AN: Guys I'm really sorry about the wait. I've been really busy and on top of that, I now have family issues that need resolving. There are some loose ends in the story that will need closing as I progress through and its taking a while for me to address them. I won't update as often because the mentioned issues above. I actually intended this chapter to be twice as long, but I'm simply too busy and I don't want to keep you waiting.

--

Chapter 11: Betrayal

Silence.

A single promenade branded the grass before him; alpine trees making the green meadow seem all the more desolate. They made no sound as the gust gently kissed their leaves and chafed his coarse throat dry. The halcyon silence was only broken by his footsteps, discreet and uncertain, walking the path. An eerie breeze sent a chill down his spine, admonishing him to turn back. But he kept on.

The looming tree line abruptly ceased as the path opened into an expansive clearing. He immediately recognized the cabins, arena, and big house of Camp Half-Blood. But something was different.

It was empty. Deathly still and ghostly quiet save the gentle creak of the cabin doors. He was alone in the silence. Alone in his fear.

"My lord," said a familiar voice.

His head snapped toward the sound. It seemed out of place in the hollow silence around him. He followed the voice until he reached the center of the camp. He realized it had belonged to Chiron, who now stood facing another person.

"Have you done what I asked?" The man facing Chiron said. This voice was calm, cold, and commanding.

The man looked to be in his early twenties. He had somewhat short hair, with bangs falling lightly over his forehead. His eyes pierced and his lips held firm, as he stood waiting for an answer. But the most intimidating part of the man was a single scar, branded across his face.

A wide smile contorted the scar on Luke's face as Chiron dropped a heap that was on his back. He realized the heap was a boy who looked to be unconscious.

Luke gripped the boy by his neck and lifted him up. "I hope they enjoy their present." He drew backbiter and ran the blade across the boy's throat, slitting it.

Percy jerked up in his bed. He panted; beads of sweat covering his forehead. He got dressed and made his way to the sink to wash his face. The cool water ran over his hands, making quiet ripples in the darkness. He gently brought it up to his face and shivered at the first touch of the cold water. He looked over at his clock. 6 AM, it was still early. He shuddered, remembering what he had just witnessed. Murder in the middle of camp. His eyes grew wide.

Camp.

Percy cursed and ran out the door. He bolted to the steering wheel turning it in a full circle. He knew what this meant. If Chiron had betrayed the gods then the whole of Camp Half-Blood could be in danger. He had to get there as fast as he could. As soon as the boat was at maximum speed he turned around to see Annabeth standing there.

"What's wrong, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth said with the barest trace of a smile.

"Annabeth?" he said a bit surprised. "Why are you up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep," she started.

"We have to get to camp," he said, not paying much attention. Then he looked straight in her eyes. "Something's happened."

He told her his dream and she stared at him shocked.

"Chiron," Annabeth said disbelieving. "Not Chiron…"

Percy stepped toward her and held her hand in both of his. "I'm sorry Annabeth. But Chiron has…switched sides."

She fought the tears out of her eyes as the news came crashing down. Percy pulled her into a tight hug and she buried her head in his chest.

"It's okay," he said soothingly and started gently rubbing her back.

"I just don't know who to trust anymore," she said, muffling her sobs in his chest.

Percy lifted her chin up so there eyes met. He saw traces of tears and he used his thumb to wipe them away.

"Annabeth, I want you to know that whatever happens, you can always trust me," he said with determination. "I'll always be on your side and I'll always protect you."

She nodded and whispered back "Thanks, Seaweed Brain."

He bent down and gently kissed her. "We should be there in a few hours." When he knew exactly where he was going, it didn't take nearly as much time to cover distance.

"You should wake the others up, I'll get something cooking."

Once everyone was awake, he served breakfast while he tried to explain what happened.

"Wait," Nico said a bit puzzled. "I thought you said there were magical boundaries around camp keeping people like Luke away?"

"There are," Percy replied glumly. "But Chiron and Mr. D are the only ones who can disable the barrier. And Mr. D is out dealing with the minor gods."

"Son of a--"

"Nico!" Bianca scolded. "Don't use that kind of language."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Sorry, mom." He said sarcastically.

Percy got up and left them to there arguing. He started walking to his room, needing some time alone.

He saw a brief flash of light coming from his room and drew Riptide. He cautiously walked in to see a woman standing there. She had brown hair in a plated braid down to her waist. A fire in her eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Put the weapon away, Son of Poseidon," she said with barely restrained anger.

"A-Athena? W-What are you doing here?"

"How dare you," she accused. "How dare you defy me!?"

"W-What?" He took a step back staring at the angered goddess, knowing what was coming next.

"I told you to stay away from my daughter. So you bed her! And then, not a day later, you bed the daughter of Zeus!"

"But…Aphrodite--"

"Aphrodite," she interrupted. "Puts the images in the mind. It is you, who chooses to act on them."

Percy should've known this would happen. Now she was going to turn him into a frog or something.

"I should've expected this from a son of Poseidon," she said with disgust. Just then, lightning flashed outside. "Lucky for you, I am needed. I will give you one more chance Perseus Jackson! Stay away from my daughter." He turned his head and she disappeared in a flash of light.

This day couldn't get worse. First he had the Annabeth and Thalia issue. Then the Nico, Bianca, Chiron, and Camp issue. Then the Luke and Kronos issue. And now, he had the Athena issue.

Percy lay down on his bed. He might as well get some rest before heading back to camp. He closed his eyes and heard a knock on the door not a second later. He groaned.

"Percy?"

Annabeth.

"What is it?"

"Is everything okay in here? I thought I heard yelling."

"No, no. Everything's fine. Just uh, wake me up when we get there."

She didn't quite believe him, but nodded and walked out. He closed his eyes again and thankfully fell asleep almost instantly.

--

AN: I'm going to say again that I originally meant for this chapter to be twice as long, but I know some of you completely desregard the Author's Notes and are going to tell me about it anyway. Well, it doesn't look like much, but it actually opens up a whole new part the story. Review if you liked it. Review if you hated it. Just Review! :) I'll try to get in the next chapter as soon as I can, but like I said before, I'm extremely busy with family issues, etc.