A/N; I wanted to thank MissBlueSunglass, Kushina-Reyna, kittyhawk09, Celeste, Stellar, Maya, Miwokgirl101, Livie, Guest and Hi for their kind and helpful reviews.
I also wanted to thank everyone, who has favorite, followed and just read this story. Here is the fourth chapter and I hope you all enjoy it.
Like always I do not own PJO/ HoO, I do own the Idea, plot bunnies that came with it and the OC. It is not much, but we can't all be RR can we?
I apologize for any grammar/Spelling mistakes. Other than that? Enjoy the chapter.
How could she have made such a grave mistake? How could she, not have included that someone could resist Charmspeak?
Annabeth didn't believe that one could be prepared for everything. But if ninety percent of your plan relied on an ability, one should always count on the fact that there would be always someone who could resist it.
And Annabeth had ignored that. She had made the grave mistake, of basing her plan on events in the past.
She had assumed that because Piper's Charmspeak had always worked in the past, that it would also work now.
And that was a stupid and reckless assumption.
There was no such thing as an flawless and perfect ability. All abilities could be countered and resisted.
No matter how powerful they seemed to be. No matter how many times they have worked. Nor how many times they saved your life. One should always count on the fact, that one day they would fail.
It was just their luck that they encountered someone who could not only resist it, but use it as well. Annabeth had felt Charmspeak before, both Drew and Piper could use it.
But the Amazon's ability scared her.
Annabeth could always feel it when Piper used her Charmspeak, but with this woman...Annabeth hadn't felt it. She had only realized she had been put under the spell, after she had been released.
"Hmm. You are back? And without my lunch, I see."
Annabeth shifted her gaze and spotted the red haired Charmspeaker, approach them. The Second commander of the Amazons stopped next to the crate.
"Something changed?"
Annabeth tensed wondering if that something would make their situation worse. Or if it was something that could work in their advantage.
The Second Commander of the Amazons sighed, her green eyes shifting their gaze towards the cages and rested on Annabeth. "You can say that again. And?"
The dark haired woman shrugged looking up from her magazine and said something, in a language Annabeth couldn't understand. What kind of language was it? It wasn't Latin, it did sound old...It was an very old language.
The red haired Amazon stepped towards their cages and stopped in front of the one holding Annabeth. "You have ten minutes, to decide which one of you will represent your cause. The Charmspeaker is the only one, our Queen has no desire meeting."
"So, she has no claims against meeting a male, but she would refuse to meet a woman?" Piper asked her voice filled with defiance. "Not very Amazonian of her, is it?"
Annabeth's eyes widened when she heard what Piper had said, what was she doing? But before Annabeth could say anything, she was interrupted by the woman who had been guarding them.
"Oh?" She said closing her Magazine, placing it down as she stood up. Her dark brown eyes darkened dangerously. "I don't think I heard you, right. Something about our Queen not being a true Amazon?"
She took a step towards the cage holding Piper, her lips forming an sadistic smile. The Amazon lifted her hand and grabbed the bars of the cage holding the daughter of Aphrodite. "Your parent did drop you as child. Because other than you lacking a brain, I can't think of a solid and even justified reason for you to endanger your friends like that."
"She didn't mean it like that." Annabeth said her grey eyes silencing her friend before she gotten them killed before they had the chance, to see the Amazon Queen. "She was just surprised...That the Queen wanted to see a male."
Brown eyes shifted their gaze towards Annabeth and were filled with an desire to kill. In all her years in camp and on Quests, Annabeth had never seen anyone's eyes filled with such a blood thirst. "Didn't mean it like that? You can't expect me to believe that, do you?" She asked her dark eyes narrowing.
"She really didn't...It just came out wrong." Annabeth tried again, knowing that it sounded ridiculous and that there was no way anyone would believe that. But she had to try and undo the damage Piper had caused.
