Prologue: Haunted
"Annabeth! Wait up!" the green eyed boy shouts, sprinting to catch up to me. At this, I run faster and sit atop my favourite swing in the mansion's garden.
"Gods Annabeth, would it hurt to slow down just a tiny bit?" he adds, now leaning on the tree which houses the swing, breathing heavily. He takes in each breath as if he'd been devoid of air for at least a millennia.
"Wow seaweed brain! You did a splendid job of beating me," I say sarcastically all the while holding back laughter. But, of course, I fail miserably and end up lying on my back on top of the swing laughing hysterically. My eyes are closed, one hand gripping my aching stomach and the other closes around the swing bars.
Finally, five minutes later, I calm down. I open my eyes and find Percy, AKA seaweed brain, leaning over me smiling an adorable smile. We are inches apart. If I reach out, I can touch his lips. Wait what?! Why am I having these weird thoughts? He's my best friend, for gods' sake!
He stares into my eyes and I stare right back, stubbornly, until his gaze becomes so intense that I can't take it anymore and I break my gaze away. I look towards my house, refusing to meet his eyes. From above me, I hear him sigh and back away.
"So…how was your day?" I ask trying to vanquish the awkward silence. "I heard you went horse riding."
"I did. It was boring…until the end. That was so much fun!" he exclaims in reply as he pushes the swing forward. "My father and I went to the country to purchase horses for our stables. It took four hours to go there and come back. And we only bought two horses. But it was totally worth it because my dad let me have one."
"Really? What does he look like?" I ask curiously, as Percy gives the swing one last, big push and hops on, sitting opposite me so if I turn my head to the right, we would be face to face.
"Oh he is the awesomest horse ever," he says excitedly. "He has jet black hair and obsidian eyes so I named him Blackjack and he runs super-fast!"
"Hmmm… he sounds pretty," I assess.
"Pretty? Why did you call him pretty?" he asks receiving a confused look from me. "He's a boy Annabeth. Boys are handsome, not pretty. Pretty is for girls."
Hearing this, I let out a chuckle and say "So does that mean I can't call you pretty anymore? I have to call you handsome, is it?"
He grows quiet for a minute and stares at me. Then, in a low whisper, he questions "You think I am handsome?"
My gaze drops and I reply in a similar voice "Maybe…"
My breath come shorter as Percy continues to stare at me. Then he leans in slowly, very slowly as if asking for permission. I am about to shake my head and ask what is wrong with him today when something inside of me pushes forward and my lips meet his. Electricity runs through my body, touching every nerve and warming me to my core. His lips move with mine in sync.
Suddenly, he pulls back and looks at the ground. "We shouldn't have done that…I'm sorry Annabeth… I don't want this to ruin our friendship and I would understand if you didn't feel the-"
Before he can finish, I crush my lips to his, stopping him mid-sentence. My hands move, finding their way around his neck, and tangle themselves in his silky black hair. He sits there, stiffly, causing me to almost pull back. The key word there is almost.
As I am about to pull back, Percy wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me flush against him, kissing me back. This is wrong! He's my best friend, I think. But it feel so right!
We kiss for what seems like an eternity, a very delicious, amazing eternity. Too soon, we pull back for air, smiling at each other. However, a moment later, Percy's eyes find their way back to the grass. His eyes seem to be filled with embarrassment. I shake my head and intertwine my hand with his causing him to look up.
"Percy, don't be sorry about this," I tell him, gesturing to our hands. "I am not. I loved every second of that kiss, I assure you." I run my fingers down the length of his face before resting them on his lips. Oh those delicious lips! A smile spreads across them and he kisses mu fingers making me blush.
"Hmm…enjoyed it, did you? Maybe we should do it again…" he flirts causing me to blush harder.
He smirks and is about to kiss me again when someone behind us calls "Madame Annabeth, Sir Perseus!" A female voice calls and we both turn towards it.
"Yes Thalia?" I ask my maid who just so happens to be my best friend.
"Lord Poseidon has called Sir Perseus. They are leaving," she explains. "Also, Lady Athena has asked for your presence in the second floor library once you have escorted Sir Perseus to his father."
I inwardly groan at the thought of Percy leaving so soon and say "You may leave, we shall be there in a minute."
She nods, bowing, then walks back to the house. Once she is out of sight, I turn back to Percy and ask wishfully "Are you coming again tomorrow?"
"I do not know…" he says sadly as we start walking back. "But I do know one thing," he kisses my cheek. "Today was amazing and I would love to do it again."
We continue talking like this until we reach the door, beyond which Lord Poseidon stand taking to my father. This has been the best day of my life so far and it becomes even better when Percy gives me a sweet goodbye kiss on the lips.
(Time skips to 12 at midnight the same day)
I wake to someone banging on the downstairs door. I slowly get out of bed and look out the window at the night sky. It's around midnight. Why would someone be banging the door at this hour? I think and look down towards the door. What I see shocks me to the core. A lady stands at the door, her curly brown hair a mess and tears dripping down her chocolate brown eyes.
I hurriedly run down the stair cases, four steps at a time and race to the door. I through the door open and find Sally, Percy's mother, crying. As the doors part, she looks up at me and hugs me tightly to her.
"A-Annabeth… P-Percy…died…b-body," she explains between sobs. A shock runs down my spine. Percy? Dead?
"What?! Where?" I demand. "Sally please take me to him."
She nods, crying still, and we run towards her house which is diagonal to mine. As we approach, I spot a figure covered in a death shroud on her doorstep. Scared, I slowly kneel down next to it and lift up the shroud to reveal…
