~Playlist: "So Close" by Jon McLaughin~

"And now, forever I know, all that I wanted was to hold you so close. So close to reaching that famous happy end"

Annabeth's POV

All of my childhood fantasies vanished in a second.

All illusions of being proposed to on the beach, or after a romantic date, or anything disappeared. I never thought my engagement would occur while wearing pajamas and singing a pop song horribly off key.

But it had happened, and I couldn't be happier.

Now, the morning after it had happened, I finger my leather necklace delicately. We had left Percy's room hours ago with instructions to get dressed. My maids aren't aware of what happened, but they do know that an extravagant gown is needed.

"We were saving this for a ball, but I don't think there will be another one," Teresa says kindly. I look up from the chain of leather around my neck, and release a gasp of amazement.

The dress is the most beautiful one that I've ever seen. It's a crimson red color with intricately crafted jewels sewn into the very fabric so that it glitters with any movement.

"It's beautiful," I breathe. "Did you make it?"

"Me?" Teresa asks, sounding surprised. She chuckles softly. "God, no. I'm not that talented. One of our new workers made it. Calypso."

I blink in surprise. "Calypso? Calypso Atlas?"

Teresa nods. "Mhmm. She's really talented. And not only at sewing: she gardens and cooks, too."

"But...but she was in the Selection."

Now that I think about it, I can't recall her elimination. It wasn't a big announcement. "What is she doing working here?"

Teresa shrugs. "She and the Prince made some kind of deal. She would be allowed to stay here and work, her caste being a Three. Now, miss, you need to get ready."

I nodded, though I was still confused. Why didn't Percy ever tell me about Calypso?

It doesn't matter, I think to myself. There's been so much going on around here, it's not his fault he forgot to tell me. I'll ask him about it later.

Teresa helps me into the dress. To my surprise, it doesn't feel as heavy as it looks. The jewels should weigh it down, but they don't. Calypso really knows what she's doing. My hair gets gently combed and sprayed with a fruity concoction. Teresa's eyes fall to my neck. I know that she notices the leather necklace, but she says nothing, although she smirks triumphantly to herself.

"Alright, Annabeth, your dress and hair are done," she announces, setting down the bottle in her hand. "We still need to do your nails, shoes, and jewelry."

"Teresa, do you know something that you shouldn't?"

Her eyes dance with mischief. "I'm a maid. Of course I know things I shouldn't. Who do you think was sent to clean up the mess you made last night?"

My face burned red. "You were there?" I exclaimed.

"Not for whatever you're thinking of. I went when you all were asleep, and I noticed you and Percy were wearing matching necklaces," Teresa says with a smirk. "Besides, I had to help bring in flowers for today's announcement. It doesn't take a genius to put the pieces together."

"It's not the engagement announcement today," I admit to her. "He's eliminating two girls today."

"Then we'll have to make sure the next dress is even more radiant," she says resolutely.

She moves to leave, but I touch her shoulder. "Thank you, Teresa. For everything that you've done."

Her normally dancing eyes threaten to swim with tears. "I'm only nineteen years old, and I came here when I was fifteen. I know how scary that can be, Annabeth, and I wasn't about to leave you to fend for yourself."

We embrace briefly before she walks out of my room, no doubt going to go find the perfect pair of shoes to go with my outfit.

I, meanwhile, look at my reflection in the ornate mirror. Despite everything that's happened here, I still have the same reflection that I had eight months ago. My eyes are the same color gray, and my hair is still curly blonde.

But inside is where I've changed. Before this, I had never believed Luke would betray us. And I never thought he'd try and take Thalia with him. I didn't know how it felt to be engaged. I didn't know how it felt to be held captive by a girl with green eyes and a knife.

Some things that happened here were good. Some were bad. But they both happened, and they both changed me.

"Annabeth?" Teresa asks, her head peeking into my room. "Do you know someone named Esmerelda? Esmerelda Eduardo?"

"Of course she knows me!" a voice says indignantly. "Move it, Teresa."

"Let her in," I say.

Teresa opens the door wide, and a tall girl with porcelain skin and green eyes storms into my room. Storms is the only word for it: she moves like a hurricane. Esmerelda looks at my red dress disbelievingly.

"Do they even make dresses like that?"

"One person does. What is it, Esmerelda?"

