So right now I'm sitting here drinking my Tim Horton's French Vanilla coffee, hair up in a messy bun, pj's on, blanket wrapped around my shoulders, and I am really ready to get started on this new story. The idea came to me when I was rereading the Lost Hero and I just had so many written sentences in my head already that I just couldn't wait to write it. Sorry to the people who are waiting on my Ancient Greece Percabeth story- it is in the process of being written- but I just needed to get this typed out before I forgot about it.
Basically this is a story about what it would have been like for Percy if it had been Annabeth Hera switched with a roman demigod instead of him. You'll notice some big changes in the plotline of the books, not the least being Annabeth being abducted and memory wiped instead of Percy, but I plan to tie this up at around the start of Mark of Athena time in the series and then the story could just be the same as Rick wrote it, or close enough.
This is first person and in Percy's POV. I hope, I beg and I pray that I can do him the justice of being close to Rick's writing; but let's face it. I'm not that good and the master of masters cannot be matched. I'm just aiming to get in the same ballpark. Or maybe close enough to stand outside the fence and wave in to the actual good writers. I'm bringing back the funky chapter titles from the first series as well because those are a lot more interesting than roman numerals.
Summary: What if it had been Annabeth Hera took to Camp Jupiter instead of Percy? What do you think Percy would have been doing while she was gone? How far would he have gone to get her back? Would he go so far as to confront the gods? Or maybe even the Fates themselves, all to get her back and know that she was safe? How will this affect the Prophecy of Seven? And will Percy survive long enough to get Annabeth back?
Rating: I would rate this as whatever you guys would rate the House of Hades. Personally I would put a K plus but since Percy did some freaky stuff to the goddess of misery with the poison and everything I'm placing it at a T just to be safe. This story should be about the same rating as that book anyway.
*I'M ONLY PUTTING ONE DISCLAIMER AND IT'S ON THIS CHAPTER SO MAKE SURE YOU NOTICE IT AND PLEASE DON'T SUE ME.*
Disclaimer: Rick is the master/creator of all things Percy Jackson and I take no credit for anything to do with this fandom. I'm just a fan who obsesses and writes. I also don't own Spongebob or the Goofy Goober song.
Enjoy my lovelies!
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Prologue: A Schizophrenic Queen of the Gods Abducts my Girlfriend
oooOOOooo
I really hope you guys already know all about the Greek Gods, Western Civilization and all of the old 'legends' from Ancient Greek times, because there is no way I am going to explain all of that again. Zeus already wants my backside on a platter for telling my story to the Camp Half-Blood scribe, Rick. I'm sort of hoping Lauren here can cut me a deal and do this anonymously- but I'm not all that optimistic. So far I haven't exactly had the best of luck in life, and judging by recent events that hasn't changed.
But if you guys could maybe be discreet about this? Perhaps not mention it to your friends and make it a worldwide bestselling book series again? That would save me a lot of trouble- and embarrassment. Do you know what it's like for your own mother to be sitting on your apartment's living room couch reading about how you and your girlfriend or boyfriend got together on your 16th birthday and had a huge make-out session at the bottom of your summer camp's canoe lake? While reading it out loud to my step-dad? Or get a personal message from Zeus, King of the Gods himself, saying that now he was getting a bad rep and that I had publicly trashed his chances with all the ladies from this generation who had read the books about me?
Seriously, it's not cool. If it wasn't for my dad I'm sure Zeus would have killed me fifty times over for everything he's deemed I've done wrong; and Hades, my other uncle, would just let me come back to life every time so that he could help.
If you've read the previous stories you'll understand where I'm coming from with all of this. My family on my dad's side isn't exactly the Brady Bunch.
If you haven't read the series I'm talking about, here's pretty much all you need to know to understand this story. I'm a demigod. Son of Sally Jackson and the ancient greek god Poseidon, Lord of the Seas. I wasn't supposed to be born and when I reached sixteen I made a choice that helped save the world from my dad's evil father- technically my grandfather, but let's skip over that little tidbit- the Lord of Time, Kronos. He wasn't a god, he was a Titan, and nobody liked him except his mother; who, as it turns out, isn't all that great either. Even Kronos's wife, Rhea, who was sort of like my mom and loves everybody, minus the whole being a titan and the wife of an evil immortal, didn't like Kronos. I'm sure if divorces had been a thing back in the ancient times she would have been first in line to hire a lawyer- probably Alecto, one of the furies, who does the role of 'lawyers and teachers very well'- to file for divorce. Unfortunately for her, that's not how they did things back then. So she was creative and found another way to get rid of her husband- but that's a different story as well.
So yeah. I sort of saved the world with my friends. But believe me, all of the crap that happened to me, saving the world… it's not all it's cracked up to be. If I get a choice before my next life on whether to be a regular everyday mortal or a demigod, I'm choosing mortal. For sure.
