Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians nor do I own The Heroes of Olympus.
Story: Champion of Olympus: A Titan's Secret
Chapter 4: Heart Broken
Mount Olympus
Percy's POV
I yelled after Annabeth, but as soon as she was through the crowd of people dancing; the countdown to the new year began. The dance floor became flooded with people as they watched my father on stage counting down. I barely glimpsed Annabeth run through the far door to the ballroom. I had to find her; I couldn't let her get away without an apology. I'm such an idiot when it comes to girls, I thought. After ten minutes of weaving my way through the crowd, I reached the door. On the way the countdown finished and the new year had begun. I watched couples kiss as I passed them; each one was like a stab of a dagger in my heart. Before I opened the door; I could feel the tears stinging my eyes. I opened the door, but there was no sign of Annabeth. I sat down on the stairs of the ballroom with my head in my hands. I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned to see my little sister Thalia staring down at me worriedly. Nico was standing at her side.
"Kelp head, what happened?" She asked. I told her and Nico the entire story. By the end of the story they both had placed hands on my shoulders.
"I'm sorry Perce, but Annabeth will come around, she's your best friend." Nico said.
"I'll go talk to her in the morning, but I still don't understand why father told everyone." Thalia said.
"Told everyone what?" Zeus asked. I felt anger rise within me. I jumped up, and then I stormed toward my father my fists clenched in anger. Zeus stepped back as his thunderbolt appeared in his hand. Nico and Thalia tried desperately to hold me back, but then I felt a comforting hand on my shoulder, it was Hera.
"Father, why did you tell everyone about Atlantis. I told you to wait." I yelled. Zeus looked completely taken aback and shocked.
"You left me a note that said I could tell everyone tonight." Zeus said.
"I never wrote a note telling you that." I said. My father's face paled.
"It's written in your hand writing." He said, as he pulled the note from his pocket. He handed it to me. I looked it over, and it was almost a perfect copy of my hand writing, but I could tell the difference.
"It's a good copy, but thats not my hand writing." I said. At that my father stepped forward, and then he hugged me tightly. When he let me go; I could tell that he was deeply sorry.
"I'm so sorry son, I feel terrible." Zeus said.
"Feel terrible about what?" Athena said as she walked out of the ballroom, hand in hand with Poseidon. My eyes widened at the sight. He was her date? Zeus told her about the note, and then I told her about Annabeth. Her face was filled with anger when we all finished.
"It has to be Aphrodite, that little bitch." Athena said, as Hera put her hands over Thalia's ears. I chuckled to myself at that, considering Thalia can curse with the best of them.
"I need to talk to her." I stated. Athena let go of Poseidon's hand as she stormed toward me.
"I think you've done enough damage for one night." Athena spat. I felt the anger boil up within me. I know I made a mistake, but it wasn't all my fault. I glared into her storm grey eyes, I could feel the flashes of color as my eyes changed involuntarily. Athena's eyes widened as she realized I was close to losing control. "Perseus, calm down."
"Just because you're my sister doesn't give you the right to blame me for all of this. I could feel the storm clouds roll in, the ground began to shake, and the rain began to fall. It hardly ever rained on Olympus. Zeus and Poseidon stepped forward. They each grabbed one of my shoulders, but I could feel the power grow within me. I could feel myself pulling energy from everything around me; the water vapor in the air, the winds, the lightning in the sky, the rock under our feet, the fire from the torches that lit the path to the ballroom, and even from the plants around me.
"Perseus, calm down my child. Anger will not resolve anything. Please, relax and let Athena talk to her daughter." Hera said. I knew my mom was right she was the only person who could calm me down when my anger reached its boiling point.
"I'm sorry Athena and everyone, I'm just mad at myself. I'll just go back to the palace. The rest of you enjoy the party." I said as I walked towards my father's palace. My head hung low, as the pain in my heart grew. I didn't look back, I just continued on my way until I reached the palace. I walked to my room, and then I crashed on the bed still in my tuxedo. Tonight was supposed to be one of the best of my life, and instead it was a disaster. Annabeth hated me now, and I felt the same way about myself. The next morning I awoke to the sound of someone beating on the door to my room. I stood up still dressed in my tuxedo, it was real mess now. I opened the door to see Thalia staring at me with a mix of anger, sadness and pain in her eyes.
"You slept in your clothes last night." Thalia declared. I rolled my eyes at the obvious answer.
"What do you want?" I said, more harshly then I intended.
"Is it a problem, if I want to check up on you?" Thalia asked, as she gave me the death glare.
"No, I guess not, sorry. I still don't feel well." I stated sincerely. Thalia stormed passed me, and then she sat on my computer desk chair. She glared at me the entire way. I walked back to my bed, and then I sat down with my head in my hands.
"What else do you need lightning bug?" Thalia hated that nickname, she'd much rather be called pine cone face, especially by Nico.
"Athena just stopped by a few minutes ago to talk with Hera. I was there as well, but they let me join them." Thalia said. That peaked my interest.
"What did she say?" I asked curiously.
