life outside of the mortal world. She didn't feel prepared for this moment in the slightest, not how she had before her quest over the summer.

She'd only recently returned from Camp Jupiter in early September, after being there for the entire month of August before her school year began. During that time, Magnus and Lena had been working overtime to try and prepare the legion's defenses. Jason and Reyna had never been more relieved to see them, but also had never been more enraged at the fact that they'd disappeared for so long. Of course, Magnus and Lena made up some crazy elaborate excuse that the praetor and centurion had no choice but to accept. But that didn't stop them from sending the two siblings straight to work in training the younger demigods and strengthening their forces.

So now that Magdalena was back into her regular mortal activities, nothing really felt important anymore. With everything going on in the godly part of her life, being at the Olympic trials felt almost silly. Irrelevant. The entire world could end in just less than a year, and Magdalena was worried about a tennis match. How did that make any sense?

Her coach's voice struck her from her thoughts. "Stretch, Magdalena," he ordered. "Come on, we're already behind."

Magdalena turned to where her coach was looking, seeing her opponent from across the court. Natasha, her biggest rival, was doing passing patterns with one of her instructors— weaving through cones while simultaneously swiping her racket from either side of her as the coach tossed balls at her. She looked a lot more confident than Magdalena felt, that was for certain. Her face was pure focus, and her body was toned and relaxed as she meticulously passed back the tennis ball every time it was volleyed at her.

  Magdalena sighed, running an anxious hand across her hair, which was pulled back in a ponytail. She had on her nicest uniform— a navy blue athletic top and a white skirt, matching white shoes to go with it. It was all Nike brand; her parents insisting they get custom-made ones for the occasion, even though they weren't there to see it. It was sweat-resistant fabric and had cooling properties infused in the lining, which didn't make any sense to Lena. But she didn't question it, because she felt good in them.

  Her hands fell around her neck as she lightly massaged it, her fingers digging into the rigid scar burnt into her skin. Her heart clenched as she felt the outline of Kronos's scythe, the skin tender and sensitive as she touched it. Dark reminders of her imprisonment floated across her brain as she stood there, feeling one with the sign of the Titan.

"Maggie, I don't want to do this," Luke voice mumbled quietly as he crouched in front of Lena, who was slouched against a cement beam. "Don't make me."

Magdalena stared at him through hooded eyes, her hair plastered across her forehead and neck as she melt the cold metal of her restraints pushing against her skin. She'd refused to speak to him for the past two days— a boycott against the only thing she had control over. Her own voice. It was the one thing that Luke couldn't take from her, and she intended to keep it that way.

  "Maggie," Luke said again, this time more urgently. He nudged her arm with his fist, trying to raise a reaction from her. When he came up empty, it made him angrier. More desperate.

  Good, Lena thought to herself. Make him mad. Make him desperate. He can realize that he'll never break me. No matter how much he tries.

  "Do you not realize what is about to happen?" Luke asked her as he sat on his knees in front of her. His voice sounded genuine, which bothered Lena. She hated that Luke might actually care for her. That it wasn't just him doing this to her. That it was Kronos's thoughts driving him. "Do you not see what He wants?"

  Lena's eyes trailed up from the floor, tracing over Luke's abdomen and up to his eyes, where she saw worry flashing through his own. That made her mad.

  "You have to cooperate," Luke ordered in a hushed whisper. His hands were clenched against his legs. "Do what I say, and you won't get hurt."

  Lena's mouth twisted at his words. Her eyes sparkled with pain and betrayal as she stared into the eyes of the person she used to see as her brother.

  "It's too late," Lena rasped out, her voice sounding almost foreign after days of not using it. ". . . You can't hurt me more than you already have."

  Luke's chest shook as he listened to her speak. On one end, he felt proud of the fact that he'd managed to get her to talk. But on the other, it was the only words that could manage to make his heart stab.

  "You're wrong," Luke responded knowingly. He shoved down his pain, and his eyes drifted toward the small brazier near them, where a metal rod sat above the flames, the end of it glowing red. "You haven't felt the wrath of Kronos."

  Magdalena's eyes hardened. "Do your worst," she snarled. The look on her face was lethal, and Luke couldn't help but feel hurt by it. Some time ago, Magdalena looked at him with a face of love and adoration. And now, all he saw was hate. And pain.

  "Maggie," Luke shook his head as he spoke. "Gods, Maggie . . . Please."

Magdalena just stared at him, the coldness that had begun to crawl across her heart now spreading into the expression on her face, masking the agony this was causing her.

Luke Castellan's entire body went rigid when he realized that Magdalena would never give in. Hers stubbornness was a double edged sword, as he always used to say. And it was times like this where he remembered just how relentless the girl could be.

"You'll comply," Luke mused as he got to his feet, looking down at the girl with a knowing look. "Eventually."

He walked over to the bronze brazier off the side, lifting up the hot metal rod from the rack above it, revealing a bright red tip with the sigil of Kronos designed from the molded metal. Magdalena's heart began to race as Luke slowly made his way back toward her, followed by two Scythian dracaenae.

  Luke tried to make himself look unbothered; cruel. But Lena saw straight through the facade. His eyes glittered with guilt as he stood before her with the steaming metal rod, staring down at her.

  "All you have to do is talk, Maggie," Luke said, a plead hidden within his words. "That's all he wants. All I want."

  Magdalena said nothing, looking up at him with a stubborn expression. Her lips were sealed.

  Luke shook his head, gripping the metal tighter. "Hold her down," he ordered to the two snake women, who hissed and happily obliged to his order. They each grabbed one side of her, holding her down against the floor. Lena didn't struggle against them. Out of defiance, she didn't make any move to escape.

  The snake women laughed as the branding iron closed in over her neck, the heat radiating into her skin as it hovered. Luke gave the girl one last look— a final move for her to give in. He wanted her to. He didn't want to hurt her. But he didn't have a choice.

  "Do it," Lena whispered. Her voice cracked a little, breaking through her facade.

  Luke Castellan closed his eyes when he brought the metal down onto the side of her neck. But being blinded from the sight couldn't hide Lena's scream. It couldn't hide the cries of agony as the boiling iron pressed into her neck, the scent of burning flesh radiating from her as smoke rose from the infliction.

  Her screams echoed through the chamber. And with each breath Luke took, her screams cried louder and louder into his ears. And his heart sank deeper and deeper, until there was nothing but darkness where it once was.

  "MAGDALENA!"