"Teresa, go find some jewels for Mrs. Jackson!" she hollers. Teresa peeks into the room once more, and her eyes look into mine. I nod, and she disappears. "Now that she's gone, I can get down to business."

"You look different," is all I can think to say.

She snorts. "Very observant. Yes, I look different. What would the guards do if they saw the same girl that blew up the court room a week ago just strut into the castle? Daphne made me Shift, but I kept the eyes. They're my favorite, you know. It's a shame Willow stole them."

I shudder involuntarily at the mention of her name. Esmerelda coolly raises a dark eyebrow. "You're still scared of her?"

"Not of her," I defend myself. "Just what she can do."

She waves a hand. "Same thing. Don't worry, Annabeth. I'm much stronger than that she-devil."

"That's reassuring," I say dryly. "Anyways, what do you want? Why did you come here?"

Esmerelda smirks, and lays down on my bed. "A little birdie told me about your engagement. I suppose I should offer my congratulations?"

"And that's why you came?"

She sighs, and sits up. "Of course not. Well, there are several reasons I came here, as in the castle, but there's only one why I came to your room. Annabeth, I've explained the whole demigod thing to you, right?"

I nod, still unaware of where this conversation is headed.

"It's no easy task, fighting for your life everyday. But you already know that, don't you? Anyways, I came here to give you something."

She holds out her hand and in her palm rests a dainty white flower.

"Those necklaces," Esmerelda says, gesturing to the one around my neck. "They're kind of like promise rings, aren't they?"

"Yeah, kind of."

"Well, this flower is like that too."

"Are you trying to propose to me?"

Esmerelda snorts. "As if. When I was fourteen, my mother led me into a wooded area behind my house. She brought me to the middle of the forest, and showed me this thorny plant that held only one flower. That was the first time she showed herself to me, actually. Before that, Aphrodite only came to me as the wind. But she wore a human appearance and told me that this flower is a promise."

"A promise for what?" I ask, examining the flower. It isn't anything remarkable, but it's beautiful in a simple way.

"A promise for the daughter of Athena. I've met many of Athena's children in my time at the Demigod Institute, but none of them were the right one. My mother said that this flower comes from the depths of Tartarus itself."

"Tartarus?" I try the foreign word on my tongue. It cuts itself on my lips.

"Hell," she says simply. "The demigod hell. Only a few demigods have ever gone there and survived. I'm one of them, and so is Sam."

"If so few go there, then why did you?"

"The flower my mom gave me was only a copy of it," Esmerelda explains. "She told me the real one was in Tartarus. Years later, Sam and I went there together. But that's not important. The whole deal with this flower is that it's not just a promise, but a broken promise. An oath. Once whatever promise that was made was broken, the flower will start to die. Only when it is completely dead will the fall of the gods begin."

"Wait," I interrupt, putting a finger on my temple. "How is any of this about me?"

"Gods, don't you understand?" All Esmerelda's patience evaporates in a second. "Olympus is in trouble, Annabeth, even if you don't know what I mean. And if a daughter of Athena is the only chance we've got, I'm going to take it. You may not even be the right one, but you're a chance. So take the flower!"

I cup my hands and hold them out. Esmerelda neatly drops the flower into my hands. Almost immediately, a petal shrivels up and falls off. I almost drop it in alarm.

"What just happened?" I exclaim. "I didn't mean to do that!"

Her face is solemn as she picks up the dead petal. "Well, I guessed right. Any promises someone made to you that's been broken recently?"

I think for a second, but it's too overwhelming. All the new information is too much for me. "Not that I can remember," I answer honestly.

Esmerelda releases a string of curses as she stands up. "I'm going to be at this ceremony thing as a guard, so come find me if you can remember anything."

I promise her that I will before she walks out of the door. Teresa takes that as a cue to walk in, her arms bulging with jewelry and shoes.

"I've got quite a few options," she says with a grin. "Pick your favorite."

I force a smile, and allow Teresa to make me try on shoes. But my mind isn't on which shade of red matches the dress best; I'm trying to fit together all the pieces the universe decided to dump out in front of me.

__________________________

"Are you nervous?" Piper asks me in between sips of the glass of water in her hand.

"Me? What do I have to be nervous about?"

"It was just a guess. You look a bit...jumpy."

