Chapter 6 Missing Annabeth

After a day of boredom, we finally reached camp half blood. We'd already discussed my dream. Everyone seemed uneasy about it especially Hazel the daughter of Hades. I mean Pluto. Anyway, it was clear that we had as much chance of rescuing Nico as a mouse had to outrun a cheetah. Still, it was not as hopeless as everyone considered it. Sure we had to take on four giants at the same time but we were the best people to try.

We are the strongest, best and bravest demigods in the present generation. Percy can breathe underwater, create currents, tsunamis and could create his own cyclone. Jason could control air currents, could fly and could use thunderbolts. Leo could summon fire at his will and could make ingenious machines and also keep our spirits up even at the biggest crisis by this stupid jokes.

Hazel could summon all precious stones which gave us an endless supply of money (being a daughter of Pluto, you had your advantages). Frank, the kid with a chubby face had actually turned out to be a kid of Ares. Sorry, it's Mars. I had never seen descendent of Ares/Mars look so cute. I mean, sure he had huge muscles but his chubby face was so overwhelming that I had to resist the urge to pull his cheeks. He also had the ability to morph into any animal. Cool right. It sounds like a book I once read called "Animorphes".

Then there was Piper the daughter of Aphrodite. I know what you're thinking but unlike her siblings she was quite sensible, not such a big numb skulled head and didn't spend all her time overlooking someone's love life. Plus, she had the ability to charmspeak. It is a rare gift that some Aphrodite children receive which helps them make people do their bidding no matter what it was. Then there was me. It's not like I'm boasting but I'm the best strategist, smartest and always come up with a plan. If not for me, these guys will be long dead.

But when we reached camp half-blood we were in for a surprise. As soon as we passed through Thalia's tree's magical borders we were spotted. Well, it was hard not to be especially when we were on a hundred feet long ship. Peleus the dragon who protected Thalia's tree looked up sceptically at us considering if he should attack or not. That's when he spotted me and a look of relief spread on his face. He knew me really well because I was the one who fed him, brought him up from the baby he was. Now he was almost as big as the ship.

Immediately when we landed the camp alarms buzzed but nobody bothered to attack at a potential threat. Everyone knew about the ship Leo created and waited patiently. Then it struck me what they were waiting for. Percy. I shoved him to the lower deck and the winding of the ship fell down. Hell broke free when Percy stepped outside the side. Everyone went crazy desperately trying to get to him first. Everyone was chanting his name so loud that I felt like I was sitting next to the world's biggest speakers. Many of the Ares campers cursed in Ancient Greek but even they were dazed or even happy to see him. But Percy looked preoccupied and seemed really distracted with something.

I made my way towards him carefully picking my path so that I dodge most of the mess. When I finally reached him, I pulled him away to the corner where nobody was there. Almost everybody protested at the same time but thankfully Chiron silenced them.

"Please campers, keep peace" he ordered.

The crowd quietened but the deafening noise didn't stop altogether.

"All campers get back to normal activities" he announced.

There were a lot of nooo and c'mon and please Chiron silenced them immediately.

"All seven of you, please meet me at the big house" he said and walked away calmly. Slowly at first but soon the crowd cleared away. But before we could head to the big house, we were stopped by Mr D.

"I see you made it back Peter Johnson and Annie Bell." he said.

"It's all because of the training I gave you" he boasted.

"What training?" asked Percy angrily.

I kicked his leg but he didn't seem to notice. This time I nudged him hard. When he looked up I mouthed "say okay" I instructed.

Luckily through gritted teeth he said "Of course Mr D".

Without further delay, Percy walked away from Mr D.

"Percy, calm down" I told him as soon as we covered a safe distance from Mr D.

"Why? He acts like he doesn't know our name after all we have done" he demanded.

"Percy you already have enough enemies. You don't want to get more" I said as calmly as possible.

He was about to say something but he changed his mind.

After some time he said "Sorry Annabeth. I should not have acted that way. I was just stressed" he said.

"It's ok" I responded while my hand slept into his.

Together we made our way to the big house closely followed by the others.

When we reached, we found Chiron who looked really worried. I immediately felt something was definitely wrong. Never in all my years in Camp Half-Blood had I seen him so worried. I walked towards him slowly and asked him what was wrong but he insisted we all stay seated before he said anything. Even when we were sitting, he took some time and hesitantly said "Rachael has been captured".

The words rang in my head. Rachael was captured. I mind immediately burst with millions of questions. If anyone but a child of Athena experienced something like this they would have definitely fainted. But I forced myself to calm down but the grief was overwhelming. She was a really close friend of mine and also was the oracle. Then like bullet the full impact of what Gaea wanted achieve, struck me. They didn't want us to know our prophecy and the little advantage we had was also lost. This quest was not on our favour. We are almost sure to fail.

So much was going through my mind that I didn't realise that someone was shaking my shoulder.

"Annabeth, don't give up hope. If you are to return triumphant you will need all the help you can get. If you are to get to Rome without being pursued by giants, you can't fly all the way there. The giants have lookouts. Immediately stop when Mount Fumaiolo is in reach. Proceed to the Rick Mansion. He will be sure to help you and can aid you with weapons and give some really useful advice."

"But how do we defeat the giants" asked Percy eagerly.

"That is up to you" said Chiron.

"Let's get started" said Jason angrily.

"Let's go" I said.