Hi everyone! Okay, so this will probably be the last chapter you get before school starts for me. I can't really guarantee when the next chapter will be posted.
The next chapter needs a fight scene, and that is kinda new ground for me. I'll probably take a while so I can make it the best I can.
Also, my sister dropped my backpack containing my nexus and now half of the screen is cracked and won't work. Thankfully, I can still read, use the internet, listen to music, and access everything I need or want on my nexus, but having to flip it around constantly to use the pop-up key board and select things I want to delete makes it a pain to write.
As I have done the majority of my writing on my nexus in the past, I will be writing either in a notebook, or on my mom's laptop whenever I can. I will try to get as much done as I can done in a reasonable amount of time.
Annabeth's POV
I survey the table in front of me, which is laden with enough food to feed the entirety of Camp Half Blood. On second thought maybe not, considering demi-gods aren't exactly known for their small appetites.
Today is Thanksgiving, and as such my family was gathered around our dining room table for dinner. I was seated between Thalia and Percy, something I had done deliberately while arranging place settings.
As soon as everybody is seated, my grandfather, at Aunt String-Bean's ( thanks to Percy I now had trouble calling her anything else) insistance, has everybody bow their heads and leads a grace. I don't really pay much attention. Instead I bow my head, and say a prayer in my head to my mother and Demeter.
True, it isn't Demeter's feast day, but Thanksgiving started as a day to celebrate the pilgrims' good harvest, and as Demeter is the goddess of the harvest, it felt right.
My family doesn't set much store by religion. I don't think my dad, Helen and stepbrothers go to church. And, the rest of my family goes to church on Christmas and Easter, but that's it. However, there are some things they have clung to. Such as saying grace before a big family meal. Aunt String-Bean is always particularly insistent whenever I am around, almost as if she wants to rub it in my face.
Nobody would have given a care who I was praying to, considering my two companions and I are living proof Greek gods exist, if it wasn't for Thalia.
Thalia, being Thalia, took the news of being forced to say grace rather indignantly. Especially when she realized that this was another attempt of my Aunt's to ostracize me.
"So," she asks over the clamor of people filling plates. "Who did you to pray to?"
The adults automatically go silent.
"Um, Dad, Demeter, and Hestia," answers Percy.
"Why Hestia?"
"It just felt right. What about you?"
"Artemis, and Demeter."
"Not your father?"
Thalia raises an eyebrow.
"Forget I asked."
Throughout this exchange I watch my relatives. My father has his eyes closed, and is sighing through his nose. Aunt String-Bean's lips are pursed so much it looks like she is puckering up for a kiss.
Percy and Thalia turn to me.
"Mother and Demeter," I say, glaring at Thalia.
A knock at the door cuts through my step-mother's attempt to restart conversation.
"I'll get it," says my Aunt String-Bean. She rises from the table, and leaves to get the door. A few minutes later, I hear her shriek! It has to be something mythological. Clearly Percy and Thalia think so too.
We leap away from the table.
"Thalia! Grab my sword!"
I shout as I run to the door, Percy hot on my heels. My stepmother has a strict "no weapons at the table rule" so my sword and Thalia's bow are in the kitchen. Riptide had remained in Percy's pocket, and is now in his hand.
"Look lady, we kinda need their help, so if you don't want me to get blood and monster dust on the carpet at least go and get Annabeth!"
We reach the door, only to see my aunt frozen with fear in the doorway, and an injured and battle-high Leo trying to force his way across the threshold.
"Leo!"
He looks up. "Annabeth, Percy! We were attacked at the diner! There are about 40 of them! It's organized! They say they want to avenge Gaea!"
Thalia runs out of the kitchen, tosses me my sword, and the four of us sprint out into the street.
