Annabeth

It was dark. I couldn't see anything. The hill I was standing on was desolate, and the storm brewing overhead whipped my curls around my head. I squinted, trying to see where I was, but I couldn't see anything.

Huge drops of rain started falling, so big and heavy I thought it was hail. I was choking, but I had no idea why. I couldn't breathe. I was losing oxygen. I was dying.

"Annabeth!"

Someone yelled to me. I knew that voice. That was a voice that made me feel safe, warm, and happy all at the same time. The voice that told me that I was going to be okay, no matter what. The voice that belonged to someone that I couldn't bear to think of, seeing as what had happened.

I forced my head up, still gasping at the air, struggling to get any breath, but to no avail. I saw a figure running up to me, the owner of the previous voice.

He stopped, stooped, and grabbed my arms, bringing me up again. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and wind screamed at us, forcing us apart. I tried to grab the boy's hand, but I missed, and we were ten feet apart. Then I realized that someone had been pulling me from behind, roughly and forcefully. It was another man, but the sight of him did not make me feel protected like the other man did. It made me feel the opposite.

I couldn't see his face, but he smiled and his white teeth were revealed. He whispered over the yells of the other boy who was now twenty feet away, over the violent storm, over my pounding heart, "I think I'm done with you." He snickered icily, then held a sword up that had just appeared, about to thrust it into my stomach. I was frozen. I screamed at my feet to move, at my hands to do something, but nothing listened. I was stuck, staring at my death.

But I was shoved abruptly away by the boy that had helped me up the minute before. He knocked me to the ground as he took my place. He stood in my way, and the sword thrust by the man that we couldn't see struck the boy's stomach.

"No!" I cried out, frantically scrambling up and running towards the young man that had taken the sword for me. The swordsman had vanished with an evil laugh, leaving me and the dying boy.

I knelt beside him, cradling his head, rain mixed with tears hitting his forehead. I opened my eyes which had been clenched shut, staring into deep green ones, the face owning the eyes contorted in pain.

Nevertheless, the young man managed a smile, directed towards me, and said softly, "Goodbye, Wise Girl."

The son of Poseidon closed his eyes and breathed a final breath. I gave a loud cry of agony.

~-:-~

My eyes shot open, and I sat up, the cry still stuck in my throat. I was panting, gasping for breath. I was in my bedroom. No killer was here. No storm. No dead Percy. It was all a nightmare.

I still couldn't help the little tear that leaked out of the corner of my eye when I replayed the events of my dream. But I brushed it away, and slipped out of bed, heading for my bathroom. Thalia and Piper were on extra beds in my room, but I didn't wake them. Upon reaching the bathroom, I turned on cold water, and took some in my hand, splashing it on my face. My breath caught at the sudden coldness, but it woke me up.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I had bags underneath my eyes, thanks to the nightmares that I have repeatedly, making my sleep at night short and choppy. I didn't really care about my hair these days, because I never felt the need to, so it was always slung up in a messy ponytail. My eyes were dejected, dispirited. Even I could tell that. My rumpled clothes just sealed the appearance of making me look like I didn't care at all. And I really didn't.

Sighing, I tore my gaze away, walking back into my room. It was three hours before dawn, but I didn't feel like going back to bed. It would just bring more nightmares and a restless sleep.

There were three places I usually go when I'm down, or just need to sit. I chose one of my favorite ones. My favorite because it reminds me of someone.

It was a ten minute walk to get there, but I didn't mind. I enjoyed the cool breeze of the night, and the stars overhead, keeping the moon company.

I walked through the streets of Athens towards my destination. There weren't many people in the streets, but I still passed quite a few people. The hood of my cloak was pulled up, my face hidden in the cowl. I had on leggings underneath, with my boots. My knife was strapped to my thigh, just in case. I rarely went places without my blade.

I heard and smelled my destination before I saw it. Faint crashing sounds as waves met the shore, pummeling the sand with its powerful currents. The scent of the ocean was faint in the wind, but got stronger as I came closer. I took a deep breath, savoring it. The ocean was one of my three favorite places to sit, the others being the clearing that Icarus and I go to and either exploring or sitting in a random room in the hidden passageways underneath Athena's temple.