"It came out wrong?" She asked stepping away from Piper's cage and moving towards the one holding Annabeth. "So what she meant to say was, what exactly? I thought Amazons hated men? I thought Amazons preferred to speak to a female warrior?" The young woman asked tilting an eyebrow. "And instead of saying that she decided upon. Not very Amazonian?"
Well when she put it like that, but what else could Annabeth do? They needed to speak with the Queen. It was their home which was depended on this. "Please...She didn't mean it like that." Annabeth tried again. "One representative?"
The red haired woman sighed. Her green eyes shifting between her friend, Annabeth and Piper. "Yes, everyone but the Charmspeaker. I advise you to choose wisely."
The dark haired woman faced the Second Commander of the Amazons. "The punishment on insulting our Queen is death. She insulted the person, who made the rule not to kill everyone that enters our territory... She insulted the one who allowed them to life a few more minutes."
"I get that." The red haired woman said lifting her hand successfully cutting of whatever it was, that the other woman wanted to say. "Enough Zinah."
Zinah's eyes flashed and for a minute Annabeth thought that she would do something rash. But she closed her eyes and took a deep breath and released it. "I am defiantly not getting paid enough for this."
She returned back to the crate and took place reopening her Magazine and flipped a few pages. "Mark my words Mackenzie, one wrong move and I will depose of her."
"If that makes you happy, go right ahead." Was Mackenzie reply sighing before she shifted her gaze towards Annabeth. "Considering that wasted precious time...Time you do not have. You will only get three minutes, to decide who will be your representative."
Annabeth nodded her mind working through all the possibilities, it didn't take her long to come to the conclusion that she would be the one who was best suited for the job.
"I will be the one to speak to your Queen." Annabeth said her grey eyes facing Percy and Jason, silently telling them that she had this under control. "I am the one who will, represent us."
Mackenzie nodded her green eyes sweeping over the four Demigods, before they rested on Annabeth again. "That is your final decision? You are aware of the fact, that the fate of your friends is in your hands right now?"
"That is why I am the one, to see your Queen." Annabeth said not faltering under the piercing gaze of the Amazon. ."I am the one who is best suited, for this."
Mackenzie sighed stepping towards the cage holding Annabeth. "No tricks...One wrong move and I won't hesitate to kill you, and your friends."
"I am not planning to risk anyone's safety." Was Annabeth instant reply, she shifted her gaze when she heard the amused chuckle. "Is there something funny, in what I said?"
Zinah shook her head not looking up from her Magazine. "No, nothing. It is just that I find somewhat ironic, how you do not want to 'endanger' your friends. And yet, you decided to use someone who can brainwash the masses as your diplomat."
"We were-" Annabeth started wanting to defend their cause and the reason why they had decided upon Piper Charmspeak to calm them down, but she was cut off by the reading woman.
"I don't need you to convince me of the good of your actions." Zinah said looking up to face Annabeth. "You should safe that for our Queen. She will defiantly ask for the reason behind such an ill-conceived plan."
Annabeth sighed knowing that she was right. She didn't need to convince her, nor did she need to convince the Second commander. No, the only ones whose opinion really mattered was the one of the Queen.
Mackenzie opened the cage and allowed Annabeth to exit her prison. "She is waiting. So if you are ready?"
"Be careful Wise Girl."
Annabeth stepped out the cage and shifted her gaze towards her boyfriend. She smiled hoping to ease his worries. "Don't worry, I will convince her."
"Try. You will try to convince her." Mackenzie said as she started to walk across the catwalk. "Now if you would, be so kind as to follow me?"
Annabeth lifted her hand in a goodbye and followed the other woman, "I will. Not try, I will convince her."
The red haired woman didn't reply to that, and just lead her through the cavern and pass the aisles. Unlike when they brought her up, Annabeth could now look around and take everything in. She couldn't help but admire it all, this had taken a lot of time and effort.
...
...
The conveyor belt glided through the room carrying hundreds of boxes to and fro. The metal shelves which were stacked full with various of merchandise went on like an endless metal wall, while the sound of cranes filled the cavern with their humming engines.
