Hey people, sorry about the late update. I'm not going to be able to keep to the weekly updates; I've already fallen behind the last few chapters. Thanks again to my beta Bloodtributes, her help has been awesome; I had some serious writers block but she gave me the ideas I needed :) As always: reviews, constructive criticism and ideas are much appreciated. Flames will be laughed at, possible and probable OOC. I'm still waiting to get a new laptop, so I'm still uploading from school… I should probably be listening to my teacher right now
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Ding!
Everyone inside the cramped black and silver elevator froze. Three of them gripped the handrails in a vice grip as though they were afraid they would disappear. The doors opened slowly; well that was how it seemed to Percy, Damasen and Bob. Percy's breath sped up. He was almost hyperventilating. A small warm hand slipped into his and squeezed gently, the raven-haired son of Poseidon looked down and then, he slowly raised his head and beheld the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. The light from the setting sun was visible through the now open doors and shone into the elevator. The light made her skin glow and her blonde hair seem golden. Her eyes were carefully watching him but he could see the relief and excitement in them.
"Thank you Annabeth," Percy whispered as the other occupants of the elevator walked outside. "You came for me."
"Of course I did, you would have done the same for me." She answered in a matching tone. Still holding hands, they joined the others on a beach that was very familiar to Percy. The son of Poseidon again, almost felt the urge to smile again as he glanced around the beach; seeing the wooden cabin with its porch facing the open sea. The cabin that his mother used to take him to every summer and the water that made him first realise his love for the sea.
"Montauk" Percy turned to Thanatos, only to find the god of death watching him with a smile on his ebony face and in his golden eyes.
"I thought you might like it," he said "All the gods know you've earned a break." The gods took that as their cue and they flashed out one by one until only Poseidon and Athena were left.
Athena lead Annabeth towards the cabin; father and son stood side by side gazing out over the open sea
"Well, that was fun" Poseidon said after several seconds silence in a vain attempt to lighten the mood. Percy leveled his gaze on his father and Poseidon could see the pain in his eyes. Was it his imagination or were Percy's eyes glowing slightly in the darkening light? Casting the thought aside as ridiculous, the sea god sighed
"It's good to see you again son" he said, stepping forward to embrace his lost son. Percy flinched at his touch and ended the contact quickly, Poseidon looked put out but accepted it silently
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"You must be careful with Perseus" Athena warned
"Why? What's wrong?" Annabeth asked in a voice that clearly betrayed her concern
"That's just it. We don't know" the wisdom goddess said. "No demigod and I mean none of them has ever stayed in Tartarus for that long. Hades; no mortal had ever even entered Tartarus and lived to tell the tale." The grey-eyed goddess looked worried. "However he is likely to suffer from nightmares at the least, possibly flashbacks as well, if he doesn't want to talk about them than you must not push him"
Annabeth looked over at Percy and even from this distance she could see him flinch at his father's touch. "I understand."
"Just be careful, we don't know what happened down there and we have even less idea what the effects and consequences might be." Said Athena
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The group stood silently for a while longer before Athena stepped forward and placed her hand on Poseidon's shoulder
"Come Uncle, we have to go," she said gently before guiding him away, the two gods flashed off the beach. Now it was just Percy and Annabeth left on the beach
"Come on Seaweed brain, let's go inside." The Daughter of Athena said gently, placing her hand on his arm, not knowing how he would react. She had seen him flinch at his father's touch, but Percy seemed to relax at her touch and for that she was grateful. The pair headed to the cabin and Percy automatically began the routine that he went through every time he visited. He and Annabeth swept out the sand and upon hearing her scream; Percy killed any and all spiders in the cabin. When all the work was done Percy climbed into the shower and changed into new clothes that they had found in the closet. Percy walked outside to stand on the porch. Annabeth found him like this, just leaning against the railing and staring out at the sea. He felt the cool his face and in his hair. He breathed deeply and could taste and smell the salt in the air; it was beautiful after smelling and tasting the sulfurous air of Tartarus for two years. As Percy thought of the evil place, he began to shake and sweat despite the cool air. He gripped the railing harder, more memories came to him and he shook more violently. His breathing sped up and he began to feel dizzy.
"Percy? Are you alright?" He heard Annabeth ask behind him. She received no answer. The daughter of Athena moved closer and stood next to him. Close enough to feel him shaking. Annabeth frowned in worry,
"Percy?" Annbeth was really worried now; Percy was shaking more and his face looked unnaturally pale. She looked at his eyes but they were shut tight, his jaw was clenched and sweat poured down his face.
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Percy was chained beside the Acheron once again, everything had just been a trick, thought the son of Poseidon sadly; just another cruel vision shown to him for the amusement of the spirit of the Acheron; Annabeth has moved on with her life and forgotten about him
"Ahh the hero returns!" Percy immediately thought it was Kronos, but this voice was far older; more powerful. Acheron maybe? The sprit had spoken to Percy several times throughout his imprisonment. But no, the voice was even older than that
"You do not know who I am?" the voice thundered, it seemed to come from everywhere, as if it were the air.
"Come now Perseus! We have met once before" the voice said, and then it clicked,
"Tartarus" Percy barely whispered the name but it seemed all the more powerful for it, especially in that very place. A deep laugh rang through the air, but there was no humor in the laugh; the sound sent shivers down Percy's back.
