CHAPTER NINETEEN.
i'll betray you like a man

     SECONDS turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours, and hours turned into days while Feyre Blanchard waited for her sister's safe return from the deadly quest forced upon her and the other children.

     However, the deadline had come to pass and still no sign of Delia Cromwell, or her travel companions. The Gods above were becoming uneasy, which forced the camp to spiral into chaos once again. Cabins turned against each other, and Feyre and Luke were struggling to rebuild the alliances they shifted together days ago. The hours of work that went into creating a peaceful harmony in their beloved camp, it was all destroyed in a matter of days when Percy Jackson and the others failed to return back to camp before the summer solstice, which meant they were yet to return the master bolt back to Zeus. Feyre Blanchard couldn't help but wonder what the reason for their failure could be?

The thought left a bitter taste in the girl's mouth. Not only would there be a war between Gods and their children, a war they were all anticipating would jumpstart at any second, but the kids who were meant to prevent the war still haven't returned back home to camp. Feyre couldn't help but think about her sister in particular. Delia wasn't a fighter. She never has been. Although she had her uses on the quest, she would have to rely on the others who were more skilled in combat to protect her. And travelling with a forbidden child like Percy would have its fair share of dangers and challenges. Feyre never thought her sister would have to pay the price of this quest with her life.

     Feyre touched her neck where her necklace used to be, looking out at the lake and watching as it glistened underneath the sun while her legs hanged over the edge of the wooden dock. She thought about the promise she made to Delia, spouting the same nonsense her mother told her when she gifted Feyre the necklace in the first place. For a long time now, Feyre believed in her mom's words, believing wholeheartedly that the Gods above would protect her from everything and anything that tried to hurt her. So she had no problem repeating the same words to her sister to reassure her fears and anxieties. And now Feyre couldn't help but wonder how wrong she was about her words, the Gods, and everything else in-between.

If Delia Cromwell never returned home, Feyre knew she could never forgive herself for the lies she told her little sister.

     "You're still thinking about Delia?" Feyre jumped slightly when she heard the familiar voice. It was quick to snap her out of her thoughts before she turned and looked over her shoulder to see Luke Castellan standing behind her, a sheepish grin tugging at the corners of his lips. It wasn't a lot. But it was enough to make Feyre smile back at him. Maybe he was the comfort she needed in the midst of all the chaos.

And then Feyre couldn't help but sigh. "Delia and the others should've been back days ago," She reminded him, turning her attention back to the gentle ripples of the lake again. From the corner of her eye, she noticed Luke take a seat next to her on the edge of the dock. "What if something bad happened to them? What if they encountered something that wanted to hurt them? What if—"

     "Feyre, I'm sure they're fine," Luke quickly interjected, putting an end to the girl's endless rambling and panic. Feyre turned her head around until her eyes met Luke's gaze again, a shaky breath leaving her lips while he continued to speak. "I taught Percy how to fight. Annabeth is one of the most gifted and strategic warriors we know. And Grover...he was Delia's protector once before. I know he would look out for her the same way you always have. They're going to be okay. I know it," He elaborated further, and while it eased her worries, it didn't erase them completely.

"Then why aren't they back yet?" Feyre questioned in rhetorical manner, a sad look glimmering in her dark coloured eyes. "The summer solstice is here, Luke, and they're still not home. If everything was fine, then why haven't they come back yet?" She pushed, hoping he could give her another answer that would reassure her fears and anxieties. But the boy remained silent, his lips pursing into a thin line.

And when she believed he had nothing to say, preparing for the conversation to end there, Luke reached out and tucked some of Feyre's brown locks behind her ear. Her eyes met his again, and it didn't take long for the girl to spot the sincerity burning im his gaze. "This isn't like last time, you know?" He reminded her, already figuring out the root of the girl's fears. Feyre hated that Luke could suss her out like that. It made it incredibly difficult to keep her real feelings hidden from him.

Sighing in defeat, Feyre nodded her head. "You almost died last time. There hasn't been a quest since because we weren't allowed because it was too dangerous. Now a new one comes along, and it involves a forbidden kid, and since Delia was picked to go on this quest, I've done nothing but worry. But what if she got hurt? What if she's dead and I didn't get to say goodbye?" She confessed, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Luke's gaze softened when he saw his girlfriend in such a vulnerable state. To hear her admit her fears made his heart ache, and it even made him feel guilty, knowing this quest would've never existed if it wasn't for him. He wished he could admit his sins to her, and beg for her forgiveness, but he knew he couldn't do that without outing his plan, and exposing his true intentions. He planned to tell her any day now, knowing that if his plan worked, then he would need Feyre for what's to come. He wouldn't be able to do any of it without her by his side. However, it didn't mean he couldn't feel the guilt that clawed at him when he saw the pain he was causing. Pain that came from his own hands.

"Don't say that. Delia and the others will be fine. I don't know why they're not back yet. I wish I had those answers for you, but I don't. But I have a good feeling, and just because they missed the deadline, doesn't mean they're dead. Whatever's happening...I'm sure it'll be resolved soon and Delia and the others will be back in no time. I know it," Luke reassured her, using his thumb to wipe away a tear just underneath the girl's eye. "And maybe you'll be lucky and Delia comes back today. Perfect timing considering it's your birthday."

