Heyyyyyyy! Chapter Nine has arrived! *rolls out red carpet*Please review for our lovely guest! ~Ali


Chapter Nine

Kyros winces as a pair of gold and black wings snap open from his back, carrying him into the air. I glance at Kronos, who is smiling smugly. He rushes down at me, sword ready, but I couldn't care less. I'm still staring at his beautiful wings. I'm going to die. I close my eyes and open my arms, inviting him to do it. I can't live without Percy anyway. The seconds stretch into hours, and I wait for the pain and heat. I wonder randomly how bad it will hurt. If I'll scream. Or if maybe I'll just go peacefully, waiting to see Percy in Elysium.

A piercing scream rips through the air and I quickly open my eyes. Kyros is hovering a few feet away from the Titian, who now has his own son's sword through his neck. The Lord of Time stares at him in horror.

"Traitor," he hisses weakly, sending a blast of energy at his son. A blinding light fills the room and I fall to the ground from the impact of the blast. Kronos screams once more, the light dissipating as the Titan Lord of Time disintegrates into golden dust, returning, finally, into Tartarus where he belongs. I quickly scan the room. My savior is lying on the ground in a heap against one of the remaining walls, which is now halfway on top of him, his wings torn and bloodstained. I crawl over to him; I think I broke my leg in the blast. Wincing, I finally reach him.

I start to slowly and shakily take his helmet off, but he reaches up and catches my hand, his own shaking. "Don't," he whispers, "please Annabeth, I'm dying and I can't let you see me like this."

How does he know my name? I ignore him and reach over, gently pulling his helmet. I gasp when I see his face and drop it, staring into the sea green eyes I thought I'd never see again. The last of the gold fades out of his eyes as I stare into them frantically.

His eyes; his sea green eyes are looking into mine sadly.

His bloody hair, golden in the dreams, now fading beautifully into black like the sunset, is falling in front of his pain-filled eyes.

Percy. My Percy.

"I- You- You died….."

He tries for a smile, but coughs up blood, wincing. "No, I would never leave you like that. Not without saying goodbye first. I- I love you Annabeth. But can you promise me something?"

He coughs again, harder, and I can see that he is getting weaker. I nod mutely.

"I need you-" another cough, "I need you to move on. Go find someone who deserves you, and be happy, okay? Don't- don't get stuck on me."

"What?" I whisper hoarsely, "But you just promised that you wouldn't leave me. Don't leave me Percy, please, not after I just found you…"

He smiles a bit, his eyes closing. "I said I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. Goodbye, Annabeth… I love you…."