"You shall be seeing me soon Perseus" Tartarus said quietly. "Enjoy your short life while you still can son of Poseidon." The voice finished barely above a whisper. The chains melted off Percy and he fell flat to the ground and lost consciousness.
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"Percy! Come on Seaweed Brain, wake up!" Annabeth was on the verge of a panic attack as she knelt beside Percy on the wooden floor of the cabin, at least until those sea green eyes slowly opened. She had known something was wrong, but she had no idea what and now she remembered what her mother had told her about Percy's condition. How Percy was likely to suffer from nightmares and flashbacks, this must have been one of the flashbacks. If so, she was detirmined to help him through it, they had been through way too much together for her to give up now
"Wise girl? What happened?" Percy asked in a thick voice. "How long have I been out?"
"Not long, just a few minutes" Annabeth replied in a quiet voice. Percy sat up and groaned softly. The pair sat silently, unmoving for several minutes before Percy climbed to his feet;
"I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight Annabeth, and thanks again." Without another word, Percy headed into the bedroom and shut the door.
"Goodnight Percy" Annabeth said to the closed door before moving to her own room.
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The daughter of Athena woke and immediately whipped out her dagger. Something had woken her, something was wrong. Annabeth listened intently and closed her eyes; she couldn't see anything anyway. She slowly became aware that she could hear muttering. She climbed out of bed clad only in a tank top and short shorts and made her way to the door. Holding her knife in her right hand she eased the door open with her left and crept out, she glanced around the darkened cabin with only the faint moonlight to see by. Her gaze fell on Percy's room; her brow creased in worry and she silently made her way over to the door. Even before she reached it she could tell that this was where the noise was coming from. She opened the door carefully and stepped into the room, not wanting tho disturb Percy. However as soon as she saw Percy Annabeth knew that not disturbing Percy was the least of her worries. Percy lay on his stomach with his arms under the pillow; the blankets were either on the floor or tangled around his legs so much that his back was bare and she could see the waistband of the green board shorts he was wearing. Moonlight streamed through the window and glistened off the sweat on his back. All his muscles were clenched
"No, Anna- no" Percy muttered in his sleep. His face grimaced as though he were in pain, he groaned.
"Percy!" Annabeth rushed forward and shook his shoulder to wake him. The effect was instantaneous; Percy leaped out of bed and slammed her against the wall, holding her by the throat. Annabeth's vision blurred for a second, when it cleared she realised that Riptide was pressing against her throat. How did he move so fast? She wondered silently. She also saw that Percy's face was contorted in both anger and pain. His eyes literally glowing green and giving an eerie light to the room
"Who are you? What do you want?" Percy snarled in a voice that Annabeth barely recognized as his. Annabeth felt cold, he didn't know who she was. It was like his anger had made him forget.
"Percy, please it's me Annabeth." The daughter of Athena pleaded, willing him to remember "Please Percy, let me go." Annabeth could see the conflict in his face, the 'angry son of Poseidon' part of him wanted to crush her and destroy anything in sight. But the other part, the 'calm Percy', dimly recognized her and was restraining him; telling him that she wanted to help. The calm side eventually won. Percy dropped Riptide and backed away from Annabeth, dropping to sit on the bed; staring at his hands; unable to meet those beautiful grey eyes.
Annabeth swallowed several times before carefully making her way over to him. She sat beside him and placed her arm around his shoulders.
"I'm so sorry Annabeth. I- I nearly didn't stop myself, I nearly-" He said shakily.
"Nearly what Percy?" Annabeth asked gently.
"I nearly killed you." Silence followed, punctured only by the distant sound of waves.
"But you didn't Percy" Annabeth said eventually, receiving no response she reached out and cupped his face; making him face her. "And I know that you would never do anything to hurt me, I love you Percy." Annabeth looked him in the eye and was relieved to find that they had returned to their regular green.
"But I-" Percy was cut off when Annabeth kissed himthe kiss was only meant to comfort him and reassure him of her safety, but it quickly escalated and grew more heated until Percy was on his back and Annabeth sat on top of him; still kissing fiercely. No words were spoken, they knew each other better than anyone else, they both wanted and needed this. The passion and heat continued to build, neither of them knew how it happened but soon their clothes littered the floor of the room and moans filled the night air.
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Percy woke early the next morning, he felt something warm against his side and glanced down to see a mess of blonde hair spread across his bare chest. He brushed it aside to see the peacefully sleeping face of Annabeth Chase, rising and falling with his breaths. As he remembered the events of last night he sighed peacefully. Annabeth began to stir soon after and looked up at Percy, smiling broadly
"Morning Seaweed Brain," she said cheerfully.
"Morning Wise girl," Percy replied. The couple snuggled for a while longer before Percy broke the silence, "Hey Annabeth?"
"Yeah?" the blonde looked up, resting her chin on his chest with a smile still on her face
"You reckon we could visit my Mum and Paul today?"
Annabeth's smile faltered for a second before it returned as strong as before, "Sure."
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Alrighty, can anyone guess why 'Annabeth's smile faltered'? You'll probably find out in the next chapter anyway but hey! I'm trying to get you to review! Please do by the way, R&R!
BigSchwart Out ;)