Like I picture it going something like this. Right before I swim in the River Lethe (this is after I've died and spent a few centuries or millennia in the Underworld with Annabeth of course) and I'm about to be reborn, one of Hades' lackeys will be standing on the banks, holding a clipboard and asking me questions about who I want to be in my next life or whatever. (This isn't for sure, just what I'm hoping will happen.) Anyway, he'll be in a suit and everything, all official. He'll get to the question "Would you want to be a mortal, demigod or unknown in your next life?" And me, I will look him right in the eye and say, with a big smile on my face, "Mortal, please."
He'll nod and hmmm, and check the box beside the mortal option and continue with the questionnaire and I'll walk contentedly into the Lethe knowing that there is no way my new life will be as hectic as my last.
(I think last time I did that, if I've gone through the process before, I probably chose human then too; but the worker was probably a jerk who deliberately messed up my answer, and when Hades called him out on it would protest and deny any responsibility. "But Lord Hades, I had just had a fight with my dead wife that day and was distracted- it's not like I meant to mess up the guy's life." And Hades, being the total sucker he is, would probably nod and play the understanding role while thinking in his head, I really need to replace these guys. They've been dead 1000 years, it's bound to be someone else's turn now. He'll make a mental note to ask Persephone who's in line for special punishment and get them on the job.)
But I'm getting off topic. Let's get back to the main idea of this story; basically it comes down to one name.
Annabeth.
Annabeth Chase is a curly-blonde haired daughter of the smartest goddess around, Athena. She's the smartest person I know and beautiful. (Annabeth, not Athena, although Athena's not ugly or anything. I just prefer blondes.) Annabeth's like a typical girl from California- tan, tall, blonde, athletic and stunning. Her eyes are unique to Athena and her children- I've never seen any eyes like them before. Swirling gray, they're kind of intimidating but my favourite feature about her.
She's gorgeous, is what I'm trying to say. And she's also my girlfriend.
In August on the 18th (my birthday) last year we finally started dating after four years of being best friends.
We had about four and a half months together, trying to be just a regular couple, doing coupley things. I live in New York, and Annabeth came to New York a lot so she could go to Olympus- she was kind of in the process of redesigning it. And yes, I mean the Olympus, Palace of the gods, home to most of them. It's a huge fortress that hovers invisibly above the Empire State Building and was pretty much destroyed when Kronos tried to take over. Seriously, I'm not kidding. Go to the Empire State Building and ask to go to the 600th floor. Watch the security guard's reaction- he'll do his best to convince you there isn't one and that it doesn't exist, but I promise you there is. He and I are pretty much old friends by now, even though I don't actually know his name or anything about him except that he's employed by Zeus.
What I'm getting at here is that Annabeth and I were happy. Really happy. Everything was going great and even though I was constantly nervous I would mess up and she would dump me, she didn't. And there wasn't a chance in Hades I would dump her- if you knew her you would understand why- and those four months were probably the best of my life.
But it seems someone really has it out for me. (Ahem, Fates, Zeus, almost every god alive, Kronos… the list is pretty long, honestly.) My good luck doesn't seem to last for very long.
So if you want to read a story about me and my usual life struggles sit down, get comfortable and enjoy. If you don't… well I guess you can close this book right now and never touch it again. (Or close your computer tab, or shut off your Iphone or whatever it is you're reading this on. Lauren wasn't really clear on how she would get this out to the public.)
Ready or not, here we go.
oooOOOooo
Have you guys ever been in love?
Take a moment and think about it. I mean real love, where you wouldn't trade the person you're with for anything- not the world, or superpowers, or lots of money or even being a god.
If you've had that, or have it, then you'll know what I'm talking about here.
It's not really like how people write it in books. And it's not as dramatic or romantic as in movies- usually.
She and I are in life or death situations all the time and it's not like how authors and desperate romantics say it is. It's not like if Annabeth died I would die too at the exact same second or anything like that. I think it would be more like feeling empty. Without Annabeth I would feel empty. I'd still live- I wouldn't kill myself or anything- but I would be living for everyone else's sake. For my mom, my dad, Paul, Grover, my friends… even for Clarisse. Not for me.
If Annabeth died or we broke up or something, I don't think I would be living for me anymore.
That's what true love is, at least for me. Maybe that will help you understand.
If you're still not getting it, a good comparison would be pizza. Or blue chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven with the chocolate chips still melting. You can survive without it, sure, but you haven't really lived until you do have it- and if you never get it again, or if it ends, you'll always want it back.
That's what Annabeth was to me. She was chocolate chip cookies. We had our fights, but never anything that came close to breaking us up. I would annoy her, she would get mad at me and then she'd end up kissing me for doing something stupid- which happened a lot. We were dating, but we were also friends. We didn't keep secrets- although I didn't tell her everything, of course. Some things she doesn't need or want to know- and we trusted each other.
