Chapter 10

His body was heavy like there were weights attached to him, keeping him down, he couldn't open his eyes but Markos knew he was lying flat on his back and something cold was touching his chest, he could vaguely hear talking, a male's voice. He didn't recognise the voice in question, but as time went on the sound around him grew clearer.

Sharp pain flared across his torso, his eyes opened wildly, blinking he forced his eyes to focus, a cloth canopy was above him. His breathing ragged, taking a lot of effort to lift his head to see, his eyes widened as he saw what was happening, figures dressed in white loomed over him, silver instruments in their hands as they cut away at his chest.

"He's awake" the small, young female looked shocked, the man who held the blade turned to face the awakened Demi-God, his hands covered in blood, Markos's blood.

A sudden burst of strength had Markos launching himself from the table, away from the others, he backed into a wall as the figures surrounded him, trying to calm him down but it was too late the pain overcame Markos pushing him into his rage, his whole body tensed, teeth gritting together, all his eyes saw were enemies, enemies he had to defeat.

Annabeth made her way to the healers camp, she had wrestled with the idea of seeing Markos or not, but after an hour she rose from her bed and stated walking. The healers would do everything they could but she still prepared herself for what she would see, the scars she had left on him. From what she understood, the children of Apollo were going to try and remove the blistered skin and then feed him nectar to heal him to hopefully prevent permanent scarring.

Shouting pulled her out of her own thoughts, they were coming from the healer's tent, Annabeth quickened her pace, she rounded the corner in time to see a healer crash through the side window landing on the ground below, groaning with pain. Ahead of her a group of soldiers stormed in, a frustrated roar echoed from within

"Markos" she breathed before charging up the few steps and into the now destroyed medical tent, tables were upturned, supplies sprawled across the floor. Her eyes found Markos who had a hand round a Demi-Gods throat while throwing a chair towards the rest

"MARKOS!" she called moving forward, but it was like he couldn't hear her. Another soldier tried to rush him, Markos twisted so the man in his grasp was off balance, he then kicked him into the approaching soldier, both crashing to the ground

"MARKOS STOP!" she shouted again still no reaction, Markos looked down seeing as abandoned sword, swiftly he used his bare foot to flick it up, catching it in his hand. Annabeth watched as he shook with anger, a rage in his eyes she had never witnessed before, Markos started towards the group of remaining soldiers sword raised

"NO!" Annabeth screamed rushing forward, towards the enraged Demi-God her hands on his chest pushing him back with all her strength, Markos back hit the wall, before Annabeth could blink Markos's forearm was across her chest pushing her back against the hard wood, he brought his sword up intending to pierce her throat

"Markos" she said softly, sliding her hands up to cup his face, forcing him to look at her, their eyes locked, a loud clattering echoed as the sword Markos had been holding was dropped, he blinked several times taking a deep breath, she watched in disbelief as his eyes returned to their natural emerald green

"Annabeth?" he asked quietly, as if he was unsure if she was real

"It's okay, we're at Camp Half-Blood" she replied softly, her fingers trailing down his cheek "It's okay" she reassured

"What in the cosmos is going on in here?" Annabeth and Markos turned to see Chiron standing in the doorway, looking around the chaos before glaring at the two Demi-Gods, Annabeth dropping her hands from Markos, she had never seen the centaur so angry before.

10 minutes later Markos now sat cleaned and fully clothed in a room, guarded while Chiron spoke to Annabeth, Percy and the head healer in his office

"He is a danger to Camp Half-Blood" the healer began "Too many times you have let him stay after such savagery, these younger Demi-Gods do not know the creature you are harbouring" raising his voice

"It's not his fault" Annabeth retorted "He was scared that's all, he woke up not knowing where he was, with you dissecting his chest"

"That was not fear in his eyes" the healer argued "This is a subject you know nothing about Daughter of Athena"

"Enough the both of you" Chiron interrupted before Annabeth could speak, Chiron ushered the healer to the door "Thank you for your input, I will send the craftsmen to help with the repairs" he all but pushed out the healer, closing the door behind him,

He exhaled, rubbing his forehead "I'm afraid he has a point"

Annabeth shot him a look "You cannot be serious, Chiron he saved our lives, killed the hell hounds, risking his own life to save us" she looked at Percy "Tell him"

Percy straightened surprised at the sudden spot light "Err, well yes he did… but Annabeth you yourself even said that you didn't trust him and that he was dangerous"

Annabeth couldn't believe what she was hearing "That was before he helped us and saved our lives, or did you already forget that?"

Percy started to speak when Chiron held up his hand, silencing them both

"Percy might I have a moment alone with Miss Chase"

Percy nodded immediately leaving without another glance at the daughter of Athena and it tore at her, Percy was her best friend and the fact he didn't even want to look at her, she knew she had hurt him.

"Why is he acting this way?" she asked collapsing onto the couch in Chiron's study "He acts like Markos did nothing but harm the healers" Chiron came to stand beside her a gentle hand on her shoulder

"What you must remember Annabeth is that Percy grew up in the human world where people do bad things for their own greed, he is still getting used to our world and the curses that plague someone like Markos" Why did his British accent have to make everything sound right

"They treat him like an animal" she muttered dropping her head into her hands "Was what he done really that bad?" she asked feeling the sting in her eyes

Chiron exhaled, looking out of his bay window across the camp "That I'm afraid Miss Chase is something I cannot answer, there are only a few that remain at camp that know what happened that day, all sworn not to speak of it" he faced Annabeth once again "The only one who could tell you is Markos himself, it alas is his story to tell, but I should warn you that he is not always in control"

Annabeth looked up at the grey haired centaur as he continued "For the time being however Markos will remain at Camp Half-Blood, but I will have him moved to Dionysus's mountain cabin, away from the main camp" Annabeth nodded, Chiron's words playing in her mind.