The Last Olympian: Annabeth's POV

By: Meredith Roberson

Chapter 2: We Get a Sneak Peek at Percy's Death

(A/N: Just saying, I'm sorry I am skipping certain chapters and melding them into just one and shortening the story. I wish I didn't have to, but it's easier. Sorry! Oh! And p.s. I own nothing! Rick Riordan does! I forgot to say that in the last chapter!)

Not long after Percy told us what happened Chiron told me to take Percy to see the Prophecy in the Big House's attic.

Once we were up in the attic, which can I just say creeped me out more than I let show but Percy didn't seem to care whether he looked scared or not. I started for the Oracle but Percy seemed preoccupied with looking at all the trophies and whatnot. He eventually picked up a sword. Kampê's scimitar. It was terribly bent from when she was crushed under the rock that was thrown on top of her. The sword itself still had green stains on it from the poison.

"You remember Briares throwing those boulders?" Percy asked, shaking me from my thoughts. I gave him a reluctant smile.

"And Grover causing a Panic?" I answered with a question of my own.

We locked eyes. Oh gods! Those eyes! What was he thinking about? Oh no… he has the look in his eyes. The same one he had after I kissed him under Mount St. Helens. That's what he's thinking about? He thinks about that too? Wait, we need to find the prophecy!

I cleared my throat. "Prophecy."

"Right." He put down the sword. "Prophecy."

I really hoped he didn't see me blush as we made our way to the window. The Oracle sat on a three-legged stool. She barely had any hair left with leathery skin. But the most unnerving thing about her to me was her eyes. They looked like someone had put them there like you would a stuffed deer head. Glassy and staring. Just looking at her made my skin crawl.

Last year, and all the years before, if you wanted to leave camp during the summer, you had to get a quest up here. That rule had been repealed because a lot of us had to go out on random combat missions at random times.

I looked over to check on Percy, he looked confused.

As if to prove my thoughts he said, "I never understood this."

"What?" What was there to understand? It was a dead Oracle who delivered prophecies for us when needed.

"Why it's a mummy." He explained.

"Percy, she didn't used to be a mummy. For thousands of years the spirit of the Oracle lived inside a beautiful maiden." He made a face at that, glancing at the Oracle and back to me. "The spirit would be passed on from generation to generation. Chiron told me she was like that fifty years ago." I pointed to the mummy. "But she was the last."

"What happened?" He asked. He looked genuinely curious now. I started to say that she was cursed, but I figured that wouldn't really do anything. We needed to get the Prophecy.

"Let's just do our job and get out of here." The Oracle was really starting to get to me. Percy looked hesitant as he peered over at the Oracle.

"So what now?" he asked. I went up to the mummy and held out her palms. Oh this was so nasty! I was touching a dead person's hand! Okay, calm down Annabeth. Don't let it show. I took a deep breath and began.

"O Oracle, the time is at hand. I ask for the Great Prophecy." Percy flinched as he prepared himself for the Oracle to do something. Of course it didn't though. I went up to one of its nasty old necklaces and unclasped it. I turned toward Percy still holding a pouch that was on the necklace. When I opened it, I took out the Prophecy. The paper, when all rolled up like it was, was only about the size of my pinky. Percy looked astonished.

"No way, all of these years, I've been asking about it and it's been around her neck? The whole time?" I stifled my giggle.

"The time wasn't right. Believe me Percy, I read this when I was ten years old, and I still have nightmares about it." It was true. I did. And now that we knew Percy was the half-blood in it, I always had nightmares that had him dying in the end in a different way than the night before.

"Great. Can I read it now?" He asked. Was he completely unfazed by the fact that I had nightmares about it? Why be so eager to find out this Prophecy?

"Downstairs at the war council. Not now in front of…you know." After I said this, Percy gave the Oracle another look before heading downstairs with me. I didn't know it then, but that was the last time I would ever visit the attic.

The senior counselors had gathered around our makeshift conference table: the Ping-Pong table. The rec room had become the informal headquarters for the camp's war councils. But when we entered the room, it looked like someone might get killed with all the murderous glares and shouts people were giving out like candy on Halloween.

Clarisse had every piece of armor on with her Maimer on her back. She was roaring at Michael Yew for something. It looked kind of weird though because she was so much bigger than him.

"It's our loot!" Michael yelled. He had to stand on his toes to get in Clarisse's face. I had to try not to laugh. "If you don't like it, you can kiss my quiver!" Now I wasn't the only one suppressing my laughter. Travis and Connor Stoll, Katie Gardner, Castor and Pollux, Jake Mason, and Silena were some of the people in the room. Silena, though, wasn't paying much attention. Not that she had lately. She looked terrible right now. Her eyes were puffy, hot chocolate sat right in front of her-untouched I might add- and all she was doing was stare down at the table while Clarisse and Michael argued over her. Unbelievable.

