Thalia's POV

"What do you think this is about?" Piper asks me nervously as we walk down the hallway together. "This random party, I mean."

"The Selection has been happening for a while now. He needs to pick the Elite soon," is all that I say.

"You think he's already going to eliminate all but six? Gods, it all seems so sudden. I mean, I've know that it was always going to happen, but now that it's here..."

"I'm sure that you'll make it, Piper. There's only me, you, Rachel, Annabeth, Hylla, Bianca, Reyna, Hazel, Zoe, and Calypso left. Only four of us will be going home."

Piper sighs. "I know, you're right. But I'm still nervous that I won't make it into the top six. This is like a sporting competition, but based on looks and love."

"It would be much easier if it was sports," I grumble as I shift my sliver gown.

We arrive in the gardens, where eight other girls already are. Tables filled with food and flowers have been laid out around the gardens. Percy is stationed at one, eating blue candy. All the other girls look too nervous to be eating. Piper drifts away from me and towards Annabeth and Reyna.

"Can I interest you in any drinks?" a familiar voice asks me. I turn and see an all too familiar sheet of long blonde hair.

I'm about to shout a warning before she shows a gun that's revealed beneath her maid outfit. It's not pointed at me, although it would be much more easier if it was. It was aimed at the Prince.

"What are you doing here?" I hiss at Willow Livingston. "You're supposed to be gone."

"It seems that I'm not that good at following the rules," she giggles. "I want to talk with you, Thalia Grace. Follow me."

"Do I look crazy enough to do that? I'm not like you, Willow," I snarl.

She giggles again. "If you don't, I'll kill your precious Prince with a single bullet. Do you want to see me try?"

"Fine," I say in defeat. "I'll come with you." I can't let another death be my fault, just like Luke.

Willow frowns like a small child who was told they couldn't have any candy. "That's no fun. Oh well, come with me!"

She skips through the doors that I came out of, the guards not giving us a second glance. If I come out of this alive, I'm going to have a word with Percy about his guarding staff.

"How has the Selection been without me?" she asks with a twisted grin. "Dull, I suppose?"

"No, it's never been dull. But it has made me feel much safer to know that there wasn't any psychopaths on the loose. Apparently I was wrong."

"Yep! There's one thing that I want you to know, Thalia. I'm not done in the Selection. I was never actually properly eliminated."

"Really? Did they accidently forget to fill out the proper paper work while they were dealing with multiple deaths because of you?" I say sarcastically, trying to force the image of Luke's broken body out of my mind.

"That's exactly what happened!" she says cheerfully. "My daddy looked into it, and he said that I was still technically in the Selection."

"Okay, is that all that you wanted to tell me?" I ask, feeling confused and exposed.

"Of course not, silly! I came to give you a job. I want you to get rid one of the Elite girls. I don't care who, but preferably Annabeth, Rachel, or Piper. They're much too close to the Prince for comfort, don't you agree?"

"Why would I ever help you?" I snarl. "You're evil and twisted, and just plain crazy."

Willow smiles at me. "You'd help me because I have something you want."

Before I could ask her what she meant, I caught sight of movement in the shadows. I turn slowly and see an all too familiar face, complete with his scar that runs down his eye.

"Hi, Thalia," Luke Castellan says.

I don't remember ever moving or leaving the hall, but the next thing I know, a pair of hands are directing my shoulders and helping me walk. I blink in the bright sunlight as my shoes sink into the grass.

Luke's not dead. Luke's not dead. Luke's not dead.

Another thought crosses my mind. He's still working for Willow.

I look around and see that I'm standing in the garden again, girls and servants walking around. I turn back to the door and catch sight of Willow wink at me before she disappears.

Percy clears his throat, reminding me that there was an actual reason for my being there.There was no need to quiet us, we were already silent.

"Er, hi everyone. You're probably wondering why I asked everyone to come here. Well, it's about time to narrow it down to just the Elite. That means that only a maximum of six ladies will be staying from this point on. There's not really any use in dragging it out, so I'm just going to go ahead and say it. If I do not call your name, please leave through those doors," he pointed to a large pair of glass doors that had a few guards standing behind them, "And let our helpful guards escort you back to your room in order for you to pack your things."

A long silence followed his speech. I don't care about who makes it. Luke is alive! But he's still a traitor. I can't decide which is worse, him dead or him betraying me. Percy fidgets awkwardly at the front before straightening his tie.

"Oh, right, I'm supposed to continue. Alright. Er, thanks to everyone for bearing with me for this long, I know it couldn't be that easy for you." All he receives are a few nervous giggles. "Alright, this is in no particular order. Other than alphabetical. So technically, it is in a type of order: Alphabetical."

I see Annabeth roll her eyes before face palming. "Okay. Er, remember what I said earlier. If I don't call your name, go through those really cool doors. Okay. Let's get started. These people are the six Elite. Annabeth Chase."

Piper and I clap loudly for her, everyone else only giving her a small clap. Annabeth turns and smiles at me, looking like a princess with her curly blonde hair and pink dress.

"Rachel Dare."

More half-hearted applause. The air is thick with tension and nerves. "Thalia Grace."

I look up suddenly. How the heck am I an Elite? I've talked to the Prince like one time. I'm nothing special. And now, I may just be the cause of his destruction. I'm supposed to "get rid off" one other Elite.

I almost miss the other names. I listen again, trying to find out who is continuing. "Hazel Levesque. Piper McLean. Reyna Ramirez- Arellano. Those are the six Elite. Thank you to everyone else, it was fun. Actually, don't listen to me. I'm really bad at these things. You can collect your things now. Everyone else, you can stay here or go to your rooms, or the Women's Room, or wherever you go during the day."

I feel a hand grabbing my own. "We both made it, Thals!" Annabeth says. "Let's go celebrate."

Celebrate what? Luke being alive, but betraying us at this very second? Then I realize that Annabeth still thinks that he's dead. My heart pangs, but I can't tell her. It would ruin Annabeth. I wasn't ever there for here after she found out. Gods, how much more awful can I get?

I smile and ruffle her hair, just like I used to. "Let's go, Annie. I'll let you pick the movie."

She grins and gives me a hug. "I love you, Thalia."

"Don't let the Prince hear you say that," I say with a half- smile. "You may get eliminated on the spot."

"I won't let that happen, Thals. They can't get rid of me, no matter how much they try."

Just like how I've tried to forget Luke. But I can't. There's something about him that keeps coming back in sharp colors. Is this what love feels like, or am I just trapped?

"I miss him, too," Annabeth says. I look down and realize that I almost started to cry. "I think about him all the time. Like right now, all three of use would be heading to watch a movie in your room with ice cream. But I think I'll be okay, and you will too."

I smile down and squeeze her hand. "You find the movie, and I'll get the food."

As she leaves, one tear escapes from my eye. I curse it under my breath. She's wrong, though. My little genius is finally wrong. I don't think I'll ever be the same again. I don't think that I want to.

All that I know is that I'll do anything for Luke.