Piper was greeted with insults and curses from the audience, as she walked out into the arena. She came to a stop at the middle, she looked up, her gaze fixed on Percy's smirk. She prayed that her fear wasn't visible, she wanted to prove to him that she could overcome any challenge thrown at her. 

               Percy raised his hand for silence, the crowd didn't dare to hesitate. Without warning, Percy snapped his finger and the ground below Piper's feet began to shake, all around her holes appeared, climbing out of the holes were her friends.

               Piper stood confused as her friends climbed out. She looked back, expecting to find her real friends behind the arena's gates, but they won't there. "These are your real friends Piper, I just borrowed them for your challenge, you won't mind right?"  Percy's voice spoke in her head. 

               They were possessed, she remembered back at the Argo II, when Leo, Jason and Percy were possessed by Edilions. Their eyes were pure gold. "I swear if you hurt them, you'll only have yourself to blame for the consequences you'll bear." Piper muttered as the Edilions drew there friends' weapons out and charged. 

               She didn't pull her dagger out, she waited until they were close enough to charge. Annabeth was the first to reach her, Piper jumped away missing her dagger's end. As much as it hurt her, she kicked her best friend, causing Annabeth to fall to the ground, Annabeth's dagger scattering away. Piper grabbed the dagger from the ground and fixed it in her belt. Without a weapon a fighter could be useless. 

               Jason advanced on her next, his sword gripped tightly. Piper knew she didn't stand a chance against Jason. She was proven right when Jason disarmed her and kicked her down. They all gathered around her, their weapons ready incase she made a move. 

               Piper couldn't lie to herself anymore, she had powers that she could use. But Celeste shattered that confidence in her, she had done this before, why was she afraid to do this now? She opened her mouth to speak but Percy's voice alarmed her. "May I remind you, by forcing the Edilions out, your friends would feel unbearable pain. The pain would become a dark void around their hearts, forever. Are you willing to damage your friends, just to win yourself a spot as an Upper Guard?" 

               Piper looked up, her friends' golden eyes glaring at her. The choice was obvious: it was her or them. By defeating the Edilions her friends would be inflicted with a darkness inside of them they would have to battle, everyday. And the unbearable pain they would feel. 

               Unexpectedly, Piper sprung up and pushed Hazel away, giving her a chance to flee. She grabbed her dagger from the ground and awaited her charging friends. "Its now or never, Piper." She muttered under her breath. She knew the price they would pay, but she didn't want to live with the price she would pay if she didn't win. "Edilions, stop!" Piper yelled. 

               She knew she was giving Percy what he wanted. But this would get them closer, to him. She just doesn't have to tell them, she can't tell them she triggered their dark sides. Her friends froze in their places, the crowd was silenced at their sudden obedience to her. 

               "Edilions, you will leave their bodies. Without hesitating." Beads of sweat dropped on her forehead, she didn't remember it being this hard from the last time she had done this. Jason shook his head, the Edilion speaking with his voice. "Your Charmspeak isn't more powerful than us,  daughter of Aphrodite." 

               "Actually, it is more powerful. My victory over you last time proved it." She said, forcing a smile."You will leave their bodies, now! Or else I will have to fight you, all." Piper warned. 

               Annabeth laughed. "You're not match for us. A simple dagger won't stop Edilions." 

               Piper dropped her weapon and kicked it away. Gasps and arguments came from the crowd. Piper glanced at Percy, he was smiling, looking her right in the eyes. She glanced back at them. "My only weapon is my voice, it is more powerful than any forged weapon." A plan began to form in her head, she turned to the crowd. "Say it. Say, Edilions you will leave their bodies, now!" 

               All at once, everyone, expect Percy, said it. Even the Edilions said it. After the crowd finished her friends dropped to the ground, screams of agony coming from them. The Edilions have left their bodies, Piper had won. 

               Piper turned to Percy, who was clapping along with the crowd. "Piper Mclean, your performance was simply surprising. But I can't have two charm speakers as Upper Guards. So a few changed will have to take place." Percy said. The crowd grew silent, the only thing Piper could hear was her heartbeat racing. She didn't just put her friends through all this pain for nothing. 

               Percy smirked at her confused face. "Celeste, because of Piper's winning performance, topping yours. Celeste is eliminated from the competition, causing her to lose her spot as an Upper Guard. Taking her place, Piper Mclean." 

**********

"I can't believe he actually did that." Jason said, as he stood behind the arena's gates, watching Owen, son of Hecate, using black magic against a Cyclopses. 

               "He probably did it on purpose." Annabeth concluded. "He did that to push you to your limits. Allowing you to use your dark side, by putting us in pain." 

               Piper simply nodded, she hadn't told them the price they would pay because of her actions. The moment of triumph didn't last when she had won over Celeste. Celeste had stormed out of the arena before Piper could see her. Percy was getting what he wanted out of all of them, they were all aware of it during their challenges, but their dark sides would keep winning. 

