Annabeth and Marcus ran in perfect harmony. Annabeth felt different running with Marcus than when she did with Percy. He was quite fit. Not that Percy wasn't, it's just that Percy would always drag behind her panting and begging her to stop.
"Come on Percy!" she'd demand.
"Annabeth - can't we - just - oh gods." and that was usually when he fainted. Annabeth began to focus on something else. Flowers, things like that.
Not girly stuff, Annabeth, she ordered herself.
"There he is," Marcus declared.
Oh yes, we were looking for Chiron,
"Good," Annabeth replied, picking up her pace to fit in with Marcus.
"Chiron!" he called.
"Marcus, Annabeth! Hello. Nice to see you back, Annabeth." His tone changed. "How did Percy's mother react to the saddening news?"
"I didn't speak with her. I didn't even go to see her."
"Where have you been then?"
"The hospital. Now-"
"The hospital? My, what happened?"
"Chiron this is important," Marcus cut in.
"Really?" he held his hand to his chin, pondering this. He was acting strange.
"Chiron," Annabeth started. "Percy isn't dead, so you don't need to act like that. You don't need to pretend like nothing hasn't happened."
"Percy is . . . dead."
"No, he's not," Marcus said, "He never removed the empathy link with Grover. Grover should be dead."
"Marcus, Annabeth, we haven't heard from Grover in a month."
Was I really gone that long? Annabeth asked herself.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"We sent him out to find a demigod we've been keeping track on and we made sure he had numerous ways to keep in touch. We haven't gotten an Iris message, telegram, fax, email, letter from pigeon, letter from hawk, phonecall. Nothing."
"Letters from birds?" Marcus asked.
"Getting off subject!" Annabeth barked, slapping his fore-arm.
"I'm sorry, Annabeth." Chiron said. "I don't think I can give you any more information that will help." And with that, he left.
Annabeth and Marcus's mouths were wide open. "What is the matter with him?" Annabeth exclaimed.
"Everyone's a bit distressed."
"That doesn't give him a right to withhold information!"
"What information, Annabeth? There's nothing we can do but find Grover!"
"Then that's what we'll do. We can't tell anyone else, though. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up. Especially not mine."
Annabeth walked away to her cabin. "Annabeth, wait!"
She didn't turn back. She ignored all the 'Hi Annabeth's' and all the pity looks. She opened the door to her cabin and everyone left, probably thinking she was going to cry. Annabeth didn't plan on that, but letting a few tears go wouldn't hurt. She slid down the door and hit her hand against the cold wood floor. She stood again and slid all her blueprints off her desk. None of them were worth anything until she got Percy back or at least found Grover alive.
She walked out of her cabin and to Percy's. She pulled her key out of her pocket. The one he had given her on the two yeear anniversery.
Flashback Time!
"If I ever need you, act funny, or am in trouble . . . use this." Percy took her hand and enclosed the blue swirly key in her hand. He kissed Annabeth's closed hand.
"Your key?"
"A spare. If I gave you my key I wouldn't be able to get into my cabin. If you ever get lonely in the middle of the night . . ."
"Percy . . ." she raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips.
"I was just going to say we can kanoodle." He smiled at her.
Flashback Time Over! (Cue the aw's from the crowd)
She slid the key into the lock and turned it all the way clockwise. It clicked and she turned the knob, pushing the door open. The waterfall was still running and Percy's little pond was still sparkling.
It's Flashback Time Again!
"Look, Annabeth," Percy said, bending down beside the pond. She followed him and gazed into the irridecent pond, the noises of the waterfall in the background. "I got Koi Fish."
"How will you ever remember to feed them?" she asked.
"I've got a whole gallon of food!" his young voice exclaimed.
"That doesn't matter. You have to remember to put the food in the water."
"I will."
"What if your gone?"
"Annabeth I got these fish to impress you! . . . and to teach them tricks. Hehe."
Flashback Over. . . aw!
"Hi there Cuddles." she said to the lone fish. "I don't know why Percy calls you that. What tricks can you do?"
The fish blew bubbles to the surface and looked at her like "What do you think I am, chick?"
"Your a fish, aren't you."
Cudddles gave her a "You think?" look.
"Fish can't do tricks, can they?"
Cuddles gave her a "I'M A FRICKEN FISH!" look.
"Fish can't do tricks!" she exclaimed, dipping her finger into the water. "What was that silly Percy thinking?"
Cuddles gave her a "I don't know. I honestly don't know what that kid thinks."
"I wonder if since Percy and you are kinda of like, I don't know, fish brains?"
Cuddles gave her a "Watch it, sista," look.
"I mean, since he's a son of Poseidon and your obviously a fish, can you communicate."
Oh Poseidon, I hope not. Cuddles thought. He looked at Annabeth longingly. Food?
Annabeth grabbed the can of food off of Percy's bedside table and threw a few pinches in. In return, Cuddles went to the bottom of his pond, picked a golden drachma up into his mouth, and brought it to the surface for Annabeth.
"Oh! I never even thought of-wait. Chiron said they've tried Iris messaging Grover."
Cuddles gave her a "Give it a go, kid." look.
"Fine." She threw the drachma in the air and Cuddles splash some water with his tail. "Oh Iris, except my offering. I would like to speak with Grover the Satyr." Annabeth stood back and waited. Instead of Grover, she saw Iris herself!
"I'm sorry," Iris said, head tilting to the side apollogetically. "No connection available right now. Though, you have a new voicemail! If you would like to see it, nod." Annabeth nodded slightly. "Oh, more than that, child!" Annabeth nodded vigorously, curls bouncing into her face. "Alrighty then!"
Suddenly Grover came on. "Um-I-" He sounded like he was about ready to pass out. "I need to-I can't finish-I feel-" And with that the message went fuzzy, and the last thing Annabeth saw was Grover passing out on March 21st. The day Percy died.