I stop my vigil scanning of the room and face my friend sheepishly. I've been looking for Esmerelda ever since I got her twenty minutes ago, but to no avail.

"I'm just looking for somebody," I say with a small smile.

She rolls her eyes. "Annabeth, your fiancé left to use the bathroom two minutes ago. I think you'll be able to manage."

I respond with an eye-roll of my own, but her words bring me back to this world. The world where Percy Jackson is engaged to me.

"Anyways, are you nervous?" I ask Piper. "You're the one who's getting eliminated."

"But here's the difference: I don't hold any romantic feelings towards the Prince, unlike you. So I have nothing to be nervous about."

"Oh."

The room is filled to the brim with chattering people, silent guards, and food that lets off a strong aroma. It's a shame we're not supposed to eat it until after the announcement. Flowers and statues decorate the ballroom, and everyone is dressed in their best.

Piper's dress is a soft purple that somehow coordinates with her skin tone. She beams across the room, and I follow her eyes to Jason Grace. I smile to myself as she shakes her head and mouths words to him.

I don't know much about Jason, but it's hard to not like the guy. He seems to be so genuine and kind.

Sitting next to Piper is Reyna, and she looks radiant in her silver dress. She's laughing with Hazel, who looks beautiful in a golden dress that match the exact shade of her eyes.

"Hey, Annabeth."

I turn in my chair. Standing behind me is Rachel Dare, looking nervous as she glances towards the seat to my left.

"Do you mind if I...?"

"No! No, not at all."

Rachel sits down gratefully, and stares at her hands in the folds of her skirt. "So. How are things?"

"Things are good."

We sit in a thick silence for several minutes until Rachel sighs heavily and looks up. "Look, I know we're not the best of friends, but-"

"Why?" I interrupt.

Rachel blinks. "What?"

"Why aren't we friends? I know it was rocky in the beginning, but why now?"

"I don't really know," she says honestly. "It's just kind of been that way."

"I think I know why. You liked Percy, and so did I." She blushes slightly. "Not that that's a bad thing, but we kind of clashed. We were both strong, prideful women that liked the same boy." Rachel lets loose a shaky laugh. "And Rachel, I'm sorry. I was...jealous." I finish quietly.

"What?" she asks teasingly. "I couldn't hear you."

I glare at the red-haired girl. "You know what I said. Don't make me repeat it."

"It wasn't your fault, though. I don't think I was ever really in love with Percy. I was in love with the..." she trials off, and her eyes water as she struggles not to cry. "I've only told my dad and Percy this, so you better not go telling everyone, okay?"

I nod. "Promise." The word hits me like a small knife, but it's too late to take it back. After what Esmerelda told me, I'm going to need to stop using that word.

"Before I came here, I used to have dreams. And not just any dreams. Really detailed, vivid, life-like, disturbing dreams. When I came here, they stopped. I didn't have any, except for a few that contained images of a green-eyed girl holding a knife. Other than that, no monsters appeared in my dreams. I thought it had something to do with Percy, as crazy as that sounds."

"It doesn't sound crazy," I say gently. She laughs shakily.

"Yeah, well, everyone used to think that I was crazy. I didn't make many friends at the start of the Selection because I was afraid of what they would say if they found out about my dreams."

"What did you dream about?" I can't help but ask.

"That's not really a topic for right now. Not the right place or time."

I nod in understanding.

Before either of us can say anything else, a silence falls over the room. Rachel and I look up at the same time to see that Percy's standing in front of our five chairs on the podium.

"Thirty-five girls came here," he begins. "The number dwindled until it became the six Elite. And now, the five Elite. And today, that number will become three Selected girls still left in the Selection."

We're so close. Percy and I are almost to the end of our personal Selection.

And now I'm praying to whatever gods Esmeralda believes in that our happy ending won't be ruined. 

A/N
I got a question yesterday from a fan asking if this was the end of the book. No, it isn't. The Selection may be over, but The Demigod Selection isn't over.

Another person asked what order they should read the books.
1.) The Demigod Selection
2.) Either Understory or Waiting on You. The order right now doesn't matter, but you'll need to read Understory before the middle of this book
And then Spaces In Between can be read at any time.

What are your thoughts about the flower? What promise did Annabeth break, or what promise did someone break to her?