The Selection

Unveiled

Piper's POV

"You fought them for me," Sparky says, rolling his eyes. "I don't deserve you, Piper."

"You do, Sparky, you do," I say, cupping his face. "Never ever say that again. " I hug him, tightly. I don't want to lose him.

And for that letter, there should be something wrong.

"This must be a trap. A trap by that Prince. He is surely behind us. We have to make the authorities aware of these facts." I say, pulling away and making my way towards the door, my back towards Sparky, "Let's go and tell them. We can't let this happen. Sparky-"

"I need to tell you something," Sparky says.

I turn to look at him. My heart gave a leap. Everything around me seems to go blurred. Only I could see him. Without his wonderful glasses.

"I am Jason Grace." That is all he could say, with watery eyes.

"No, Sparky, this is not...the time to prank me. I know you are lying. You are not-" My mind goes haywire. This can't be true. I don't know what to believe, my eyes, his words or my heart.

Everything turned against me in this one moment.

"What your friends said, what your father wrote, was the truth. You are here... " He takes a long breath, " For... becoming the Queen of Ilea." He says all these, without even looking at me, even once.

"No, you are lying, I know you are lying. You can't lie to me. You are a bad actor. You can't-" I see Annabeth on the door. I run towards her.

"Annabeth, look at him... he is playing a prank on me. Ask him to stop, I am not in the mood to hear a lie. He is saying that he is Jason Grace. We know that's not the truth. Annabeth-"

"Piper, calm down." She says, concerned. But my mind is in panic, it can't be controlled.

"Annabeth, first... ask him to stop. Please. Please..."

"Piper, breathe. Don't be anxious. This will hurt you. Piper. "

Jason's POV

"Please, Annabeth, please. I can't have it anymore. Please. I beg you." Her face cripples and tears squeeze out of her eyes. I hate to see her like this. But she deserves to know the truth. Warm tears fill my eyes.

Annabeth meets my eyes. I nod.
"Piper, stop. Just stop. He is... Jason Grace, the Prince of Ilea." She says, calmly. " Piper, don't overreact -"

Suddenly, Piper's eyes change from sadness to anger. She pauses.

"Don't overreact! You knew the truth. Why didn't you tell me, then? Why did you betray me? Did I ever do something bad to you? Then, why?"

"Piper, I am the one you are fighting with. Don't drag Annabeth into this! She-" I interrupt. Annabeth is like my sister and I can't let anyone insult her.

"I am not talking to you! " She says, quietly, without looking at me. The words rip my heart into two. Her sudden change in voice, hurt me. It is all happening because of me.

"Piper, you can't talk to him like that!" Annabeth chimes in.

"Oh Annabeth, you are supporting this rascal, this lier, atrocious thief. Of course, he is your brother in law after all. You will obviously side him, right."

"Piper, you are going beyond-"

"Annabeth, stop. Please stop. Please leave." I didn't mean to say it harshly.

"But-"

"Please stay out of this. Leave. Please."
She has already done a lot for me.

"You will face the repercussions, Jason! " Annabeth warns and exits. The last thing I wanted was a warning from my sister like sister in law.