AN: Stephenlongboard: Sorry, that was probably more of a one-time thing. I might be able to put you in there somewhere, but it will be just a small mention.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Sorry about the late update. This story has gone so far off the original track. I don't even know where it is going anymore, so any suggestions would be great. Also because you all waited patiently for so long I have made the chapter an extra 300 words.

Disclaimer: PJO does not belong to me.

"Percy." Annabeth said slowly, grabbing Percy's arm.

"What?" He asked cautiously. She pointed at the drachmas in the fountain. Percy stared at the coins for a moment.

"Oh," he said reaching for riptide while Annabeth grabbed her dagger out.

"For a daughter of Athena, you are very ssssslow." A voice hissed behind them. They slowly turned in synchronisation. Behind them were a couple of dozen dracnae, half-snake women. They were all decked out in armour, covering their torsos. They had a mixture of bows, daggers and swords among them, each with a shield to accompany it.

"Oh, Gods." Annabeth whispered. There was no window to escape from this time. She looked up.

'Oh.' She thought. A strategy beginning to form in her mind. The dracnae closest to her followed her gaze.

"Close the windows!" She screeched at the other near her. The dracnae scrambled around frantically pulling levers and pushing buttons. Eerily, glowing celestial bronze sheets began to close off the windows, but that didn't matter because as soon as the dracnae were distracted Annabeth grabbed Percy's arm and began pulling him in the direction they had come in from. They slipped undiscovered from the room and ran. They knew that the dracnae would eventually discover that they had left, but they had a huge head start. As they ran Percy would recognise a shop here and there. They eventually reached the map that they had looked at earlier and stopped. Where the doors should have been was a creamy white wall that blended in perfectly with the rest of the wall.

"Oh, no." Annabeth whispered. They heard the faraway sounds of snakes hissing. "Quick hide."

They ducked into a clothing store and hid in the racks.

"O.k. What now?" Percy asked conscious of the ever growing louder hissing. Annabeth shook her head.

"There had to be a way to get out." She said.

"They might have split up. We can take them down as they come along." Percy suggested. Annabeth shook her head again.

"They might not have. We can't count on that." He face brightened. "Percy, the fire escape doors." Percy nodded.

"We passed one on the way here. It's not too far away." He said. They quickly looked through the clothes, and seeing the empty hallway, they slipped out of the store.

"Which way?" Annabeth asked. Percy pointed down the corridor, where Annabeth could see a bright red light, and they began to run towards it. They were halfway to the door when they noticed a couple of dracnae standing in front of it. Percy quickly pulled Annabeth into the nearest store.

"What now?" He asked. Annabeth frowned.

"Distract them," She said simply before pulling her magic Yankees hat out of her pocket and disappearing. He felt something touch his cheek and hear her whisper. "Good luck."

Percy left the store and walked calmly up to the dracnae guarding the door.

"Demigod," the one on the left hissed threateningly. Percy laughed and stood in front of her.

"What exactly are you?" he asked. "You can't be very dangerous if I've never heard of you."

The two dracnae hissed in outrage. "We are the dreaded Dracnae! No one is more dangerous than us." The one on the right snapped.

"Right, so which one of you is the most dreaded dracnae. It can't be both of you." He stated. The dracnae stared at him in surprise. Then they started to bicker.

"I'm the most dangerous dracnae there is!" The one on the left proclaimed.

"No, I am the most dangerous." The one on the right snapped back.

"On the count of three attack the one on the right." Annabeth whispered in Percy's ear. He nodded slightly and took out riptide. "One…two….three."

Percy uncapped riptide and slashed at the dracnae, while Annabeth invisibly impaled the other on her dagger. The dracnae wore identical expressions of surprise and they crumbled to dust. Annabeth took off her hat and the air shimmered. A second later she had reappeared and was standing next to the fire escape doors.

"Come on Percy. Let's get out of here." She said. He took her hand and she pushed the door open. The ear splitting scream that blasted out of the speakers had them running full pelt through the fire escape door and into the corridor that led to the outside world. They could see the door at the other end of the corridor, but they could also see the entrances to the other hallways that led to other fire escape doors. They started to run faster, the door was coming closer and closer. They weren't fast enough. The dracnae spilled out of the connecting hallways surrounding them entirely. They instinctively stood back to back each facing the enemy with their weapons pulled out. They stood in fighters stances.

"Kill them." The leading dracnae said. The twenty or so other dracnae surged forward in a wave with their weapons forgotten they clawed out at Percy and Annabeth. Percy swung his sword disintegrating the first row of dracnae. The next row advanced with more caution.

"Go towards the exit." Annabeth said in his ear. Percy nodded and headed towards the exit fighting off the monsters. There were about ten left when they finally reached the double doors and pushing them open they turned and sprinted out into the fresh air. The monsters followed them, but no longer confined in the hallway they ran faster. The dracnae eventually fell behind. A couple of them had picked up bows and were shooting at them, but most fell short. The hissing faded away, and they slowed down thinking they were in the clear. Until an arrow sliced into Annabeth's arm. She cursed and stumbled slightly.

"Annabeth, are you alright." Percy asked worriedly, she nodded and gripped her arm tightly, trying to staunch the blood flow.

"C'mon we have to run." She replied. They quickened their pace again and didn't stop until they had reached an area familiar to Annabeth.

"This way," She puffed pointing to an intersection in front of her. By now her arm had started to stop bleeding, but she looked extremely pale and was stumbling often. The sun was beginning to set when they reached Annabeth's house. They stopped running and walked up to the front door. Annabeth grabbed a key out of her pocket and slid it into the lock. She opened the door and walked over the threshold. Percy followed her into the house.

"Dad?" Annabeth called out. She was answered by silence.

"Maybe they went to the shops or something." Percy suggested.

"Maybe," Annabeth answered doubtfully. "Do you mind if we just stay here tonight? I'm buggered."

Percy nodded. "I'll go grab some nectar for your arm." He said before disappearing up the stairs and Annabeth sat down on the lounge. He returned a few moments later with the promised nectar and poured a little on her cut. The skin began to heal and Annabeth sighed in relief. The colour started to return to her face and Percy kissed her cheeks, helping it along before sitting down beside her. A blush covered her cheeks.

"What was that for Seaweed Brain?" She asked. Percy shrugged.

"What? I can't kiss my fiancé without a reason?" He asked innocently. Annabeth laughed and cuddled into him. He pressed his lips against her hair and pulled her closer to him. They just lay there content until eventually, they both succumbed to sleep.