Just as I was about to say something, Percy shouted, "STOP IT! What are you guys doing?"

Clarisse did not like being interrupted. She stared Percy down before she started talking to him. "Tell Michael not to be a selfish jerk."

"Oh, that's perfect, coming from you." Michael retorted.

"The only reason I came was to support Silena! Otherwise I'd be back at my cabin.

"What are you talking about?" Percy asked. His voice was stern, unwavering.

Pollux cleared his throat. "Clarisse has refused to speak to any of us, until her, um, issue is resolved. She hasn't spoken for three days." Wow. That was really saying something. If Clarisse was keeping her trap shut then the world must really be ending.

"It's been wonderful." Travis said wistfully.

"What issue?" Percy asked. Before anybody could answer anything, Clarisse turned to Chiron. "You're in charge, right? Does my cabin get what we want or not?"

Chiron looked nervous. "My dear, as I have already explained, Michael is correct. Apollo's cabin has the best claim. Besides, we have more important matters…" he trailed off at her death glare.

"Sure, because there are always more important matters that what Ares needs. We're just supposed to show up and fight when you need us, and not complain!"

"That would be nice." Connor Stoll muttered. I wish he hadn't said that. Clarisse had a point. We always treated the Ares cabin like dirt, especially Clarisse. And yet we still expect them to fight. We really needed to work on that.

Clarisse clutched her knife. "Maybe I should ask Mr. D,"

Chiron interrupted her sounding only slightly more frustrated as before. "As you know, our director, Dionysus, is busy with the war. He can't be bothered with this."

"I see. And what about the senior counselors. Are any of you going to side with me?" I really wanted to say I was but I wouldn't dare. Too many people would hate me for it. Nobody smiled. Nobody met her eyes. "Fine," She turned to Silena. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get into this when you've just lost… Anyway, I apologize. To you. Nobody else."

Silena didn't respond. Or even look at her for that matter.

Clarisse threw her knife into the table and it sank through to the hilt. "All of you can fight this war without Ares. Until I get satisfaction, no one in my cabin is lifting a finger to help. Have fun dying."

We were all way to stunned to close our gaping mouths. Have fun dying? Was it really that important? She stormed out of the room. Michael was the first to speak up.

"Good riddance."

"Are you kidding? This is a disaster!" Katie protested.

"She can't be serious…can she?" Travis asked.

Chiron couldn't help but sigh at our drama. "Her pride has been injured. She will calm down eventually." He sounded like he didn't believe it himself.

Percy looked at me quizzically. I mouthed the words I'll tell you later.

Chiron still had something to say. "Now, if you please, counselors. Percy has brought something I think you should hear. Percy—the Great Prophecy."

I handed him the paper. He had some troubles with the string holding it but finally opened it gingerly.

"A half-blood of the eldest dogs…" Oh no. the dyslexia was kicking in. Better help him out.

"Er, Percy? That's gods not dogs"

"Oh…right." He looked embarrassed. "A half-blood of the eldest gods…shall reach sixteen against all odds…" He hesitated on the next few lines. Poor thing. Then he continued.

"…And see the world in endless sleep, the hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap."

He paused. He looked deep in thought. A first for the Seaweed Brain.

Chiron was getting impatient. "Percy, read the rest."

"…A single choice shall…shall end his days. Olympus to per—pursue" Here we go again.

"Preserve" I corrected gently. Did he know what that meant? "It means to save."

He mumbled something I didn't understand but a few others seemed to because I heard a few snickers.

"Olympus to preserve or raze."

And that's when everybody decides to shut up. Connor Stoll was the first to speak up.

"Raise is good, isn't it?"

I guess the Prophecy got Silena's attention because she finally made a comment.

"Not raise, raze. R-A-Z-E means destroy."

I began to give a few synonyms for them but Percy took it as an insult.

"Got it. Thanks." He said, his voice smeared with sarcasm.

"You see now, Percy, why we thought it best not to tell you the whole prophecy. You've had enough on your shoulders…"

"Without realizing I was going to die in the end anyway? Yeah, I get it." No. He wasn't going to die. He couldn't. I wouldn't let anything or anyone kill him. I couldn't even let him think he was going to die.

"Percy, you know prophecies always have double meanings. It might not literally mean you die."

"Sure. A single choice shall end his days. That has tons of meanings doesn't it?" That one hit me like a slap across the face.

Jake Mason, always the optimist, started, "Maybe we can stop it. The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. Maybe we could find this cursed blade and destroy it. Sounds like Kronos's scythe, right?"

I could tell Percy didn't care which blade it was. Just that his soul was supposed to get reaped.

"Perhaps we should let Percy think about these lines. He needs time…" Chiron began, but Percy would have none of it.

"No." He took the Prophecy and put it in his pocket. "If I die, I die. I can't worry about that right?"