I loved the ocean, despite it being my mother's enemy's territory. But I didn't care about that, I just needed to be out of the temple and somewhere to sit. And the ocean was my choice. Sue me.

My boots made no noise in the sand as they walked along the beach, kicking up grains and weaving a path towards a large rock that I usually sit on. The rock was hidden from view from behind, and nobody in the town could see it, for trees were shielding it from their sight. But the front was open, and it meant that people could see me if they walked along the sea, but I also got a spectacular view of the breathtaking ocean.

The moon cast a glittering glow on the surface of the water, making a watery image of the moon visible on the sea. The waves rushed and receded, splattering over the shells cast along the beach. The wind coming from the ocean smelled faintly of the salty sea, and I breathed deeply, relishing the relaxing scent and feeling.

I love the beach for a couple reasons. Mainly cause it reminded me of Percy. Percy always smelled like the sea, his eyes looked like the sea, and he was the son of the sea. But it also made me sad. It has been four days since the council, and I still can't get over it. I don't know if I will be able to.

For at least an hour I sat on that rock, just thinking quietly, and watching the ocean. Before long, I started to see the vague light from over the sea, and after that, the tip of the searing sun appeared over the water. When its journey was about halfway up, I told myself that I needed to leave. With one wistful glance at the sea, I stood up and walked back.

More people were out and about now, and I nodded greetings as they passed. Still, my face was hidden as I walked. If I went on my tiptoes, I could see Athena's temple over the buildings in front of me. It stood on a hill, above the rest of Athens, permitting a breathtaking view of the beautiful city. My footsteps quickened, eager to be in the warmth of the temple. I climbed the staircase woven into the small mountain, each steep step warming me. By the time that I reached the doors, I wasn't cold anymore. Two demigod guards opened the door for me, nodding a greeting as I went by. I returned the gesture, then kept on walking, my destination being my room.

"There you are. Where've you been?" Thalia asked as I walked in. She was laying on her bed, but sat up as I approached, taking a seat beside her. Piper looked up from the book she was reading, a curious look upon her face.

I shrugged, "Just outside. Thinking. Sitting."

Piper frowned, her face concerned, "Please don't tell me that was you who got up at four or so in the night? Have you been outside since?"

I didn't answer, but studied my boots.

"Annabeth. You need to sleep! You've barely been eating, and now you aren't sleeping? You're going to get sick!" She said, reprimanding me in a motherly way.

"I'll be fine," I said. Even though I knew they were just worried about me, I got annoyed whenever they did this "looking out for me" thing. I can take care of myself, and this isn't hurting me too bad. The lack of sleep and small eating isn't hurting me, that is. The reason for the no sleep and no food is the main weapon that's hacking away at my mind and heart.

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "I don't know about that. I think you need to start eating more. And you haven't gone out to train once since we got back. Are you okay, Annabeth?"

I snapped. Maybe because of the deprived sleep, maybe because that question brought up so many answers, and they all directed towards one boy, the one boy I didn't want to think of.

"Oh, I'm perfectly fine, Thals," I said in a sarcastic voice, laced with iciness. "Doing great. I never get sad or bothered by what happened just four days ago. No, I never think about it. It doesn't affect me at all."

My voice dropped, now serious and trembling, with either sorrow or rage, I didn't know. "You try losing a best friend, and then we'll see how you react. You want to take my place, and feel all this regret and sadness, and then try and live normally with it? Well, sorry! That can't happen, cause it's my privilege of holding all of it. All this agony and tiredness is my little present that I will never be able to give away! Just stop trying to get me to act like nothing happened, to act normally, 'cause it. Will. Never. Happen." I stayed for two seconds more, long enough to see their shocked faces, then I whirled around, storming out of the room.

Next favorite place.