"It was late when she got home last night, so she didn't bother Annabeth. She waited till this morning, but when she went into her room, Annabeth was gone. It looked like she packed a bag and left a note." Thalia said. I was getting annoyed now.
"Are you going to tell me about the note or not?" I asked harshly.
"Calm down, the note said that she had called her father, and used her emergency money to buy a one-way ticket to San Francisco. She left early this morning. Athena checked the local airlines, and Annabeth's name appeared on a flight that left the airport at five this morning." Thalia said. My head was spinning now. Annabeth was going back to California.
"Is Athena going to contact her father?" I asked.
"No, Athena said that she doesn't get along with him or his wife." Thalia said.
"She's not even going to try to get her back?" I asked dumbfounded.
"She's going to let Annabeth cool off for a little while, say a week, and then she'll contact her." Thalia said. Thalia cleared her throat, as she looked at me sadly.
"She told me to tell you not to call Annabeth until she talks to her."
"I have to wait a week to apologize? I leave for Atlatntis in three days." I said angrily.
"I'm sorry Perce, I really am. Why don't you get dressed, so we can get breakfast?" Thalia said. I nodded sadly, as I stood up and walked into my bathroom. After taking a shower and getting dressed I met up with Thalia at the Olympian Kitchens. I sat down next to my little sister with a plate of food in front of me, but I wasn't hungry.
"How did things go with Nico?" I asked, hoping for some good news.
"Great, I think we're good friends, but we're still too young to date yet." Thalia said.
"I'm glad you had fun last night." I said, as I finished my breakfast.
"You know Athena canceled classes for the next few days." Thalia said.
"What?" I asked. Thalia looked at me sadly.
"She said that she had some things to take care of." Thalia said. I knew what she meant; Athena was mad at me. She blamed me for Annabeth leaving, I couldn't blame her, it was my fault.
The next two days went by uneventfully. I trained with Zeus, Hestia and Thalia. Hera took over our classes for the past few days. I missed Athena, but most of all I missed Annabeth. I awoke the next morning; today I was going to Atlantis, but all I could think about was Annabeth. I got dressed, and then I left the palace with Hera and Thalia. We walked to the throne; thats where I was supposed to meet Poseidon. Once in the throne room I saw Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, Hermes, Hestia, Demeter, and then Hera joined them. Thalia and I bowed before our father.
"Stand, my children," Zeus said.
"Perseus, we have all gathered here today to wish you well with your training in Atlantis." Zeus said.
"Thank you father, and my thanks to all of you. I will do my best to make all of you proud, and I will miss each, and every one of you." I said. I shook Apollo's and Hermes's hands. Demeter and Hestia both hugged me. I walked up to my father and mother. Zeus gave me a hug, and then he apologized again for the other night. Hera hugged me tightly, and then she kissed me on the cheek. Thalia walked over and I hugged her too. Hera and Thalia looked very sad at my leaving.
"Don't worry mom, I will call you." I said.
"Thals, I call you too, and then we'll see each other at camp this summer." I said sincerely. She gave me a sad smile.
"I love all of you very much." I said as I stood next to Poseidon. He gave me a comforting smile as he put his hand on my shoulder, and then we disappeared into a sea green mist. I would miss Olympus and my family, but I was ready for a new adventure. I hoped it would help me forget about my problems.
Unknown Location
Annabeth's POV
I wasn't sure how long I was unconscious, but I woke up in a dark and cold cell. The walls, floor and ceiling were made out of a black stone. The door of the room was made out of a thick piece of wood with celestial bronze hinges and door lock. I was a prisoner. There was a hint of light coming through a small window. The window was just a two foot by two foot square hole in the wall that was at least eight feet off the ground. There wasn't glass in the window, only celestial bronze bars. A little light came through the window, as well as a cold wind. I looked down at myself; the dress I had worn at the party was in tatters, and I had cuts and bruisers on my arms and legs, like I had been forcibly lifted off the ground. I stood up and was able to walk. My only injuries were superficial.
I heard the lock of my cell door move, and then it opened revealing Ethan and Chris along with two massive hellhounds.
"You're finally awake." Ethan said, his evil glare made shivers run down my spine. Chris held a gun in his hands.
"What do you want?" I asked angrily. Chris shook his gun taunting me.
"We're here to take you to Luke." Ethan said.
"You can either walk on you're own or our friends here can carry you, but I'll remind you, hellhounds play rough." Chris said maliciously. I raised my hands, my knife was gone, and I couldn't beat them in hand to hand with two hellhounds in the way.
"I'll come peacefully." I said, as I stepped forward. We walked up several sets of stairs, and I could tell that the condition of the place worsened as we rose. We reached the top floor, and the sight before me made my heart freeze. The top floor was open to the sky. The sky itself seemed to stretch down to the ground here, as if this place was that tall. I looked down and saw a lone figure with blonde hair. We approached the figure's location, and I froze at the sight. There was Luke on his knees holding the sky itself, like Atlas, and then I knew. I was on Mount Othrys, and Luke held Atlas's burden.
AN: Reminder; for those who just started reading this story, you need to read he two previous stories to understand certain things. I received several questions, but all I can say is stay tuned, more to come.