The mention of her birthday made Feyre smile, a gentle giggle leaving her lips as she mentally face palmed herself. "I completely forgot it was my birthday today," She admitted.

     "That's why I reminded you. Your eighteenth should be at least a little memorable," Luke laughed, and once the laughter between the two teens faltered, the boy leaned to the side and gently nudged the girl. "I know you probably don't feel like celebrating. But I planned something tonight, and it's going to be a great surprise. So, I was hoping you would make an exception," He told her, sounding hopeful.

     Feyre rolled her eyes, nodding her head in the process. "I do like surprises," Feyre replied, allowing at least one birthday surprise to go ahead without her younger sister present.

     But then in dawned on her that it was her eighteenth. A few days ago she had contacted her mom. They caught up, and Feyre asked once again if she could come home. She wanted to be there for her mom during the rest of her recovery, and maybe stay with the exception of visiting camp for at least one week every summer. After her accident, Rosalind realised she wanted and needed to spend as much time with her daughter as possible, and so she told Feyre to come home after the summer was over. Feyre had told Alina and the rest of the Apollo cabin, and wanted to tell Delia once she got back, but she still hadn't found the courage to inform Luke of her decision. She had talked about options with her mom beforehand, but it was if Luke would agree was what she was worried about.

     Luke picked up on Feyre's sudden silence, and the way her smile faded away from her lips, raising alarm bells in his head. "Hey, what is it?" He inquired.

     "I talked to my mom a few days ago about leaving camp at the end of the summer," Feyre informed, her words being enough to make Luke swallow thickly. Feyre let out a shaky breath, nodding. "I've been in this camp for four years, Luke. I want to go out into the real world and be normal for once in my life. I want to go to school and try new things. I would still visit camp, but I just won't be here all the time," She explained, staring at Luke in hopes of spotting some sort of understanding from him.

     "I understand," Luke obliged, but Feyre could see the disappointment twinkling in his eyes. "But I would miss seeing you every day," He added, and Feyre had to do everything in her power to hide the blush that warmed up her tanned cheeks.

     Feyre then smiled. "That's what I wanted to ask because I talked to my mom, and she said you, Alina and Delia can come and visit whenever. You can spend the holidays with us. But only if you would want to," She proposed, hoping Luke would accept her offer.

     Luke stared into Feyre's eyes for a moment before he reached out and caressed her left cheek with his hand. "I haven't experienced a proper Christmas in forever. It would be nice to spend it with you and your family," He answered with a smile.

     Feyre cracked a smile of her own. "Good. Because my mom is dying to meet you. She wants to finally put a face to the name of the boy I've been telling her about," She told him, leaning closer towards the boy until her nose grazed against his own.

     "Feyre, you tell your mom all about me?" He replied, a teasing look plastered across his face. Feyre couldn't help but chuckle in response, the redness in her cheeks becoming more prominent to the naked eye.

     "Don't let it go to your head," Feyre countered, squinting her eyes in the process. "I can't let that boost your ego."

     Luke cocked his head slightly to the side upon hearing the girl's words. "Oh, yeah?" He inquired once again, sounding almost amused by her choice of words.

     "Most definitely," Feyre confirmed before Luke pressed his lips against her own.

Feyre felt them almost instantly — the familiar sparks that coursed through her veins like static electricity whenever Luke's lips found their way to her own, moving in perfect sync with one another. Feyre kissed the boy back, lifting her hand and moving her fingers to the nape of his neck, deepening the kiss in the process. That was until Luke pulled away first, staring into the girl's eyes while he rested her forehead against her own, a shaky breath leaving his lips while he continued to stare at Feyre with a longing look burning in his eyes. Then Feyre saw him part his lips to speak, and she wondered what he was going to say next.

But all good things must come to an end.

     "Feyre! Feyre!" The girl quickly jumped away from Luke and turned around to see Alina Sinclair running up the dock towards her and Luke, a panicked expression plastered across her face. A frown quickly found its way to Feyre's face while she looked up at her sister, a mixture of concern and confusion evident in her eyes. Out of breath, Alina found the courage to speak once again. "You need to get to the infirmary now."

     Feyre turned to Luke, the couple exchanging a series of looks before Feyre turned her attention back to Alina. "What is it?" She asked, her voice growing shaky.

     Alina appeared to be terrified, dread burning bright in her eyes while she parted her quivering lips to speak again. "It's Delia. Something's wrong," She informed, her voice cracking slightly in the process.

     That was all it took — the mention of Delia's name — for Feyre Blanchard to stand back up onto her two feet and rush towards the infirmary without saying another word to Alina or Luke. But the pair quickly followed after the girl as they rushed back to the infirmary where the young girl needed all the help she could get. Feyre felt her heart beginning to hammer hard against her ribcage, like it was going to explode out of chest at any given moment while she ran across the camp, finding her own way to the infirmary where her sister would be. Feyre didn't exactly know what happened, but what she did know was it would be up to her, Alina, and whoever else from the Apollo cabin who were working in the infirmary today.

