Piper's dress in the media. First off, thank you to everyone who reads this. I've gotten so much support and compliments, I just love you guys. On that note, have this horribly depressing chapter. Hopefully the next one will be more uplifting. Who am I kidding, no it won't.

Piper's POV

I've heard that Reyna got asked on a date by the Prince. I'm happy for her, but I'm also nervous. I know that I'm only here because he pities me and the accident that occurred. Maybe if that didn't happen, I would have been eliminated already.

There's a bad feeling in the air, as if something is going to go wrong. The world seems to be holding its breath.

The Report is tonight, and I'm a ball of nerves. I've never been all that great at speaking in public. Something about it makes me freeze up and stutter. At least I don't have to worry about Drew being there to sabotage me. Even though she's done plenty of that without a Report. At least she is now at home, far away from me.

I'm wandering around the castle, bored out of my mind. Who would have thought that the Selection could ever grow tiresome? The hallways are empty, no one in sight except for guards at their posts. I've almost grown used to the sight of them.

Finally, another Selected girl comes walking near me. I recognize her after a few brief meetings. Silena, who is wearing a pale pink dress that sets off her hair really well.

"Hello Piper," she says in a friendly voice. "How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. And you?" I ask politely.

"Wonderful." She has a dreamy look in her eyes, looking more happy than normal. I smile at her somewhat awkwardly. "Piper, have you ever had that feeling where everything seems to perfect?"

An image of Jason fills my mind. I shake it off and resume smiling at Silena.

"I suppose that I must have before. What happened to make you so happy, Silena?"

Her smile goes away almost immediately. Her eyes, normally bright and warm, turn cold.

"Oh, nothing in particular. Just, you know, the Selection and all. It is the chance of a lifetime, after all."

I don't believe her, but it isn't my place to correct her, or pry any more.

"I agree," I say weakly.

"I have to go, but it was nice speaking to you, Piper."

"You as well," I say before resuming my walk. Something seems off about Silena.

Was her makeup smudged? I've never before seen that. Her hair looked a little mess up. And her lips looked...swollen.

I stop in my tracks. Percy hasn't been on a date with her yet, or at least not in my knowledge. And I doubt he would be so forward. I can read between the lines, and I don't like what I'm reading.

I turn around and run in the direction of where Silena went. Where did she go?

I see her speaking to a guard. I haven't ever seen him before. He's tall and has dark skin. His biceps are very well defined. I shake my head, trying to snap out of it.

Silena reaches on her tiptoes and kisses him lightly on the cheek.

What has she done? She could get killed for this.

I turn around, not knowing what to say. Should I warn her? What would I tell them? That they're not allowed to be in love? If they don't have love, then they have nothing.

Jason. Am I any better, going behind the prince's back? Are any of us actually faithful? Can it be considered faithfulness if he's never been on a date with us?

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't even notice that I arrived at my room. The Report is tonight, I suppose that I should start getting ready.

My maids are waiting inside, punctual as ever. They stand and curtsy to me.

"Miss, we have a dress selected for you to wear tonight. Would you like to try it on?"

I nod, too weary to say anything. All I can think about is Silena and the mistake she's making. Then again, I may be the one making the mistake.

A few minutes, or possibly hours later, my maids give me a mirror. They twisted my hair up into an elaborate bun with ringlets surrounding my face. The dress is a pale purple, making my skin look even more tan.

"Thank you," I tell them graciously. "For everything."

"It's our job, miss. Now get going to the Report. You don't want to be late."

I put on my favorite charm bracelet and hurry out of my room. Another girl is in front of me, also rushing to the main room.

The lights hit me, blinding my vision. Cameras are everywhere, but they're not yet filming. As the daughter of an actor, I've grown accustomed to behind the scenes of filming.

There are chairs set up for the Selected. Reyna is already in one, wearing a beautiful white gown. Her face is as regal and poised as ever. I walk to her, dodging wires and cords as I go.

"How did the date go?" I ask her, sitting down to her left.

She scowls. "I fear that I made the Prince angry with my harsh words. I forget, sometimes, to think before I speak. Then again, it was what I was thinking all along."

I don't understand what she's saying, but I know better than to ask her. I take her hand in mine and pat it, hoping that it would sooth her.

