Sorry for the wait! School + Slow internet + Loss of inspiration = slow updates! AND! Thank so SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! Every review I get makes me smile! I mean, really. You guys are THE BEST. And there might be a wait between this chapter and the next because my Granny has cancer, and her operation is soon…
Anyways, enjoy!
I watched as the girl smirked and nodded. "Yeah. I've seen it around" she told us after we had asked her if she had seen the plant. "You want to pick it?" she suddenly frowned.
"Yeah…?" I trailed off uneasily.
"Ah, well, about that…" I nodded, telling her to continue. "Ah. Well… Being magical, it demands a sacrifice. Typical" she added bitterly under her breath.
"What kind of sacrifice?" Julia inquired. Dionne scowled like she didn't like a younger girl talking to her like that.
"Blood" she replied curtly. "Half-blood blood. You're in luck"
"Uh, great, thanks" I said, getting up. "Can you show us where it is?"
"Sure. And maybe you and me could come back to my place after, huh, Percy?" she put a well-tended hand on my chest. Behind her, I saw Julia pretending to throw up and Nico laughing his arse off silently.
"Uh, I don't think that would be such a good idea" I said firmly, stepping back, annoyed that this slutty daughter of Dionysus could say something like that when we were here to save my dead girlfriend. She pouted, probably trying to look cute, and went to the kitchen. "Wine?' she asked, pouring herself a glass.
"Ah, no thanks"
"Suit yourself" she replied. Just as we were heading out the =back door, we hard a door open from down the hall. Dionne frowned, and tapped her ring, a silver band turning it into a sword. A guy in pink boxers came out, rubbing his eyes tiredly. When she saw who it was, she put her sword away.
"Di" asked he guy in a sleepy tone, then did a double take when he saw she had company.
"Oh. Guys, this is Jake, son of Aphrodite" she said, and Nico muttered something about 'not another one', earning himself a glare "And Jakes, Percy, son of Poseidon," Jake raised his eyebrow, but said nothing. "Julia, daughter of Apollo" He smiled "and Nico, son of Hades" The son of Aphrodite nodded curtly.
"So," continued Dionne "I'm showing them something right now, so I'm sure you can find the way out. Gods forbid, you found my bedroom quickly enough last night, and even then you were drunk" and with a smirk at his blush, and a quick wink, she skipped out the door, the rest of us following. She led us into the woods behind her house.
"Was that your boyfriend?" asked Julia finally.
"No" came the reply "My boyfriend is a brother of yours, a son of Apollo" she smiled. I exchanged a glance with Nico, then saw the look on Julia's face was one of disgust, and raised my eyebrows at him. He shrugged, and I knew this was going to be a LONG day.
"We're here" Dionne announced as we came into a small clearing, after about three quarters of an hour. The plant had large, deep purple flowers, and leaves that ranged from pale blue to midnight blue, in places, and deep rose to baby pink. It fit the description. "So, what ya do is, just drop a teensy bit of your blood on it, and the laves should fall off" she informed me. I frowned at her.
"How do you know all this?" I asked curiously. All I got was a smirk and,
"That's for me to know, and you to find out"
This girl was seriously annoying. I got out Riptide, and, clenching my teeth, pressed the tip to one of my fingers. Hissing at the sight of the blood, I let a drop fall on the flower. Immediately, the flowers fluttered slowly to the ground.
"Well" I said, picking them up "Thank you, Dionne, so much for helping us. I'm really grateful"
I smiled at her. She smiled back "Of course, Percy. And… I hope you save Annabeth. She's a nice girl. IM me some time, won't you?"
"Yeah. Of course. Nico?" I said, turning to him "Shadow travel us to the car?"
"Sure" And with that, we left Dionne, looking distant and absently growing grape vines around her legs.
The blue house looked exactly the same. This time, instead of climbing through a window, we walked straight through the front door. Annabeth was lying on the dusty couch, being closely watched by my mother. James Jameson was sitting on a recliner looking bored. They all (minus Annabeth) looked up as we walked in.
"Ah, Mr. Jackson, you're back" said the creep. I ignored him, running to Annabeth, kneeling beside my mother, and brushing the hair out of her face. I got out a leaf and handed it to my mother, hugging her. "I'm so glad you're safe" she whispered in my ear. I nodded, tears in my eyes, and turned back to Annabeth. She looked so peaceful… I put a leaf in her mouth, and rubbed her neck to make her swallow it. One minute… Two minutes… Annabeth shot up with a gasp. She looked around wildly, then spotted me. "Oh, Percy" she gasped, flinging her arms around my neck.
"Shhh, it'll be okay, Annabeth. It's okay…" I murmured in her ear, as she sobbed into my chest.
"I love you, Percy" she choked out. I pressed my lips to her hair.
"I love you, Annabeth"
One, two, three: Aaaaaww! Cute!