     When Feyre arrived at the infirmary, she rushed up the steps and pushed open the door with all her strength before she rushed down the corridor and into the room where she heard the loud groans of pain coming from. Luke and Alina followed the girl into the infirmary and watched as she walked into the next room where Delia was, lying in the bed and squirming in discomfort while Annabeth and Grover did their best to calm her down. Feyre froze in her steps, staring down at her pain riddled sister with fear and grief, worried that due to the girl's pale complexion and the black liquid coating her lips, that maybe they were too late to save her.

     But Feyre couldn't give up on her sister just yet. So the girl swallowed her fear and her anxiety before she strode over to her sister's bedside, grabbing Delia's face with her hand's, analysing her symptoms closely; bloodshot eyes, thick black liquid pooling from her lips, a cold sweat and fever. Feyre's gaze then travelled down to her sister's hip to see a black patch seeping through her jacket, causing for Feyre to lift up the corner of her clothing to see a puncture wound pierced into her skin. Feyre released a shaky breath, realising that her sister had been poisoned by some sort of monster. This caused for the girl to lift her eyes to stare at Annabeth and Grover, her gaze shifting between the pair.

"She's been poisoned. What happened?" Feyre asked them, hoping they could provide her with a straight forward answer. However, both of them struggled to form a single sentence that made any sense. It was almost as if they struggled to comprehend what was happening themselves.

Annabeth shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure what happened," She answered truthfully, disappointed that for once she didn't have all the answers.

"Something tried to pull us into Tartarus," Grover blurted out, and news causing for Feyre's eyes to grow wide in shock while Luke and Alina stayed back, dread washing over them both when they heard Grover's fateful words. "Delia, she tried to save me by pulling me back, but she slipped over the edge. Percy and I...we tried to save her, but she sacrificed herself and fell straight into Tartarus to save our lives. We don't know how she got out, but maybe something in there did this to her," He elaborated further, his hands starting to shake as the satyr spiralled into a state of panic.

Feyre listened and took in every single word, making sure she understood correctly what had happened to her sister. Then she turned to Alina who was standing far back, panic in her eyes when she realised what had happened. "Alina, I need your help. I need you to get the nectar and ambrosia," Feyre instructed, but Alina was frozen in place. "Alina! Nectar and ambrosia," She repeated, raising her voice, the urgency in her tone being enough to make Alina comply with her instructions.

Feyre then turned to Luke. "Luke, I'm going to need your help holding her down," She told him. Luke was hesitant at first, but quickly joined Feyre. Alina then walked back to her sister and gave her the nectar and ambrosia needed. "By the looks of it, whatever poison is in her body is having a serious effect. It's good you guys got her here when you did because any later it might have been too late. When I give her this, it should clear out the poison, but it's going to hurt, which is why I need you all to help me hold her down," She explained, removing the top of the vial in the process.

Together, the others used all their strength to hold down the girl and restraining her to the confinements of the bed. Feyre inhaled sharply and bent over before she tilted the vial to Delia's lips, pouring just enough nectar into her mouth, causing for the girl to cough, splutter, before her body tensed and twitched in response to the nectar beginning to flush the poison out of her body. Feyre then knelt down at her sister's bedside and ran her hand gently through the girl's curls, shushing her calmly. "It's okay. It's going to be okay," She whispered quietly.

Feyre Blanchard only hoped she was right this time.

━━━━━━━━

     Hours had passed since Delia was taken into the infirmary with poison pulsating through her veins, and after many long hours of waiting patiently by her bedside, Feyre and Alina came to the conclusion that their sister would be okay. She would heal from her wounded leg and the poison would slowly wash out of her system. It wouldn't be long until she was back on her feet again. That was the good news to say the least. However, the bad news still weighed heavy on Feyre Blanchard's mind, and so when Delia opened her eyes, Alina pulled Feyre aside and told her to take a break, volunteering to be the one to deliver their youngest sister the terrible news. The kind of news Feyre knew would break Delia's heart.

     When Feyre stepped outside the infirmary, she spotted Luke Castellan sitting on the steps, and when he felt a presence behind him, he turned around. When he saw that it was Feyre, he quickly stood up and stared down at the girl with worry in his eyes. Feyre always knew he cared for Delia like a little sister. It was understandable he would be worried. The girl then approached Luke, sniffling quietly and inhaling sharply in hopes that she could hold back the tears that pricked at her eyes and threatened to fall down her cheeks. Feyre was often good at hiding her true feelings from others. But Luke was the one person who could see right through her. And that was when the boy realised something had happened. Something bad. 

     "Is Delia's going to be okay?" He asked, sincerity laced in his voice. Feyre then looked down, and when she did, she watched as Luke's hands started to tremble, causing for the girl to furrow her brows for a split second. She understood Delia's life mattered to Luke, but did it warrant all of this worry? Or was there something she didn't know?

     It was a matter Feyre would talk to Luke about later on. For now she just needed someone to talk to. Feyre sniffled once again before she parted her lips to speak. "Delia will be okay...but she was poisoned by something in Tartarus. It could've been a monster trapped in there, or the atmosphere of the pit. I don't exactly understand how it works down there. But whatever it was..." Feyre paused, trying her best to swallow the lump forming in the back of her throat. The sobs in her throat threatened to escape, like someone was trying to stick a branding iron down her neck. But the girl had to remain strong for her sister. "Luke, it took her ability to heal people," She informed.

     Luke frowned in response to Feyre's words, staring back at the girl confused. "That doesn't make sense. How does that even work?" He asked, hoping she would be able to provide him with the answers.