  Magdalena jolted in place at the feeling her coach shaking her shoulders, his eyes staring worriedly at her. Her body was stiff under his hands, and her eyes had glazed over. He'd been trying to talk to her for the past five minutes, but she'd been completely unresponsive. Completely out of touch with reality.

  Lena blinked, coming back to terms with reality as her vision focused. "W—What?" She asked as she noticed the concern on her coach's face. Her heart was racing, and her palms felt sweaty as she tried to ignore the stinging in her neck from her branding.

  Coach Davies just stared at her. "You zoned out," he said. "I've been trying to talk to you for the last five minutes."

  "Oh," was all Lena said. This had been a recurring problem for the past month or so. She'd first started doing it her first week back at Camp Jupiter, when she was in the middle of a sparring session with Jason. Halfway through their match, she'd completely lost her grip on reality, and had been sucked back into a memory. A bad memory. She hadn't even realized until Jason yelled her name loud enough for her to snap out of it, shaking her shoulders. And after that, they'd become a frequent thing. And it scared her.

  Coach Davies just sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Lena, you need to get your head in the game," he said sternly. "I know you had a rough summer, but that's behind you now. Right now, the Olympics are on the line. If you don't win this, everything that you've trained for would be for nothing. You're better than Natasha. Prove it."

THE MATCH was about to start, and Lena's parents were no where to be seen. The announcer had already completed their regular speech and announced both Magdalena and Natasha to the crowd, explaining the importance of today's match. If Lena had been nervous before, she was completely breaking down to the wire now. But it wasn't out of stress for the match. It was the fear of zoning out again during the game. She couldn't control when it happened, and couldn't anticipate it. They came and went as they pleased, whenever the darkness decided to crawl back over her heart and consciousness.

Just before Lena was about to step onto the court, she got a text from her mother— the first thing she'd heard from the woman in days. The text read:

Flight got delayed. I'm so sorry, honey. We have André sending us a livestream of it to watch on the plane. We are rooting for you! We love you.

With a rush of anger, Lena shoved her phone back into her backpack and shook her head, her hand clenched around her tennis racket. She shouldn't be surprised. Her parents wouldn't have made it whether the flight was delayed or not. There was always an excuse. Always something that came up.

  But regardless, repetition of an action never made it hurt any less.

  "Players, please take your places on the court!" The announcer spoke through the speakers.

  Coach Davies clapped Lena on her shoulder, squeezing it encouragingly. "You've got all my faith, Caelestis," he said strongly as she tightened her ponytail, taking one last sip of water before walking to the edge of the court. "Seal this game. You know you can do it."

Magdalena only nodded, giving her coach a final look before walking out onto the court, her heart lurching in her throat as the crowd cheered.

Natasha had first serve, so Lena waited for the umpire to declare the match started. Natasha had a steely look on her face with hard eyes staring at Magdalena. It was going to a tough match, but that's how it should be. Earning a spot on the Olympic team wasn't supposed to be easy. Lena knew that, but it didn't make her feel any better.

  Natasha's eyes narrowed, and then she set the ball, vaulting it straight to Lena. Easy enough. Lena launched it back at her, sending the ball to the edge of her opponent's side. Natasha was quick on her feet like Lena, and was able to swing the ball back across the court before it bounced out. They continued with a pretty solid matchup for the next few rotations until Natasha nailed the tennis ball straight into the back corner of Lena's side of the court, making it impossible for the girl to recover it.

  "Fifteen, Love!" The announcer called, one of the ball girls on the side of the court racing to give Natasha a new ball to serve in. Lena brushed it off. It was only the first set; they had a lot more to go. Magdalena would get back into the game in no time.

  But as their match went on, Lena realized that she was not in it. At all. Their first set ended with the girl only winning one round, fifteen to forty, which gave Natasha a winning lead over the girl. Magdalena needed to win the next two sets if she wanted to go to the Olympics. This wasn't uncommon in tennis, but Lena felt a miserable pit forming in her stomach as she walked off the court to have a water break before the second set started. She wasn't focused like she normally was. She could hardly watch where the ball was going with how hazy her mind was. Her body felt weak; out of shape.

  Her coach tried to motivate her with what little time she had on her break, but she could tell he was worried about her. Being this rough in the court was unnatural for Lena. She was competitive and driven, her stubbornness fueling a constant urge to win every match she competed in. Seeing Magdalena so out of it felt foreign to him. It not only stressed him out, but it also scared him. He knew she'd had a bumpy summer before this, but he didn't know the details. And whatever it was, it was definitely more important than  she'd let it on to be.

  "Next set, focus more on her feet," Coach Davies advised as Magdalena sat on the bench, wiping the sweat off her forehead. "She's tricky. She uses her waist and arms to try and test you. But where she plants her foot will show where she's moving."

  Lena just nodded half-heartedly, already feeling like she'd failed the competition altogether. She knew it'd only get worse from here. With every minute that passed, Lena felt her confidence seep away, like air deflating out of a balloon. She'd never felt this discouraged before.

  The umpire called for the players to return back to the courts, and Lena did so with a heavy heart, swallowing down the sick acidity that had risen into her throat.

  Natasha looked smug as she waited for Lena to set the ball, her eyes glinting deviously. Magdalena wanted nothing more than to knock the girl's smirk off her face, but even that couldn't lift Lena's spirits. She felt like she'd lost her fire; her competitive spark.

  Lena served the ball, and Natasha knocked it straight back at her. Magdalena couldn't even reach it in time. It bounced out of the court dreadfully, which only worsened the sick feeling that Lena had.

  "Fifteen, Love!"

  Magdalena's jaw clenched as the ball boy passed her a ball. Her hands was shaking as she held the neon yellow ball in her hand. She didn't even want to compete anymore. She almost debated forfeiting the game all together to save herself to embarrassment of losing this badly, but she couldn't. She wouldn't be able to stand the disappointment from her coach if she did.

  Lena took a few deep breaths as she stared at the floor beneath her, hear waves radiating on to her face from the sun. She tried to settle her shaky hand, but nothing was going to help. She couldn't snap out of it. She couldn't escape her own mind.

  But that's when she heard a voice in the stands. An angel's breath. A gust of wind in the springtime.

  "Let's go, Sunshine!"

  Magdalena's head snapped toward the row of seats above her bench, seeing Percy Jackson standing with his mother and Paul Blofis, all of them cheering her on. His entire body seemed to radiate underneath the light of the sun, glowing like a blessing from Apollo himself.

