AN:
Hey guys, I know its been too long, been super busy getting ready for college, however, I'm going to try to start updating again. You might notice I portray Annabeth slightly childish, Somehow I managed to start it that way, I don't like it, but I really don't want to re-write the first chapters just yet so Annabeth will change eventually through some circumstances, but she's going to be a little bit annoying for awhile. Thanks for your reviews, favorites, and follows, I hope y'all continue to read!-Cora
Disclaimer: I don't own the Percy Jackson series.
Percy sighs and runs a hand through his already rumpled hair, blinking a couple times he as wearily looks up from the laptop screen he's been staring at for half the night. Rising from his chair he turns to the dark skinned girl next to him, "Well, I managed to find out three possible locations of where they are keeping their detainees. Did you get anywhere on the kind of stuff they're running and with whom?" The girl cracks her neck and speaks without looking up from her screen, "Yeah, they're running some big ass cargo, anywhere from black market drugs, illegal weaponry, and even some nasty cars have been shipped through their resurrecting business. I've got a meet set up later with one of their sales men…." She trails off and takes a gulp of the Venom energy drink sitting amongst other things on the crowded coffee table. "Blah, its getting stale", she mutters. Percy raises an eyebrow, "Focus Nora". "Yeah, yeah, I know, this is important, blah blah blah, Anyhow, I'm meeting a certain John Smith later tonight at the docks, 19th bay on the left quadrant. I'm taking Travis and Conner for backup." He nods, "Great, I'm going to see if I can get in touch with my inside man, I need you to double check on the trace piper ran on the call from Thalia, you're better at that then the rest of us, let me know what you find." Nora twirls one of her earrings, "Done and Done Man, but you gotta get me some pizza and better caffeine then this crap." Percy smirks, "Its on the way, just don't shoot the delivery guy." She snorts a laugh as he walks out the door and down the stairs of the two story trashy apartments and into the back alleys off south central California.
Thalia blinks and tries to remember why the hell she has mascara on, her eyelashes are covered in heavy sticky gunk. She groans and tries to move her stiff shoulders and rolls her aching neck. Slowly she surveys her surroundings, things come back in a flash, A pale boy, a prick at her neck, the car wreck. She pulls herself into sitting position and feels something warm run down the side of her face, Are you kidding me? She thinks, their freaking cells drip condensation? They've got the medieval creepiness down pat. She wipes the moisture away and leans her back against one of the four stone walls that make up her lovely new residence. Sighing she closes her eyes to try to puzzle out her situation. Sharp voices and muffled footsteps cause her to straighter her spine and jump to her feet, wincing at a faint pain in her right leg. "He ivs on his vay, I hope vou 'ave ver complivant." I heavily German accented voice speaks. "Don't worry about her, I've got it handled. You just open and close the doors." A vaguely familiar voice replies. A grunt is the only answer given and there is a slight click of the lock opening, in steps the pale boy. He turns and surveys her with a frown, "You need to lean more on your left leg and not hold yourself up so much, you shouldn't be able to stand, so don't act like it." He says quietly while moving closer to her. She tenses automatically, he grins, "So defensive, and here I am helping you out." "Well how do I know its not a trick, you pretend to help me while milking me for information." Thalia retorts. He gives a dark chuckle, "I wouldn't need to work you for information sweetheart," he leans closer to whisper in her ear and a shiver runs down her spine, "A few minutes alone with me and you would be begging me to listen to all your secrets." He backs away and Thalia lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Suddenly there is a clang on metal and he frowns, darting forward he slams a fist into Thalia's gut and at the same time rubs another hand across her forehead, Thalia gasps as the air is slammed out of her and she sinks to the floor holding her midsection as something sticky drips into her eyes. The door opens and a tall burly figure steps in, he studies her from the shadows of the cell for a moment and then steps forward with a chair. Flipping it around he straddles it and motions a hand to the now stony faced Nico. Nico turns to her, no emotion flickers across his face as he pulls out a long beautifully curved knife and lowers it to her arm. Thalia braces for questions she knows she won't answer. He pauses, the blade hovering above her skin. The large man speaks, his deep voice rippling in the air. "Where is The Wraith?" Thalia's automatic "I won't tell you" Chokes in the back of her throat, "What?" she sputters. Looking around Nico to glimpse the man, "The Wraith?" The man snaps his fingers and Thalia gasps and tries her hardest not to groan at the pain of the blade dragging through her arm. She opens her eyes in shock when the pain doesn't cease, and lets out a strangled gasp as she sees Nico not removing the blade but pushing it deeper into her skin. He pushes harder on the blade and Thalia screams and tears begin to trail down her cheeks. She looks to him in shock and is stunned to find him looking right at her, the fingers on the hand that he holds her elbow with begins tracing patterns on her arm, it takes her a few seconds to think through the pain enough to realize he's tracing words. She flicks a glance to her arm before looking at him again, he taps he arm twice and then begins again. Slowly she begins to understand. "ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!" she screams. "JUST MAKE IT STOP!" Nico glances to the man, and he gives a light nod. The knife is instantly removed from her skin and she shakes with relief. "The Wraith….I've never actually met her…But I know where you might be able to find someone who knows her and can lead you to her." The man motions for her to go on, "In the Bronx, in New York, There's a boy. He goes by the name of Triton Black, he will know where to find her." She spills. The tall man nods, "Very good, I trust you will clean up the mess Nico?" Nico grins a little, standing up and fingering his blade, "It would be my pleasure Sir." "Good" replies the man as he walks out leaving Nico and Thalia alone. They look at each other and each release a tense breath.