     Feyre shrugged her shoulders in response. "I'm not entirely sure. But Alina and I had her suspicions that a poison this strong could have a long lasting effect. So when Delia came to briefly an hour ago, Alina cut her hand to test the theory and Delia couldn't do anything. Before healing was effortless for her, and now she can't do it at all," She explained.

     Luke pursed his lips into a thin line for a moment, looking down at the ground before he lifted his gaze to meet Feyre's eyes again. "Do you think they could come back with time?" He inquired, sounding hopeful that there could still be a good outcome after all of this tragedy. But judging by the heartbroken look plastered across Feyre's face, Luke got his answer soon enough, and in return, those hopes were quickly shattered into a million tiny pieces.

     "It happens. Demigods lose their powers all the time after something like this. But Delia isn't just any kind of demigod kid. Healing people was everything to her, especially after she lost her parents. Being able to save lives after watching them die in front of her meant something to her, and now the one thing that she believed gave her life meaning after Apollo saved her, it's gone," Feyre elaborated, running a hand through her brown locks. "She just woke up. I tried to tell her, but I couldn't. So Alina said she would do it and told me to take a break. I don't know what I'm going to do, Luke..."

     In that moment, Luke Castellan could see the toll Delia's pain was taking on her, and it broke his heart to see Feyre taking on the weight of so much pain and anguish. Feyre was eldest daughter and prided herself on being her siblings protector. So when something bad happened to one of them, she fell into a pit of guilt and blame. Even if it was never her fault in the first place, Feyre carried their pain with her until it turned into her own. And if she could take her siblings pain and carry it for them, she would in a heartbeat because that was just the kind of person Feyre was. It's who she's always been. And although Feyre would never pass that pain on to anyone else, Luke would do anything to take that pain from her and turn it into his own if it meant she wouldn't feel this way anymore.

"Hey, it'll be okay," Luke reassured her, speaking softly as he approached the girl, caressing her face in his hands with a gentle touch that left Feyre feeling relieved. "Delia will be okay. You want to know how I know that?" He asked in rhetorical manner, his words causing for Feyre to look up to meet the boy's gaze. "Because she has you, and Alina, and me, and her friends. She's not alone in this, and neither are you," He continued, brushing this thumb gently across her olive skin, the comforting feeling being enough to make Feyre crack a small, yet grateful smile.

Feyre quickly leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to Luke's lips, surprising the boy at first. "Thank you," She whispered, and Luke couldn't help but frown in response as he removed his hands from the girl's face.

"For what?" He questioned, a sheepish grin forming across his lips in the process.

Feyre tilted her head slightly to the side before she reached down and grabbed Luke's hands with her own, lacing their fingers together. "For being here," She replied, her choice of words being enough to make Luke's smile more prominent and genuine.

"As long as I'm here..." Luke trailed off, letting go of one of Feyre's hands and reaching up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. "You'll never be alone, Sunshine." And that was when Feyre swore she could've melted away into his arms in seconds if possible. She had known Luke for a long time, so long that they knew everything about each other, and told each other everything, and even now, Feyre had no shame in admitting she was falling for her best friend more than ever.

And if this was what falling felt like, Feyre didn't mind falling for the rest of her life.

     But the peaceful moment between the couple was quickly put to an end when they heard a chorus of yelling approaching them. This caused for Feyre to break away from Luke before she turned around to see Percy Jackson with Annabeth and Grover following close behind him. They were informed Percy had gone to Olympus to prevent the war after missing the deadline, and since the curly haired son of Poseidon was now standing in front of him, it was clear he hadn't been incinerated to ashes at the hands of Zeus himself. That meant the war would be put to a halt and peace would once again be restored in Olympus, and camp. And despite Percy's obvious connection to Feyre's impending death date, she was relieved to see the young boy still alive and standing.

Percy, now out of breath, looked up at Feyre with a hopeful glint twinkling in his ocean blue eyes. "Is she okay?" Was all he asked of the older girl, his tone quiet, yet begging for the answers he desperately sought to find out. And as Feyre witnessed the pleading look form in his features, she nodded her head and placed her hand on the boy's shoulder.

"She's going to be okay. But she did lose her ability to heal others. So, it's going to be a tough time for her for a while. She's going to need all of you, and your support," Feyre explained. She lifted her gaze to glance over at Grover and Annabeth too. The quest had bonded the kids more so than ever. They were more than just travel companions. They were the best of friends. And that's a bond stronger than anything else in this world.

     Grover nodded his head. "We'll be here," He reassured, not just as Delia's former protector, but as her friend.

     Annabeth nodded her head in agreement as her gaze began to soften. "Can we see her?" She inquired delicately.

     "Of course, you guys can," Feyre responded, a small smile ghosting across her lips. She then turned around to face Luke, sending him a nod that told him everything would be okay. "I'll see you later tonight?" She questioned, hoping that her birthday wouldn't be put on hold. Truth is, Feyre needed something good to come out of this dreadful day. Luke simply nodded his head in response and offered the girl a warm smile before he backed away and left the girl alone with the younger kids.

