Prologue

19-year old Annabeth tapped her foot impatiently in the elevator rising up towards Mount Olympus. She had recently graduated from Harvard and was getting back to her job of redesigning the home of the gods, mount Olympus. It had been one year since she'd been admitted to the phenomenal architecture program of the ivy-league school, and she'd already graduated valedictorian with a high degree in her field. It had been two years since she'd started up on her huge project of redesigning mount Olympus. Now, the Olympians' personal rooms/temples or whatever you want to call them were starting construction. It would probably be done by now if she had started redesigning when she was supposed to three years ago. But she hadn't for personal reasons. Three years ago was the end of the second Titan war as well as the end of her relationship with the most famous modern demigod of all times: Percy Jackson. But that was the past. It had been three years since she'd last seen him. At least in person, that was. Percy had become a professional swimmer in the Olympics and other big competitions. He was famous in the mortal world as well as the demigod world. Annabeth? She was just getting started with her architecture career. Perhaps it was interesting to her, but it definitely wasn't as exciting as being a world-renowned Olympic swimmer touring the world six months a year.

Ding! The familiar sound of the mount Olympus elevator door opening at reaching the 600th floor of the empire state building snapped her out of her daze.

Stepping out of the elevator, Annabeth saw that the plans she had worked so hard on were progressing the construction. Servants and minor gods tinkered on the buildings. Aphrodite's sacred place was almost complete. Normally, Zeus would have his built first, but Aphrodite's charms won everyone over. Annabeth could smell the fragrance of roses and hear the pleasant tweeting of bird, doves and hummingbirds, no doubt, before even reaching the enormous garden placed in front of Aphrodite's temple. But Annabeth also felt a sense of sadness hanging in the air tinged with saltiness, like in sea water, reminding her of her own experience with love. She rushed past it. She couldn't waste any time today mourning over her misfortunes, she had to go to a meeting with the 9 muses to talk about their plans for their pavilion/temple.

The feeling of sadness left as soon as Annabeth neared the would-be temple of Athena. So far, there was only an arch decorated with shields and other memorable historical artifacts. In her small garden, there was a sundial in the middle, surrounding by a ring of olive trees, each with an owl sleeping soundly on it. One of the smaller owls flapped its wings slightly, and opened one eye drowsily, and Annabeth swore she saw the corners of his beak lift up.

Giggling slightly, Annabeth continued on her way towards the temple of the nine muses. She passed Ares's temple, which was for now just an indestructible fortress. Annabeth could hear battle cries and large explosions in the backgrounds. Annabeth had no idea what the heck he did in there, but it probably wasn't good for her mortal eyes anyhow.

She avoided staying too long there, since it was possible that there was a land mine hidden around here. Finally she spotted the platform where the 9 muses' temple was to be built.

She could see them chatting from a far distance away, each wearing Greek style togas, but of different colors and designs. Annabeth personally was great friends with the muse Thalia. She was quite a lot like her own friend, whom she hadn't seen in a while due to her hunting missions. Thalia (the muse) shared her interest in architecture, and had a great sense of humor. Thalia helped her in designing mount Olympus with her millennia of experience.

Today her friend was wearing a simple sleeveless blue chiton, the blue of a blueprint, Annabeth noted, a slight smile gracing her features. Her silky dark hair was piled up high on her head in a fancy way that Annabeth was seriously jealous of. She had long given up on even brushing her hair. Her blonde curly hair was completely tangled and everywhere, which was why she wore it in a ponytail while working.

When the muses saw her, they smiled friendlily. Waving enthusiastically. Annabeth waved back, smiling. Since she was still looking for a job in the mortal world, she had a lot of free time on her hands and the nine muses and she often hung out together. Together they were able to come up with epic architecture ideas and plans.

Well, while she was looking for a job, it wasn't that she couldn't find one. It was quite the opposite, in fact. Annabeth had gotten many job offers before. But Annabeth had turned them down. She had her eyes set on one job. The redesigning of the white house.

Yes, Annabeth knew she should start small and build less important projects, like renovations of national museums and stuff like that, but this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. If she went to do another job, the rebuilding of the White House wouldn't be waiting for her.