The other girls file in. Soon, everyone is here, except for the Prince.

"Alright, ladies," the announcer, Gail Christor, hollers at us. "I'm going to ask a few questions to different individuals. Just answer honestly, and don't forget to smile!"

"Three, two, one," the red light flickers on, signaling the start of filming.

"Hello, residences of Illea," Gail grins at the camera. "I'm here today with a very special Report. The ladies of the Selection are here with me today. But first, watch this very special segment of the Prince on a real date with Whites very own, Calypso Atlas!"

There's a monitor visible to us Selected. It turns on suddenly, showing us Prince Percy,  who is smiling crookedly at the camera. He's in an eating room I've never seen before. There's a tray filled with desserts, and it's obvious that the Prince has already eaten one.

The door opens and a beautiful girl with caramel hair walks in. She's wearing a simple white dress, nothing like the clothes the other Selected normally wear on a date.

"Hello, Lady Calypso," the Prince says to her, standing up.

"Hello, your highness," she curtsies in response. "It was very kind of you to invite me here."

"I'm looking forward to getting to know you," he tells her fondly.

She blushes and sits down, across from the Prince. Calypso stares at the desserts laid out in front of her.

"Take as many as you like, there's plenty more where that came from," the Prince laughs. He takes a small piece of chocolate cake and what looks to be a blue cookie.

Calypso moves, smiling. "I'm not used to seeing so much food. Even though I've been here for a few weeks, the amount of food is so surreal."

"How does it compare to at home, Calypso?"

She blushes again. "There's not much food in Whites," she whispers, sounding almost ashamed. "Especially not in the lower castes."

Prince Percy stops eating. He lowers down his fork and takes Calypso's hand in his. She continues to stare at the ground in silence.

"I didn't know that," he says softly. "I've never actually thought of that before. I assumed everywhere had enough food."

Calypso shakes her head again. "The Two's do, and so do the Three's. The Four's have enough, the bare minimum for survival, but Five's and lower have almost nothing."

Why are they continuing to show this? This isn't at all what I would want the Selection to be portrayed as.

Percy opens his mouth to say something, but then stops. He looks back at the camera, as if remembering this is all being filmed. "I'm sorry to hear that, Calypso. Tell me more about your home."

"Well, I live alone in a small house. I weave tapestries for the higher castes, and I sometimes sing at parties and such. I entered the Selection mainly to find company."

"And have you found it? With my experience, the girls here are very kind. Well, with a few exceptions, but they've been taken care of."

"Honestly, I haven't spoken much to the others. I'm not all that used to conversing with others," Calypso says to him.

"I'm sure that can be changed."

They eat some more in silence. I look at the other Selected, hoping to find Calypso. I can't see her, but she must still be in the Selection if she agreed to be filmed.

"Well, seeing as we have nothing to talk about, I must ask you something personal," his voice is serious, but his eyes are twinkling.

"What?" Calypso asks.

"What is your favorite color?" He asks her.

She thinks before answering. "Yellow. The pale yellow that comes in the sunrise. What's yours?"

"Blue, of course," he gestures towards his tie.

The screen goes black and everyone applauds. Although I'm not sure why, I join them. When the clapping dies down, Gail takes his place back in center stage.

"That was Calypso Atlas, ladies and gentlemen. One of the many ladies lucky enough to go on a date with our beloved prince. Lets talk to him now, shall we?"

Prince Percy enters and the room bursts into applause yet again. He sits in a chair, and Gail sits next to him.

"So, Your Highness, tell me. How has the Selection been so far?"

"A little overwhelming, honestly. The whole Willow scheme was frightening, but we luckily got her and everyone involved out of the palace and imprisoned forever."

"Wasn't one of the Selected hurt before you could stop Willow?"

The Prince sets his jaw. This clearly wasn't supposed to be mentioned. The worst part is I'm the one they're discussing.

"Unfortunately, yes. But she has healed and is thriving. She meets with our doctor weekly, and he has proclaimed her healthy again."

"Who is she? I believe we would like to speak with her, yes?"

The response is overwhelming. I feel faint and weak, yet I want to get my story across. I don't want to hide anymore.

I stand up before the Prince can summon me. I walk to him and Gail, making sure to hold my head high. The other Selected stare at me, but I ignore them. Percy's eyes are questioning. I smile at him for reassurance and he stands up, offering me his chair.