Annabeth bites her thumb nail as she surveys her closet, maybe she shouldn't be enjoying a date while Thalia and Leo were missing, but it didn't seem like a big deal to her, Percy and the others seemed to have it under control; and besides, they probably just skipped town for a few days. That kind of stuff was normal for them both. Someone rapped on her doorframe, Annabeth turned to see Piper. "You aren't actually going to go on a date with him, right?" She asked smacking on her wad of bubble gum. "Are you kidding me?" Annabeth asks, shocked, "Its like my dream come true Piper!" Piper rolls her eyes, "Girl, you need to wake up and smell the roses, if Luke didn't show interest before, he definitely isn't interested now. He's playing you for something." Annabeth frowns, "You know what Piper?" Piper chuckles, "No, is he a nice guy?" Annabeth scowls deeper, "I think you're jealous, You, Selina, and Thalia all have guys. And a hot one happens to ask me out and you tell me it's a bad idea, maybe you just don't want someone having a hotter boyfriend than you." Piper narrows her eyes, "You did go out with a hot guy, Percy. And you're being an idiot Annabeth, you're acting like a child. The rest of us are all trying to help Thal and Leo and you are going on a date with a possible enemy!" Piper reaches a yell. "Oh please!" Annabeth growls, "Like you actually think they're in danger, quit being a drama queen." Piper's mouth falls open and then snaps shut and she grits her teeth, "You Annabeth Chase," She points her finger, "Need to grow the freaking hell UP!" With that Piper marches out of the room slamming the door. Annabeth lets out a huff and begins to get dressed.
~Time skip~
Annabeth smiles as Luke walks her back to the car. Its been a wonderful night, Luke took her to see a play and they had a wonderful Italian dinner, he's held her hand the whole night and Annabeth swears she could fly. As they walk, Luke swings her hand back and forth. "So, did you have fun tonight?" Annabeth shoots him a grin, "It was absolutely perfect." She sighs. He stops to face her, "I could make it better." He says softly before leaning in towards her. Annabeth closes her eyes as her heart races beneath her skin. Then she feels a sharp prick at the base of her neck. She opens her eyes in shock to she the world is spinning and fading in and out of focus. "W-what…what did you do?" she gasps. "Oh Annabeth," Luke crones, "You made it far too easy."
Nico grunts and shoves the manhole cover above his head off the exit to the tunnel they're leaving. "So", he heaves himself up into the alley way and then helps Thalia, "You shouldn't feel any pain as long as you take these healing pills for the next few days, the wounds should fade and you'll be good as new." Thalia brushes some dirt her jeans, "That's kind of crazy. Thanks for saving me, By the way." He laughs, "Like I said, a friend called in a favor." Thalia nods and bites her lip, "What happened to Leo?" Nico grows somber. "I'm sorry Thals, He's dead." Tears prick her eyes and he looks down for a moment, "There was nothing I could do." Thalia takes his shoulders, "Hey, I believe you, it'll be okay, its just, he was my best friend." Nico looks up, "I thought he was your boyfriend?" Thalia lets out a laugh and wipes away a tear, "Yeah, everyone did. We did it for appearances. We were partners for Olympus, I didn't want to get Annabeth or anyone else involved if they weren't already so Leo and I acted like we were to keep everyone else from figuring anything out." She sniffs, "We had know each other since grade school. Pretty much made an unstoppable team. That's why it worked so well for so long." Nico throws an arm around her shoulders as they saunter to the end of the alley, "Well, we're gonna have to be partners for a bit." Thalia raises an eyebrow, "And why is that torture king?" He grins, jabs her in the ribs, and then spread his arms wide, "Because fair lady, we are in Miami!" Thalia gapes in shock at the lively board walk in front of her. "Miami?" She gasps. "Oh yeah, didn't you know," He winks, "Everthing strange washes up in Miami."