Feyre then turned to the kids and guided them up the steps and into the infirmary until she found the room Delia was in. She gently pushed the door open to reveal the young girl quickly wiping away her tears while Alina sat with her on the bed. Feyre quickly realised Alina had already given Delia the news about her loss of abilities. She even wondered if now was a good time for Delia's friends to visit her, but if she needed cheering up, then being around her friends would surely do the trick. This caused for Feyre to put on a cheerful grin, her lips parting to speak. "There's someone here to see you," She informed.

Delia furrowed her brows in confusion for a moment. She then watched as Feyre stepped aside to reveal Annabeth and Grover, who quickly pushed past and ran to the girl before they both embraced her at the same time. It was a surprise at first. Delia didn't realise they were all back from the quest until now, but she didn't hesitant to return the favour and embrace her friends with all the strength she could still muster up in her delicate arms. Alina stepped back and stood beside Feyre, watching as their sister sighed in relief, a stray tear rolling down her cheek, but a small smile proved this was a tear of joy, and not the same sadness she has felt one too many times before.

     "Thank the Gods you're okay," Annabeth breathed out, being the first to pull away girl the girl. "You scared us to death, Delia."

     Grover soon pulled away shortly afterwards. Delia looked to him to see the worry plastered across his face, like she would disappear in front of him if he wasn't careful. Delia took Grover's hand into her own, her gaze shifting between him and Annabeth for a moment before she nodded. "Well, I'm not going anywhere. Tartarus wasn't enough to keep me trapped for long," She joked, trying to lighten the mood. And it worked, that was until she turned her head to the side to see Percy standing in the doorway, staring back at her with relief, but he remained frozen in place.

     Delia could see Percy was terrified to approach her, like this was some sort of mirage or dream and when the dream disintegrated, reality would set in and she would still be trapped at the bottom of Tartarus. Delia understood the feeling more than anyone. It was exactly how she felt after losing her parents. He thought he lost her. He blamed himself for that loss. And although she was alive, free from the shackles of the dark pit, Percy was terrified to hold her close and call her his friend again, scared he would lose her just like he did once before. Delia emphasised with the boy. And so she did something that none of them expected from her, especially in her current condition.

     Delia let go of Grover's hand and pulled the blanket off her body, revealing she was still dressed in her dirt covered clothes from the past week. The girl then let out a wince as she made an attempt to climb out of the bed. She stretched out her leg and lifted herself onto her feet, but the shooting pain that pulsated sharply through her leg made her stumble. This caused for Feyre and Alina to come to the girl's aid, holding her upright for a moment. "Delia, the nectar and ambrosia is still working its way through your body. It'll be a few days until your leg is fully healed," Alina explained, trying to encourage the girl to go back to the bed.

Delia steadied herself before she looked over at Alina. "It's okay. I can do this. Tartarus took away my ability to save people. I won't let it take away my ability to made amends with my best friend," She whispered. Her declaration was enough to make both Feyre and Alina let the girl go, watching as she limped her way over to Percy, who remained frozen in the doorway.

     When Percy realised what Delia was doing, the boy shook his head. "Delia, you...you should get back to bed. It isn't good for—"

     Percy was quickly cut off when Delia wrapped her arms around his body, holding him close to her before she rested her chin on his shoulder. Percy, still frozen in place, allowed her to hold him, a shaky breath leaving his lips. Delia felt his body tremble beneath her touch, and not because she had this power over him, but because he still couldn't believe she was safe. "It's okay. I'm okay. You won't lose me again. I promise," She whispered into his ear.

     And when Percy came to the conclusion that Delia was real and she was here with him, he quickly snaked his arms around her body, and held her so tightly he was almost scared to let go. "I thought you were gone. How did you—"

     "The pearl...It saved me. Your dad saved me," Delia interjected in a reassuring tone, hoping to ease his fears.

     It seemed to work because Percy quickly sighed in relief and became less tense before he parted his lips to speak once again. "Now I understand how you felt that day in Hephaestus's carnival," He confessed, and Delia let out a quiet chuckle.

     "Now we're even, Sea Boy," She whispered back to him. Percy couldn't help but laugh quietly in response to her words.

     And after days of so much uncertainty, it finally seemed like things were starting to go back to normal. That was all they could ever ask of the universe. They just hoped the universe decided to listen this time around.

━━━━━━━━

     Feyre Blanchard found herself spending the rest of her day at Delia's bedside, along with Alina, the three girls catching up and exchanging stories about what happened during their time apart. Truth be told, other than admitting her true feelings for Luke to his face and becoming his girlfriend, this was the happiest she's felt in a long time. Her dreams filled with so much death and torment seemed to falter with time, her and her mom were on good terms again, and now her sister was home alive, and her family was whole again. They could enjoy the rest of their summer together before she returned to her other home. But she had shoved that thought to the back of her skull, wanting to soak up every moment she could with her sisters. One, who had only just discovered the news of Feyre's new relationship.

"You and Luke?" Delia gawked in surprise, and Feyre nodded her head, trying to keep it cool, but there was no denying the blush that flushed through her cheeks, turning them into a light shade of pink. "It's about time. I didn't notice it as soon as others, but when I did, it was painful watching you guys ignore the signs," She elaborated, rolling her eyes as a smile formed across her lips.

