The Mark of Athena
I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HoO RICK RIORDAN DOES!
Annabeth's POV
Sitting on the Argo 11 made me feel seasick. Well, all right, I wasn't exactly seasick. I was lovesick. I was confused. Percy was my best friend in the whole world. Being a demigod and all, it was hard to find people you can depend on. Percy was one of those people. He had saved me many times as I did him. I loved him. I used to think I loved Luke, then I met Percy and Luke turned evil. It took 4 years for that stupid sack of seaweed to kiss me and then I lost him.
Don't get me wrong; I have lost Percy before. Once I thought he had died when he had been missing for 3 weeks after he exploded Mt. St. Helens and then when I thought he was in love with Rachel. This time it was different. He had been gone for 8 months. When I finally thought we had something permanent, Hera had to take him away. I hate her.
I hadn't realized that I had been staring at the crumbled picture of Percy in my pocket for over 20 minutes until Piper came up and said something. "Hey Annie, how's it going?" "Oh, nothing" I said shoving the picture back in my pocket. "You're worried about Percy. Aren't you?" She asked. "How'd you know?" "I can sense things, emotions, regret and most importantly, true love." "Oh." I said really stupidly. "Are you worried he has another girlfriend or that he won't remember you? "A mixture." I said. "Piper, I have a lot to worry about actually. One that I am turning into a daughter of Aphrodite, two that we will be killed by the Romans and three, Gaea." I tried to say it confidently, but I could tell that she knew I was leaving what I was most worried about out, Percy. "Annabeth, chill. I don't know why you are so upset. He will remember you!" She said cool and collected, like it didn't even matter. "Piper, even you, being a daughter of Aphrodite wouldn't understand why I am worried. You never knew him!" "Try me." She said. "Fine, Percy is my best friend. We have been through everything together. He held up the sky for me. I love him. He is my Seaweed Brain and I am his Wise Girl. He is the only one I trust, rely on and love. Okay, happy now Piper? That is why I am worried. It took forever to build my relationship with him and starting over is not an option. He is not just my boyfriend he is the only one I can call my best friend." I could tell Piper was speechless. I knew I was talking fast, but she looked like she had just been slapped in the face. "Sorry." I said. Before she could reply a familiar annoying but slightly scary voice of Clarisse replied, "Annabeth, Are you still freaking out over that punk? You know you could do better." "Thanks Clarisse, that means a lot." Katie Gardener piped up, "Its okay Annie, he is going to be here." "Guys, I am fine! Let's start working on our approach to the Romans."
Hazel's POV
I didn't know exactly how the Greeks were getting here, but my first guess was not a giant dragon warship. So, yeah I was a little off. The sight of the ship startled Reyna. You could see the worry in her eyes. I thought for sure she would be scanning the ship for Jason, but instead she was staring at Percy. I wasn't sure why, but Percy definitely not staring back. His eyes were scanning the ship. I wasn't sure who he was looking for, maybe friends or the oh so mysterious Annabeth.
Only seconds after the ship landed, a girl jumped over the side and headed with no concern at all toward the massive army and guards guarding the praetors. She was probably the prettiest girl I had ever seen. She had blond hair curled in gorgeous ringlets and startling, but beautiful gray eyes. She was a cruel kind of beautiful. Her eyes were the color of the most devastating storm, staring me down, like she was trying to decide how to kill me, either with her dagger or maybe just with her eyes like Medusa. She had a streak of gray hair just like Percy's mixed in with the blond. I wondered if she had gotten it somehow with Percy. Her whole aura read wise, nice (if you don't get on her bad side) and almost a Mars kind of aura, don't mess with me or else I am going to kill you. She also had this look in her face and throughout her whole body as if she had been through all lot of pain. She reminded me of Reyna, but she was defiantly prettier.
As she reached Reyna's metal dogs, she stopped. Partially because she had no other option. Reyna looked at her with a hard, cold glare and asked, "Who are you and what do you think you are doing?" "I am Annabeth, daughter of Athena or Minerva. I don't care." She said confidently. I was taken aback. This gorgeous and scary girl was Percy's girlfriend. They seemed so different. She continued, "But more importantly, I am Percy's girlfriend." Reyna didn't say anything. She couldn't. The girls would never get along, anybody could tell.
Annabeth pushed back the dogs and stopped as she reached Percy. At first she didn't do anything. Then she made out one word. "Percy." She said in such a gentle nice voice, that I could not even believe belonged to her. She felt the streak of his gray hair, as to make sure it wasn't all a dream. She touched it ever so cautiously, like it was about to explode. "Hey wise girl." He said gingerly. He was a lot taller than her, but eventually his lips met hers and did a little dance. It was so perfect. It seemed like it was unreal. The two seemed like they were made for each other. No one said anything, not even Octavian.
As soon as they broke apart cheers, screams and chants erupted from the ship. People ran out from all sides to greet Percy. It was like a bunch of 13 year olds had all a sudden seen Justin Bieber. Percy was happy to see most of them except one ugly girl who introduced herself as Clarisse. I was kind of worried that Percy was done with me and has indeed forgotten that we had ever been friends.
