Chapter 2

Percy's POV

Wow, my sister's learning fast. She's getting better and better with the water powers, and she's really working on the attacks. Right now, it's free time at camp. Leah's over at the creek practicing how to make a whirlpool. Annabeth told me to meet her by the beach. She sounded pretty serious, like there was something important she needed to tell me but was hesitant at the same time. Since there was nothing else to do, I walked over to the beach. Sure enough, there was my Wise Girl, staring out at the waves. I sat down on the place beside her, and put my arm around her.

"Seaweed Brain?"

"Yeah, Wise Girl?"

"I-I need t-to tell you something." She stuttered, which was unusual.

Annabeth's POV

Wow, this is harder than I thought. I'm stuttering more than I should. *Sigh*

Flashback

"Annabeth, dear, you must leave him."

"But why, Mom? Why should I?"

"Because. . . .He is much trouble for you. You will never be able to fulfill your dreams if you continue this relationship with him."

I sobbed. "B-but. . ."

End of Flashback

I blinked back the stupid tears and pulled my nerves together.

"Seaweed Brain, I think we need to take a break."

He pulled his arm back. "What?"

"I said, we need to take a break from this." My voice was cracking with every word.

"But. . .why? Why, Annabeth?" I could tell he was trying hard to hold the tears back.

"Because. . .I would never be able to fulfill my dream if you're in the way. A relationship would hold me back. I'm sorry, Percy, but I have to do this." And then I stood up, and went to my cabin, sobbing.

I lay on my bed, thinking how he would move on from this. He'd never accept me again after what I did. I started bawling. Malcolm heard me and tried to comfort me, but I told him to leave me alone.

Percy's POV

"We need to take a break." Her words kept replaying in my head, and each time it did, it stung worse than before.

Did I do something wrong? Did I say anything insulting to her?

Questions popped up in my head. It didn't stop until someone laid a hand on my shoulder. I almost jumped, maybe it was her, saying she was wrong or something. But when I looked up, I saw her half-brother instead, Malcolm. "Malcolm."

"Percy. May I?" He asked, referring to the spot beside me. I nodded.

He sat down. "You know, she didn't do that just for herself. She was actually forced to do it."

I looked at him, confused and kinda angry at the same time. "Oh really? Then who's behind it?"

"Maybe her mom." Someone said, and both of us looked back and saw Leah. I motioned for her to sit down on my other side.

"Wait, so Athena's behind this?"

"Hey, don't accuse anyone of anything yet. Who knows, it might be your dad." Malcolm said defensively.

I laughed briefly. "Poseidon? No way. He already approved of us, why break it apart?" I asked, countering his question.

"Well. . .I don't know. We aren't sure about the person, or god, behind this yet. We should do some detective work, now shall we?" Malcolm replied.

"Sure, where do we start?" Leah asked.

"Actually, the question is: With WHOM do we start investigating?" Malcolm said, grinning.

"Aphrodite. Who else?" I said.