I'm Really sorry this took so long to put out. To be honest I had terrible writers block and I had alot of stuff on my mind. Still I hope you like this as usuall review.
AN: I dont know anything about boats so if I have made a mistake please tell me and I will change it.
As One reviewer mentioned this chapter is very sappy but I plan to even it out with some action and gore soon enough lol
Chapter 7
I stood on the deck letting the Sea Breeze caress my face. I was having a fun day. The first bit of fun I had experienced in a long while. Seagulls were flying overhead and the smell of salt poured into my lungs. Behind the stern I could see the faint outline of land, where we had just come from. Being a son of Poseidon I could just tell that we were 2 miles off the coast travelling at 25 knots. I was told it could go faster but why would I want to? This was relaxing and gentle. We took 20 minute turns steering the yacht. Me first (the girls insisted I didn't complain because I was just so damned excited), the Annabeth then Thalia then back to me again. At the moment it was Annabeth steering and I sat on the deck leaning against a rail looking out to the open Atlantic. I could hear the steady crashing of waves against the bow of the ship and a small amount of spray from the water was dampening my skin. To the right of me Thalia was standing with a very green look on her face. I had to keep from laughing; a daughter of Zeus that's scared if flying and gets seasick.
"You want to go lay down look awful" I asked. Thalia just shook her head.
"I'm fine" she muttered. I fought to keep the grin forming on my mouth from coming. She hung her arms over the side of the boat and put her head in her arms. I gave her a friendly pat on the back and walked to the bridge. The doors were already open so that the cool air from the outside could drift in and keep the area cool.
Let me explain the bridge for you. You probably think that the bridge is a typical bridge that you would find on a boat with a wheel in the middle to control direction and a bunch of levers and buttons that control other stuff right? Wrong. Annabeth had totally personalised this bridge space. The walls were lined with computers and ever single part of the room had attention to detail. The walls were painted in a black matted finish like the rest of the ship. Instead of the usual array of buttons you would be familiar with on a motor yacht, there were four keyboards lined up against each other. Sitting behind then was Annabeth, on what looked at first glance like a black office chair but what I knew to be a Virtual reality control centre. The chair was wired up to the computers and Annabeths hands were resting on a small circular sphere sitting on a flat panel in between two of the keyboards. On each of the eight screens above the main controls, were camera views from different parts of the ship. On another four screens just below them were views inside the ships various rooms. There was no screen for a map, because we didn't need one; I was the map. I walked up behind Annabeth slowly, careful not to frighten her. Normally this wouldn't bother me, in fact I would jump at the chance to scare the pants off her, but Id rather not risk it when there is a chance she could accidentally over steer and sink the yacht.
I crept beside her and lay my hand on her shoulder. She raised her head and turned to face me. She was wearing goggles much like what you would see at a virtual reality exhibition and her body was strapped to the seat with a series of wires and gears. She was steering using her mind and the sphere in which her hand rest was the control panel in which all ship information could be accessed. Call it a very complicated computer mouse. I had never seen anything like it before today. Annabeth was a genius. In the corner of the room was another section of computers and there was a sign above them that read "Use only in Emergencies". I had asked Both Annabeth and Thalia about it but they wouldn't tell me anything except "Don't touch".
"Hi Seaweed Brain..." she looked tired. I wasn't surprised the sea air can do that too you.
"Hey" I said. "Does this boat have an autopilot system? Then we could all sit on deck together". I saw Annabeths hand move across the control sphere. She was silent for a few seconds and I was about to repeat my question thinking hadn't heard me. She suddenly got up and removed the goggles from her face.
"Done" she said. She placed the goggles on the arm of the seat and walked over to me with a weary smile. She used her left hand to brush away a stray length of hair that was covering her face.
"How's Thals?" she smiled. I laughed.
"Err…" I stuttered mockingly. Annabeth nudged me in the ribs with her elbow.
"What?...who knew anyone could be that sea sick". Annabeth nudged me again playfully.
"Don't be mean Percy" she quipped. I smiled. It was good to just be alone in the sea with my friends, to just get away from life and have a day where I can just "be" without any fears or any problems. I strolled outside back to the front deck, Annabeth walking beside me. As I walked through the doors I breathed in a deep breath. No matter how many times I smelt the sea air all I wanted to do was take another deep breath…and another…and another. It was a wonder to be why more people don't sail. Then again maybe that would reduce the joy in it. Maybe part of the experience was the thrill of isolation; nothing around you but the enormous power of the open ocean. Thalia was still slumped over the rails with her arms hanging down, looking so green that she would put sea weed to shame. She stole a glance towards the two of us then looked back over the rail. I briskly walked towards a small cube like box that was protruding from the deck on the port side of the front deck. I tapped the two front corners twice and the lid popped open. Inside was a simple microphone like the ones used to do voice-overs at airports and a few LCD screens. I spoke clearly into the mic.