  Lena's heart lifted. They'd came. Percy Jackson was there for her.

  "Serve, Caelestis!" The umpire ordered. Natasha was watching impatiently from the other side of the court, glaring at her.

  "You got this, Lena!" Sally Jackson cried over the other voices in the stands.

  "Yeah!" Paul Blofis cheered.

  Magdalena felt her lips start to pull into a smile. For a moment, she thought she might start crying, but she swallowed it. She turned her eyes from those of Percy's, and instead, faced Natasha. Her stare hardened, and she tossed the ball into the air, launching it across the court.

  The ball flew so fast Natasha stumbled over herself to reach it, just barely knocking it over the net. Lena darted toward the top of her side, pitching the ball back toward the girl so fast, it slammed onto the ground just before the outline, giving Natasha no time to recover before it went out.

  "Fifteen, fifteen!" The announcer yelled through the microphone. Coach Davies nodded his head, anxiously running a hand through his sandy hair as he paced the side of the court.

  Percy and his family cheered as she got the point, all three of them drowning out everyone's else's cheers from the crowd. With every second that passed, Lena started to feel her confidence grow. Percy's voice echoed in her head, giving her motivation.

Magdalena set the ball again, and this time Natasha was ready. She grunted as she slammed the ball back at Magdalena, hoping it'd be enough to make her mess up. But Lena was ready now. She bolted across the side of the court, backhanding the ball with her racket just as it flew onto the ground, sending it right back across. This round was heated as both Lena and Natasha flung the ball back and forth at each other, before Lena finally got the upper hand and got the point.

"YEAH!" Percy yelled as he stood up from his chair, clapping. Sally and Paul both had wide grins on their face as the announcer called out the new score.

Magdalena grinned up at him, and he grinned back. A simple action, but it sent Lena's serotonin levels through the roof.

The set ended with a landslide win from Lena after the last round, and the crowd all cheered as Lena walked back toward her bench, where her coach was grinning from ear to ear, shaking her shoulder with excitement. Lena couldn't help but smile back as she gulped down her water.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Coach Davies boasted as they sat with each other. "I knew you had it in you, Lena!"

Lena breathed out a laugh as she tried to settle down her racing heart. Her body had a sheen layer of sweat that made her tanned skin glitter underneath the bright mid-day sun. "I've still got it," she said breathlessly, mostly to herself than anyone else.

"Hell yeah, do you," her coach affirmed. He straightened out the shades over his eyes as he stood in front of her. "Now you've got to show it. You and Natasha are at a tie game. If you play this final match like you did just now, you're going to the Olympics."

Magdalena's chest shuddered at the anticipating thought of that. All she needed to do is win this next round, and it was over. She'd make it. She'd make the Olympic team. Nerves wracked her entire body.

"Also, I have no idea who that guy is up there, but he can have all my money," Coach Davies added, gesturing up to the crowd. "Because once he got here, a switch flipped in your head. I've never seen anything like it."

Magdalena just smiled, getting to her feet as the announcer called back the players to the court.

"Must be my good luck charm," Lena said to her coach, then turned and walked back onto the court.

As soon as the match started, Magdalena immediately knew it was going to the toughest match she'd ever played. Natasha was more aggressive than ever, pelting the ball at Lena with max speed and moving with more agility than Lena had ever seen before. But the daughter of Astreaus was just as skilled as she was, if not better. They battled with each other relentlessly, the game being at a standstill for the last five reps— Fourty-Fourty for both sides.

Magdalena needed to win by two rounds in order to move onto the Olympics, and she could feel her body starting to fight her as the match continued. Both her and Natasha were exhausted, but neither of them gave into it. They both were equally as determined to win— and that made the games even more difficult.

  After a grueling last round, Lena managed to get the first of two points needed to win. It was close— Natasha tripping and falling onto the court after just barely missing Lena's hit. The crowd went crazy— exploding into cheers as Lena ran an anxious hand over her head. One more point. That was all she needed.

  As Natasha moved to get a ball to serve, Lena's eyes drifted up to where Percy was in the stands. His hands were gripping the railing in front of him nervously, looking just as stressed as Lena felt. But when their eyes connected, he nodded at her, and smiled. That troublemaker smile that made Lena's knees feel weak.

  It's all you, he seemed to say without words.

  Magdalena nodded, and then turned back to Natasha, who was readying herself to serve.

  And when she did, Magdalena's body went into autopilot.

  It was like she was making all the movements without any conscious thoughts. Her hand and her racket were one, swinging and flying across the court with every ball that was sent toward her. Her mind was blank, but it was zeroed in on every play Natasha made. Her legs were burning, but her adrenaline overruled the pain. Her lungs ached, but she ignored them. Everything was moving in fast motion, but she was following along with matched speed.

  So when the final ball came across her side of the net, and Lena hit it back, she watched the ball bounce into the corner of court, and then out of bounds. Natasha hadn't hit it back. She'd gotten the point.

  Everything was silent for a moment. And then the crowd erupted.

  "The match is concluded!" The announcer cried. "Magdalena Caelestis has won the Olympic Trials!"

  Magdalena's entire body felt like it'd been doused in cold water. She heard her coach yelled in glee, along with the rest of the crowd, who was all jumping and cheering in excitement. Magdalena didn't know what to do. She couldn't believe it.

  "THAT'S MY GIRL!" Percy Jackson bellowed as Sally started to cry tears of joy, jumping and hugging Paul, who was just as elated as the others. Percy Jackson was laughing as he pumped his hands in the air, his eyes only looking at Magdalena.

  Magdalena started to cry as she turned to her coach, who was running up to her. The grin on her face was indescribable as her coach shook her shoulders, his face brighter than she'd ever seen it.

  "We're going to the Olympics!" He screamed in disbelief as she shook her head, laughing through her tears. "You did it, Lena! You did it, dammit!"

  There was so much happening around her, she didn't know how to process everything. The crowd was still cheering as news reporters started to line up along the side of the court, broadcasters filming her. Natasha had tears streaming down her face as she slammed her racket on the ground, storming out of the arena, more news reporters following her.

Eventually Magdalena got enough self control to walk back over to the bench, with her coach shaking hands of other higher ups and coaches who'd come to watch. Magdalena did the same, giving hugs to random people she didn't know as dozens of people congratulated and applauded her. She was in a state shock as she blindly talked and shook hands, her coach keeping a hand on her back as he introduced her to everyone.