A typical afternoon with us went like this.
She would come over to my mom and step-dad's apartment and just hang out. She would be on her laptop typing some sort of paper for school or drawing plans for Olympus and I would be watching TV or trying to do homework. Usually watching TV.
She would say, "Percy, turn that down. I'm trying to design Apollo's statue and it's really hard because he wants it to be pure gold, yet tame, yet still show his full hotness/amazingness and I just can't concentrate with voices yapping in my ear."
I would retort with, "But Annabeth, it's Spongebob."
Sometimes she would just raise her eyes to meet mine and give me a look and I would immediately nod and change the channel to something else- like the Weather Channel or something as equally dull, causing me to go stir-crazy and sometimes actually pick up my homework and try to muddle through it to the best of my abilities. Other times- when even she was sick of constantly working- she would perk up.
"Spongebob?"
I would nod. "Oh yeah. Actually the Spongebob Movie. The one with David Hasselhoff where he helps Spongebob and Patrick at the end…"
Her eyes would glance to the TV then look back at her work. Then be drawn to the TV again and finally she would just shrug, close her laptop lid and come sit beside me on the couch where I would put my arm around her or lay down and put my head in her lap. Then we would watch Spongebob together, singing along with the songs.
"I'm a goofy goober, yeah! You're a goofy goober, yeah! We're all goofy goober's, yeah! Goofy, goofy, goober, goober's,YEAH!"
We were doing great, everything was as good as I could hope for it to be and more.
And then we decided to spend Winter Break together at Camp Half-Blood. We figured, 'hey, two whole weeks together without our parents constantly there to 'watch' over us? Sounds great! And at our favourite place on earth too, how awesome!"
Yeah, turns out… it didn't end up being that awesome. I bet it would have been- if we'd actually been together for it.
But as usual, the gods just had to meddle with us. One in particular, in fact. Both Annabeth and I's least favourite immortal, Queen of the Heavens, Wife to Zeus, Hera.
Of course I didn't figure that out until later- but believe me, when I did, I wasn't a happy camper.
oooOOOooo
"Are you sure you've got everything?"
My grip on the steering wheel tightened and I said, for what might have been the thousandth time that day, "Yes, mom."
"Paul and I are really going to miss you at Christmas," my mom, Sally Jackson said from the passenger seat of her husband Paul's Prius. "But I've given you the gift we got for you and it's in your suitcase, right? You promise you won't open it early?"
"I promise."
"And I can't wait to see Annabeth, it feels like ages since she's been in New York- but it must have only been a few weeks. When was she last here, Percy?"
"November 30th weekend."
"That's right." Sally smiled. "We all went out to that seafood place you love." Her lips twitched. "Maybe you shouldn't mention that to your father next time you speak to him."
"I don't think he's all that against eating seafood. I mean, he goes fishing and everything."
"Yes, well." She switched topics, happily chattering beside me. "Oh, you must be so excited! I bet you and Annabeth have been looking forward to this for months-"
"Mom-"
"Finally getting away from us parents."
"Mom-"
"Now Percy I just want you to know that I've spoken to Chiron about this, and I trust you and Annabeth completely. That girl is very sensible and I'm not saying she isn't. But I want you two to know that just because Paul and I aren't there, or Mr and Mrs. Chase, is no reason to try and take advantage of being unsupervised by parents. Chiron assured me that the rules are strict and I know a boy and a girl can't be alone together in a cabin, but-"
"Mom!" By this point I had finally understood what she was trying to say and if I told you my face wasn't flaming red like a tomato I would be lying. "Please," I begged her. "Stop."
"I'm just saying," Sally said, turning to pierce me with her eyes. "I trust you Percy, you and Annabeth both, and I know you're both 16, but- well, just be responsible, okay?"
"Got it," I said a bit too loudly for the confines of our car. "Didn't we have this talk four years ago? I would rather not go over it again."
My mom pursed her lips. "Four years ago you didn't have a girlfriend," she pointed out, completely unembarrassed by the topic. "But yes, I won't say anything else. Annabeth will keep you in line."
"Why does everybody keep saying that?" I muttered to myself, remembering my friend Rachel's parting 'Behave you two,' when we said goodbye at the end of summer this year. Just then I spotted Thalia's tree on the crest of Half-Blood Hill and pressed down harder on the accelerator, anxious to get to camp.
I parked at the bottom of the hill and was surprised to see a few other campers getting dropped off as well. Usually there were only a couple of campers who came to Camp for winter break, the rest being year-rounders, but I guessed with this summer's swelling of camper numbers there was bound to be more that came back in the holidays.
My mom got out with me and helped me get my bag out of the trunk. We ended up standing at the side of the car. Me looking impatiently up the hill, hoping to catch a glimpse of Annabeth or Grover or someone familiar, my mom wringing her hands like she always did when she dropped me off and was about to say goodbye.
