ANNABETH

Annabeth stood on the Argo II, her blonde hair swirling around her face in the wind. She felt alive for the first time since Percy had disappeared. There was only one nagging doubt at the back of her mind: what if Percy didn't recognize her?

"New Rome!", Travis Stoll, son of Hermes shouted. Annabeth startled. The rope ladder descended and Annabeth was the first down. She scanned the crowd until her eyes landed Percy. Their eyes met at the same time and she broke into her first grin in a long time. Percy was smiling his irritating smirk and Annabeth had to force herself not to throw herself on him. Sighing, she scanned Percy. He was wearing a toga and had an SPQR tatoo on his arm. He looked so Roman that Annabeth was almost afraid to approach him. Almost. She walked up to him. His smirk disappeared and he smiled nervously. Annabeth slammed him into the pillar behind him so hard that he never had a chance. The Romans gasped and readied their weapons, but Percy held his hands up to stop them. Annabeth had underestimated how much power he had in New Rome.

Annabeth was furious."You disappeared for months!", she shrieked."NO Iris messages. No phone calls, and you told your mom you were on a QUEST." She paused, breathing heavily. Percy laughed. The nerve.

"Are you done?" he asked.

"NO!" Annabeth screeched, and kissed him, putting months of pain and anger into it.
When she stopped, she looked exhausted, a look that she had perfected since Percy had disappeared.

"Okay," Percy said."You're done now. Come meet my friends."

They were sitting by the river, just her and Percy now. "What's up with Hazel and Leo? She avoids him like he's a monster."

"Well," Percy said," Hazel is a child of Pluto. Nico found her in the fields of Asphodel. She died about 70 years ago. Nico brought her back since the Doors of Death were open." Annabeth nodded. Percy had explained about the quest during the tour." Anyways, Leo looks just like her best friend from then."

"Re-birth? Descendent?" Annabeth suggested.

"Maybe." Percy shrugged."Maybe. We'll ask Nico." He said.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?" Annabeth said in a gentle voice. "Your mom was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Next time you disappear, warn us." Percy smiled his infuriating smile.

"I wouldn't be Percy then. I'd be.. umm. Not me." Annabeth laughed.

"You sound like an idiot." She said, still snickering. She leaned in for a kiss. Suddenly, a red harpy flew between them.

"Wisdom's daughter walks alone,

The Mark of Athena burns through Rome.

Camps must reunite

Against the giants they must fight.

One of the seven must die

Beware the one who lies"

"Hi Ella." Percy said calmly like the harpy hadn't just recited a prophecy that could ruin their lives.

"P-percy.", Annabeth stuttered."That was a prophecy." Percy somehow managed to keep calm. He mouthed I'll talk later. and something that seemed like, Ella qoutes books and scripts.

"Hey Percy,"Annabeth said in trying to make the harpy go away or die of boredom. "Did I tell you my dad got a Mini-Cooper?"

"Mini-Cooper." Ella said robotically okay a hyper robot." Page 57 in The Night She Disappeared, by April Henry." Annabeth reeled backwards from the harpy in blinked once and looked startled for once.

Percy noticing the change in the atmosphere, kindly asked Ella to give them some alone time. Ella zoomed off to steal more of Octavian's Sibylline books. Percy watched her go, hoping Octavian wouldn't find a way to blame it on Camp Half-Blood.