However, now, Annabeth had a different problem on her hands. The temple of the nine muses. Annabeth was pretty sure that the home mothers of art and science were more in need to be built that the home of the president.

As Annabeth reached her friends, 8 of them beamed at her. Well, Annabeth really didn't expect Melpomene to be smiling at her; she was the muse of tragedy, after all.

"Well, I have this idea…" Thalia started.

Immediately Melpomene interjected, and Thalia and her counterpart began bickering. Soon after, all of the muses had joined in, yelling at each other. One stepped on another's foot, and the fighting transitioned from verbal to physical.

"Oh gods…" Annabeth muttered. This was going to be a long meeting.

"You didn't even hear –" Thalia was saying.

"Well maybe if your other ideas weren't so –" Melpomene started.

"Well, if you were sensible, you would –" another muse began, though she was pushed to the ground by one of her fellow muses.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. The 4000 year-old muses acted more like toddlers sometimes.

"Shut up!" Annabeth yelled. There was no time for their petty arguments right now.

Most of the muses wisely quieted down.

"Well, I was trying to talk when Melpomene rudely interrupted me!" Thalia shouted.

Annabeth shot her an irritated look with her steely gray eyes, and Thalia finally got the message.

"We have only an hour and a half to talk, so let's make it worth it." Annabeth declared, her voice was calm, but the expression on her face told a different story.

The nine muses got into work mode; although they liked to play around a lot, they were truly efficient when it came to working, after 4000 years of experience, of course.

Annabeth left the platform with a satisfied look on her face. She expected, that by tomorrow, the support frames would be set up. Things moved fast on Mount Olympus.

And so Annabeth started back towards her apartment, deciding to take the long route to the elevator, just to tour the rest of the temples.

First, she passed Apollo's temple, temporarily blinding her. It had hardly begun building. Mirrors were placed all around it, reflecting brilliant sunlight, and Annabeth averted her eyes to a sight she wanted to see even less; the temple of Poseidon. But she forced herself to near it anyways. What kind of architect would she be if she avoided her own work?

From afar, Annabeth could see the two twin fountains with a subtle design of swirls engraved on the sides and on top it were four nereids holding up a large open clam shell, spewing water in all directions. Warm sand greeted her flip flops as she walked up the marble stairs lined with Grecian columns. So far, in his temple was a large pool and a hammock. Annabeth decided not to get too close to prevent herself from thinking too much about a certain son of Poseidon. But even from where she stood, Annabeth could hear voices coming from the temple. Annabeth didn't want to eavesdrop, but her curiosity won over eventually. She saw Poseidon wearing a flannel shirt and swim trunks. Facing him (so that Annabeth couldn't see his face), was a younger man in a gray tank top and jeans. He had dark, messy hair and his arms were taught with muscles, which Annabeth couldn't help staring at. It seemed that they were engaged in an argument.

Then, Annabeth made a mistake she would never forget. She stayed for about 5 seconds longer. 5 seconds too long. Seriously. If it weren't for those five seconds, Poseidon would have never seen her, and the other guy would have never turned around. She and Percy wouldn't be staring at each other straight in the eye, at loss for words, after no contact for over three years. Annabeth wouldn't have run up and slapped him.

Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened. Annabeth stayed, and Poseidon saw her. He stopped talking, his expression morphing from an angry one to a surprised one.

Apparently, Poseidon's companion noticed this, and turned around, following his father's gaze.

Annabeth and Percy were face to face (10 yards away from each other, but minor detail), staring at each other. Percy's expression made the same change as his father's, only more shocked.

For another excruciating 5 seconds, they stayed like that, silent.

They probably would have stayed like that for a lot longer, if Annabeth hadn't snapped out of her daze. Anger started bubbling in her chest.

Without thinking, she stormed up to her ex-boyfriend, fury in her now dark gray eyes.

They were only a foot apart when Annabeth opened her mouth.

"How dare you." She said. Her voice was strangely level, like the calm before a storm.

Percy's expression turned to one of fear.

Annabeth raised her hand, and with one fluid motion, brought it across Percy's face.

A/N: First chapter! I hope you liked it! Please R&R! Until next Monday!