It made me feel bad, the fact that I was so ready to just leave her and Paul to spend time with my friends. I set my suitcase down at my side and stepped forward to give her a hug, surprised at how tightly she hugged me back.
"It's only for two weeks," I reassured her.
"I know," she said, hands spread across my back. "But- I just have a bad feeling…"
My stomach tightened slightly. My mom had a gift that most mortals didn't of being able to see through the magical veil my world called 'the mist'. It's what stopped mortals from seeing all the freaky stuff from ancient history that would give them nightmares for the rest of their lives and cause them to end up in mental asylums. Mom was one of the rare ones who was able to see everything for what it actually was, and she also had a habit of predicting when my life was going to get even more complicated than usual.
"Don't," I begged. "Everything will be fine. I'll be home before you know it, and I'll call at Christmas. Nothing will happen to me, I promise."
She pulled back and kissed my forehead, a gesture which usually would have made me blush but I was realizing that I was going to miss her too this summer. "Don't make promises you can't keep dear." She said, letting go of my hand. "But I know. You'll be okay. Call, if anything happens?"
"I will."
She nodded, giving me one last worried look before she plastered on a smile. "Well I better be going, Paul will get worried if I'm not back soon. Give Annabeth our love and say hi to Chiron for us?"
I smiled back at her. "Definitely."
She hugged me quickly one last time. "Be safe," she whispered in my ear before pulling back and smiling again. Then she hurriedly walked to the driver's side door and got in the car, starting it up and pulling away, honking once in a last goodbye.
I waved until she was out of sight.
And then I was tackled to the ground from behind.
For a second as me and my attacker went down, I tensed. But then the familiar smell of lemon soap reached my nose and I smiled and turned so that I fell on my back- hardly feeling a thing because of my Achilles' Curse (long story)- and Annabeth landed on top of me.
"Hi." I breathed up at her, taking in the sight of her messy ponytail, bright eyes and wide smile.
I probably looked similar, minus the ponytail.
"Hey." She said quickly, propping herself up on her hands so that she was hovering over me.
"What was that for?" I asked.
She grinned. "I missed you."
I met her eyes, sure that now my face would permanently freeze with the smile on my face- which probably made me look like a demented clown, but I didn't care- and I couldn't help it when I raised my head to kiss her.
I could spend forever kissing Annabeth and never get tired of it. If it wasn't for things like propriety and breathing, I probably would.
"What was that for?" She breathed, eyes fluttering open as I pulled my lips away to collapse back on the ground.
I smiled up at her happily. "I missed you too."
We probably stayed like that for longer than was necessarily, just grinning at each other happily like fools, but then I heard the familiar sound of hoof beats and Annabeth quickly jumped up to her feet, offering me a hand to help me up as well.
When I finished brushing myself off while still holding Annabeth's hand I looked up to meet the eyes of my mentor Chiron- who was an immortal centaur. Yeah, he's the Chiron, I kid you not. (I did warn you; knowing all of these myths will make reading this a lot easier to understand.)
"Percy," he said my name warmly and I smile at him, happy to see him again. "I'm glad to see you, my boy. Annabeth hasn't stopped checking to see if you'd arrived since she got here this morning."
I grinned at the information and Annabeth's face flamed. "Chiron!"
The centaur smiled. "It's good to see you again," he said sincerely. "I assume you're parents are doing fine?"
"Yes, thanks." I replied. "They said to say hello," I looked at Annabeth. "They send their love. And gifts. I have a present from them for you in my suitcase."
Annabeth frowned. "That was nice of them," she said. "But I didn't get them anything."
"You're dating me," I pointed out. "My mom will probably be eternally grateful to you for just doing that. Anyway, don't worry about it. Paul and her love you."
I looked up at Chiron who was trying to hide his smile as he watched us. "Shall we get you settled into your cabin?" He asked. "I think it's almost time for supper."
I nodded. "That would be great."
The three of us walked up Half-Blood Hill, me dragging my suitcase and holding Annabeth's hand, Chiron walking slowly beside us. He updated me on all of the new cabin's and how far along they were to being done. Some cyclops were still building them, a few were already done since August, and more were being drawn up.
When we got to the top of the hill and I looked down at Camp Half-Blood- at my home- and couldn't help but smile wider.
It was good to be back.
oooOOOooo
Annabeth went to unpack her own things, promising to meet me at the mess hall for supper. She kissed me quickly on the cheek and ran off, leaving me with Chiron as we entered the Poseidon Cabin.
Cabin Three was kind of shaped like a bunker. It's long, low and solid. There had only been two beds used within the last seventy years or so out of six of the bunk beds, and that had been by me and my half-brother Tyson- who also happens to be a cyclops.
Don't ask.
