Reyna's POV

I meet Hylla by the door. She embraces me tightly before releasing me, leaving me utterly confused. When was the last time she was this affectionate towards me? Oh right, eight years ago.

"Congrats, sis," she says, smiling at me proudly. "You're now an Elite."

"What about you? Aren't you disappointed that you'll be leaving?"

Hylla shrugs. "I only ever took part in the Selection in order to learn things. Now that I know, we'll have an advantage."

"Who's we?" I ask, still feeling confused.

She winks at me with a grin. "That's for me to know, and for you to find out. But if another attack ever happens, give me a call."

Hylla hands me a bronze colored card that has "Amazons" written in large letters on the top. I raise my eyebrow at her, which she laughs at.

"We'll take care of Willow if she ever bothers to show her face here again. We're all about protecting the Prince, and whoever his future wife may be, meaning that we'll look after all of the Selected."

"Why?"

"Because that's what us Amazons do. You can join us when this is all over, sis. You'd make a wonderful Amazon."

I laugh and pocket the card she gave me. "I'll keep that in mind, especially since I have no idea what I will be doing once I leave. I never thought I'd be in the Selection."

"Reyna," Hylla starts to say hesitantly. "You know that even if you don't win, it's fine. Love isn't the most important thing in the world. You know that, right?"

I'm taken back many years ago, shortly after when Jason was taken away. The night was dark and hazy, the air humid. My father got home from work late and was yelling at Hylla for not washing the dishes well enough. She protested and he slapped her across the face. Hylla fell and hit her head on the fireplace. She was passed out and I thought she was dead.

"Don't touch her!" I screamed while grabbing the fire poker and pointing it at my father. "Get away from us!"

He narrowed his eyes before advancing towards me. "You're not going to hurt me, Reyna. You're too weak to do anything but scream and run away. Isn't that what happened when your little friend was taken? You couldn't save him, could you? Just like how you couldn't save your stupid sister."

I screamed with anger and rammed the fire poker forwards, right into the stomach of my father. He had looked down in surprise, staring at the blood starting to spread on his white shirt. He fell over, lying besides Hylla.

Later, Hylla had awoken, finding me screaming next to our father's corpse. We left that night, going anywhere but our cursed home.

After that, Hylla changed. She was different than the protective older sister I had always known and loved. Ever since then, she made it seem impossible to receive any love from her. Since then, love has always been the ultimate prize.

Now, I look at Hylla, my sister who is finally showing support of me. I smile at her and say, "Of course I know that. You know how competitive I get."

Hylla laughs. "I have to leave, since I'm eliminated. But Reyna, remember that you can't really trust anyone in the Selection. Everyone here is so obsessed with winning that they'll do anything. Just take a look at what Willow did. She almost killed two girls just so she would win. Don't be like her."

"I won't, Hylla, you know I won't." Having my father's ghost was more than enough. I didn't want to add anyone else.

Hylla embraces me one more time before leaving the castle, the Selection, and me.

"I never knew you and your sister were that close," a voice muses over my shoulder. I turn and see the Prince standing there. "I always thought you two hated each other."

"As did I. Your highness, may I ask you a question?"

"You're wondering why I didn't eliminate you, aren't you?" he asks.

I nod. "I was very harsh towards you. If I were you, I would already be gone."

"There's something about you, Reyna Ramirez- Arellano, that seems impossible to get rid of. If you left, that would be a mistake. I'm not ready to give up on you, and I feel as if you're secretly glad."

"I never expected you to be this smart," I say.

He laughs. "Yeah, me neither. I guess having thirty five girls fighting over you wises you up, yeah? Not that you'd know. It's the experience of a lifetime."

"As it is for those competing. How did you make the decision to keep those who are remaining, your highness? I knew Annabeth and Rachel would stay, but what about the rest of us?"

His smile fades as he watches the sun start to set. "It wasn't easy. Some of the decisions were, of course, but others not so much. I'm sad, in a way, that everyone had to leave. It shows that I'm almost going to get married. That's kind of sudden for me. I'm still pretty young to be getting married."

"You don't want this, do you? The Selection, the marriage, the kingdom. It's just something that you were born into. You don't have to make it yours, you can still change your fate. Nothing is really ever set in stone."

"Reyna, that sounds nice, but I can't really. I'm the Prince, I can't just leave. I couldn't leave my mother all alone here. Besides, here, there's bound to be at least one girl who loves me. I can't just leave and abandon them."

"You're far too selfless, Percy Jackson. That can be both a good and a bad trait. I suppose I'll have to just wait and see what it proves to be on you."

He sighs and rubs one of his hands through his dark hair. "Tell me about it. Well, I suppose that I must attend that meeting of mine. But I have a feeling that I'll be seeing you soon, Reyna. Until then."

The Prince leaves me alone in the coming darkness. As I stare at his retreating figure, I can't help but wonder what have I become? Having talks with the Prince while standing under a bright champagne sunset.

A/N
Two more chapters left! Whew, I'm already worn out.

Anyways, what do you think about Percy's choice for the Elite? Who would your Elite be based on these characters? Do you think that Willow's going to make a move soon? What is up with Thalia? What will happen to Bianca and Nico?

Those were a lot of questions. Answer them and I may feature your answer in the next chapter!