  But then, just as Magdalena was setting down her racket, she heard a voice yell, "Lena!"

  Percy Jackson was pushing through the crowds of people who'd swarmed the court, Sally and Paul trailing behind him, trying to keep up. The look on his face was something Magdalena wished she could frame, and freeze in time. His tan skin radiated, and his sea green eyes felt like magnets as she locked her blue ones on them.

  Magdalena felt her heart leap out of her chest, and she dropped everything to run up to him, laughing as he crashed into her, her feet lifting up off the ground as he spun her around.

  "You did it!" He exclaimed as Lena laughed, more tears starting to prick in her eyes as she buried her head into his neck. She could smell the fresh aroma of salt and sea coming off of him as he kept her in a tight hold, his chest vibrating as his laughed in glee. "You're a legend, Lena!"

  As Percy finally set her down, Lena studied every inch of his face, soaking it in. "You came," she said in disbelief, her grin never falling.

  Percy looked at her like he was crazy. "Of course I came! How could I miss it?"

  Magdalena just shook her head, staring at him with a wild look in her eyes. He was wearing the shirt she'd gotten him last winter, and his black hair was messy and windswept. His cheeks were tinged pink from sunburn, but Lena thought he looked . . . Unreal.

  "I— I can't believe it," Lena admitted through a shaky laugh. "I'm going to the Olympics!"

  Percy grinned at her. His hands gripped her forearms as she held onto his. "I can believe it," he replied. "You were incredible, Lena! I couldn't stop watching you!"

  Lena felt her stomach flutter at the sound of that, but before she could say anything else, Sally Jackson came busting through the crowd. "Oh, Lena!"

  Sally threw herself at the girl, kissing her forehead and death-gripping her as they hugged. "I'm so proud of you!" She cried, quickly lurching back to look the girl in the eyes. "I— I was in disbelief! You were unstoppable!"

  Magdalena had no words as she stared at Sally. Another tear fell down her face. "Thank you," she said, smiling bigger than she ever had before.

  "Lena, that was incredible," Paul Blofis said as he came up beside Sally. "I was literally on the edge of my seat."

  Lena blinked a couple times. She stuck out her hand toward Paul, since they'd never properly met. "Nice to meet you, sir," she breathed out as he took her hand into both of his, squeezing it.

"I'm glad we met under these circumstances," he said strongly. His grin was blinding. "I've heard a lot about you from Percy and Sally, but I never knew you were an Olympic athlete!"

Percy blushed when Paul commented on him talking about Lena, but Lena didn't even notice. She just turned to him again with a smile Percy would never be able to get over.

"Not yet," Magdalena corrected bashfully. "But, I hope to be."

Percy just shook his head, smirking. "You're going to beat everyone's ass— " he cleared his throat when his mom gave him a look. "Everyone's rear end in the Olympics. I know it."

Magdalena Caelestis just kept smiling. She couldn't help it. Percy Jackson and his family had come out to support her when her parents couldn't. She always seemed to forget how much she enjoyed being with Percy. His presence alone lifted her spirits without trying. She'd never felt that way with someone before. In this moment, she forgot about everything happening around them. The war, Kronos, Camp Jupiter, even Rachel. When she was with Percy, she felt like herself.

And she never wanted that to change.

  THE NIGHT Magdalena's parents came home, they immediately insisted on throwing a party in honor of her making it to the Olympics. Truth be told, Lena couldn't care less about a bunch of snobby rich people coming into her home and congratulating her on something they hardly even cared about. All of these people her parents considered friends only cared about their money and flaunting it. So, when parties like this emerge, they all come herding like sheep to them to sip on champagne and talk about their next trip to Bellini.

  Regardless of her standpoint on it, Magdalena didn't have much of a choice. With both her mother and father home for the next couple of weeks, she needed to do her best to appease them. And that meant dressing up in a nice outfit and helping plate appetizers and lay out Tiffany champagne glasses while their maids deep cleaned the furniture and waxed the floors.

  So, just after sundown, the night after Lena's Olympic Trials, their penthouse is filled with a plethora of businessmen and women, former teammates of Lena's, and military personnel from all different burrows of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey, all mingling around as a pianist strummed soft tunes from their grand piano in the main living room.

  And to say Magdalena was bored would be the understatement of the century.

  Her mom had made sure to dress her up in her nicest designer— a vintage black cocktail dress from Chanel, sheer black tights, and a pair of tight black boots. Her hair was tied half-back with a pearl clip, leaving the rest to fall against her shoulders. She preferred her hair down anyway, since it helped to hide the scar on the side of her neck. Her parents were both dressed like they were going to a wedding— her dad in a full suit and her mom in a silk gown. It all felt too professional, too staged. It was all a show of wealth, and Lena winning the Olympic Trials was only a gateway to express it.

  For the past hour, Magdalena had been sucked into conversation after conversation with different friends of her parents, where they'd all start with congratulating her on her success for the Olympics, before immediately changing the conversation into something about themselves. Where they were vacationing for Christmas, what their next investment's going to be, where their son was deployed for the next year . . . Blah, blah, blah. Lena just smiled and nodded with every conversation she was forced to endure, laughing occasionally as she sipped on a glass of champagne.

  Technically she wasn't supposed to drink them, but, she just won the Olympic Trials. One glass of champagne wouldn't kill her. Or two. Besides, nobody was questioning it. They were all too absorbed in themselves to notice, or care. Even her parents.

  It had been at least over an hour since the party started when Magdalena heard the doorbell ring, and her heart started to race faster.

  Gods, please be him.

  But she couldn't answer the door, because just as she went to open it, someone grabbed her arm, and immediately the girl was swept back into another meaningless conversation that she couldn't sneak out of.

  "Magdalena!" The older man said with a toothy grin. He'd definitely had a few drinks by the way his words were slurred and his eyes were way too shiny. "How marvelous does it feel to be an Olympian athlete?"

  Magdalena politely smiled. Her smile always managed to charm those who spoke with her. "Overwhelming," she indulged, though she itched to move toward the front door. "I feel so blessed to have all of you here tonight."

  The man shook her arm. "It's an honor!" He exclaimed. "It is also an amazing opportunity to bring up my latest investment in tri-colored shampoo and conditioner. Because how extraordinary would it to have your hair change color just after three washes . . . "

  Magdalena's ears tuned out as the man began to ramble on about his shampoo investing, because when she looked toward the door, she saw Percy Jackson giving her mother a hug as he stepped through the doorway.

