Chapter Ten

Fairytales Never Get The Details Right; I'm Allowed Some Hyperbole

Annabeth POV

Nothing beats the feeling of seeing your Knight in shining amour come charging in to rescue you. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I mean, there was a "knight", but he was Andrea's, not mine. Which reminded me to mess around with Percy if I got back to him. Ugh! What am I saying?! When I get back to him! Not if, I scolded myself. I absolutely hate what my brain does when I'm in danger. Anyway, back to the Knight. Technically, it was Lucas. And technically, he was being really stupid, but I'm used to it, living with Percy and all.

He charged into the cave's corridors with a single sword. He spotted me almost instantly, and rushed over, killing the monsters and freeing me.

"You alright?" He questioned, inspecting my wounds briefly.

"I'm fine. Did you happen to bring an extra weapon?"

He grinned. A smile was welcome. I winced again, my feet bothering me. At least I could stand now.

"Yeah, my emergency knife that you recommended I keep with me."

He reached up into the bottom of his pants leg. He produced the blade and presented it to me. I smiled as well.

"Perfect," I told him, "now let's kill the bastards."

PERCY POV

A lovely dream arrived that night (note the sarcasm). Gaea stood, overlooking the cliff (you know, the cliff from my other dreams where my family dies) The ocean crashed into the rocks below. Lighting cracked in the distance. The storm was getting fiercer with each dream. Gaea's form flickered, changing into another person who I couldn't make out from my distance. I stepped forward.

"It's perfect." She murmured, "Absolutely perfect! Wouldn't you agree?"

At first, I thought she was talking to me, but she didn't seem to acknowledge I was there. There was nobody else around. Maybe...the flickering form? Was she talking to her? The Gaea laughed, like her question had been answered.

"Oh, so soon. And there's nothing you can do about it."

When she turned and faced me, a glint of recognition and surprise flashed in her eyes. She hadn't been talking to me, but who else? Her form flickered once more. No, it couldn't be... I woke in a cold sweat, knowing exactly how dead we were about to be. I clambered out of the bed, ignoring the shooting pain choosing through my body.

"Chiron! Chiron!"

I heard the familiar galloping sound.

"Percy, what's wrong?"

"Annabeth," I choked out

"You said Lucas was going to find them with Iris. Get some rest, Percy, you-"

"No!" I cut him off, "That's the problem. I just had a dream. They're walking right into a trap!"

ANDREA POV

I awoke to a wonderful sight. At least, at the time it seemed wonderful. I'd read books about Knights and seen movies. And when Lucas came charging in (with my mom behind him, but I wasn't focused on her) I understood why the damsels were always so ecstatic. He was coming for me! In the heat of everything, I forgot that I had my family with me as well. I saw nothing but Lucas, chopping up monsters...their blood squirting forth all over his face...yeah, that's when my concentration broke. I cringed. If monsters just exploded into dust, why did they have blood too? Something was different. I shook my head. I was trying to wake up completely.

"Lucas! Mom! Over here!"

I leapt up, striking my head on a rock ceiling. My vision blurred momentarily. Ouch.

"You okay, Andie?" Andrew's voce - a groggy Andrew. I took note of the large gash on his head and stab wounds in his stomach. What had happened?

I sat back down and tried to rub the back of my head, finding that my hands were tied.

"yeah, I'm fine."

Mom made it to me before Lucas did. Kind of a disappointment. I mean I love my mom, but I was hoping since Lucas and I were just married, that he'd swoop in and save me. Especially since my mom had been captured with us. She quickly cut through my bindings and hugged me. Then I noticed the others.

"Wait, why aren't the others tied up?"

"They must have known you were the most dangerous," Mom answered quickly. She wasn't telling me something. I glanced at her wrists and swore that I saw holes. "Listen, baby, we've got to get out of here now. We don't know how long we've been here, or if your dad's okay. Lucas rescued us, thank Zeus, or I'd be dead right now."

I processed that. Gods, I loved Lucas.

"How will we carry the others? Will, Kate, Andrew..."

Mom frowned. "Dammit."

She obviously hasn't considered it yet. That was very unlike her. I was used to my mom always having a plan. She bragged about it, actually.

"Uh, Lucas can carry one of them...I guess I can get another, and uh, can you get one Andie?"

I chewed my lip

"I can support Andrew. He's partially awake." I said unconfidently. Lucas sliced open the last creature and made it to us. He knelt down, taking my hand.

"Are you good? How'd they hurt you?"

"I'm fine, Honey," I spoke, brushing it off like it was no big deal. Secretly, though, I loved that he was asking about me. He studied me intently, his brow creased in concern. He knew when I lied.

"Alright," he said finally, "Iris led me here. She should be coming any minute now."

He looked behind him and cursed.

"Lucas!" I corrected. Now, you're probably wondering why I didn't get onto my mother. Because, she's my mother.

However, I saw it too. Iris was being dragged into the room in a net. A net like Hephaestus', a net made to contain a god. Also, very much to my surprise, Aunt Rachel. (though she's technically not related to us)

Rachel was gagged, her eyes wide with fear.

"Rachel!" Mom cried out. She rushed forward and grabbed her before the guards could react. Mom removed the gag.

"Oh gods, Annabeth! I wish you hadn't done that!" Rachel exclaimed mournful, like we had just arranged her funeral. The guards smacked Mom backwards. Rachel collapsed in a heap, smoke billowing from her mouth. Only, this wasn't the green smoke of the Oracle.