I paled. I didn't want to look at him right now. What was he saying? That he didn't care if he died? That it didn't matter so long as the Prophecy was fulfilled? What about everybody else who cared about whether he died or not? His mom, Grover, Paul, his father…me. What would we do?

I looked down and saw my hands were trembling.

"Let's move on. We've got other problems. We have a spy."

Michael scowled. "A spy?"

Percy explained what happened to him and Beckendorf on the Princess Andromeda. I had heard this before so I didn't bother listening. I was still stuck on Percy's feelings about earlier. How could he not care? I just don't get him! When he fights, he fights for his life! If he was like this when we were younger, he would be dead right now! Ugh! Why are boys so confusing!

Silena began to cry and I snapped out of it. I put my arm around her and began to comfort her.

"Well," Connor began, "we've suspected there might be a spy for years, right? Somebody kept passing information to Luke—like the location of the Golden Fleece a couple years ago. If must be somebody who knew him well."

I saw him look at me after he said this. He looked away quickly and said, "Um, I mean, it could be anybody." But not before I understood what he was trying to say. He thought it was me who was passing information to Luke. I mean, yeah, we were really close and I had a huge crush on him but seriously? That was years ago and before I found out he was evil. I was over him. Every guy in camp is just too dense to realize I'm a step away from being in love with Percy. Most girls will actually come up and ask me how it's going with him because they knew almost immediately! But, like most, the boys here just can't ever tell when a girl has a crush. Except if it's on another guy.

"Yes," the voice of Katie snapped me out of my mental rant, "like one of Luke's siblings." Of course, this led to an argument between the three.

"Stop!" Silena banged on the table and her hot chocolate spilled. "Charlie is dead and…and you're all arguing like little kids." That was the most I had heard her say in a while. Not a moment after her little chewing-out session, she started bawl. Everybody went red-faced and had looks of shame on their faces.

They started going on about finding the matching scythe charm to the one Kronos had.

Eventually, Percy started to want to know what would come that was a bigger threat. Typhon. He still didn't know. Chiron and I decided he needed some alone time. I let him explain it.

"Percy, we didn't want to tell you until you retuned to camp. You needed a break with your…mortal friends." Chiron explained.

I blushed at this. I suddenly became very fascinated with my sneakers. He now knew I knew about him hanging out with Rachel. I know I shouldn't be jealous but I can't help it. She's his summer cruise getaway girl and I'm the one at camp who he has to face danger with. That made me feel awesome! I you couldn't tell, that was sarcasm.

"Tell me what happened." Percy asked. He looked kind of angry.

Chiron took a cup and dumped out the contents onto a hot plate. Steam surged up and then he threw a golden drachma into it. "O Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, show is the threat." The mist twinkled and we were able to see a festering volcano—Mount St. Helens—explode. The volcano seemed to turn inside out as it blew to kingdom come. Some reporter's voice was going on and on about the facts about the volcano but one thing caught my attention—they mentioned last year's eruption. The one Percy had caused. The one where I thought he died. The one where he was shot onto Calypso's island. The one that shattered my heart. A figure rising out of the bits of volcano. It was a giant. It was Typhon. Percy noticed too.

"It's him, Typhon."

Chiron went on to explain how terrible Typhon was and what was happening today. I just kept watching the mist until I saw my mother's owl attack him. Mom was using her owl? That was for dire needs only. Well, I guess this was a dire need but I meant a god's dire need. That's how powerful Typhon was. Even Zeus was having difficulties. Percy was definitely worried about Olympus. Who was guarding it? He knew it was a trick. Just like I did. What if the Princess Andromeda thing was a ruse to distract us? What if he let it get destroyed? Who would know? The gods didn't have time to worry about that. Only we had the time and skill on our hands, but our numbers had depleted over the last year. We were outnumbered by thousands!

"It's a trick. We have to warn the gods. Something else is going to happen." I guess the amount of time spent with me wasn't a complete waste. He now thought somewhat like I did.

"Something worse than Typhon? I hope not." Chiron looked like he was worried for Percy's mental health.

"We have to defend Olympus. Kronos has another attack planned."

"He did. But you sank his ship." Travis said. Everybody looked at Percy for some kind of comfort that we both knew he couldn't give. He glanced at me. He knew that I was thinking the same thing about the Princess Andromeda. We weren't going to say that in front of Silena though. We couldn't let her think Beckendorf died in vain.

"Maybe you're right." Percy said, obviously not believing a word he was saying. The room was silent as we all went into our own little worlds think of what would happen in the next few days, that is, until Chiron snapped us out of our reveries.

"Well, I think that's enough for one night." He fluttered his hand in the mist causing it to dissipate.

"That's an understatement." I heard Percy mumble.

And the war council adjourned.

So sorry for not updating sooner! I was busy with my first week of high school! I didn't have much time! Please review!