Everything was fast paced. From the robotic arms packing, unpacking and folding boxes to the forklifts delivering even more boxes.
Her eyes registered all that and the armed woman walking around, some of them sending her wary looks but never approaching them.
"Athena and Hephaestus."
Annabeth shifted her gaze towards the woman leading her though the seemingly endless underground facility, "Sorry?"
She moved her hand through the air, "Everything from the smallest tile, to what you see down here. This is all designed by daughters of Athena and Hephaestus."
"It is...It is amazing. I can see that it, cost a lot of time and effort"
The woman smiled looking a lot kinder. "It did and it is perfect, but it was only after it was finished. That they started saying things like, we could do this better or we could have added that."
Annabeth couldn't help but smile at that. She was exactly the same, even now looking around she could point out a million things that she would have changed or wanted to replace.
There were so many stairs and turns, that Annabeth wondered how anyone could find their way in this maze.
They finally arrived above ground and were now making their way through the long corridors. It was only after four more flights of stairs, that Mackenzie allowed them to take the elevator. Annabeth leaned against the wall, as her escort pressed the top floor.
Of course. The top person's office has to be on the top floor. Who came with that ridiculous idea? She sighed her mind going through a hundred possible ways to plead with the Amazon Queen.
"We are here."
Annabeth opened her eyes when she heard the ping and followed the Amazon out the lift. Unlike the other floors, this one's interior was more private.
The waiting area resembled a small living room, more than anything else. There were three couches, two loveseats, a sofa and a flat screen TV. The glass table held a vase of flowers and few dozen Magazines, that Annabeth assumed were courtesy of the woman that guarded them.
The redhead knocked on the double doors. "The representative is here"
Annabeth frowned. Wondering why the voice that told them to come in, sounded so familiar. She took a deep breath and reminded herself why this, was so important and followed the other woman in the office.
She opened her mouth to introduce herself and thank the Amazon Queen, for seeing them. But Annabeth found the words die before they even escaped her mouth.
Standing in front of her, was the current Amazon Queen. The young woman radiated an air of power and confidence, but it wasn't that what caused Annabeth to freeze in shock.
She was maybe in her late teens or early twenties. And despite her delicate build, Annabeth could see that she was lithe and lean, in the same way as a cheetah or a tiger was.
The young Queen was completely dressed in black. Wearing a black tank top and black pants, with almost the entire right leg sawed off, revealing both her thigh and the silver and red chain wrapped around her leg. Her black boots and the golden belt around her waist, finished her attire.
She was also very beautiful in the way the night was beautiful, both could be serene and extremely deadly. Her dark hair tumbled in glossy waves down her back, her expression was neither friendly nor hostile. And her eyes, which were as black as obsidian took her in, revealing nothing.
But that all didn't concern Annabeth. No, it was the fact that she recognized this woman. The woman standing in front of her, the Queen of Amazon's was none other, than the late Praetor.
"Reyna?"
The dark haired woman raised one eyebrow, her dark eyes revealed nothing. It took her a few moments to reply. "Ah...You were the one freed, the Pirates on CC's Island."
Annabeth blinked her mind trying to make sense of the situation, it took her only a few moments before her mind finally caught up with she had said. "Pirates? Circe's Island?"
"Hmm? Isn't that what I just said?" She asked her dark eyes piercing through the other woman. "You sure caused a lot of trouble...Annabeth was it not?"
"I...Don't understand...Are you telling me, you know me only from CC's Island?" She asked her grey eyes darting towards her left when she heard the sound of a sword being unsheathed. "You haven't met me somewhere else?"
"There is no need for that, Mia" Reyna said her dark eyes facing her second in command who despite not liking the order followed without protesting. "Somewhere else? No, not that I recall. Should I?" Reyna asked shifting her gaze back towards the blond.
Annabeth felt a sense of dread wash over. This was not happening, this could not be happening. What happened to her? How did she survive? How did she get her? Queen of the Amazons? Why couldn't she recall their meeting in Camp Jupiter? That they fought together?
