My...erm, seventh chapter? Anyway, please read!

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Disclaimer: I do NOT own Percy Jackson and the Olympians OR Heroes of Olympus.

Tartarus

Percy's POV:

Percy sighed. He hated being separated from Annabeth. Even though some good things had happened, like, the rest of them were still alive, they'd retrieved Nico, and destroyed two crazy giants, he was still worried about Annabeth.

While he, Piper, and Jason had rescued Nico, Hazel, Frank, and Leo had run into trouble of their own. Somehow, Leo was looking troubled, jumping at every sound.

Nico was weak, but he was recovering. Cynthia was taking care of him. It fits, he thought, that the son of Hades should stick around his isolationist sister.

When Nico had seen his sister, he was thrown into more of a shock then he already was, if that was even possible. Cynthia's eyes had grown wide, too, as if they'd met before. Then, Nico had been taken belowdecks to be 'taken care of', according to Cynthia. He trusted Cynthia, and left them to it.

Hazel was pacing on the deck, while Frank just glared in Leo's direction. They were on their way to the Colesseum, to help Annabeth. Piper had pointed out that Annabeth's mission was supposed to be solo, but when she saw the desperation in his face, she had agreed to help.

I WON'T be separated from Annabeth again!, he promised silently. He HATED Hera for taking him away to New Rome. It was just so unfair! He and Annabeth had been a happy couple for months, before Hera had taken him and Jason to each others' camps.

They were nearing the giant ruins of the dome. "Hey, Leo!"

"Yeah?" Leo looked up from the control panel.

"How are we getting in? The ships too big!"

It was hard to hear, and Percy had to yell to make his voice heard over the whistling of the motors as they near the ancient ruins.

"BUST IN, OF COURSE! WHADDYA THINK WE ARE; COWARDS!?", Coach Hedge came cantering onto the deck, looking a bit too excited for Percy's liking. He groaned, and slapped his forehead.

Coach Hedge means well, he thought, when he isn't trying to have 'a little fun'.

Leo steered them to the far side of the Colessseum, into the parking lot. Cynthia came up from belowdecks, only to crash into Hazel as Leo jerked his Wii controller up.

"Hey, Leo!" Percy spoke up again. "You don't mean to just stroll in a parking lot in a golden Greek trireme and park, right!?

"Course not!" Leo grinned. All his recent uneasiness was gone. "Don't worry, just HOLD ON!"

Hazel groaned, and hung onto a mast, just in time to shield herself from the stone walls of the Colesseum, which crashed down on the ship, making a sickening thump around the helm.

They were inside now.

Percy crouched down beside the mast, until the dust cleared, and the noise grew dim. He leaped up and started searching for Annabeth.

They were inside a large dusky cavern-ish room covered in drafty white sheets. Percy blinked. Those weren't sheets, they were webs! He noticed for the first time the crumbled tapestries, and the large gaping hole in the center of the room. He shuddered. Some evil was down there. This must be the lair of Arachne.

"Percy? Percy, where-where are you?"

He could hear Annabeth now, somewhere below. He jumped down, landing heavily.

"Annabeth?" Despite the pain in his leg, he felt warm and happy to see Annabeth, crouched down next to a giant white toe.

"Percy!~" Annabeth threw her arms around him, and stood up shakily. "I missed you," she whispered.

"Me too." He leaned in and kissed her softly on the cheek. They were wet with tears. "It's okay now. We're together."

After a while, he stood up, letting Annabeth lean on him. "C'mon, let's get you back on the ship."

He started to lead Annabeth away, while Hazel, Frank, and Jason cooperated to move the giant Athena Parthenos.

Wow. He looked up. The toe was as big as his head. How had he missed it?

"Magnificent, isn't it?" Annabeth whispered.

Percy nodded. "I knew you'd retrieve it. I always believed in you." This statue was the key to getting the Romans and Greeks to cooperate and bear arms to the real threat...Gaea.

They were almost at the ship, when Annabeth stumbled. "Percy!"

Percy stooped down to lift her up, but she was sliding away. What the-

"Her ankle! Cut it! Cut it!", came Hazel's voice. He looked up, confused. Hazel was trying to get down as fast as she could, but her cavalry sword was tangled in the rope ladder.

But after a moment, he saw what the problem was. The webs! Some were still tangled around Annabeth's leg, and was now pulling her down into the large pit.

"Help them!" Hazel yelled. Nico was hobbling towards them the fastest he could. Where was Cynthia?

"Percy!" Annabeth whimpered. "Help me!"

Percy reached out and grabbed hold of her hand. It was sweaty and hard to grip. His fingers slipped. "NO!" He gripped her wrist. He was being pulled into the pit now, with his hand gripping Annabeth's wrist.

"My sword…" He looked around, and saw the Celestial Bronze glinting about five feet away. "No..." He couldn't reach it. He couldn't reach Riptide without letting Annabeth go.

"Percy! Leave me! Let me go!" Fresh tears poured down from Annabeth's eyes.

"I WON'T!"

Annabeth sobbed as she hit the edge of the pit. It wasn't just the webs pulling her down now. It was Tartarus. The very power of it was dragging Annabeth in.

"NO!" All in one second, they slipped over the edge as fast as it would have taken Percy to slice off a monster's head.

He stumbled and slid. His hand scraped against the side of the pit, hitting a ledge. His body slammed into the cold hard wall. He looked down at Annabeth. She looked tired, and weakened. "Percy, let me go," she croaked. "You can't pull me up."

He knew it was hopeless. He couldn't pull her up. The truth dawned on him, but he wouldn't let go. "I won't leave you…" He whispered.

"I'll never leave you," he repeated firmly. He looked up at Nico, fifteen feet above. He could hear shouts and cries in the distance, but all that was dimmed by the humming energy of Tartarus. "The other side, Nico! We'll see you there. Understand?"

Nico's eyes widened. "But-"

Percy closed his eyes, trying to ignore the booming laughter of the Earth Goddess. Sacrifices. Beautiful sacrifices.

He looked down at Annabeth once more. "We're staying together." He promised. "You're not getting away from me. Never again."

Annabeth nodded, understanding. "As long as we're together," she said.

Percy smiled softly, and let go of his tiny ledge, and together, holding hands, he and Annabeth fell into the endless darkness.

As long as we're together…

Okay, so I know this chapter was a bit long, but I hoped you all found it touching. I tried my best.

Well, the journey goes on.

The next chapter will be narrated by different demigods of the Seven, so you'd understand what's going on at the 'Earth' side of the group.

Please review!