"Activate sound system".
Annabeth and Thalia showed me this almost as soon as we set sail. They had copied all of my CD collection onto an extra large HD designed by Annabeth and downloaded much more music based on the type of music I owned. I pretty much had a portable disco. As I spoke, speakers sprouted from the floor on the corners of the deck. A few slid from behind wall panels and arranged themselves in a rough horse shoe shape around the deck.
"Activate strobes" I whispered. Annabeth raised an eyebrow.
"Like your new toy?" she said as lights started sprouting from the sides of the speakers.
"Yeah" I answered then put the mic to my lips again.
"Play You me at six album – Take off your colours". The sound of "The Truth is a terrible thing" started to breath out of the numerous speakers. I turned a dial underneath the left screen and the music got slightly louder. While I was doing this, a multitude of light colours sprayed over the deck. The sun was near to setting on the horizon and so far the day had been a blast. I had iris messaged my mom earlier in the day so I could stay out here overnight without worrying her. I knew I wouldn't want to go back anytime soon. I stood on the bow with my arm around Annabeth waist watching the sun going down. Annabeths dark blue cardigan blew out slightly behind her in the breeze; she had a few warm cloths on the boat from when she had been on it late at night building and making adjustments. I marvelled at the fact that no matter where she was she always seemed to have spare cloths ready. I smiled in amusement to myself.
"What?" she asked. Damn it she caught me in thought.
"Nothing" I said quietly. She just kept her eyes focussed on the horizon. Annabeth and I sang along gently to the lyrics of "Always Attract". Thalia had somehow disappeared into the sleeping cabins while we were having our moment together. We stood there mouthing the lyrics together. The moon was starting to emerge in the sky now the sun was on its way down. A few stars were visible in the sky. The sunlight gradually vanished and the sky was alight in all its ethereal brilliance. The full moon shone and the sea was shining with a silver hue as if the water was glowing. I felt Annabeths hands linking in my own. When I turned my body towards her, the moonlight in its brilliance enhanced her already beautiful features, making her skin turn almost white. Her grey eyes appeared to change into light silver and her teeth shone a dazzling smile. I lifted my other hand to her face, gently stroking her cheek. We hadn't talked for over an hour, but we didn't need to. What we wanted to say was written all over our face. I leant in to kiss her soft lips, leaning my body into her. Before our lips met I felt her body shiver in my arms and what I thought was a tear escape her eye. We kissed passionately, letting our hands roam, not worrying about being caught together. I could feel one of her hands lightly tracing the spine of my back underneath my shirt and it sent a shiver down my spine. A small moan of pleasure escaped my lips. I would have felt embarrassed at myself except Annabeth just smiled and carried on. We were finally alone with each other properly. No distractions. I could feel the rhythm of our kissing speed up and I felt my body respond. I leant in slightly more but I felt Annabeth break away and put her hand on my chest. I could hear her breathing heavily and her face was red. I could see her eyes wide and her hair was ruffled.
"I think we should stop now." She said softly, almost like she didn't truly believe the words that were coming out of her own mouth. She glanced nervously side to side.
"Why" I said nervously. Didn't she enjoy it? I was sure I did but this was Annabeth. I was also thinking that maybe she didn't love me like I thought she did. I immediately shoved that thought out my mind. Anyone who had been around the two of us the last few weeks would notice how we felt about each other.
"I just…think" I could see her cheeks starting to redden.
"Think…well we've been doing so well together and…don't want to…do anything that may…ruin it." I didn't understand. What was she getting at?
"What could possibly ruin…us?" I said unsurely. It was unlike Annabeth to talk about our relationship. She usually likes to bury her feelings deep within herself, like me. It was our collective stubbornness that almost stopped us front getting together in the first place. She took a deep breath.
"You know…" her voice trailed off and she waved her hands in a "isn't it obvious" gesture. I smiled, trying to appear confident.
"Not really" I laughed nervously.
"Well…" Then it hit me. Gods I could be so ignorant of things sometimes.
"Oh" I said eyes wide. I shifted my body uncomfortably. This was not a place I wanted conversation to be. We stood there still for a few minutes, neither of us knowing what to say next.
After a while Annabeth broke the silence.