Anyway, outside the walls were rough gray stone with pieces of seashell and coral stuck to the sides, making it look like the bottom of the ocean. All of the windows face the sea (we were on Long Island Sound after all) and the inside walls glowed like abalone.
I loved the place. I used to feel lonely sleeping in this cabin alone, but I've gotten used to it. Besides, my friends are all around me in their cabins, so it's not really any different than from at home except that in this case my room is bigger than the one in our apartment.
Chiron stood just inside the doorway as I slid my suitcase under my bunk. I usually would unpack, but since I'm only staying for two weeks I figured I would just grab things as I needed them- my clothes usually ended up all over the floor anyway. Besides I didn't exactly want to be putting away my boxers in front of Chiron.
He cleared his throat as I was taking stock of things. My minotaur horn on the wall, the pictures on the chest of drawers at the head of my bunk, the shield/watch Tyson made for me years ago.
"Now Percy, I know we never really went over this after the Titan Way, but your mom talked to me before you arrived and I feel like we should go over some rules again."
I tensed, immediately knowing where this was going and wishing my mom wasn't always so… motherly.
"Chiron-"
He looked just as awkward as I felt, with his tail flicking back and forth, his hooves lifting off the ground as he stepped from side to side. "I know you and Annabeth are dating now and I'm very happy for you both. Gods knew it was obviously going to happen, it was a miracle it took you two as long as it did-"
"Chiron-"
"Well," he said. "I just want you to remember the rules. Particularly the rule of no boy and girl being alone in the same cabin unless they're siblings. The gods don't look kindly on any… funny business going on in their cabins, although your father-"
"Chiron-"
"I know you're both teenagers and I trust you both- especially Annabeth- but-"
"Please." I finally interrupted him successfully. "Please stop. Don't worry about it." My face was even hotter than when it had been my mother talking to me. "I promise." I said. "No… funny business."
I wondered to myself whether past couples like Silena and Beckendorf had ever gotten this talk from the old centaur. The thought of my old friends made me sad, and momentarily helped me forget my embarrassment- but not for long.
He met my eyes before nodding. "Good. Well." He cleared his throat. "I really must be going now, I'm sure they're about to sound the conch for dinner and Mr. D will be wondering-"
The conch interrupted him and he looked at me. "Ready?"
I nodded, feeling the anticipation of seeing all of my old friends again build. "Ready."
oooOOOooo
"Perrcccy!"
The familiar gloat bleat made me smile even wider as I turned where I was sitting on the Poseidon table bench to stand just in time as Grover slammed into me for a hug.
"Hey G-man!"
"I haven't seen you in ages!" Grover bleated, pulling away to stand in front of me. "How have you been? How's your mom and Paul?"
As Grover and I sat back down at the table to catch up I listened to him as he spoke about Juniper, his dryad girlfriend.
"But what have you been up to?" He asked me. "And how are you and Annabeth?"
No matter how many times it happened I was sure it would always be weird to hear Grover ask about me and Annabeth. The three of us had been best friends for years, it was kind of strange to think about how Annabeth and I were more than just friends now.
Grover and I had talked about it of course, after she and I had started dating. We hadn't had a deep conversation but we had cleared the air.
It had gone a little like this. We were just hanging out on the top of Half-Blood Hill near the base of Thalia's tree and I had broached the subject. "So… me and Annabeth. Are you cool with that? It's not too weird?"
And Grover, being the best satyr in the world, had scoffed. "I'm happy for you guys," he said. "And it's not awkward at all or anything. I don't see why anything has to change between us, just between you two."
"Yeah. Yeah, okay. But you're sure?"
He had turned his head to look at me. "Perce, I've known this was going to happen since you broke camp rules to come on the quest to save her from Luke and Atlas. Really, it's okay. You guys already sort of acted like you were dating anyway. I'm just glad all of the tension's gone from between you now."
I grumbled to myself at his words. Apparently everybody had known Annabeth and I would become a couple- except me.
So that had been our talk. Still, I sometimes got embarrassed when Grover- or anyone for that matter- would ask me about it. The relationship was still pretty new to me, and while I wasn't often uncomfortable or nervous around Annabeth, I was still pretty scared of doing something to mess it all up.
But so far we seemed to be doing good- great, actually. I had no complaints and I'm sure if she did she would come straight up to me and say it. She wasn't one to beat around the bush, she generally just did what she wanted.
Like, for instance, coming to sit down at my table beside me in the middle of my conversation with Grover.
She had done this once before and, like last time, everybody else immediately went quiet and stared before bursting out into hushed whispers.
I groaned. This would so not help me in trying to prove to Chiron and my mom that just because Annabeth and I were dating now didn't mean we were going to start breaking rules left and right.
The fact that Annabeth had brought her food over with her made me think she was planning to stay awhile.
"Hey Grover!" She said happily. "How are you? How was Washington?"
Grover recounted his adventures from the capitol, telling us about Jasper and Sadie, two demigods who were the brother-sister children of Hermes and about how he'd gotten them here.
