So hey, this is my new story! It's AU, so no demigods. Okay, please give it a try!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except plot, blah blah blah whatever.

I woke up, as usual, in my enormous bed, climbed out, pulled on a thin white dressing gown, and walked out onto the balcony overlooking the great city of Athens, city of Athena, of which I am princess. It was a beautiful city, set in a valley filled with buildings of creamy yellow sandstone and white marble. The palace, where I lived, lay on top of the mountain above the city, far out of harm's way. The city, including the palace, was surrounded by a high wall, on all sides but the one which was on the coast, on the opposite side of the city to the mountain on which I lived. I could see the glittering, perfect blue ocean brimming with trade vessels going in and out of the port, the bustling morning markets, and the tiny people rushing through the narrow, twisting streets. Even from so far away, I could hear the faint clatter of carriage wheels over the cobbled ground.

"Miss Annabeth?" I spun around to see my new maid poking her head around the door. "Your father wishes to speak to you and you have been summoned to the dining room." She squeaked. She had only been working here for a week, but was already accustomed to the way things worked.

"Of course." I replied, walking to the enormous carved wardrobe that stood in the corner of the room and throwing open the doors. Hundreds of beautiful gowns for all occasions flooded my vision, but I selected a simple blue gown with a white sash around the middle, and slipped into it behind the screen in the corner of the room. When I was dressed, I sat at the vanity table while the maid combed out my blonde curls so that they hung past my shoulders, and slid my silver tiara onto my head. She slipped my feet into flat white slippers, because she already knows my great dislike of heels.

"Thank you. You may go, now." She nodded and curtseyed, then left the room. I slipped my bronze dagger inside its hilt, then hid it up my sleeve. It was a gift, and I always keep it with me. Not wishing to anger my father, King Frederick, I hurried down the grand staircase to the dining room, where he, my mother, Queen Athena (not her actual name, but a name given to all queens in our city to honour our goddess), and my brothers, Princes Bobby and Matthew were sat waiting, their food not yet served. I slid into my seat next to Matthew.

"Good morning." I said politely, addressing the whole table.

"Annabeth, your new tutor is coming today. You are to meet him in the gardens after breakfast." My father instructed, as the butlers brought in the freshly prepared food. A messenger burst through the door, not even stopping to bow, and handed my father a message in a white envelope. With careful fingers, he slit the top of the envelope and tugged out the letter inside, frowning once he had read the contents.

"A few Atlantis citizens managed to get past the guards last night. It seems they were trying to reach the palace. They were, however, caught, but not before they caused several injuries among our people." I should explain. Atlantis, the city of Poseidon, is a neighbouring city to Athens. The royal family of Atlantis and my family have been feuding for almost a thousand generations, and no one can remember why, though there are countless rumours. The people of both cities hate each other, though we must put up with each other. Although I have never met the Atlantis royal family, I know that the King and Queen, Poseidon (called Poseidon for the same reasons my mother is called Athena) and Sally, have one son, Prince Perseus, who is my age. One day, when I am Queen (Even though I am a girl, I am the oldest child and I was granted Athena's blessing as an infant, therefore I will one day rule over Athens), I hope to find out what caused this feud.

"Annabeth!" My father's angry roar cut through my thoughts, and I dropped my fork to the table with a clatter.

"Insolent girl! You will listen to me when I am speaking!" His rages had frightened me since I was a child.

"I apologise, father." I replied meekly.

"Your father was talking about your birthday celebrations next week." My mother spoke calmly, gazing soothingly at me with the stormy grey eyes that she had passed on to me. My father had regained composure, and spoke more quietly this time, though his voice was still cold.

"You must sort out the invitations after your lessons. I have written a list of suitable companions."

"Yes, father." I groaned inwardly. Soon, my father would be forcing an arranged marriage upon me, selecting a suitor to share, and ultimately take over my duty as future Queen of Athens, because a girl could not possibly handle running a city now, could she?

"Annabeth, your tutor will be waiting." I left my half eaten breakfast and excused myself from the dining room, ignoring my father's angry muttering as I stormed through the hallway and onto the sun baked stone path of the garden.

My new tutor was waiting in the garden pavilion, and stood and bowed in greeting when he saw me hurrying in his direction. He had shiny black hair, and an eye patch over one eye, embroidered with the Athens symbol, a grey owl.

"Good morning, Princess Annabeth. I am Ethan, your new tutor." I held out my hand, and allowed him to kiss it, as I had been taught to do by my nurse.

"My lady, I have been told that you are the most intelligent lady in all of Greece, is this true?" I blushed, smoothing down my skirts.

"I could not say." I replied, embarrassed.

"We will just have to find out, won't we?" He smiled. "Will you take a walk with me?" I nodded, and we walked out of the pavilion and to the lake, right on the edge of the palace grounds.

"What beautiful grounds these are, my lady."

"Thank you. They were built hundreds of years ago, by the first king of Athens." I gazed around at the sparkling lake, the small boats tethered at the pontoon in front of us and the birds soaring through the bright blue sky above. Suddenly, I heard the familiar sound of metal whipping through the air and I leapt to the side, very narrowly avoiding the long bronze sword carving through the air. In less than a second, my dagger was in my hand, and I was ready to fight.

"Oh, the lady can fight?" Ethan asked mockingly, a sneer scarring his previously friendly face.

"Yes, she can." I said savagely, blocking every one of his attacks easily.

"I admit, you are quite good – for a girl." Anger coursed through me like fire, and I attacked viciously, slicing the air, the clash of metal on metal filling the air. Beads of sweat appeared on Ethan's face, and I smiled victoriously, still fighting with all my might. His sword sliced my arm, and I felt blood spill over my skin, but I ignored it.

"I have more than one way of capturing you, Annabeth, if you will not come quietly." He said gruffly. I didn't reply, dismissing that as an empty threat. Suddenly, he whistled. The bushes behind me rustled and I whirled around, only realising my mistake as I felt Ethan's broad arm catch around my neck. I struggled in vain. He was much stronger than me. I sensed someone else behind me, and struggled harder.

"Stay still," Ethan hissed in my ear. I ignored him. A sudden sharp pain in my neck made me cry out, and I saw a needle in Ethan's free hand. Dull realisation washed over me as the light faded. I was, most probably, dead.

So there you have it!
Please review, follow and favourite! Any of these will receive free virtual cookies (::)(::)(::)
PM me any questions you have, I'd be happy to answer them or just chat!
Also, if you don't mind me casually advertising, please check out my other Percy Jackson fanfiction, Whispers in the Dark.
I will post the next chapter in a week or so! K BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE