Hi everyone! This was just an idea I had for a series. I hope you enjoy!
Annabeth's pov
It was one of those nights where the sky was a navy blue, the moon was not to be found, and only the stars lit up the Earth with a pale glow. All I wanted to do was get out. I wanted to see the stars in all it's beauty. So like the rebellious twenty year old I am, I left the castle.
I was not stupid of course. I brought a compass and a small knife just in case I got lost or anything attacked me. So as quiet as a mouse, I started climbing down from my window using the vines that grew along the castle wall. Then, I realized I forgot one thing as I heard footsteps creeping around the castle bend.
The guards.
My breath hitched. I could hear them talking to each other in low whispers, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. I stopped climbing and laid as flat as I could against the wall as possible. As they drew closer to my bedroom window, I could hear them.
"-the queen said today?" One of the guards said.
"No, what?" The other one responded.
"The eldest prince from Atlantis is coming to Alithia tonight,"
Why would the eldest prince from Atlantis be coming here? They hate us!
"What for?"
"I have no idea. She didn't say, but I bet it has something to do with the threat of declaring war on us,"
My heart stopped.
"Yeah, probably here to work out a deal. Probably an arranged marriage or something."
My mind blocked out the rest of the conversation. War? No one told me anything about war? As the princess, I should have been notified immediately! My mother never tells me anything anymore.
Once I realized the guards were gone, I started climbing down the vines again. As I put both feet on the ground, I let out a sigh of relief.
"Wow, that was a close one," a voice said. I turned around and punched someone in the stomach. They hunched over while grabbing there stomach.
"That was a little uncalled for," the person said with struggle.
"Don't sneak up on people like that!" I scolded.
"I didn't mean to! I thought you saw me,"
"Well, I didn't," I crossed my arms and glared at the body still hunched over in pain. All I can tell was that they were obviously a boy from the deep voice.
"Then, I apologize." the boy said, "Though, since you just kicked me in the stomach, I was hoping you could help me out here?"
"Yes, of course," I said quickly. I helped the boy walk into the woods where I knew there was a place to rest.
"Where are you taking me?" He asked.
"You'll see," I responded. We were almost there. In the woods not too far away from the palace, but far enough where they wouldn't find it while hunting, I had a little hide out for nights exactly this. It was in between a grove of closely knit together trees. When I first found it, it was just ruins left over from the old parts of the castle back in older times. I transformed it to a small hide out by tying a white blanket around the highest parts of the ruins to make some sort of canopy. It was complete with pillows and blankets to act as a bed, a few weapons I found that were lost in hunts, first aid kits and some food.
When we arrived, I had the boy sit down on the bed. I grabbed the first aid and took out some ice.
"Lift up your shirt." I instructed. He did as he was told. I pressed the ice pack to the spot I punched him. "The worst you should have is a bruise, so don't worry. I didn't think I was that strong."
"It's ok. I've had worse wounds," the boy said.
As we laid there silence, I finally had a good look at his face. I didn't recognize him, but if I ever saw him again I would. He was more than just some random cute boy, but quite attractive. He had messy, jet black hair that swept over his head and stuck up in random places. He had sea green eyes and pointed features. His skin was tan and he had a troublemaker's smile. He was very fit, lean and muscular.
"So, what were you doing out so late at night?" The boy asked.
"Are you really in the position to be asking me questions?"
"Well, maybe hearing you talk will help with the pain you caused," He shot back.
I grimaced. "Sorry about that. Anyways, I just wanted to see the stars," I answered.
"Why?" The boy asked with confusion.
"I don't really get out much. Usually I'm locked in the castle most of the time. I never go to neighboring villages, and I can't even think about going to other kingdoms. The only time I get out side is in the castle grounds or nights like this."
"Why are you so sheltered?"
"My parents are very over protective. If they found out that I was here with you at a secret hide out, they would probably lock me up until I die."
The boy said nothing for while. Then, he reached up and pointed to my locket. "Is that the royal symbol of Alithia?"
I clutched it in my hands. If this boy was really a murderer, it wouldn't be smart to tell him who I was. "No..." I lied.
"Yeah, it is!" the boy concluded.
I removed my hand from the locket. No point in hiding my identity now.
"Can I see it?" He asked.
I took off the locket without saying a word and hand it to him. What the hell am I doing? This is really reckless of me. I was basically telling this guy I was Princess Annabeth Chase of Alithia! Though, I couldn't help but to trust him. Something about him made me think that he was trustworthy and that he would do me no harm. I don't know if that comforted me or scared me even more.