"We came across a couple of hellhounds, but otherwise it was a pretty easy journey getting here…"
Grover had told me this earlier so I was barely listening; instead I was glancing at the head table where Chiron and Mr. D sat.
I gulped when Mr. D's eyes landed on me, then glanced at Annabeth who was holding my hand beside me, and back again.
He grinned and stood up.
I looked at Annabeth. "Um, Wise Girl-"
"Parker Johnson," Mr. D's voice interrupted me from behind. "And Anastasia Cho. Barely here an hour and already breaking the rules."
His voice was filled with glee, probably because now he could give me a punishment.
Mr. D- whose real name was Dionysus, as in the god of wine, but everybody just called him Mr. D- and I had a rocky relationship. He insisted on calling me by the wrong name every time we saw each other and was known to hate all heroes/demigods except his own children, (which I certainly was not), but he'd helped me out sometimes when I really needed it. It was sort of a like-hate thing; like because Mr. D and I had never come close to love.
I opened my mouth to protest as I turned around but I saw Chiron standing with his arms folded behind the god shake his head.
I didn't say anything; but Grover, bless him, who always got nervous around Mr. D, jumped up and started rambling.
"Umm, it was my fault Mr. D- uh, Dionysus- uh, sir. I wanted to talk to Percy and Annabeth-"
"Sit down, Mr. Underwood." Dionysus drawled, his eyes never wavering from our silent staring match. "You know, Pohedro, just because you helped defend Olympus last summer doesn't make you free to do whatever you want. We have rules, young demigod, and now that you're a big-shot hero who handed somebody a knife doesn't mean we all have to skirt around you."
I'm not one to fish for compliments, but even I thought Mr. D was sort of undermining everything I'd done to help save Olympus with that.
"And now that you've 'got the girl' as they say, and are doing 'steady dates,'" here he made air quotes, "certainly doesn't make me any more inclined to be lenient on you. Although I suppose at least you won't end up leaving her stranded alone on an island. I do hope not, because I wouldn't feel in the least obligated to rescue her."
Annabeth and Grover both shot me a confused look and I tried to give them one back saying, 'Don't ask.'
"So!" He clapped his hands suddenly, causing everyone in the mess hall- who were all facing us and watching silently- to jump. "Time to dole out torture- er, I mean punishment."
"Mr. D," Chiron spoke now. "It was only one transgression. I think-"
"Kitchen duty tomorrow night, Mr. Jocksamy. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be able to find two others to help you, and if not then it will only help build your character," Mr. D said. "And you," he turned to Annabeth, a smile playing at his lips as he glanced back at me. "A warning will do, I think. Please go back to your table now."
My mouth fell open and I was about to protest, to say that was completely unfair because it had been Annabeth who had come to sit beside me, but at a look from Chiron and Mr. D I quickly closed it again and held my tongue.
After that they announced dinner was over and that it was time for campfire, which could last anywhere from one hour to three, depending on how energetic the campers were.
Annabeth and I fell into step together and she took my hand as I immediately started to complain.
"Can you believe that?" I demanded as we walked to the campfire clearing. "I get kitchen duty and you don't get anything? What's up with that?"
"I keep telling you to stop annoying Mr. D," Annabeth said, her eyes sparkling.
"He hates you too," I mumbled. "But he seems to save all of his annoyance from the time he last sees me to just make it worse the next time."
Annabeth laughed. "Okay, Seaweed Brain. Whatever you say."
"Come on, that was unfair though, you have to admit." I said.
Annabeth nodded. "It was," she said. "But don't point it out to him or else he might put me on kitchen duty with you."
I raised my eyebrows at her. "Would that be so bad?"
She nudged me playfully. "Down boy."
We were interrupted by Drew, the head counselor of the Aphrodite cabin, as she walked past us. "Hey, Percy," she said before winking and walking off with her friends trailing her and giggling.
Annabeth's grip on my hand tightened and she muttered under her breath in the same tone she used when speaking about Hera, "Hate her."
I gave her a bewildered look. "Why?" I asked. Sure Drew was annoying and kind of superficial, but she didn't seem horrible to me.
Annabeth shook her head and I watched her a moment longer before letting it go, deciding it was better not to get into it.
"I wouldn't try anything anyway," I said quieter, continuing our earlier conversation. "In the kitchens," I clarified at her expression. "I've already had a talk from Paul before I left, my mom as she dropped me off and Chiron when I was putting my stuff away that I have to be on my best behaviour."
Annabeth laughed, mood clearing. "Really? Nobody's said anything to me."
I rolled my eyes. "Of course not," I muttered as we got to the bonfire.
Annabeth and I sat near the back and were joined almost immediately by Connor, Travis and Katie, Clarisse and Chris and Grover and Juniper.