  Magdalena's mouth felt dry as she stared at him.

  She'd told him to dress nicely, and it was clear he'd done the best he could. He had on trousers and a dark blue sweater, a white collared shirt poking out from the neckline. His hair was messy from his walk up to the Upper East Side, and his scuffed converse poked out from the bottom of his jeans. He had a kind smile on his face as her mother spoke to him, smiling down at him fondly.

  Gods, he looked really good.

  "And, you know, they also make leave in treatments to help absorb the color— "

  "I'm sorry, sir," Magdalena cut the guy off with an apologetic smile. "I must excuse myself."

  The man frowned. "Oh, but— "

  Magdalena walked off before he could stop her again, beelining straight toward the front door.

  "Percy!" Magdalena breathed out as she hurried her way toward the main entrance of the house. She saw Percy and her mother turn toward her at the sound of her boots clanking against the hardwood floors.

  At the sound of his voice being called, Percy looked past Mrs. Caelestis, and his eyes zeroed in on Magdalena. And he'll admit, his brain short-circuited a little when he saw her.

  She looked . . . Wow.

  She had on a short black dress that seemed to fit her perfectly, with sheer tights and heeled boots that gave her an extra two inches of height. Her hair was silky and smooth, falling across her shoulders like pure water as she smiled at him. Her eyes twinkled in the dim lighting, and her lips were shiny from the lip gloss she was wearing. He couldn't took his eyes off her.

  "Lena," Percy said, blinking a couple times as she stood beside her mother. He could feel how hot his cheeks were, so there was no doubt that they were bright red. But, if Lena noticed, she didn't say anything, because she immediately brought him into a hug as soon as she reached him. Even with the heels she had on, Percy was still taller than her. Thank the gods.

  "Thanks gods you're here," she mumbled into his ear, low enough so that her mother didn't overhear. "This has been absolutely awful."

Percy chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. She smelled expensive, like really nice perfume. It wasn't how she usually smelled back at camp. Maybe that was because she didn't like people to know her wealth. Or maybe it was just for the specific occasion. Regardless, she smelled like heaven.

"It's good to see you, Percy," Lena's mother said as they pulled away from each other. For having a teenage daughter, Margaret Caelestis could've easily been interrupted as Lena's sister. She had a youthful glow to her, with chocolate brown hair and warm brown eyes. She had soft features, like Magdalena did. Nothing like her father.

"It's been a while," Percy said as he tried to ignore the way Lena had slipped her arm through his, linking her hands together. His brain felt muddled from how good she smelled. How good she looked.

"I know, dear," Lena's mom said sadly. "I wish I could be home more often. We tried everything we could to make it back home in time for Magdalena's match, but our pilot refused to send us anywhere with the weather conditions being so severe in Mykonos."

Percy blinked. "Did you say your pilot?"

Magdalena sighed, immediately wanting to remove herself and Percy from the incoming conversation. "Mom, I'll show Percy around," she said, already moving to drag Percy into the depths of the party and escape her mother.

"Magdalena."

Nicholas Caelestis. Lena's father.

Lena stopped, and Percy saw her face fall. She gripped Percy's arm tighter as she turned around, seeing her dad standing beside her mom, staring inquisitively down at them.

Percy hated how he could see the family resemblance.

Lena's father stood taller over the both of them, with steely dark eyes and trimmed black hair, a matching goatee to follow. He had on a black pressed suit and pattered tie, but Percy could see bulging muscles jutting through the sports coat he had on.

But it was physical similarities that he saw between Lena and her father. It was all in the face. Magdalena always had that steely look in her eyes when she was focused or determined. That stubborn air. The threatening demeanor when she was facing a monster. Percy knew where she got it from now. It wasn't from Astreaus, or Magnus.

It was from her adopted father.

"Were you not going to introduce me to our guest?" Her father asked, narrowing his eyes down at her. His eyes trailed over Lena's arm that was wrapped around Percy's, and she immediately dropped it. She stared back up at her dad, her face twisted in irritation.

"Sorry, dad," she said complacently. "This is Percy Jackson. He's a friend from camp."

Her father's eyebrows lifted at the word camp. "A half-blood, then," he said. His eyes stared into Percy's green ones. "Who's your godly parent?"

Percy swallowed. "Poseidon, sir."

Magdalena's father was taken aback, but did well to mask it with a poker face. "A child of the Big Three?" He mused. "That's against old oaths."

"The gods broke their oath's, dad," Lena said, trying to help Percy out. He was nervous, clearly. "I— I told you that. Thalia's a daughter of Zeus. And Ni— "

She faltered, cutting herself off before she revealed Nico's name. Percy glanced between her and her father as Nicholas stared hardly at Percy, like he was trying to dissect his brain.

Then, he extended his hand. "I'm Nicholas," he said. His voice was gruff and surely. Very fitting for a military commander. "Son of Ares."

Percy nodded, suddenly remembering what Lena had told him a couple summer's ago about her father. Percy shook his hand, noticing how hard Lena's father gripped his. It made his hand go numb.

"Nice to meet you, er, Nicholas."

"You can call me Mr. Caelestis," her father corrected, gripping his hand tighter, before pulling it away.

"Dad," Lena said, looking anxious to leave. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?" Her dad frowned. "It's common decency to address an adult how they wished to be called."

"Honey, be nice," Margaret scolded. "Lena doesn't bring many friends home to us. And Percy is a kind boy. He joined us last spring break on our trip to Nantucket."

  "Hm." Her father slowly nodded his head. It was almost as if he could sense trouble radiating off Percy like a heater. Percy shouldn't have been surprised. All of Ares' kids seemed to hate him. "Kind, you say?"

  "Yes," Magdalena defended. Her eyes flashed. "Very."

  Mr. Caelestis looked at his daughter, then back at Percy. Percy could feel how protective the guy was over her just from the way he looked at Percy— like he was an immediate threat that needed to be dealt with. Or maybe it was because he was Poseidon's son. That usually did the trick with Ares.

  "Very well," her father finally conceded. He laced his hands together, before settling his eyes on Percy. "Before you leave tonight, Percy Jackson, I'd like to speak with you."

  Magdalena shook her head. "Dad, he doesn't want— "

  Her father put out his hands defensively. "Nothing harmful, Magdalena. I'm just a dad, doing my rightful duties. Just a quick chat is all."

