Annabeth's POV (again)

I wake up slowly, blinking as the sunlight hits my eyes. There's something different, but I don't know what exactly. I turn and see someone's black hair on the pillow next to me. Memories from last night crash around me like rain drops.

"Percy?" I whisper to see if he's awake. There's no response from him. I smile to myself as I maneuver out of the bed and into the bathroom. The problem is, there's three people already in there.

My maids look equally startled and guilty once they see me. They hurry into a curtsy, bobbing their heads at the same time.

"Good morning, miss," Teresa says, avoiding my gaze.

"You may be wondering why all three of us are hiding in your bathroom," Petunia at least has the grace to look embarrassed.

"You see, miss, when we came in this morning, we saw the Prince. We didn't want to wake you, so we decided to stay here until you two left," Tori explains.

"We didn't want to, ah, interrupt," Teresa says with a wink. My face goes red as I lean back against the door.

"Nothing happened," I say, trying not to laugh when all three of their faces fall in disappointment. "He had a rough night and needed some comforting is all.

"Oh," Petunia blinks, exchanging a look with Tori. "I apologize for jumping to conclusions, my lady. We just didn't want to bother you nor the Prince."

"It's alright, just promise me that you'll never hide in my bathroom again."

I shut the door quietly behind me and turn right into a very tired looking Percy. He blinks wearily as he looks at me.

"What?" is all he says.

I laugh and redirect him to the bed. "Just lie down for a little bit, your highness."

He collapses onto my bed and starts to snore again almost immediately. I open the bathroom door and all three of my maids scurry out of my room. Laughing, I close the door just in time to hear a grunt of pain coming from the other side.

I open the door again and see a pale boy wearing dark clothing clutch his foot in pain.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know that you were there," I apologize. "Are you alright?"

"It's nothing. I've felt worse. Is my cousin here?" He asks me, his dark eyes looking into my own.

"Cousin?" I ask. Then I remember what Percy said last night. He mentioned that his cousin arrived during the course of everything that happened last night. "Oh, you must be Nico di Angelo. I'm Annabeth Chase."

I'm suddenly aware of the fact that I'm only wearing a nightgown and that my hair must be a mess. I fidget awkwardly in the doorframe. Nico looks just as awkward, if not more embarrassed than I am.

"Yes, I am Nico. Can I speak with Percy? I was told that he'd be here," he says in a rush.

"Really" I didn't know that anyone else knew Percy spent the night with me. "By whom?"

He waves his hand dismissively. "Some girl with red hair." Rachel. But how did she know?  "Can I talk to him?"

"You can, but I don't think that he'll talk back. He's asleep at the moment, though he was awake a few minutes ago. I can wake him up, if you like."

Nico's eyes flash with something that almost looks like fear. "Please."

I close the door softly before turning back to the large bed. Percy is sprawled across it, his shirt twisted and wrinkled. A line of drool from his mouth connects with one of my pillows. I sit down next to his head and try to shake him awake. When that doesn't work, I stand up again. I run to the bed and jump onto him.

He wakes up with a grunt. I get back up quickly and stand up, trying to look innocent.

"What happened?" he asked blearily.

"I have no idea," I lie. "But you woke up just in time. Someone is here to see you."

In one smooth motion, I step back and open the door, revealing his younger cousin. Percy doesn't seem to see and instead rushes at me and throws me onto the bed.

"Payback," he says,laughing. Nico clears his throat and Percy has no choice but to turn and look out my open door.

"Hello, Percy," Nico says, avoiding his gaze. "We need to talk."

The laughter fades from Percy's eyes. "Talk? About what?"

"Silena and Charles are still in the infirmary, but many others are wondering what we are to do with them once they're healed. Luckily, the news hasn't leaked out to the media yet."

"We're going to let them go home under the pretense that Silena withdrew from the Selection. Charles will accompany her and there will be no charges held against either of them," says Percy fiercely.

"Neither of them committed a crime," I point out. "They should be able to leave, but we'll have to make sure none of the guards who were present tell anyone."

Nico's hesitation is obvious, but he doesn't say anything. "Of course."

"What else is there that you want to talk about?"

"It's about another one of the Selected ladies. Bianca," his voice breaks while saying her name.

"Yes? What about her?" Percy asks. 

Nico takes a deep breath. "I didn't even know she was here. The Selection never interested me, so I never heard, so it wasn't until last night that I knew."

"Knew what?" Percy demands, growing impatient.

Percy's cousin. Nico di Angelo. His surname is the same as Bianca's. That may just be a coincidence, but they both have the same olive skin and dark hair.

"Bianca is my sister."