"Hey guys!" Katie said as she dragged Travis over to our usual spot. "How are you? How have you been since summer?"
"Any apocalypses that had to be averted, Percy?" Travis teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Not this time, Travis."
"There's Piper and Leo!" Annabeth said suddenly. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to go and say hi."
I looked up, following her gaze and was met with the sight of Piper McLean and Leo Valdez sitting a little ways to the right of our small group.
Piper and Leo had been brought to camp together by a satyr named Gleeson Hedge, a friend of Grover's. They had come to camp shortly after the end of the Titan War, within a week after in fact, and were both year rounders although Piper did leave occasionally to spend time with her dad.
Leo Valdez was a son of Hephaestus. He had dark curly hair, was a bit on the short side, had crazy eyes and looked a bit like a Hispanic elf. I didn't know much about him beyond his name because he tended to keep to himself and his friends, but I did know Travis and Connor loved him because he had the personality of a Hermes camper minus the stealing trait.
A trait which Piper apparently had instead. She had come to camp and immediately had become close friends with Annabeth. I know Annabeth had been hoping Piper would turn out to be a daughter of Athena, even though she didn't have gray eyes or blonde hair, but instead Piper had been claimed by Aphrodite.
She was half-Cherokee and her father was the famous actor Tristan McLean. I'd only seen a couple of his movies but I really liked the Prince of Sparta one. Anyway, Piper had inherited charmspeak from her mother, which made it really easy to ask people for things and sort of convince them to give whatever she wanted to her. Her father sent her to some sort of reform school where she'd met Leo and Coach Hedge had picked them up and brought them here.
Annabeth could spend hours talking to Piper, they were close friends. Don't tell her I said this but I kind of think after Silena died Annabeth needed somebody to confide in with all her girl stuff that I couldn't understand. Not that Piper is a replacement for Silena or anything, but the two are sort of similar.
I'm closer with Piper than I am with Leo, but even then I wouldn't exactly call us best friends. We're both close to Annabeth which helps us from being completely awkward around one another, but she has her friends and I have mine.
They both seem cool, I just don't know them that well.
But as I watched Annabeth she sat down beside them and hugged them both, starting to talk quickly with a huge smile on her face. I couldn't help but smile myself at the sight of it- it was good to see her this happy.
"Before when you did that we all just called you a love-struck fool behind your back," Travis said. "Now we can actually say it to your face."
I rolled my eyes at him. "Like you're not the most whipped boyfriend in existence, Travis," I retorted with a smile. "Really, I don't know how Katie puts up with it. Always doing whatever she wants. Where's the fighting and manhood?"
Katie laughed and Connor chuckled at his brother. "You really are whipped, bro."
"Shut up, Connor." Travis mumbled before looking at Katie. "You still love me, don't you Katie?"
"Hmm," she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I'll have to get back to you on that one."
I laughed while Connor mimed puking up as the couple kissed. "So is Rachel coming for the break?"
"Nope," Annabeth appeared from nowhere and sat down beside me once more. "She told me her father didn't want her leaving since they were having a 'family' Christmas this year."
"Poor Rachel," Katie sympathised, knowing how bad her parents could be sometimes.
"Why, Percy, you anxious for a new prophecy? Getting bored, need another quest?" Connor teased.
"I'm good thanks," I said. "If I never go on a quest again it'll be too soon."
Annabeth nodded. "Agreed."
"Look at you worn-out old-timers." Clarisse said. "Sick of fighting already?"
I stuck my tongue out. "Good to see you too, Clarisse. Yes, we missed you too. Families are fine, thanks for asking."
Clarisse wrinkled her nose. "Oh no, Prissy, don't tell me you're going to be one of those couples that talks in plural all the time. We this and we that."
I grinned. "So what if we are?"
"Ugh," she looked at Chris as if expecting help from her boyfriend. "We're not like that are we?" She asked, looking for reassurance.
"Definitely not," he said, kissing her quickly. "You would never let us be."
"Alright, alright," Connor interrupted. "Stop being all lovey-dovey you guys. You're making me feel pathetic and alone."
"Go get a girlfriend then Connor," I teased. "Say guys," I pretended innocence. "Lou Ellen's looking really pretty tonight, isn't she?"
Juniper giggled at Connor's blush. "Just go ask her out, Connor!" She said happily. "I'm sure she'll say yes."
"Hey! Hey, Lou!" Travis called over to where Lou sat with her siblings. When she and the rest of the campers looked up and stopped talking he grinned at his brother. "Connor really wants to ask you something!"
"Shut up, Travis!" Connor hissed before glancing at his crush who was looking at them all with a confused expression on her face.
"Why? You know she likes you," Travis said. "And you've have a crush on her since we first got here. It's been eight years, Connor," he said seriously. "I think now is the time."
People were still glancing at them so I decided to break the silence. "Hey, Lou! If Connor asked you out would you say yes?"