  Magdalena looked like she wanted to protest more, but Percy gave her a reassuring look, before nodding at her father. "Okay," he said. "Sure."

  Magdalena looked like she wanted to die at the mere thought of her dad and Percy having a private conversation.

  Mr. Caelestis nodded one last time, before Lena's mother came to their rescue. "Go on, dears," her mother said with a smile. "Magdalena, show him around. Your father and I will be around if you need anything."

  Magdalena didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed Percy's hand tightly and wheeled them around, dragging him away from the glaring stare of her father as they absorbed into the crowd.

  "Oh my gods," Magdalena said in horror as she led Percy toward the quieter part of their penthouse. "I'm so sorry, Percy. That was horrific."

  Percy sent her amused look as they walked through the hallway leading toward lounge room, passing by a few people talking amongst themselves. The soft classical music thrummed through the walls as they walked. "It's alright," he said, shrugging. "I'm sort of used to it. Most of Ares' children hate me."

  Lena just sighed, stopping them in a small living space, where there was a small bar counter and a couple couches neatly placed in the center of the room. "That's why I didn't want you to meet him," she said with a frown. "I knew he'd try to intimidate you."

  Percy laughed softly. "It worked," he admitted. "Your dad's pretty tough."

  Lena crossed her arms, glaring out of the long window that stretched across the hallway, showing the New York City skyline. "Tell me about it," she mumbled.

  Percy deflated at her words. He stepped closer to her, sending her a reassuring smile to try and make her feel better. "I think he's just protective over you," he said, nudging her shoulder with his. "You are his only daughter, after all."

  Magdalena shrugged half-heartedly. "I guess," she said softly. "He just has a weird way of showing it."

  Percy nodded. But when he saw Lena's eyes still shining with worry, he knew she was still thinking about it. "Don't worry about it," he said reassuringly. "Seriously." He smirked softly as she turned her eyes back to him. "Look, if I can get blown out of a mountain and survive, I think I can handle a lecture from your dad."

  That made Lena smile a little, which Percy took as a victory.

  "I know you can handle it, Percy," she admitted. "It's just . . . Watching him act like he cares about me in front of other people . . . " she shook her head. "It's all an act."

  Percy's eyes fell to where Lena was fiddling with the ring on her finger— a common nervous antic she had. He hesitantly took her hand from it, looking her in the eyes as he squeezed it.

  "Your mom cares about you," he said quietly. He watched as Lena's eyes trained on their hands, then up at him. "You know she does."

  "I know," Magdalena replied with the same tone. "It's just hard. When they're always gone . . . " she shrugged. "Sometimes I forget they really are my parents."

  Percy didn't know how to make her feel better. He couldn't understand what she was going through because he had a mom like Sally. She was always there for him, no matter what it was. Of course he'd had his fair share of trouble with his old step-dad Gabe, but that had been settled years ago. And even when Gabe was around, his mom always made sure to put Percy first. He couldn't relate in any form on what Lena goes through within her family. And he wished he could just so that he knew how to help her.

  They stood there for a moment, Percy not knowing what to say, while Magdalena started to look back at him, her lips flickering into a smile.

  "You look nice," she said, breaking the silence. Her hand absently reached for the gray streak of hair that contrasted against his black locks. Percy noticed Lena's matching one pulled back into a clip behind her head, blending into her brown hair.

  With her compliment, Percy blushed. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "My mom helped me," he admitted. He's not sure why he said that. He never really knew what to say when a girl complimented him. Especially someone like Lena. "I don't own a lot of fancy clothes."

  Magdalena's smile grew a little. "Well, she did a good job," she replied softly. She picked at a loose string from his navy sweater. "Is this Ralph Lauren?"

Percy frowned, glancing down to see if the brands signature symbol was stitched into the sweater. To his amazement, it was. "I guess so," he said as he craned his head down to look at the stitching. "Nice."

"Maybe that's why it was so easy to get past reception," Lena teased. "You actually looked presentable this time."

Percy narrowed his eyes at her. "I'm not an animal," he argued lightly. "I dress just fine."

Lena hummed, frowning like she was thinking over the last outfits she's seen him wear. Percy rolled his eyes as she did so, which made her laugh.

  "But . . . For the record," Percy said awkwardly, looking Magdalena up and down. His face felt hot. "You— you look really nice too."

  Lena blushed, smiling. "My mom helped me too," she admitted to him. Her eyes trailed back down the hallway, where the main force of the party was. She shook her head. "This is so lame, Percy. I'm sorry I made you come."

  Percy shrugged. "Nah," he brushed off. "I'm having fun."

  Magdalena raised an eyebrow.

  Percy laughed. "Okay, maybe not fun, but . . . " he shrugged. "It's nice hanging with you outside of camp. Even if it's with a bunch of snobby rich people."

  Magdalena's smile widened when he said that, which made Percy's stomach feel like it was doing somersaults.

  "Thanks for coming," she said. "Not just to the party, but to my match too. I . . . I think that's what helped me win."

  Percy looked at her strangely. "What do you mean?"

  Magdalena looked a little awkward as she walked over toward the window, her eyes staring out across the city. Percy followed, standing beside her.

  "I was losing," Lena said quietly. "After everything that's happened these past few months . . . I couldn't focus on anything. I knew I was going to lose that game." Her eyes glanced up to Percy's. "Until I saw you."

  Percy swallowed. His mouth felt dry. "You're saying . . . I'm the reason you won?"

  Magdalena gave him a look. "Don't let it boost your ego."

  That made Percy feel a little less awkward, but it didn't stop his heart from racing. What Lena was saying . . . Telling him how him showing up made her gain the confidence to get her head in the game. He couldn't process it. How could he be the sole reason she was going to the Olympics?

  "I wasn't just me, Lena," Percy tried to say. "You . . . You completely crushed that girl. I watched you with my own eyes. You didn't need anyone to help you win."

  Magdalena shook her head. "No," she said softly. "Percy, I know what I felt. The minute I saw you and your mom, and even Paul in the crowd . . . Something changed. You being there, Percy . . . " Her voice trailed off, because she really didn't know how to put it into words. She didn't know how to explain it to Percy— explain to him how he was what kept her grounded. He was able to clear her mind from those dark thoughts that plagued her. Just him alone. Nobody else.

  "Lena . . . " Percy said quietly. He thought back on what Dionysus had said to him last summer: She listens to you. You should do well to remember that. Was Dionysus right? Did Percy really have influence over the girl?