"You remember when you blew up Mount St. Helens?" I nodded slowly. I could see her lip starting to quiver. It was unlike Annabeth to cry and I took her hand in reassurance. Whatever she was going to say, it was hard for her to do. She continued." I watched as the mountain exploded into thousands of pieces. I…I thought you were dead. When I got back to camp I had to tell Chiron that…that you fell behind. I couldn't bring myself to think you we gone. I sat in my cabin for days just crying…I could barely get myself out of bed each morning…I never realised how much you meant to me until the moment I believed you dead…" she stopped for a moment blinking back tears. I squeezed her hand a little harder. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and continued.
"I looked out over the lake at night wondering if you would ever return, wishing for you to appear. I had all but given up hope when you came back…when you came back that night…it was like I had been given a second chance." She had to stop again to collect herself. I wrapped my arms around her and whispered gently in her ear.
"Its ok…it's ok." I had known she was broken when I was gone but it one thing to know and another to have her say it to me. It made me feel sick that she had gone through all that. Her whole body was shaking and tears were freely flowing from her eyes. She sobbed silently into my shoulder. I hated seeing her like this, so vulnerable. It reminded me that she was still healing. We all were in a way. No-one who has seen as much death and misery as us half bloods can say they are completely unaffected war and the dark cloud that follows it. After a few short minutes she backed away and I could see tear lines etched onto her cheeks. Her eyes were red and puffy and I could hear her breathing was unsteady. I walked towards her to comfort her again but she shook me off.
"No I'm fine." She whispered. She gave a shaky laugh.
"Gods If I'd have known you would have this effect on me…" she trailed off smiling. I smiled back and walked over towards the sound system and told it to play The Scientist by Coldplay. She looked at my quizzically when I done this. I just shrugged and took her by the wrist, pulling her to the middle of the deck.
"Hey what are you doing Seaweed Brain!". I wrapped my arms around her and started swaying to the music. I hated dancing to be perfectly honest but this wasn't for my benefit. Annabeth raised her eyebrow as if she read my predicament.
"You don't dance" she said flatly.
"I do now". She gave me that dazzling smile and playfully pushed me.
"No, you don't" she said with finality that simply said "stop arguing, I win".
I just shrugged and kept my arms around her. She just laughed and played along. We swayed together on the deck for what seemed like forever, occasionally whispering song lyrics into each others ears. The whole time my eyes never left hers, the grey-silver gleam in them encapsulating me with every glance I take at them. Even if I wanted to I couldn't look away. It was impossible. After a while I could see light beginning to form in the horizon. By this point we realised we weren't going to sleep so we brought a couple of deck chairs out and sat down together. After a long silence Annabeth finally spoke.
"You know…today hasn't been quite so bad has it?" I sighed as I reminisced last night's activities.
"Yeah…it's been great." I whispered back.
I watched the horizon; every few minutes a star would vanish behind an oncoming orange haze that was the sunrise. The sun had not yet surfaced from the waterline but I could sense that it would soon. Seagulls were coming out for the morning hunt and the air was getting warmer. In the far distance I noticed a barge slowly cutting through the waves; obviously carrying cargo from somewhere that I didn't care about. I just sat there with my girlfriend; watching the sun emerge from the waterline, dawn finally arriving. As the light rose in the sky, the orange glow illuminated the water, reflecting a line that emphasised every small movement of water. There were no clouds in the sky. It was beautiful. After a while gazing I realised that Annabeth had fallen asleep, her head resting on my chest and her eyes closed. She looked so peaceful. The morning light made her hair appear to be on fire. I closed my eyes, taking in the warmth of Annabeths body heat. I counted each heartbeat, content in just laying on deck chair. Sometime I fell asleep.
I was having a wonderful dream. Annabeth and I were on a beach. Annabeth was wearing a pale blue bikini and I was in green Speedos. We were chasing each other playfully on the sand. Annabeth had thrown a sand ball at me and I was determined to get her back. She quicker but I had more stamina. Sooner or later she would run out of steam. We both laughed as we ran. Completely care free and in the moment. Annabeth was beginning to slow and I gained ground. When I was within a few feet from her I flung myself at her.
"Ow…ha…getoff!" she yelled in between laughs. I had pinned her on her back and was ticking her. She was writhing with laughter on the sandy floor.
"Percy…Percy!". She kept yelling. Her voice was getting more serious.
"Percy! Come on!" This time with she said it with even more urgency. I could hear the faint sound of banging.
An awful cry filled my eyes. What was that. Annabeth simply kept shouting my name with more vigour
…wait a sec that's not Annabeths voice? "PERCY!"
My eyes snapped open. Thalia stood over me with serious eyes. Aegis was held aloft in her arm.
"Finally!" she said, panting with exertion.
"We are under attack!"
Bet Your itching for the battle now I can feel it. Haha stay tuned :)
Notice the song references I put in there :) All of them are decent songs look em up lol.