     Feyre nodded her head, letting out a giggle. "Yeah. I've been given the same lecture by Alina, telling me to pursue a relationship with Luke because she knew it would make me happy," She agreed, lifting her gaze to meet Alina's eyes, staring straight back at her with disbelief, her mouth falling open in response to Feyre's choice of words. "Okay, lecture is a strong word. Long story short, half the camp were right, and when it happened, well, it was probably the most romantic moment of my life, and considering Luke's my first boyfriend, it's easy to say it was the most romantic experience I've had," She rambled, shrugging her shoulders in the process.

     Alina let out a quiet gasp. "Oh, my Gods! You're falling for him, and, like, the love kind of falling," She exclaimed excitedly, clapping her hands together enthusiastically.

     Feyre blushed again, shaking her head while she tried to subtly hide her heated cheeks, but failed miserably as it didn't take long for her sisters to notice. The girl sighed in defeat. "I don't know if I'm in love with him yet. We've only been dating for a week. But he just makes me feel special in a way I've never felt before. He understands me better than myself sometimes and it's just beautiful to have someone who keeps you grounded and knows every part of you without any effort," She explained to the girls, lifting her nervous gaze again to see them smiling back at her, teasing looks burning in their gaze. Feyre rolled her eyes at them in response. "When you guys meet someone and start falling for them, you'll understand it more. Trust me," She quickly added.

However, before either girl had a chance to respond to her words, Feyre reached out and grabbed Delia's hands with her own, another smile forming across her face. "But enough about me. You must tell us all about your quest now that Luke, Percy, and Annabeth are dealing with Clarisse. I almost can't believe she's the Lightning Thief, you know?" She chimed, changing the subject and moving away from her relationship with Luke for now.

"I know," Alina added, nodding her head in agreement. "I mean, she's a bitch. I just didn't think she would go as far as to steal the master bolt and Hades's helm to start a war. But like father, like daughter, I guess..."

Feyre nodded just as she turned her attention back to Delia, watching as the girl shifted uncomfortably where she was sitting on the bed. Feyre noticed this and gently squeezed her sister's hand with a comforting touch. "Hey, what is it? You can tell us, you know?" She questioned, her brows knitting together when she realised something was wrong. Delia, on the other hand, was hesitant to respond at first in fear of her sister's judgement. But Feyre and Alina gave her enough assurance that she could speak her mind freely without judgment.

"I just don't think Clarisse is the Lightning Thief," Delia confessed. It didn't take long for both Feyre and Alina to stare back at the girl puzzled. "I know it makes sense for it to be her. Ares was helping the thief and she's his favourite daughter, but I just think it's too obvious," She insinuated, and Feyre and Alina hoped the girl would dive deeper into her longstanding theory. It was clear this thought had been weighing heavy on her mind for quite some time now.

Alina then frowned in response to her younger sister's words, letting out a quiet scoff. "But it makes the most sense, Delia. Ares would only help out his own kids. He wouldn't help out anyone else, right?" She questioned. The girl then watched as Delia face dropped, like she had realised something. Something the rest of them didn't know. "Delia, what is it that you know and you don't?" She added, pushing for an answer.

Delia was hesitant at first. Her fall into Tartarus was still fresh in her mind, especially now that her sacrifice left her without the ability to heal and save others. It was an open wound without any chance of healing any time soon. However, she needed to be honest with her sisters and what she encountered down there. "When I was in Tartarus...I spoke with Kronos," She announced. Her words quickly caught Feyre's and Alina's undivided attention, their eyes focused on her, their mouths hanging open in shock.

"Wait...as in the Kronos? The Titan?" Feyre clarified, surprised to learn the Titan had any form of communication even in the darkest pit of the Underworld. If the legend still remains true, then he should be the remains of a dozen tiny pieces from when he was killed by Zeus a millennium ago. She didn't understand how it was even possible for his soul to have such a strong grip in this world if he was meant to be dead.

     Delia nodded her head in response, confirming what they all already knew. "Yeah, that one. He told me he could get me out of Tartarus if I pledged my loyalty to him. He told me he could bring back my parents..." Delia paused, thinking about how her opportunity to have her parents back fell right into her hands and she let it go for the sake of what was right. "I didn't accept. But that doesn't matter. What does matter is that he told me he had allies here in camp. Plural. Meaning someone here is rallying the camp together. He needs demigods on his side...powerful ones in order to rise. Do you think anyone would seriously follow Clarisse La Rue?" She explained.

     Alina let out an amused chuckle. "Not unless she put the fear of the Gods in them," She joked.

     "No, Delia's right," Feyre piped up, nodding her head in agreement with her younger sister. A frown then washed over the girl's face, putting the pieces together in her head. "Clarisse would never want to work with anyone other than her own cabin. She would never go out of her way to build a demigod army for Kronos. Ares must have switched sides to the winning side of the war because it would be easier. So he must have helped the Lightning Thief in hopes of maintaining his own survival. If Kronos comes back then we're all dead. Even the Gods. He would preserve his own life force first which is why he decided to help. But who would it be?"

     Alina tilted her head to the side, finding herself deep in thought. "Someone who hates the Gods. Someone who commands enough respect that they could forge an army of their own..." She listed.

     Delia shrugged her shoulders. "And whoever gave Percy those stupid winged shoes that pulled us down to Tartarus," She added.