He turned his eyes back toward Lena, only to find her already looking at him. She had a certain gleam in her dark blue eyes that made Percy's heart race. It made him nervous.

"I'm sorry I'm not around much," she whispered. They were really close to each other now, close enough to where Percy could see the faint white scars that traced along her eyebrow and cheekbones. He'd always wonder where she'd gotten those, but in this moment, it was the last thing on his mind.

Percy shrugged, trying to stay calm. But it was hard when Lena was giving him that look. "I understand," he responded softly. "You have a busy life. With tennis, school, extremely rich parents who travel around the world . . . "

Magdalena exhaled softly, which seemed to be something close to a laugh. If only he knew, she thought to herself. If only he knew the real reason she was never around.

"I wish it was different," she admitted. Percy figured she was referring to the life her parents lived— not being around for her. He didn't know that she was referring to her responsibilities surrounding Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood. He had no idea what her words were really implying to. "I wish . . . I just wish everything was normal."

Percy agreed. He'd always thought about what his life would be like if he wasn't a demigod. He thought about going to school during the year without the constant threat of war impending down on him. He thought about simple summers— going to the beach, hanging out with friends, traveling to new places . . . He thought about a simple life, where the only stress he'd hold is about college and standardized testing. Not about gods and monsters.

But then he remembered all of the people he'd met because of the life he lived. If he'd never gone to camp, he would've never met Annabeth, Magnus, Tyson, Magdalena . . . All of his closest friends. He wouldn't trade that for anything.

"I would've never met you if we were normal," Percy added. "Or Annabeth. Magnus. Tyson . . . " he shrugged. "Everyone I care about, really."

Magdalena nodded. Then she gave him a look. "You care about me?" She asked, an air of teasing in her voice.

Percy rolled his eyes. "Don't let it boost your ego," he replied, repeating the same words she'd said to him earlier.

Magdalena grinned. "The hero of Olympus cares about me," she boasted. "Should I feel special?"

Percy scoffed. "You are so— "

"Annoying?" Lena asked. "I think you've told me that before."

Percy remembered their conversation back in Olympus last winter, when he'd invited her to spend Christmas with his family. That felt like years ago with everything that's happened since then.

"It still stands," Percy responded flatly.

"You think I'm annoying," Lena trailed on. "Yet . . . You still hang out with me. What's the catch?"

Percy Jackson sighed. He knew what the catch was. At this point it should be clear as day. But, it didn't make it any less troublesome to admit it.

"I feel like you know the answer to that," he said quietly. He watched Lena's teasing expression fade, and the air around them seemed to thicken as they stood there.

Magdalena hadn't expected him to say that. It wasn't like she hadn't thought about. People usually don't kiss someone out of friendliness, but . . . After all the things that had happened after that, she hadn't really thought about it. Until now.

And as they stood there, they were just as close as they were after Percy had kissed her the first time back at Mount St. Helens. And now, Percy had that same look in his eyes.

"Percy," Lena mumbled. Her head shook softly.

But Percy didn't want to wait anymore. He was tired of walking on eggshells when it came to his relationship with Lena. He knew how he felt, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it. He'd felt it ever since their quest to the Sea of Monsters. But he was younger then. He didn't know how to process his feelings. Now he was older, and he'd only felt himself grow more and more sure of his feelings— especially after feeling her kiss him back when he'd first done so in the Labyrinth.

His gut seemed to pull toward her, like an invisible string. And he didn't stop himself as he slowly brought his lips down onto her's.

Magdalena felt like she was being sucked into a vacuum with the way her body reached for Percy. It was like she was acting off pure instinct; her body yearning for the connection. She didn't stop him when he kissed her, and she didn't stop herself from kissing him back.

Everything around them dulled when they kissed, like they were the only two people in the world. Magdalena took in the feeling, the salt and the sea radiating from his skin and lips as she placed a hand on his face, while his hesitantly held her jaw, the other on her side, feeling the soft fabric of her dress.

It was slow and hesitant. Percy was scared she was going to pull away at any given moment when he'd first gained the confidence to kiss her. But those worries dissolved when he felt her kiss him back, and a rush of endorphins flooded into his brain, surging him to kiss her with passion and longing. It was a craving he didn't know he had until he satisfied it, and now he was addicted. Her lips were like a drug— sweet and soft. She tasted like caramel instead of cherry.

Magdalena only pulled away to see his face close to her, drinking in the sight of his sea green eyes and blushed cheeks. With the skyline beside them, his face glowed in golden light, making him look like something close to a god.

Percy started to worry that he'd done something wrong by the way she was looking at him. He started to say, "Lena, I'm— "

Then she brought her lips back to his, knowing she'd never felt more sure of anything in her entire life. And neither had he.

Her hand grazed the backside of his head, running through his soft hair as he pulled her close, like he was scared she was going to slip away. His hand tightened around her waist as he ran his other hand down her arm, grazing it over her soft skin. Both their hearts were racing from the intensity and longing they'd both held for so long. It felt like a dam had been released between the two of them. A floodgate had been opened, and neither of them were moving to shut it.

Magdalena had never thought she could feel as rejuvenated as she did as her and Percy's lips moved against each other's. It was like they were made for each other, which sounded crazy, but felt so true.

It was perfect. This moment was something Lena could've deemed as flawless. Percy deepened the kiss without realizing, too caught up in the moment to think about anything else. The action made Lena's stomach drop, and her fingers lightly dug into Percy's hair. He let out a quiet noise in the back of his throat as she did so, holding her strongly against his chest.

And it wasn't until Percy's hand slid up her arm and slotted itself over her neck, grazing the rigid branding along her neck, that her perfect moment slipped away from her.

"Lena," Percy croaked. His body was beaten and bloody. He stumbled for his sword, too weak to wield it. "Please."

  "Get on your feet." Lena ordered, staring down at his weak body.

  Percy shook his head. "I won't fight you."

  "Get on your feet," she snarled again. "Fight like a real hero."

  Another vision passed through her mind.

  Percy took her last blow, laying in defeat underneath her. His lip was bleeding, and dirt coated his face. His breathing was ragged and labored. Lena held the blade of her sword against his neck.

  "Do it," he whispered. "I'm not going to fight you, Lena. I could never fight you."

  His cries ripped through her head as her scar burned, and with a sudden realization of what she'd done, she bit down hardly on Percy's lip, causing him to yank himself away from her.