               "So until now, Annabeth, Piper and Nico are all Upper guards." Hazel said. Cheers came from the crowd, Owen had tortured all the ten Cyclopses to death, using black magic. Owen was claimed an Upper Guard. "Add Owen to the list." 

               "Four spots taken, five left." Leo said as Owen joined the other contestants, a smile on his face. 

               Dominic,  son of Ares was called out next. His challenge was far by the worst and most cruel of them all. He had to kill his sister. A villain just like him,  he had to prove his loyalty to Percy by tearing her apart. He didn't hesitate. Her blood filled the arena after he was done. And of course he became an Upper Guard. 

               "This is barbaric, monstrous." Jason muttered as he turned away from the sight of the young girl's body. 

               "There are four spots left. And we still have Jason, Hazel, Leo, Vanessa, Vincent, Octavia, Atlanta, Noah and Genevieve." Annabeth said. Only four will make it. Noah was called on next, he must've been nervous because he failed. Percy made a maze appear, he had to go through it, reach the middle, battle the Minotaur, and steal a gold chain that was placed around its neck. He failed miserably. 

               Genevieve succeeded. She had to battle a couple of Empousais, she managed to grow a whole garden in the arena and choke them to death. Back at Camp Half-blood, the children of Demeter could barely make a tree grow. 

               "Three more spots, he should cal one of us out already." Jason complained. The others nodded in response. 

              The competition went on, with only three spots left. Octavia earned a spot, Vanessa failed and Vincent earned his spot too. "One spot left, and three of us." Leo said glancing at Jason and Hazel. "What is he planning?" 

               "You guys familiar with the term, save the best for last?" Hazel asked. Both Jason and Leo nodded. 

               "Jason Grace, Leo Valdez and Hazel Levesque. Present yourselves." Percy voice boomed over the crowd. Hazel's eyes widened in realization, she had a feeling she knew what Percy had planned for them, she had a feeling he wanted to turn them against each other. 

               "Guys, remember, no matter what,  it doesn't matter who wins, we're all in this together." Annabeth reminded, she must've figured out Percy's plan too. 

               "I'm not fighting either of you, I won't give him what he wants. I forfeit." Jason said. He pointed to Hazel and Leo. "Guys, one of you, forfeit, don't let him win. Its what he wants." 

                "Jason, they can make their choice on their own." Piper suggested. "Even if they fight each other, they shouldn't let it get to them." 

               "Piper are you hearing yourself! This is what Percy wants! He has already gotten to some of us, you think I didn't notice?!" He said, his chest rising and falling fast. 

               "I forfeit. I need to stay beside Frank right now. I can't even bear to face Percy. Me, Jason and Frank can help in brining Percy back, just not as Upper Guards." Hazel said, she turned to Leo and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Leo, I want you to have the last spot." 

               Leo silently nodded and walked out to the arena. He stopped in the middle and looked up at Percy confused, yet smiling face. He must've figured out what happened. "Where are Jason Grace and Hazel Levesque?" He asked.

                "My Lord, they have chosen to forfeit. They wanted me to take the last spot." Leo explained. 

               Percy nodded, his smile becoming bigger. "Very well then. The nine upper Guards have been chosen. Nico, Annabeth, Piper, Leo, Owen, Dominic, Genevieve, Vincent and Octavia. The island's new Upper Guards!" The crowd cheered and clapped as Percy finished. 

               Leo left the arena, running to join his friends. "We made a mistake." Leo said once he stopped next to them. 

               "What do you mean?" Annabeth asked. 

               "He didn't seem surprised that Jason and Hazel had forfeit, he seemed happier with that. We gave him what he wants." Leo explained, frustration and regret obvious on his face. 

               "The output of listening to Jason." Piper snapped. 

               "I only stated my opinion and advised them, I never forced Hazel into forfeiting. Let Percy get what he wants, he's already winning anyway." Jason yelled, he then turned on his heel and marched away. 

               "You just had to Piper?" Hazel said, shaking her head. "I'm going to go tell Frank what happened." She walked away. 

               Annabeth tried to catch a glimpse of Percy as everyone left the arena, but he was no where to be found. As much as she hated to admit it, Percy was winning. He was slowly working his way up to destroying them, to brining their dark sides out. Annabeth had to figure out how to change that, she had to alter the game and let her win for a change. 

               By tomorrow, she would be able to do that. She would be with Percy every second of every day. She won't miss her chance, second chances didn't exist around here. 

Authors note:

Sorry for the bad chapter, I wanted to finish the whole competition thing so I can finally get to the good stuff in this book. The book is currently entering the main plot, you might find out in a few chapters what the plot is mainly about. And I'm sorry for the late update, I'm really busy lately. But next update will be WAY better, promise!