I got a few hours of sleep but was awoken when Percy climbed out of bed.

"Is it midnight?" I whispered.

He nodded. "Yes, I'm going to meet Linda and the others. Stay here, alright? I'll be back before breakfast."

I frowned. "Can I come to wish you all farewell?" I asked.

Percy hesitated. "I don't know, it's risky."

"Please?" I sat up. "I want to ensure you all get out safely, and me being there could help the kids stay positive."

He groaned. "You're killing me, Princess," he muttered. "Alright, get up. We need to be there in just a few minutes."

I smiled and climbed out of bed, sliding my feet into a pair of shoes borrowed from Piper. Percy grabbed his rucksack from the corner and we exited his room. We sped through the hallways leading to the common area with no interruptions and spotted a large group of people in the common area. There were ten adults and about twenty kids, ranging in age from five to fourteen. I recognized all of them, having had at least one meal with each of them.

"Linda," Percy called quietly.

The nurse looked over at us. "Good, you're here. Is everything alright?" she asked, looking at me briefly.

He nodded. "Yes, Annabeth just wanted to come and wish us a good trip," he explained.

She smiled. "Well, now's the time, sweetheart."

I rubbed my palms together nervously. "Hey, everyone," I said, keeping my voice low. Once I had the group's attention, I smiled. "I know you're probably a little nervous, and with good reason, but I know you are all strong enough and smart enough to complete your mission. Stay safe and be quick on your feet. I promise things are only going to get better from here on out."

Percy grinned at me and squeezed my hand. "I'll see you in a bit, alright?"

I smiled and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "Be careful," I told him.

He winked at me before turning back to the group. "Ready?" he asked. "Let's get going."

I stayed in the common area until every one of them was so deep into the entrance hallway that I couldn't see them through the dim lighting. I sighed and began making my way back to Percy's quarters. A few rooms before the hallway split into two separate directions, a door opened, startling me.

Luke stepped out, wearing nothing but a pair of cotton trousers. "Annabeth?" he asked.

I faltered. "Hi, Luke."

"What are you doing out so late?"

"I was thirsty," I explained quickly. "You?"

"I need to use the restroom, but I can walk you to Percy's room first," he suggested.

I shook my head. "I'm quite alright, but thank you."

He frowned. "No, I insist."

I sighed, deciding that accepting his offer would raise less suspicion than being adamant about walking back myself. "If you say so," I said, continuing down the hallway.

Luke joined me, walking on my left. "Have you made your decision yet?" he asked me.

I cocked my head. "What decision?"

He gave me a weird look. "Whether you will join Lord Kronos on his throne or not."

"Oh." I swallowed. "Indeed I have."

"And what have you decided?"

I sighed. "Listen, Luke, I don't feel comfortable telling you."

"Why?" he questioned, grabbing my hand. "Do you not trust me?"

"Not necessarily," I admitted. "But mainly, I don't want you trying to talk me out of it."

He halted, and, because he was still holding my hand, so did I. "So you've chosen death."

I looked into his icy blue eyes. "What makes you think that?" I asked cooly.

"Why would I try and stop you from making the right choice?" he retorted.

"The right choice," I said, "is subjective. In my eyes, allowing Kronos to murder my family members and the members of the council just to get his own way in not right."

"Then you are not the intelligent girl I thought you were."

I frowned. "What?"

"You're thinking with your heart and not your head," Luke stated.

"Maybe I am, but I refuse to rule beside a king who uses killing as his first resort."

Luke rolled his eyes. "As if your father doesn't," he muttered.

"That is false," I told him. "No matter what you say, my father is not a murderer. He orders the Royal Guard to attack only when it is his last option. Kronos kills on instinct."

"What is your instinct?" he asked me.

I blinked. "My instinct?" I repeated. "My instinct is to take the most logical route, which almost never will involve violence."

"Do you want to know what my instinct is?" Luke asked.

I bit my lip. "I suppose."

He grabbed my wrists, pushed me against the wall, and held my arms above my head. I gasped as he whispered in my ear, "My instinct is to kiss you."

"Luke," I hissed.

He inched his face away so that he could look into my eyes. "Yes?"

"Stop that," I told him. "You're several years older than me."

"Worse age gaps have occurred," he commented. "Kronos is decades older than you. I'm a mere seven years your senior."

I narrowed my eyes. "I do not intend on marrying Kronos, let alone kissing him. I will not kiss you either."

"Why not?" Luke questioned, loosening his grip on me."

I pushed him back. "Because I have feelings for someone else."

He frowned. "Is it Percy? I swear if that little rascal has taken your heart from me I will rip him apart."

"Maybe it is, maybe it isn't," I said. "Either way, I am being executed within the next twenty-four hours."

Luke looked down at his feet. "So your mind is made up?"

I nodded. "Yes. I will not conform to Kronos' ultimatum. Now excuse me, I must rest."

I rushed away from him and down to Percy's room. I shut the door behind me and leaned against it, breathing heavily. I had not expected to encounter anyone, and that conversation with Luke had taken me by surprise.

I walked over to the bed and collapsed on top of the sheets, my eyelids immediately drooping closed with exhaustion.

I got a little bit of sleep before hearing some shuffling in the room. Still very sleepy, I rolled over and kept my eyes shut.

"Where's Percy?" a deep voice asked.

I froze. Percy and I had not planned this out. "I'm not sure, he must have gone to the bathroom," I mumbled.

I heard a chuckle and opened my eyes. Staring down at me was the man himself.

"Nice improvisation, Princess," Percy teased, laying down beside me.

I elbowed him in the side and grumbled, "You scared me."

He hugged me into his side. "I'm sorry," he told me, but the mocking edge to his voice was still present.

"How was the trip?" I asked him, snuggling into his body.

"Very good," Percy answered. "Was everything okay here?"

I shrugged. "Definitely not the best. Coming back from the common area, I had a run-in with Luke. He insisted on walking me down here after I told him I was going for a drink of water, and along the way was asking me about my decision. I told him I was going to choose death and he tried to tell me I was being irrational. We argued about whether or not my father was an adequate ruler for a bit, and then he tried to kiss me."

Percy stiffened. "What did you do?"

"I told him off, mentioning our age gap and how I had feelings for someone else. He suspected it was you but I told him it didn't matter and ran off," I finished.

He sighed into my ear, making me shiver. "Sounds eventful. You handled the situation well."

"Thank you," I murmured.

"Anytime, Princess."