  Magdalena gasped as Percy blinked in shock, pressing a tentative finger against his lip. A small cut began to bleed from it.

  "Percy, I'm so sorry," Lena cried softly, her breathing suddenly getting heavy. Her hands began to shake. She began to back away from him as her heart lurched in her throat. "I— I can't— "

  "It's okay," Percy replied tentatively, wiping the small amount of blood from his lip, which had swelled a little from the impact. "I— I don't care."

  Magdalena, with a deepening pit in her stomach, felt her walls starting to rise again. Her mind was plagued with the memories of what she'd done. What she was capable of. She couldn't hurt Percy again. With these visions and dreams she's having . . . She can't risk hurting him. She can't be close to him.

  "Percy, I can't do this." Lena's voice trembled as tears began to prick in her eyes. Percy saw her entire body starting to tremble, and see specifically saw her hand holding the side of her neck. The side that held the Scythe of Kronos.

  "What?" Percy asked, his heart starting to fall. His voice was filled with disbelief.

  Magdalena shook her head. As she stared at him, all she could see was his face back in that arena. All of the blood, bruises, and defeat . . . All because of her.

  "I don't want to hurt you," Lena whispered, her voice cracking from the tears that had started to fall down her face. "I— I can't risk hurting you again."

  "Lena," Percy said, starting to walk closer to her, but she backed away, keeping him out of reach. He felt his chest tighten at the action. "Lena, you're not going to hurt me. I— I know you won't. What happened back in that arena— "

  "It was me Percy," Lena argued through her tears. "I'm the reason you almost died that day. It— it was all my fault. I wasn't strong enough to fight Luke. I let him make me that way. And . . . And I almost killed you."

  Percy couldn't believe what he was hearing. He couldn't believe she thought any of that was her fault. How could she ever believe that Luke doing that to her was because she was weak?

  "Lena," Percy said hardly. He wanted nothing more than to pull her close again, but he knew better. He kept his distance, despite his body itching to move for her. "You're not a bad person. What happened to you in the Labyrinth . . . That was all because of Luke. He had you captured and tortured until he finally cracked you, and forced you into that arena. That isn't your fault. You're not like him. You won't hurt me."

  Magdalena wasn't going to budge, and deep down, Percy knew that. But he was desperate. He'd just admitted to the girl how he'd felt after so long of trying to hide it. And he knew she felt the same. So seeing all of a sudden want him out of her life felt like someone was taking a hammer at his heart.

  "You don't deserve this," Lena whispered miserably. "You— you don't deserve to be around me. I— I don't know what's wrong with me. Luke did something to me, and . . . And I don't know how to fix it." Her lips quivered as she stared at him. "You deserve better than that."

  Percy shook his head. "You're wrong," he said hardly. "Everything you think about yourself is wrong, Lena. You— you're the most amazing person I know. You're strong, caring, beautiful . . . " He ran a stressed hand over his face. "Gods, Lena, you're perfect to me. You know how I feel about you. Please . . . Don't push me away just because you're scared."

  "Percy, you should go," Lena said thickly. Tears continued to stream down her eyes, smudging her mascara. "I— I'm sorry I kissed you. I should've never done that."

  Percy felt his heart break. "What?"

  "It was a mistake." Lena was forcing the words out of her mouth. With every break she took, she felt the urge to throw up. As Percy's heart broke, so did her's. "I regret it."

  "No you don't," Percy said, shaking his head. "You're pushing me away, Lena. It wasn't a mistake. You kissed me back."

  "I wish I hadn't," Lena's voice was cold now. Percy saw it clear. She'd put her walls back up. Her defenses were rising just as they were when they'd first met. And even if Percy thought she didn't mean anything she was saying, it didn't make them hurt any less.

  Magdalena wished she could carve a hole out of the ground and jump into it. Seeing the look on Percy's face as she said these things to him . . . It hurt worse than anything she'd ever gone through.

She was doing this to protect him. He was better off without her. Right? He . . . He would be safer without her in his life.

  "You don't mean that," Percy said, his voice now low. Heartbroken. "Lena . . . Please."

  "Percy," Lena whispered. She couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't stand seeing his face. She couldn't take the pain that she was giving him. "Please . . . Just go. Forget this ever happened."

It's better that way. Forget about me. You're better off without me.

"I don't want to," Percy whispered, his voice cracking. "Lena . . . I don't want to forget. I— I know you care about me. I know you don't mean this."

"I do care, Percy," Magdalena admitted, her voice so thick with tears it hurt to listen to. "And that's why you need to go. I didn't want to kiss you. I don't want you to do it again. I never wanted you to."

Each sentence sent a stab through Magdalena's heart. And it sent one through Percy's too.

Percy just stared at her, wondering where he'd went wrong. Why was she doing this? Why was she pushing him away when he was the only thing that kept her stable?

"Percy, please," Lena cried. She could hardly talk as a sob threatened to escape her. "Please."

Percy Jackson didn't say anything. He felt so . . . Hurt by her. He never thought that to be possible. She'd made him bleed. She'd sent an orb of celestial energy at his chest. She'd yelled and screamed at him. She'd held the blade of a sword to his throat. But none of that had hurt him in the way she managed to just now.

Magdalena thought in doing this that she would keep him safe. She wouldn't be able to hurt him this way. But, in reality . . . This was the one thing that had hurt Percy Jackson the most.

And so, Percy left. He walked out of her house, and all the way back to his apartment, feeling as if he'd left his heart in that room with her. Magdalena had ripped his heart out and took it as a prize to keep. And she had no idea.

Magdalena waited until Percy Jackson had completely left her penthouse before she let herself cry. She sobbed for hours, locking her bedroom door as the party continued in her name. She didn't care about the Olympics anymore. She didn't care about anything, because she'd just pushed away the only person in the world who could make her feel like mattered.

And now, Magdalena Caelestis had never felt more alone.

ANNA'S NOTES!
I don't think I can apologize for this one

But... hold grace for me bc be assured that this needed to happen 😭😭 let's remember Magdalena is human and has flaws ... and genuinely believes everybody is better off without her bc she cant control her thoughts. She's fr traumatized from what happened in the maze and so ofc there are going to be things that happen due to that trauma!! Her entire mind has shifted on what she thinks of herself

Anyways on that happy note next chapter will start tlo so get hype!!!!🍷🍷🍷☺️☺️☺️