Looking at the woman standing in front of her, Annabeth noticed that she seemed somewhat different. She seemed to be both gentler and colder, than she was three years ago.
What had happened to her? Did she lose her memories? That was the only logical explanation...Well unless she was pretending that she didn't know her.
But no matter how good Reyna was, there was no way that she could pretend that well. From the little Annabeth could read from her friend, Reyna really didn't know her beyond Circe's Island.
Oh god...She really did not know anything beyond Circe's Island...Why? How? How did she end up here...She was in Camp Half Blood when she had died...Well supposedly died, how did she end up on the West Coast?
The dark haired woman crossed the room moving towards the oak desk, and eased herself on the leather chair. "You don't need to look so scared. It is in the past. It would be unfair, to still be angry about something, you did as a child."
Annabeth wanted to scream that, that wasn't it. Her gray eyes darted towards the red haired woman. The look in those green eyes, told her everything. She knew...She knew who Reyna really was. But they never bothered to tell her?
Why? What could they gain from not telling her the truth? Why, would they do something, like that?
Her gray eyes widened when she realized something else...The woman who had been guarding them. She had mentioned that their Queens name was Reyna. Tensing when she noticed how Piper had reacted to that name.
That was why, she asked from which camp they hailed. They had said Greek and Reyna was from the Roman camp...What did that mean? That if they had been Romans, she would have killed them?
Roman...Jason...Gods what was she supposed to tell Jason? As it wasn't enough that he had to suffer with losing his best friend, without resolving anything.
"You are starting to worry me. Are you alright?" Reyna's voice broke through her scattered thoughts. "I already told you, I placed that behind me. So there is nothing to worry about. I won't let what you have done, cloud my judgment. So if you would take a seat?"
That was not what was bothering her. But with the red haired woman, glaring at her...Annabeth knew she couldn't tell her that.
She wouldn't judge her for what happened on Circe' Island? This was really her...She was still Reyna...The one person who had given them a fair chance. The Roman Praetor had been the only one who had put her trust in them.
She had allowed Annabeth to escape, knowing that that was the right thing to do. She was still one of the most honest and fair people she knew.
Camp Half Blood needed help and Reyna as Amazon Queen...Meant that they had an honest and fair chance. She would listen and not judge...She did that three years ago and she was positive she would do that again.
Taking a deep breath to ease her worries and push the dread and sadness back, Annabeth moved towards one of the leather chairs and took place. "Thank you for seeing us. I am Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena and one of the councilors of Camp Half Blood."
An amused smile graced her features. "Nice to meet you Annabeth, I am Reyna Martinez, Daughter of Bellona, student of Circe and Queen of the Amazons." She rested her chin against her hand. "You wished to see me? Well, I am listening."
"We came seeking your aide." Annabeth started her diplomatic side taking over, her gray eyes pleaded the other woman to hear her out first. "We wished...We hoped, that you were willing to come to the defense of our camp."
Annabeth continued to tell her about the whole situation at camp, that the entire New York state was being overrun by them. How they have managed, to pass through the defensives barriers and were pushing them back.
Reyna sighed leaning back in her chair, her obsidian eyes seemed to pierce through Annabeth. "I see...You travelled so far west, in hopes to get our favor? Why?"
Annabeth who had been ready to counter almost everything that could have possibly been said, was taken off guard by that one question, "Why?"
"Yes," Reyna said her dark eyes searching hers, for what Annabeth didn't know. "Why? Why did you decide, to come here and ask for the assistance of the Amazon's?" Reyna asked a frown appearing on her face, "You are aware of the fact. That just because my sister gave you her assistance, that it doesn't guarantee me doing the same? I have no ties with either camp. So I want to know why?"
Annabeth couldn't help but wince at the words that left the woman she had come, to view as a friend's mouth. Why, they decided to seek the assistance of the female warrior tribe? That was easy, they were desperate.
They couldn't contact the Hunters and the Romans were already knee deep in their own problems. From all the groups that had fought in the last war, it were the Amazons who were the only ones who still stood strong.
