FREEDOM!
Hey guys, I'm DONE WITH SCHOOL! So you know what that means! UPDATES AND LOTS OF THEM!
I put two of my other stories on hiatus, although it killed me, so I can focus on these two! I hope you like this chapter!
Everyday by myself I'm breaking down/I don't wanna fight alone anymore
-Ashes Remain
Thalia's POV
I loved Annabeth, but I was going to kill her when she came back.
She had been gone for about two days. I knew better than to freak out, but if she wasn't home in another day, I was calling the police.
I had gotten into the habit of pacing around the beach, trying to see if I could spot the familiar head of blond curls.
Nothing.
I sighed. Annabeth knew how to take care of herself, but she still worried me sometimes. I didn't know a whole lot of the Greek Mythology, but there was something going on with it, and she was caught right in the middle.
I peered through the clear blue water, trying to see anything.
I spotted something, and I crouched down and picked up a small ring.
It had to be expensive; it looked pure gold, with a small diamond with smaller sapphires surrounding it.
I turned it around and saw some engraving on the inside of it. I furrowed my brow and just made out the words.
Forever and Always 3
I smiled a little. I turned the ring over in my hands, and I felt the sudden urge to put it on my finger. I looked around. No one was there…one minute wouldn't hurt…
"Stop!"
I jerked, and then was suddenly looking into bright green eyes.
He looked like a model…he was the epitome of 'beach boy,' with blond hair tousled over his eyebrows, deep green eyes, and dimples in his cheeks. His teeth were perfectly straight, his skin was tan, and he was buff, all while towering over me by at least half a foot.
His jaw was strong and his cheekbones were high…
And he wasn't wearing a shirt.
My hormone level went straight up.
I jerked my head out of the gutter, and held out the ring to him.
"Is this yours?"
He shook his head, but took the ring from me, gingerly, as if it was bomb that might explode.
I raised an eyebrow at him.
He took it in his hand, drew back his arm, and threw it into the ocean. It flew at least a mile into the sound. I turned to look at him in amazement.
"How-what?"
He wiped his hands on his shorts and then turned to me.
"You know about this world, don't you?"
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Your friend is bonded with Perseus."
I froze.
"You know about Annabeth? Is she OK? Do you know when she's coming home?"
The man laughed and shook his head.
"I'm a good friend of Perseus, and I have been helping him with the war effort. I know about your friend only though him. I'm sorry I can't tell you more."
My shoulders shagged.
"It's OK…but why did you throw that ring out?" I asked, trying to keep my mind off of my disappointment. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't a least bit curious in this man that had appeared out of the blue.
He shook his head, frowning.
"Cessiphus is using humans for something…he put a charm on the ring, and anyone who comes into contact with it will have the urge to put it on, and then will be transported to him. We don't know what he wants with humans, but we know it's not good."
Suddenly, all the disappearances on the beach made sense.
"You speak about humans as if you weren't one…"
"That's cause I'm not. You might have heard of me, I'm Apollo."
Annabeth's POV
Percy brought us back to the castle immediately, sending a message ahead with a barracuda who was very eager to do his job.
When we stormed into the castle, Triton, Amphitrite and Poseidon were all waiting for us, in battle gear, and wound as tight as a clock.
"What happened?" Demanded Poseidon as soon as we caught our breath.
Percy recounted what happened, mentioning my control of the water and healing. I blushed five shades of red when they looked at me in awe.
"You're very powerful already, and the bond hasn't been sealed…this is going to be interesting," mused Amphitrite.
Percy called their focus back to him, and told them that they needed to put the palace in lockdown. He was going to bring me home, and then come back.
This was news to me.
I broke in then, saying, "What do you mean I'm going home? I'm staying right here with you!"
Percy's eyes were blazing.
"It's too dangerous for you to be here! You need to be somewhere safe!"
"Oh, please, spare me. I'm staying here and I'm going to help you fight."
"No you're not!"
We continued on this vein for a little while, to Triton's amusement, but then Percy finally threw his hands up in the air.
"Fine! Mom, can you bring her to get fitted for full armor?"
Amphitrite nodded and dragged me away, but not before Percy grabbed my hand.
His eyes were stormy with frustration and fear, but he held me with the uttermost tenderness.
He leaned down and kissed me swiftly on the lips.
"Stay safe please."
My lips were tingling and my eyes were wide, and I was sure my face was red as a tomato.
Amphitrite had a smile on her face as she pulled me away again, but I kept looking over my shoulder to Percy, who was smiling at me.
Who knew a quick kiss was one of the best kinds?
After a quick stop to the armory, where cyclops were furiously working to prep everyone for battle.
One of the cyclops broke away and measure me, hammering out armor faster than I thought was physically possible.
It was light, but it contoured to every part of my body. I was protected from my neck to my waist, and had some light armor over my tail.
Amphitrite lead me then to the swords, where I picked up one after the other, but they all felt too heavy in my hands.
Finally, I spotted a dagger near the back of the pile, obviously looked over in favor of the larger weapons.
I picked it up and unsheathed it, surprised at how balanced it felt in my hand.
Amphitrite looked at me with some calculation in her eyes.
"Not many people use the dagger. It's not easy to use it in battle, but the very skilled use it. If you feel balanced with it, then fight with it. But take a sword just in case."
I sheathed the dagger and strapped it to my arm, before taking the smallest and lightest sword and strapping it to my waist.
Percy was waiting for me outside of the armory, where he was pacing (swimming really) back and forth.
Triton looks uncharacteristically serious when I saw him, but then the familiar grin breaks out on his face.
"Hey, you look good!"
Percy spins around and his mouth drops open. I have to say, I like having this effect on him. It makes me feel…I don't know, desirable?
"Thanks Triton. So, what do we do now?"
"Well, you are going up to the battle planning station."
I raised an eyebrow at Percy.
I know he wanted to keep me safe, and I knew I wanted to keep him safe, but he seriously needed to lighten up a little. I could fight, I had been taking self defense lessons, karate, and fencing since I was in third grade. This was a little different, being life or death, but I think I had the basics down. He didn't need to shield me.
Percy raised an eyebrow right back.
"I can fight-"
"I know you can, but you're smart. We need you at tactics."
I rolled my eyes.
"OK, spare me the bullshit. I know you're trying to protect me."
Percy sighed and came over to me, resting his heavy hands on my shoulders.
"I need you safe for now. If not for you, for me. Please, don't do anything rash. When this whole bond thing is cemented, and you have a share in my power, we can talk about you fighting. For now, help with tactics and healing. I'll be in touch, ok? Here," he handed me a small shell, like the kind you find on anklets. "This is how we communicate with each other. Humans have some of the myths right."
I took the shell and popped it in my ear.
"Hear me?" Triton whispered from the other side of the room. I heard him loud and clear through the shell.
Cool.
"OK…but you remain safe, OK? When this whole thing is done I need to go home and let Thalia know I'm not dead."
Triton let out a laugh.
"Oh, brother, she has you there. Be safe so she doesn't get murdered by her pissed off friend."
Percy rolled his eyes at his brother's antics.
"Come on, let's go."
With that, I was lead by the two brothers to the control station.
I took a deep breath.
The battle was going to begin.
Yay! This chapter is longer than most, so here is a question for you guys.
Longer chapters with more time in-between updates, or shorter chapters with shorter time in between updates.
Also, for Thalia, Team Triton or Team Apollo? Let me know!
Please review, thank you for all your kind words before! Please review, it makes my fingers fly!