I avoided talking to people as I sped through halls, towards the room with the fountain that I had first discovered the hidden passageways in. Nobody was in there, the only noise was the fountain and Eight the Great, the small octopus, in the fountain. I stepped up to the gurgling pool of water, and found the tiles that arranged the letter "P."

Usually I would get to the passageways by going through my closet, but Thalia and Piper were still in there, and I haven't told them about it yet. I wasn't planning on it either, even though they are my best friends. I just wanted to keep it a secret.

I finished pushing the mosaic tiles, then watched as the floor slid out, leaving a round hole. I jumped in, rolled, and came to my feet. Staring down at the long hall, I decided which room I wanted to go to. I had been down here lots of times, so I could now make my way around here pretty well. There was still a lot more rooms to discover, and I explored a lot, but I didn't feel like wandering at the moment.

I kept walking until I reached a painting of a little girl. The little girl was sitting on the beach, her back to me. Her long brown hair was flowing in the wind, and the cream dress she wore was decorated with a chain and a pink rose on it. One of her hands was reaching out, towards the sun, like a little six-year-old who wanted to catch the sunshine.

After looking at the portrait for a little while, and wondering for the hundredth time who she was, I put out my hand and gently pressed the rose on her chain. Groaning, then movement came as the wall opened up, splitting wide enough for me to walk into the black room.

The room with the rose was one of my favorite rooms ever since I came back from the council. I could actually enjoy it without getting sad, cause it seemed like I was already as sad as I could possibly be. Even though it made me think about the things that made me sad, it was one of the one places that I allowed myself to think of Percy.

I sat, my back to the wall, just watching the ebony rose, and the ice that was climbing up around it. Frost tinged the ghostly petals, making it seem even more enchanting and cold.

My mind went to what I had just yelled at Thalia and Piper. It was true, I don't think I could ever be the same. It wouldn't've been any easier even if we hadn't kissed at the end. The kiss, however amazing it was, made it worse- it just accentuated my feelings for Percy. And now he was gone.

My grey eyes met the rose once more. I could never figure out what this room was made for. It was obviously supposed to represent something, but what could be so sad as to have this room represent it?

I didn't stay at this place too long, and decided that I should at least get up and walk around. After exiting the room, I stalked down the hall, trying to find new rooms. It was tricky finding some, cause they were usually hidden. Like you have to press something. Before long, I came across a portrait of Athena next to a long and large pipe.

Yeah. A pipe. I guess it symbolizes her skill for architecture and stuff like pipes and internal designing. But I got interested, so I stepped up to it. I studied the illustrating, looking for something that would seem obvious to open up a door. It was pretty easy, seeing as Athena was pointing straight to a black knob in the pipe. I pushed it, and the wall smoothly moved to the side.

I was looking at what seemed to be the inside of a large metal pipe, which would make sense according to the picture that was the door. It was round, so there was no flat floor as my feet stepped in. I rapped my knuckles on the side, and winced as the sound echoed down the long metal pipe, making it clear to anybody outside that somebody was inside. I slowly advanced, curious to see where this would lead me. The pipe went straight for a little while, then curved, and I couldn't see pass that. As a result, my curiosity was sent even higher, and I was determined to see where this would take me.

After traveling quietly down the pipe, I came across vent. Emitting from that vent were voices. Voices that I recognized. I slowly stopped to look in, and was met with the sigh of my mother's rooms.

If you haven't been to my mother's rooms, then you don't know how big and nice of a room that a god can acquire. Her fifty feet tall ceiling was silver, with large intricate lines swirled to make the picture of a large owl. From the owl's claws issued a chain that led down, holding up a large chandelier which had hundreds of candles with green greek fire, lighting up the entire room. Her queen sized bed stood in the corner, decorated with lush blankets and several pillows. Her desk was littered with paperwork, and her walls were covered in drawings of some of her ideas or designs, or simply just drawings. The soft carpet covered the whole floor, except for the tiled bathroom, which was at least half the size of my room, with a large sink, counter, mirror, and a separate bathing room.

So yeah, my mom liked the privileges of being rich.