     The mentioned of the winged shoes forced Feyre to focus her gaze on Delia, the familiar description being enough to make her become weary and suspicious. "Wait. What shoes?" She asked, her voice beginning to shake. It couldn't be, she thought. But she knew she had to be sure.

     "Yeah, Percy was given these shoes before we left for the quest. But a forbidden child of Poseidon going into the sky where Zeus lives was dangerous so he gave them to Grover and as we walked past Tartarus, they started to pull him in," Delia elaborated. "Whoever gave Percy those shoes is the reason why we almost died. Why I fell into Tartarus. And if someone in this camp made it happen, then we need to be worried."

     Feyre felt her world beginning to spin. She didn't want to believe it was possible that the traitor was in this camp, and it was even more difficult to believe the traitor was the person she trusted most in this world. However, how could Feyre deny what was right in front of her? The traitor conspiring to resurrect Kronos felt an extreme amount of hatred towards the Gods. They had to be able to command enough respect to build an army within camp — something she had been helping him do this entire time without realising it. She thought it was for her, to save her from going against her friends, but this entire time it was for his own personal gain...for his army. And they gave Percy a pair of winged shoes, and the only person she knew owned a pair of shoes as unique as that was. . .

     "Luke..." She breathed out, a sharp pain pulsating sharply through her chest as his name rolled off her tongue like razor blades. "Oh, my Gods. It's Luke...he's the Lightning Thief."

Feyre didn't even hesitant to stand back up onto her feet while her sisters looked up at her in disbelief. "No. Luke wouldn't do that!" Alina argued, struggling to comprehend the sudden realisation herself.

"He would. He hates the Gods, he tried to get us to help him make an army to turn against the Gods, and those shoes...they belong to him. It was a gift from his dad years ago. It's him...it's always been him," Feyre convinced, opening her sister's eyes to the truth, but there was no denying the heartbreak pounding hard against her chest.

Alina stood up from the bed soon afterwards and stopped herself in front of Feyre. "Then what do we do?" She asked.

"Delia...stay here. You're still not a hundred percent and I would prefer you stayed out of harms way. Alina, I need you to go to the Old House and warn Chiron and Mr. D. They need to know there's a traitor in this camp, and it's not Clarisse," She instructed before she turned on her heel and made a quick attempt to leave the infirmary.

     Alina quickly reached out and grabbed Feyre by the wrist, forcing the girl to stop in her tracks before she turned back around to face Alina. "And what about you? What are you going to do?" She inquired.

     "I'm going to confront him," She answered without hesitation. Alina and Delia both made an attempt to protest against the idea, but Feyre quickly beat them to it. "Luke doesn't know that I know. I can get the element of surprise and get a real explanation from him. And I'll be protected..." She informed, nodding towards the sword strapped to her waist. "Alina, I need to do this. Please..."

Alina was hesitant to let her sister walk straight into the line of danger. She didn't want to believe Luke would hurt her, but if shoved into the corner with no chance of escape, would he have it in him to fight her? But Alina also knew Feyre was a great fighter...one of the best. She had to trust she could protect herself, and so Alina loosened her grip around Feyre's wrist and allowed her to leave, watching as she disappeared down the corridor of the infirmary and out the door. "Stay safe," She whispered quietly underneath her breath, hoping her sister knew what she was doing.

     When Feyre stepped back outside, she quickly rushed down the steps and began to make her way through camp, hoping to catch a glimpse of Luke Castellan. She couldn't help but jump and stop in her tracks occasionally whenever she heard the fireworks roaring through the night sky, but that didn't stop her from her mission to find her boyfriend. Or traitor. Feyre didn't even know what to call him anymore. If she was right and he was truly the Lightning Thief, then Feyre couldn't help but find herself combing through the years they spent together as friends, then as a couple, wondering how much of it was true, and if it was real. How long had he been plotting to resurrect Kronos? Why did he use her like some sort of pawn in his game? And if she truly meant anything to him? The mere thought that she was nothing more than a piece on a chessboard made her feel sick to her stomach.

Feyre continued to hurry through camp, passing other campers along her way, many who tried to catch her attention. But she ignored and all for the sake of finding Luke. She felt her heart hammering hard against her chest, and her breathing becoming erratic and uneven. She felt her hands starting to tremble around her grip on the handle of her sword while it remained strapped to her waist incase she had to use it. Feyre really hoped it didn't come to that. She didn't know if she could actually harm Luke. But would he harm her? Would she not be given any other choice but to fight back? Would she had to kill him in order to stop his plans? Feyre didn't even want to think about it, the thought leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

She continued to move through the camp in a rush, but as she heard another firework skyrocket into the air and end with a loud bang, she felt her body collide into someone else's. Coincidentally, as Feyre lifted her gaze to see who it was, it was none of other than the person she had been searching for — Luke Castellan. Feyre thought she would be ready to confront him, but seeing him standing in front of her dressed in his orange camp shirt with his sparkling dark eyes and his charming smile was enough to make her wonder if it was even possible for it to be him. However, she knew that was the denial talking and she could not just drop the possibility of him being the thief because she didn't want to believe it could be true.

     "Hey..." Luke trailed off calmly, and Feyre wondered if he knew that she knew about his dirty little secret. "Are you okay?" He asked, sounding sincere. She wondered if that affection had been a lie too. If this side of him existed at all, or if it was just an act to make her trust him.

