Chapter 2. Annabeth Chase, Princess of Athens

Annabeth's pov

I stood in the bathroom and took a deep breath before diving my head into the water filled sink. The water was cool and it felt good on my warm heated skin. My mind drifted off into space as I was overwhelmed by the nice sensation.

In my daydream I was standing on a beach looking over the ocean at the beautiful sunset. The night sky was illuminated lowly with an orangey red glow. The ocean breeze was light and cool and the ocean smell seemed somewhat intoxicating. The waves overlapped onto the shore lightly and the water rose just above my ankles.

"Beautiful isn't it." A voice said from behind. I did not flinch or turn around to face the voice's owner. I only smiled to myself, pleased with the voice's appearance.

"Yes, 'tis a glimpse of Heaven." I replied back without moving my eyes away from the sunset scene.

"Maybe, "The voice said and I could hear the footsteps as they moved closer.
"But Heaven's beauty does not compare to thee's" His voice was silky and soft, just so inviting it made me weak at the knees.

"You compliment me, yet you know me not." I said.

"No I know thee well sweet goddess." His strong arms wrapped around my waist and turned me around to face him. I was unable to see his face because it was concealed by the shadows. "Anything you wish I shall give, just name it."

"A kiss," I said. "My lip against yours is what I wish."

"Annabeth." He said my name and moved forward. He kissed me quickly at first, just a small peck on the lips.

"My name, it sounds so sweet coming from your lips. Please say it again." I said.

"Annabeth! Annabeth!" He said again but it was no longer in his voice. It sounded like the voice of my nurse Lupa.

"ANNABETH!" It came again.

My eyes shot open and I pulled my head out of the water. I gasped big breaths as I refilled my lungs. As I recomposed myself I looked at my reflection in the mirror. My stormy gray eyes, and my now very soaking wet blond hair.

"Annabeth did you not hear me calling?" Lupa asked coming into the bathroom.

"My apologies Lupa I was momentarily distracted."

"You mean you were off daydreaming. Look at your hair!" She grabbed the nearest towel and started drying my hair furiously.

"Sorry but I was hot and needed to cool down."

"Well come now child your mother awaits you in her chambers." Lupa handed me my white rope to cover up my sleeping clothes before ushering me out of my room. When we got to my mother she was yelling at a maid.

"No. No. No." She said. "They are to be ordered alphabetically." The maid stood there cowering slightly at my mother's rage. I decided to take pity on her and interrupt my mother's rampage.

"Mother!" I said. "You called for me?" She stopped her yelling and looked at me.

"Ah yes Annabeth come here. You are dismissed for now." She told the maid. The maid nodded to my mother as she backed away. When she passed me she muttered a quick 'thanks' and I nodded back.

"So why am I here?" I asked.

"Come here so I can take a look at you." She said. When I made no efforts of moving Lupa urged me forward. I stood in front of my mother as she circled me like Wolf with its prey. "There is much work to be done and in only so little time. Nurse takes notes." Lupa nodded.

"Her nails and toes need tending to. They need to be nicely cut and painted. Her skin needs care as well she needs to seem almost as if glowing. And-Oh gods your hair! Why is it wet?"

"I-uhh…shower."

"Well it needs the most work yet. As for your facial area her eyebrows could use some plucking as well." My hands shot to my eyebrows as if I already felt the pain.
"Lupa I expect this all to be done and right for tonight understand. She needs to look perfect."

"Excuse me mother but what is tonight?" She turned to me and looked shocked as if it was crazy that I forgot.

"Tis the mid-summer dance we have every year. This year it shall be a costume ball."

"Okay but why is this dance so special? Why must I look perfect?"

"You know lord Hermes II?"

"Yes and his 4 sons Travis, Conner, Chris and Luke. What of them?"

"Well the dashing young Luke wishes to...umm how do I say this...holler at you." I looked at her for a second out of shock that those words actually left her mouth.

"Okay first don't ever say that again, like ever." I told my mom. "And second Luke is like 2 years older than me. Isn't he a freshman in college."

"Oh come, come daughter. Two years is nothing, plus you don't have a say. He will be here tonight dressed as Prince Charming, which is why you will be dressed as Cinderella."

"What?" I shrieked.

"Mother surely you must be joking. Cinderella. Me as her."

"Go now and get ready party be tonight at 7." With that said she pushed me out of her chambers. I ran right for my room and started searching through my nightstand.
No way was I going to go dressed as Cinderella!

I finally my phone and called up my god sister Thalia.

"Hey Annie I was getting ready to call you." She said.

"Hey Thals are you coming to our costume party tonight?"

"Well duh everyone is going."

"Good but you'll never guess what my mother wants."

"What? No way tis can't be that bad."

"She wants me and Luke Castellan to date."

"What? Isn't he in college."

"Yeah but that's not all of it. She wants me to dress as Cinderella tonight."

"What has she completely gone mad."

"Annabeth come we must begin prepping." Lupa yelled out to me.

"One moment Lupa. Thals help me please!"

"Don't worry I got your back. I'll be there with something better suited for you."

"Thanks bye."

"Bye." I hung up the phone and Lupa came in. The next few hours were excruciatingly painful. Okay no I'm lying it was pure torture. Finally we were done and as my mother instructed I looked as close to perfection as possible. The Cinderella costume was laid out on my bed.
My mother came in now dressed in a Cleopatra costume.

"Really mother?"

"What? Do thee have a problem with my costume? I and your father are going matching. He's going to be King Tut."

"Fascinating." I said.

"Now you must be on your very best tonight and make a very good impression on Sir Luke."

"Oh great can't wait." I said with my voice void of emotion.

"Now dear you do remember how to woo a gentleman right?"

"Umm you dress like a guy and if that fails, throw him in the tower, banish his friends, and claim the throne?"

"Ha-ha cute." She said sarcastically while giving me the look. "Oh and I do believe thisbelongs to you." She motioned to the door and Thalia walked in. She was already dressed in her awesome costume.

She wore a silk silver one shouldered shirt. She wore dark gray jeans and a battle skirt over it. She wore silver high sandals and a silver circlet on her wrist. Her normally curly black hair was pulled back into one big French braid with bangs out front. She had archery bow slung over her shoulder along with quiver of arrows.

"Oh so I'm a this now godmother?" She said. My mother just rolled her eyes at us then turned to me.

"Get dressed, guests have begun to arrive. You have 10 minutes."

"Yes mom." We both chorused and put on innocent faces. She narrowed her eyes at the both of us.

"Lupa come." She walked out the room followed by Lupa. As soon as she was gone I dropped onto my bed and let out a groan.

"Does thee see what I go through." I said.

"Yeah, you have it rough." She laughed at me.

"So did you bring it?" She pulled a duffle bag from behind her back.

"I told you I got your back." She smirked at me. I rushed over and looked into the bag. What I saw took my breath away.

"Whoa!" I said.

"Is it good enough?" I looked up at her and grinned.

"Perfect!"

Okay so there is chap 2 review plz i need to hear ur feedback.