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I got thrown but I landed on my feet "C'MON, you stupid worm! Look at me!"

For the next several ed poison, but I couldn't hurt the thing

At the edge ofchariot land on Fifth Avenue

Then sorief, cried, "NO! Curse you, WHY?"

I dared to glance over, but what I saw round where she'd fallen Her armor s to unfasten her hel next to theirl in camp clothes It wasClarisse

My head spun Why hadn't I noticed before? The girl in Clarisse's armor was much thinner, not as tall But ould someone pretend to be Clarisse?

I was so stunned, the drakon aled and the beast buried its head in a brick wall

"WHY?" The real Clarisse deirl in her arled to reuez ran over fro chariot He and Clarissethe Ares cairl, thinking she was Clarisse But it still ed its head froe

"Look out!" Chris warned

Instead of turning toward me, the drakon whirled toward the sound of Chris's voice It bared its fangs at the group of deods

The real Clarisse looked up at the drakon, her face filled with absolute hate I'd seen a look that intense only once before Her father, Ares, had worn the sale combat

"YOU WANT DEATH?" Clarisse screarabbed her spear froed the drakon

I tried to close the distance to help, but Clarisse was faster She leaped aside as the round in front of her Then she jumped onto the creature's head As it reared up, she drove her electric spear into its good eye with so ic weapon's power

Electricity arced across the creature's head, causing its whole body to shudder Clarisse ju safely to the sidewalk as smoke boiled from the drakon's mouth The drakon's flesh dissolved, and it collapsed into a hollow scaly tunnel of armor

The rest of us stared at Clarisse in awe I had never seen anyone take down such a huge le-handedly But Clarisse didn't seeirl who'd stolen her arirl's helathered around: the Ares caed along Fifth Avenue, but for thatexisted except our sirl

Her features, once beautiful, were badly burned from poison I could tell that no amount of nectar or a is about to happen Rachel's words rang in my ears A trick that ends in death

Now I knehat she meant, and I kneho had led the Ares cabin into battle

I looked down at the dying face of Silena Beauregard

SEVENTEEN

I SIT ON THE

HOT SEAT

"What were you thinking?" Clarisse cradled Silena's head in her lap

Silena tried to s, but her lips were dry and cracked "Wouldn'tlisten Cabin wouldonly follow you"

"So you stole my armor," Clarisse said in disbelief "You waited until Chris and I went out on patrol; you stole s "And NONE of you noticed?"

The Ares campers developed a sudden interest in their combat boots

"Don't blame them," Silena said "They wanted toto believe I was you"

"You stupid Aphrodite girl," Clarisse sobbed "You charged a drakon? Why?"

"Allthe side of her face "The drakon, Charlie's deathcaered--"

"Stop it!" Clarisse said "That's not true"

Silena opened her hand In her palm was a silver bracelet with a scythe charm, the mark of Kronos

A cold fist closed around my heart "You were the spy"

Silena tried to nod "Beforebefore I liked Charlie, Luke was nice toHandso him, but he threatened to tell He pro lives Fewer people would get hurt He told me he wouldn't hurtCharlie He lied to me"

I met Annabeth's eyes Her face was chalky She looked like somebody had just yanked the world out froed

Clarisse scowled at her cabinmates "Go, help the centaurs Protect the doors GO!"

They scraht

Silena took a heavy, painful breath "Forgive ," Clarisse insisted

"Charlie" Silena's eyes were a million miles away "See Charlie"

She didn't speak again

Clarisse held her and wept Chris put a hand on her shoulder

Finally Annabeth closed Silena's eyes

"We have to fight" Annabeth's voice was brittle "She gave her life to help us We have to honor her"

Clarisse sniffled and wiped her nose "She was a hero, understand? A hero"

I nodded "Come on, Clarisse"