There defenses were nearly impenetrable and it was a combination of luck and good thinking that allowed, them to pass their borders unharmed. Sadly almost half the monsters, that were running a rampage through the state, had been after them.
And Annabeth knew, that Reyna knew that they were to blame for their recent increase in monsters. She sighed facing the dark haired woman, who was waiting patiently, "We didn't know, what else to do."
"You were desperate? I really don't know, what I should think about that." Reyna said leaning against the arm rest of her chair, "So we were, what? Last resort? That is nice, for our self-esteem."
Did she just make a joke? Reyna? She was really a different person, wasn't she? Annabeth thought sadly, "I...We just want to protect our home. It has been a safe haven for many of us, and I wish for it to stay, a safe place for many demigods after me."
Annabeth said being hundred percent truthful. Camp Half-blood had saved her, given her a home and a purpose. It was thanks to everyone, there that she came to realize that she was worth something.
That she could love and be loved. And she wanted, it to stay a place like for years to come, "It is my home and I want to protect. I will save it, no matter what"
Reyna tilted her head and Annabeth couldn't tell what she was thinking, Reyna was probably one of the few people she couldn't read fully, "I see." Reyna said shifting her dark eyes when she heard the soft knock on the door. "Enter."
...
...
Annabeth faced the door which opened revealing a blond haired woman, whose blues eyes went from Annabeth to Mackenzie, before they rested on the dark haired woman. "I apologize for the intrusion...I was not aware of you have having an guest."
"It quit alright. How can I help you, Katherine." Reyna asked her dark eyes fixed on the young woman.
Katherine nodded her blue eyes facing Annabeth, a guarded look on her face. She was probably wondering what she could afford to share in front of her and what not.
The blond woman sighed, her blue eyes facing her Queen. "They are back."
Annabeth frowned shifting her gaze back towards Reyna, who had a guarded look on her face. A soft sigh escaped the young Amazon Queen. "I see."
The daughter of Bellona reached for the phone next to her and pressed a few buttons. "Denise? Release the prisoners. And relocate them to one, of our lodgings." She didn't bother to wait for what the woman on the other end of the line would say, as she had already pressed the button to end the call.
"Wait...What about?-" Annabeth started trailing of when the Amazon Queen stood up and moved away from the desk. "Reyna?"
"There is an urgent matter, that needs my immediate attention." Reyna said her dark eyes meeting the blonds intense gaze. "I will return later this evening...or early tomorrow morning, you will have my official answer then."
"But we have no time. We need an answer now." Annabeth argued standing up and stepping in front Reyna. "Please. It is our home which is one the line here."
"It is because it is your home, that you should allow someone to think things through. And you are not the only one, who is putting something on the line here, I have to consider the safety of my Amazons aswell. Be patient, an hasty decion is never a good one.
Annabeth sighed seeing the truth in that statement. "Alright...We will wait, for your answer."
"You will be staying on Campus and whatever my answer will be, you will be able to leave right away." Reyna said moving her hand and telling the blond to lead the way. "You are only with five people?"
"Yes...There are only two Automatons waiting for us." Annabeth replied her grey eyes facing the daughter of war. "That is all...There is no one else."
"That is fine...You may retrieve your Automatons. I will send for someone to lead you to your friends." Reyna said turning around and moving towards the door. "We are leaving Mia."
"You two go on ahead. I will meet with you guys later." Mackenzie said her green eyes shifting towards Annabeth. "I will escort her to her friends."
Reyna stopped to face the red haired woman, a frown appearing on her face. "Now, why would you want to do that?" Reyna asked her dark eyes fixed on her second in command. "Hmm?"
"Have you forgotten that their is a Charmspeaker in their midst?" Mackenzie asked shifting her gaze away from Annabeth and towards Reyna. "So I will escort her back."
"Oh? Are you saying that her friend is stupid enough to endanger her camp? Reckless enough to Charmspeak my Amazons?" Reyna asked sounding sceptical and it was clear that she know, that the redhead was lying.
