Annabeth wasn't sure what to think of Percy.
Yes, she loved him (even though he was a seaweed brain) and he was her best friend, not to mention boyfriend.
But after Tartarus, she noticed changes in him.
No, during Tartarus. She was sure of it. Before she brushed it off, because their survival in the horrid pit was much more important, but now it bothered her. As she gazed up at the ceiling of her room, she started to think. Why was he acting so… not Percy?
Like that time he talked about Arachne, after he killed her. His murderous expression sent shivers down her spine. And what he said…
"She died too easy, considering how much torture she put you through. She deserved worse."
She shuddered. Percy wouldn't say that. It was almost like Luke…
No. Percy was different. It was his time at the Roman camp that changed him, right?
But why was there that nagging fear at the back of her head?
She closed her eyes, and relived her time in the pit. Percy almost dying, her almost dying, the river, the poison…
Misery.
Something is wrong.
Percy wouldn't say that. He wouldn't act so cruelly.
Was he being manipulated by Gaea?
Or did he betray them?
Like Luke.
No, Percy wouldn't do that. Not even if he was possessed or threatened. He saw the consequences of Luke's actions.
Then what changed him? Why was he acting like Luke?
Her mind was racing. Was it an Eidolon?
No, that wasn't possible.
Annabeth was frustrated. She hated it when she didn't know something. But this was dangerous. Everyone could die, if Percy turned out to be a traitor.
No, she had enough traitors in her life, and Percy's fatal flaw was loyalty. There was no way…
You didn't think Luke would betray you.
Luke saved us all in the end.
But how many people did he kill before that?
Percy knocked on her door. Annabeth jumped a foot into the air.
"Annabeth? Do you want to talk?" Percy called out, his voice muffled by the door.
No, it had to be her imagination. How could she doubt him like this? He jumped into Tartarus for her, for gods' sake!
"Sure," Annabeth replied, walking to the door. She shakily breathed out, and flung open the door with a smile.
Percy's face lit up, and he dragged her up the stairs.
"Come on, let's go look at the stars," he said excitedly, pulling her up to the deck.
She was paranoid. That's it. Percy was her boyfriend, and nothing would change that. He was sweet, kind, and loyal.
He would never be a spy.
He would never betray them.
It was fine.