Chapter 7 Part II

As I fell, I honestly believed that I would die. I thought that my wish was coming true and that I wouldn't have to deal with Ava anymore. My dad and her would be happy with the twins, without me. As I fell, time appeared to pass very slowly. I became aware of almost everything around me. I heard the leaves rustling as I grabbed onto them, a failed attempt of trying to save myself. I heard my screams, and the twins giggling. I felt myself nearing the end of my journey down from the tree; I knew that soon I would hit the ground and all my bones would shatter and the impact would kill me.

Except, my body never hit the ground. Arms caught me, and as I cried, my father shushed me, trying to calm me down. I pushed him away though.

"Why did you save me!?" I screamed at him, pounding my fists against his chest, tears streaming down my face.

He opened his mouth to answer but the words never left his lips. Instead a scream escaped his lips. Behind me, the harpy that had been the cause of my falling from the tree, was now attacking Bobby who held a sandwich.

I took the dagger from my belt; the one that Athena gave to me on my fourth birthday. I know you're probably trying to remember back to when I mentioned that, well let me refresh your memory a bit. My dad took it away after I found it on my bed. When I was five I found it in one of his drawers in his office while he was busy with Ava so I took it back and after I got attacked by that first monster I've kept it with me.

I quickly ran to Bobby's side, I stepped in front of him and thrust the dagger into the harpy's stomach. It turned to dust and I smiled before hugging Bobby.

I felt my hair being pulled and I screamed; letting go of him. "Do not touch my son you freak!" Ava yelled before slapping me across the face and taking the dagger from my hands.

Tears pricked the rims of my eyes but I refused to let them spill. I would not show weakness in front of Ava. She returned her attention to the twins while I moved my attention over to my dad. He sat on the ground, his pale hands tangled in his blonde hair. He gritted his teeth and his eyes were squeezed shut. Now as angry as I was with my father, I wanted to know what was wrong. Why he was upset. It pained me to see him like this.

"Daddy?" I asked quietly approaching him. He opened his eyes and allowed his tense body to relax a bit. I quietly sat next to him and rested my head on his shoulder.

"You can still hug me you know," he said quietly. I allowed my grey eyes to meet his brown ones. "I won't let her hit you anymore," he said, his eyes dropping to the floor.

I threw my arms around him and inhaled the scent of my father. He smelt like a library, like books. It was very comforting to me and I did not want to let go. I thought that I might have been getting my father back, but then Ava called my father's name. I felt him sigh and give me one last squeeze. "I'm really sorry Annie," he whispered in my ear before letting me go. He stood up and went over to Ava's side.

I screamed at the top of my lungs. I didn't care if she slapped me again; I just wanted my father back.

I fell back into the grass and refused to move. Ava yelled at me, screaming for me to get into the car. I ignored her though. My father told me several times as well but I continued to ignore them. Finally my father picked me up and set me in the car.

And that night is when the spiders began to come.

(A/N: I know part II is kind of short also but I have writers block for this story and I didn't want to go on any further with this chapter. Anyways a huge thanks to everyone reading this story. You guys are the reason why I'm continuing this story and I know we don't know each other but I love each and every one of you! Anyways see you guys next chapter! I'm going to try and update more often but I'm not going to make promises just in case.

Anyways, there was this one review that I could not reply to by PMing that I wanted to respond too so I will respond to it in this AN.

Okay so PJO Story Critic:

Thank you for the feedback but I was a bit upset about your review. I know that I got a couple things wrong in the story but that really shouldn't matter considering it is fanfiction. Its stories that the fan makes and they get to choose what happens. And so maybe Athena never made any contact with Annabeth but I wanted her to in my story to make it a bit more interesting and don't you think that the gods might have secretly seen their children once or twice? And about Ava, I realize that her name is probably not Ava but they never mention her name in the books, and I've read several fanfictions where Annabeth's stepmother's name is Ava. And in my story I did not think that Frederick was babying Annabeth. He's practically ignoring her. And I realize she left because of the spiders. I've been writing about what happens before them. And isn't obvious that she doesn't feel loved. If you continued to read you would find out what happens. I really appreciate the feedback but it just bothered me that you said that I got things wrong. It's fanfiction. People usually get things wrong in their stories.)