     So Feyre knew she had no choice but to play the boy at his own game. She quickly forced a smile and nodded her head. "Yeah. I was just looking for you, that's all. You wanted to give me a birthday surprise?" She reminded him.

     The girl's words seemed to be enough to make Luke grin from ear to ear in response before he stretched out his hand and grabbed Feyre's hand, lacing their fingers together in the process. "Come on, let's go to our spot," He encouraged, tugging her towards the forest. She looked down to see him pick up a lantern from the table before he led her deep into the woods where they would be alone.

     Now if Feyre hadn't pieced together Luke's lies and deceit moments before, she would've said Luke taking her to the spot in the woods where they shared their first kiss for her birthday was romantic. She would've been like a Princess whose heart was stolen from her Prince Charming. But those were fairytales and this was her unfortunate reality. Now Feyre Blanchard couldn't help but wonder if he was luring her out into the woods to for something much more sinister. Would he confess the truth and try to recruit her for his growing army? Or would he kill her to eliminate a threat to his plans? There was no denying Feyre was terrified to find out the answer to those questions.

    As Luke continued to guide Feyre through the woods, holding out the lantern in his hand to light their path, a bright orange hue illuminating their way further into the woods while the fireworks continued to crash above their heads. If Luke was going to kill her, now would be the perfect time. The sound of the fireworks would surely block out her screams for help. It caused for her hand to become clammy with sweat while it latched onto Luke's with a tight grip, trying her best to remain calm when all she wanted to do was run away into the opposite direction. But the girl remained level headed and composed during their entire journey through the woods until they reached their spot. This was the moment Feyre knew she needed to act now.

     "How is Delia?" Luke asked, breaking the silence between them, letting go of Feyre's hand as he placed the lantern down on a lone rock.

     Feyre swallowed thickly, nodding. "She's okay. She's coping with everything," She replied, but she couldn't hide the bitterness laced in her voice. She knew it was Luke's fault that her sister fell into Tartarus, and the reason Delia lost her powers. She held that resentment in her heart as he turned around to face her. "Funny thing though...she doesn't believe Clarisse is the Lightning Thief," She added, quickly changing the subject.

     Luke felt his jaw clench upon hearing the girl's words. Feyre noticed this and decided to continue. "Yeah, I pulled that face too when she told me. But the more she explained her reasons for not thinking it's Clarisse, the more I started to agree with her," She continued to speak, causing for Luke to furrow his brows in confusion.

     "Why?" He asked, chuckling nervously in the process. And that was when it clicked for Feyre. She had him. She was like a spider and she had lured him into his own web of lies. She was right about him. It broke her heart to figure it out, but she had to continue pushing for the truth until it came from his own mouth.

     "Well, Delia spoke with Kronos in Tartarus. He told her he had allies in camp building him an army, and we all know Kronos wants to kill the Gods. He tried once before a millennium ago. And Clarisse doesn't exactly hate the Gods, neither could she command an army because, well, not everyone here likes her enough to follow her. So the thief would have to be someone who hates the Gods, someone who could build an army, someone who owns winged shoes that could easily pull a group of kids into Tartarus..." Feyre explained, her tone becoming more cruel and venomous with each word that slipped past her lips. "Someone like you, Luke."

     In that moment, Feyre watched as Luke's entire composure begun to wash away right in front of her eyes. She saw the panic flood his eyes upon hearing the accusation slip past her lips, and the way his smile faltered until he stared at her with an apologetic look plastered across his face, tears glazing across his eyes. Although she had been sure about her latest suspicions about Luke and his betrayal, during her venture through the woods with him, she had silently hoped and prayed to the Gods above that she had been wrong about him. That her theory was nothing more than exactly that — a theory. However, the haunting look in his eyes and the realisation that washed over his face told her the return. Luke was a traitor. He had betrayed her, and her heart.

     Luke thought he had prepared for this moment. The moment when he would tell Feyre everything and convince her to join his army. He believed that their mutual hate for the Gods would make her want to join his side in a heartbeat. That she would be his right hand and assist him in building this army for Kronos. He imagined them walking into Olympus side by side and putting their fathers on their knees before they slaughtered them, making the men pay for their crimes against their mothers and the children they've chosen to ignore. But as he continued to stare at the girl, a glare burning bright in her eyes and her tense jawline, revealing all the hatred and resentment she felt for him in that very moment coming to the forefront, it made him realise he was wrong about her. So very wrong.

     "You figured it out?" He questioned, his voice shaky while he spoke.

     "That you're the Lightning Thief?" Feyre confirmed, a stray tear beginning to roll down her cheek upon hearing the truth from Luke himself. The girl then swallowed thickly. "Yeah, I figured it out."

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authors note.
AHHHHH FEYRE KNOWS THE TRUTH NOW and everything will unfold in the next chapter and it's also the last chapter of act one (which is kinda crazy to say) and for anyone wondering why the confrontation isn't in this chapter...this chapter is almost at 10,000 words and I can't bare to make it any longer BUT the last chapter for the first act will be up ASAP so either the end of this week OR by next Wednesday if work is a pain in my ass. But I promise you won't be waiting 2-3 weeks for the next chapter this time around.

Until then I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and the next one will be up very soon!!!