The Ares campers developed a sudden interest in their combat boots.

 

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

 

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

 

"All my fault," Silena said, a tear streaking the side of her face. "The drakon,

Charlie's death . . . camp endangered — "

 

"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. "Before . . . before I liked Charlie, Luke was nice to me.

He was so . . . charming.

 

Handsome. Later, I wanted to stop helping him, but he threatened to tell. He

promised ... he promised I was saving lives. Fewer people would get hurt. He

told me he wouldn't hurt . . . Charlie. He lied to me."

 

I met Annabeth's eyes. Her face was chalky. She looked like somebody had just

yanked the world out from under her feet.