Clarisse.

 

My head spun. Why hadn't I noticed before? The girl in Clarisse's armor was much

thinner, not as tall. But why would someone pretend to be Clarisse?

 

I was so stunned, the drakon almost snapped me in half. I dodged and the beast

buried its head in a brick wall.

 

"WHY?" The real Clarisse demanded, holding the other girl in her arms while the

campers struggled to remove the poison-corroded helmet.

 

Chris Rodriguez ran over from the flying chariot. He and Clarisse must've ridden

it here from camp, chasing the Ares campers, who'd mistakenly been following the

other girl, thinking she was Clarisse. But it still made no sense.

 

The drakon tugged its head from the brick wall and screamed in rage.

 

"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 demigods.

 

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