Piper's POV
As soon as I saw Percy, I could tell why Annabeth liked him so much. He was the most handsome guy ever. I would like to say that Jason is the most attractive guy ever, but I couldn't bring myself to that conclusion. Jason was that guy who knew he was handsome and used it to his advantage. He was like the typical high school football player who dated the cheerleaders and took credit for everything. Not that I didn't like Jason, I do, but Percy, Percy was cute. Of course I had seen pictures of him. You can't avoid them. Annabeth has about three thousand of them plastered all over the Athena cabin. He was just so much more powerful, strong, modest and cute. In other words Percy wasn't that little hero that had defeated the Minotaur. He had grown up. A lot. Percy was tall, probably 6 feet 3 and muscular. He made Annabeth look so scrawny with giant arms and strong torso. He had hair as black as Hades palace and eyes that matched whatever sea you were near. Percy was tanner than anyone else, which is surprising considering that he had been in Alaska.
When Annabeth kissed him, all feelings I had for him vanished, they just looked do perfect together. Percy gave Annabeth, Leo and I a tour of Camp Jupiter, which made Camp Half-Blood look kind of stupid, but if you ask me I like our camp a whole lot better. If anything, this place lacked family. It was like everyone was scared of everyone and if they had a campfire they would burn people who didn't sing quite right. After the tour we took a small break to hang out with friends before we went to the senate meeting. Percy ran off with Annabeth to the beach and I was left with some friends by the armory. I wanted to follow Percy and Annabeth to see what they were up to. I don't know why, but for some reason Clarisse was thinking the same thing so pretty much all of the head counselors, Hazel, Frank, Thalia, Jason and Reyna came along.
Percy's POV
I laced my fingers through Annabeth's as we ran to the beach. Okay, so it wasn't really a beach, it was a river with sand around it, but it was good enough for me. I forgot how much I missed Annabeth. "So, Do you think you are one of the seven?" I asked. "I don't know, but I know you are." Annabeth replied. "I thought I would get a break. You know, after saving the world or whatever." "Percy, Are you going to stay here and be praetor?" She asked. "Nah, I think I am going to ask Jason if he wants his spot back. Only if he will give him mine." She cracked a little smile. "Percy, unlike the Romans, we never replaced you, Jason was treated like any other camper that went on a quest. I kept on telling them you were alive, I could feel it." "That's why I love you, you're stubborn." "Oh, so you love me." She said softly. "Yep, I do." I don't know why or how, but a little silver chain rose out of the Little Tiber. It had a diamond pendant in the shape of a trident hung around the end. I had seen it before. In some old photos I had found of my mom and Poseidon before I was born. Now my dad was giving it to me to give to Annabeth. Boy, Athena is not going to like this.
Annabeth had her hand over her mouth. I picked it up from the water and put it around her neck. It glowed. "It's beautiful. Thank you Percy." She said tearing up a little. "Honestly, I had no idea where it came from, so really you should thank-" "Shut up and kiss me, Seaweed Brain." I don't need to tell you what happened next do I. After that we sat down on a blanket and ate some crabs. We were mid kiss when that weird kid with the curly hair came around the corner. "Oh, sorry. Um, Reyna needs you two to start the um meeting thingy or whatever. Umm, Come whenever or soon. I'm leaving." He said really awkwardly. "Cool, thanks man." I took Annabeth's hand and headed to the senate meeting.
Reyna's POV
I was extremely worried when that Minerva girl came to camp. I know that I never actually dated Percy or anything, but I couldn't help, but feel jealous. Everyone expected me to date Jason, but he seemed perfectly fine with that little Venus menace. I felt kind of stuck, until I found Percy. I am really confused right now. I thought I loved Jason until I met Percy. Percy has a really pretty and not to mention scary girlfriend and now I can't go back to Jason because he is seeing Piper. Boy, I hate Venus.
After Percy and Annabeth came back from the lake it was time to get started. Annabeth's hair was wet and Percy was covered in sand. I cleared my throat and said "Percy, would you care to join me at the praetors' table now?" "Um, about that… Jason if you want your spot back, you can have it. You know, I'll lead my camp, you lead yours." Jason looked shocked. "Seriously, You mean I can actually have it back?" "Course." Percy said with his arm around Annabeth. Jason smiled. "Thanks man." "It's cool. I had fun leading your camp."
It was starting to get a little awkward so I decided to start the meeting officially. "Jason, come sit over here then. Greeks, only to be fair, send your two leaders to sit at the praetors' table." "Okay guys so who are our leaders exactly?" Leo asked. "Percy and I obviously. I mean, Percy saved the world and I have been there the longest. So, do we all agree?" A few murmurs of agreement rolled throughout the senate house. "Okay, well can we hurry this up before we get overrun by giants!" I said hastily. "Will do." Percy replied. "Okay, so who are the seven going on the quest?" Annabeth asked. " Well, I honestly don't know." I said.