Chapter Fourteen ~ Betrayed

Angelina Phillips POV

"Hello girls." Aphrodite giggled, smiling at each of us. For a split second I thought I saw her scowl when she looked at Amy, but her expression changed soon enough. "I see you're in Meter."

"Yeah, we noticed." Amy muttered, but Aphrodite ignored her.

"You may be wondering why you're here, well it's because recently Julie Starfly has discovered a top-priority STS base not too far from here and I've decided to send you on a quest to take it down."

"A quest?" Sophia exclaimed. "But we're not properly trained! What if one of us dies?" I flinched. "Angelina?" She asked.

"Um... I didn't want to tell you guys yet, but a few years ago there was an important prophecy about the Aphrodite Rangers. Uh, well, you see, it mentioned you and I think Amy and I..."

"Tell us." Amy demanded.

I sipped on my coffee before beginning. "The Rangers of Aphrodite shall find,
The betrayer and the brave one of a kind.
Their top pairing shall fall,
And in the face of hope the blessed one shall call.
A decision by death to be portrayed,
By the lost one who betrayed.
Her allies will be the ones to break her flesh and bones,
Yet guilt will be her final groans."

Amy's face went pale. "So the blessed one is obviously Sophia, but the betrayer could be any of us." I said.

"True." Aphrodite murmured. "The top pairing is obviously percabeth, but," she frowned. "They're very well protected. I can't believe that last month I helped him--" she giggled. "Oops! I've too much; I can't give you any spoilers!" Then she glanced at her sparkly pink watch. "Oh look at the time! Toodles!" Then she flashed out in a shower of pink.

"Well, who's the betrayer?" I asked, taking a spoonful of my cake and shoving it in my mouth.

"Not me." Sophia said. Suddenly Amy jumped, like a toaster had just popped beside her and she wasn't expecting it.

"Sorry, I'm just going to use the restroom." She stood up and wove around the people until she reached the toilets. When she had disappeared, Sophia spoke up.

"I'm worried about Amy." She said, stirring her hot chocolate. "Ever since she came back from her mom's house, it's as if something happened there that she doesn't want to talk about."

"I agree." I stated, taking another sip of my coffee.

But then suddenly, a hand was clamped over my mouth. I dropped my coffee mug which made the contents spill all over the table and before I could react, my hands were tied behind my back and a gag was over my mouth. Sophia was in the same situation.

"Did you really think that you could get away with staying in my town?" A voice cackled. A girl stepped out in front of our table. She had long, blonde hair and dark coffee-brown eyes. A whip was tied to her belt.

None of the mortals noticed. The restroom door opened, and Amy stepped out. Her eyes widened when she saw the girl, but instead of confusion when she us tied up, she looked almost, well, relieved, like something she had to do was already done. "Hey Amy." The girl said, and she shook Amy's hand. I had a sudden flashback.

I remembered watching from a bit away as the elevator doors opened and three girls stepped out. Lexi and Estella and a new girl. She had choppy red hair and was quite short--shorter than me--and had big brown eyes. My first impression was that she was a friend of Lexi or Estelle's but then I remembered what Catgirl had said about a new recruit.

She looked really bewildered and fascinated by the headquarters. I honestly just remembered the look in her eyes when I walked up to them, fiddling with my spear strap.

"Lexi, Estelle, Catgirl wishes to speak to you." I snapped, putting a hand on my hip.

"Who's Catgirl?" The new girl asked. I turned to face her as Lexi and Estelle hurried off.

"She's co-head of the Camp Half-Blood Aphrodite Rangers Branch, visiting today. You must be Amy. I'm Angelina. If you call me 'Angel' then you're dead." I glared at her, trying to seem bossy. It worked.

"Where am I?" She asked, staring around at the hordes of fangirls--and the occasional fanboys--drifting around.

"Aphrodite Rangers, Camp Jupiter Branch. You were teleported in the elevator."

"Camp Jupiter?" She asked, confused. I mentally snickered. What a dumbo. "And you said Camp Half-Blood earlier, what's going on?!"

"Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter are camps for demigods, children of the gods. Camp Half-Blood is greek, while Camp Jupiter is roman. If you came here, then you've either been recruited or to be executed." I explained. She looked concerned at the word 'executed' but I was just teasing her.

"Am I a-"

"Demigod? Half-Blood? Yes. You should be claimed soon." She nodded her head in understanding.

"And the Aphrodite Rangers?"

"Aphrodite should explain everything to you. Follow me." I marched over to the edge of the floor where the Jump was and the stared down at the hole below me like I had done many times before.

"Wait, are you going to--" her question was answered when I leapt over the edge.

I could hear her gasp and I grinned as I dove towards the misty floor, then broke through it, appearing in my dorm room. Of course, she would land in a different place, but I had to try and impress her.

Memories. I thought softly, as I stared at her and the STS agent talking about what to do with Sophia and I. Just distant memories.

She had changed so much from the time when she had arrived. It was like she had been destined to betray us and join the ranks of the STS.

Of course she was! My mind screamed at me. The prophecy said so! Suddenly, Amy came towards me. I struggled in my bonds and gave her a pleading look.

"I'm sorry, Angelina." She whispered, then suddenly the hilt of her knife was slammed into my head and I had a last, panicked, thought.

I had been betrayed.

Aphrodite Rangers Mentioned:

Julie Starfly ~ OC from MDAGMP2

Lexi ~ @IWRITEFANFIC_11

Estelle ~ @eggsontoast