"This is really pretty," he commented as he ran his finger across the symbol. The locket was shaped in the heart. The symbol of Alithia, which was an owl, was carved into the silver locket. Two star sapphires were the eyes of the owl.
"Thank you," he gave the locket back to me. I put around my neck again.
"Wait if you have that locket, does that mean your a princess?" He asked.
Was this guy that slow? Do I literally have to wear a sign flashing my name or?
"No, of course not. I just stole it from the princess," I said sarcastically.
"So, that's what you were doing climbing down the castle walls," he said in response.
I shook my head while giving him a look. "Kidding," he said.
"So, you really are a princess." He said.
"Yep!" I confirmed.
"So, since there is only one princess in Alithia I'm guessing your Princess Annabeth?"
"Right again!"
"That explains a lot, seeing as why your parents never let you leave. You do have to take on the kingdom one day as you are the oldest."
"Yeah, I suppose so. Though, I just wished they trusted me more. I wish they would let me leave and see the world. What good is a princess who didn't even know there might be a war between her country and another?"
The boy's eyes widened. "You didn't know about the fighting between the Atlantis and Alithia?"
"I didn't even know the Prince of Atlantis was arriving. Much less what the war is about."
"Oh," the boy said. He seemed to be in a deep thought. Like he was connecting something together. I really wanted to know what it was. Instead, I broke the pensive silence.
"Anyways, you should probably head to sleep. That bruise will feel a lot better in the morning," I suggested.
"Of course. Are you going to stay with me?" He asked.
I hesitated. Staying out here with some random guy-who I didn't even know the name of- was probably even more dangerous. Besides, I never stayed out this long. Though, leaving him alone with an injury wouldn't be very kind.
I nodded eventually. I settled beside him, but I made sure there was a great deal of space between. Eventually I heard him fall asleep. Not soon after, I did too.
The next morning, I snuck back into my room. When I woke up, the boy was gone. A note laid in his place. It explained that he went back to the castle and how he hoped to see me around.
I climbed into my window, not making a sound. It didn't matter because I was already caught.
"Whoops?" I said with a apologetic smile.
"WHOOPS? YOU SNUCK OUT AGAIN AND ALL YOU SAY IS WHOOPS?"
"Calm down, Piper. Annabeth probably just lost track of time again."
Piper McLean had dark brown hair that was choppy and uneven and often had random braids scattered around. Her eyes were forever changing from green, to blue, to brown. She had flawless, dark tanned skin, as she was from the Native American descent. She was lean, but quite muscular. Regardless of how she tries to play it down, she has always been very beautiful. Though, she doesn't really like the attention.
"Thalia, she's supposed to call us when she wants to do that! We can't have her die on us!" Piper shot back.
Thalia rolled her eyes. "She's old enough to take care of herself."
"Thank you, Thalia." I put in.
Thalia Grace had spiky black hair that rested a little bit above her shoulders. She had electric blue eyes that were quite intimidating at points. Freckles danced across her pale skin. She was lean, but was actually the strongest girl I've ever known. She could beat up anyone and make people cower in fear just from her death glare.
Thalia turned to me. "Don't be thanking me. You still are in trouble."
I rolled my eyes. "What ever. You say that every time and nothing really happens."
"She's right," Piper agreed.
"Oh, shut up!"
Piper and Thalia are my best friends. We have grown up together, though Piper is a year younger than me and Thalia is two years older. Together, the both of them are on the elite team called the Half-Bloods.
The Half-Bloods were teenagers whose parents were Roman or Greek gods or goddesses called demigods. The twelve kingdoms, called the Olympians as a whole, built this team to defend them from outside threats. Each kingdom was ruled by a god or goddess. My kingdom is the goddess Athena's kingdom, technically making me a demigod. Everyone on the team was a prince or princess from a kingdom, though not every kingdom was represented. This was only an idea my mom came up with a few years back. Forever since, Alithia has become there home base.
There is six team members so far. Piper McLean, Daughter of Aphrodite; Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus; Jason Grace, AKA Thalia's younger brother, Son of Jupiter; Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus; Frank Zhang, Son of Mars and Legacy of Poseidon; and finally Hazel Levesque, Daughter of Pluto. The teacher and trainer of the Half-Bloods are Chiron, who is a centaur.
"Anyways," Thalia began, "we will deal with you later. We came to tell you that in an hour you have a meeting with your mother and the Prince of Atlantis. Also, Frank Zhang and Hazel Levesque is arriving back today"
"Really? They are arriving with the Prince?"