"What's your name?" Gail asks in a light and friendly voice.

"Piper McLean. I'm from Angeles."

"You are the one who Willow attacked, correct?"

I swallow hard. "Yes, that is correct. I was about to go meet with the Prince, but I was intercepted. Willow took a picture of me and I wanted to know why, so I followed her. That's when I got trapped. They tied me up and I was knocked out. Everything that happened after that, I'm not sure of."

"Thank you for sharing this, Lady Piper. I'm sure that it was emotional for you, and I'm sure the Prince is making sure you're all right."

"The Crown is very generous, yes."

I go back to my seat, confused at the very brief interview. Why petition so loudly for something that only lasted a minute?

I sit down and Reyna takes my hand. Tears fill my eyes, I suppose relieving that memory caught up to me at last. I notice Silena stand up and leave through the back. No one else seems to notice her but me. Is this about the guard? I hope not. Perhaps she's just using the restroom.

"On a more upbeat note," Gail says, as if my experience was something from a book. Percy's eyes flash in anger. "There has been a recent poll as to which remaining Selected lady is the favorite. This is where everyone stands."

"The lady in the lead is Rachel Dare, a beloved Two. She has been on at least one date with the Prince, clearly in the lead. Next is Silena Beauregard, who is also a Two. Piper McLean, the Two we just spoke to, is in third place. In fourth is a Four named Annabeth Chase. Fifth goes to Hylla Ramirez-Arellano. Following her is Zoe Nightshade. In seventh is Reyna Ramirez-Arellano.  Thalia Grace is next. Ninth goes to Calypso Atlas. In tenth is Bianca di Angelo, and in last is the young Six named Hazel Levesque."

How am I even in third place? There's nothing special about me, at least the Prince clearly doesn't think so.

Rachel and Silena are both Two's. So am I. The last two are Sixes. This isn't based on us at all. This is all about our Castes, a number that some believe define us. I've been in the Selection long enough to know that isn't the case at all.

"That was interesting, don't you agree, your Highness?" Gail asks.

We never find out his answer. A guard appears, his face red and flushed. "We have an emergency, your Highness! One of the Selected has been found with a guard!"

Everything happens at once. The cameras shut off, Percy springs up and runs after the guard. The Selected stand up as well. I gather the skirt of my dress, kick off my shoes, and run after the Prince. It's Silena, I know it is. And it could very well be all my fault.

I'm a few steps behind Percy and the guard. I have to keep up with them. And I do.

Silena's beautiful pink dress is now in tatters. She's bruised and bleeding in a few places. The guard looks no better. There's another guard standing over the two of them, whip in hand. Without thinking, I throw myself over Silena.

The whip hits me. It doesn't hurt as much as Willow's knife did, but it's close. I grit my teeth, but stay where I am.

I feel a pair of strong arms surrounding me. I fight and protest, but I'm nowhere near as strong. Silena has tears streaming down her face and she's reaching towards the other guard.

"Stop fighting, Piper," Jason says in my ear. It's him holding me back. I continue to struggle.

"Let me go, Jason. I need to help her, I have to stop this. It's all my fault," I sob. Percy is trying to help Silena, but the guard with the whip is still trying to harm Silena and her guard. He actually hits Percy with a whip. Percy falls to the floor, blood pouring down his cheek.

Silena looks at me sadly. There's fear in her eyes. Something else is there, an emotion I am all too familiar with. Love.

"Release Silena!" Percy screams. "Stop hurting her so much! Stop it!"

The guard with the whip hesitates. That's when Percy lunges at him and takes the whip. They fall on the floor. Jason lets me go to assist the Prince. I run to Silena's side. Her lips are moving, but no sound comes out. I lean down to hear her.

"...him. Bring me to Charlie," she whispers. I hope Charlie is the guard, since I bring her hand to his. They both smile at the same time, finally connected.

Blood runs off them red, the same color of love. It's only fitting that they should drown in blood and love at the same time.

A/N
I know this is almost exactly like what happened with Marlee, but there's a reason for it. I'm trying to keep this somewhat consistent with the themes of the books, and something big with these two is about to happen, even bigger than this. On another note, Nico is coming in the next chapter. Hopefully that will make up for this.