Chapter X
Brooks sat on the chair.
"Annabeth, wake up!" he whispered fiercely. Annabeth sat up groggy from whatever drugs they were giving her. He had two swords.
"Here," he said tossing her the sword. Annabeth was startled but caught it. It brushed her left arm lightly and blood dripped from her arm.
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"No, I need to get changed into some other clothes," Annabeth said. He nodded and tossed her a sack with her skinny jeans her favorite Camp-Half-Blood hoodie with a light blue tank top. She smiled at him and went to the bathroom to change.
Annabeth knew she had to be careful around him, he had a mark and she didn't know what it did to him. When she came out Percy was standing there instead of Brooks.
"Annabeth, don't go you can't," Percy said. Annabeth growled.
"If I can help, I will!" Annabeth hissed at him.
"Not alone," Piper said, she had Katoptris. Jason stood behind her.
"I was going with Brooks," Annabeth said. Percy and Piper shared a look.
"When we got here, he was gone," Percy said, "and there was a loud scream before we got here, it sounded like Brooks." Annabeth felt herself tremble.
"This is all Mae's doing," Annabeth said. Piper smiled sadly at Annabeth.
"It is but you can help us fix it," Jason said. Annabeth took a deep breath.
"Ok, let's go, we need to fix this," Annabeth said. They all ran out of the infirmary and snuck out the back door of the M wing. Annabeth shivered; it was cold outside at 3 am. Piper quickly braided her hair messily.
"I'm ready," she confirmed. Annabeth nodded. Jason nodded and ran to his car and started his engine.
"I'll be back with the ol' gang soon," Jason said winking. Piper blew him a kiss. Annabeth, Piper, and Percy hiked up the Olympus Mountain. Annabeth's arm began to burn.
"We need to go left," Percy said.
"No, we need to go forward," Annabeth felt the pull. Next thing she knew she was attaching Percy. She used all her force to stop. Percy gasped. Piper looked at Annabeth.
"I think the mark you have is to make you attack whoever she wants," Piper said.
"No, it can't be, mine mark makes me attack Jenna," Annabeth said. When she thought about it, she attacked Percy… what about Brooks?
"I'll go with Annabeth, you find Jenna, we'll find Mae," Piper said looking at Percy. They all nodded.
•••
Piper looked at Annabeth.
"Are we here?" Piper asked. Annabeth nodded.
"Careful, Mae might have more than one trick up her sleeve," Annabeth said pulling the sword Brooks gave to her from its sheath. They approached a cave. There was a fire going. Annabeth held her breath and stepped inside.
"How nice to have some company," Mae's voice said.
"Mae," Annabeth said with disbelief. Mae wore a purple silk dress her eyes were dark green and her eyes are outlined with coal. She wore a silver circlet over her curly ginger hair.
"You look nothing like Mae," Piper said.
"There is no Mae," she said.
"Who are you?" Annabeth asked.