"Yep! They finally completed there mission," Piper explained.
Frank and Hazel got a mission about a year back, but that is private information only the rulers of the kingdoms and the Half-Bloods know about.
"So get dressed! We will meet you at the Grand hall for breakfast," Thalia said. They both left and left me there to get ready.
After taking a shower, I decided on wearing a floral, short-sleeved dress with a light pink bow around the waist. I threw my hair up into a bun and wore only mascara for make up. I topped the look off with a pair of white flats.
I made my way down to the Grand Hall. Thalia and Piper waited for me right outside. I finally noticed what they were wearing.
Thalia wore a light pink shirt that was tucked into a black and white, stripped high low skirt that started around her mid-thigh and ended at her knees in the back. She had a huge, gray statement belt and a red cropped leather jacket. She wore eyeliner and mascara, and kept her hair down. She topped the look off with black sneakers.
Piper wore a short-sleeved, light blue romper. Around the neckline and bottom of the romper was a white, lace edging. Her hair was in it's usually braids and she had no make up on. She wore white heels to complete the look.
"You ready?" Thalia asked.
I nodded. The guards pushed the door upon and announced us. The first thing I saw was Jason, Leo, Hazel, and Frank talking and laughing like old times.
When we walked in, Hazel ran up to us first and gave us all huge hugs.
"I missed you guys so much!" She exclaimed.
"We missed you too, Hazel," Piper said.
Hazel was an African American who had curly, cinnamon hair that went down to her shoulders. Her eyes were gold and she had a dark complexion. She was the shortest of all of us, but she was still very toned and fit. She wore a purple, half-sleeved top and a floral skirt. She had little heels to boost her height. She kept her hair down and wore no make up.
"How about me?" Frank asked. He pulled each of us in for a bear hug.
"Not really," Thalia said joking around.
"Too bad," he said with a shrug.
Frank was a Chinese-Canadian who had black, cropped, military hair style. He has a brown eyes and pale skin. A year ago he had a baby face and was pretty stocky. His face had thinned out and lost all the baby fat. His shoulder broadened and he is more muscular and lean. Though he was still tall as ever. He wore a dark green shirt and tan shorts.
"I gotta say Frank, I will miss the Chinese-Canadian Baby Man you were," Leo commented.
"Thanks Leo for reminding me of that nickname," Frank said while playfully rolling his eyes.
Leo was a Latino boy who resembled an elf. He had curly black hair and dark brown eyes. He had pointy ears, an elf-like face and an impish grin on his face. He had a slim and scrawny build and was pretty short for a guy. He wore a red button down and black shorts.
"At least your nickname isn't as bad as Sparky's over here," Thalia said pointing at her brother.
"Trust me, at least you don't get called Sparky, Golden Boy, Blonde Superman," Jason said.
Jason looked nothing like Thalia even though they were siblings. Jason has blonde hair and sky blue eyes. He was pretty tan and had a scar on the side of his lip for trying to eat a stapler. He was tall and had an athletic build. He wore a white shirt with bright pink shorts.
"Where is my parents?" I asked.
"We haven't seen them. I imagine they'll be arriving with the Prince." Hazel answered.
"Has anyone actually met him?" Piper asked.
"Yeah, Hazel and I saw him arriving at the castle about the same time we were. He was actually pretty polite," Frank answered.
"I don't know, seeing as he's here to make a deal not to start a war is a bit unnerving." I commented.
"You know why he's here?" Leo asked.
"Yeah, don't you?" I asked in confusion.
"Of course, but you aren't,"Jason said with suspicion.
"Well..."I trailed off.
"Annabeth!" Piper scolded.
"What? No one tells me anything! I have a right to know as the princess! How am I supposed to rule one day when I don't even know about a possible war!" I defended.
"Wait, do you know what the deal is?" Hazel asked.
"No!"
"Oh no," they chorused.
"What?"
Piper was about to speak when the guards opened the door.
"Announcing your highness Queen Athena Chase and King Frederick Chase of Alithia," the guard announced.
My parents stepped inside the room. Normally, the guards would close the door, but they kept it open as a boy else walked in.
"That must be the prince," Thalia whispered.
"Welcoming for the first time, Prince Perseus Jackson of Atlantis," the guards announced.
I studied the boy. He looked familiar, but I didn't know where. Maybe I've seen him in a text book?
He studied the room first. Then he scanned the faces that were looking at him. His eyes landed on mine.
My chest dropped. I stopped breathing momentarily. The boy standing there was one I recognized. I could never forgot those sea green eyes.