"You would be surprised. That girl has proven to be an idiot of the highest level." Mackenzie said finally shifting her gaze towards the young Queen. "You two go on, I will catch up with you guys in no time."
The dark haired woman shook her head, mumbeling something in the lines of why she always bothered with them. "Fine you may do as you please. Just don't harm my guests."
"Harm them? Now, why would I do something as reckless as that?" Mackenzie asked a grin appearing on her face. "The only reason, I could possibly have is, if they were threatening you in any shape or form."
"Mackenzie?"
Annabeth could clearly hear the warning in Reyna's voice and it seemed like Mackenzie did to, as she nodded promising she wouldn't do anything rash. Annabeth smiled her thanks when Reyna promised she would return as soon as possible, with her answer.
The Daughter of Athene knew that the minute those lift doors would close, and Reyna would be both out of sight and hearing range. The red haired woman, would turn towards her.
And what do you know, the doors hardly closed behind the two Amazons or Mackenzie turned around, facing Annabeth. "You and I need to have a nice little chat. So shall we talk?"
"Talk? About what? That you are hiding the truth from her?" Annabeth asked, her grey eyes not faltering under the piercing glare.
"Yes, exactly that." Mackenzie said her green eyes narrowing in anger. "And that is what you and friends, are going to do to. You will not mention her past to her."
"You can't just go and hide her past." Annabeth snapped her temper getting the better of her. "There are people who love her...People who miss her, people who have suffered because they thought she was dead."
"You don't think, we don't know that?" Mackenzie asked in outrage the air surrounding her pulsed as her temper started to rise. "She remembers everything up until Circe Island. After that? There is nothing. You should be asking yourself why?"
Annabeth opened her mouth to reply but couldn't find anything to say to that. The redhead was right...Reyna seemed to recall that she freed the Pirates so everything up until seven years ago, was still there.
"Tell me?" Mackenzie asked taking a step towards the blond woman. "What could be worse than losing her father? Than living with her uncle? Worse than losing her home? Worse than being held prisoner by Pirates? What could make her suffer so much that she had to forget all the memories of the Camp she had come to view as a home?"
Annabeth felt her anger defuse, the redhead had a point. She remembered could still remember how the Praetor had looked, that day. She had lost all hope, she had been bitter and tired...The daughter of Bellona had given up.
"Nothing? She remembers nothing?" Annabeth asked facing the Amazon again. "No one? Not a name? Face? There is nothing?"
Mackenzie seemed to realize that the Daughter of Athena, was starting to see her point. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself down. "Nothing...Flashes, little things but she doesn't remember...She just doesn't remember."
If she had thought Jason had broken down when he heard she had died, this would kill the poor guy. "Fine, we won't mention anything to her. I still think it is unfair to her." Annabeth said running a hand through her hair. "But I can understand why you are doing it."
"Good." Mackenzie turned around and moved towards the exit of the office, stopping before the closed doors. "Now if you would follow me?"
Annabeth sighed following the red haired woman, knowing that it would be one emotional day. Especially for a certain Son of Jupiter.
How does one bring such news? O yeah. I know, that you broke down and all. But don't worry she is alive and well, the only down side is she doesn't remember you.
Great she was starting to sound like Percy. which wasn't a good thing. Annabeth followed the Second Commander through the many corridors. Who would have ever thought, that a journey west for help would become one of the most dramatic quests they have ever been on.
A/N; There you have it the next chapter and the one I have been the most worried about.
I have decided on Annabeth being the one to meet Reyna first, because I thought that she would be the only one who would be capable of keeping her head cool in this situation.
As long as Percy isn't involved Annabeth is capable of being a very good diplomat and realize what is important and were her priorities lie.
I hope you liked the chapter, because I have mixed feelings about this. I am happy with the chapter, but somewhat disappointed because I believe I could have pulled more out of their meeting and conversation.
I am open for any feedback and I also want to know, what you thought about the chapter. The next one will be up as soon as I can, which will be a few weeks from now...I hope.