Athena was standing in her room, talking with another goddess: Artemis. I didn't know Artemis was here, but I was glad. She would be a welcome distraction to my constant days of pain.

"-to realize how much this is hurting your daughter!" Artemis was currently saying, talking urgently to Athena's back with a lot of hand movements because Athena wouldn't look at her. "I know you are a the goddess of wisdom, but this definitely wasn't very wise!"

Athena replied coldly, still facing the wall, "My mind is not clouded, as you say. This is what is best for my daughter! She will get over it, and eventually thank me! That boy would just hurt her more, and he didn't even care for her!"

Artemis' mouth dropped open, then she pressed her feet forward, moving angrily in front of Athena to force the goddess to look at her. "Are you blind, Athena? Did you not see how much Percy cared and protected Annabeth?"

My ears instantly were alert at the sound of those two names. Mine, of course, because I always wanted to know what people were saying about me. And Percy because I wanted to know every detail of where he is, how he is doing, and all the other things that I am worrying about. I'm not just concerned for my feelings, and how sad I am. I'm hoping he is feeling the same way, even thought that is kind of mean... I mean't that I just want him to feel the same way about me. But I'm also worried about how he is doing, cause no doubt that his next quest would be pretty dangerous, considering the big rebellion going on.

I turned my focus back to the conversation. Athena looked Artemis straight in the eye and said, "As stupid as they are, boys can fake caring and protectiveness just to get what they want-"

"Athena, you know what happened before I came here? I was tracking down two large monster groups, and one was attacking the questers. So I helped them, and then found out the next pack of monsters was heading in the same direction as the questers, that is, southwest Greece. So I accompanied them. Along the way, Mr. Percy Jackson and I had a little heart to heart chat. I have never seen a man-"

"Boy!" Athena spat, but Artemis ignored her.

"-so pure and honest before. He cared so much for your daughter, and he liked her a lot. But he said he would give up the world for her, and his thoughts are but a billionth if not less-"

"His thought's aren't worth anything."

"-of the world, so if giving up his desires for Annabeth would help keep her safe, he would do so without a second thought. Everybody knows that love like that is a part of your soul! Giving up Annabeth would be like ripping away half of him, yet he would do it for her! And I know he wasn't lying. Can you not see what you have done to these two young and honest demigods who had a pure relationship? I am so vexed that you think this is for the good of Annabeth. She deserves Percy, and he is worthy for him. She deserves a better mother than the useless figure you provide."

As I eavesdropped on this conversation, my heart warmed and almost burst with sadness as I heard the things Percy said about me. I bit my lip, and a tear leaked down the corner of my eye, but I wiped it away fast, and watched.

I thought Athena would kill Artemis for saying the last part, but she only regarded her with narrow eyes. Then she said, "Artemis, I will not let them see each other."

The goddess of the hunt stared incredulously at Athena, then said, "Well, if you are too obstinate too see that, at least try and make your daughter happy in some way! What does she like, or have wanted, to do?"

Athena looked away and sighed. "Well, she has always wanted to participate in the annual war games."

Artemis spread her hands out in a well, then that's obvious, and started to say something but Athena cut her off, "But it is too dangerous!"

"Oh, for Hades' sake, just let the girl do something she wants to do. She needs something in her life to look forward to, or this law of forbiddance is going to tear her apart bit by bit."

I grimaced. I think the law had done its work, and there wasn't anything else it could do to me. I was already in a sea of sorrow, with a sky of dejection overhead.

"Artemis, I can't let her go in the games! She will get killed, or at least hurt!"

"But she wants to do this. You owe your daughter big time, and this will be but a fraction of repaying her for what you have done." Artemis said sternly.

Athena exhaled, then said, defeated, "Fine. But I'm going to have guards posted out, and if they see any sign of violence directed towards Annabeth, then the fight will be stopped."

"No. That can't happen. The games have to continue, not stop for one person. You need to just let it go, Athena."

"Fine! Fine. I'll- I'll let her do it. Ugh, why am I consenting to this?" Athena said, exasperated.