Catcalls and laughs filled the air and I managed to duck Connor throwing a marshmallow at me. "Percy!"
"You were never going to do it!"
"Sounds like someone else I know," Annabeth looked up at me playfully.
"Shh," I said before looking back up at Lou's reply.
"Maybe I would!" She called. "If he actually asked me himself!"
"There!" The whole campfire went 'ooohh,' and Connor blushed crimson at Travis's exclamation.
I laughed along with everybody else as Connor ducked his head, glaring at Travis and I. "You're both so dead."
We continued bantering back and forth- Connor never did actually get up and ask Lou Ellen- and I was laughing almost the entire time.
This was home. These people were part of my family.
Annabeth never let go of my hand the entire time.
Eventually Chiron and Mr. D showed up and we started to sing. After the first song Mr. D went back to the Big House, claiming he had a headache. After he left we only sang louder and the flames of the fire shot up to almost eight feet and were a golden yellow.
We sang silly songs like 'Zeus Might Be Your Dad, but Hera is Not Your Mom,' and 'Hermes Stole Apollo's Cows in Broad Daylight.'
We had fun. Everyone was laughing and smiling and the Apollo kids were singing louder than anyone else. I caught Will Solace's eye and grinned at him from where I was sitting and he grinned right back.
I had missed this place.
Eventually people started trickling back up to the cabins in two's and three's. Chiron called lights out in an hour when about half of the campers were gone and eventually there was only a few of us left.
Annabeth and I decided to head back up to and as we were walking, our interlocked hands swinging between us, I remembered my mom's words from earlier.
'I just have a bad feeling….'
"Rachel for sure isn't coming here this break?" I asked Annabeth.
She shook her head. "Not unless she specially asks her dad to. Why?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I just… well I've been thinking about the next Great Prophecy since summer ended. I was just wondering if she's had any of her feelings lately."
Annabeth pursed her lips and nodded. "I have too," she confessed. "But when I spoke to her last she said Apollo hadn't been sending her any visions or prophecy lines in a while. You were probably right at the end of summer," she turned and stopped in front of me when we reached her cabin. "It will probably take years, and a whole new generation of demigods can handle it."
I nodded and forgot about it as she stepped up the step leading to the door of Cabin Six. "You know," I started, "I promised everyone there would be no funny business."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" She asked.
My smile widened. "But what sort of boyfriend- what sort of gentleman- doesn't kiss his girlfriend goodnight? That would just be bad manners."
Annabeth nodded with fake seriousness. "Terribly rude," she agreed.
"And since you didn't promise anyone anything-"
"Just shut up and kiss me goodnight, Seaweed Brain." Annabeth interrupted before grabbing me by my sweater collar and pulling me a step forward, close enough for our lips to touch.
Have I mentioned I love this girl? Because I did. I do.
She tasted like peppermint and I moved one hand up to the back of her head, holding her hair between my fingers while my other hand moved to her cheek. Her arms wrapped around my shoulders and her lips moved slowly against mine. Whenever Annabeth kissed me I forgot where I was, who was there, what my own name was-
"Hey! You two!"
Leo's voice sounded from the Hephaestus Cabin's door and Annabeth and I broke apart to see all the cabin lights on and people craning their necks to look around their doors and through their cabin windows to watch us.
"Some of us want to get to sleep and can't do that knowing you guys are sucking face in front of the Athena Cabin!"
Both Annabeth and I blushed. "Thanks, Leo!" I called sarcastically.
"Happy to help!" He called back before Jake called the cabin back inside.
"Good job you two!" Travis called. "But isn't it past wittle Percykins' bed time?"
"Go to sleep, Travis!" Annabeth and I called unanimously, causing the other campers who could hear to burst out laughing.
Slowly the voices died down and I looked at Annabeth without being able to stop the smile on my face. She surprised me by giggling.
"See you tomorrow, Seaweed Brain." She said before pecking me chastely on the lips and heading inside her cabin without another word.
"Night, Wise Girl!" I called before making my way to my own cabin.
I went to sleep quickly that night, not knowing that when I woke up my life would turn to total mayhem for the next seven months.
Because when I woke up the next morning, Annabeth was missing.
oooOOOooo
A.N. So this is the prologue and I would really love feedback from you guys. If you could tell me if you want me to continue this story and if I'm doing an okay job of staying in character that would be great. Please, please, please, I could really use the info because if I'm out of touch with Percy's thoughts or words I need to know so I can either take the story down or work on improving it!
So far I haven't written the next chapter or anything because I want to know if you guys would like to read more, but if I do decide to write more it might be awhile before I update again because I'll want to write at least a few more chapters so that it will help me update regularly.
Thank you for reading, I hope you like it so far! If you have any suggestions for story ideas PM me or leave it in a review and I'll try to get back to you!
Love you all!
Percyjacksonfan3
